The gathering point for the recruitment filled up a little more before it was time to begin. Unlike in Langreth all of the different units and positions would be tested at the same time, regular army and special squads. The tests that were going to be conducted were the same as what Raph had seen in Langreth, just with reduced requirements. As soon as noon came around Sergeant Ellis began barking orders left and right to get the hopefuls into line. Raph had been using the occasional Identify but to no avail, everyone he’d seen so far had very generic classes and levels. He’d decided to let the tests run their course and if anyone stood out he would take a closer look.

“Alright maggots!” Sergeant Ellis screamed. “First things first; a nice easy run.” He began to jog on the spot. “Come on, get those legs up!”.

The tests went on, with a few people getting knocked out because they either couldn’t keep up or not passing the requirements. Something odd caught Raph’s attention while they were ongoing, he saw a younger man amongst the crowd. Raph was trying to focus on him but he kept losing track, he found it odd how he was managing to escape his view. Eventually as everyone began to line up for the strength test he got a decent look at the kid. He looked young, especially for the army. But it was possible that he did in fact just look young, he had dark brown hair, brown eyes, and a slight tan. He was unassuming in every possible way, even his height was distinctly average.

Identify

??? -- Illusory Lv.52

‘Illusory? Huh, guess that explains why he’s so hard to keep track of. His level is pretty low, but that can be fixed. I should try and keep an eye on him.’ Raph thought as he looked at the kid.

The teenager Raph was keeping an eye on had done fine in the run, although so had most people. Now they were on to the strength test, which knocked a few people out. The teenager just about managed to do it, Raph could see he was really straining to pick up the weight for the special squads. The next problem came when they tested punching strength with that strange machine. He didn’t hit hard enough to be accepted into the special squads, but he was allowed to carry on to the combat test to give him a better chance if he chose the standard army.

‘I think I need to tell Leah about this kid.’ Raph had made up his mind by this point, but he wanted to watch his combat test just to be sure. It was a bizarre sensation for Raph to watch him so intently. He would lapse in and out of focus as he watched, clearly a result of his class.

The combat test was up next and Raph decided to make his presence seen by the potential recruits, he went up and stood with Sergeant Ellis.

“So, Lieutenant. Anyone of interest?” Ellis asked Raph as he came to his side.

“Hmm, maybe. I’m not 100% yet.” Raph kept his answer vague.

“Hm.” Sergeant Ellis just kind of grunted at Raph’s response.

The combat exam began, circles were laid out on the ground each with an officer standing ready. The potential recruits went up in turn and began to fight, unsurprisingly the first group got their asses handed to them by the officers. Raph watched on in amusement until his teenager went up. He was to be facing off against a fit looking guy in his mid twenties who seemed very capable. The spar began with the teenager's figure becoming more obscure, Raph guessed this to be some kind of spell. Raph was getting a headache trying to focus on him and it looked like his opponent didn't like it either. The teenager used all sorts of tricks and spells to obscure himself from the officer, though to no avail. He didn’t manage to get him out of the ring, but he did capture Raph’s attention. The spells he could use were almost all revolved around making him harder to detect, he would be a perfect scout in Raph’s eyes.

“Alright!” Sergeant Ellis screamed signalling the end of the trails. No one had managed to push an officer out of the ring, some had come close but not enough to interest Raph. “That’s it. If you are still interested in joining the army proper please go over to the desk there and fill in the forms, they will give you the appropriate information.” As the Sergeant was speaking a couple of guys from the special squads came over to the two who had almost been victorious in the duels.

“Everyone else can go home, it was a pleasure.” The Sergeant proceeded to go into one of the tents, clearly he’d had enough of his strange brand of fun for today.

Raph saw the teenager begin to walk towards the desk for the standards recruitment and knew he would be a good fit. If he wanted to join anyway at least he had some conviction.

“Hey kid, got a minute?” Raph asked politely to the teenager who was walking over to the registration desk.

“Huh? Me?” He asked as he looked at Raph.

“Yeah you come, over here.” Raph led him out of the crowd of people towards the tents. “What’s your name?”

“It’s Johnnie Walker sir.” Johnnie said as he handed Raph his document sheet.

Raph took the sheet from him and looked it over. “17 huh? You look pretty young.”

At the remark Johnnie just smiled and scratched his head.

“Whatever, I know you were trying out for the special squads. You still want to be in one?” Raph asked.

“Really? But I didn’t pass.” Johnnie said dejectedly.

“No. You didn’t, but you are interesting. Which is why I’m going to bring you to my boss.” Raph said as he brought Johnnie into the tents to find Leah.

Raph made his way through the labyrinth of tents, it took him a few minutes to find Leah after a few questions to some people he passed. She was in a command tent with a few other of the high ranking officers on the mission.

