Orders from Above
Morning drills had barely started when Drillmaster Horst stomped into the yard, a rolled parchment in hand. His face was even more severe than usual, which usually meant bad news for someone.
"Recruits!" he barked. "The Royal Inspection is today. That means eyes on you from people who matter. Screw up, and you'll wish you were never born. Do it right, and maybe—maybe—you'll earn someone's notice."
Lionel leaned toward Alexander, whispering, "By someone, he means the princess. She's supposed to be there."
Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Princess Seraphina?"
"The very one. Beauty of the realm. Too good for the likes of us."
"Focus," Roderick muttered, already adjusting his belt and armor. "You'll trip in front of her and make history for the wrong reason."
Garrick grunted. "I don't care who's watching. I just want this over with."
Temporary Promotion
Horst's gaze swept the recruits before landing on Alexander.
"You. Alexander."
Alexander straightened. "Yes, sir!"
"You're leading squad four today. Full drill sequence. If you fail, it's on you, not them."
Alexander froze for half a heartbeat before answering, "Understood, sir."
Roderick smirked. "Look at you, big shot."
Lionel grinned. "See? First step toward being the greatest general. Next stop, statue of you in the capital."
"Shut up and fall in line," Alexander muttered, but he couldn't stop the faint smile tugging at his lips.
Royal Inspection
The yard had been cleared and banners hung. Officers stood to one side, and above them, on a wooden observation deck, stood Prince Adrian Valerius in formal attire, flanked by knights in gleaming armor. Beside him was Princess Seraphina, dressed simply yet radiating the effortless poise of royalty.
Lionel whispered, "By the Creator… she's even prettier than the rumors."
Roderick rolled his eyes. "Focus, Romeo."
Seraphina's eyes moved over the rows of recruits. They lingered briefly on Alexander—more out of habit than interest—before moving on. He was just another soldier among many, armor dented, face smudged with dirt.
For a second, Alexander's gaze met hers. Then she looked away, already speaking softly to her brother. She didn't even see me, he thought, then shook his head. Good. I'm here to fight, not impress princesses.
The Field Exercise
Horst's voice boomed. "Squad four! Advance!"
Alexander stepped forward, calling, "Shields up! Left rank forward, right rank cover!"
They moved as practiced, Alexander shouting concise commands. He'd spent nights memorizing patterns and formations, and it paid off. The squad's movement was tight, coordinated. Roderick kept the spacing correct, Garrick anchored the line with sheer strength, and Lionel—though flashy—actually held formation for once.
One noble-born recruit muttered under his breath, "Can't believe I'm taking orders from him…" but followed nonetheless.
They completed the full drill sequence flawlessly, ending in a defensive wedge that impressed even Horst.
"Not bad for a bunch of raw meat," Horst muttered loud enough for the deck to hear.
Princess Seraphina's Glance
On the observation deck, Seraphina leaned slightly toward her brother. "Who's leading that squad?"
Adrian glanced down. "A commoner recruit named Alexander. I've been keeping an eye on him."
Seraphina's eyebrows rose faintly. "A commoner leading a drill?"
"He earned it," Adrian said simply. "Instincts like his are rare."
Seraphina's eyes returned to Alexander. For a moment, she considered him—not as a soldier, but as someone who stood straighter than most, focused and unshaken. Then she dismissed the thought and turned back to Adrian.
Alexander never noticed the brief exchange. He was too focused on holding the wedge until Horst gave the signal to relax.
Whispers & Resentment
After the inspection, whispers spread like wildfire:
"Did you see that commoner leading?"
"He's already getting special treatment."
"This is ridiculous. Nobles are supposed to lead."
One of the noble recruits confronted Alexander later. "Enjoy your moment, commoner. It won't last. People like you don't climb far in armies like this."
Alexander met his eyes calmly. "Then you'd better climb faster, or you'll be taking orders from me one day."
The noble's face darkened, but he said nothing.
Evening Reflection
In the barracks, Lionel tossed his boots aside and flopped onto his bunk. "You see the princess looking down? I'm pretty sure she saw me."
"She saw Alexander," Roderick corrected dryly.
"She glanced at me," Lionel insisted. "Besides, Alex was too busy acting like he already owns the place."
Alexander smirked faintly but said nothing. Instead, he sat at the edge of his bunk, helmet in hand, thinking about the inspection. For the first time, he'd been trusted to lead more than his usual small group. And he hadn't failed.
This is just one step, he told himself. One of many.
He clenched his fist, a quiet fire burning in his chest. I'll keep climbing. No matter who tries to stop me.