III The Village Soldiers

Now that you're this far onto the novel; the comment attached here has a map! 

( * )

"Auferstehen, huh?" Hierd questioned to himself whilst walking with Alrife, to which was walking him towards where the village chief wishes of Hierd to lodge in. 

Whilst walking with Alrife, Hierd questioned him; 

"What is Auferstehen?" He put it plainly.

"You do not know of it, O lord?" He looked confused. "As far as I know, Auferstehen's effects... Are all around the continent. Perhaps you... O lord are you from another continent?"

"I think so, I am from the... European continent." 

"European? Forgive me lord, I don't know this continent." He then said; "But, Auferstehen, it's a yearly 'event.' As far... As far as I know... It means revival? It's when the old monsters come back to, 'wreak havoc.'" 

"Wreac havoc, revival..." He remised his days with books; "In other words... Zombies!? No, ancient... Old... Monsters... This might be something more in line with those myths!"

Eagerly he asked; "Alrife, are these monsters typically humanoid? Are rotten looking and craves human flesh?" 

Alrife stopped in his tracks, he turned around confused. "No, they are more alike the average animals, but are more stronger, bigger, and more horrifying-looking." 

"I see."

They made their way down the path to which was just behind the chief's house. It was not a far trek, merely a couple of steps and you'd make it there yourself. The chief's backyard (as observed by Hierd) was full of those training dolls and training swords, the trees having the slashes caused by the sharp edges of swords. 

But too abserved by Hierd, there were so little, nigh so few arrows and bows displayed about. Either the village hides the rest or that there are just that few of them in the village.

"We are here, O lord. I... I need to be back to the chief, please enjoy your stay in our village."

Hierd nodded to Alrife whom was already making his way back. 

"Its not that shabby, not that grand, but its a lodge alright..." Commented Hierd, looking at the 'shack,' be it. 

In customary attitude, Hierd knocked then opened the door. It looked clean, it's cleanliness inside did not what-so-ever matched the cleanliness, neatness, of the outside. 

Hierd laid himself onto the comfortable bed just in front the door. Just noticing his boots leaving marks of mud onto the clean wooden ground, he got it off and threw it behind the door. 

*Hyup

"Now time to prepare for tommorow..."

-THE NEXT DAY-

"Everyone! We are gathered here today to recieve Lord Hierd's training!" Shouted chief Naturvege at the surrounding village footmen.

"Oh mercy! Look at how many! fifty footmen!? I thought this was a small village! Why is there so many!? I thought there'd be atleast 25!"

Naturvege, after finishing his announcement stared at Hierd. Gathering that it was 'the' cue, Hierd then announced. "Footmen, you all are to recieve Germany's weaponry. Because of this, you are not allowed to deface, to dirty, or even to break them. Death be to anyone who does!"

The crowd of footmen grimaced, seeing that, he continued.

"This here," He equipped the Kar98k on his back and showed it to the crowd. "This is the Kar98k!"

The footmen stood in shock, they thought 'the sword is so little!' And, 'the sword's one the very front of such a long stick?' Naturvege, Alrife, the footmen, and all the observers were confused. But then, noticing the silent commotion.

"Alike a bow, but thrice as better, this gun can fire bullets as fast as a blink." He gestured Alrife to prepare an arrow target. 

He took a deep breath and aimed at it. 

"Please, please don't disapoint me now Kar98k please hit it..."

He pulled the trigger.

*BOOM

The crackle shook the observers, the ringing of their ears pained them but after a short while they looked at the target's middle. 

"A hole!" One said.

"He shot it!" Another said. 

"Yes, yes footmen. With this thing, we can shoot an average of five shots at every reload while the ones who wield arrows can fire one at our every reload."

The crowd was ecstatic, a weapon so accurate and fast, so powerfull as well as it burned a small hole and punctured all the way through the target. 

"Today we shall practice to use the Kar98k. And once you've mastered it, shall I then teach you the proper way to be a soldier!"

*YEAH!!!!!

-A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER-

Hierd, with the help of Alrife readied a small target area. The 'hub' area being the size of a football field. He set up three slots with targets at the end, one with a range of thirty meters, one with fifty, and the farthest being seventy meters. After they finished setting them up, he readied the soldiers in columns. But, he said something. 

"Hmm..."

"It seems you soldiers look like the the branches on barks of wood!" He said before; "Alrife!"

"Yes, O lord?"

"March them around the field we have created until they've exhausted!" 

The soldier's mouths dropped to the ground. Wanting to object one said; "But-" However he was stopped immidiately when the chief that was right behind Hierd said; "Follow the lord! No man shall object, punishment to those who do!" 

In a meaningless fit they started with a short jog before then the chief said; "Faster!" They reached the 50th meter but by that time, their legs were far too exhausted. They panted like dogs and the many of them collapsed. 

"They're far too weak." Hierd said before; "I wanted to train them how to use the gun but it seems they need physical exercises first! They can't ever wield a gun like this!" 

Hierd's complaint made the chief a bit embarrased. To then Naturvege said, "Please excuse us, our footmen were under trained." 

"A chance!" 

"Then..." He smirked, "Take them at my leisure whilst I prepare twenty-five more of my guns... I expect them to be exhausted, with sweat drenching their whole body. And once night falls, line them up in columns for I will give everyone a lesson." 

A comical gulp, "I shall, O lord." Said Naturvege.

In cinematic climax, Hierd rid himself off the stage and went towards the 'shack.'