Overhead
In a military base a few miles away from Taimon stood the boot camp for the surrounding nomadic and stationary villages. Along the perimeter a platoon of cadets could be seen running in the standard issue boot camp outfit, many of the cadets were shining with the rising sun reflecting the sweat off them. Their expressions were firm but it was clear that they were reaching their limit.
"Let go Cadets, we have three miles to go!" Their platoon leader yelled as loudly as they could. He was leading the platoon and setting the pace. "I want to get this over before the sun fully comes out!" He continued.
"three more?"
"I swear those two aren't human."
Muttering, complaints and swears were heard from them as the platoon leader and the only cadet that has managed to keep up with him since training started a week ago.
"Come on everyone, it's only three miles. It's not that hard."
The only cadet running shoulder to shoulder was Lin Hermes, her relaxed expression as she turned and shouted at her fellow cadets.
"Shut up L, you can run fast. Good for you."
One of the cadets responded as he took deep breaths between each word.
"If you can talk, you can run harder." The platoon leader shouted back.
After an agonizing three miles for many of the cadets the platoon leader stood in front of everyone with Lin standing just behind him with her hands on her hips.
"You will have 5 minutes to rest, after that go eat breakfast. Once you are done come to the training hall. Dismissed!"
The platoon leader left and headed off leaving the cadets to ask why they decided to join the army and if it's worth it. Most of them were trying to catch as much breath as possible, sweat and pained expression was the common theme between them all.
The only exception being Lin who was looking at everyone with a neutral expression. "I'll grab some food." Lin said as she walked towards the cafeteria building.
The sound of footsteps echoed within the hall as many cadets, leaders and so on walked to and from various destinations. Lin was no different as she moved forward. The more she walked the more the color started to drain for the world, the wall became a duller tone of gray somehow. The faces of the people around started to blur slightly, however the letters on the wall were clear and readable as before.
Lin grabbed her lunch tray and sat down in her usual seat, she reached for her back to grab her lance only to notice it wasn't there.
"The one thing I hate about this place is not being able to carry the spear. It feels so unnerving." She said as she hugged herself while squirming.
The other cadets in her unit started to flow into the room, many of them broadline limping into the line as their bodies were still stressed and tired all over after running six miles without breakfast. Lin simply watched them and they struggled as she ate her food.
The lunch room was loud with the clanking of the tableware and the conversations between the cadets throughout the room, the only expectation being Lin herself. The area she was around was silence in comparison with the sound of Lin eating her food being the only source of sound. This has been the status quo for the last week after the first day. Alone at all times.
"Guess it's time to head to the training hall."
Lin threw away all of her trash and headed towards the door. On the way there she spotted someone's foot in the way, as if asking for her to trip and make a fool of herself.
"What are you doing?" She asked as she glared at the man.
"Just stretching my legs like a normal person." The following cadet replied.
Screw off Shen. You're not funny or entertaining, not today nor when we first met."
The two stared at each other causing the tension around them to sky rocket. Shen looked at Lin as an annoying person with an inflated sense of self. Lin's eyes on the other hand were distant, or uninterested. She was only giving the smallest amount of care and attention to the existent in front of her.
"How bothersome." Lin said as she kicked his leg out the way and walked out the room.
The tension in the room rapidly dropped as a result.
The platoon of cadets were now lined up in the training area which was basically just a courtyard with various obstacles and training dummies scattered around. Front and center of them all were three higher ranked soldiers in front of them.
"Listen up, today we will be continuing hand to hand training. After seeing how you all performed over the last few days there is one thing to describe what I saw." The old Perro Sergeant walked forward as the pins he had on his uniform swayed with his movements.
"Oh god, this class of cadets is going to have a rough time with the serg." One of the other higher ups said.
"Most of yall's performance is a complete embarrassment to this country!"
The yell of the sergeant caused the few stray thoughts the cadets had to vanish into the wind.
"Therefore I will be separating you all into two groups. People I think are good enough that I'll remember their names and the ones I don't. I will only remember your name once you prove to me you are worth my time, your fellow soldier's time, and this country's time."
The Sergeant pulled out a single note card.
"Lin Hermes, Shen Du, and lastly Ya Wang. You three move to the front." He shouted.
The cadets expected Lin and Shen to be selected, they were always performing in all forms of training. However none of them was expecting a third person.
"I hate the fact that the Sergeant considered you. You're going to get us all killed." Shen muttered loud enough for Lin to hear.
Lin could only chuckle at him. "I'm surprised he noticed that someone like you existed. I guess those massive horns serve a purpose."
The two stood side by side. One with pride at their accomplishments in their eyes, the other could only appear to look at the cadets with a distant look in their eyes.
