She was the Mentor who spoke earlier. With her helmet under her arm, she stood facing Callum who was more than a head shorter than her.
"I'm too young" Callum replied meekly, his head lowered to avoid the glaring sun escaping her sides.
"Yes and no. Here your age is irrelevant but when compared to your competitors it becomes so." She patiently explained.
"Selecting you will mean an automatic loss."
Just as Callum was beginning to feel defeated, she continued.
"I will take a chance on you and in return you must give in will what you lack in strength. If you agree to this, step forward"
Without paying him any more attention, she moved on to others.
Callum did not hesitate, as soon as he was given a chance, he knew he had to take it.
The selection did not take much longer, soon after he was selected, the process ended with everyone finding their place. Some mentors had more than others but no one seemed to mind. There was even one mentor who didn't choose anyone.
Instead of others, Callum studied those beside him, his soon-to-be competition.
"Nine people including the one female soldier," he squinted and his heart flooded with determination.
"I'm not weak"
"Come with me" Their Mentor, the female guard instructed and started ahead.
Silently, the group followed her as the others also dispersed following their Mentors.
After a few minutes of walking, she started to speak and Callum's ears perked up.
"From now on, you will address me as Seventh Captain. After getting the directive from the Central Camp, I will assign numbers to each of you which you will bear as your name."
Callum suddenly stumbled on a branch causing the Seventh Captain to turn sharply at the sound. Watching him regain his balance, her expression remained impassive as she turned around and continued.
"For the next four weeks, you will be isolated within the Seventh Camp. During this period, I will train you to bring your standards to an acceptable level. After this is the Battle Phase in which your enemies will be all the camps and Retainers in this Forest. This is the rapid elimination phase, those who fall will continue in their original trajectory of training to become Imperial Guards and those who pass will have more opportunities open to them."
"You will hear this phrase more often during the first six months of your training. If you want to advance your careers, take every opportunity seriously because after Rookie training you will lose your chance to earn credits."
"During these two months you are immune to failure but even if you desire only to be Imperial Guards, do not slack."
At this point, they arrived at a camp fully barricaded with wooden walls and towers. They passed through the open gate to the interior where tents were set in a circle with a fireplace in the middle.
At the back of the camp was another tent which Callum correctly assumed was for the Seventh Captain.
"Find a tent" The Seventh Captain ordered and then gestured sideways towards an open space with training equipment.
"After settling in, gather there"
She walked off leaving the nine standing in contemplative silence.
Callum didn't want to be the first to choose a tent so he observed the area while others hesitated.
With his father's shared experience from military training, he easily guessed they would soon be doing laps around it.
Noticing the others start to move, he started off too randomly picking a tent.
The layout of the tent was quite simple. There was a firm bed, well-made with a firm pillow on the ground which was covered in soft animal fur. By the left side of the small tent was a full set of grey uniforms with weight straps and boots.
Time passed and the group of nine soon gathered around in the training ground. In the right corner of it, six stone benches were arranged in rows, and in front of them was a slightly elevated platform on which the Seventh Captain stood.
Observing the group before her, her impassive expression faltered.
Due to Callum's now bulky form, she could tell he was wearing the weight straps all over his body. While this was impressive, it could also easily be his own foolishness. It would all depend on whether or not he could endure training in them.
"Every morning when you hear the bell, you will all assemble here for strength training. In the wee hours, you will go through combat training and at the sun's peak, endurance training."
"In the evenings, you will have some time to yourself and when darkness comes, you will go through my unique regimen."
"At the gate of the camp, a cart will be set where you will receive your meals only when I give the order. At any other time, you can freely head there to collect the Nutrition Fluid prepared for you."
"Although you are immune to failure, you must keep up with your regimen, if you deny my orders, you will be taken to the Central Camp and whipped or charged by law depending on my mood"
"Clear?"
"Yes Captain" they replied uniformly. Sitting in threes in three rows, they looked sharp in their uniforms, even the short Callum who was now bulky thanks to the strapped weight he had on.
Fortunately, the weights did not restrict his movement.
"Now, we begin with a proper march"
Following the Captain's instructions, the group rose from their seats and started a march around the camp. However wide Callum thought the camp was, it was wider.
As they moved, the Second Captain watched them without a word and a moment later four Armored Guards entered the camp and began to instruct them.
The Seventh Captain was after all a Mentor and not a trainer.
Under the direct guidance of the Guards, they quickly learned to march uniformly. This continued until the day dulled and the Seventh Captain gave the order for them to go collect their meals.
[Discipline +1]
[Strength +1]
[Agility +1]
As soon as the march ended, ethereal words appeared in front of Callum causing him to fall into a daze.
The Seventh Captain took a glance at the boy soaked in his own sweat and gave an approving nod before heading off.
Despite the weights, Callum did not do worse than everyone else. Although this could be considered the bare minimum by others, it was to her a great start.
Unfortunately, this approving nod went unnoticed as Callum stared blankly at the floating words in his field of vision.
