The forest stood quiet. Caelan and Solara stood a few paces apart among the trees.

  “Trenches?” Solara said flatly.

  Caelan avoided eye contact, rocking slightly on his heels.

  “Well… you know me,” he said sheepishly. “Start outrageous. Haggle down.”

  Solara turned her head slowly.

  “And the bubble talk?”

  Caelan shrugged.

  “I wanted to get my point across.”

  Solara sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

  “Fine. Lesson learned. I’ll handle it myself in future.” She glanced at him sideways. “You don’t need to put on a show every time. I expect you to be an adult.”

  Caelan rolled his eyes and let out a long breath.

  “Oh my god, will you stop taking her side?”

  Solara folded her arms and looked away.

  “Well, maybe you should follow her example now and again,” she said. “She’s only looking out for you.”

  Caelan stamped his foot against the dirt.

  “I swear I’ve done nothing this time,” he said. “Honestly. You lot just like getting mad at me because the wind decided to fart in a different direction.”

  He threw his hands up.

  “Come on, man. She’s always picking on me.”

  Solara’s lips twitched.

  “Oh really?” she said. “Because if I remember the other night correctly — before someone interrupted my world?class dancing and was about to receive swift justice — I seem to recall two people holding hands in the corner of my eye.”

  Caelan’s head snapped up.

  “Shut up!” he shouted. “You were plastered. You didn’t see anything, Lieutenant.”

  He pointed accusingly.

  “I will not accept such slander suggesting I would touch such an old granny.”

  Around them, the recruits remained frozen — no one moved, no one spoke.

  Braen leaned slightly toward the person beside her, eyes sparkling.

  “They’re like little puppies when they’re like this,” she whispered. “So adorable.”

  Renn stared ahead, visibly re?evaluating his life choices.

  “I’m honestly starting to question the stories I’ve heard about this group,” he muttered.

  Veyra crossed her arms, unimpressed.

  “Well, what did you expect?” she said quietly. “The luckiest idiots this war has to offer.”

  She shook her head.

  “I swear that’s the only reason we haven’t all been eliminated yet.”

  Lyra rubbed at her face and muttered under her breath, barely loud enough for anyone to hear.

  “Why does he always get her going like this?” she said, “and why does she always bite?”

  Veyra snorted.

  “You say that,” she replied, “but it would be a lot more convincing if neither of them smiled like idiots whenever they’re around each other.”

  Behind them, Caelan’s voice carried through the trees.

  “Fucking giant!”

  “You can’t say anything with that hair,” Solara shot back. “Just cut it already. Did you shave this morning?”

  Lyra glanced around, suddenly uneasy.

  “Where is everyone?” she asked. “I thought… You know… everyone was meant to be here for this.”

  Veyra stepped in close behind her — too close — and a terrifying smile spread across her face.

  “Why?” she whispered. “Who’s missing? Anyone in particular?”

  She leaned in further.

  “Let me guess. Is it—”

  Braen lifted Veyra clean off the ground with one hand.

  “Stop being mean,” Braen said calmly, “and leave the poor recruits alone.”

  Veyra spun slightly in Braen’s grip, pouting as her boots dangled.

  “I’m just trying to have fun,” she complained. “I spent half a day digging holes with them both yesterday, and it was weird. She hesitated. “It was… off. Aidan seemed fine, but Milo — something wasn’t right with him.”

  Lyra panicked.

  “Weird how?” she demanded. “What did they say?”

  Before she could get an answer, someone stepped directly between Solara and Caelan.

  Jett.

  He walked with one hand in his pocket, swaggering forward with the confidence of someone who very clearly thought he belonged there. He laughed and waved a dismissive hand at both of them.

  “Alright, you two,” Jett said. “Why don’t you take a seat over there? I’ll take it from here.”

  He turned to the recruits, planting himself squarely between Caelan and Solara.

  “As many of you have likely realised by now,” Jett announced, “I’m the future leader of this group.”

  A beat.

  “And let me start by saying looks do add to your overall performance here—”

  Caelan moved.

  He scooped Jett up in a crushing bear hug, lifting him clean off the ground.

