The shrill sound of a bell pierced the morning air, dragging us from the depths of sleep. Slowly, I opened my eyes with a groan of discomfort, feeling the stiffness in my back. Sabrina was already awake, sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Move your asses, ladies! It’s time to eat. You’ll need every bit of energy, for we’ll be working until the sun has set," a legionary bellowed, shaking a bell with vigorous swings to rouse the recruits. Her commanding voice was accompanied by the clang of metal on metal, ensuring no one would miss the call.

I could see other legionaries scattered around the camp, their disciplined presence a stark reminder of the rigorous day ahead. The smell of food wafted through the air, a distant promise of warmth and sustenance. “The food’s by that large tent. If you want it warm, you'd better move quickly!” the legionary continued, her voice cutting through the dawn as she made her rounds.

“Ah, let’s go, Claudia, or we’ll miss out on a warm meal,” Sabrina urged, grabbing my arm and steering us toward the large tent. We arrived just in time, as steam still rose from the bowls of food. A small line formed before us, moving steadily.

As we reached the front, a legionary handed us each a wooden plate and a spoon. After a few minutes, it was our turn. We were served a hearty slop, a mixture of beans, carrots, and meat. Beside it, copper cups filled with water awaited. We grabbed our portions and found a spot to sit nearby, with Sabrina following close behind.

We settled on the ground, examining our food. The slop was a murky brown, with chunks of the ingredients floating throughout. I took a spoonful; the taste was somewhat bland but acceptable. We ate in silence, finishing our meal and downing our cups in one go.

“Wow, this was actually pretty good. Don’t you think, Claudia?” Sabrina asked, licking her spoon clean.

“Yeah, quite tasty,” I lied.

“Recruits!” A commanding voice interrupted our conversation. “Those who have finished eating, follow me. We’ll start constructing your new homes. Those still eating or who haven’t eaten yet, wait for another legionary to guide you to the working area. Don’t worry about the plates and spoons; the last group will handle cleaning and putting them away.”

Sabrina and I left our plates, spoons, and cups on the ground and followed the legionary. She led us to an open area where logs of wood and other construction materials were laid out. A group of women with tools at their waists stood ready.

“You’ll begin by laying the foundation. These engineers will guide you—just follow their instructions, and everything will be fine. If we stick to the schedule, we’ll finish construction in seven days. Now, get to work!” the legionary bellowed.

nd thus did we toil beneath the unrelenting sun. We dug trenches, moved large boulders into place, and filled the gaps with smaller cobbles, binding them with sand and clay. The process was repetitive, and at first, I was frustrated by the slow pace. Yet as the sun sank lower each day, I began to see the fruits of our labor: the outlines of several buildings took shape, bringing me a sense of satisfaction.

The next day, our tasks shifted. We began constructing wooden walls for the barracks. Each day brought a new assignment—exterior walls, a well, stables—until on the eighth day, our work was complete.

We took pride in our accomplishment. The barracks were spacious, fortified with several defensible areas and watchtowers. Its location, close to the fort, enhanced the security of the area significantly. Our efforts had transformed a bare expanse into a well-structured, resilient fortification, and we stood proud of what we had achieved.

Soon, we were assigned to our new barracks, and luck was on my side—I was paired with Sabrina once again. The days flew by, and our barracks, now complete, became our home. Our days were filled with rigorous training, including various tests to determine our suitability for different roles within the legion.

The tests ranged from basic skills to more specialized tasks. We were evaluated on our ability to maintain a defensive line with shields, accuracy with bows, and other essential combat skills. Each day brought a new challenge, and we were rotated through different tasks to see where our strengths lay.

When my turn came to test my martial prowess, I faced a formidable adversary: a stoic woman with striking black hair and deep blue eyes. Her slightly pointed ears revealed her Notrik heritage, a people renowned for their isolation within their village enclaves. However, the economic upheaval had driven even them to forsake their remote homes and join the legion.

We were ushered into the arena, a vast circle encircled by the eager eyes of fellow recruits. Here, we were to showcase our combat skills. The proctor, a seasoned legionary, addressed us with authority, “At the count of three, you shall commence. Remember, the swords are blunted; the aim is to demonstrate skill, not to inflict harm. The victor will be the first to land a decisive blow.”

