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Chapter 40 - Bootcamp

Riin’s POV

Shadowfell, Region Unknown - Date Unknown

Week Twenty-six

So, here we are, waiting at the centre of the village for a bunch of young men and women to come spend their time here, training themselves. At present the only ones here are Ivani, Varo, and me.

“So, how many do you think will be coming, Varo?”

I'm getting impatient waiting for people to show up, I hate standing still, doing nothing.

“Well if the report that the chief received is correct, there will be arriving around fifty in all, today that is.”

Why does it sound less and less like I'm going to have time to relax…

“Today… Do you mean more will be coming?”

He gives me a look that says, ‘Of course there will, silly human.’ Yet he says nothing but gives me a short nod.

Around an hour after we arrived at the centre the first horses passes the gates, lead by a elder man, the younger warriors follow him to the platform we are waiting at. He casts a quick look at Ivani, his face turns to a look of disgust. Ivani lowers her head, staring hard at the ground. Don't stare at what's not yours so hard.

“Is there something you would like to say about my servant, warrior?”

He turns to look at me, Varo seems to be ignoring the exchange completely. The elderly man is staring hard at me, I stare back. Then I feel something… No, not something, like he is trying to strangle me. I find myself smiling, I like these guys from the north, they don't speak things out but test the strength of the other person. He is using some form of Shadow Grab, how amusing.

“I will gladly play with you, warrior. But I don't know if you want to have a fight right here.”

The man stops staring hard at me before his hard looking face turns into a smile. He speaks but I'm unable to understand him, I cast a look back at Ivani. She quickly does the translation for me.

“He asks why not here…”

I look at her, raising a brow in question to her stopping, but she seems to be reluctant to say it. I look at Varo for help.

“Runt, I believe the word is.”

Oh, he insulted me, so he wants to play. I want to test my strength against a warrior of the Shadar-Kai.

“Get us some room.”

Varo speaks up and soon the group of young hurry to the edge of the centre. I wave Ivani back too.

“Yo, old man don't blame me if you get hurt. It's been too long since I let loose.”

A laugh is my response, good, very good. Let's hope this works, like Uwan told me. Focus and speak.

Little one, prey is before me. Attack to kill.

…

Focus, picture her in my mind's eye.

…

Prey? We hunt now?

Yes!

Hell yeah it worked! If not for the fact that I'm unable to move, I would be jumping with joy right now.

The rather cocky look on his face is replaced with surprise as he barely avoids the beautiful marble coloured leg of my little one as it rips open the air, aiming at his chest. My turn to smile, fucker.

“Ivani, get me my weapons.”

“As you command, my master.”

She runs off to grab them from my room and hands them to me the moment she returns, Shagi and the others come back with her. They stand behind as well, she must have had time to tell them about the fight. Ah that's right I don't need to hold back against this guy.

Activate Bloodlust Aura!

[Bloodlust Aura] has been activated.

Ah, I must hand it to the Shadar-Kai of the north, they are a tough bunch, while the closet of younger ones fall to the ground, they seem to be focused on the battle in front of them. Varo pulls my little gang out of the aura range, need to thank him later.

There! The restraints that holds me snaps as the onslaught of attacks continues from my little one. I set off with the aim to kill. I make it within sword range before I'm stopped in my tracks again. Two times, my max use of Shadow Grab. He is not showing any signs of being exhausted from overusing his mana. A sword is swung towards me. My turn, bitch!

Shadow Grab!

The spell breaks his assault long enough to give my little one an opening to stab a front leg into the guy's arm. Releasing me from the binding. I bring my right sword into the side of my opponent, drawing more blood. Something is wrong! He is smiling! Just like that he vanish from my sight.

My binds is removed and I get into a stand to defend myself. How the hell did he vanish!? Where, where is he!

Prey gone?

Keep looking!

Looking…

A quick look at Varo and he does not seem to be surprised at all about a guy vanishing into thin air. Is it a trick? No. I can't feel him or his will to attack anywhere. Where did he go?!

“That's enough. Call off your child, young one.”

His voice sounds from behind or around me. Infront? No. I can't sense him. I look at Varo who gives a nod, confirming that it is safe.

The hunt is over, little one. You did good.

Father, happy?

Yes, very.

No more prey?

No prey.

I sleep.

Yes.

Deactivate Bloodlust Aura!

[Bloodlust Aura] has been deactivated.

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“Done.”

The elderly man steps out a few feet infront of me, a small smile on his lips.

“You fight well for a human.”

I smile back.

“And you fight well for an old man.”

