I’m Harle Y. Kien, former royal soldier of the king’s court of Gaimain. Honestly, I despise my previous title, my previous life, and my previous master. That king, that damned king, manipulated me in doing what he wants. He purposely steered my life so that it would end in me serving that pig. Well, at least I serve someone better now. Someone who would help me grow and become a better person, and stronger. Someone who cares for his subordinates.

“HHHNNNGGHHH!”

Well, at least I think he does.

It has been a day since I offered myself to a god, Nemer, who I know doesn’t belong in our pantheon. Right now, I’m currently trying to run while a log is being dragged by me with a rope tied to my torso to around the log. It was heavy, really heavy. Although I’ve had military training, none had ‘run a mile while dragging a hefty ton of log’ in it.

“You can do it! Our lord believes in you!” Shouted Barnon, our instructor.

I honestly didn’t think i would be ordered around by a kobold, but at least he isn’t trying to get back at me for wounding him. I hope.

As for the running thing, this is actually training, or so I heard. Barnon said that before they used arfus, or whatever they call it, they had to put themselves under this training to get fit for manipulating arcus.

I say that’s absurd. I mean, just look at Sera! Those muscleless stick of a body she has was able to use arcus freely. So how come we had to do this? Oh good lord, I think I almost snapped my spine.

But regarding bodies, isn’t my body enough as it is? Why go all the trouble for this kind of training? But I can’t argue. Barnon gave this training to us, so I guess we’ll just have to bare with it.

“B-boss… I don’t… I don’t think I can take it anymore…”

I looked to my right to see one of my soldiers struggle to run. He wasn’t even running, heck, I myself didn’t too. Both of us looked more like we are race walking, on a really deep and thick snow.

“Don’t worry… hhnngghh… you're not the only one…”

I jerked my head behind me. Behind us were the rest of my men, doing the same thing. Now that I’m looking at them, they looked like zombies. I probably look one too, but it doesn’t matter right now.

“Aye, let’s call this a wrap shall we?”

Barnon finally let us rest as he walks away, and me and my men fell on our asses sweating and breathing heavily. We have been at this for almost 3 hours, any more and I’m pretty sure that crack I heard earlier would’ve come from my bones

I glanced over to our arfusian, ermm… ardusian? Well, our reality defying woman was sitting on a log bench just behind the fence. She’s got it easy, just sitting around and staring at that wolf kobold.

Well, I asked for this. I am just going to deal with it.

“Hah...hah… this training is going to snap me into half. We’re even not halfway through the day, and we are already defeated by a bunch of logs.”

My soldiers nodded in agreement after I said that. Looks like they are in the same boat as I am. That’s when Barnon came back with an announcement.

“Ah… well… sorry about that guys! There was actually no need for all of you to do that training!” He said with a laugh.

I think I feel a nerve pop from my temple.

Ah, no use in getting angry now. I deserve it after all. The other soldiers on the other hand, just let out sighs of annoyance.

“In fact, you can all begin the phase to use arcs and arcus!”

Ah, so it was arcus. I believe arcus manipulators are called arcusians? Yes, I remember now.

Though, this is new to me, or to my men. Our kingdom has no arcusians around. I have no idea why. From what I’ve seen, arcusians might even help the kingdom. No point in thinking about that however, I have no plans on going back there anytime soon.

And after a while of listening to Barnon’s instructions, we found ourselves meditating. Isn’t meditating suppose to be closing our eyes and humming? We are just closing our eyes and breathing conciously. Well, it’s not that-

Whoa… why do I feel cold? Why is the air minty? That’s odd. I opened my eyes, an that’s when I saw it.

“Is this… arcus?”

The others opened their eyes, and looks of awe and surprise began to show in their faces. I can see arcus! They appear as… solid air-water? I can’t really describe it, but I can’t be mistaken. This is definitely arcus. I looked at Barnon, and all I could see is a protective covering of arcus on his body.

Unlike me or my soldiers that have our arcus bursting out from our bodies like flames, Barnon’s seem more compact. Then again, Barnon has better experience in arcus than we had, so I guess that’s only natural that he can turn his arcus like that.

“It is indeed, Harle. What you see coming out from your bodies is arcus.”

I feel… refreshed. I feel light all of a sudden, like I could fly. Heh. This is definitely a feeling I can get used to. I feel fresh and better than ever, and this minty and cool feeling might even let me walk through fire. Not that I would actually walk through a fire, that would be stupid.

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“Right, so, what now?”

I asked Barnon. He smiled and nodded. I feel like I passed a test. Maybe Barnon was evaluating us?

“Now, all of you need to do one simple thing.”

Barnon then formed his arcus, aura? Let’s just say arcus. His arcus turned to the unrestrained state our arcus has. He then changed it again, contracting it to form a protective skin, and again to form a ball around his hand, and again and again and again.

“As what you have witnessed, you are all going to train to control your arcus until you can mold it to your will with ease.”

Figured that might be it. It shouldn’t be hard right? Hnnghhh… I can’t…

“HHHHNNNGHHH!!”

I turned around to look at my soldier, who is grunting and flexing his muscles with all his might. He did so for a minute, before giving up and panting. The others tried their best to manipulate their arcus too, but also failed.

