“When we get to the training grounds, you will be under the militia’s protection. Kiam hasn’t been able to enter the gates of this beautiful city, but I will not be so blind to ignore the possibility. I will do my best to stay at your side, but I, to, will use this time to train,” Tolomon said.

“Oh?” Indenuel asked.

“Captain Luiz promised to meet us at the gate of the training grounds. From there, he will take over protecting you while I am otherwise busy. I have full confidence that he and the other men of the militia can keep you safe from whatever threats dare enter here.”

The carriage pulled up to the training grounds. There were a dozen men outside sword fighting. Indenuel started to feel the anxiety of not being good enough return. Tolomon got out of the carriage, ushering him out. There was a man by the gates who waved, and they waved back.

“It’s Tolomon!” someone from the grounds shouted. “Gather together! Get ready!”

He smirked. “I’ll see you shortly, Indenuel.” He took off, pulling out a sword and shield. Indenuel frowned as the realization hit him. The first time he met Tolomon, Nathaniel had every right to attack him since they needed to keep him on his toes. Indenuel was distracted as Tolomon gave a shout, throwing himself at a group of twelve trained soldiers.

“Hello Warrior Indenuel,” Captain Luiz said.

Indenuel tore his gaze from his bodyguard, trying to smile as he heard the clanging of metal and the shrieks of the wounded. The man in front of him was barely shorter than Indenuel, with brown hair and the usual green eyes of the Santollians. “Yes. Hello.”

“I am Captain Luiz, son of Ian and Sophia.”

“Indenuel, son of Lu-” he shook his head. “Oh, wait, sorry. Um, Indenuel the Warrior? I think that’s my title now. But please just call me Indenuel.”

Captain Luiz smiled. “Yeah, quite the powerful title. I’d fear it too. Now, I’ve been in contact with Captain Nathaniel, and I’d like to go over some things with you privately.”

“Of course.”

He followed Captain Luiz as fifteen more soldiers spilled out of the fields, heading straight for Tolomon. Indenuel glanced over his shoulder to see him surrounded by a pile of groaning, injured soldiers while fighting ten others. Five healers scurried around the pile, quickly healing the men who admitted surrender or were knocked unconscious. Indenuel faced forward again his eyes wide. Captain Luiz acted like this was completely normal as he smiled and opened the door to one of the half dozen small huts on the fields. Indenuel walked inside.

“Now, Nathaniel gave me some notes about what you went over,” Captain Luiz said as he motioned to a chair beside a desk.

“Yes, we went over some stances,” Indenuel said. He was distracted with the sound of battle getting closer. “I’ve, um, I hadn’t even lifted a sword until Nathaniel started teaching me so… so I’m still quite new.”

There was a rallying cry near the hut as more soldiers ran toward what Indenuel assumed was Tolomon. Captain Luiz didn’t sit, instead grabbed a pitcher of water and a few glasses. “We all start out brand new at one point in our lives,” he said, pouring water into an empty glass and giving it to Indenuel.

“Thank you,” Indenuel said. “Um, Tolomon usually tests the drink. Should I…”

Captain Luiz paused, then shrugged. “I’m not a Graduate, but I’d rather be dead than have Tolomon to face.” He took the glass and took a sip. “Pretty sure that water’s good.” He handed it back before he poured his own. Indenuel took a drink, listening to the sound of the fight coming ever closer. “Nathaniel also mentioned some trouble with the corruptive powers.”

“Yes, sir. I’m trying to control it. It’s instinctual. My village…”

Someone was thrown against the hut, and it shook violently. Indenuel jumped, his water sloshing in the glass. He tried to look out the small window to see who it was, but he couldn’t tell. Captain Luiz took a long drink of water.

“For now, I’ll personally test what you know. Just to see what you’ve learned.” The sound of metal against metal was right outside the hut. It was getting hard to hear Captain Luiz. “We won’t do combat style training for another week. This is purely to see where you are skill wise.”