“Excuse me.” Raph said as he entered the tent, to which everyone in the tent turned their eyes to him. “Major, could I have a word?”

“I will be back in a minute.” Leah said as she got up and walked out of the tent to Raph. “Who’s this?” She said as they walked outside.

Raph pushed him forward and nodded.

“Umm. Hello.” Johnnie said nervously.

“Go on.” Raph said, trying to encourage him.

“Umm, my name is Johnnie Walker ma'am,” he said.

“Raph, what’s so good about the kid?” Leah asked.

“Well he has the potential to be an amazing scout.” Raph said.

Leah arched an eyebrow, “go on.”

“His class is called Illusory and basically it looks like it makes him harder to distinguish, I was having a hard time keeping track of him in a crowd. When he fought the officer at the end and used some spells I was getting a headache just trying to look at him, it’s strange to say the least.” Raph explained.

“Hmm, I can see how that would be useful. Well I trust you Raph, if you say he’s good we’ll have him. We can’t be too picky right now.” Leah said. “There will be another carriage coming here the day after tomorrow to pick up any new recruits, so you will have to wait for that because we still have some places to visit. Congratulations, you’re the newest Shepherd.” Leah smiled and turned back into the tent.

“Congrats Johnnie.” Raph said as he patted his back.

“Wait! You’re Shepherds?” Johnnie was pretty startled.

“Yeah, did I not tell you that?” Raph realized his mistake. “Ohhh. Well you know now. Let's go.” Raph took him back to the registration desk where there were already a few people queued up. When they got to the front Raph spoke to the officer at the desk.

“Lieutenant.” The man at the desk said when they got to the front.

“Hi, Johnnie here is going to join the Shepherds. Major Raycraft made the decision.” Raph explained. The man at the desk's eyes went wide at Raph’s statement, then he took a good look at the insignias on his shoulder.

“Yes sir. I will sort that out for you right away.” He then began to look for the correct forms and such while Johnnie filled them out.

After they’d finished filling the documents out Raph tried to explain what was going to happen.

“So I’ll be in a squad when I get there?” Johnnie had already asked numerous questions up to now.

“Yeah, you’ll get put into a squad and they will try and get you into fighting shape, that’s what happened to me a few weeks ago.” Raph explained.

“Right right. Thank you for this Raph, I’m relieved I don’t have to be a part of the main force.” Johnnie said.

“Don’t worry about it, you’ve got potential.” Raph said as he patted his shoulder again.

After that was all sorted out Raph went to look for Leah again in preparation for leaving tomorrow. He found her in the same place as earlier, inside the tent with the other high ranking officers. Raph quietly made his way inside with a confirming nod from Leah, then he sat down next to her.

“...Further north into the mountains, for two nights we will not be stopping in any settlements. Please be prepared to sleep in carriages or tents, if you need any supplies get something from one of the stores or inform a subordinate.” The Major standing at the front was in the middle of a speech when Raph arrived.

“Raph, do we have enough supplies for a few days without stops?” Leah asked upon receiving the information from the other Major.

“I guess we don’t, I’ll head over to the shops and grab some things. Any requests?” raph asked.

“Just get some basic supplies, I’m not picky.” Leah said.

Raph left towards the shops in the town, on his way he passed some dejected looking locals he assumed they’d not managed to get in. Raph got to the shops and bought enough supplies for the trip and a little extra just to make sure. He stored the extra food in his ring just in case he needed it, it was better safe than sorry after all. By the time he got back to the caravan the soldiers had already started packing things up, most of the tents were collapsed and in the process of being stored in the carriages. He found Leah again near their carriage.

“I’ve got us some food.” Raph said as he placed the box down with the food he’d bought in it.

Leah took a quick look and saw; vegetables, grains, some dried meat, and a few spices and seasonings. “Looks good.” She said as she turned towards him. “Good job today by the way, we really are pretty desperate for bodies right now. Even one is good.”

“No worries, it is my job right. Anyway I really do think that kid has potential, he’ll be an excellent scout when he’s trained.” Raph said.

“Well I’m glad you’re so sure, I got a few funny looks from the others when you brought him in here.” Leah smiled.

“I’ve been meaning to ask. You can Analyze right? So why don’t you just look at everyone's class?” Raph asked.

“Ah. You must know what a standard Analyze feels like?” Leah asked as she proceeded to analyze him.

