Another week went by, the squads were relaxing in the courtyard. Whispers of rumors came and went. Talks of the upcoming major exams were the topic of this month. The instructors weren’t so privy, either. It seemed only the headmaster knew.

  It was under Aldric’s leadership that the training curriculum became more dynamic. It led to the increase of graduates of non-soldiering courses. The man himself was unpredictable to all but a few close confidants.

  Avryn and his friends sat around a lantern, they basked in the early evening in the courtyard. He laid down on the blanket-like grass.

  “The only thing we can control is ourselves. So I say we just keep training and expect the worst,” he sounded his opinion.

  “Unpredictability is the one guarantee in the battlefield,” Leifren added.

  Kiria stretched,

  “Knowing exactly what this test is could help greatly,” she started picking petals off a flower.

  A spark of an idea struck Avryn. He sat up and leaned forward. He proposed they could hold joint training sessions. His hope was this little friendly competition would help them push each other’s limits. It was an opportune time with the major exams a few weeks away. The two squads agreed and looked forward to it.

  Avryn and Leifren met to set up the schedules. The joint training sessions were twice a week until the week of the major exams. The two leaders were eager to prove the strength of their respective team’s bonds. They informed their squad members of the plans.

  There were so many potential matchups that interested both sides. There was Avryn vs Harver, the dark horses who looked to prove themselves. Tvira vs Jenilah would be a battle of the marksmen. Kiria looked to prove herself to the daughter of the Lioness, who was her idol growing up. Valoche vs Leifren would be a battle of close vs ranged, respectively.

  A couple of weeks passed by and the scoreboard, as the two teams put it, was at a tie currently. It was at 2-2. They had learned plenty of things that only battle brought out, and it was a sorely needed change.

  The two squads were hanging out in Storia when they saw a large gathering of people. Military jeeps numbering at least half a hundred paraded through the streets. Soldiers wrapped in bandages and medals greeted the crowds. Flowers were given to them as they passed. Music sounded off as they passed by.

  “Ordellian soldiers,” Jenilah pointed out.

  Avryn’s ears perked up upon hearing those words. Yes, this was a profession that was on his bucket list. A good fight fought to steer the Eyur into a brighter future. Valoche and Tvira stared the longest at the parading vehicles and soldiers. They were both deep in thought, and only they could understand each other.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Leifren imagined himself in the soldiers’ place. He would be the fifth generation of his family to join the expeditions, if he succeeded on graduating. Glory in duty, as his father taught him, and he wouldn’t be alone in that regard. He glanced to the side and saw Jenilah with the same determined expression.

  Things had begun to click in them. They were still young, and there was plenty of time left in these four years. They returned with a fire lit under the hearts.

  A few hours passed by, Avryn was in the training room. He fell for the ninth time today.

  “Well, kid, seems you need to train some more,” a familiar voice spoke to him.

  He panted from the accumulated exhaustion. His mind was racing and numb at the same time. It shouldn’t have been possible, should it? He had arrived at the proverbial wall in training. His mind raced, and tried to come up with explanations.

  Sweat ran down from the sides of his face. The white lights of the simulation room made it hard to focus. He fanned himself with his shirt to cool down, the sound of it flapping gave a rhythm of peace to his mind. He looked towards the voice. A hologram of Sir Iver assumed a standby mode, awaiting new commands.

  He looked at his gunblade and rested it on his lap,

  “Lerosa, what am I missing here?” he asked desperately.

  A slight humming was her only response. He closed his eyes and took deep breaths. He stood up, using his gunblade as support. The sweat was wiped from his brow with his hand. He was ready to go again.

  “Alright, one more time,” he restarted the simulation.

  Hologram Iver smiled. The knight took to a battle stance. They clashed once again. Both versions of Lerosa had collided so violently, sparks flew across the two fighters. Iver had easily overpowered Avryn.

  The latter tried to retreat but the knight proved too perseverant. He backed him into a corner. Avryn quickly turned, using the wall to flip up over Iver. He fired several shots as he flew. Iver was forced on the defense for the first time in these fights.

  Avryn used the smokescreen to compose himself. He needed a new approach. Iver had overwhelming advantages on every aspect. There had to be a weakness that could be exploited.

  “Damn, I’ve never had to think this much in a fight. Not since…” He thought to himself.

  Before he could finish, he felt a force of metal crashing into his body. Iver had recovered and charged his shoulder into Avryn. He flew across the room. He rolled multiple times through the floor, earning some new bruises and scratches.

  He clutched onto his shoulder. The pain started to set in. He rolled onto the side. Iver was approaching. The next hit would definitely defeat Avryn.

  “Argh….damn it,” Avryn feigned.

  “Come on, I know you have more fight than that,” Iver encouraged.

  Iver lifted Avryn by the collar of his shirt. The two swords were caught in another clash. Avryn’s base fighting instincts were keeping him in the fight.

  “It’s over, I win,” Iver smirked.

  “Is it?” Avryn looked down.

  That moment of distraction was more than enough. A grenade exploded from beneath them both. Iver had been sent flying. Avryn jumped high and dueled the knight in the air. The two gunblades exchanged blows and blasts. It had the beauty of fireworks if it weren’t so violent.

  One slash got through the knight’s armor, the bottom of his neck spurted blood. Finally, he got through. Avryn was oblivious for the counterattack. Iver’s gunblade blasted right past his ear. The bullet itself merely grazed it but the sound had disorientated him.

  They both fell onto the ground. Both weapons fell from their hands. They fought and scrambled onto the ground again. Avryn had a hold of one of Iver’s hands. He broke the man’s fingers and kicked away Iver’s gunblade.

  He crawled and reached for his own but Iver jumped onto his back, and attempted to choke him out. Air was leaving Avryn’s system fast. He had only a few seconds left to make a decision. The knight’s armor only amplified the force applied to Avryn’s throat.

  He pointed the barrel of the gunblade right behind him and to Sir Iver’s head. He was fading fast and fell down to one knee. His vision was darkening. Iver notice the gunblade pointed at him and fought it away with his broken hand.

  An elbow to the side forced Iver to let go of his group. Avryn turned to shoot the gunblade but Iver was faster. He clocked him on the side of the jaw. He was knocked out. He lost once again. That made ten losses in a row.

  “End…simulation,” he clenched his fist.

  All simulated damage was removed and the room had shut down the current simulation. Avryn leaned on the wall and slumped right onto the floor. He covered his face with his hands.

  “What am I missing? I…I should be stronger by now!” he voiced out his frustration.

  He caught himself. Screaming wasn’t going to help. It was back to the drawing board.