PART V: ASSUREDLY DESERVED

At once, the crowd began to disperse. Somewhere in there, Callie had lost contact with Lhawni, but saw that Pixyl and Vanis had rejoined the crowd. She pushed her way towards her friends, barely managing to reach them before they grabbed two seats together. Looking around, they found a different spot with three chairs and quickly sat.

“I can’t believe it, Pixyl!” Callie squealed, grabbing Pixyl’s hands. “You got a medal! Two even!”

Pixyl simply blushed, embarrassed.

“I would safely say we were both quite surprised,” Vanis said.

“May I look?” Callie asked. Pixyl nodded and held up the first medal. It was silver in color and shaped like a hexagon, with a six-pointed raised star embossed on the center. In the center of that was a red gemstone similar to a ruby, but also shaped in the same six-pointed star design. “This is beautiful,” Callie said, tracing the lines and gemstone with her fingers.

She reached out to look at Pixyl’s other medal. With it riding much higher on Pixyl’s neck, the little Pixie had to lean awkwardly close to let Callie look. This medal was a dark, bluish metal with a detailed bronze sword embossed in the center, tip facing downwards. A small six-pointed star of the same bronze color was below the tip of the sword. It was of much-simpler design than Pixyl’s first medal, having no gem, but the contrasting dark and bronze colors, along with the blue and bronze ribbon sash holding it, made for a striking vision. “This one is beautiful, too,” Callie added.

“Th-th-thanks,” Pixyl said with a blush, slowly pulling away.

“Now that all are seated,” Pama called out with a warning, causing a few left standing to scramble for any open seat they could find, “we shall cleanse our palates with a citrus gelatin as we prepare for the main dish to follow.” She flourished her Culinar magic and with a flash plates appeared with a small cup, about the size of a shot glass, in the center, and one of the mini spoons on the side. Inside the cup was a bright yellow gelatin that wiggled when bumped.

Callie took a tiny bite of citrus treat, remembering this time to keep bites small, and the taste was both tart and sweet, very close to a lemon drop. As Pama had said would happen, it seemed to wash away the herbs and other flavors of the last few courses. Pixyl let out another one of her foodgasm moans, enjoying the flavors as much as Callie was.

Even though she had a hundred questions for Pixyl and Vanis, like what they talked with the officers about, or what a ‘corporal-major’ was, Callie had a sense Pixyl needed a break from being social for a bit. Even Vanis seemed content to just enjoy relaxing for a while. So they ate their lemonish Jello-shots in silence, with the only interruption being a Goblin coming by to refill their wine glasses.

Strangely, as she watched her friends eat, Callie felt a sense of pride in both Pixyl and Vanis. The medal and recognition obviously suited Vanis, being so used to being in the spotlight. But as she watched Pixyl, Callie saw a tiny and subtle change in her. It was hard to explain, but it was almost like a seed of confidence had been planted in her. Not so much a confidence in her abilities, she had that by the bushel, but a … belief that she mattered. Time would tell if that seed would take hold.

Pixyl caught Callie staring at her and blushed. “What?” she asked, pushing her hair back from her pointed ear and looking away.

“Sorry, my mind was just drifting,” Callie said, blushing herself, not really knowing how to explain what she was thinking.

“The good news is only a couple more courses,” Vanis said. “The main course is apparently next, and then a dessert, and finally we’ll do a toast to Pama and her staff. There might be one more speech in there, too. If I had to guess, it would be from Master Trainer Thorn, since the purpose here is training.”

“You seem to know all about these things. How often did you have to do this back home?” Callie asked.

“Ugh, at least once a month since I was a teen. Someone important was always visiting, which invariably would lead to a formal dinner of some kind. This one is simple in comparison. I once did a formal feast that was seventeen courses. With speeches no less! It was agonizing.”

“That truly sounds awful, Vanis,” Callie said in agreement.

As if on cue, the chime sounded telling everyone to finish. Soon, Pama returned. “I have been told we are running late, so for this next seat change, you need not move unless you wish. But, utensils to your plates and cups in your hands so the way may be cleared.”

Clinking rang out as everyone followed instructions, the plates soon disappearing in a flash. Callie, Vanis and Pixyl all looked around, seeing maybe a quarter of the people moving, before agreeing in unison and without a word they were perfectly content to stay where they were. However, two empty chairs across the table were quickly occupied by Koda and Lena.

“Congratulations to both of you,” Koda said, grinning his warm, bear grin.

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“Thank you,” Vanis said with a nod. “As I told Callie, it was most unexpected.”

“The Bronze Sword,” Koda said, shaking his head in disbelief. “You are truly a marvel, Miss Pixyl, and a wondrous example for all."

“I d-d-don’t think I deserve it,” the Pixie said sullenly with a shrug. “It was j-j-just an Iron Tier F-F-Fiend.” She didn’t add that she had forgotten her swords weren’t working, and had expected there to be no real fight at all.

“The fact you don’t believe you deserve it only proves most assuredly that you do,” Koda said, pointing at the little Pixie. “Plus, you now outrank us all, Corporal-Major.”

Pixyl visibly deflated, having no idea how to even begin to digest that fact.

“Well, I am very proud of you, too, Pixyl,” Lena said. She glanced at Vanis. “You, too, I guess, even though you’re only a Corporal.”