“Uno...” I gripped my sword and shield firmly, my heart pounding with anticipation.

“Duo...” I shifted my stance, aligning my feet for agility.

“Tre!” At the signal, I advanced, thrusting forward with purpose.

Our shields clashed with a resounding clang. My opponent was swift, her movements precise. As she swung her sword, I sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the blade. We circled each other, the sand beneath our feet shifting with each step. Her strategy became clear: she aimed to exploit any openings in my defense.

I closed the gap, striking her shield with mine in a forceful blow. She staggered slightly but quickly regained her composure. I attempted to jab with my sword, but she deflected the attack with a sharp parry. Her counterstrike was relentless; she pushed me back with her shield and followed with a series of rapid, aggressive swings.

I struggled to maintain my defense, blocking her strikes with my shield while trying to find an opening. Just as she prepared for a downward slash, I seized the opportunity. I absorbed the impact of her sword with my shield and countered by driving my own shield into her chin. The force of the blow caused her to falter, and I pressed forward, aiming to capitalize on her momentary disorientation.

She recovered quickly, but not before delivering a swift kick to my leg, causing me to topple to the ground. Her shield was now at my neck, and her sword hovered menacingly above my head. I lay there, breathless but determined, as she held her position.

The proctor's voice cut through the tension, “The victor is Celestia. Both combatants displayed exceptional skill. Claudia, you may now clean yourself and prepare for the subsequent trials.

Leaving the weapons at the asigned table i went and sited next to Sabrina wo whas quite happy for me in the fight, she say that for a beginning fight i did good but that i needed to temper my anger.

Soon, it was Sabrina's turn to face her opponent. The other woman, petite like Sabrina, had golden hair and youthful features. She stood ready, while Sabrina bounced lightly on the balls of her feet, preparing for the match.

I felt a presence beside me and turned my head to see Celestia taking a seat next to me. As I was about to ask her what brought her here, the shout of "Three!" startled me. Glancing back at the arena, I saw that the fight had begun.

Sabrina attacked with quick strikes at the front and sides of her opponent’s shield. When the other woman countered, Sabrina blocked and stepped back. The opponent, seizing the opportunity, closed the gap and struck Sabrina with her shield. Soon, both were engaged in a fierce struggle, pushing against each other's shields to see who would yield.

With swift precision, the other woman stepped back and delivered a powerful bash, causing Sabrina to lose her shield. The adversary then launched a barrage of swipes and strikes, which Sabrina deflected with her blade while sidestepping.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Without her shield, Sabrina became more agile and maneuvered to her opponent’s side, kicking her knee to force her to kneel. She aimed to land a decisive blow to her head, but her strike was intercepted by her opponent’s blade. The shield fell at Sabrina’s feet, eliciting a pained shout from her as she jumped backward.

Both fighters were soon without shields, having lost them in the struggle. They circled each other, striking and dodging with their blades. Sabrina then made a decisive move, disarming her opponent with a precise strike, followed by a punch to the stomach. She pressed the tip of her blade under her opponent’s chin, securing her victory.

“The winner is Sabrina. Both combatants performed admirably,” the legionary announced. “Prepare yourselves for the next tests.”

I was so engrossed in the match that Celestia’s voice startled me. “Uh, that was... a good fight your friend had with Silvia,” she said, her voice a mix of awkwardness and stoicism. “Our own match was, well, also challenging. I, um, hope we can, you know, learn from each other in the future. If... if you’d like, you could join Silvia and me for dinner. We... don’t have many friends here.” She shifted uncomfortably, clearly out of her element but making an earnest attempt.

Without much hesitation, I accepted Celestia's offer. It is always wise to forge new bonds within the legion.

“Yes, I accept. We are lodged in the fifth barracks. Let us meet at the courtyard by the gate; the guards will permit us to dine there.”

“Ah, splendid. I shall see you there!” Celestia responded, her tone a mix of awkwardness and earnestness as she rose and departed.

