As you saw at the end of the last chapter, the POV is now changing to a sort of 3rd person. This was intentional as the rest of the story, unless otherwise stated, shall be in this format. Thank you

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Fallion smiled at he lieutenant slightly, trying to seem friendly. Lt. Ruckgevir motioned for him to follow, which Fallion did

“This here sits one of the nine training grounds of the dwarven armies. While not the biggest, that belongs to the capital o’er course.” at the end of his statement, Fallion noticed he fell into a country like drawl for a second. Not paying heed he had, the lieutenant led Fallion to and walked down a stairway leading to the field. He led Fallion to a large cerulean tent. The tent, besides its color, had no other features. Obviously made for the sake of war and quick placement. The lieutenant entered the tent and motioned for him to wait outside a bit. Talk was heard faintly from outside, and to most anyone else, it would be unhearable. Of course, Fallion being god it was a clear as if they were talking in his ear.

“So how goes the recruitment, Ruck?”

“Smooth as can be I suppose.” then with heavy sarcasm “Shockingly it’s like no one wants to go to war after 700 years of peace? Can you believe that!”

The other dwarf laughed heartily “Well it really is no surprise, some were thinking war would become a long gone thought since it’d been so long. After all, it was ages ago when you and I stood side by side on the field of battle. What do they call that there battle now? Battle of the Red Bull, I think it were?”

“Its the Battle of Yellow Bull, you mixed red with the battle of the Red Sun.”

“Bah, all these battles with colors involved. If anything, Yellow Bull shoulda been called the Brighttown Massacre.”

Ruckgevir chuckled “It was a massacre wasn’t it.” his voice trailed off and silence fell over for a moment. Ruckgevir interrupted it when he remembered his initial purpose for coming “Well, I have another recruit outside the tent to be set up for training.”

“Yes, yes bring him in already, poor sap probably thinks we were talking about him behind his back.”

Ruckgevir poked his head out and ushered Fallion inside.

“Now, let me see your form, eh?” Fallion handed over his conscript papers. “Oho, a berserker type, eh? Not many dwarves suit the bill for that. Most can’t stand the heavy armor. Well o’er course that excludes our dear lieutenant now don’t it?” The other dwarf chuckled “The names Gravin by the way. Quartermaster of the ninth army, at yer service lad.” The dwarf did a little bow, obviously teasing a little. “Now before I get ye fitted, I have to check yer skills with a blade. This is also to see what kind of training ya need.” Looking at the parchment he approached a rack of wooden weapons. First thing he grabbed was a long sword. He handed the sword to Fallion and pulled him outside. “Oi, Nerxus!” A dwarf sitting on the side looked up “Come here!” Gravin motioned the dwarf to come. The dwarf apparently named Nerxus jumped up and ran over.

“Yes Quartermaster? What is it?”

“I need you to check the skills this here er.” He checked the card again “Lad Fallion has with a longsword.”

Nerxus nodded and looked at Fallion up and down, sizing him up. He then held out a hand for a handshake which was politely returned. “Nerxus.”

“Fallion.”

“Well, get to the ring already!” Gravin slapped them both in the back, Nerxus then led Fallion to where he had seen two dwarves sparring earlier. The ‘ring’ as it was called, was four long sticks and rope around it. It was a makeshift fighting ring at its finest.

Taking up two opposite ends, Fallion took the wooden sword from Gravin. The knowledge of the weapon flowed into him instantly. However, as to not make it seem he was as skilled as he was, he took up a ‘novice’ fighting stance. Nerxus on the other hand had a more skilled stance, obviously at the least, adept with this sort of blade.

“And begin!”

“Sword charge!” Nerxus smiled brightly as yelled out the name of his skill, it was popular to do so. For one it made the skill far more focused and generally stronger than if one didn’t. However, your opponent would then know your next move. So, it was a battle of subtlety vs more power.

Fallion, noticing Nerxus was wanting a good fight, replied in kind “Dashing Blade strike!”

The two swordsmen rushed at each other and as the weapons hit, a loud thwack was heard from the wood striking each other. They stood at an impasse for a moment, Fallion purposely matched Nerxus’s strength without the other knowing. Nerxus on the other hand thought he found the perfect sparring partner from the first strike. He always had good instincts. Though of course had Nerxus known the truth he would probably cry that he was sparring god, as he was a devout worshiper. Nerxus jumped back and charged in again “Furious strikes!”

Fallion of course returned the attack “Multiple slashes!”

The swords smacking each other resounded in the field, of course no one really cared two guys were going at it as it was a common enough sight to see on a daily basis.

After several more ‘encounters’ Gravin put his hand up “Alright that’s good enough.” Fallion and Nerxus didn’t hear and kept going at it “Enough that’s good!” Gravin began getting a little upset he was being ignored. He wasn’t going to be ignored a third time. Taking his war hammer from its hilt, he jumped and smashed into the ground “Hammer Shatter!” the ground shifted like it was struck by a small earthquake. Of course, Gravin had held back severely, but it was enough to cause the two fighters to fall to the ground. “Next time when I saw stop, ye stop! Got it boys?” Fallion and Nerxus nodded smiling a bit embarrassed. “Alright Nerxus, you can go back to what you were doing.”

