Andric Levington

“WAKE UP, ITS 0400.” Draxis screeches in his mind.

“Ughh, I feel like I slept on a rock.” Turning to face the window the boy groggily shakes his face knowing he has to get ready. He grabs his shirt, pants, coat, boots, and belt as he heads off to the bathhouse. Thirty minutes later Joshua after refreshing himself makes his way to the training field. Seeing that none of his squad mates were ready, he props himself up against a fence post looking up. “I guess they don’t have an internalized alarm,” Joshua refers to his draconic companion. As he waits around patiently, Susanna finally makes her way there, fully dressed with her black and red blazer undone.

They stand around for a few minutes before the silence begins to get awkward, Joshua breaking the silence mans up and apologizes for the previous night. “It’s okay; your fine Joshua, I wasn’t paying attention either.” Susanna replies softly. She then proceeds to awkwardly set a few feet closer to him as the twins finally show up with moments to spare. “Morning Joshua, you ready?” Vilhelm asks curiously with a dastardly smile.

“For what?” Joshua raises an eyebrow before closing his eyes.

“You’re about to find out.” Vilhelm chuckles out as Joshua feeling a shift in the air immediately ducks to the ground narrowly avoiding the arrow fired his way. The tall dark elf female hops down from the trees above. “Nice reflexes kid.” Layrn comments as she re-holsters the bow on her back as she steps before the four of them. “Good morning cadets, who’s ready to go until they drop?” Silence ensues. “Nobody? You kids aren’t any fun.” She muses as she stretches her back out. “Anyhow I want you all to follow me to the top.” Pointing off into the distance of a mountain. “The last one there will be punished, am I understood.”

“YES, SQUAD LEADER” Everyone calls out with half hearted vigor, as they stand in place.

“Well, what are you waiting for? There isn’t a bell; GO.” Layrn's voice rings out as she bolts. The four of them start running behind the energetic woman, Susanna leading the four of them. “Well, ain’t she in shape.” Draxis commentates as Joshua follows closely behind her his boots grinding against the earth.

“Susanna, I didn’t realize you were this fast. not to be rude, I assumed you'd only be faster than Wil.” Joshua runs up beside her, making a bit of small talk.

Looking down slightly, her ears perk up as she replies. “I spent a lot of my childhood in the woods growing up. running alongside my sisters and playing with the boys.” Susanna grins while jumping over a crack in the ground. “I don’t think that alone is going to make her fast as she is.” Joshua mentally thinks to himself as she brings his attention back to the topic on hand.

“What about you Joshua? did you spend a lot of time outside, since you seem to be demolishing your older brothers.” Susanna inquires looking back faintly at the twins who are already sweating.

“Well, to be honest with you, I've always been more of a book worm. I’ve only been training heavily for a few weeks before coming here.” She eyes him up and down, believing him to be exaggerating. Running along the path to the mountain; bobbing and weaving around the rocks and plants. "Sure Joshua we'll go with that. Thats not even feasibly possible." Susanna mumbles to herself as Joshua looks towards her ears. which casually shift from normal back to the pointy ones from last night.

Saria lets out a sigh, feeling the change but accepts it. Hoping nobody comments on it.

Further down the mountain a voice calls out. “Hey Joshua, how are you doing so well,” the bulkier of the twins asks while slightly panting. “Like I said yesterday; meditation and training work wonders. You should try it some time” A smile spreads across his face as he teases the twins.

A little while later Layrn turns around looking to see her squad. “Huh, color me surprised they’re all still keeping up. Especially those two!” she turns back to face forward with a cocky smile and continues to the summit. “How much longer do we have to run,” Wilhelm complains, his legs trembling.

“Till we reach the top, as she said.” Joshua calls out to his brothers.

“Can’t you two go ten seconds without commentary.” Susanna states aloud.

“As far as I know, they haven’t been able to learn that skill. Joshua chuckles responding to Susanna’s question.

She shakes her head as she continues. “I should have guessed, but haven’t they been training for a while now?”

