Within an inaccurately named squared-off duelling circle spear clashed against shield forcing the bearer back a step. "Kick his arse Rithil!" A voice called from out of a cluster of spectating troops earning a quick glare from the drill instructor but otherwise she let it pass. Feeling a cocky smile tugging at his lips Rithil twirled his weapon to fend off a wild sword slash and allowed the slight smile to bloom into a smirk at the worried look behind his opponent's visor.

During the several months of his extended stay with the IV Legion the young Viera had accepted the mispronunciation of his original name as an improvised 'city name', he had also garnered a reputation for his skill at arms among the trainees which accounted for the nervousness of his current foe.

Quickly aiming a high jab at his opponent's head Rithil used the blocking shield as cover to step in closer and kick their leg out from under them forcing them to their knees, sidestepping a wild swing he brought slid his grip on his weapon lower and jabbed the other duellist in the temple with the butt sending them sprawling.

As the drill instructor called the bout over a previously unnoticed spectator applauded languidly, turning to towards the sound the instructor sized up for a moment then snapped off a salute. "Pilus rem Helsos! Forgive me, I wasn't aware you were coming." The rest of troops hurried to also salute a Hyur with a snow white mane who seemed to have lost his shirt somewhere even as he waved away their deference. "If you were I wouldn't have been able to witness that display." He gestured to Rithil. "I'd expected another pack of pups still worried about cutting themselves on their weapons not a half-feral beast from the depths of the jungle." He laughed at Rithil's offended expression. "Simmer down boy that's no insult, all men are beasts on the battlefield."

Stepping into the ring himself the ageing man looked down at Rithil's previous opponent and nudged them with his boot. "Get up brat, he didn't hit you that hard and I need this space." Once it was just the two of them in the ring he grinned at Rithil. "Assuming you're not too tired to indulge me boy?" Fitting a shield on his arm he left a double headed axe hanging from his hip.

Giving the drill instructor a dubious look but not hearing an objection Rithil nodded. "Very well." Returning to his starting position he sized up his new opponent, the Hyur seemed to be getting on a bit leaving Rithil more worried about possible punishment if he hurt an officer even in practice, on the other hand he was unlikely to get a better opportunity to lay out one of the higher-ups. Making up his mind to take the chance Rithil charged forward winding up a hefty lunge, drawing near he thrust forward confident in his aim.

Suddenly finding himself flat on his back with a stinging pain all across one side of his face and blood streaming from his nose the Viera sat up painfully while blinking away the stars from his eyes. Groaning he tried to fill the gap between taking a shot at a half-naked bloke who wasn't even holding a weapon and being on his arse, he managed to recover an image of the edge of that shield approaching his face which he supposed explained things.

Looking up he saw the Pilus standing over him still only wielding his shield. "Still just a pup after all it seems." The older man said slinging his shield. "I might have enjoyed making something of you but unfortunately you've got somewhere else to be." Facing the rest of the soldiers he raised his voice. "Now that the fun is over let's get to business, new orders from on high. You're all shipping out to reinforce the VII Legion in Eorzea, seems the White Raven's pet project is nearing completion and the Emperor is letting him grab up other Legion's resources to get it over with."

Getting to his feet Rithil cynically observed that apparently people were mere 'resources' and that the IV was offloading it's half-trained conscripts rather than anyone with experience. Amid the combined stinging in his pride and his face he felt the Pilus slap his back. "Try not to die pathetically out there, survive for a bit it and it might be interesting to go another round with you if I see you again." Walking away the older man waved without looking back. "Now pack up, you're lifting off in two hours."

After having his abused face tended to Rithil joined the other conscripts in loading equipment onto the airship that would bear them away to Eorzea. On the faces of the people around him he could see some anticipation but mostly dread and despair at travelling even further from their homelands into a warzone. For his part while he was naturally concerned about the journey he also felt a strange sense of eagerness he couldn't quite explain, part of it was desire to be anywhere but behind the walls of the castrum but more than that there was a nervous excitement at seeing an entirely new land. While he had received a crash course in the geography of the continent he was on having not even known that it was known to much of the world as Orthard at first he knew nothing of Eorzea except that it lay to the west of Garlemald itself.