  “Hey, look, Lieutenant,” Caelan said brightly. “I found a loophole in his thing.”

  Solara started shaking.

  A smile cracked across her face as her teeth ground together.

  “Oh, Captain,” she said, her voice dropping into something low and dangerous. “I knew I followed you for a reason.”

  She leaned closer.

  “Hold him still.”

  Jett went flying.

  He landed back in his place in the line in front of the recruits in a very undignified heap.

  Solara clapped her hands once. “Right. Enough messing around.” Her gaze swept over the recruits. “Let’s focus on today’s trial.”

  Solara straightened, the last trace of amusement gone. “Yesterday was just a basic introduction,” she continued, voice carrying easily through the trees. “A personal-level assessment on your path to joining us.” She looked over the gathered recruits. “Unfortunately, we’re down to fifty of you now. Dropouts. Failures.” No softness.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  “That means you’ve already proven you can each handle yourselves in a fight.”

  She stepped aside.

  “Today’s challenge pushes that one step further.”

  Solara nodded toward Caelan.

  “I’ll pass you over to the Captain to explain this little brainchild of his.”

  Caelan’s grin returned instantly. “Thank you, Lieutenant.” He clapped his hands together once.

  “Alright. Today we’re focusing on teamwork and objective-based evaluation.”

  He paced a few steps, gesturing with one hand.

  “You’ll break off into groups of five. That gives us ten groups total for this trial.”

  He pointed at the ground in front of him.

  “As you can see, there’s a line marked out here. That line forms a one-mile circle around this part of the forest.”

  A few recruits leaned forward.

  “The objective is simple,” Caelan continued. “One group at a time needs to pop one of seven balloons tied to trees near the centre of the area.”

  He raised a finger.

  “You do it within the time limit, you’re good.”

  Another finger.

  “Each of you has your own balloon. If yours pops — you’re out.”

  He smiled, sharp.

  “But listen carefully. This is about the objective.”

  He let that sink in.

  “If any member of your team completes the challenge, the whole team passes and moves on to the final trial tomorrow.”

  He spread his arms.

  “Any questions?”

  Hector and Bella stepped forward together, fingers interlaced.

  “Sounds great, bud,” Hector called out. “Knew you could do it if you set your mind to it.”

  Bella laughed.

  “Now if only you’d speak to a certain someone with that attitude, there might actually be a shot.”

  Solara smiled and gave them a small wave.

  Caelan went very still.

  His eyes widened.

  “…Lieutenant?” he said quietly.

  Solara leaned toward him just enough for only him to hear.

  “We are not kicking them out,” she said. “Deal with it.”

  Hector squeezed Bella’s hand.

  “Have I ever told you how beautiful you look in this light?” he said.

  Bella grinned.

  “No,” she replied. “We’re beautiful together. That’s what makes the magic work.”

  The recruits around them began, very carefully, taking large steps away.

  Caelan sighed.

  “Christ,” he muttered. “They’re going to be at this all day.”

  A hand went up.

  “Hi,” a recruit said. “Mr Captain, sir, Corwin Hale. Thank you for the opportunity.”

  He swallowed.

  “Is there more to this? Or is it really just popping balloons?”

  Caelan’s head snapped up.

  The smile he gave was… unsettling.

  “First,” he said, “drop the ‘sir.’”

  He leaned forward slightly.

  “And second — no. This isn’t going to be a walk in the park.”

  He gestured toward Solara.

  “This challenge requires you to survive our legendary Master Sergeant.”

  Solara folded her arms.

  “To evaluate you properly,” she said, “there will only be seven balloons available for the entire duration of the trial. That means three teams will fail — no matter how good they are.”

  She met their eyes one by one.

  “If your team waits too long and plays it safe, there may be no slots left.”

  Her tone hardened.

  “You will be eliminated.”

  She shifted her stance.

  “However, in the interest of making this possible…”

  A pause.

  “The Master Sergeant has been assigned a ten-square-metre area. She will not leave it.”

  A few nervous breaths.

  “You have the entire rest of the forest to work with.”

  Solara lifted one finger.

