The Raven

Chapter 4 - 306

           "Everybody up!  Last one to do so knows what's coming to them!"  Instantly, I bolted straight up and leapt to my feet.  My thin blanket flew to the floor and came to rest on my feet.  I looked around.  I was one of the first to rise.  That meant it wouldn't be me this morning.  I sighed inwardly with relief.  Sadly, I watched a small blond boy slowly slink from his bed.  He sat on the edge of it and yawned.  That's when it hit him.  A huge bucket of ice cold water suddenly slammed into his face.  He gasped and jumped up, only to come face to face with Commander.  

"I hope you don't find yourself the last up tomorrow, soldier?"  Commander grunted with a cruel smile.  The poor boy nodded vigorously.  His hair hung damp in his face, while his clothes and bed were completely soaked.  I felt sympathy for for my fellow bunk mate.  That had been me not too long ago.  My bed had beed wet for weeks, but I still had to sleep in it.  Every morning I would wake up cold and shivering.  The thin, scraggly blanket that was regulation didn't provide much warmth.  But then again, that's what the Young Elite Magic Force taught.  You were suppose to be in top condition and tough.  You didn't need blanket to rough it through the night.  

Commander, our "teacher", often said he didn't think beds were necessary either.  Because, they took up time to make when we could be training and such.  But Commander's superiors were "kind" enough to let us keep our lumpy beds.  

With a yawn, I rubbed my eyes, careful not to let Commander see.  Then, I straightened out my covers and tucked them in on the sides of the bed.  I then neatly fluffed my pillow and set it at the head.  There.  My bed was pristine.  That was another thing with Commander.  If things were tidy up to his perspective, he got grumpy.  Rumor had it that was why Commander had shaved his head.  He couldn't stand looking into a looking glass and seeing all that hair out of place and crossed and overlapping each other.   Beds, training lines, everything else.  They had to be neat and orderly.  

As I arranging my pillow, just to make sure it wasn't tilted to the slightest degree, Commander came up behind me.  He grunted, and I spun around, saluting him.  My back was straight and legs were apart.  Commander scanned me, probably trying to find some flaw.  But, he didn't, and continued.  He took a small chart from one of his numerous pockets.  His finger ran down a chart, and he looked back up at me.  "Girl 306?"  I nodded.  

No one here had actual names.  That just made it harder for people like Commander to confuse things up.  So, we had numbers.  It was a little easier to remember things, but it also took away the satisfaction of actually owning something.  Here in the Young Elite Magic Force, kids like me couldn't even say they had their own name.  Commander shoved the chart back where it belonged and folded his hands behind his back.  

"Your on guard duty."  I nodded curtly.  Commander grunted once again, and stalked away, trying to find some fault with they way some one else was making their bed.  As soon as Commander was out of sight, my shoulders slumped.  Great.  I had guard duty today.  As soldiers in the Young Elite Magic Force, it was our, meaning kids like me who had been dragged here as orphans or troublesome children, job to protect the castle of King Korindal.  Personally, I don't see why.  The Spider, as he was called, had guards of his own and certainly doesn't need children like me getting under foot.  But, I guess we are needed because we don't just guard the castle.  

Every child in the Force has a magic gift from the elements.  That was why we were recruited at a young age and began training.  I don't remember ever coming to this horrible place, or my parents, or even my age.  But, I do know that I belong here.  The Young Elite Magic Force is divided into 4 sectors- Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.  Each group is trained separately.  Elements shouldn't merge.  If they did, well, it wouldn't be pretty.  The reason I knew I belonged was because I was actually GOOD at this.  My element was fire.  There were about 50 other kids with me in this element, but I was one of the best.