The Incoming Storm

CHAPTER 3 - THE SQUADRON

Before it was converted into a military base, the Ring was also a stronghold and home for one of the greatest lords in the South. Lord Telvor and his family resided in the base, much to most people's chagrin since the area was a wasteland. The lord had many enemies and plenty of secrets, so in paranoia he believed that his stronghold was the only place safe enough to keep him safe. He finally died inside the Ring's walls out of a disease but rumors spread that he had been poisoned. They say his ghost still haunt the base in his unrest to figure out who had murdered him.

- A Tale Given by an Instructor to the Orphans in the Ring

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The Ring: Rhaer Empire's Military Stronghold.

Three Days After The Breach

There was a small clearing right outside of The Ring's walls and that's where Briar and Owen usually sneaked out for practice. Aside from the daily training inside the stronghold's walls, it was the only place where they could talk freely and beat each other into a pulp.

The clearing was filled with memories. The fact that this would probably be the last time for them to get into a sword fight with each other in this place left a mark on Briar. She jerked to the left before bringing her sword up to counter Owen's attack. She side stepped, moving on the defensive once more before she pivoted to the right. Owen's a good swordsman, but he has a habit of leaving his left flank unguarded. It wasn't really noticeable to most people, but Briar had discovered that flaw for a long time now due to years of sparring together.

She knocked him right in the spot with her sword before she kneed him on the shin. Her opponent fell and she immediately swiped Owen's sword away with her feet before he could grab it again. She pointed her sword at his neck, "How many times do I have to tell you? Never leave your left side unguarded."

Owen looked at the point of her sword before he looked up at her, "Is it just me or does it get harder to beat you now in a sword fight?"

"You wouldn't lose so easily if you stop making the same mistake over and over."

"Fair enough," he said as he raised both his hand at her. "Dammit Briar, I yield."

The sun was already high up on the sky when they finally took cover under the shade of a large crevice just next to the clearing. The Reanglet Mountains was a nothing but rocks and the blistering sun which left the place infertile and therefore unsuitable for farming.

Sweat polled down Briar's brow from the workout and heat. She immediately chugged down water from her canteen, savoring the cool moisture running down her throat. The crevice was large enough to fit three people underneath's its roof, so it shaded Owen and her well from the sun.

Briar handed the canteen to Owen as he greedily drank its content. She stared out of the crevice. This clearing had so many memories, she remembered how the two of them would sneak out here to practice in order to get better so they could be the best soldier they could be.

They were both dreamers and this was where they had sow the seeds of it together. She sat at the crevice's roof, remembering how she and Owen would lay down there, staring at the stony ceiling as they talk. This place was full of it: dreams, ambitions, and hope.

It would soon be nothing but memories. She would never spar with Owen again in this very clearing since he was finally being transferred to an outpost. Owen was finally being deployed to the field. After the breach, countless trainees and soldiers were quickly deployed to various outposts. Some were even sent out to Mheris, no doing to aid the City Guard to handle the unrest. The superiors never said it out loud but it wasn't difficult to guess.