"Hey, what happened to those two?" Zion asked their short member. Amishta and Jose just stood beside them, obviously interested.
"Well, they seem to be both entangled with one woman. I don't know the specifics, but I am sure that they are rivals in love," Fred smirked.
"I'm afraid it was not that simple," Amishta stated and observed. They all nodded except Fred.
"But they were obviously---"
"You can't just easily judge them. It is obviously a misunderstanding. They were more likely to have known each other for so long, but they became enemies," Zion explained to enlighten Fred.
Nathan glared at Seth dangerously. If not for the presence of their team leader, they would probably kill each other. The hatred that came between the two was very evil. It felt like even in death, they wouldn't even reconcile.
"I will warn you both that you need to behave yourselves until this assessment because if not, then I can just kill you and carry you both to the finish line. Remember that Captain didn't state that all members need to be alive but rather just complete towards the finish line." Dew shouted, and it was obvious that Dew was pissed off big time.
"Leader is right. Since we need to get along for a day and probably another night, how about we introduce ourselves? It shouldn't be bad to your teammates, right?" Zion suggested. The members hesitated, but they thought it was just for the better.
"Since our leader agrees, then he should be the first to introduce himself. It should be the name, a little background, and the reason why you joined the army."
"Okay. I am Dew, your team leader. I came from a military background and trained since I was little. I joined the army because I want to serve our kingdom," he said it very powerfully, and determination was seen through his eyes. Most of the members clapped their hands and praised their leader.
They might have entered the army for different reasons, but those reasons will not hinder the fact that this group will be their comrade in the battlefield so they can be a potential benefactor to them. Since they entered the army, they couldn't just back out; instead, they needed to achieve something.
"Our leader is just really amazing. So I am Zion with a merchant family background. I am more likely good at handling finances, so let's do business together. Though it is a joke, maybe I can change my mind. I joined the army because I want to lead a new life." They were quite jealous as to how Zion looked so positive in life, and they felt like he was just there to play.
"I am Fred. I came from the Capital. I joined the army to gain recognition from my father." The place becomes awkward because Fred is quite emotional, though he didn't cry, but the statement itself was just too personal. They were jealous when he stated the world capital, but they realized that he might be a young master that has an awkward position in the family.
"I am Jose. I am an orphan, and I joined the army because I need to protect someone." They nodded at his answers. They were curious, but since they just needed to know each other for formality, they didn't consider asking questions might be necessary. They all had their secret, but at least they knew that their reasons were real but just lacking some details.
"I am Amishta. I am an orphan." They acknowledged her statement because she was a martyr's daughter, and they knew that her only family was her late father. That is basically the story General/Duke Hiro came up with to cover her background. Hiro always preferred General when in the army and was only called Duke when in the capital.
Amishta was sad. It is the truth that she was an orphan because she lost both her parents before turning 18 in the modern world. She doesn't want to be an orphan anymore, so she will protect everything she loves at all costs.
"I joined the army to join the battlefield and contribute to our kingdom." They were stunned by her reason, and they couldn't help but admire her. They see her as a tiny girl, but her words were so powerful that they made them believe her.
"I am Xian, a commoner. I joined the army to start a new life." Xian clenched his fist as he accidentally moved his wound but didn't react too much.
The introduction continued until everybody was done except for the two men who fought. They knew that even if they were in a bad mood, they couldn't just make everyone have a bad impression of them both. They both wanted to be in the army, so they needed to endure each other.
"I am Nathan. I am from a normal family. I joined the army because I wanted to." He coldly stated and immediately took his seat.
"I am Seth. I am from a merchant family. I joined the army because I need to." Seth gritted his teeth and produced a murderous aura. Some already misunderstood that he came to kill Nathan, but they just keep it to themselves.
"Alright, since we have known each other, we just need to take a rest. We will form two groups; the first group needs to rest, and then it will be switched after."
"Yes, leader." Though they all agree, they can't just fall asleep. They were in the mountains at night, so their imaginations scared them. In the middle of the night, the leader was on duty and seemed to hear something on the other side. He commanded his member to quietly wake the other members and warned them.
As soon as he confirmed his suspicions, he was busted. They target him with arrows. All the members blocked each arrow. They can't escape because they were already circled. Mostly have small wounds. They were stunned that they stopped shooting arrows and fought them with swords and sticks.
Their enemies just use the sword to block them but use the stick to beat them. Even if it was just a stick, their enemy's strength is unimaginable. They all got bruises, but they never complained and continued to fight. If they won't get out of there, then they will be beaten to death.
"Fight with one direction and escape!" Amishta shouted and led the group to the weakest part of the circle. Since the enemy doesn't want to kill them but just beat them, her plan can actually be useful. As long as they break the circle, then they can escape. Even if their enemy was stronger than them, since they just want to train them, they won't beat them to that extent.
"Go!" Their leader shouted, indicating to follow Amishta's plan. As a leader, he already observed the enemy/trainer, so he agrees with the plan. They immediately break the circle and escape. They were not chased by them, so they stayed in one spot. Even if it is still midnight, the moon shines so brightly that they can still see their surroundings. It felt like the moon just went with their plan.
They were all wounded, so their leader asked them to work first on their wounds. Amishta only receives a beating so she can help those who are wounded. They don't express themselves in the team, but they just do what they need or want to do. Actually, changes in their interaction can be seen, but they just don't see it.
"Our trainers are getting bolder each day. Maybe tomorrow it will be even worse. We need to separate and look for our flag. We will be grouped into 3. We must persist to find it. We will separate before the sun rises."
"Yes, leader."
"We will be with our group for half a day. Whether you find or don't find the flag, we must see each other at the mountaintop. If one group is not in time, then we will assume that they must be in a bad situation. Alright?" They all agreed.
The leader chooses each group randomly, but he makes sure that the group thus has a brain and strength. He just can't afford to do something that will lead to his group's loss. The leader assigned their places for the next day and asked them to talk with their group.
"Amishta, you lead our group," Zion stated. Amishta observed her group, and they didn't seem to disagree, so she nodded. Their members silently agree. They were all 8 in the group and more likely a strong group.
"I don't wish any mishaps for our group. Please refrain from fighting. If you have a misunderstanding, then don't join us. We need to find the flag as soon as possible because we don't have enough time. I need both of your cooperation," Amishta coldly warned Nathan and Seth as she was irritated by their silent war that affected the harmony of their team.
They gulped when they heard Amishta's domineering voice. They just can't help comparing it with the general's command. They just followed her arrangements and tried hard to find the flag.