When I enter the academy doors, the face of the bored instructor greets me. His voice and tone is somewhat more professional today.
"Ah Kelric, I figured you'd take the alternates. Follow me then."
"You're instructor Zyre then?"
He turns back towards me, his mouth open. He stood there silently as a look of concentration passes over his face. His laugh is loud when he speaks again.
"I can't believe I didn't introduce myself yesterday hahaha! Yeah, I'm instructor Zyre. Now let's get a move on, those uptight old crows don't like to be kept waiting."
His words make me realize that he's not giving my tests personally today.
It takes around fifteen minutes of walking down various hallways before we arrive in a part of the academy I haven't seen before.
Instructor Zyre motions to me and gestures that I should enter the room we've stopped in front of. He doesn't seem to have any intention of following me inside.
I do so and see five battle hardened men sitting atop a dais. The table they sit behind has tapestries with a different image in front of each.
From left to right, there's a shield, then a sword and shield, in the middle is a bear trap, to the right of that are flames, and on the end is a singular sword.
The men have a overbearing air and it feels like I'm about to fight a dangerous opponent.
The one in the middle is raised higher than the others and gives me a command.
"Sit."
I do so and walk over to the stool in the center of the room. I can tell it's positioned intentionally to make me feel small and insignificant.
The test hadn't even begun and they were already playing mind games. Or perhaps it had and this was apart of it to see how I would react.
My face is blank as I look up at the greying men.
The one in the middle begins talking again.
"You are taking the Battle Tatics test. I, as the Master of Deception will preside over this test and decide if you pass or fail. State your name."
"Kelric Bladebane."
"Very well Kelric, the test starts now. Master of Defense, please begin."
The man to the far left immediately says his first question.
"What is the purpose of force dispersal?"
His question is so bloated and I'm not sure what specifically he wants, so I explain every facet.
"They're are many purposes, I'd say the main one is spreading out vulnerable military assets and personnel. This minimizes any collateral damage from befalling a sizable portion of a singular force. It also prevents opposing intelligence squads from gathering hard information. Breaking up into covert-"
"Enough. When should one deploy the hedgehog defense?"
I almost start talking before I stop myself, the old man smiles slightly at me when he notices.
"When one needs too."
He nods to the Master of Deception.
"Master of Offense, your turn."
The man on the far right speaks to me now.
"What are the eleven methods of planned attack?"
"Supporting Fire, Spearhead, Hovering Wedge, Encirclement, Hammer and Anvil, Frontal Assault, Infiltration, Flanking Maneuver, Defeat in Detail-"
He asks another question and cuts me off before I'm even finished.
"What are the three types of patrol?"
"Reconnaissance, Fighting and Standing."
"If you were outnumbered fifty men to one, which method of retreat do you use?"
Again I feel like this question is a trap so I say something unexpected.
"I do not retreat and instead enact the bounding guerrilla tatic and whittle down the opposing force."
The Master of Offense nods.
"Master of Weapons."
The man directly to the left of the Master of Deception looks at me disdainfully before speaking.
"What are the two most important weapons a man has?"
This one is simple.
"His mind and his body."
He nods and the one on the right of the Master of Deception speaks before he's told too. I didn't notice before, but he's several decades younger than the others.
"How many men have you killed?"
His question startled me and I answer without thinking.
"A lot."
He laughs like a child while the Master of Deception admonishes him.
"Master of Destruction! Hold your tongue."
I think he's going to hit the laughing man when he does as asked and pinches his tongue between forefinger and thumb.
The master of Deception sighs and turns back to me.
"What are the three main tenants of deception?"
I'm a little stumped on this one because I've never had a need to deceive others.
"Umm Camouflage.. Disinformation and uhh.."
He frowns at me as I struggle to come up with an answer.
"… Demoralization?"
He narrows his eyes at me before nodding.
"What is a False Flag operation?"
This one I don't have an answer for and the first time since I started the exam, I think I might fail.
"I don't know."
He shakes his head and speaks again, this time it isn't towards me.
"Those in favor of passing Kelric Bladebane?
Four hands raise while the Master of Deception keeps his down.
"Very well. For the record I will state as Master of Deception that Kelric Bladebane has passed the Battle Tatics test."
I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding.
"You are dismissed."
I get and leave the room and can't believe that my legs are shaking a little. Those men had been slowly letting their bloodlust out during the test, making it hard to think properly.
Instructor Zyre is waiting for me as I exit.
"So, did you fail?"
I shake my head at him.
"No, I passed."
He seems somewhat surprised, I guess he didn't have high hopes for me after all.
"All right then, follow me to the next test. Be prepared, this is one where you could lose your life."
Nodding at his words, I follow him to the next area.
It takes awhile and we pass in and out of smaller buildings on the academy grounds. I notice that current students are making their way to classes and a few look at me questioningly.
One student comes up to us and tries to start talking to instructor Zyre.
"Sorry Milton, not now. I'm taking Kelric here to do the Subjugation test."
The student sucks in a sharp breath and looks at me pityingly.
"Ohh.. may the gods luck shine upon you, Kelric."
He then turns and leaves like he's seen a dead man walking.
I discard all my unimportant thoughts and try to slowly coax my rage, I'm going to need it in the battle to come.