He lets out a small laugh. He then turns to Varo and speaks a few words, in return Varo smiles and gives a slight bow. He then turns back to face me.

“I will leave the young of my village to train under you.”

“So, this was a test?”

All I receive is a smile before he pulls up his hood and turns towards the horses. So a test… I hate being tested, I really do.

I turn to Varo.

“So what now? Do we wait for the rest or start training now?”

“We can start as soon as you are ready.”

Well let's get this started, shall we? I jump up on the platform so that I can see them all. Fifteen young men and woman has come.

“Okay! Gather up!”

They slowly gets closer.

“Get moving! We don't have all day!”

They move a bit faster but still slow. So the first I need to do is teach them to move when I tell them too.

“Make a line of five and row of three! Move it!”

… They are so slow… Tsk.

“Shagi, Theadis get them in a line. I don't have all day for this.”

“As you command, master!”

They jump down from the platform and get the slackers into a line of five and with two people behind each person in front. Finally we can begin.

“Second and third line move five steps backwards!”

After a tiny bit of guidance from Shagi and Theadis, everybody is lined up nicely for my next plan, but first.

“Remember how you are standing now! From now on you will stand like this when you are called!”

It really is the most basic line up for military training or any efficient group training, with the five step between the trainees no one will crash into each other when doing an exercise.

“Okay, listen up! We will start with running along the outside of the village wall! Get moving!”

Someone speaks up, a young man by the sound of the voice.

“How many rounds do we need to run?”

I give my best bright and sweet smile before answering.

“Thank you for asking that! Since you went to the trouble to ask you will all be running until you drop!Now get moving!”

Groans and the like sounds from the group, but they slowly move to the gate.

“Shagi, Ashko, Theadis go to a corner each and keep an eye on them. Ivani, you come with me.”

“As you command, master.”

They run off, Ivani comes to stand behind me. I turn to look at Varo who is glaring at the group making them move just a bit faster.

“Ivani, go to the gate and wait for me there.”

“As you command, master.”

I walk up to Varo, I need to ask him about that vanishing trick that the old man used.

“Got a minute?”

Varo turns to look at me.

“I have been told to assist you if possible.”

So… That's a yes? Yeah, lets call it a yes.

“How did that old man vanish into thin air like that?”

He gives me a smile, his eyes land on the brand on my arm.

“The ‘vanishing’ as you call it, is a gift from the lady. Shadow walking, it is called by those who wield it.”

Shadow walking? Wait, I have something like that.

“When I arrived here I was gifted the skill Shadow Walk, is it not the same?”

He shakes his head slowly, seemly thinking about how to answer my question. After a short while he starts to explain.

“Shadow Walk, the skill you were granted is a twin skill of the Shadow Walking skill, if you can call it that. The hounds you have seen meld into the shadows, yes?”

I nod, yeah, meld is the right word to describe how they become half shadow.

“That is the Shadow Walk skill, in that form they are more shadow than beast and so, unable to be harmed by normal weapons and spells.”

He looks at me, I give a nod and he continues.

“Shadow Walking is a gift granted to The Queen's knights. While it is Shadow Walk it is not, only the blessed of the lady can truly use what we call Shadow Walk. That is what they call Shadow Walking, it is and is not the skill, Shadow Walk.”

So that is why he is saying that it is a twin.

“The users of Shadow Walk is merely mimicking the true skill, I see now. Thank you.”

He gives a smile.

“Oh, one more thing. You called him a knight and not a warrior, how come?”

“He directly serves the lady. It is the greatest honor a Shadar-Kai can obtain.”

So a knight is much higher in the food chain, good to know.

“Thank you for your time.”

I make my way to the gates tower time to laze about as others work.

[Knowledge: Shadar-Kai], has been obtained. [Knowledge: Shadow Magic], has been obtained.

Week Twenty-seven

During the last week a total of fifty young warriors arrived and joined the dead run along the outer wall. The original fifteen is able to keep it up most of the day, I will let them run for a week more, just for the fun of it. When one drops down unable to move on the rest is called to a halt where ever they are on their run and made to do twenty push-ups before they are told to run again. The ‘dropout’ is made to stand at the gate with the arms straight out from the body for as long as I can see that they need the rest for. The moment that their breathing is relaxed and even, I focus on any shaking they might have and as soon as they are fit to continue to run they are sent on their merry way. Shagi, Ivani, Ashko and Theadis is spread out along the wall with a barrel of water for the needy, I'm not that cruel. I asked the guards to inform me if anyone starts to mess with what's mine. Luckily nothing has happened as of yet. So, for now they are all running like mad men and women, much to my amusement.

