Winds Of Change

Chapter 5: Train rides

*Previously*

"Tomorrow in the market center we will gather. Be ready. And bring whatever you think you'll need. You won't be coming home for a while" the man stated as he took back his hands, turned on his heel and disappeared into the trees.

Curiosity won and I couldn't help but take a look at what he had given me. A pendant that resembled their school sigil. I'm one of them now. Nothing could stop the grin from spreading across my face.

*end*

Chapter 5

And that's how I ended up here. With my bags packed.... or better yet bag. I really didn't have much. I only realized that I, in fact have even less than I thought I did once I actually started packing. Not that it matters. There's something strange about seeing the room you've lived in your whole life empty, almost like you had never been there in the first place. This is a fresh start for me. I can do everything from scratch. After noticing that I still had space to spare I made quick work of packing all my writings away, notebooks and writing coal.

Mother and Father hadn't been home when it came time for me to leave. The small stab of disappointment of not being greeted was a small price to pay for being able to leave without straining under the presence of my father. I had spend the rest of the previous afternoon in the woods, taking is as much as I could while I still could. So much can change and I'm sure will change in the time that I am away that I had deemed it worth the risk to take my time before leaving.

Boarding the train had been easy as the towns folk had been sure to clear a path directly. And having a full train car to myself worked wonders in allowing me to relax once the train started moving. Soon though day became night and then day again and I realized that I had been in this train for three days now as we had stopped at each village to pick up more recruits until I wasn't alone in my cart anymore. We are a meager group as there's only about a twenty and five of us. I would've thought there would be more with the rumors that have spread about this school. I'm not disappointed though. I'm not sure I'm ready for a bigger group of people yet.  

When the train came to a stop the door rolled open and for just a moment we sat in a strange sort of silence before the head of a boy popped up. "All students to grab your belongings and follow me" he stated shooting us all a strained smile before he was gone just as soon as he came. Not giving him much time I shot up from my seat, swung my bag over my shoulders and took off after him. The rest of the students didn't take too long to join us.

Once we came to a stop in what looked like a courtyard I let my eyes trailed over the students around me. I'm the only one dressed slightly oddly. My pants are well worn with a few tears here and there and my shirt definitely looks old as it had a few stains on the sleeves and one of my buttons has popped off. I suppose that's what happens when you've been wearing the same clothes for the last four years. 

"Quite!" A deep manly voice called, shutting the chattering group up immediately. "You were not chosen and brought here to play and talk to each other!" the voice boomed on. With the group now silent and everyone paying the speaker full attention, I was finally able to see who it was that the voice belonged to.It was a man, obviously more for strength than for stealth as he was largely built and packed with muscle. "You are here to learn!" He boomed turning to face the crowd. "You are here to become soldiers, and we are here to train you" his sombre tone finally seemed to register within my mind as I took in the black look in his eyes.

'So that's what Black Mountain does' I thought my eyes widening slightly. 'No wonder mum didn't want Armus to come here' I thought sighing. He never would've survived without her here to care for his every need. Though on another note I wonder why exactly they need an army? as far as I know there hasn't been war in a long time, in fact most people alive today had never even seen a war. 

"Listen up ladies and gentlemen as I will not be repeating myself. For the next three months you will be going through vigorous training to condition the body for the training that will come after that. Now, we will be taking attendance. Once your name is called please step to the left for boys and to the right for girls. Your instructors will collect you and you will be taken to your barracks. First up, Darin Adams!" The man yelled. The boy, Darin, was thin, blond and was at this moment pushing his way from three rows behind me, trying to get to the left. "Stacie Beck" the next was called, this time a girl.

Suddenly all the names began to melt together when I recognized the one he called next.  "Airis Fox" the man had just called my name, me. With a deep sigh I tried with all my focus to keep my face expressionless as I made my way to the right and joining the noticeably smaller crowd of girls. .

When finally we were done only then did I turn to acknowledge my assigned trainer and much to m growing surprise I was greeted with the same slightly smirking face as the one I had encountered in the arena. "Come now" he said as he gestured with his hand for us to follow him and just like that we exited the entered the castle, that I only just now noticed was there.

With the amount of walking we were doing I have to admit that I'm more than happy that I had packed light. I can only listen in growing irritation as some of the other girls are complaining as they have to walk all this way with their three to four big bags.  "In here" the man said as he pushed open a set of double door and motioned for us to enter the darkened room.

"Choose your beds. Tomorrow at first light I will be waiting for all of you and we will start your physical training. I will not tolerate slacking as we I only have three months to make something of you before the next stage of your training" a small smile flitted across his face for a moment making him look just a tad more human "I am Kaiden. Get some rest girls. It's going to be a long day tomorrow" and then he was gone.

(*Edited 2021/01/11*)