The sun was in its full glory, its rays hit nearly everywhere.
"That's twenty-one.
When you both are done you can go eat your meals" Ren said as he sat on the porch of one of the wooden shelters, it was the largest one there.
Two boys ran to the mountains and back to the wooden shelters, over and over.
Caesar was sweating a bit.
"You don't seem tired at all" Caesar complimented the one running with him.
"Well neither do you.
And this is nothing compared to what I've...experienced." Leo said to Caesar.
There were no signs of sweat on him.
"You've experienced worse?!" Caeser was shocked to hear that.
"Yep, I was pretty surprised at the time it happened too.
Anyway how did we even get here" Leo changed the topic of conversation.
"Twenty-two" Ren said.
They turned around once again.
"It was kind of expected to be honest…" Caesar remembered what happened.
***
– Some time ago –
"I'll still have to give you a punishment.
You can't take matters into your hands over here." Ricia pointed at Caesar.
He nodded in response.
"Kneel, always respond with a 'Ma' or 'Sir'.
The least you can do is use our ranks." She twisted his ears as his knees went to the ground.
Some who were watching laughed at the interaction.
"For your punishment…" She looked around.
Scratched her head as if in doubt.
"Ah, you see over there…the foot of the mountain
I want you to run there and back, hundred times." She looked to be in a hurry.
"Hundred? Isn't that a bit much.
Commander, can I take half the punishment for him?" Leo asked the lady.
"Would you look at that…" She looked dumbfounded by his request.
"Sure why not, I've change it to two hundred laps you can take a hundred.
Knock yourself out." She mounted the horse and rode the wagon to the gate.
Leo's eyes twitched.
***
"Twenty-five"
"… To think you would offer to take a punishment for being wronged.
I have no words." Ren tittered a bit.
"And here I thought I was repaying in kind" Leo said sarcastically.
-
"Seventy-six"
They ran for a very long while.
They were even surprised by the presence of the person who was conversing with Ren 0.
"Isn't that?..." Caesar was unsure.
Leo took a look at the figure.
"At that height it would be hard to mistake him for anyone else." Leo confirmed.
It was the supreme talking to Ren.
"Hmm?
Why are those two running" Heimer asked Ren his tone was calmer than usual.
"Don't worry about it.
It's a punishment.
Seventy-seven!" Ren answered, he still kept track their laps.
"That kid with the grey hair…where have I seen him." Heimer looked troubled as he said this.
"That's the one you told me to save back at the frontline.
Your age might be getting to you." Ren chuckled.
Heimer laughed a bit.
"So it's him, you did a good job.
That kid is something else." Heimer was smiling as he uttered the words.
"Eighty!
Well he's in place where only the marked bloodlines are, yet he's the only commoner.
You wouldn't be able to do that without being special." Ren nodded.
"Gather everyone up, it's time to brief them." Heimer sat on the porch of the shelter.
"Eighty-one" He continued what Ren had stopped.
-
They all stood lined up inside the large empty shelter, it seemed to be a dojo of some kind.
The eight boys were of similar heights except the two blonde brothers, and another who had a shaved cut.
The six girls were of similar heights too.
Heimer stood at their front and nodded his head as if being proud.
"I'm sure you've all wondered why you're here.
I'll tell you that in a bit, first introduce yourselves, your names alone will do." Heimer asserted dominance on them.
He walked to the front of the person at the other end of the building.
"Who are you?" He looked straight into her eyes.
She had long brown hair, slim brown eyes with a cute face, a singular mark on her cheek.
"Herra Crislie" She saluted.
He walked over to the other.
"Oh…you're pretty tall.
Crouch down a little, I don't like bending my head more than a certain angle." Heimer said to the boy.
He was 190cm tall and muscular, but not as muscular as Heimer, he was singular marked.
He had shaved hair and black eyes on his matured face, looking to be a young adult.
"Rud van greus" He saluted while bending down and looking up at Heimer.
His voice wasn't as deep as his stature would imply.
"And you?
Aren't you a bit tall, do what he did." Heimer walked over to the next.
Standing at 185 cm, it was the Brash blonde kid, he had a singular mark.
"Paul Gristis" He saluted while bending down too.
And then it was the turn of his brother.
They had identical builds.
"Saul Gristis" He saluted while prostrating like his brother had.
Then the next was the turn of a girl;
It was the one who was trying to wake the boy up from the wagon.
She had short dark purple hair, a singular mark on her cheek and brown eyes.
"Laura Blight" she saluted, with a very soft voice.
The next person Heimer walked up to was another girl.
She was the reddish-brown haired girl Leo had seen in his wagon.
She had red eyes, and a narrow jawline.
"Fiona Stron" She saluted, her tone was calm and firm.
The next was Caesar.
"Caesar Lescando" He saluted, exuding his usual confidence.
And beside him was Leo.
"Leo Stehaven" He saluted.
The next person;
It was a girl with long white hair, her eyes were white to match it, one would think she was blind.
"Zefroth nurv" She saluted, her tone was that of calmness.
Then came the next;
He had blue hair and wore glasses, with a squared jaw and a singular mark.
"Karius" He saluted.
"Karius?
Just Karius?" Heimer picked on him.
"In the army our families don't matter do they?" Karius said with a lazy tone.
"..." Heimer was speechless..
He went to the next person.
He had long curly green hair on his baby face, with a singular mark.
"Dan Julven" He saluted.
The next one was a boy that had short brown hair and blue eyes.
He had cast down eyes, and gave the vibes off true prestige.
"Luka Merl" He said with a sullen tone.
The next was a girl with pink curly hair and wide grey eyes.
She was the tallest amongst the girls at 171 cm.
"Cera moy" She said with an energetic tone.
The last to be introduced was a girl with long black hair, she had a single mark.
Her lips were full and her black eyes were slim.
"Clarence Heath" She said with a soft voice.
"Herra, Rud, Paul, Saul, Laura, Fiona, Caesar, Leo, Zefroth, Karius, Luka, Cera and Clarence.
Welcome to the army." Heimer smiled.