Sable Coldwater stood there unimpressed with other supervisors on a platform as she watched the recruits try and fail to recite the ten basic combat spells needed for any royal guard to know. While some faired better than others, none have yet to successfully cast all ten spells. There always being at least a couple of spells that they can’t quite fully grasp.

This admittedly wasn’t much of a shock to her however, as the royal guard for a long time now had struggled to find adequate spellcasters among their guard. A royal guard that is to serve the king and his domain must be able to adequately fight with both melee weapons and magic. This has been the requirement for well over a century now.

This requirement however causes a bit of a dilemma for those who want to become a member of the most prestigious combat force in the world. By default those who can properly cast spells were rare. Even with more universal methods of teaching spells these days it was still hard for most people to learn magic.

Most people were required to focus all their time on spellcasting in order to become wizards and mages. Meaning that a lot less time could be used in physical combat training. What’s more, those truly gifted in the art of magic tend to go full-in on their studies and ignore these types of occupations. So those who would have the time to master the blade do not as they want to perfect what they are good at already.

The same is applied to those truly gifted with combat. Martial arts were itself its very own beast to master. The truly capable ones use all their inner mana to perfect their bodies and hone their combat abilities. Additional spells were a second thought to these people as one can make up for the lack of spells with the abilities gained from mastery of their martial prowess.

Hence this dilemma has always plagued the royal guards. The perfect royal guard could use magic and physical strength to defend the king. But for most, to be good at one meant to be lacking in the other. To be capable of both required one to be special.

The royal guard training system was made so that those who train can master both. It’s just that most people applying for the position tend to be warriors and not wizards. Thus the issue with finding truly good spellcasters within the royal guards themselves.

Though in all honesty, it was likely that these people were more than capable of casting the ten spells required. They had proven to be more than clever enough to pass through all the written tests after all. It’s just that the environment these people were being tested in wasn’t exactly conducive to careful thinking.

As if to emphasize that point the ground next to the recruits trying to cast the spells blew up and was replaced by a smoldering crater.

“Hurry up! You won’t have time to laze around on a battlefield!” Sable Coldwater yelled through all the noise, “Florence! Don’t stop firing!” She ordered her current assistant standing across the field.

Florence Marsh stood there with her small firearm. A strange amalgamation of a handgun, and blunderbuss with the firepower of a literal artillery piece that was powered by mana. She simply fired expressionlessly and with horrifying accuracy around the recruits, even the debris that came from the explosion avoided hitting anyone.

The objective of this task was for the recruit to be able to cast all ten of these spells in succession under heavy artillery being fired around them. If they could get past all the rumbling and noise that these explosions caused then they moved on.

This was the recruits’ first attempt at passing this section, they would get three over the course of three days those who failed would be kicked out. Though recommendations to other branches would be offered to them.

A few of these recruits were not newcomers and had attempted and failed to pass in the past. These people tended to find more success with their training than the others. Still, this consecutive spellcasting test was different from the past tests.

Before in the past, they were to be prone and try to cast their spells while lying down and a torrent of projectiles flew over their heads. The concept was the same, just the execution now was a bit different.

“Two minutes left!” Sable screamed, “Only two of you have passes so far! If you fail you’ll have to do all of this over again!”

As the seconds ticked down a supervisor said, “Numbers twenty-two and thirty you both pass. Please remove yourselves from the training zone.”

Relief on the faces of the two could be seen immediately as they hurried off. Over the course of another ninety seconds, a few more people passed and the final horn was blown.

“Cease fire!” Sable shouted and Florence complied.

Sable then took a moment to survey the area. The area around all the recruits was completely ruined with massive craters. The earth had been upturned and mud was everywhere. No matter, the mages will repair the grounds later. Sable looked over to a few dozen or so remaining recruits still standing on the training grounds.

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“You lot have failed. Back to your barracks. You go again tomorrow, same time.” She spat.

Begrudgingly the recruits who failed slowly made their way off the training grounds, heads hung low, defeated. The other recruits that had passed were guided to another area to rest and recuperate. Just as the failed recruits were making their way back to the barracks Bryson Coldwater made his way back over with Lottie and Kristel in tow.

Bryson looked at the crestfallen faces of the people who walked by him with amused curiosity. He had never gotten a chance to properly see how the recruitment process of the royal guards was before. Looking at the scene before him it clearly wasn’t very fun. Nico actually got through all of this? He’s better than I thought.

“I see you’re treating our guests well.” Bryson joked as he approached his sister.

“What are you doing here?” Sable asked looking confused at him.

“Hey Sable!” Lottie said with a happy wave.

“Why do you have them with you?” Sable asked with a look of disdain.

“You don’t know?” Bryson said surprised.

“Know what?”

“Mother said I am to help you out. She also said the two of them are to assist.” Bryson explained as Florence began to walk over to them.

“What in the world could she offer?” Sable asked looking at Lottie.

“Combat and stealth as you already know.” Bryson answered.

“I’m really sneaky!”

“Combat? Really?” Sable said unconvinced.

