Moonlight Flower

Chapter 14 - The Attack

The day for the special training came. The trainees in their armor, shield and weapons they chose were divided into 12 person per team. They are a total of 40 teams. The men and women were separated. Clarence, Sora and Musica also joined in one of the teams. Together with Lance, they were in different teams.

Standing in front them were Jane, Claire and other two highest ranking people, the Generals - Kate, who looked just a little older and taller than Claire, and Bob who looked like at his 40s.

Most men's eyes were fixed on the new woman general. Kate was wearing a fitted armor and in shorts that made her long legs accentuated in that camouflage boots. Her long blond hair was not yet tied. She kept smiling at them with her red lips. She started in giving them encouragement. "I'm looking for your hard work today! Make sure to get my flag, okay? Do your best!"

And they were mesmerized by her voice, her face, her whole being in that moment. They started mumbling quietly among themselves.

"It's my first time seeing her. She's really beautiful."

"I'm going to take her down!"

"Does she have a lover?"

Musica, from where he was, was confidently saying, "After this, I will take her out."

Clarence and Sora was looking at him from afar and thought the same thing: "That's definitely Musica's type."

And they cheered out loud.

She waved her hand hearing their rising energy.

Next was Bob. "Today is special. You will surely showcase all that you've learned so far. But make sure not to hurt each other badly. We're all comrades here. Brothers. Sisters. Remember that!"

"Yes, General!" they all shouted at the top of their lungs.

Last was Claire, in her usual armor under a sleeveless shirt and jeggings, to step forward. Everyone tensed. She said, "Fight like your life depended on it."

From the high and exciting spirit that Kate and Bob gave, with Claire's words, they felt nervous now. They swallowed the lump in their throat and put they hand on their chest as if to check if they are still breathing.

But most of the girl troops were not tensed but they looked more eager and excited and shouted bravely among them.

"That's General Claire for you!

"She's a role model that no woman should be looked down.

"I want to be like her someday!"

"Yes, though she looks cold-hearted sometimes, she's actually kind."

"Icy cold beauty!"

Lance heard them and he smiled within himself.

After that short words from the Generals, Jane explained how this special training will proceed.

The elimination process: Each team will need to battle another team to get their flag. There are four distinct colors of the flags that all the 40 teams have - red, blue, yellow, green. Those troops that will be taken off with their flags are already eliminated. The maximum number of flags each can have is 10, including theirs. It means that they have the chance to battle a General according to the highest count of the colored flag. First come, first serve. In the event that the highest count of flag is also the same as the already-battled General, the next highest count will be considered. But they do not know the flag color of the Generals.

The first complete troop to arrive to the General must take his/her flag within 10 minutes by battling. They must make him/her surrender willingly or drop to his/her knees as a sign of defeat. A total of four troops or 48 trainees will each receive three sacks of rice and a chance to work in the palace and stay in the army as a first level rank. Being in the army in this region is one of the greatest honor.