These lackies, they call themselves guardsmen as they run around the courtyard with pathetic strides. I wouldn’t even call them soldiers, but insulting them out load will only cause more problems. I don’t want them to submit a hurt feelings report. Not until I am done with them.

They wear their heavy armour, carrying their belongings and their weaponry. I make them do this, as I need to test their strength and capabilities. But, for some reason they struggle to carry their shit while they are running.

‘Did I order you to quit, guardsmen?’

They’ve been running for almost an hour, and already some are fainting from exhaustion.

How pathetic. They are supposed to be guardsmen, the garrison of the palace, yet they collapse just from running in circles?!

I can see why my services are needed here. I despise to think what will happen if they got into a fight.

They try to give me these pathetic excuses to stop running.

Sergeant Black, my back hurts and Sergeant Black, I need to pee.

I’m not here to babysit children, so I ignore their pleas, even mocking them for daring to ask.

Already today I have forced two soldiers to wet themselves, because Gods know they couldn’t go to the toilet before training. They need to learn that being a part of the garrison isn’t a walk in the park. In fact, it should be harder than being a common foot soldier.

‘Form up!’ I shout at them, and like ants, they form into rank.

Three rows with ten people lined up almost seamlessly, standing at attention with their weapons by their sides.

I walk over to inspect their formation, to see if they have finally got the concept of lining up in a straight line. An untrained eye could easily mistake the formation for being perfect, but knowing them, perfection is impossible.

I sway my pace stick, measuring the distance between the rows and the individuals. Two pace gap between files, to standard. One point five pace gap between lines, almost perfect. However, there is one flaw. One person was a half a pace forward from the third row. An almost perfect formation, ruined by one incompetent soldier.

‘Number seven from the rear, step forward!’ I command as I clench my pace stick so hard I could hear the wood whine and crack.

‘What is your problem? Why are you not lined up like the rest of your comrades? This formation was almost perfect aside from your underdeveloped brain putting your fat ass in the wrong place! It seems that this unit will have to come here in the morning to continue this training until you get it right. Do I make myself clear?’

‘Yes, Sergeant!’ he responds.

His fellow guardsmen groan in annoyance at my announcement. I could have easily punished them all for making a noise in formation, but it would be too much to give them another disciplinary action. For now they need to rest.

‘Bitch,’ he whispers under his breath as I step away.

I sharply turn to face him, glaring at that little shit.

‘Okay,’ I grin as I point at him. ‘Come here.’

The young guardsman breaks formation, heading towards me with his head to the ground. I point for him to face his unit.

‘Everyone in the planking position.’

Everyone puts their spears and shields on the ground to be in the upright push up position.

The young guardsmen put his weapon down to join them, but I stop him. He needs to watch his unit suffer for his foolish actions. By punishing the unit for his actions, the unit will do all of the work for me after we are done.

‘Under my command, I am not a bitch! You are my bitches! If you dare disrespect me again, I will put my foot so far up your ass you will taste boot polish. Next time you disrespect me, I will gladly break your knees in. Do I make myself clear?’

‘Yes, Sergeant!’ they stutter as they struggle to stay up. The young guardsman keeps silent as he watches his comrades. The unit planks for almost two minutes, some of them cursing at the young guardsman. Their arms shake as they could barely keep themselves up. Some sway side to side, losing their balance.

I admire their determination, seeing them push on under an unjust punishment.

‘At attention!’ I command.

They all struggle to stand up while they form up again. These fine men and women have gone through enough for today.

‘Before I dismiss you, you will be here by first-bell with everything you have on you. Is this understood?’

‘Yes, Sergeant!’ they all shout in unison.

‘Dismissed!’

They break rank as they bolt to their dorms. I sigh in relief that it’s over, letting my mind out of my Sergeant role.

I hate to punish them. I hate how I have to force them to go through with it. Deep down, it pains me to hurt them, but I need to do it so they can do their job effectively.