Raphael Smith -- ḓ̴̷̷̸̸̷̶̷̴̸̴̴̸̶̴̨̫̻͖͇̫̺̗̇̓ͅe̵̵̴̶̵̸̸̴̸̵̴̶̸̶̵̶̵̷̸̵̷̶̴̵̴̵̴̴̵̴̶̷̶̵̛̜̬̺͔̜̝̤̖̬͚͉̦͓̱̬̘̮͈̾͊͊͑̔̿̾̏̿̎̆͛ş̶̸̶̴̶̵̴̷̴̵̷̴̴̷̸̵̸̷̴̴̸̸̵͈̠̱͉̼͓̯̞̹̯̟̼̘̺̜̃̎̒̎ţ̴̴̸̵̸̷̷̶̷̵̷̸̸̸̷̖̥̞͖̺̝̻́̾̽͝o̸̸̷̸̶̷̴̶̶̸̵̶̴̷̴̶̷̷̷̸̷̶̴̸̸̶̸̵̷̵̸̸̵̗̬͈͇͚̦̭̺͉̝̺͚̦͉͈̪̝͋̒̈̾̏͋́̓͛̀͗̚̕y̶̸̵̶̷̵̴̸̷̶̸̷̴̴̶̶̵̶̵̸̴̷̶̸̵̸̷̴̵̴̷̵̸̸̶̵̴̡̡̗̟͚̠͇̤͚̼̻̣͍͎͖͔͈͎͎̺̼̓̍̈̊̈́̄̂̃̌̀̃̚͠e̴̵̴̵̵̷̶̵̶̶̸̶̷̶̵̵̴̠̹͇̗͎͓͇̥̱̥̻̯͊͜ȑ̶̷̵̴̸̴̸̷̴̴̷̸̵̴̴̷̶̷̵͈̉̃̎̋͛̈́͗̇̽͒̄̇͛͠ Lv.63

“Uhh, yeah I hate that feeling.” Raph said as Leah looked at him questioningly. “What?”

“Why does it look like that?” Leah said.

“Why does what look like what?” Raph asked back.

“Your class name is like broken, it doesn’t display properly.” Leah said.

“I know, we talked about this before with Bishop. But it’s actually part of a skill.” Raph decided to come clean to Leah, he trusted her.

“A skill?” Leah asked.

“Yeah, part of the skill makes it so I can’t be identified.” Raph explained.

“I’ve never heard of a skill that can do that. What’s it called?” Leah asked again.

‘I can’t tell her what it’s called, I mean Reincarnator… seriously. Sorry Leah, not today.’ Raph thought. “I don’t think I can tell you that, sorry Leah.” He said.

“Oh well, it’s alright.” Leah said as she shrugged her shoulders.

“Some other time Leah, sorry.” Raph wanted to tell her but it was a lot for him to process.

“It’s alright, anyway, I don't know how much you heard, but we’re heading up north to the mountains now which means we won’t stop at any settlements for the next two nights. This also means you’re on running duty.” Leah smiled evilly.

“Oh no Leah. Can I not?” Raph said dejectedly.

“Oh but you must, Lieutenant.” again with the smile.

“Fine.” Raph said, anyway he had the night still before he ran.

The carriages were mostly packed now and the soldiers and officers alike were turning in for the night. Leah had quickly fallen asleep in the carriage and Raph was left outside doing his usual routine, he practiced some fighting forms and looked at the stars.

---

The next morning the caravan was on it’s way bright and early, Raph only just had time for his covee before he was handed his heavy pack by Leah. At this point the weight it had really wasn’t affecting him, therefore he decided to add something extra. He took his hammers out of the ring and placed them in the bag as well, this made it substantial enough for it to actually make any difference when he was running.

“All ready Raph?” Leah asked as she stuck her head out of the carriage.

“Yes ma’am.” Raph said with more seriousness than necessary.

Leah chuckled at Raph’s response. “Lincoln?”

“Yes ma’am.” Lincoln responded in a tone similar to Raph’s yet lacking in humor.

“Lead on as soon as they are ready please.” Leah instructed.

“Yes ma’am” He said again, to the laughs of both his crew.

“Raph, I know you’ve been hunting with Mac. Before we stop tonight maybe you could hunt us something fresh?” Leah asked.

“No problem Leah.” Raph said, having something fresh to eat would be nice anyway and it wouldn’t take him long.

The caravan started to move shortly after and Raph got running. The terrain around them changed from wooded plains; the trees started thinning, the ground became more rocky, and mountains were visible in the distance. The carriages were slow enough that it was more of a light job than a run and as they paused for lunch Raph decided to get in some combat practice to mix things up a bit.

“You know Raph, I could spar with you one of these days.” Leah said as she walked up to where he was practicing.

“Uh, I don’t think that sounds like a very good idea?” Raph said. “Aren’t you a bit too strong to spar with me?”

“I can control myself pretty well.” Leah said with a smile. “I have had a fair bit of combat experience, Raph and anyway who wouldn’t want to spar with a beautiful lady like me?” Leah said with a giggle.

‘I don’t know if I should be aroused or terrified.’ Raph thought as he looked at her with his mouth agape while she stood in a mock combat stance.