Chronicles of Dras

Chapter 8: Trials and Triumphs

The morning after his meeting with Princess Elara, Dras woke up to the sound of a bugle blaring throughout the Academy, signalling the start of a new day. The reality of his situation was setting in - he was a cadet at the Imperial Legion Academy, on the cusp of a challenging but exciting journey.

After a hearty breakfast, the cadets gathered on the training fields, waiting for their daily instructions. Sergeant Keldorn, a burly man with a hearty laugh and a thick accent, sauntered to the front. His demeanour, reminiscent of a jovial bear, was contrasted by his imposing stature and commanding presence.

"Alright, younglings!" Sergeant Keldorn roared, his voice echoing over the cadets' chatter. "Gather 'round. It's about bloody time you lot learned how this damned Academy works!"

Dras found himself in a group with his squad, their attention riveted on the Sergeant. Keldorn strode over to a large board set up on the field and picked up a piece of chalk.

"You lot are in squads, six bloody cadets each," he started, marking six dots in a group on the board. "A bunch of these squads get lumped together to form a platoon. That's where the fun starts."

He added more groups of dots until there were six, all part of a larger circle. "And that, my dear cadets, is where me and the Commander here come in."

At this, another figure stepped forward. Commander Rhett, is a man of notable charm and confidence. His casual demeanour was both intriguing and somewhat intimidating.

Commander Rhett nodded at the cadets, a sly grin playing on his lips. "That's correct. As your Commander, I'll be overseeing your training, alongside Sergeant Keldorn."

The Sergeant continued, "In layman's terms, you lot need to learn to work together in your little groups, your squads. And then, we'll see how you work with the other 'little groups' in the platoon. It's a bloody mess at first, but you'll get the hang of it."

Commander Rhett stepped in, adding a layer of clarity to Keldorn's broad strokes. "What the Sergeant is trying to say is, the structure of squads and platoons is about fostering teamwork and strategy. It's about learning to operate as a cohesive unit within your squad and then learning to synchronise with other squads to operate as a platoon. This forms the backbone of our military force."

He added, "And let me be clear, our training is intense. You'll be pushed to your limits and beyond. We're preparing you for the Scorch Trials, and they are not a walk in the park."

Keldorn interjected, "Right you are, Commander. We'll drill you till you're cursing our names in your sleep. But remember, we're not doing this to break you. We're doing this to make you the best damn cadet you can be."

After the enlightening conversation with Sergeant Keldorn and Commander Rhett, the cadets were quickly swept into the rigors of training. The grounds were a sprawling expanse, studded with various training apparatus from towering wooden structures to deep sand pits meant for various forms of physical and strategic training.

The cadets grappled with the climbing walls, their fingers seeking purchase on the rough wood. They balanced precariously on logs, their legs shaking with exertion as they tried to maintain their equilibrium. They navigated through obstacle courses, their bodies moving with a newfound agility.

Combat training was next on the agenda. The cadets were paired off, each tasked to face their partner in a one-on-one sparring match. Dras found himself standing opposite Talen, a lanky cadet with a dubious smirk.

Just before the commencement of the duel, Dras noted Joren whisper something in Talen's ear. The smirk on Talen's face widened, but Dras met his gaze steadily, his grip tightening around the hilt of his training sword.