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Every one of them amazes me with how hard they try, and how close they are to perfection. I could say they are perhaps the best guards that ever walked this planet. Their job is simple, but so is losing their lives. I cannot let failure happen.

I head to the back of the palace, to relax at the remarkable garden.

The palace gardens always amaze me. Its beauty relaxes my mind while making me realise that the world is a remarkable place.

The birds sing as the trees sway with the wind with the lovely scent of daffodils, the hedges trimmed to perfection, and its grass cut in a pattern to look like a chessboard.

When my time is up, I’ll one day make a garden just like this one. Well, hopefully I can afford a plot of land to make that happen.

A few soldiers walk pass me upright, nervous of my presence. Some avoid me and just turn the other way. It hurts, but I can understand why.

Volas walk out of the palace and wanders through the garden to find himself a lonesome park bench. Slouching over and covering his face in frustration.

I walk towards him to see what is wrong. ‘Hey Volas, mind if I sit next to you?’

Volas looks up to give me a warm smile. ‘Sure, be my guest.’ He shuffles over while he gazes into the palace garden.

‘This place is beautiful, isn’t it?’ I say to him.

‘Of course, it is a blessing to have a place like this here. It is like heaven on earth,’ he responds. From his tone, I can tell he is upset about something.

‘Are you okay, Volas? You seem more down than usual.’

He frowns. ‘Have... Have you heard the latest news?’

‘No, I was busy training the guards how to tie their bootlaces.’

‘One of our forts was attacked.’

‘Okay, and who did it?’ I respond apathetically, still in my Sergeant persona.

Volas looks at me in shock. ‘You don’t seem too worried about it. Why?’

‘It is our duty to fight the enemies of this Empire, at home or overseas.’ I quote the infantry motto from memory.

Volas chuckles. ‘Touché.’

‘So, who finally decided to attack us?’ I ask again. If we are going to fight, I might as well know who we are up against.

‘The Diamond Dogs from the mine west of the fort have broken out and are now causing trouble. There’s a small task force heading over there to deal with them.’

‘So why are you upset?’ I lean closer to him.

‘Those slaves, they are underdeveloped and have no concept of civilisation, peace, or order. But somehow they won. They took over a fort and a mine. How is it even possible?’

I frown. ‘Maybe they are not as underdeveloped as you think. Maybe they are more like us.’

‘Not a chance,’ Volas nervously chuckles. ‘But they still won. How they did is a mystery. I fear we might not be taking them seriously enough.’

I lean back. It feels odd that he didn’t make a discriminating comment. ‘That is new for you, Volas. Usually you would underestimate them.’

‘Well... it’s factual. I am being realistic pointing out their underdeveloped compared to us. Just like the colonist and the humans.’

I stand up in a sudden fit of rage. I can’t stand for his ignorance of others on the basis of race. If he trained with humans and those from the colonies, he would know that they are not weaker or dumber than us, but our equal.

He continues to repeat the lie that our race is superior because we are the rightful protectors of this world, without truly understanding others.

‘You really think colonist and humans are underdeveloped? What do you base that claim on?’

‘I base it on reality. I don’t know why you think otherwise.’ His arrogance is insufferable.

‘Volas, I’ve trained with a lot of humans and colonist after the NCO course. They are all equal to, if not better than us, in most things. Who knows, maybe you might learn something from them.’

‘Oh please, you are just being soft on them. Deep down, I think you know they are not as good as us.’

My face turns red with anger, but I know hostility is pointless against him. He will argue his point to the bitter end, and I don’t have time to challenge his ignorance.

‘Volas, I don’t have time to argue about what I know is right. These people you like to undermine are perhaps the best allies you have. Many are better than the troops that are born here.’

I turn to walk away from him, too angry to hear his response.

Oh gods, please let him change his views. It angers me that he, and many others are like him, share these sorts of views. It sickens me, for I used to have them. Thankfully, I grew out of them.

Please Volas, be the same.