This might take a while.

Finally, after three days of constant grunting and focusing, I was able to form a small ball of arcus on my palm. Yes! A little bit more and I can finally control my arcus at will.

I looked at my men, and they seem to be more or less getting some progress. Good thing my men are working hard.

“How’s it been going?”

I heard from a voice. Ah, it was our lord, Nemer. Haven't heard from since our training started.

“We are doing fine, my lord.”

“Ah, good. After all of you are done with arcus, I will give your group a special assignment.”

I nodded, and relayed the information to my men. They got worked up, and even worked twice as hard. I can relate to them. There’s just something special about being expected by a god that makes me want to work harder. It’s a good feeling.

I tried to contract my arcus to form a protective covering, and after a few hours, I finally did it. It’s now almost noon, and I don’t feel that tired. Probably because I was just flexing my muscles and doing gestured that my body isn’t that stressed.

I looked at my men, and apparently, I was the first one to form a protective covering. This sense of achievement is great! I never thought arcus would reward you with a sense of accomplishment other than stronger power.

“Mhmm. Alright, Harle?”

I diverted my attention to my lord.

“Yes, my lord?”

“Your assignment is to go to the kingdom of Gaimain, and recruit other people to my… wing? Group? Just recruit people to us.”

I can understand that. A god needs the faith of people, and more people means more faith.

“Pardon me, my lord, but why us? Our faces are famous as a part of the king’s royal soldiers. We might get found out and be beheaded for treason! And the king will definitely try to find you!”

My lord chuckled.

“It’s fine. Besides, I am pretty sure the kingdom would be in ruins. Helena told me about the whole noble executions thing. Taking those nobles away will most likely cause an ironic revolution against the king.”

Oh, right. The people favoured the nobles after all. The power vacuum that comes after the nobles’ disappearances will cause the kingdom to crumble. The people coupled with many blindly loyal soldiers would only cause a battle to erupt inside the walls and destroy the kingdom in the process. Knowing the king, he probably fought to the bitter end.

“If that is so, then what’s the point of us going there? If the kingdom is truly in ruins, then wouldn’t that mean the population has left the area?”

There’s no point staying in a destroyed house after all.

“That might be true, but who said you’ll go there when it’s all over?”

I blinked my eyes, ignoring a yell of triumph from one of my soldiers.

“Pardon?”

“I don’t know if you could see it, but Barnon told me that there’s currently a large pillar of smoke going on that direction.”

I ran over to the altar, and climbed on it. Standing on the altar, there I saw it. Black smoke rised from over the trees. It’s far away, but the direction of the source leads to it being the kingdom of Gaimain.

Then that means…

“But my lord, we cannot go there simply be foot.”

“Again, who said that you’ll go by foot?”

We’re not walking? What are we going to use- ah, that. A carriage was brought to the village. Instead of a horse however, who’s in front was Khrus, dragging the carriage.

“You are going to pick up to 9 of your men, and ride the carriage until you get there.”

The carriage was fully repaired. The repairs were a bit crude looking, but it looks like it will hold. The kobold in front of it was exhaling through his nose like a horse.

Looks like this’ll be one hell of a ride.

“Your will shall be done.”

And so, I picked 9 of my men, who all are now able to make a protective arcus covering, and rode the carriage. Inside were ropes embedded on the wood of the carriage. Looks like I know what those are for.

We strapped ourselves to our seats and prayed to Nemer that things would go well during our ride. My lord responded with a snicker. This is not good.

“We’re ready.”

I said in a reluctant manner. When I heard Khrus exhale, I prepared myself.

Oh good lord, I think I’m going to vomit. I steeled myself as the carriage flies fast like an eagle diving. The road was bumpy, and all of us bopped up and down slightly from our seats. Thankfully, the ropes held us do- hhhhurrpp… I almost puked.

I kept myself strong, but my other men wasn’t like me. All of them screamed while they clung to their seats like it was their lives.

“Oh goodness me! Mother of all-”

And other related stuff were pouring out of their mouths while we zoomed. I kept silent, but I wanted to scream.

I can’t… keep my composure anymore.

“AAAAAAAAAAHHH!”

That giant bump finally got to me. I screamed with the rest of my men, looking at each other with fear. Fear of this vehicle. Oh dear lord, please get us out of this hell!

We… we finally made it! It took about 2 hours, but those 2 hours felt like forever. I vomited 2 times during the trip, and that would probably increase when we get back. Bbrrhhh… just thinking about the trip sends chills down my spine.

I looked at my soldiers, and I can feel their suffering. Tears almost fell from few of my soldiers while holding their chests or stomachs. The others either covered their faces to contemplate on their lives, or slumped over in defeat.

I sighed, and stepped down on the carriage to check on Khrus. When I went to the front, I saw Khrus lying next to the carriage, panting heavily with his tongue hanging. He looks completely exhausted. I looked at our destination… wait… the kingdom’s still far away!

“Why are we still far? I thought we are there already?”

Khrus looked at me with lazy and tired eyes.

“2 hours…. More…. Running…”

“Wait… we are still halfway through?!”

Khrus nodded.

...I think I heard my soul shatter.