Cassie held her focus high as three recruits slammed their shields into the ward stretched across her squad's front rank. Gravel crunched and slid beneath their feet while Jonas prowled behind the defenders, checking every heel before the next push.
At the inner chalk line, Hajin waited with a blunted practice sword propped against his shoulder.
The rules of the test let him strike whenever the squad left an approach unguarded.
"Rear foot back, damn it," Jonas barked, jabbing a slipping heel with his axe haft while his shield stayed tucked beside him.
"Keep the center off the second rank, and quit bracing one man with another man's chest."
Cassie sucked in a breath as the three attackers threw their weight against her ward again.
She fed a careful pulse along the neighbouring rims, then locked her focus steady, "Stay with me, shields together, and don't go chasing them when they bounce off."
