The Greatwood Squadron
When Logan and his ‘escorts’ made their way back to the barracks, they took a slight detour to pick up someone else. Just a little bit further down the thoroughfare, they came to a building like the one Logan had been in, where they retrieved Amar.
Together, they made their way to the formerly Frear Squadron’s barracks. Because apparently, Gregor had somehow ended up as their new Captain.
“What! But you’re so young!” Logan exclaimed.
Gregor had just stared daggers at Logan, until his purple eyes looked away in defeat.
“Anyways, I was in the process of explaining this just a bit ago, but now that everyone is back I can cover the new training schedule in depth. At least for these first three days, you all will be fighting with me as your opponent.”
Logan looked back at the younger man. He thought that Gregor might just be getting cocky after killing the Depth Wyrm, but that wasn’t in his nature, and from Gregor’s face he looked serious, if slightly annoyed and resigned. Letting out a sigh, Gregor continued.
“However, all that begins tomorrow. It wouldn’t do to have the training cut after only a short few hours. Therefore, for the rest of the day the Squadron is dismissed.”
With that, Gregor gestured for the Squad to split, and that they did, with the members going their various ways to enjoy the rest of the day. Then Gregor motioned for Amar and Logan to join him, as a smile came across his face.
“Now that we have the formalities out of the way, let’s take a little time and catch up.”
At that, the three companions from Alteep got to talk amongst themselves for the first time in weeks. The sound of laughter and storytelling quickly became progressively more rowdy, as Gregor had planned this out, and used his newfound rank to get a barrel of mead set out for the barracks.
The noise and alcohol eventually brought the rest of the Squadron back over, and by the end of the night, everyone was toasty, celebrating their survival and victory at Langst Harbor. Conveniently, no one mentioned the former Major, or the turncoat that had been amongst them.
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“Ughhh… my heaaadddd…”
When Logan awoke the next morning, he laid about groggily on the ground until a panic hit his chest.
“Wait, I fell asleep!” Somehow, Logan had drank enough that he had forgotten what waited for him in his dreams. But, it seemed he had managed to get off lucky this time. Maybe the Being didn’t have another update for Logan yet, which made him relieved. If he never had to witness absolute power again he would be overjoyed.
Somehow, he didn’t think it would work out like that for him, though. Sitting up, Logan looked around and realized he had never made his way back into the barracks. It seemed like he wasn’t the only one, as Arasaka was slumped against a wall, while Larry lay cuddling with the empty barrel of mead. The sun let streams of light stretch across the field, making the morning seem almost ethereal.
“Good morning, there. You ready for training?” Gregor asked him, as the young man walked over through the light.
Somehow, despite drinking the same quantities of alcohol as the much larger Larry, Gregor seemed to be completely alert and chipper this morning, which struck Logan as completely unfair. Not only had Gregor been the one who started the drinking, but he was also planning to beat them up while they were hungover? That was just rude, in Logan’s eyes.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Sshhhuddup. Five more minutes.”
“Is that anyway to speak to a commanding officer, Recruit?”
“Yaaeee-sshhhuddup. Sir.” Logan fired off a lazy salute to go along with his attitude.
Gregor just chuckled, and lowered himself down next to Logan. The two men just sat there and watched as the morning went on, and the Squad roused. Through the camp, other Squadron’s had begun their day, but Gregor wisely decided to let his fresh subordinates rise naturally.
Eventually, as the sun started to cross overhead, all the members of the newly named Greatwood Squadron were up, and training was ready to begin. Gregor wasted no time from that point, briefly re-explaining the exercise before situating everyone in the training yard.
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Any hopes Logan possessed about Gregor underestimating his new subordinates was quickly crushed during the first encounter. Even though all eight Legionnaires from the Squadron were no slouches, Gregor showcased exactly why he had been promoted to Captaincy.
At first, the Squadron had moved well to surround Gregor, with Arasaka and Larry engaging in a pincer that allowed their other melee enthusiasts to take pop shots from cover. Aerie and Jerry were bombaring Gregor at every opportunity as well, although the latter was using empty vials for safety. This was still training after all.
Still, their coordination as a Squadron was enough to make Logan smile. Then he realized Gregor was still smiling, and his blood went a little frosty.
For a while, Gregor kept blocking and dodging their attacks, seeming content to let the Greatwood Squadron tire themselves. However, when his moment arrived, Gregor shifted pace immediately.
It started with an overextension by Larry, the big man letting loose a thunderous overhand swing that hit nothing except turf, wedging his axe firmly in the ground. As if Gregor had been waiting for it, he seamlessly pivoted into a spinning back heel kick straight into Arasaka’s upheld shield, launching her away from the melee.
Lucius and Sophia stepped forwards to try and contain him, creating a cage of four swords. Although they moved with grace and skill, Gregor started to glow from within, and battered their swords away with almost contemptuous ease. Amar brought a Bear Claw down into the mix to try and aid them, but Gregor leapt into the air and avoided all three of his subordinates.
Logan looked up, trying to read the young Captain’s arc. When he pieced it together, Logan frantically teleported over to the destination.
Just in time, because as Logan popped back into reality a few feet to the right of Jerry, he only had a second to whip around and try to parry Gregor’s slash with his training sword. Not that it did much, as Gregor just knocked it out of Logan’s hand and smacked Jerry on the head regardless.
Then, Gregor’s sword descended again, except it had Logan’s head on the menu this time. Finding the familiar white lines, Logan teleported to safety just in time… for Gregor to dash across the field to him and hit him across the head regardless. Crashing to the ground, Logan only managed to raise his pounding head again once all of his Squadmates had joined him. Gregor stood mighty over the Squad.
“Again.”
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The rest of the day was filled with excruciating repetition. The newly dubbed Greatwood Squadron were thrashed by their namesake, time and time again, leaving all eight members thoroughly discouraged, despite their victory only a few days ago.
Enough so, that Logan eventually realized that was the point, as he took yet another dirt nap.
Wow, I should not have called him young yesterday. Guess I should apologize, and see if he lets us off with just one of the three days he promised.
Sitting up, Logan pushed himself to his knees just to have Larry crash land into him. The bigger man’s weight carried the two back another five feet, before settling directly on top of Logan’s head.
“Hrmrfff!”
“Oooouhhh, aw- Oh, sorry Logan.”
Larry slowly rolled off of Logan, giving him access to oxygen once more. Gasping for breath, Logan looked around just to see his Squadron all collapsed, once more. Gregor stood, panting slightly, but barely having broken a legitimate sweat.
“Alright, that’s good enough for today, let's pack it in. Remember to stretch out and cool down, otherwise tomorrow is going to be much, much worse than today. And not just because you will be sore, do we understand?”
A chorus of groans and affirmatives sounded up from the Squad, and then they split up for the day. There was instantly a line for the shower in both barracks, as no one wanted to get into their cot coated in mud. Except for Larry, whose snores were already fading into the background noise.
Instead of lining up, Logan decided to enjoy the last little bit of sunlight, and that's why he found himself privy between his current and former Captains.
“I’ve just received word that we are to march North by the week’s end. Do you think you can get this crowd under control by then, Captain?”
“I believe so ma’am. You definitely drilled them on the fundamentals, but saying they're ready for battle is another Beast.”
“They have no choice. These orders come from up high. Royals.”
At that, Gregor took a minute to respond. So far, Logan hadn’t encountered any nobility, but he knew that he was in the Austen Kingdom, so it made sense for a Royal family to exist. However, considering the medieval state of technology, Logan had the feeling classism was very much a thing here.
Gregor’s response was succinct.
“I’ll make sure that the Greatwood Squadron is ready to march, Major.”