"Don't be too surprised. He was just an idiot. You'd be wise not to do the same just because you're mad."
Alphael looked away, his jaw tight.
"Well, yeah… I can see that. But what kind of man can blow a hole through someone?"
Fionn shifted his tired eyes toward him.
"Anyone, actually. Even I could, despite my weak stature."
"Wait—how—"
Before he could finish, the line of survivors reached their destination.
What stretched before them was a sea of dirt and iron. Training grounds, massive and cruel, filled with strange courses and machines built to break bodies into shape. Dozens of cadets stood in perfect rows, performing a salute.
Their left hands were balled into fists, resting at their plexus. As for their right, it was raised to the left shoulder with all their fingers extended and thumbs tucked in. Something about it looked familiar to Alphael.
Fionn whispered, "That's the Matslava salute. Supposed to mirror their emblem. The balled fist is the watch tower and that weird hand placement is the sword. Too bad they don't have three arms unless it'd be perfect."
"Tch. I'm not doing that," Alphael muttered.
"No one's asking you to," Fionn said flatly.
"They'd probably kill you if you tried."
Under the low, bruised sky, the Vangen were herded into formation beside the Axi. Two armies were cleanly divided. Half saluting with pride and the other, aimlessly looking around.
Three figures stood before them.
Commander Llywelyn. Beside him, Aidan—the scarred soldier, maskless now, bearing a burnt scar through the corner of his lip and cheek. And between them, another man: younger, clean-shaven, his light brown hair tied neatly in a man bun, with a light expression.
Llywelyn stepped forward, boots grinding the dirt.
"Good to see you, Captain Vadimir. I heard about your latest expedition. Quite the find. Kudos to you my friend."
The captain smirked, scratching his beard.
"Heh. Thanks, Commander. To be honest, not sure I'd call it a… good, find."
Llywelyn's tone was cold steel. "Say what you will, but it was useful to the king, so it's useful to all. Now then let's get this training over with."
Vadimir happily nodded and pulled out his clipboard.
"Yes, sir!"
"Right, right… Today's numbers: one hundred and twenty one cadets. Seventy Axi, fifty-one Humans."
Being near the front of the mass, Alphael perked up at that word.
"He said Human?"
Vadimir frowned. "Only fifty-one? Don't ten thousand appear every six months?"
Llywelyn adjusted his ushanka. "Fifty now. Ninety to ninety-five percent die, or get lost to the Frontier. The rest are rounded up later. Usually takes more than one day to collect them all. They're surprisingly resilient, we might even get more today."
The captain crossed his fingers.
"Hopefully without casualties on any sides!"
Llywelyn sighed and raised his voice.
"Soldiers of the Axis! Today's physical training will be supervised by Captain Vadimir. The Vangen—"
His gaze swept over them like a predator's.
"—will be handled by my son, Aidan."
He raised his arm and gestured to the scarred soldier beside him.
Alphael's heart dropped.
"His son? Him? Of all people, why him?!"
"Oh, I see," Fionn muttered. "It's just a hunch, but I reckon they're testing Aidan's ability to command, as well as assessing your abilities."
Alphael's fists tightened. "All of this… preparation for the 'Frontier'? Is it really that important?"
Fionn didn't answer for a long moment. His eyes were dull.
"I've never seen it, but the Axi talk about it like it's everything to them. Ever since the first wave of humans arrived, they've been obsessed with exploring it. My dad said the expeditions were rare, before we came. They only happened when the moment called for it."
Alphael's thoughts churned.
"Fine, whatever. It doesn't matter what they want. I just got to leave during one of the expeditions and find a way out of here."
He looked back up and Aidan was already walking towards their section of the large field and Humans were following him.
The respective groups among Axi and Vangen split into one half of the field with their trainers for the day.
Their training had begun swiftly.
There was a myriad of different training equipment and courses, all vital to increase one's physical attributes in all regards.
Alphael and Fionn were assigned to run on a running track, the 100m sprint.
Aidan held his own clipboard and demanded that participants run.
Men and women keenly dashed across the 100 metres.
When one crossed the line, Aidan was suddenly held a quill with no ink and scribbled something without looking up.
Then it was Alphael's turn.
Aidan set him off with a cold sincerity and he dashed through the track desperately stomping over the dirt.
"1, 2, 3, 4,…"
Lungs beginning to burn, he crossed the finish line and looked to the ground.
"15 seconds. Of course, average but maybe I won't be noticed."
Alphael blinked twice and shook his head then looked towards Fionn.
Then Fionn took his mark.
"And… go."
Fionn pushed off hard, but his legs faltered halfway through. When he stumbled across the line, he was pale and gasping, sweat soaking his shirt.
Aidan spoke sternly.
"Twenty-five seconds. So you're one of the dregs I see."
Alphael jogged over, worry cutting through his fatigue.
"Hey—twenty-five isn't bad. You just need—"
"Don't piss me off with that, I know good and damn well how I did." Fionn hissed.
"Oh— alright."
Alphael looked at him uncertainly and thought to himself.
"If Fionn keeps these scores throughout then, he'll have eyes on him!"
Aiden barked for the next cadet, interrupting his thoughts.
The last runner stepped forward—a girl with sharp eyes and royal blue hair tied back in a ponytail, leaving fairly straight bangs at the front. She grinned, confident and unbothered by the tension.
Aidan raised his hand. "Go."
She sprinted like lightning. Six seconds later, she stopped, barely winded.
Aidan blinked once. "Six seconds. Not bad, Vangen."
She twirled, flashed him a peace sign, and smiled.
"Neh heh. Thanks!~ ♡"
For a brief moment, Aidan's stagnant face faltered, raising a brow.
"Next course!"
Hours bled away and the muscles of most of the Humans screamed.
By the end of it, Alphael was trembling, his throat raw and his mouth thick with the taste of iron. He crossed the final obstacle racing amongst others, placing himself in 20th place.
He looked behind him to see his companion last.
Alphael stumbled toward him, catching his shoulder.
"Hey—hey, that's not okay. You're not okay."
Fionn shoved him weakly aside. "You ask that after every exercise… I told you… it's normal…"
Aidan approached, looked at them with disdain.
"In the next expedition, expect to carry our gear. You're unfit for combat. Leave the field and rest—your next session starts in an hour."
He turned away, muttering under his breath, "We already have enough useless ones amongst our own."
Fionn straightened himself, revealing perfect posture and took a breath.
"Yes— Sir!"
He held it until Aidan was gone—then his knees gave out again. Alphael caught him, interlocking shoulders.
"Tch. He didn't even care."
Fionn gave a bitter smile.
"Aww~ that's sweet that you care, now please… take me back."
The two trudged back with the rest of the broken Vangen, boots sinking into the dirt.
"You know I could drop you right?" Alphael retorted.
Fionn weakly patted his shoulder.
"Yeah… but you won't, because you're just so nice. Aren't you now?"
Alphael sighed. Dragging the weight of both of them towards their barracks.
Only an hour remained until the next session.