  “And as a final mercy — she’s been issued twenty-five bullets that will last her the entire trial.”

  Caelan stepped forward, hands clasped behind his back as the recruits stared at him in uneasy silence.

  “Well?” he said brightly. “Come on then. The faster you find your squads, the faster you can enter.”

  His smile sharpened.

  “Don’t keep the Master Sergeant waiting. You’ll learn that lesson the hard way.”

  The silence broke, and small clusters began forming almost instantly — tentative steps, quick glances, quiet negotiations.

  Lyra froze, panic flashing across her face as she looked around at the shifting groups.

  “Who should I ask?” she whispered, turning to Braen. “I don’t know anyone here.”

  Veyra stood nearby, arms crossed, wearing a smug little smile.

  “Do you think that’s maybe the point, Lyra?” she said.

  Braen rested a firm hand on Veyra’s shoulder.

  “My little angel,” she said sweetly, “stop picking on her — or you can go help them put the walls up for the next challenge.”

  Veyra stiffened.

  “I can’t,” she said quickly. “My messy need to be washed so I can’t—”

  Braen leaned in, voice low.

  “I’ll make it an order if you keep playing up.”

  Veyra swallowed.

  “Oh. Erm. Right. Yeah.” She glanced at Lyra, suddenly earnest. “Sorry. Don’t mind me. Lots of new people and… that’s not really my thing.”

  Braen’s grip tightened slightly.

  “Spit it out, princess.”

  Veyra sighed.

  “You’ll do great, Lyra,” she said. “No matter what group you end up in. There are enough spots to go around.”

  Lyra smiled, relief flickering across her face.

  “Thank you, Staff Sergeant,” she said — then tilted her head. “But you can be yourself. I actually like short Veyra.”

  Veyra blinked.

  Then smiled at Braen.

  “See? I’m not being mean.”

  She suddenly grabbed Lyra by the shoulders.

  “RIGHT. FULL VEYRA IT IS.”

  Her voice boomed.

  “STOP MOANING AND HURRY UP. OH WHAA, I’M SCARED OF THE MASTER SERGEANT. WHAA WHAA.”

  She shook Lyra once.

  “DRY THE TEARS AND MOVE IT.”

  Lyra laughed.

  “Thank you, Sergeant,” she said. “Oh — and before I forget. Section fourteen, article seven of the Revolutionary handbook states that, with the exception of the Captain, all jackets must be kept to uniform specification.”

  Veyra frowned.

  “And what’s that got to do with anything?”

  Lyra smiled sweetly.

  “The pink underlayer in your jacket doesn’t meet that standard.”

  She tilted her head.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll report it to the Lieutenant tomorrow. Gives you enough time to fix it.”

  Braen laughed quietly.

  Veyra stood there, processing.

  Bella appeared out of nowhere, grabbing Lyra by the arm.

  “She’s coming with me,” Bella said. “And Sergeant — she’s right. Maybe once in a while, we should follow the Lieutenant instead of the airhead.”

  Veyra’s eye twitched.

  Slowly, she reached for her bow.

  Braen caught her wrists immediately, smiling.

  “Thanks,” Braen said. “I’ll handle this.”

  She looked to Lyra.

  “Good luck. I’m betting on you.”

  Lyra blinked.

  “There’s bets?”

  Bella dragged her away.

  “Come on,” she said. “I found you a great little group.”

  Solara raised her voice, cutting cleanly through the noise.

  “Alright,” she called. “We have our first group.”

  The forest stilled.

  “The moment the first person steps into the circle,” Solara continued, “your time has officially started.”

  She reached up to a nearby tree, pulled down a bundle of balloons tied together with a cord, and handed one to each member of the group.

  “At all times,” she said evenly, “the balloon must remain above your head.”

  Her gaze hardened.

  “Anyone who fails to follow that instruction will be at fault for what happens next.”

  A pause.

  “You have been warned.”

  She glanced toward the canopy.

  “Are we ready, Captain?”

  Silence.

  “…Captain?”

  From above, Caelan’s voice rang out.

  “Yeah, she’s good to go,” he shouted cheerfully. “Staff Sergeant — hit it!”