Soon, Sabrina joined me, her excitement barely contained as she spoke quickly.

“Did you witness that? My first real combat! I knew all those drills with the town’s ruffians would be worthwhile,” she exclaimed, her smile wide. “You cannot imagine how many times I was bested before. But now—now I triumph! Ha ha ha!”

After that we saw some other matcher until we where rought o other test. From how long one can run, to strength test and many others. by the end whe where tired. But luckily the end was already at its end and we went to eat. Then i remembered about the dinner with Celestia. So while we where going to dinner i spoke to Sabrina.

"Sabrina, we have been invited to dine with some of our companions—Celestia, the one who bested me, and Silvia, the short girl you defeated. They are friends," I said as we collected our meals and made our way to the spot I mentioned.

"Oh really? That's wonderful! New friends! Ha, and my brother told me I wouldn't make any friends here. Foolish of him—now I feast with those I bested," she said proudly, quickening her step.

Soon we reached the gate, and as planned, there was Celestia, her face as stoic as ever. Beside her stood Silvia, who was glaring at Sabrina. As we drew closer, I noticed they had brought a large blanket. It seemed we were going to dine without touching the dirt, a small luxury amidst our harsh training.

"Hello, Claudia and Sabrina. Thank you for joining us to eat. As the victor, I had the fortune to bring us some fine wine," Celestia said, her stoic demeanor slightly softened by a hint of stammer.

Silvia looked annoyed to be there, but Celestia shot her a look that prompted her to speak. "Hello, I'm Silvia. Celestia here is my friend, and we're happy to be dining with you," she said sarcastically as she sat on the blanket. Celestia looked a little annoyed and sat down next to her, placing a wine bottle beside her.

I sat across from them, with Sabrina joining me. Sabrina looked a little mad at Silvia. "Don't be a sore loser just because I beat you. You know, I bet I can beat you at eating too, or are you too butthurt to enjoy our company?" Sabrina said mockingly.

Celestia glanced nervously between Silvia and Sabrina, clearly uncomfortable with the tension. "Let's just enjoy the meal and the wine," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "We are all comrades here, after all."

I decided to step in and diffuse the situation. "Indeed, Celestia is right. We're here to strengthen our bonds. Let's leave the rivalries in the arena and share a good meal and fine wine together."

Sabrina smirked but nodded in agreement. Silvia, still looking disgruntled, sighed and reluctantly agreed as well.

The dinner wasn't exceptional, but the wine added some much-needed flavor.

"So, Celestia," I began, biting into some pork, "if you don't mind me asking, I see that you are a Notrik. What brought you from your neck of the woods to here?"

Celestia took a sip of her wine before responding. "My family is quite traditional. They wanted me to marry to strengthen our merchant family. So, I ran away. I've always enjoyed fighting. I won some matches at home and decided to join the legion. Silvia here was lost when I found her being scammed in the market of Aurelia. Luckily, I saved her some denarii. Right, Silvia?" Celestia finished, a little smug.

Silvia blushed and, with a cough, responded, "Well, I wasn't quite being scammed... maybe a little. Never mind that. I joined to earn honor and glory. I've been practicing fighting since I could walk. When I finish my years in the legion, I will walk back home with a beautiful red toga."

Sabrina chuckled, raising her cup. "To red togas and new beginnings."

We all raised our cups, the clinking of metal cups mingling with the crackling of the fire and the distant sounds of the camp. Despite the initial tension, the night turned out to be quite enjoyable. The wine loosened tongues and soon we were sharing stories and laughter, the bonds of camaraderie beginning to form.

Celestia, though reserved, shared a few more details about her life, and Silvia, despite her initial reluctance, proved to be quite animated and passionate about her dreams of glory. Sabrina, always full of energy, kept the mood light with her jokes and infectious laughter.

"And then I pushed him into the river! You should have seen him, so wet and screaming about his expensive clothes. Boys can't take a little water. Besides, it's only clothes," Silvia said, laughing.

We all joined her in laughter; it was quite a funny story.