Indenuel’s shoulders relaxed. “I’d like that.”

“Now, new recruits usually practice four times a week, but as you are the Warrior, we’d like to bump that up to five. The King and Queen have discussed it with the High Elders. They get you for the morning, we get you for the afternoon.” Indenuel distinctly heard a fist against flesh and gave a sympathetic wince to whoever was on the receiving end of that. “Nathaniel also mentioned some worry about expectations you feel?”

“It’s just… I feel like my skill with the sword isn’t nearly where it should be, considering I’m supposed to end this war. It gets to my head when I don’t measure up,” Indenuel said.

Captain Luiz nodded as the hut shook once more and someone else groaned right outside.

“I have faith Nathaniel taught you well in your month of travel. And besides, no one believed the Warrior would ever come, and yet you, sitting here is proof the prophecy is real,” Captain Luiz said.

The door opened and Tolomon walked in with a noticeable limp, panting. “Are we good in here?”

Indenuel stared at him. He had a huge gash on his right arm, one side of his face was swollen, and his clothes were splattered with blood. He found the only clean patch on his shirt to wipe his face.

“Everything is great in here. Having fun?” Captain Luiz asked.

“I was getting rusty. It’s good to be back,” Tolomon said.

“Water?” Captain Luiz asked.

“I’d love some!” Tolomon walked inside and closed the door.

Captain Luiz smiled as he grabbed another empty glass and poured. Indenuel held his own glass as Tolomon took his and sniffed it deeply. “Do you honestly think I’d drug it?” Captain Luiz asked.

“Yep,” Tolomon said.

Faster than Indenuel had time to comprehend, Tolomon blocked Captain Luiz’ sword with a dagger, his own sword lost in the battle outside. He smirked before smashing the glass against Captain Luiz’ face, who shouted in pain. Indenuel gasped, partially standing out of instinct to get away from the violence so he wouldn’t receive any. Captain Luiz tried to hit Tolomon, but he stopped it far too easily before grabbing the back of his neck and slamming him against the desk. Captain Luiz dropped to the ground, out cold. Indenuel stared with a slack jaw.

“Hey, do you mind healing him quickly?” Tolomon asked, already headed toward the door. “I don’t want to leave you here with him unconscious.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Indenuel said, rising on shaking legs to move toward Captain Luiz.

“The other healers might not think to look in here,” Tolomon said, waiting by the door.

“Do you need me to heal you too?” Indenuel asked.

“No, it wouldn’t be fair to the others.”

Indenuel placed his glass on the desk before touching Captain Luiz’ temples and closing his eyes, sensing the body, the urgency. Indenuel healed the damage to his head and the cuts on his face from the glass.

He cracked an eye open. “Damn you, Tolomon. Can’t you at least tell Indenuel I last longer fighting you? I have my reputation to uphold.”

“There is a reason Captain Luiz is a Captain,” Tolomon said dryly, almost too obediently. “He is a fine fighter, but terrible at masking poisons. He should stick to the sword.”

“Wait, you actually slipped some poison in there?” Indenuel asked.

Captain Luiz coughed as he sat up. “I tried.”

“You need to work on your sleight of hand. I practically saw it happen.” Tolomon opened the door. “Ooo! Two dozen fresh recruits! And they all want to fight! God is looking down on me in kindness today!” He pulled out another dagger and disappeared through the door as Indenuel helped Captain Luiz to his feet. “Just give me a moment, and we’ll get out on the training field.” He eased himself into his chair before he picked up his water again.

“Does anyone die during something like this?” Indenuel asked.

“It’s a low risk in this kind of career. We have some very skilled healers, and when the soldiers surrender or get knocked out, they can’t fight Tolomon again for a day. Those soldiers who are healers also get experience healing their comrades on the battlefield. All around a good experience.”

“But…” Indenuel didn’t really have much else to say. The entire thing felt barbaric to him.

