“We will strike the enemy where they least expect it,” Simulacrum announced.

The two lads turned their attention to the table. The display shifted. The visualization now was of a 'pulled-out' view of their location. It looked as though they were of a true bird’s view. How many miles they saw exactly he did not know, but it was enough to gain advantage over the enemy.

“Over beyond the rolling hills,” Simulacrum continued. “The enemy has concentrated their forces. Yesterday, we picked up a large movement of enemy war material. It was this material which prevented your community from finding refuge. A nearby city is suffering siege. If we can break the siege, the momentum of the invasion will stop. It is a risky plan, but with the power of the crystals, it should be possible.”

He took a moment to confirm what the Screen Master said. He rolled his hand between their current location and the destination. “What about the journey?” he asked. “The city you speak about, Screen Master, is called Thundervale. It is the sub-regional capital. By foot, it is about half-a-day’s travel.”

“True, at half-a-day’s travel, we would be already exhausted by the time we arrived. I guess it will have to be a multi-day mission?” Jiehong said.

“It seems so,” the Screen Master replied. “But take care Rangers and know this: once we restore the command center, there will be many new tools for you to take advantage of, including transportation. For now, steel your bodies with physical endurance. It will bend you into powerful fighting machines if you allow it.”

“Okay, well… physically enduring the painful is what we are used to, so how much can we really complain?” he asked. Jiehong agreed with him.

“How are we going to break the siege?” Jiehong asked.

“Yeah. Important question there,” he added.

The Screen Master answered: “By use of coordinating with your allies on the ground, your countrymen, and by the weapons you will use as Ranger-Knights. Sigma-Prime, when you are ready.”

At the Screen Master’s words, Sigma-Prime activated and removed herself from her ‘charging table.’ She went over to a part of the wall opposite the barrack doorway and touched a hidden button. Like magic, the walls ‘flipped’ and revealed a hidden cache of goods.

He and Jiehong rushed over, eager to identify what shiny new toys awaited them.

“What are those?” he asked a wide-eyed.

Before them was an armory. Swords, shield, and some clothes, with other gear he didn’t recognize, were arrayed on a display rack. “This is your basic Ranger-Knight equipment. ‘Standard issue,’ as you mortals say. Sigma, please bestow upon our defenders their pieces. I will explain the function of each.”

“Aye-aye! Will do, Screen Master!” Sigma-Prime said as she (with surprising ease considering her bulky form) retrieved each piece of exotic equipment.

“Ranger-Knights! Please shed your old garb. You will soon be granted new clothing to better reflect your new position,” the Screen Master said as they, with no embarrassment, shed their clothing. Neither he nor his brother had shame regarding their bodies. Both of them were the same underneath. And growing up with a relative ‘lack,’ of course, made them stretch out everything they had, no matter how little. Most of the time, the youth of the village simply went naked. It wasn’t until young people came of age village elders presented them with clothing.

Standing before Sigma-Prime in only their cozy, and still wonderfully clean undergarments, the first item Sigma-Prime presented to them was a pair of pants.

The boys slipped the breeches on and found the material cozy, warm, but not stifling. It ‘breathed,’ as the village tailor would say.

The Screen Master described: “Made from fairy silk and steel wool mixed with threaded water, these pants will never give out no matter how much friction you force on it or how much wear it’s forced to endure. Pockets will appear on these breeches as you have need of them.”

Sweet! He thought. He didn’t understand any of the materials which went into making the breeches, let alone the process for how one would make it, but the pants fit him snugly, and he never wanted to take them off, then why did it matter if he didn't know how they were made? He would just make a mental note to keep them in good condition. Otherwise, who would be capable of repairing something like this?

The second item given to him (and Jie) was a long shirt: “made from similar materials to the pants, although with an extra amount of fairy silk soaked in an ultra-concentrated dragon fat, this shirt is element-proof. It is indestructible, lightweight, and even capable of holding trace amounts of magical energy. Wear it well and it will protect you as well as a suit of armor.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Sigma-Prime then presented them with several additional pieces of clothing. Socks, cold-weather gloves, warm-weather gloves, and a facemask for those times of angry wind interference or the chilly blow of winter. He stuck the cold-winter items into his pants pocket; to his delight, pockets appeared just as the Screen Master said.

He looked at Jiehong. He looked sleek. Cool. Like he was the son of a fancy minister instead of simply the son of a moderately well-off trader.

He saw his own reflection in the smooth material of the command center. I also look so fine, he thought.

