Rising Shadows: The Fight for Freedom I

Chapter 21: Recruitment

"You have been conscripted! Soldier! Where do you think you are going?" The knight who had just exited the military camp stood in front of Darn, his icy gaze fixed upon him, emanating a chilling and terrifying aura.

What an imposing presence! A true master! His martial prowess must exceed the sixth tier! Suddenly halting, Darn looked up at the knight blocking his path, sensing an aura comparable to that of Gurian and Marcelis. It was the inherent danger within that aura that instinctively prompted Darn to adopt a defensive posture.

"Eh!?" The knight let out a slight sigh of surprise. Initially, he had intended to draw his sword and kill Darn at the slightest hint of defiance, but now he reconsidered.

Hmm, only another warrior who has cultivated fighting spirit can perceive the murderous intent of a soldier! So, this must be the descendant of a once-noble family fallen on hard times? Yes, it must be so. Judging by the boy's attire, his ancestors were likely mere barons, perhaps even just lords!

"Soldier, you are now my subordinate. Regardless of your past status, even if you were once a noble, before me, you are merely a soldier! Show some courage befitting a man, and do not disgrace your noble lineage! Immediately gather your belongings and report to the camp!" The knight's expression softened slightly as he made his judgment.

What does he mean, even if I was once a noble!? Hmm... this guy knows I am of noble birth! Yet he treats me like an ordinary soldier!!!

Staring at the knight in astonishment, Darn felt a bit confused. He couldn't comprehend why the knight, already aware of his noble status, would still address him with such disdain, as if he were a commoner.

However, Darn quickly suppressed his astonishment and dissatisfaction, for behind the knight, two men bound in ropes were being forced to kneel by soldiers at the camp entrance. With the sound of a drum, the knight who had just gestured for Darn to enter the camp suddenly waved his hand.

Swish! Swish! Two soldiers swiftly drew their swords and struck downwards, followed by the splattering of blood.

Ugh... they... ugh... just executed those two without trial... ugh... they just severed their heads!

Staring in shock at the two heads, caked with dirt and grass, their bulging eyes wide open in death, one of which rolled to his feet, Darn's muscles tensed involuntarily, and a wave of nausea surged from his stomach.

"This is the fate of deserters! According to the special decree of the Governor of the Ditlan Province, from this day forth, any active duty or conscripted soldier who flees or leaves the camp without cause for more than a day will be deemed a deserter and executed immediately! Those refusing military service will receive thirty lashes and be sent to the assault camp!"

A soldier shouted loudly, ensuring that the bloody command reached every ear of those reporting for conscription, while Darn, gripped by fear, began to vomit painfully.

Digestive juices, bile, remnants of food-Darn expelled everything he could from his stomach, but upon seeing the horrifying severed heads, he felt the urge to vomit again. Eventually, with nothing left to expel, Darn merely gaped, saliva trickling from his mouth and nose.

"Soldier! Have you never seen a dead body before?" Just as Darn managed to suppress his urge to vomit, he looked up to see the knight's expressionless face.

"No... never..." Darn replied, fearfully gazing at the knight who had just ordered the execution of the two deserters, a chilling dread filling his heart.

"Never? Excellent! Then you have gained a valuable experience. I believe you will adapt soon enough!"

What does that mean!? Darn thought blankly, feeling utterly hopeless about escaping. He mechanically followed the knight's and some soldiers' instructions, picking up the tattered blanket said to belong to him and a heavy sword that was also claimed to be his, and walked into the camp.

In the following days, Darn understood the meaning behind the knight's words. At the camp entrance, new heads were severed almost daily, all for the same reason-desertion!

Moreover, many others received thirty lashes, their flesh torn and bloodied, before being thrown into the assault camp-those were the unwilling conscripts captured from various places.

It was terrifying; these fools were so stupid! They would be better off serving in the army! At least they wouldn't lose their heads or end up in the deadly assault camp!

As he pondered this, Darn donned the standard-issue armor provided by the army and rode a tall warhorse, cultivated with magic crystals to enhance endurance and carrying capacity, galloping across the vast training grounds with a large group of cavalry.

Having been discovered to possess strength beyond that of ordinary men at the camp entrance, and later found to have a fighting spirit at the fourth tier, along with decent riding skills, Darn was immediately assigned as a cavalryman rather than a foot soldier subjected to harsh training.

But what if he could successfully escape? If he could escape, he wouldn't have to face those terrifying orcs! And who was it that framed him and sent him to this wretched place? Lowering his body, gripping the heavy sword tightly, Darn furiously thought as he swung the sword across a scarecrow's neck.

Darn had only been in the Ditlan Province's new recruit training camp for a day when he realized why the province was conscripting so many soldiers and why there were so many deserters!

The orcs on the northern Naglan Prairie were gathering, preparing to invade Bailins, and it was said that this invasion would surpass any in the past century!

Ahhh! If only that damned knight, Gerald, hadn't assigned me to the cavalry, I could have successfully escaped! Then I wouldn't have to face the terrifying orc horde!

Casting a furtive yet fierce glare at Gerald, the captain of the cavalry unit Darn belonged to, the noble youth thought anxiously. However, despite his overwhelming fear of the legendary orc army, Darn had no thoughts of fleeing.

This was not due to Darn's bravery or his respect for the honor of a noble and a warrior, but because he clearly understood that in front of a law enforcement team composed of over a hundred elite warriors, any attempt at escape by an ordinary soldier would be tantamount to suicide.

Moreover, that Gerald fellow was quite sadistic, a knight with a fighting spirit at the sixth tier who always looked at his subordinates with the gaze of a corpse. I am certain that if any cavalryman dared to flee, Gerald would be delighted, as it would give him the opportunity to unleash his cruel methods!

In fact, no cavalryman would dare to flee, for those who could ride were the cream of the crop in the army, with a fighting spirit of at least the second tier. In battle, cavalry, due to their inherent characteristics, had the lowest casualty rates; after all, whether attacking or retreating, cavalry could always outrun foot soldiers!

Thus, aside from Darn, who was constantly training and pondering escape, the other cavalrymen were wholly focused on their training, striving to enhance their chances of survival in the impending war.

However, the knight Gerald had intensified the training regimen, and just five days after Darn joined the cavalry unit, the entire cavalry brigade departed with the thunderous sound of hooves, leaving the camp that was still recruiting more soldiers.

"Silence! No talking! Move north!"

Following the brief command, the cavalry brigade of over two hundred men stirred up clouds of dust on the roads of the Ditlan Province. As they passed, streams of civilians were moving in the opposite direction, dragging their families along, while thick smoke billowed from the villages abandoned by human settlers.

Where are we headed? Aren't the orcs supposed to be coming from the north? Why aren't we staying in the city to defend it? Why are we heading out to the prairie?

Filled with confusion and dread at the ever-approaching orc army, Darn advanced alongside his many companions, moving forward...