After morning training the recruits were exhausted but happy. They took the drills fairly well and they show promise. They are able to cooperate properly and have a decent grasp on the basics. Some of the guys show real talent for magic. I’ll teach them how to launch ice spikes so that we have more people who can attack from a distance. While I was teaching the new spell one of the guys asked me.

“Why do you use water magic, isn’t fire more effective?” {Random volunteer}

“Funny you ask that, it’s because…” {Pr}

A sudden pain in my head, the smell of burning flesh is stings my nose, I can hear the squealing of some monster. I feel nauseated, disgusted with myself. The pain that is transmitted thru the squealing from the monster. What was that? It feels like I remembered something. The first monster I’ve killed and the reason I don’t use fire magic. People are gathering around me with concerned faces. I recompose myself and tell the people around me that I’m alright.

“Prudan are you okay?” {Volunteers}

“Yeah, I’m fine. You asked why I don’t use fire magic, right? Well the answer is simple, I don’t use it because it causes unnecessary suffering.” {Pr}

I’m fine with killing a living being but not with making it suffer without reason. Ice magic might be less effective but it is also more merciful, well as merciful as it gets when you are trying to kill something. After regaining myself and expelling the sour memory I arrange my ideas once again. We meed to know the strength of what we are up against, their equipment and abilities.

“Does anyone know where I can get a horse?” {Pr}

“Why do you need a horse for?” {Man}

“I’ll go scout the enemy and see how strong they are, Information is key in a fight after all.” {Pr}

Maybe they are thinking I’ll run away, I won’t. Not after having trained these suckers. They seem convinced by what I’ve just said. One of the volunteers ran somewhere, before long he returned with a horse. It had a saddle and was ready to go. Thank you person I’ve trained, sorry but I forgot your name. You shall be known henceforth as Super helper! I left super helper in charge of the guys’ training.

I mounted the horse and started heading east as fast as possible. After riding for three hours my rear end is destroyed but at least, I’ve sighted the enemy encampment. The bandit camp was rather small, it was surrounded by wooden stakes and I could see seven relatively large tents. People were talking and laughing, sharpening their weapons a relaxed feeling came from the camp. I think I see a barrel of ale!  I have decided, we must raid these bandits and liberate the innocent and godly beverage. Most of the men in the camp don’t seem particularly trained nor do they seem to know magic. I also notice the lack of horses, there are some but not enough for every bandit.

I turned around and returned to the town. It should take the bandits around sixteen hours or so of constant walking to get to the town. They were preparing for something, so maybe we have two days before they arrive. This is great news, it means we can fine tune the recruits a little more perhaps even carry out a surprise attack on the bandit camp. If Super helper did a good job, I’ll promote him to second in command.

On my way back I see a small hill-top which would be a good place for setting up camp. It is also an excellent place to ambush thanks to the forest that is nearby. It would make sense to set up camp here. It’s not too far from town and, by the time they reach this place  they should be exhausted by the march .

Once I was back in town the recruits came to see me, it seems Super helper earned his promotion. I told them the general situation and what to expect. I haven’t yet decided what to do. Should I defend here or ambush the bandits while they make their way. Fighting here would make the recruits more motivated, but if we fight near the town casualties are unavoidable. I’m inclined to ambushing them, they have numbers on their side plus they don’t expect any resistance from the town. Yup, I’ve decided we are ambushing them at the hill-top.

I tell the mayor my plan and ask for funds. I’ll need to buy some things for the upcoming battle. The mayor recommends me to go buy whatever I need from the local merchant Tito.

“Hello, I’ve heard that you have various things for sale.” {Pr}

“You sir are well-informed! What can I do for you?” {Tito}

“I was looking for these…” {Pr}

After I finished shopping, I have twenty small pots and forty liters of oil. Looks like I’ll be using fire after all. Well it doesn’t matter in this case it is necessary.

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The next day the recruits and I are marching towards the forest that’s near the hill-top. After arriving I set a rotation for keeping watch in the direction of the bandit camp. I have the rest practice launching their javelins with a weight on the tip. Also I teach them how produce a small flame with magic. Most of them have puzzled looks on their faces, they don’t understand what’s the purpose of this training.

“Why are we doing this? what for?” {Volunteer 2}

“I have a plan, and you’ll need to what you just learned to carry it out.” {Pr}

Super helper came back from his post, it was the end of his shift, he was watching east for bandits. I’ve found that he can relied on. The fact that I made him a second in command makes it more awkward to reveal that I’ve forgotten his name. I’ve gotten by for now by addressing him by his position or some other proxy.

 “Second, do you have something to report?” {Pr}

“No, there is nothing to report.” {SH}

In all my ingenuity I craft a cunning plan. All I need is to get someone around me to call him by his name and bam! I avoid an embarrassing situation.

“Well then, check how the rest of the guys are doing” {Pr}

After nodding he goes to where the rest of the group is resting. This is it! my chance.

“Hey second!” {Guy 3}

“How are you doing Vin? Is everything alright?” {SH}

No why do you call him second, use his name dammit! He is your friend isn’t he why don’t you use his name, isn’t it weird to call him second?

That pattern repeated for the remaining people. In the end I couldn’t learn his name, my expression has fallen into despair as my plan crashed and burned. Noticing this Super helper or second in command came to me.

“You seem worried about something… Is it about the battle with the bandits?” {SH}

What? which bandits? Oh right we are here to fight bandits or something along those lines. I can’t let him know that I forgot about that and that I’m depressed for some stupid reason. So I stayed in silence.

“You are a good leader Prudan, not two days ago we didn’t even know how to cast a spell. Now look at us, we can beat them!” {SH}

He tries to cheer me up but that’s not what I’m worried about! He really is a great guy too bad I forgot his name. If I ask him, I’ll lose face; so I’ll play it cool.

“Tell me second, after this is over what do you plan to do?” {Pr}

What am I even saying; it’s not like we are going off to war or to fight a dragon. Yes, there are dragons in this world of mine, and there is apparently a huge debate about how to call them, nothing to do with me though. Anyway I feel a bad foreboding feeling from what I’ve just said as if I had condemned him to death. When I turn to him he looks to be deep in thought.

“I’ve always wanted to leave the town and see the world, so maybe I’ll do that. What about you?” {SH}

“I was on my way to the capital of this hold to get an adventuring permit from the guards when I got caught up in this mess.” {Pr}

Then second looks at me with sparkling eyes.

“If I survive this, could you take me with you?” {SH}

Whoa! It is bad luck to say those words before a fight. Do you want to die? That aside I don’t mind taking him with me. He is able and travelling is better done with company.

“Sure, but first comes the fight.” {Pr}

He looks motivated, even more than before. The next day I was still trying to force a situation where his name would be said but I failed. When the sun was setting the person on watch came back and reported that she saw the bandit group. Perfect timing, we hide in the forest and wait. Just as I expected they set up camp in the hill. Thankfully my strategic skill isn’t as bad as my socializing skill.