After hopping onto the wagon, Aizen headed to the spot where the tests would take place. According to his knowledge, that place had been meticulously designed to accommodate the new recruits. So far, everything was going smoothly as planned by Aizen. However, an unexpected twist unfolded, embodied by a red-haired hairdresser who was smiling enthusiastically next to Aizen, swaying back and forth.
Unfortunately, Aizen couldn't prevent Penelope from tagging along. Of course, he immediately returned to her house, seeking the help of her parents to persuade her to change her mind. However, his attempts were thwarted by Penelope's straightforward words: if he could do as he pleased, why couldn't she? Regrettably, Aizen was left speechless in response to this argument.
Penelope's parents didn't seem particularly opposed to the idea of her journey. After all, they had always been loving and open-minded when it came to their daughter, so this didn't surprise him as much. Faced with this seemingly chaotic situation, Aizen could only sigh, feeling defeated without even putting up a fight.
"Come on, why so downcast? This is the first time we're taking a trip together, just you and me. Doesn't that excite you?"
Expressed Penelope, her gaze fixed outside the carriage, accompanied by a smile. For some reason, since they had left the city towards the testing location, Penelope displayed a strange excitement. Unfortunately, Aizen had no clue about the reason behind her joy, but witnessing her enthusiasm led him to think that perhaps the situation wasn't as unfavorable as he thought.
"Well, maybe you're right"
Responded Aizen, a smile forming on his face. After this brief exchange, the carriage continued on peacefully and steadily. Aizen and Penelope spent most of the time engaging in casual conversations. Somehow, a considerable amount of time had passed since they had conversed so animatedly about something. After a few hours of travel, they finally reached their destination.
Upon disembarking in the city where the tests would be held, Aizen and Penelope walked along the main street, occasionally asking some people about the test location. After a while of walking through the city, they finally arrived at the correct destination. The place was surrounded by tall walls, and there was a single entrance door through which they would pass.
As they entered through the gateway, Penelope and Aizen were completely awed by the scene before them. Two distinct buildings stood side by side, and an expansive track stretched ahead, where some men were running. However, before they could exchange any words, a voice echoing through the area caught the attention of both Penelope and Aizen.
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"I'm sorry, you two, but this area is restricted. Ordinary citizens are not allowed to enter here without permission"
declared the voice. Upon hearing these words, both Aizen and Penelope instinctively turned in the direction of the voice. Next to the gate, there was a small building with an open window, through which a man wearing white clothes and a beret watched them. Although they were both surprised at first, Aizen took the initiative to interact with the man, who clearly had authority in the place.
"Actually, we're not ordinary citizens. I'm here to take part in the recruitment process for the lord's army"
Aizen said, approaching the man and presenting him with a letter. As soon as the man took the letter, he spent just a few moments reading it before confirming its authenticity and then handing it back to Aizen.
"Understood, I have confirmed your identity"
The man declared, then turned his gaze to Penelope. Fixing his eyes on her, he continued with a question.
"Given that you mentioned “we” I can assume that your friend also came with the same goal in mind, correct?"
The man asked, his gaze directed at Penelope. Faced with this question, she simply nodded. In response to Penelope's confirmation, the man took a piece of paper out of his drawer and handed it to her. Shortly afterwards, he continued with his words.
"As established by the lord, any woman who wishes to join our army will automatically be appointed as a field medic. Naturally, the same goes for men, who can also take on the role of field medic, and women have the option of becoming soldiers if they so wish"
Upon hearing the man's words, an expression of confusion appeared on Penelope's face, and she was quick to ask.
"Field medic? What does that mean?"
Staring directly at her, the man explained.
"Exactly as the name suggests, it means a doctor who provides assistance on the battlefield, offering first aid to wounded soldiers. This was a profession instituted by the lord himself"
Although she had never heard of this profession, Penelope quickly understood the magnitude of the responsibility it entailed. After all, her actions could determine a person's fate. This understanding made her regard the lord of her land as a remarkably unique figure.
On the other hand, Aizen saw his admiration for Ren increase even more when he heard this information. For him, it reinforced how much Ren truly cared about the lives of the soldiers under his command.
While Aizen and Penelope remained absorbed in their own thoughts, the man let out a short laugh as he observed their reactions. In fact, it wasn't the first time that new recruits had been surprised to hear this. With this thought in mind, he continued his explanation.
"You two will have to take the tests in different places. Please follow the instructions on the paper so that you can find the right place"
After this brief exchange of words, Aizen and Penelope expressed their gratitude to the man before starting to walk away. It wasn't long before they found the place indicated. Although the buildings were separate, they were relatively close to each other and even interconnected.
For Aizen and Penelope, this proximity meant that they could see each other at any time, despite being assigned to different functions. Taking this into account, they both said goodbye and headed off in opposite directions, each in pursuit of similar goals, but on different paths.