“Yeah, but like i said to Vil earlier, they kind of just spent most of their free time goofing off.” Susanna shakes her head, wishing she had the opportunity to waste her time. Soon after that tirade of banter they finally make it to the summit, Joshua following quickly behind Susanna. The twins arrive a few minutes later clearly exhausted, immediately keeling over onto ground.

With a cheerful cry Layrn turns around to face her squad. “Good job cadets, seeing on how everyone did so well I'll be expecting the four of you to climb up here every single day.” Layrn's vocalizes this completely serious.

“Really.” Vilhelm whines as is laying on the ground exasperated as the sky looms overhead.

“You never know what you’ll encounter out there, it’s better to be prepared than six feet under.” Layrn replies while smiling deviously. “But on that note, you have 5 minutes then we go back the way we came!” The twins groan aloud with protests.

“We’re going to die, aren’t we?” Vilhelm comments as the twins turn their heads to Joshua and Susanna and see that they look perfectly fine. “How?” They state in unison.

“That breathing technique you showed me works wonders.” Joshua comments to the dragon in his head. “I’d probably be feeling like them if you hadn’t. this body still isn't in prime shape yet.”

“No problem kid, all in a day’s work.” Draxis gloats to himself.

“Remind me to not feed your ego.” Joshua pinches the brow of his head and begins the trek down the mountain which surprisingly concludes much faster than the initial climb. Sometime later, the four of them reach the bottom of the mountain; everyone ready for a break.

“Why are you all looking so happy, you didn’t think that we were finished did you? My squad is going to be on a whole other level from the others.” Layrn calls out to them as she sees their exhausted faces. “Fine then, if you want to go lax on the training today I can work around that. You’re going to have to hunt instead. Freshen up and meet me at the gate in thirty minutes, don’t be late.” “She really is something special; I’m glad I already know how to hunt, but I don’t know about the others.” Joshua thinks to himself as he gazes toward Susanna.

The twins perk up at hearing it. “So now we finally get to do something interesting, sweet.” A smile creeping across Vilhelm’s face.

Layrn looks at them with disapproval. “Don’t treat this like a game; At any moment you could die, the battlefield isn’t a place for spoiled brats.”

“Yes, squad leader,” the Vilhelm replies with his head bowed, still not catching a 'break' because of his antics.

As Joshua gazes at Susanna he takes notice that she looks completely at ease. “I guess she already knows how to hunt.” “That makes this easier.” Joshua mutters to himself as the four of them go their own ways to get ready to hunt. After a little while, Joshua makes it back to the gate with a serrated dagger and some throwing knifes. “This should be all I need to hunt, at least this close to the camp.” Susanna comes strolling up with a bow and a quiver full of arrows on her back.

“So, you an archer?” Joshua questions trying to spark up a conversation.

“Kind of, I used to hunt animals back at home to help out my tribe.” Joshua nods his head. "But why a bow in particular?"

“A bow, crossbow alongside arrows/ bolts respectively are the best option when hunting wild beasts, since you can disguise your location with the plant life, and remain undetected."

With her comments on stealthily hunting, Joshua thinks back to that insanely sized albino wolf he saw the day prior and shudders.

“You thinking about that thing again?” Draxis comments to his student.

“How can I not, it was almost three times the size of the rest of them. Hell, I'm pretty sure it' strong enough to smash through this places barricades.” Joshua shakes his head.

“Hopefully it ran off and you won’t have to deal with it again.” Draxis attempts to be nice.

“ I doubt it. It will probably be back soon, It would haven't of left its home. I bet that it may live somewhere around here if my vague memories serve me right.”

After the two’s conversation, the twins finally make it to the gate, their squad leader popping up behind them terrifying the hell out of them. “Having fun kids.” Layrn bellows out enjoying every second screwing with them.

Standing up straight she looks and eyes her cadets. “I hope everyone is ready to head out because twins you’re with Joshua; Pointy ear you’re with me.” She separates the group while commenting on Susanna’s story. Susanna gets a bit self-conscious and pulls a hood over her face. The twins not even noticing start heading towards the forest as Joshua stops them. Looking down at Susanna, Layrn speaks with fire, “Don’t let anyone mock you for being an elf, just look at me.” She points to all the bandages over her body. Susanna looks down slightly embarrassed at their captains poor social awareness.