  Solara looked up sharply.

  “When did you get up there?” she demanded. “How?”

  Braen planted her tower shield against a tree, braced her feet, and lifted her warhammer.

  A terrifying smile spread across her face.

  She swung.

  The hammer smashed into the shield with a thunderous crack.

  The sound rolled through the forest like an explosion.

  Several recruits flinched, clapping their hands over their ears.

  A faint whistle echoed between the trees.

  Perched high above, Caelan raised his hand.

  Then, dropped it.

  “GO!”

  “Excuse me?” Solara snapped. “That’s my job—”

  She sighed.

  “…Fine. You can go now.”

  The first group hesitated, exchanging looks that suggested immediate regret.

  One of them muttered as they stepped forward.

  “Let’s just get this over with.”

  Another grumbled, quieter.

  “Couldn’t we have done this all in one day? What’s the point of splitting it up?”

  Solara watched them disappear into the trees.

  She turned back to the remaining recruits.

  “So,” she said calmly, “who wants to go next?”

  A hand went up.

  “What the hell,” a recruit said. “We’ll go next. Don’t fancy standing around all day.”

  Solara nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips.

  “Understood,” she said. “Your team will be next.”

  She tilted her head.

  “But please be reassured — this trial won’t last nearly as long as you’re expecting.”

  A single gunshot cracked through the forest.

  The sound echoed, sharp and final.

  Caelan, still laughing atop the tree, leaned forward.

  “…Shit,” he said. “Think we might’ve given her a few too many bullets.”

  Solara closed her eyes.

  “Don’t tell me—”

  The first group emerged from the trees — all five of them, every balloon popped.

  One of them stormed forward, face red with fury.

  “What the hell was that?” he shouted. “No way she made that shot. What even is this clown show?”

  He jabbed a finger toward the command group.

  “All you’ve done is drink and mess around, wasting our time like we’re children. Answer me, woman.”

  He grabbed Solara by the jacket.

  She looked down at his hand.

  Then back at his face.

  “Take your hand off my jacket,” she said calmly, “while you still can.”

  Her voice didn’t rise.

  “You lost. You were eliminated. Now deal with it — and leave.”

  “Or what?” he shouted.

  Solara exhaled.

  “Staff Sergeant.”

  The man rose off the ground.

  Just enough to notice.

  Then the world flipped.

  He hit the dirt face?first as Braen slammed him down with brutal efficiency.

  Braen leaned close, voice quiet.

  “Give me an excuse,” she murmured. “I dare you.”

  From above, Caelan’s tone dropped — no humour left in it.

  “You idiots walked in a straight line toward a sniper,” he said coldly. “You might be able to fight, but your situational awareness is tragic.”

  He leaned forward on the branch.

  “Don’t come crying to me when you fail to make the cut. You could’ve left at any moment.”

  His gaze sharpened.

  “And if that hand goes near one of my people again, you’ll spend the rest of this war without it. Now fuck off.”

  The man froze.

  Slowly, he looked around.

  Every member of the Revolutionary Army was watching him.

  No blinking.

  No movement.

  Just dead eyes, fixed and unyielding.

  Braen released him.

  He straightened, dusting himself off with sharp, angry movements.

  “Fine,” he snapped. “I’m out of here.”

  He glanced at the others who had failed, curling his lip.

  “Who in their right mind would follow a bunch of drunken idiots like you anyway?”

  He turned away.

  “Enjoy the loser pile.”

  The failed recruits followed him out of the forest, disappearing between the trees.

  Solara smiled.

  “Thank you for the assist, Staff Sergeant.”

  She lifted her gaze toward the canopy.

  “And Captain — that’s your two for the day.”

  Her eyes sharpened, locking onto Caelan.

  “Do not make me come up there,” she added calmly. “I promise you — not after this week.”

  Caelan stuck his tongue out at her.

  For half a second, she held it.

  Then she broke into a smile.

  Solara turned back to the remaining recruits.

  Her expression shifted — sharp, predatory.

  She tilted her head.

  “So,” she said sweetly, “you’re next. Let’s get this going.”