Sanguine War Era

Chapter 6: Introduction to the battalion.

Plateaus of Haui, outside of Prosarea, Peacius, 5th Day 1st Phase 1457th Set

As Teiga trudged along the dirt path that led to the Verserien encampment. He constantly replayed the memory of the adrenaline-inducing fight between the soldier and himself. Only to continuously feel that the fight was too biased.

"How is it possible that an experienced soldier of the Empire of Verserius, a military power, could fall so easily to me?" Teiga mumbled to himself, with his shoulders slowly slouching down to show doubt in his own abilities.

Beads of sweat formed steady streams along the young enlistee's semi-muscular body. Forcing his tunic to stick to his body like a wet towel to a wall. Surrounding the dirt path were crop fields that grew corns, cabbages, wheat and some orchards further out. Undulating green hills lined themselves in the distance. Farmers wearing brown rough woollen shirts were hard at work, starting to plough the ground for this Set's crops. Some already have wrinkles on their tanned faces. While their beautiful wives began to start preparing lunch for their husbands and children, just like Henestia. Their jovial children with vibrant smiles were running around so light-heartedly while malevolent soldiers ran around the battlefields so intensely. Teiga looked up to the sky to see an azure blue roof with white puffy clouds that drifted around all so peacefully above a chaos-ridden land together with the blindingly bright sun being shy and hiding behind clouds occasionally. He thought to himself, "Why did I make the decision to enlist so fast? I don't want to end the fulfilling life with my parents so fast. Did I make the wrong choice?".

Before the reflecting adolescent could reach a satisfying conclusion to his questions, he spotted a pair of maroon flags with a golden wyvern holding a fireball, fluttering around in the cooling breeze on 2 wooden poles guarding a temporary wooden gate. Right under the poles stood another 2 lightly-armoured Verserien soldiers with the same wyvern forged into their armours but they each had a peculiar magic circle on their cheeks. They slowly shifted their attention to the approaching enlistee and gave a wary stare into his pupils. Their spears lowered and ready to pierce through any form of danger.

One of the soldiers dispassionately said, "Teiga Ura, member of the Ura swordsmen clan. Identity confirmed."

The other soldier then said, "Teiga Ura, you are hereby required to be part of the 10th Vanguard Platoon. Please proceed to the green tent with the number 9 label on top."

Right after the two soulless soldiers finished their sentences, a red tattoo of an "X" and a pike in the middle of the "X" burnt itself onto the back of Teiga's right palm. "ARRRGHHH" screamed the marked soldier as he nearly fell onto 1 knee, holding his right hand tight. Behind Teiga, the two spears lightly jabbed him. Signalling him to start moving to his new destination.

Humiliating stares were given to the blushed Teiga as he dragged himself to his assigned tent. He slowly stroked the back of his right palm, trying to feel the surface of the tattoo but only to realise that it was his skin pigment that has changed. "What the hell..." whispered Teiga. Trying to get his mind off the new addition to his skin, Teiga raised his head and surveyed the encampment and took a deep breath. The whole encampment smells of sweat, metal and dirty clothing. Different coloured tents were rooted to the barren ground, yellow, green, red and many more coloured tents. It was as though there was a festival here with the buffet of colours. The reality was different, however. Right in the middle of the encampment was a rectangular arena cordoned off with rough ropes and different flags that bore different designs. There were flags that bore only swords and shields but some had mythical creatures on it. "Must be the company banners of this battalion." Teiga thought to himself. But what was most interesting was the spar taking place in the arena.