Overcome by curiosity Rithil surreptitiously looked around for Haskil and spotting him struggling with an extra heavy load went to join him. During his captivity Rithil had come to rely on the Hyur whenever the complexities of the wider world confused him. "So...what do you know about Eorzea?"

Wiping the sweat from his brow Haskil gestured to the crate he'd been trying to shift. "Here for more of my sage wisdom are you? Grab the other end and I'll share." Managing to get the crate off the ground with their combined effort Haskil spoke as they moved. "I'll tell you now I'm no scholar of far off lands and much of what I do know is from their idea of teaching." He gestured with his head towards a towering spire that housed the command centre. "Anyroad Eorzea is another of the Three Great Continents, you got Orthard where we are to the east, Ilsabard home of our benevolent rulers in the middle and finally Eorzea is west. They say the place is teeming with beast tribes all itching to summon their nasty Eikons."

Setting down their load on the airship Rithil rubbed one of his ears thoughtfully as they went for another, the Garleans had been very thorough in impressing upon him the evils of Eikons and anyone foolish enough to summon them, while he was fairly sure the calamitous natures of such 'false gods' had been exaggerated by the Imperials to justify the brutality of their conquests they did have a disturbing resemblance to beings that brought disaster in some of his own people's tales. "Then what about other races? Do they live there too?"

Picking up another crate Haskil huffed with the effort. "Aye a whole bunch of city states knocking about with all sorts of different kinds in 'em, Empire snapped up one of them years back, Ali Maygo or something like that it was called." Thinking he searched for something else to add. "Oh right and they there be dragons over there!"

Rather than reacting with fear or wonder as Haskil expected the Viera simply frowned. "What's a dragon?"

Dropping the crate more quickly than intended Haskil facepalmed. "'What's a dragon?'" He echoed then caught the eye of a passer-by and waved his hands helplessly in Rithil's direction. "What's a dragon the lad says!" With a wry chuckle he patted Rithil's shoulder. "A dragon my boy is a flying reptile that can grow to the size of a house, spit magicks as easily as you fire off questions and all while being smart as any man."

Sceptically Rithil searched Haskil's face until he realised the Hyur was serious, feeling his interest in exploring drop a little he worked in silence for a few minutes before asking one more question. "How far away is it?" If it wasn't too far and he managed to get away he could perhaps make his way back home and hope he wasn't turned away by his people.

Haskil grimaced for moment then looked at Rithil sympathetically. "Like I said it's the westernmost of the three continents, you go to the far side of that and it's pretty much as far as you can get from here in the known world." He jerked a thumb up at the airship. "They ain't ferrying us about in this thing to keep our feet from blistering, it's because it'll take months any other way."

Stopping in his tracks Rithil stared down at the ground in silent dismay yet at the same time that strange wisp of adventurous wanderlust flickering within his breast grew slightly. A moment later an overseeing officer yelled at them to get back to work, placing a supportive hand on his shoulder Haskil urged him forward. "Come on lad, we'll get through it."

Despite the strict departure time it took a few hours of increasingly frantic lifting & shifting to get the airship ready to launch. Assembling at the base of the boarding ramp a new fully armoured Garlean stood at the top looking down on the recruits even more disdainfully than the drill instructor. "I see the IVth are still coddling their savages, no matter you will soon learn proper discipline. Unworthy though you may be you are to be afforded the honour of serving a higher purpose. Soon we shall depart for Eorzea a land consumed by chaos at the hands of the foul beastmen and their Eikons unchecked by the impotent, squabbling city states. Yet by the will of Legatus van Darnus and the strength of the VIIth Legion the tainted land shall be purged and purified!" His voice rose in volume and tone as he spoke. "Now forward march! We go to secure the culmination of Meteor!"