Next, Sigma-Prime gave the boys more of the expected infantry getup: heavy boots, shoulder pauldrons, and a defensive buckler.

The Screen Master explained the items and how fantastical they were, how the boots would never wear thin or feel too heavy, despite their size, and no matter how deep one plunged them in the mud while out in the field. The pauldrons were similar except capable of taking a hit and then some. It was the buckler with the most ingenuity, however; as Sigma-Prime told them, “Although not indestructible because of design philosophy, this shield can change sizes automatically in relation to incoming threats. Use this shield well, keep it well maintained, and it will continue to serve you despite the bitterness of war.”

Taking another glance at himself, he saw how much of a warrior he looked. He looked like a member of the royal guard only… fancier.

Next up was a leather satchel bag. Although weathered from time’s passage, Sigma-Prime waxed the bags and they soon appeared like new. “Basic carrying bags for anything which does not fit into your pockets. Wear this satchel across your back like a standard backpack.”

Slipping his arms through the straps, he donned his satchel, never having felt more like the son of a wealthy baron than now. He liked the satchel most of all, as it was an item with use both on and off the battlefield. He intended to use it in his everyday life as his everyday carry. It was a luxury he never — and he truly meant never — would have been able to afford otherwise.

Having finished with the more ‘non-functional’ parts of the showcase, Sigma-Prime now dealt with the more ‘military’ end of things.

“Take these,” Sigma-Prime said. He glanced at what she handed to them. It looked like pinecones.

“Those are called grenades,” the Screen Master said. “Pull the pin there and throw it as far as you can. A powerful blast will spread. These grenades are basic issue explosive devices. However, in time, we will be able to make for you 'special use' grenades which come with a variety of effects. Note, Ranger-Knights, only you can pull the pins and only for combat missions. Anyone other than rangers cannot pull the pins, as they will find their arms too heavy with sin to complete. Just the same, if you attempt to pull the pins outside of a life-threatening situation, you will be unable.”

Knowing the spiel already about 'Holy Law,' and the inability of one to kill, he stuck the grenades on his belt loops. He made a mental note about their use but did not see how such would be relevant.

Next up, Sigma-Prime handed them what he had been looking forward to getting his hands on ever since the display case opened. A sword!

“Be careful, Ranger-Knights, these are unfathomably sharp!” Sigma-Prime warned.

Holding the blade in his hand, he examined it. Pure black. Though… the color seemed to change as light reflected off it.

“These swords are a Ranger-Knight’s go-to weapon. Forged from cosmic steel plundered from another plane of existence, the blades are truly unlike anything in our universe. Their craftsmanship is beyond compare, smith’d by the original Shiv Order founder himself. In the past, ranger-knights have said the blades are capable of many things. Things would not expect a simple bladed weapon to do. Magical absorption, piercing thick walls, even returning to their owner when discarded. Be warned, however — the blades are finicky and demand a proper master. If the blades judge you wanting as their wielder, you might find them a touch more troublesome than you will expect from your weapon,” Simulacrum explained.

‘Strange.’ ‘Unusual,’ were words which came to mind when he considered the Screen Master’s warning. ‘Weapons with a will, essentially?’ He thought. ‘Well, if they want to offer their opinion on strategy while I am waist deep in crap, good for them! I will welcome their input.’

“And finally, Ranger-Knights, we come to the final gift we wish you to have. Sigma, now,” the Screen Master said cryptically.

Sigma-Prime brought them something which looked like a rock with a wire attached to it.

“What’s that?” Jiehong asked, sounding weirdly put off.

“This, Ranger-Knights, is a communication tool. An earpiece. Sigma, could you attach it to them? There will be a small pain, young knights, as it must pierce your ear, not unlike an earring. Apologies for the discomfort.”

He looked to Jiehong. His brother was not excited about getting a sudden piercing. He muttered, “Just another thing to explain to my parents… they don’t like jewelry.”

Zan had no such objections, though, and gladly allowed Sigma-Prime to pierce his lobe, though, once he felt the pain, he had second thoughts about future bodily modifications. Jiehong still allowed his ear to be pierced, but he had clear objections.

“Using this tool, Sigma and I can talk to you practically anywhere. No more shouting, no more slowly enduring the travel of messenger birds or letters. We will always be in your ear, giving you aid where needed. To send us a voice message, merely hold down the earpiece. Sigma, please show them,” the Screen Master said.

The boys tested out their new tool. Once it was in working order, they thanked the two Wardens and said, “I think it is time, yeah? You two have given us a lot. Time for us to do our new job and fight.”