THE ASHES OF LIGHT ✔

Chapter Ten: Valencia

After leaving the Infirmary feeling accomplished, Valencia turned to face the younger student as they continued up the trail back to the Academy, "What class do you have next?"

"Basic training. You?" Tate huffed, walking up the trail with energy.

"Same here," Valencia smiled, feeling relieved that she had another familiar face in her next class. She paused for a moment, frowning as a memory hit her. "Didn't you say that was the class with the bad teacher?"

Tate nodded, "Yep, Kaleb. Just don't take what he says personally."

"Good to know," Valencia noted as they pushed open the gates to the Academy. She followed Tate to the central, grassy clearing and then off to the side, where they came face-to-face with an older man, who she assumed to be Kaleb.

"Hi, I'm Valencia," she introduced herself, extending her arm for a handshake.

"Kaleb," he nodded, confirming her suspicions. His face was stern, almost as if a permanent frown had been etched in. "Even though you are in a class of First Year students, that does not mean that I will let you off for slacking. If I feel that you are not doing your personal best, you will be asked to leave class—and this goes for all students, not just you."

Valencia nodded, feeling small under his stern gaze. It seemed strict, but how hard could the class really be?

"Tate, why don't you fill her in on what exactly basic training is while I take attendance for the other students?" Kaleb phrased it like a question, but spoke it like a command. He flipped open a clipboard in his hands and started scribbling on it.

"Sure," Tate nodded and turned to Valencia. "Everyone is required to take basic training—it's a combination of athletics and knowing Gallomia like the back of your hand. Each year focuses on a different thing.

First Year students focus on getting to know all of the buildings in Gallomia and being able to take the shortest route to get from one location to another. Second Year students focus on a similar subject—they are given tasks to complete around the kingdom, but they do it blindfolded. Third Year students focus on getting into shape physically and Fourth Year students focus on getting into shape mentally. Fifth Year is the final year that you have to take basic training, and those students run "invasion" simulations with teams of attackers and defenders around the kingdom," Tate finished.

"That's... a lot," Valencia blinked, taking in the information. "So today we'll be getting to know Gallomia better?" That would be useful for her, especially given that she hadn't spend much time in the commercial district.

"Yep," he nodded, "and at the end of the week, sometimes there will be a short quiz to make sure that you learned something."

Great. A quiz. Tests had never been Valencia's strong suit—she would always get distracted by something, and before she knew it, everyone else was done and she was still on the first page.

"Okay, it looks like everyone is here," Kaleb's voice boomed. "Everyone, draw a location from the bag. By the end of class, you should have found the shortest route from here to there."

Valencia stepped in the quickly-formed line, close to the end. One-by-one, students stepped forward to draw a small slip of paper out of the bag. By the time she had reached the front, there was only about a handful left.

She plunged her hand inside the bag and pulled out a paper, reading the location: "The Library."

Valencia hadn't seen a library in her short walks through the commercial district, but then again, she had only passed through a couple of times and hadn't spent much time looking at all of the buildings.