"In my village, boys are a bit more womanly, you know," Celestia added, putting her plate down. "Since there are fewer of us, they accompany the hunters to hunt, but they are forbidden to join the militia." Standing up, Celestia stretched herself. "Well, we have to go. It's getting late, and I don't want the sergeant to yell at us."

"She's right. It was comfortable eating with you guys. Sabrina, you're right. I'm sorry for my behavior when we met, but now I know you're a decent girl," Silvia said, picking up Celestia's plate and adding hers to the pile.

I followed their lead. "Yes, it was quite a meal. We should do this again. Goodbye, my friends. Let tomorrow be a better day," I said.

Celestia and Silvia nodded and started walking back to their barracks. Celestia picked up the blanket they brought as they left.

Sabrina also said her goodbyes, and we headed to the baths, joining the other women to wash off the day's grime. After bathing, we clothed ourselves and prepared for sleep.

As we lay in our bunks, Sabrina whispered, "I'm glad we made new friends today, Claudia."

"Me too, Sabrina," I replied, feeling a sense of warmth and camaraderie that made the legion life a little more bearable. We closed our eyes, ready to face whatever challenges the next day would bring.

And so went my new life in the legion, and before I knew it, a full moon had already passed. With the constant training, I became stronger, and my stamina improved. Sabrina, who had been small at the beginning, now stood a little taller.

At present, we were in the courtyard of the fortress, summoned for an important announcement. My centuria and Celestia’s stood together, awaiting word from Maxima. Each with 80 members, wich 20 where with instruments, 10 drummers and 10 trumpets.

On her stage, Maxima began to speak. “My legionaries, your centuriae have been handpicked for a special mission by Caesar herself. Rejoice! Now go to your captains and prepare. You will march west to the town of Riverside, where a small escort of ships awaits you. Bring honor and glory to the legion, and more importantly, bring victory to Caesar!” she proclaimed.

Our captain then addressed us. “You heard Maxima. Prepare your bags, bring several rations, and ready the horses. Riverside is quite far, and this mission must be completed within two moons,” the captain instructed as we started marching back to our barracks. There, I packed my belongings as directed. Sabrina was overjoyed.

“Can you believe it, Claudia? A special mission from Caesar herself!” Sabrina exclaimed, her eyes alight with excitement.

I smiled at her enthusiasm. “Yes, it’s a great honor. Let’s make sure we’re ready for whatever comes our way.”

Soon, we were prepared and began our march. If we hadn’t trained as we had, I would have said we’d already be exhausted, but we were not. The journey was long, though the exact length was hard to determine. Just when I began to feel the strain, our captain’s voice rang out.

“Alright, girls! Since we are still far from Riverside, I suggest we sing a song to pass the time. Play something cheerful!” she called, raising the Aquila high.

A beautiful melody soon filled the air, lifting our spirits. The sound of our footsteps synchronized with the rhythm, and the fatigue began to fade. The more seasoned among us began to sing, their voices blending into a harmonious chorus. We joined in, following their lead and singing the lyrics with growing confidence.

https://suno.com/song/24975d1a-0e7e-4a67-8816-f712cb5285d3

[Verse 1]

The legion forever eternal

The legion forever strong

Aurelia, city of gods, we hail

Caesar, protector, our hearts belong

[Bridge]

Victric, Victric, aeterna legio

From shores to distant lands we roam

In unity, our shield and sword stand

[Chorus]

Oh Materna, goddess of all

Oh Materna, our chosen guide

Grant us love, prosperity, and light

Aurelia, jewel of the world, abide

[Verse 2]

Guardians of our cherished land

Standing tall against the night

Unified and brave, we stand

Under Aurelia's guiding light

[Bridge]

Victric, Victric, aeterna legio

From mountains high to valleys deep

In unity, our vigil we keep

[Chorus]

Oh Materna, goddess of all

Oh Materna, our chosen guide

Grant us love, prosperity, and light

Aurelia, jewel of the world, abid

As we marched down the road, passing rivers and forests, the fatigue began to set in, but a sense of happiness and anticipation coursed through me. Each step forward was a step closer to our first mission. Our training, with all its hardships, would soon bear fruit, and the promise of what lay ahead invigorated us.