Jorish’s steps slowed down as he reached Anise and Dyce. As soon as he arrived, Anise spoke out. “Took ya long enough, didn’t it.”

Jorish scratched his head as he laughed softly. “Ah, yes. My bad!”

He turned to look towards Dyce who opened his eyes as soon as he arrived, nodding towards him. Seeing everyone there, Jorish prepared to move towards the recruitment office. Before he moved, he was interrupted by Anise as she asked.

“Jorish, I gotta ask. What do you think about this whole war thing?”

Before Jorish could even answer, Dyce spoke. “The witch. Even the stories we were told downplay her evil. If we can play a part in stopping her, we must do what we can. No matter the cost.”

“But… The Witch is our enemy, we are not going to fight the Witch, we are going to fight other men and women whose only fault is being on the wrong side without knowing.”

Jorish could understand Anise, innocents getting caught up in such conflicts, destruction and chaos. He almost wished he could agree with her however, as he knew her view was naive. He spoke involuntarily. “Such is war. Sometimes, to achieve victory we need to give up everything. Even our own souls and consciousness. We sacrifice not only our lives, but what makes us human at times. Because that is the only thing we can do!”

Dyce looked in shock at Jorish before smiling, shouting. “Well said! I expect no less from a spear bearer.”

He started walking as Anise looked in shock, her mind likely to be still processing what Jorish had just shouted. Jorish turned as he followed Dyce, before Anise quickly recovered and ran behind them.

Entering the office, they saw masses of people inside, many of which didn’t seem to belong in a battlefield. Jorish’s eyes scanned some frail men and women in one corner, his eyes moving down to others who were crying, before ending up at people whose looks belonged to the slums in Zeltol, rather than a battlefield.

Conscription. Jorish knew from the sight of all those people. He hated it, yet he knew it was a necessity. Only the few people who didn’t belong to Wolnosci weren’t forced to participate. Yet they stood there, to make a change.

The group moved towards the receptionist. Before Jorish could speak, Dyce stepped forward with a paper, giving it to the receptionist. The receptionist looked at the paper briefly before speaking. “So, you were recommended by minister Fredek? Please follow my college here.”

A thin man walked near them, bowing before guiding them to a location in the backyard of the office. As they left the building, they were greeted by groups of people waiting as a muscular man filled with scars stood in the center. Jorish tried to feel for the man’s strength, but he came up empty. He was confused for a moment before they stopped.

Their guide bowed down as he spoke. “Captain! I brought a few recruits. They have a recommendation from minister Fredek.”

The Captain turned towards the trio, sizing them up for a moment before speaking.”Cadets, I am Captain Isar. I will be overseeing you here to decide how and where you fit in the army. Fredek’s recommendation would get you in here without any tests, but I couldn’t care less. Any questions?”

Everyone shook their heads as Captain Isar pointed at Anise, who stepped forward.

“Your cultivation?”

“Body practitioner, coreless.” Replied Anise.

The Captain’s eyes narrowed as he asked “Which body?”

“None, I have a bloodline.”

The captain then smiled as he said. “Then I don’t need much from you. Just show me your bloodline.”

Anise nodded as she stepped forward, gray lines appearing across her skin. A few moments later, her pupils turned into vertical golden slits with her hands turning into claws. Jorish could hear some whispers from the crowds.

The captain nodded as he spoke. “Good, draconic bloodline. You shall be commanding the 4th squad of the 3rd battalion.” He looked down on the paper that he was given by the guide before speaking. “… Second Officer Anise, that is all. Any questions?”

Anise shook her head as she stood to the side.

Next, Dyce walked forward, bowing. “Captain.”

Captain Isar nodded as he waited, silently. Dyce spoke. “Energy practitioner.”

The captain looked at Dyce in surprise, Jorish understood him. Looking at Dyce’s frame and body you would expect him to be a body practitioner. The captain recovered instantly as he pointed at a stele to his side. “Send a pulse of energy here.”

Dyce nodded as he walked forward. Once in front of the stele, he exhaled as he punched forward. Jorish at the weak-looking punch in shock, feeling the Energy embedded in that punch. As his fist contacted the stele, it started emitting blinding light as it shook for a few moments before going dark again. The captain nodded in satisfaction as he said. “Second Officer Dyce, you will take control of the 2nd squad of the 2nd battalion.”

The captain turned his head again towards Jorish as he stepped forward, speaking.

“Body practitioner, sensing stage in energy.”

“Do you also have a bloodline?”

Jorish shook his head as he sensed the disappointment in Isar’s face, before he wiped it out and asked. “Which body?”

“Sun-forged body, sir.”

“Sun-forged body?” Captain Isar asked in confusion as he tried to think of something before shaking his head. “Never heard of it. I will have to test you myself. Any problems?”

Jorish shook his head as the Captain walked closer to him, revealing his strength. Peak practitioner? He feels so much stronger than the senator. Much, much stronger.

The captain stopped walking as he spoke. “Cultivation while important, is not everything. If you do not know how to use your strengths, you will die on the battlefield. I want to see your strength, hit me with everything you have.”

Jorish exhaled as he nodded, throwing the top of his cloak off, keeping it from reaching the ground as he tied its middle to his belt. He saw the Captain nod as he saw his well built body. Jorish closed his eyes as he took a deep breath, the golden marks on his body growing brighter as he felt his body consume the sunlight surrounding them.

Finally, his eyes snapped open as he stepped forward. The captain stood in a defensive stance as Jorish’s fist went straight for his chest. The captain raised his arm to block the strike, as his eyes widened in surprise. A moment later, Jorish heard a loud boom as his fist and the captain’s arm collided. A huge shockwave was emitted, knocking back some of the recruits who were sitting in front of the captain.

As the smoke of their clash cleared, Jorish froze in surprise. The captain stood in front of him, still in his defensive position. However, he now looked inhuman, as his body turned a shade of green, with his arms becoming metallic. He could see a slight dent where his strike had hit him. A few moments later, the captain turned back to his original form before bursting into laughter. “Very good! To force me to use my bloodline to defend, very good indeed! You are to report to the 4th Battalion, tell them you are to take command of the punks in the 5th squad.”

Jorish nodded, as a few people stepped forward to guide each of them into their battalion’s location.