Week Twenty-eight

The suicide running continues, less and less are becoming ‘dropouts’. When a runner is showing signs of falling the closest ones with enough stamina has begun to take shifts in carrying their fellow runner. I'm very happy, it only took around a week to make them do such great teamwork.

Week Twenty-nine

The group continues to improve their teamwork. I have given the groups names depending from where they hail. The closest village to us is the northern village with the original fifteen, I gave them the nickname G1. The second group to arrive was also from the north with a group of ten and was given the name G2. The third group to arrive was from the northeast with ten people, they got the name G3. After them two groups from the northwest arrived within hours of each other. One group of five males, that got the name G4. And a group of four females and a lone male, they got G5 as their name. That way it is much easier to figure out who is who, man I'm smart!

G1 is now spending the morning hours running and the rest of the day in a mix of push-ups, sit-ups and squats with the break being, yeah you guessed it, more running. G2 is slowly gaining on G1. G3-5 has much better teamwork between them and so is able to keep up the running in a even pace. They will all be going for one more week of running before they will trade it for the push-ups, sit-ups, and squats with the break of running. I had my little gang run along with them for this week, they looked so bored just standing and looking at all the fun happening.

Of course I'm not forgetting Theiraven and his little gang but they are from this village so I don't count them as guests. I'm not counting the ones that did not complete the hunt due to injures. They are all allowed to train with the rest of course, a few extra people at this number does little difference.

Week Thirty

They have been doing push-ups, sit-ups and squats for the whole week now, most of the complaining is stopped by giving them a group punishment consisting of log carrying and when it is dropped they get to do push-ups until they throw up. Today is the last day of the week, they get a rest day today most are sleeping it off in the tents they are lending. A few is sitting by the fires chatting. The young from the northern villages seems to be more respected than the other  villages young, I wonder why. I will go find Varo, he must know. I find him at the gatehouse where he is talking to a guard, I wait outside for them to be done.

He walks out and greets me.

“Young warrior, is there something that I can assist you with?”

“More like a question I need answered, if you please.”

“Oh?”

“It seems like the young from the most northern village is more respected than the rest, is there a reason for that?”

“Ah, yes. They are the border village, the first stand against the undead legions, the frontline so to speak.”

“Ah, I see. So they are respected by their kindred for begin the ‘wall’.”

He gives me a smile and nods.

[Knowledge: Shadar-Kai], has been obtained.

“Ah, that reminds me, I want to take the group hunting, is there a place that can work as a good hunting ground for a group of ten people?”

He raise a brow at that.

“Only ten?”

“Yes, I want to split them up and mix them. Force them to work across villages.”

“Ah, excellent. I will talk to the hunters if they know of a ground that can house a group that size.”

“Thank you.”

Week Thirty-one

Today would have been a good day if not for the fact that two of the boys decided that Ivani looked too hot to pass up. I'm almost tackled by Theadis as he comes running. Informing me of the bad news. He leads me to the tents where they have forced her down and stripped her. Ah, to be young and die so. No, killing them would be bad, I at least have to ask Varo if I can kill them.

I step into the tent and rip the guy at the top off, throwing him back into Theadis.

“Hold him!”

“As you command, master!”

I grab Ivani around the waist and pull her to me. And for good measure I stomp on the face  guy who has yet to get up. Earning me a painful sounding groan. Shagi and Ashko come crashing into the tent as well, I wave them over.

“Ashko, take Ivani to my room and stay with her.”

He is shaking but reacts quickly, wrapping her in a blanket and leads her away.

“As you command, master.”

“Shagi, get that piece of shit up and standing!”

“As you command, master!”

He quickly moves and grabs the still groaning guy by the throat pulling him to an uneasy stand.

“Go to the centre and wait for me there! Do not let them out of your sight!”

“As you command, master!”

I walk out the tent and straight to Varos’ house, who by the time I get there meets me halfway. He too looks angry, if it is me he is angry with or whatnot, I don't know and right now I just don't care. The first word out of my mouth is.

“Can I kill them!?”

“No, they are guests.”

He quickly continue as it seems my facial look is not looking to good.

“But you are allowed to punish them as long as they remain alive at the end.”

“So, you are saying I can make them into limbless things!?”

“No, they still have their use as warriors.”

“Can I beat them within an inch of their life?”

“As long as they don't die, then yes.”

As soon as I have my answer I spin around and march to the center where my prey awaits.