Vanis smirked at the backhanded compliment.

Pama cleared her throat and the low chattering ceased. “And now for our main dish. A tender, slow cooked Vone steak, seared with herbs and imported sea salts, served with roasted green vegetables splashed with a light wine reduction. Good eating to all.” She once again threw her magics to the winds and with a flash the replicated course appeared in front of all.

This main course was, of course, as delectable as everything that had preceded it. Pixyl had so far mostly avoided meat out of habit, saying it tended to sit heavy and make her flying more difficult. With a warm wine buzz inside her, Callie happily reminded Pixyl she wasn’t going to be flying any time soon, which suddenly allowed the Pixie to dive into her steak with reckless abandon. The Vone had a similar consistency to beef, and with Culinar magics was melt-in-your-mouth tender. The vegetables were a sliced root veggie similar to carrots, mixed with what seemed to be this world’s analog for green beans. Delicious, of course.

“Some day,” Callie said between bites, “I am going to have to learn all this Culinar stuff. To be able to do anything close to this would be great.”

“No reason you couldn’t,” Koda said. “It just takes time and practice. As I understand, there are some very simple Culinar skills that most anyone could learn quickly, almost mandatory for adventurers and traveling merchants. Nothing as grand as this feast, but enough to do more with only a few ingredients found in the wilds.”

“Vanis, you gotta help me get those cookbooks!” Callie begged.

The Elf chuckled. “I know very little of Culinar magic. But I bet if you talked to Pama, she’d be able to at least give you some pointers.”

Callie rubbed her hands together. “Oooooo. I’m gonna make her teach me all of it.” A fuzzy part of her brain realized she might be getting a little drunk. Another fuzzy part of her brain realizing she didn’t really care that much.

The five chatted more about nothing of substance. Callie and Koda kept exchanging glances, somehow acknowledging the shared secret between them. Koda seemed to have a mostly-truthful cover story to tell everyone. He was in the watch and had been for some time, but he didn’t mention he was an officer or, of course, anything about his secret mission to learn training techniques first hand. While he acknowledged he had a rank before arriving, he was essentially reset to the rank of recruit until training was concluded. He also interrogated Pixyl some, pressing her about where she learned to fight. Of course, she demurred with a “here and there” vague response, to which Lena seemed skeptical.

The chime finally dinged, everyone happily full of food. Callie looked around at all the contented faces, and even caught sight of Tazrok, still seated in the same spot at the end of his long table, with a smile on his face. He was actually seated with both the Rhinokin and the Wolfkin, replete in their pink bonnets, and the three seemed to be having a splendid conversation, or at least all three were smiling.

Callie’s attention was snapped away by someone speaking. “Good evening, everyone.” She turned to see, as Vanis suspected would happen, that Thorn had stepped up to the podium. “I am Colonel Thorn, and I serve as the training master for this facility, and all of your trainers report to me. You all may refer to me as Master Trainer Thorn. My words are not as eloquent as the Commandant’s, but like them, I would like to welcome you all, and thank you for your service. Many of you I’ve met, at least briefly, and for those I haven’t, I’m sure I will soon. I very much look forward to that meeting.”

Thorn cleared his throat, looking down at apparent notes.

“Many of you are wondering how training will work. Every class and instructor’s methods are different, but in general training will run from three hours after sunrise, to one or two hours before evening meal. Depending on the demands of your lessons, it’s possible you may also be doing further training after that, or even at night. Every day, be sure to eat a hearty breakfast, bring some dried snacks to training, and then a hearty evening dinner. Your trainer will make arrangements for a midday meal. Please use the showers before the evening meal so everyone is fresh.”

Again, Thorn looked at his notes before continuing.

“Your training armor should be worn at all times when training, so wear it tomorrow morning. If you aren’t sure how to put it on, then bring it and you will be shown. Backpacks will be delivered to each of you by morning and are considered part of your armor. They take longer to make, hence the delay. Drink plenty of water, and keep your waterskins full when you take breaks. There’s another fountain on the field.” Thorn began to leaf through some things, before shrugging. “That’s all obvious,” he mumbled, before looking out at the crowd before he stiffened, ignoring his notes. “Look, all of you, I’m going to keep things simple. Your trainers know what they are doing. Shut up and learn to do it the way they tell you. There’s a reason for everything we do here, so don’t second guess or think you have a better way. That’s what leads to the events of earlier today.”

Out in the audience, several eyes turned to the little Fairy with the pink bonnet.

“Last things. If you are injured in any way, let someone know. We have plenty of healing available, from both casters and potions, including pain potions should you take a hard fall or strike while sparring. Don’t let something minor become something more, and our Healer classes need the practice as well. When sparring with each other, remember that sparring isn’t about winning, it’s about learning control. If you accidently draw blood, you stop. Period. Casters and archers, be aware of anyone that might be downrange. People downrange, don’t be downrange. I know all this seems obvious, but watch your targets at all times and don’t become one. Help each other out and keep each other safe.”

Thorn picked up what appeared to be a few pieces of paper or parchment and leafed through them, finally folding the pages. “That’s it, that’s all I have to say,” Thorn said with a nod, starting to back away from the podium.