“Don’t you worry. Tolomon knows exactly how to kill, and therefore also knows how to stop himself from doing it. It’s what makes him a Graduate.”

“And everyone else?”

“They can only knock him out,” Captain Luiz said. “No one has ever succeeded with Tolomon. Everyone is clamoring to be the first one to do it. It is common for a Graduate to go through the entire training field for his practice.”

Indenuel drained his cup of water as Captain Luiz stood up. “Let’s get you a sword.”

He followed him out of the hut and into the armory. They passed men recovering from their bout of healing. Captain Luiz encouraged them to keep going to muscle through the fatigue of healing, as it was good practice.

Captain Luiz handed him a sword, to be always worn except at night, and even then, it should be close by. Indenuel fiddled with the buckle around his waist as Tolomon appeared in the armory.

“I think this belt might need a few more holes,” Indenuel mumbled as Tolomon made quick work of the soldiers around him.

“Ah, I see. No worries, we’ll get another belt. You’ll be gaining weight in no time,” Captain Luiz said.

By the time Indenuel had the other belt, Tolomon was already long gone. Indenuel and Captain Luiz were in one of the fields. There were large rings with sand inside. A lot of the soldiers were back to sparing with each other.

“Alright, no combat. Let’s see what Nathaniel has taught you,” Captain Luiz said. Indenuel nodded, moving to the basic stance. “Good, good.”

If he didn’t look at the other trained soldiers, he honestly felt like he’d done pretty well. Of course, Captain Luiz was going easy on him, but he looked quite encouraged.

“This is the reason Nathaniel is always the one assigned when troops need a little more help,” Captain Luiz said. “That man is a damn good teacher.”

Indenuel smiled because he was out of breath and couldn’t talk. Tolomon walked over to them looking as though he had been completely healed, even though he was now practically covered in blood. Captain Luiz saluted him. “Good training?”

“Not a record best, but I’ve been out of practice for a couple weeks,” Tolomon said.

Captain Luiz went a few more rounds with Indenuel before he nodded. “Alright. Now that I’ve gotten a good idea of where we need to practice, we’ll be ready for tomorrow. You’ll go over more complex moves, alright?” Indenuel nodded, again still out of breath. “Go on to the bathhouse. I hear you have a dinner invitation at High Elder Martin’s house?”

“Yes. And we need to bring our appetites,” Tolomon said.

Indenuel nodded and immediately wondered if Inessa would be there too.

It was a large bathhouse, many soldiers already there washing off. It almost reminded him of the summer months when he’d help in the farms. To beat the heat the men would wash in the river during the heat of the day, often stripping down completely. The only difference is that this was a room full of soldiers, and once again, Indenuel was reminded why he needed a different belt. Compared to literally every other male in this bathhouse, including the male servants, he was the skinniest one in here.

Indenuel was already in the water before Tolomon came over. It had taken a while for him to get all the sheaths and straps off him, so Indenuel had already finished washing by the time Tolomon stood beside him and began to scrub the blood off his arms.

“Are they getting us new clothes? Yours looked bad,” Indenuel said.

“The servants at your house already brought them over. New clothes for you too,” Tolomon said.

The warmth of the bath was relaxing. The water was level to Indenuel’s stomach, and he saw workers pouring powders into it, helping the soldiers clean off. Indenuel sunk lower so no one could see his torso. It didn’t help that he was right next to Tolomon, who splashed water on his chest to clean the blood off. He always knew Tolomon was full of muscle, but now he was more aware of it standing next to him.

“So, I have a question,” Indenuel said.

Tolomon grunted as he bent down and rubbed his face with water.

“Is this-” Indenuel gestured to Tolomon’s muscles, “-even possible? Do they give you something to make your muscles grow bigger?”

He smiled. “Something tells me you’re feeling insecure.”

“Maybe,” Indenuel said, sinking lower so no one could see his boney shoulders.