"Cadet Wang, where are you?" The Sergeant yelled, causing both Lin and Shen both to cringe at the sheer volume of the man.
"I'm here sir."
The Sergeant looked forward as the third cadet he called moved to the front. A woman with characteristics of lung walked forward and just like her first name she was one word. Elegant in nearly every way or wasn't confidence? It didn't matter as at the end of the day she walked like she belonged there. She stood next to Shen,
"These three are the best cadets from this platoon, you all should strive to be just like them because of the way you are now. Let's just say you wouldn't survive for long." The Sergeant explained loudly.
"No you three will follow me, as for the rest of you. Continue your training, starting today things will be more focused. This is going to feel and be hell to everyone here. That is all." The Sergeant said as he walked away.
The Sergeant took the three into a small sparring area within the base. There was nothing of importance besides some wooden weapons on the wall, and mat covering the whole room.
"The three of you stand in the center about six meters from each other." He said.
The three followed his orders, each one staring at the other wondering what's going to happen next.
"Now, Fight." He ordered.
The three didn't move as they were confused by the order.
"Who do we fight exactly sir?" Shen asked.
"I would like to know too." Ya asked.
The Sergeant pulled up a chair and sat down. "Just fight, I'll tell you when to stop."
"Not to be ru-"
Before Shen could finish his question he was sent flying a handful of meters back as he felt all the air in his stomach rush out unwillingly. He held his stomach trying to reclaim what he lost.
"You heard the Sergeant." Lin said with mild interest while walking towards the injured Shen. "Fight." Lin stared down at Shen in his small form preparing another kick.
However as Lin was releasing her attack she felt something moving towards her back but it was too late as she felt a foot connect towards her back causing her to stumble slightly.
"He's already down, there is no need to keep attacking him. That seems like a bad habit of yours, did your family raise you right?" Ya asked as she got into a fighting stance with her feet forward.
"I don't why I should care that he's already down." Lin rushed towards Ya with her hand pulled back. "Only certain people are allowed to decide the rules."
Ya was able to see the attack from a mile away and countered it by dodging the punch and kicking Lin's cav.
"You need to put more power than that." Lin said as she tanked the kick, barely slowing down as she grabbed Ya's clothes, lowering her while connecting her knee with Ya's face.
With Ya on the ground Lin mind started to wonder. Seeing Ya on the ground, the way she fell onto the ground, the way the knee connected. It felt disgustingly familiar, as if she's done this before. Lin could only grab her head as a mind splitting headache started to go off.
As Lin tried to get her headache under control she felt something behind her, it was a mostly recovered Shen. Feeling the want to put him down again Lin rushed towards Shen at an incredible speed. Shen raised his arms to block the attack, not caring in the slightest Lin attacked Shen's arm knocking him a few meters.
"Damn, why does she hit so hard?" Shen said as he tried to stomach the numbing pain in his arms.
The attacks didn't stop as Lin kept slamming her hands into his arms. It was almost as if she wasn't trying to beat him physically, but rather break him to show who's superior.
"Stop."
Lin stopped in her tracks and Shen only blew a sigh. Ya was somewhat struggling to get up. The Sergeant stood up and approached the three, he first pointed at Ya.
"Crane."
Then at Shen.
"Dog."
Then at Lin.
"Boar."
The Sergeant turned around and walked towards the door but before he left he said one last thing.
"You three will be trained by me for sometime now. I gave you the name of animals because to me you are nothing but animals to be trained and tamed. You are dismissed early today, tomorrow do your warm up with the other cadets then come back to this room after breakfast. Rest easy."
With that he left the room leaving only silence and the three cadets.
"If that's all then I'm leaving. I don't have time to deal with you two." Lin said as she walked towards the door confidently and leaving.
The two didn't say anything for a moment.
"I swear what is her problem, that massive head of hers is going to get us killed." Shen complained as he rubbed his still sore stomach. "I swear she was trying to kill me with that kick."
"I can understand that, she has an ego to say the least. I just hope we are able to deal with it." Ya said as she rubs her nose.
"Ah yeah, you did take a nasty kick to the nose by the Boar. Let's get you to the infirmary." Shen said.
"Much appreciated, should we grab some lunch afterwards?" Ya asked.
"If there is still time left over then I'll be happy to. Dealing with Lin made me hungry." Shen said.
The two continued to converse as they went to the infirmary.
As Lin walked the halls a single phrase popped into her head.
"I'm better."
"I'm better."
"I'm better."
The Ark
Marth
"While you are improving I know you can do better. You two are done for the day, rest up and prepare for tomorrow.." The stern perro instructor named Ms. Dobermann said.
"Yes, instructor Dobermann." I said.
