Written in Blood

VII . "Conditioned"

Everything hurts. I guess that just shows how out of shape I am.

I'm currently running laps, while wheezing like a sick person. It's embarrassing I'm so bad at this. I don't know what Zelda was talking about... I'm definitely not cut out for this.

It's another hot and sweaty day, and my bangs are stuck to my forehead, drenched in sweat.

While I'm not unhealthy or anything- at least I like to think that, this constant rigor and action is something I haven't had to experience in years. My life in the forest was nice and filled with leisure. I mean, I did stuff, but I wasn't trying to get built or anything.

It's been a few days since I was thrown in infantry, and I hate it. Everyday is the same. The regimen is taxing on me and I go out like a light at night. I guess the only good thing is that I'm too exhausted to have any dreams.

We run a lot. And practice fighting, with wooden swords thankfully, I'm so over getting stabbed.

Mostly it's just waiting around until we're all finally useful. There's been small skirmishes outside of the prison the camp has become, there's no way I can escape now. And I bet Zelda would make my leave a crime like desertion or even possibly treason. Maybe I can go MIA in the next battle... good idea.

Most of the lower ranking soldiers are younger than me. It's embarrassing. Some of them were drafted, but a large number had already been vying for a position in the army. Heh. I bet they thought they'd become knights immediately. While putting them in their place should've humbled them, many are still arrogant.

I'm still a loner, even if I'm always around those guys, but a few of them are okay. There's this one who's around my age, he's a lot better at this than me though. A Castletown native too, apparently.

There's a few more excruciating laps around the field before we get to stop for lunch. I get my ration as quick as I can and book it to my spot next to the tree, and away from everyone. The shade tints everything underneath the the tree a serene evergreen and offers reprieve from the blasted heat that is searing down today.

I hear someone coming and see Malon's freckly face. She sits down next to me and begins to crunch into an apple.

"How's training today, fairy boy?" She says mid-bite, a drop of apple juice dribbles down her chin. I pretend not to notice.

"It bites. At this rate, I'll be dead before the next battle."

I hear a giggle and roll my eyes. This only triggers more laughter from her.

"Careful! Don't choke or anything. Geez... I'm not that funny."

She manages to fend off her giggles to swallow her apple without dying, her face flushed pink.

"Yeah, you really aren't funny."

"Says the girl who almost choked laughing." I retort.

She shoots me a look.

"Hey."

I glance up from Malon, it's the guy. Shocker.

"Oh hey," I pause, blanking out, "... you're Edmund right? Sorry, I'm a moron." I laugh at my own dumb joke, making a fool of myself as per the usual. Malon shoots me another look.

"Yeah."

Then there's an awkward pause, Edmund glances down at his shoes. I think I know what he's waiting for.

"... do you uhh want to sit here?" I ask.

"Oh, is that okay?"

"Yeah, of course."