Tolomon closed his eyes and smiled as he sank into the water, keeping his face above the surface as he washed his short hair. “We had a carefully crafted diet at the Graduate program. And a workout program. And we get a special powder to put in our tea twice a month.”

“What’s in the powder?” Indenuel asked.

“No idea, but it was a lot easier to build muscle after my first cup,” Tolomon said.

“Do they give this to everyone in the Graduate program?”

“Once the first two months are done, when more than half of the participants are sent home.” Tolomon closed his eyes with a relaxed smile.

Indenuel sighed, bringing his hand up to watch the water drip from his fingers. “I’m assuming it’s just for Graduates?”

“They don’t give it to everyone, because then they’d have to reveal what it is and, more importantly, how to make it.”

Indenuel frowned. “Doesn’t that make you worried? That you don’t know what’s in it?”

Tolomon shrugged, his eyes still closed. “It’s not through a corruptive means. That much I do know.”

Indenuel sighed, staying on his knees to keep his body mostly covered. Tolomon, on the other hand, looked far more relaxed than he had ever seen him. “Aren’t you afraid someone’s going to attack you in the bathhouse?” he couldn’t help but ask.

“I’ve attacked everyone already. There is no one left in the militia to get me today,” he said, his eyes still closed.

Indenuel paused, then slowly turned his head toward Tolomon. Technically he was in the militia now, and he never attempted to take him out. A small smile crossed his face. He wasn’t sure if he should. After all, he’d seen Tolomon work, and he could completely obliterate Indenuel if he wanted to. But if he had the element of surprise?

He tried a fast punch, but Tolomon was faster, grabbing his wrist. He cracked an eye open and smiled. Indenuel was far too impressed to let it hurt his pride. “You set me up.”

“I have no idea what you mean,” Tolomon said, letting go of his wrist.

“With me, with Captain Luiz, you make it seem like you aren’t prepared, when really you are. You gave me a false sense of security just so I could strike.”

“An astute observation,” Tolomon said, submerging himself in the water briefly before coming back up on his knees. “People die because they make mistakes. One of the biggest is getting too sure of yourself. Believing you’re invincible will get you killed.”

“Or just picking on a Graduate could kill you,” Indenuel mumbled.

Tolomon smiled again, which made Indenuel try to punch him, hoping he had somehow led him into a sense of security. After all, he hadn’t surrendered. He hardly rose his fist when Tolomon grabbed Indenuel’s foot and lifted it out of the bath, causing him to fall back. Sound disappeared as he found himself underwater. He squirmed, fighting to get back up for air. He slapped Tolomon’s arms a few times before his foot was released. He broke the surface, gasping for air.

“Surrender! I surrender,” he said the moment he was able to talk. He slicked his wet hair from his face to see Tolomon getting out, laughing. Indenuel smiled, shaking his head as he followed.

Three servants came to greet them. Two had clothes, towels, and their swords, while a third servant lugged a huge sack. Tolomon was quick and methodical getting dressed, while Indenuel, once he had his initial clothes on, took his time. Tolomon buckled various sheath sizes onto his person under and over his clothes. Tolomon had two huge swords and a shield strapped to his back when the third servant gave him the sack.

“Let me know if anything is missing, sir,” the servant said.

Tolomon nodded as he began putting daggers back into the sheathes in the oddest places. Indenuel finished buckling his sword into place when Tolomon was halfway done with the daggers, as well as some smaller swords. Indenuel watched, fascinated, as well as horrified that he didn’t notice exactly how many weapons were hidden on Tolomon. A servant quickly styled Indenuel’s hair, and Tolomon still hadn’t finished getting his weaponry back.

Tolomon dumped the sack out and four daggers clattered to the ground. He miraculously found four more places on his person to put them. He then straightened his shirt and smiled. “Ready to go to High Elder Martin’s for some dinner?”

“Are… you?”

Tolomon gave a short nod. “I am now. Thank you, good sirs, you found them all.” He patted the servants’ shoulders before they left the bathhouse.