[30th October 2007]

[Curragh Camp, County Kildare]

Whump was the sound. Or at least that's what my brain told me as my legs went from under me and I went face first into the muck of the training course. I groaned as I pushed myself up and wiped the mud out of my eyes, and off my face, and...

...and this had been one of the more stupid ideas I've ever had now that I actually thought about it. I groan again as I push myself up once again at the loud screaming shouts of the angry army dude off to me right and continue the run through the obstacle course. I did say no magic. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid me for saying that. Okay, left leg, right leg, left leg, I demanded my aching muscles to move as my destination was just about within sight after all the exertion of this course. If I couldn't even manage this then I'd be in serious trouble if called upon to even try running away from danger without any powers. Orc-me had managed things like this easily enough didn't I?

'Yeah but he had like an unfair advantage being a muscled, high constitution orc, brought up in a rough wilderness environment. Previous human me would have died of heartache after all this running and swinging and jumping let me remind you! A little rest won't hurt now and we'll call it quits' part of me argued back as agonised legs and arms pumped back and forth. I shut it off as best I could. Nearly there, just a little further and it'll be over. Just a little...

I collapsed unto my back gasping for breath as I struggled across the barely marked finish line with a last desperate burst of energy. Everything hurt but I'd succeeded despite the voice of negativity standing above me as I lay there heart hammering in my chest and body covered in muck and other gunk. I was an idiot and this was a bad idea "Well you made it I suppose, call me surprised even if you took your time at it. When I was your age I'd still have gas in the tank after that"

Honestly tiredness and aching muscles prevented any intelligent, sarcastic or witty response with a muttered "I hate you!" having to do the job as stared up at the sky for a few moments and tried to get myself together.

"Course you do, if you didn't I wouldn't be doing a good job of whipping you into shape now would I?"

All true I suppose but all I could do was glare at the bemused looking man now standing over me and blocking the light of the sun. And in all honesty I had requested this and it wasn't even at the level of full blown basic combat training thanks to my need to just build up to that part. The likes of the Bat family might have been super skilled and energetic mean machines at age thirteen or fourteen but little old me was nowhere near that stage. Easy living, and using magic when possible to ease things more, did not help much in that department either and I was suffering in the trying to fix that now.

Baby steps, baby steps I reminded myself and slowly push myself back up to stand once again with some considerable effort. Honestly I was mild impressed with myself for not just collapsing there and then and continuing my momentary siesta on the ground "Are...we done?" damn you hope for creeping into my tone "...or, I mean, what's next I guess?"

"Hmph...go get yourself into the shower and cleaned off, and then get some grub into you. We've covered today's physical training and the course so once you've got a short rest we'll get you some training on handling the P226..." he stated then shook his head a little "...no idea how you managed to pull that little trick with the higher ups at your age though"

"A winning smile...and magic...naghh...mostly the magic" I grind out beginning to trudge awkwardly towards the barracks that was still too far off in the distance. On and off training since I'd managed to get into the good graces of at least one Minister had proven both more and less than I'd expected. Less in that I absolutely wrecked at the moment after the days training and even the part I was looking forward to now seemed to me to be more like a painful chore than anything else. Mr Asshole Drill Sergeant smirked faintly at me.

"Yeah the lads are curious have seen you call magic why your even looking at using them, or doing...wanting to do more-so all this physical training. Why if I could wave my hands to cause me to deflect bullets and stun people don't think I'd be bothered much. Don't see Superman doing now do you?"

My first few training sessions here were treated with a mixture of contempt and annoyance; after all I was a scrawny little culchie brat up from cork turning up and embarrassing them by my very presence. Where they could be spending their time training up proper soldiers, or running mock up counter-terror operations, they instead had to do the basic of the basics with me instead at the orders of the Minister of Defence. I could relate, really I could, but it hadn't been exactly ideal even as they went about the whole thing like professionals. I'd consider this a good sign related to managing to provide my first effective bit of rune warded gear in the shape of Boots of Striding. Not great work compared to my past life but I didn't exactly have the limitless spiritual power and acolytes of their either. Having easy access to gear that was essential masterwork by medieval standards was a help but not in regards the initial empowering of the crafted item. Still...they worked and visibly so, so attitudes towards me had improved somewhat it seemed thanks to that.

"Superman can tank a missile to the face without a problem, and then shoot lasers from his eyes to follow up so he don't need it I guess. Me I'm just a human with some small bits of magic, a squishy wizard at that, so I'd rather be able to defend myself even without it. That and I can make bullets and arrows that'll penetrate said magic defences so I don't doubt others could too..." I managed to explain as walked...well he walked and I trudged...over the grass "...that and I'm pretty sure Wonder Woman got, gets, does, some trainin' considering how she fights"

"Heh, perhaps but never her seen her or any of the others using a gun now do you?"

"Yeah but I ain't in their League now am I? She's like...really old anyway. Fought in world war two for God's sake! Firearms just seem the logical thing honestly, I can shoot a bow but not great so guns it gets to be. That and do ye not want me to start enchanting your guns?" I managed to grind out through the tiredness with a measure of good humour. Really I didn't feel it with my muscles telling my brain unhappy things but best get at least one of this lot on side by putting a bit of effort in. First time I'd managed to get to the level of 'friendly chat' after all.

"Ah well, don't think we'll be turning down magic guns lad, was just a bit curious on your reasoning behind your decisions. Those boots worked as advertised so looking forward to what's to come. I'm guessing they'll be a while though?"

I nodded faintly thanks as even that felt like an exhausting motion "Yeah fraid so, year at best, maybe two even as I need learn how they work in practice before messing with them. At least if we want them to work reliably or at full effectiveness. Like alot things its gonna be a work in progress"

A gun and bullet were more complicated than the enchanting combo of bow and arrow, or crossbow and bolt, and I'd need proper tools to do the relevant changes. Tools I didn't have as yet, or know how to use properly, on weapons I had to learn to use as well, so it wouldn't be something I'd manage overnight. I needed to practice and train at it first before I could start producing something on the useful level. Still even getting this far had been an effort and the more useful I made myself the more I could try and get back in return.

Thankfully Ireland wasn't exactly awash in dangerous powers...on a regular basis anyway...so at least so far I'd only been required to sit in on one meeting so far. In the end there wasn't anything too it as the woman was actually the charlatan that we'd all thought she was. At least it had gotten me a nice free dinner in addition to further proof to my patrons of future magical services I could provide. Something to consider at a later moment as the blessed relief and cleanliness of the entrance of the barracks came into reach...

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