The Kingdom

Chapter Seven

 The trio walked down one of the many halls, distracted by most of the things out the window into the large center of the bunker. After around half an hour, Deryle stopped walking.

"What's wrong?" Talia asked.

"I have no idea where to go," Deryle said.

"Follow me," Reilious replied, turning around.

"Alright," Deryle agreed, following.

They followed Reilious back to the room where they watched the event of the attack in. Inside, sitting at a desk behind a glass separator, sat Lillian. She looked up as the door opened for the trio.

"Good morning," she greeted, standing up.

"What do you need us to do?" Reilious asked.

"I love how you're right to the point," Lillian replied, "First, we see what your skills are."

Reilious nodded, and Lillian started walking across the room to the door. The trio followed her down the hallway, which they were slowly learning, identical tile by identical tile. The group walked into another room, filled with soldiers practicing hand-to-hand combat, how to use different kinds of weapons, and how to operate and disarm bombs.

"Woah, this is cool," Deryle awed.

"It's something alright," Lillian responded, smirking. "You'll start with hand-to-hand combat. It's over there."

They walked over to a mat in the corner of the room, where there was Varen standing next to it.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Time to see how you can fight," Varen started, reaching out for a handshake.

Daryle took his hand and was about to shake it as Varen shifted his weight and flipped Deryle onto the mat behind him.

"OH CRAP!" Deryle yelped, Varen laughing in response.

"That is why you do not trust a man at first glance," Varen pointed out, nodding to Reilious, "I'll start with you."

Reilious rose an eyebrow, taking off his jacket. Underneath was just a white tank top. He tossed the jacket onto the floor beside the mat, and got into a fighting stance.

"Ah, good," Varen said, doing the same, "You first, lad."

Reilious faked going in for a punch, getting down low and sweeping Varen off his feet. While he fell, Reilious got up and punched Varen in the face, slamming his head onto the floor, a crack being heard.

Varen laid there for a moment, until he groaned and got back up.

"You're good..." Varen said, cracking his nose back into place.

Deryle and Talia just stared, now knowing not to mess with Reilious. Deryle walked up to Varen, who got into a fighting stance again. Varen took the first punch, Deryle ducking backwards out of it. Daryle came back up, going to punch Varen in the throat, but Varen caught it. Deryle looked at his hand for a split second, then kneed Varen in the nuts.

Varen's grip didn't loosen as Deryle tried to punch him in the throat, only to be caught by the other hand. Deryle had known he would try it, so he began to go limp, Varen trying to hold onto him, he ducked down, pulling Varen over him and onto the mat.

Varen tucked into a roll and sprang back up, turning around. As he did so Reilious kicked him in the stomach, pushing him onto the ground.

"Wasn't expecting that..." Varen pointed out, "Teamwork isn't used often for training."

"Good, we're fine then, what now?" Reilious asked, pulling Varen up.

"Train with the other soldiers," Varen responded before walking over to another part of the room.

"I wasn't even asked to fight," Talia said, looking at Varen.

"Alright, fight me," Reilious directed.

He got into a fighting stance, looking at her. Talia stared for a minute, surprised, then a smirk slowly grew on her face as she took a similar stance. She stepped forward a step before karate chopping Reilious in the throat, Reilious ducking down and sweeping her off her feet, before grabbing her hand as she fell.

"Woah-" Talia yelped as she stopped, being held up by Reilious.

"I win?" Reilious chuckled, pulling her back up.

"Nope," Talia responded, kicking him where the sun don't shine.

Reilious barely moved, to Talia's surprise.

"That was uncalled for," Reilious said.

"Your face is uncalled for," Deryle responded, walking up.

"Very funny," Reilious said, sarcastic.

Over the course of the day, the three trained with each other and other soldiers, winning most of the fights. Reilious was best in normal hand-to-hand combat and using weapons like machine guns, Talia was best with daggers and axes, and Deryle was best with guns like desert eagles and throwing knives.

Lillian walked into the room, two soldiers on either side of her.

"Very good, I see you three would work well as a team, very diverse," she pointed out, looking at the trio.

Reilious nodded as Deryle gave a thumbs up.

"Thanks," Talia responded.

"You're very welcome, Talia, now you three can get some rest, we'll need you for tomorrow," Lillian ordered.

"What's going on tomorrow?" Deryle asked.

"You'll see," Lillian smirked, walking out of the room.

The three walked back to the bunkhouse, sitting on their bunks. The soldiers had yet to finish their training, so it was empty.

"Oh shoot, I forgot my jacket in the training room," Reilious said, getting back up.

"I'll come with you," Talia responded, to a nod from Reilious.

"Alright, I'll just stay here alone now," Deryle said to a now empty room.

Reilious jogged down the hall, closely followed by Talia. He entered the training room yet again, picking up his jacket. He felt a tap on his shoulder as he stood back up, and turned around.

Talia kissed him.