They both exited the ring and Nerxus returned to the spot he was sitting at. Fallion on the other hand stayed with the Quartermaster, waiting further instruction.

“Alright yer at least adept at a blade, which is the minimum for the army to be in its fighting force. There is no real need to keep you here save learning drills for battle. O’er course we are going to keep you here till ya learn those.” Gravin scratched his chin “Now follow me, time to check yer archery. I don’t think there’s any need to see you with a claymore, since you were adept with a longsword, I’ll just trust you were honest.” He walked over to the other side of the field. Three dwarves each had a bow in hand, trying to hit the target.

To the side of these dwarves, was a trainer Fallion guessed. “Come on you call that archery? Let me show you archery!” He ripped a bow from the closest one’s hands and took an arrow from his quiver, he quickly notched and released the arrow, hitting a bulls-eye on the target. Mentally the words ‘quick scope’ popped into Fallion’s head before disappearing.

The dwarf handed back the bow and looked over noticing the Quartermaster and Fallion approaching. He ran over saluting “Duven Schrolin Verdin, sir!” Duven was a dwarven rank akin to a sergeant from the old world.

“Calm down Schrolin, you and I went for a pint just last night! What’s with all the formality my old friend.” Gravin slapped the Duven on the back.

Putting his hand down “This is a military camp, with all due respect sir, acting ‘normal’ isn’t fitting of such a place. One must instill order, directive, mission, mot-”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah I gotcha Schrolin, you hard ass.” Fallion chuckled inwardly at this display.

“Who’s the recruit?”

“This here is Fallion, need ya to check his bow skills real quick.”

“Follow me boy, I’ll get your test set-up.”

Schrolin led Fallion to the end of the archery practice area. There laid a bow and twenty-one arrows in a quiver.

“Get as many bulls-eyes as possible in one minute alright? Go, go, go!”

Fallion, not expecting to be rushed like this went to grab the bow, but it fumbled through his fingers.

“What the bonderun are you doing boy?! Did I say you could drop your bow?”

“N-no sir. You didn’t.” Fallion felt himself getting increasingly uncomfortable

“Did I say you could talk either?”

“N-”

“GRAB YOUR BOW AND SHOOT THE LUVEN ARROWS SON!” Seeing Fallion bend down to pick up the bow but drop it as he stood up, he grabbed Fallion by the shoulder and jerked him up, forcing him to stand face to face with him. “SHOW ME YOUR WAR FACE!”

“M-my what?”

“YOUR WAR FACE! LIKE THIS!” He then proceeded to yell loudly with an angry look on his face. “NOW YOUR TURN!”

Fallion completely bewildered meowed like a cat, causing him to receive a fist in his gut

“DON’T TRY THAT VUNDERVIPP SHIT WITH ME BOY, I SAID YOUR WAR FACE!” He once again yelled in his face

Fallion did the same albeit quieter.

“LOUDER!” He then yelled again, without stopping Fallion joined in “THERE YOU GO, NOW LET THOSE ARROWS FLY!”

Fallion grabbed the bow from the ground feeling strangely pumped, like he wanted to fist fight a bear or lion, and notched the arrows in rapid succession getting all shots dead on their target.

“NOW THAT’S ARCHERY!” He smacked Fallion upside the head “NOW GET YOUR ASS BACK TO THE QUARTERMASTER! MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!”

Fallion began running back to the Cerulean tent

Schrolin turned back to see the other dwarves had stopped shooting to watch “DID I SAY YOU COULD STOP FIRING THOSE ARROWS?! TWENTY LAPS ALL OF YOU, LETS MOVE IT!”

Meanwhile Fallion reached the tent and entered to see the quartermaster reading a book, without looking up “So what’d he say?”

Unsure how to respond with what happened “He yelled, now that’s archery, hit me in the back of my head, and told me to run back here.”

“Oh so you passed, good.”

Passing seemed like a strange way to simply put it. “Yeah, passed.” Fallion parroted back

“Well now it’s time for you to receive your arms and armor for your military service. This is probably going fast, but truth be told we only train you fighting wise if you lack. O’er course that doesn’t mean you get no training. Now it’s time to also get your assigned squad, eh?” He walked over to a wall a pulled down steel heavy armor, a wooden bow with arrows, a steel long sword, and an iron claymore. He placed them on the table and motioned for Fallion to go behind some nearby drapes and put on the equipment. Fallion did as he was instructed and quickly put it on, draping the bow and quiver over his back. He placed the sheathes for the two blades on his back as well. “Good now you look like a dwarven warrior. I’m gonna have you assigned to the 33rd platoon. The 33rd is a part of the fourth squadron. You’ll be taught all the important bits of the army by your ‘toon leader. Go have Nerxus show you the way, he’s also in your platoon. Oh and put this on your helmet.” He handed a ribbon with a green lion on the top of it and a yellow tulip on the bottom “That there is the symbol of the 33rd, helps distinct you from the other groups and armies. O’er course the flower is the symbol of the ninth army. Don’t ask why its a flower, it’s a long story no one enjoys telling. If you ever run into equipment trouble, come to my tent as long as its not near time to mobilize.”

Fallion nodded and left the tent.

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Thank you for reading this chapter! Once again please give any criticism you have.