I stood up trying my hardest to push through the soreness in my muscles. I made eye contact with my new sparring partner, long dark purple hair with her ear poking from the top. I was sparring with the captain of Reserve Op Team A4. Captain Melantha walked towards me and held her hand out, it was shining with sweat.
"You did good today, just need to work things out before we get sent another mission." She said,
I grasped her hand. "Thank you Captain, I will make sure to try harder and improve faster." I tried to say as I tried to get air in my lungs.
"You two should take a shower, it's nearly lunchtime." Ms. Dobermann said as she left the room.
See you tomorrow Instructor Dobermann," Melantha said.
"Bye instructor Dobermann." I said as I followed Melantha towards the shower rooms. Melantha and I entered our rooms to grab whatever we needed.
I felt Melantha tap my shoulder. Once I turned around I saw her put my calendar in front of me with her hand pointing toward today's date. I looked at the note I had written.
'Mr. Apollo comes back'
For a moment all the fugitives disappeared as I read the note.
"At least I have something to look forward to." I said as I grabbed my towel from my bed. Before Melantha and I left for the showers I noticed that the name plate for the room was on the floor. I picked it up and placed it back on the wall, because I know if I didn't I would forget where the Reserve Team 4 room is.
"Ms. Dobermann is so scary when she is training us." I said as Melantha and I headed towards the shower rooms at the end of the hall.
"Not scary, but strict." Melantha said
The two of us didn't say anything. I could feel a small tension form inside me as we continued to move forward in silence.
'Did I say something wrong? Was I talking too much? I was put on this team very recently and I'm already annoying one of them. Is it because I'm a sarkaz or that I'm infected or is it both?'
I continued to think about this and how to start a conversation but to success as we reached the showers. The showers were divided into three major sections.
The changing room, the shower heads and this one large section that are basically large baths. I think they called them 'Hot Springs' and they are common in the eastern countries like Yan and Higashi apparently.
I was out of the changing room first and to my surprise it was empty. I got changed and dipped into the hot spring with my towel resting on my head. In the span of a few seconds it felt as if the water was sinking deep not just my skin but my bones and muscles too.
"Oh my god... this is amazing." Those were the only words I could utter out as all the fatigue washed away like peoples dreams in war.
'Is that too morbid?' I lost myself in thought as I missed someone else entering the hot spring.
It was Melantha who also had a towel on top of her head. The two of us didn't speak as the only sounds were the running water and the water rippling whenever either of us moved. I wasn't sure if it was just me but the air around me was tense and still. I was scrabbling in my mind for things to talk about as I remember what Mr. Apollo told me before he left.
"Make some friends, friends make everything better in life. I believe in you Marth for you are my student and my students are the best." He left with those words.
I looked at Melantha to see her with a neutral expression, like nothing could bother her even if the world tried. Seeing her like that made all the confidence to start a conversation hit rock bottom.
"Melantha! I knew you would be here."
I didn't even have to turn around to know the bubbly voice that belonged to. The sheer energy of the perro operator Cardigan is the only sense of life we have in the girls rooms, without her I would have died from the intense feeling I get whenever Melantha and I are alone.
"Marth it's good to see you too, are you both planning to eat lunch after this?" She asked.
"We are but with how good the baths are I might just miss it." Melantha said as she sank deeper into the water with only her head and neck being visible.
"What about you Marth?" Cardigan turned and asked.
"I was planning on going with Melantha." I said.
After some time the three of us agreed that it was time to head to the cafeteria and enjoyed our lunch with Cardigan lightening the tension between Melantha and I.
I swear I feel as if I'm about to die. If the others talking with the other members of A4 are as hard as Melantha then I'm going to have a hard time. Mr. Apollo please save me.
Hours passed as the I found myself on the bridge of the landship, Mr. Apollo hasn't returned yet and I was feeling rather disappointed. I took a sip of the hot chocolate I got from the cafeteria and did what Mr. Apollo and I would often do whenever we found ourselves here, star gazing.
The countless stars shining brightly above me is something I never truly looked at as I ran away from Kazdel, after it felt as if the moment I stopped looking forward I would die.
"I knew you'd be here."
I turned around as a small smile formed on my face as a familiar person walked towards me.
"It's good to see you again Mr. Apollo." I said barely containing the joy I felt.
"It's good to see you too, Marth. Star Gazing are we? Do you mind if I join?" He asked as he pulled a sucker from his pocket.
"There's enough space for both of us."
Mr. Apollo walked next to me and sat down.
"Mr. Apollo, can you tell me another story from your homeland?" I asked.
He placed his hand on his chin. "Sure, let me tell you a really popular one that is centuries old. It's of a truly legendary hero."
"Who is it this time?" I asked.
"The half god- half human who like many before hand showed the potential of humanity to the heavens. The hero who overcame twelve Labors, Hercules."