It was only by the will of his growling stomach that he walked soullessly towards the camp gate along with the others.
"What is this?" He muttered to himself not expecting a response.
[The Battle System is a Utility and Support System in service of the Chosen.]
[Commands List]
[Status: Opens Status Window]
[Skills: Opens Skill Window]
[Proficiency: Records Familiarity/Knowledge/Experience of learned techniques]
[Abilities: Opens Abilities Window]
[System Shop: Opens the Shop Window]
[Inventory: Opens Inventory]
[Earn Battle Points by achieving victory in confrontations. Battle Points are calculated by the system. To see reference parameters, check Admin View.]
"What is this? How did I get this? How was I chosen, why was I chosen?"
Callum had many questions but the Battle System had no more answers.
[Notice: 2 Unopened Gift Packets]
"Gift Packets?" Only now did Callum remember seeing the ethereal texts the day before during the run. His mind at that time was too preoccupied with thoughts of his dying sister.
Recalling this moment, his mood fell and he walked stiffly along with the others once again forgetting to open the gift packets.
****
Distance is relative. An idea easily objected to by any sane mind capable of understanding it.
But sometimes within a small place, multiple worlds can exist. Like the training camps and the main Palace building.
In the middle of the large Palace grounds stood a tall structure visible from any corner within the Palace walls and from tall buildings in the city.
Here was home to the Imperial Family of Altbourg and the seat of Power within the Empire. Unlike one would expect from a feudal system with a large territory, the weight of authority and responsibility rested here and it was directly reflected in the building's architecture.
Tall grey pillars guided the way to the majestic wooden doors leading into the throne room and behind this large mostly empty room was a door leading to a small corridor. The corridor was small of course relative only to the building.
At the end of this corridor was a smaller room, the King's Study, commonly called, Fate's Corner by the Nobles. Here the King wielding a pen determined the future of the world.
Within this room, a tall figure stood in front of a small table stacked with papers and ink pens of different designs.
Sporting golden hair and a slightly greying beard, Emperor Gaius had his hands in his pockets, casually staring at his two sons with an impassive expression.
The two Princes had similar hair colors to their father, both looking to be the same age and in their early twenties or late teens.
"Father, he's just a Guard, is there any need for so much fuss?" One of the Princes spoke up breaking the silence.
"And what prevents that Guard from slitting your throat with his knife?" The Emperor asked back immediately.
At this moment, he seemed like any parent arguing with their child.
"Surely he dares not." The Prince recoiled, his expression shocked at his father's words.
"Why not Adam?" The emperor retorted forcefully.
"I am a Prince!" Adam replied his expression stern as he raised his voice against his father.
Silence descended on the room and Adam took a step backwards. Stealing a glance at his silent twin, he turned again to his father.
"Just as your voice knows no respect for the Emperor, the sword of a Guard knows no respect for Imperial Blood." Emperor Gaius' tone was low but his words were impactful. He walked around the desk and stood behind it with his regal chair behind him.
"Imperial Guards are not Servants. Their honor is never to be sullied. This is the difference between a Guard at my castle and a hired swordsman. Their responsibility is to preserve your life and what it represents, I don't think you need any reminder as to how many want it."
He paused and slowly lowered himself into this seat. Glancing at his other son, his expression softened.
"You will not give them orders, you have servants and messengers. They are not your goons, you have soldiers. Go" he waved his hand and this time Adam knew better than to defy his father.
He took a step back and turned around, leaving with his brother. Behind them, Emperor Gaius turned sideways to a partition covered by a black curtain.
"Do you think they understand?" He asked, his forehead scrunched in a frown.
But as usual, there was no reply coming back.
A laugh escaped his lips and he shook his head slowly.
"I guess I don't understand either" he muttered and buried his head in the papers on his desk.
***
Back at Camp, Callum sat in his room with a compact tray before him. He marvelled at the wealth of the Imperials.
The so-called cart was multiple stalls set up by the Palace Maidens. They had the freedom to choose whatever they wanted from everything available. It was literally a small market of food.
Callum had picked a tray and selected two eggs, a serving of white rice, and some fruits. At the same time, he received a glass bottle containing the Nutrition Fluid the Seventh Captain spoke of.
After taking a sip, he felt it was a mix of egg, milk salt, and some other ingredients he could not recognize.
He didn't understand why but when handing it over, he was advised to take small sips frequently instead of big gulps, advice he was very willing to heed despite the appetizing taste of the mixture.
As he ate, he finally had the opportunity and freedom of mind to study the weird change he was experiencing closely.
"Open gift packets" he ordered skeptically half expecting nothing.
[Received Ability: Minor recovery]
[Received Opportunity: Sage's Guidance (1 Hour)]
No sooner had he seen the notification than he felt a warmth across his body. His eyes widened as he felt his soreness slowly recede. It was slow but present and fast enough to be felt.
"How amazing" he muttered as his heart began to flutter.
Inevitably, the question any human would ask themselves surfaced in his heart. 'What does this all mean?'