Chapter 23: Training Camp

Goerld

After finishing tilling the land, I took a shower and headed to the base the invaders had built at the southern end of town. Hopefully, they would accept me into their fold

I walked toward the gate and took a deep breath.

"Here goes nothing," I muttered.

"Stop!" a guard called out. His hair was pink and his eyes with as blue as the sky.

"Hi, my name is Goerld. I'm here to enlist," I said, bowing.

"Why do you want to join?" the soldier asked.

"I'm tired of being a farmer. I want to be a soldier."

He stared at me. "Hmm, what's your last name?"

"I don't have one."

"That so? Well, you may come in. We got several new recruits. I'm fairly new myself."

"Thank you, sir."

"Don't call me 'sir.' My name is Dros. Follow me."

I followed him inside.

The building was very plain. It was just a square room. In the middle, was a large table, covered in papers and maps.

"This is our command center," Dros explained.

I was in awe of the command center. While it was plain, it also had an aura of importance and urgency. The maps on the table were covered in markings, and I could see small figurines placed in strategic positions. They must've been the locations they had soldiers stationed.

Dros led me to a side room where several other people sat. They all seemed to be around my age, and they all wore the same nervous expression.

"These are the other recruits," Dros said. "You'll be training with them."

I nodded, taking a seat among the others. Dros left the room, leaving us recruits alone.

I introduced myself to the others, learning their names in return. There was Tessa, a former blacksmith's apprentice. Roan, who used to be a merchant's son. And Mirasa, who was a fisherman's daughter. 

We chatted among ourselves, sharing our reasons for joining and our hopes for the future.

After a while, Dros returned with another soldier. It was the female commander who had saved Nera and me the other day, Commander Wilneth.

"At ease," the commander said. She turned to the soldiers and smiled. "These are your new recruits, eh?"

"Yes, ma'am," Dros said. "This is Tessa, Roan, Mirasa and Goerld."

She smiled. "Goerld, eh?" She approached me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I see you took my advice and came here to enlist. It's good to see you again."

I looked up at her and nodded. "Thank you."

She laughed. "No, thank you. You saved me the trouble of paying you another visit to convince you to join us. Plus, I've seen you fight. You'd make a great addition to our ranks. How would you like to join our special forces? You'll be receiving advanced training from the best soldiers in the empire."

"S-special forces?" I stammered. "I don't know."

She crossed her arms. "Well, you can decide later. You are still a greenhorn." She grinned. "Well, all of you are. But rest easy, I will be looking forward to training all of you to be the best."

We all exchanged looks. I could see the nervousness in the eyes of the others. That told me that her training wouldn't be easy or gentle.

I sighed inwardly. What was I doing here? Was I really ready for this? I glanced over at the direction of our homes. I had to do it for Nera and this world. It was my duty to protect the ones I love.

I clenched my hands into fists and turned to Commander Wilneth.

"I'm ready, ma'am," I said.

She chuckled. "Hope you are. As the course I set up will be a challenge even for you."

Commander Wilneth led us to a large field behind the command center. "This is where we will begin your training," she announced.

The first exercise was an obstacle course. It involved climbing walls, crawling under nets, and running through tires. Commander Wilneth explained that this would help strengthen our bodies and improve our agility. 

"Remember, speed is not the only goal," Wilneth said. "You need to be aware of your surroundings and make quick decisions on the spot."

We all lined up at the starting line. On Wilneth's signal, we started the course. I was determined to do well. I pushed myself, trying to keep up with the others. 

Despite the physical strain, I found myself enjoying the challenge. It felt good to push past my limits.

Next, we were trained in hand-to-hand combat. It was meant to teach the basics of self-defense. Despite my former life as a farmer, I found that I had a knack for it. Perhaps it was the survival instincts I'd developed while living on the edge of town where wild beasts would sometimes roam.

Commander Wilneth roamed among us, giving pointers and correcting our stances. When it was my turn to spar with her, I was nervous. However, she just smiled and told me to do my best.

I didn't get to land a hit on her at all. She was too quick and strong. Instead, I ended up getting backflipped onto the mat.

"Nice attempt, Goerld," she said, smirking.

Nice attempt? I hated to see what she would consider a bad one.

After our hand-to-hand combat session, we moved on to weapons training.

"It's not all about brute strength," she explained. "A smart soldier uses his head as much as his sword."

Commander Wilneth started with the basics, teaching us how to handle a variety of weapons –

The first weapon we were introduced to was an energy saber. It was a sleek weapon that hummed with a low, ominous buzz. The blade was made of pure energy, its glow illuminating the training field.

"Remember, an energy saber is not a toy," Commander Wilneth said, her voice serious. "It can cut through almost anything. Treat it with respect."

We took turns practicing with the energy sabers, the air filled with the soft hum of the blades and the occasional gasp as someone nearly lost control of their weapon.

Next, we moved onto energy bows. These were similar to traditional bows, but instead of arrows, they shot concentrated bursts of energy. They were tricky to handle, the draw weight heavier than I had expected.

"Keep your aim steady, Goerld," Wilneth called, observing my struggle. "Remember, your weapon is an extension of your body," Wilneth said. "Treat it with respect, and it will protect you."

I nodded

Commander Wilneth also introduced us to various other energy-based weapons, from energy throwing knives to energy shields. Each weapon required a different skill set, and we were expected to become proficient in all of them.

We spent hours practicing swings, thrusts, and parries. My arms ached and my hands were covered in blisters, but I kept at it. I could see the others were just as determined. We all had our own goals in life. For many of us, this job was only a stepping stone. Or a launch pad to borrow from the Titanos' phrase. For me, though, it was more than that. It was a path toward saving our world from the corrupting effects of the invaders.

I would use their tactics against them. That was my goal.