Ignoring the girls pow-wow, Joshua walk ahead, the twins following closely behind. “As she said follow my lead, I guess.” Joshua speaks aloud.

“Aren’t we the older brothers, shouldn’t you be listening to us?” Joshua pauses to argue, but after second thinking about it he relents. “You know what, you’re right, I’ll follow your lead.”

Joshua slows down letting the twins head their group, “Is that really a good idea kid?” Draxis questions.

“Probably not but I’d rather them get humbled sooner rather than later.” Draxis mentally nods in understanding.

The three of them eventually reach the wooded area Layrn directed them to. “First things first, how about a bet? Whoever brings back the biggest kill, the others have to listen to them for a week.” Vilhelm asks aloud as the three turn to one another. Joshua ponders his options before offering his hand knowing that he has this in the bag. “Deal, but I mean you’ll be listening to me soon enough.” Vilhelm eyes his little brother curiously, both a hint of pride and challenge burn in his chest. Nonetheless, he nods his head as he turns to his twin.’ They all shake on it and split up, Joshua starts climbing up the nearest tree trying to get a good vantage point. As he looks around trying to feel his surroundings with his limited aura, he catches sight of a winged beast.

Immediately he throws a knife barely missing the beast’s jugular as its ears perk up immediately.

Reeling back to make another attempt. “What is one of those doing all the way out here?” Draxis breaks Joshua’s concentration as the beast flies off.

“Oh great… It got away, thanks a lot Master.”

“Kid you wouldn’t have been to eat that thing anyways, when one of them die their body begins to rot almost immediately.” Draxis replies calmly as a shock is sent down Joshua's spine..

“You know what that thing was Draxis?” Joshua questions dropping to a knee feeling Draxis exerting his presence.

“Yeah, It’s a Peryton they’re normally a very bad omen.”

“What do you mean?” Joshua shakes his head as he slowly rises back to his feet.

“Typically, when one encounters a Peryton it means death is soon to follow.” Draxis's voice deepens.

“Just be careful kid, things may soon go south.” Joshua nods hid head with understanding as he continues his hunt.

Eventually the other four meet back up in front of black-wood a few hours later; right before sunset. Joshua on the other hand arrived an hour prior to them, so he’d started taking care of business. Layrn steps forward carrying a wolf carcass on her back. “So, I can see someone got lucky today.” The twins awkwardly drop off a few rabbits and small fowl near the fire pit that Joshua had started a little while ago.

Joshua turns to them with a triumphant look. “Yeah, yeah, we get it we lost.” The twins look over to their little brother’s prize. A full-blown stag in all its glory already skinned and butchered.

Their captain pipes up with curiosity. “Hey red head, I thought you didn’t have any survival training, how did you learn how to butcher and skin a stag.”

Joshua cheekily rubs his neck as he detracts the question. “I’ve spent a lot of time reading and checking out different diagrams explaining how. Eventually you just kinda figure it out.”

The twins stare in disbelief as Susanna approaches with a fallen wolf pup; arrow lodged in its side. Susanna looks down with disappointment. Noticing this Layrn walks over and pats her shoulder “Don’t feel bad kid; The more time you spend with me, I promise I’ll turn you into a living weapon.” She places down her own prey down with the rest and makes her way to the front of her squad before speaking,

“Aside from Mr. Overachiever over there, I’ll teach you all how to properly take care of and skin an animal. Watch closely and pay attention.” Joshua lifts his head looking around feeling a sense of pride.

“Don’t let it go to your head kid, you’re lucky that thing got its caught between those rocks normally it would have been long gone before you even have a chance.

“I know, but it’s nice for my past experiences to pay off. Learning how to hunt was a massive pain in the ass. The mountains didn’t exactly have easy prey to kill.”

Joshua replies, a smirk shining on his face as he looks towards the sky. The sun gracefully sets as his squad mates banter with each other only for their captain to call out to him. “Hey Joshua, how long you plan on acting like an old man? Seriously you remind me of my 120-year-old grandfather.” Joshua sweat drops immediately turning his attention to Layrn.