“She is good. Tends to run circles around Kristel. Quiet literally.” Bryson said.

“The girl who’s had two months of training?”

“She’s surprisingly capable.” Bryson said and Kristel gave small, embarrassed nod.

Sable looked suspiciously at Kristel before turning back to Bryson, “Why do you call her by her first name? Don’t you usually go by last names?”

“Because she only has one name.” Florence answered now standing next to Bryson.

“Exactly.” Bryson said with a nod, “How has my sister been treating you, Marsh?”

“I’m fine Lord Bryson.” She said calmly.

“You sure?” Bryson said, “Didn’t spend too much energy I hope.”

“I did not.”

“Hmm.” Bryson said after a moment of studying Florence, seemingly satisfied that she looked fine, “Why didn’t you tell me you were using Marsh?”

“Do I have to?”

“I suppose not. But still, I like to know what you would be using her for.”

“Protective much?”

“More like suspicious of what you would do.”

“You scared I would steal her from you.” Sable teased.

“Somehow I don’t think you would be able to.” Bryson said flatly, “Now what do you need me to do?”

“Magic has been an issue for many of the recruits. Even though those who passed today could have been better.” Sable said as she sent a message to Bryson’s Communicator.

“What’s this?” Bryson said taking out his Communicator.

“List of the spells they need to cast. They need to be able to cast at least ten of these in a row to be able to pass.”

“Pretty basic, a few of these flow pretty well together. They’re having trouble with this?”

“They’re not wizards.” Sable shrugged, “Can you teach them? Aren’t you still being taught by Primrose?”

“I am, surprised she wasn’t sent to help you instead.”

“I’ve asked before. Mother said that she was for you only.” Sable said bitterly.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, I don’t blame you.” Sable said regretting her phrasing.

“Still, sorry.” Bryson said, “But yeah. I can give this teaching thing a shot. Lead the way.”

As Sable guided them back to the barracks Bryson recalled something.

“Ah, Marsh here.” Bryson said handing her the Ashen Gensing.

“Ashen Gensing?” Marsh said taking the plant.

“Found it growing in the grass. I know our gardens don’t grow this so I thought you might want to replant it there.” Bryson said casually.

“You put a dirt-covered plant into your pocket?”

“Eh, Frost will clean it later.”

“No I won’t.” Lottie complained.

“I mean your sister.” Bryson said a sigh of disappointment.

“Oh.”

“Hmm.” Bryson said with a shake of his head over to Florence who had gingerly put the plant into her bag.

“Ah, sorry I got your gloves dirty.” Bryson said tapping the back of her hands and causing the dirt to fall off them.

“Thanks.” Florence said quietly as she adjusted her Breton hat and looked downwards for a moment.

Bryson looked at Florence unable to look her into her eyes as she hid them from him. That’s a new reaction. He thought.

Bryson looked over to Sable who seemed to have a look of jealousy on her face. And that’s a weird reaction.

“Is something wrong?” Bryson asked.

“N-nothing.” Sable quickly said and continued to walk.

Kristel looked around the place looking nervous, “I don’t know if I’ll be able to help much.”

“You’ll be fine.” Bryson assured her.

“But what if-” Kristel began before being cut off.

“Kristel. You’ve already shown that you’re extremely capable. You've proven that to Reese and you’ve proven that to me. I believe in you.” Bryson assured her looking deep into her pale blue eyes of uncertainty.

“Oh. Uh… okay, yes. Okay, Thanks.” Kristel said with a sheepish nod, blushing a bit from the heartfelt praise.

“Why don’t you ever compliment me like that?” Lottie said teasing Bryson.

“Because she needs confidence, and you clearly have too much of it.” Bryson said glancing over to her.

“Heh.” Lottie said with a smile.

Sable suddenly stopped walking and turned sharply around, “You actually think that? That she’s that good?” She demanded suddenly.

“Uh, yes?” Bryson said confused by his sister’s strange change in attitude.

“Prove it then.” Sable said.

“What?”

“Kristel. I want to have a duel with you. A spar.” Sable said with a look of some weird hunger in her eyes.

“Uh…” Kristel said taken aback.

“You don’t need to do that.” Bryson assured her.

“You don’t. But my brother praised you so much. Wouldn’t you want to prove him right?” Sable challenged.

“This is nonsense. You don’t-” Bryson began before Kristel quickly blurted out.

“I accept.” She said with a vehement nod.

“Are you sure Kristel?” Bryson asked sounding skeptical.

“Yes.” She said sounding sure of herself.

“Good, come with me to the training area.” Sable said as she began to leave.

“What about the recruits?” Bryson asked.

“They can wait. They need the rest anyways.” Sable said as she marched her way to the training area with Kristel right behind her.

“This should be fun.” Lottie said following the two.

“What’s happening?” Bryson asked completely flabbergasted.

Florence gave a gentle brush with her fingers over the Ashen Ginseng, “I have an idea. Best to watch this play out.” Florence advised before following the others.

“Could you tell me? Marsh? No? Ugh, no one tells me anything.” Bryson grumbled as he followed along.