Chapter 30 - Raloman Boy

“We’re running out of time. We should either attack now or try and find a weaker team that has a flag.”

Faunco was pacing back and forth while Federico just sat cross-legged quietly, staring into the fire.

“Cousin, we need to do something. Sitting around won’t accomplish anything!”

Federico turned his gaze towards him. His eyes were a veiny red and Faunco heard the sound of grinding teeth. The fierceness of his gaze made Faunco stiffen immediately.

He growled in a low voice. “You came up with this plan and it failed.” He got up and took out a silver knife and pressed it against Faunco’s throat. “Now you want me to continue taking your advice?”

Faunco gulped and a trickle of sweat cascaded down the edges of his face. He tried to extend his voice out but the blade was slowly cutting into him and blood streamed down. “F-forgive me, Federico. Aren’t we family?”

But Federico didn’t retract his hand and continued to glare at him, contemplating what to do next.

“General.”

A nameless soldier from Federico’s army walked up to him, seemingly unperturbed by the tense situation. Behind him was another unknown boy who was smiling, despite the hostility in the air.

Federico didn’t turn to see who was interrupting. “What is it?”

“This kid says he’s Arnest, the General of the army we’re fighting.”

“What?!” Now he turned to verify for himself.

Arnest waved towards Federico who was still holding a bloody knife against his cousin’s neck.

Federico grabbed Faunco’s head and twisted it towards them. “Is this really Arnest?”

“Yes, that’s him!” Faunco hurriedly said.

“Hey, General. I was hoping we could talk.” Arnest started to walk over to get closer to the agitated General.

“Hah… Why should we talk when I can just take you hostage now?” Federico had a sadistic grin that was unnatural for a young teenager to have.

“Well, I figured you’d rather I give you my flag. But if you’d have me instead then I’ll be quite flattered.” Arnest slightly blushed.

Federico’s mouth flattened and face becoming serious at the mention of a flag. “I’m sure you won’t give it to me for free.”

“That’s right. I want to make an alliance with you.”

“An alliance?”

“I’ll give you a flag now if you come help fight with us towards the north. In return, any future flags we get will be mine.”

“What are you going to do with the flags?”

“I just wanted to see how many I can get.”

Federico stared at Arnest like he was an idiot. But despite that, after thinking a bit, he said “Give me a flag and I’ll help you.”

You only needed one flag to pass anyways, so what would more flags do? You didn’t get any benefits from getting more flags so it was pointless either way. At least that’s how Federico saw it.

The unnamed soldier pulled out a flag from his pants and handed it to Federico, who stood still in confusion. “Who the hell are you?”

“Victoro.”

“Not your name, who are you?!”

“I think he’s one of Arnest’s Captains.” Faunco said.

“How did you two get here past my defenses then?” Federico was in complete disbelief.

“We walked in.” Victoro said in a matter of fact tone.

Arnest shrugged his shoulders, offering an explanation. “It’s dark so they probably thought we were on their team.”

Federico smacked his head in frustration. “Those idiots…”

“Anyways, we should start heading out soon. I want to get at least a few flags before the exam ends.” Arnest started to walk back towards his camp to prepare the army.

Once the two teams came to an agreement, they were quick to march north. Combined they were about eight hundred strong and were moving fast since they had all just rested. A few hours passed and they had met their first enemy, with even fewer hours remaining until daybreak.

Arnest started waving his white shirt to signal to any Ingras who may want to defect and it worked. Very little time passed before the enemy General had surrendered however they didn’t have a flag. This happened again and again. The first couple of teams didn’t find a flag, so their members quickly defected to Arnest’s side.

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It wasn’t until the fifth enemy team that they’d met, that the signal didn’t work. Instead they used their overwhelming numbers to overpower them. Arnest’s and Federico’s armies rammed into the center and, like a spear, drove hard into the central area wreaking havoc. Seeing the futility of the battle, many deserted and a small group of Lieutenants stole the flag from their General and offered it to Arnest. At the end of the battle, the General and his officers were all captured and corralled to the side.

“Hey, General!” Arnest walked up to the enemy who was tied up, kneeling on the ground.

The enemy General stared at the ground, ignoring Arnest. He was regretting recruiting those Lieutenants that betrayed him. Although he also knew that defeat would’ve been inevitable, with or without the betrayal.

“Hey~, you there?” Arnest knocked on his head with his knuckles.

Looking up, he had dead fish eyes. “You’ve won. So go ahead, humiliate me all you want.”

Arnest took out a simple knife. “I’m not here to humiliate you,” he said as he cut his bindings. “I’m here to offer you an opportunity.”

A dubious smile grew on Arnest’s face. “I’ll give you back your flag, if you help me fight against the other teams.”

And with this strategy, Arnest kept gaining “allies”, increasing his combat strength many folds over. Each victory became easier and easier as their numbers increased. Now no one was a match for Arnest at this point and more than half of all the examinees were part of his huge army.

Day came, light illuminating the night. The exam was finally over.

A majority of the boys were laying down on their backs, arms and legs outstretched, gasping for air. They had been running ragged, trying to avoid the monstrous army that stretched itself all over the island. It was a large island so they never expected that they wouldn’t be able to flee but Arnest had cornered many teams towards the beaches or surrounded them in a forest. There was nowhere to hide and if the exam was allowed to continue like it was, Arnest probably would’ve conscripted every single army under his banner.

General Abdiel leaned over the edge of a ship, jovially laughing. “Looks like you kids had a lot of fun!”

The boys just stayed on the ground, not having the energy to acknowledge him.

“GET ON YOUR FEET AND SHOW THE GENERAL SOME GODDAMN RESPECT!” Captain Ramiro screamed from up above on the ship.

The shout jolted them up, and they all arranged themselves into neat lines, standing at attention.

General Abdiel leaned into Ramiro’s side, “You really don’t have to yell at them like that.”

“If they don’t show you respect, how can I expect them to respect any of the other officers?”

The General sighed and then climbed down. “Congratulations on finishing the exam! If your team got a flag, have your General wave it up in the air and an officer will collect it!”

Arnest lifted his flag up into the sky and vigorously swayed it back and forth, just like all the other Generals who either joined with Arnest or survived his onslaught. Crimson flags billowed across the sand tinted beaches and officers came out one by one off the ship. Lieutenant Marco didn’t follow the ordering and went directly straight towards Arnest.

“Knew you’d make it.” Marco said, taking the flag and patting him on the back.

“So what happens now?”

Marco started to fold up the flag in an orderly triangle. “You’re a Raloman now. When we get back to the city they’ll assign you to one of the armies or something.”

“Maybe even send you to an officers school since you did so well gathering all those kids together.”

Arnest’s eyes widened. “You were watching?”

“Of course,” he said while tucking the flag into his satchel. “We were all watching. Even Captain Ramiro and General Abdiel started to personally observe you, closer to the end. I think they were pretty impressed.”

“Anyways, here.” Marco handed Arnest a small notebook and a piece of lead. “Write down the names of everyone on your team and hand this in to me when we arrive at Ralom.”

“What’s officer’s school like?”

Marco started to walk away. “Sorry, we can talk later. I have to go now, to check on the others.”

A few paces out and waving his hand, Marco turned his head slightly to the side. “See you back home, Raloman boy.”