“Alright then captain, I’m coming.” Joshua hops up with a warm smile spreading across his face as he heads towards the campfire.

A week later, just as soon as wolf squad finishes descending the mountain, suddenly the intercom begins to go off. A familiar voice beginning to speak. “Everyone gather to the courtyard immediately I have an announcement.” The intercom immediately goes silent after the commandant finishes speaking.

Looking to his squad mates, he shrugs. “Let’s get going I guess, let’s not keep him waiting.” The four of them make their way together towards the courtyard after taking a well-deserved break from their morning climb. As the four of them approach the court yard Susanna raises a question aloud. “I wonder what’s happened this time?”

“What do you mean? Vilhelm questions only halfway paying attention.

“Normally when the Commandant calls for everyone to gather in the courtyard something important has happened, or he means to make a show of somebody.” Susanna replies with a snicker. “Last time it was you two.” Her gaze rests on the twins as they look around trying to ignore her comment Seeing this, Joshua starts thinking to himself what it could be about, but nothing comes to mind. Completely forgetting about his duel with Orthon.

A few minutes later all four squads are gathered together and line up with their respective squad leaders. Layrn turns to face her squad. “So how was everyone’s morning, I’m sure you all feel much better by now.” Everyone nods their heads in agreement, the mountain training getting easier with each passing day, hell even their bodies feel better. Every commandant clears his throat loudly getting everyone’s attention.

“I thank you all for gathering on such short notice, but I would like to introduce you all to our new Vice Lieutenant. He has been out for a few months on a high-level mission and has recently returned after the successful subjugation of a lich.”

Hearing this, murmurs begin erupting amongst the crowd, everyone wondering who the Vice Lieutenant was. The Commandant however just looks around entertained by the differing responses.

Joshua on the other hand had a different thought process. “Lich? But they didn’t start to surface until after Astaroth broke into our reality be known. That makes no sense.” Joshua mutters to himself.

“Looks like things may not play out the same way that they used to and. Also stay on your toes.”

“I know Draxis, I know.” Joshua nods his head slightly.

Back on the state the commandant continues. “Everyone must be excited to learn who took on a monster of such caliber and walked away on top. So, without further ado everyone raises a round of applause for my dear friend and a former blackwood squad captain; Andric Levington.”

Joshua freezes in place after hearing the name; Memories of trauma resurfacing to the forefront of his mind.

While frozen in shock he watches a not so old man holding a golden pocket watch in his hand approach the podium. “He was an old man; this cannot possibly be him. His hair was white and his eyes were brown. This man has jet-black hair, green eyes and looks to be in his early 40’s.” Joshua takes a step back in disbelief, his rage wanting to boil over.

Andric takes look around before speaking, his black and green overcoat with red tassels stitched into the shoulders draped over his simple black and green military suit.

“Hello young recruits, yes, it is I Andric Levington and I have returned to my home in Blackwood. I look forward to seeing grows this time around. Throughout my many years here I have seen many recruits come and go, and I can guarantee you that Blackwood...” Joshua stops paying attention to what he perceives to be pure nonsense as he starts breathing in and out deeply as he tries to control his heart rate and temper. His eyes start glowing red with passion.

Andric finishes his speech a bit later and almost everyone begins to clap and applaud him as if in a trance. Looking to his own squad mates, he’s grateful to see that they seem to be fine and are only awkwardly clapping to keep up appearances. Out of the corner of his left eye he can also see Orthon standing still with his eyes closed. “I don’t know what the hell he said to put all these people in a trance, but it’s definitely not magic. I wish i had paid more attention to demonology...” Joshua gaze sharpens as he glares daggers towards the Vice Lieutenant.

“You sick bastard, I’ll kill you!” Joshua growls to himself, as Susanna looks towards him with concern as she reads his lips. Draxis doesn’t even comment on the blood-lust oozing from Joshua. All this goes on as Andric’s eyes glow a ghastly green looking over this year’s batch of trainees.