Sweat dripped down Marix’s face as he tossed the weights to his training partner. The guy was new with lanky arms. He practically fell over every time Marix tossed the weights over.

Unfortunately, the sun was high in the sky beating down on them as they trained.

Vox walked back and forth, inspecting the group as he shouted at them.

"Is it too hot? Are you suffering in this heat?! Good! Imagine how much you’ll suffer if you can’t keep your focus no matter the circumstances! You’ll be dead! Do you hear me?! Dead!"

Yeah, yeah. Marix knew the drill, had heard all the spiels, anecdotes and mantras Vox had to offer. His training had been complete with all the bells and whistles.

However, the new recruit standing before him with sweat patches all over the front of his shirt and under his pits seemed to be fueled by all of Vox’s words.

While the other trainees seemed to have some fear invoked in them, the fire in this guy’s eyes blazed bright.

He shoved the weight back towards Marix and although Marix caught it with ease, he could tell there was a bit more strength behind it.

After a few more minutes Vox blew his whistle.

"Alright! Everyone, do a cool off lap and then I want you in the cafeteria for lunch before we start our fighting drills!"

He blew the whistle again and everyone began to walk around the training grounds. Marix naturally led the group, standing tall and unphased by the work out and Vox’s intimidation tactics.

His training partner jogged up to him and gave him a goofy grin.

"I’m Prav, Prav Manack. What is your name? I don’t think I’ve caught it. You do a great job; Vox never calls you out. You know you’re a star among the other recruits."

Marix turned his head and raised an eyebrow.

"I’m your future General, Recruit Manack."

Prav laughed and nodded his head, "Alright! Ambitious! I don’t think there’s any doubt you’ll become General one day."

Marix let out a dry laugh.

"Anyways, I want to do well like you. I want to be something for Viraaz. Maybe one day I can be your Lieutenant General!"

Marix sighed, "You want to do well but you don’t even know who your superiors are? Do you know who the current General is? Or the current Lieutenant General? Anyone outside of your Training Commander?"

Prav pursed his lips, "My mother was a maid in Greia, but her employer passed away and they turned over the entire staff roster. My father was already living here and working to send us money back, so after that we just moved here to be with my father. I don’t know much about Viraaz but I’m willing to learn!"

Marix’s eyebrow raised, "I assume her employer passed due to accidental drowning?"

Prav nodded, "He did and his daughter is a complete priss! Redecorated the entire estate and hired all new people to make it her own."

"This is Lord Smith’s daughter?" Marix questioned, his mind reeling.

"Yes," Prav leaned in, "Don’t tell anyone I told you, but Lord Smith completely removed his son from his will. I heard he was too busy in Elaide."

Marix chuckled, "A man with no morals. At least Lord Smith knew his son wasn’t right to carry on."

"Yeah. Anyways, you have avoided the question! What is your name?"

Marix sighed, knowing this guy wasn’t going to let it go. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Marix L’adore."

Prav hooked his arm around Marix’s neck and smiled, "Well Recruit L’adore, it’s going to be you and me! We’re going to climb the ranks and lead this army to untold heroics one day!"

"Right..."

At the war room, Briggs sat in the large wooden chair at the end of the table. With Marix out of commission for the time being, he’d need to use the war room as a makeshift office.

"Sir, we have a large number of recruits this year. So far they are doing quite well. There are a few that seem to be a bit intimidated, but I think the class will remain in armed units for the most part." One of the officers stood before him in uniform, relaying the information he’d gained from Vox.

Briggs made a few notes, then looked up at him, "Based on what?"

"I’m sorry?" he questioned.

"You said that for the most part you think the class will remain in the armed units. Based on what? What makes you think so?"

The officer cleared his throat, "Uh, well, Sir, I......I was informed by Recruit Commander Vox that they have drive and they are showing good skills in their combat training."

Briggs looked back down and continued to make notes, "Just because they show good skills in combat doesn’t mean they will necessarily be helpful in those units. Combat is more than just swinging a sword around."

The officer nodded, "You’re right, Sir, I apologize. It was simply an assumption I made based on the information I had."

"Next time you bring me information, please relay it as is without your input, unless I ask for it. We have too much to do, let’s keep things simple and fact based."

The officer nodded again, "Yes Sir."

"Alright, that will be all."

Within a few minutes of the officer leaving, Arlon entered the war room with a hefty chunk of the royal guard in tow.

"Good evening acting General Briggs. I’ve come for some updates." He opened his arms and his blonde maid appeared from behind him to take his cape off.

Briggs stood and saluted him, "Yes Your Highness. I’ve been informed by some of our scouts that it looks like the Sola military is possibly preparing for an attack, there were some reports of mysterious people at the boarders as well."

He gave him the run down as he looked through his notes.

Arlon sighed before wiggling his mouth in thought.

"Well that is rather unfortunate. It seems my brother has ruffled more feathers than we originally anticipated. Thank you, that will be all."

Briggs saluted him again, "Of course, Your Highness."

By the time Briggs returned home, it was extremely late at night. He came through the door quietly and sighed as he tossed his hat to the side and started to take off his boots.

Tara appeared in the doorway, gently bouncing Taron and patting his back. His head was resting on her shoulder, eyes closed, mouth open and a stable stream of drool pouring out.

"How was it today?" She whispered, trying not to wake him.

"You haven’t put him to bed yet?" Briggs whispered back as he walked up to her.

She gave him a loving but somewhat apologetic look, "He was trying to wait up for you."

Briggs placed his hand on Tara’s back and kissed the top of her head before pressing a kiss on Taron’s.

"Put him to bed and let’s talk. Have you eaten yet?"

Tara nodded, "We did. I left your plate out for you, it’s on the counter underneath the net."

Briggs headed to the kitchen as Tara headed up the stairs to put Taron to sleep.

It didn’t take her very long, considering he was out like a lamp, and Briggs sat at the table eating his now cold steak and vegetables.

Tara took a seat across from him and the two kept their volume to a low whisper to ensure they didn’t wake up Taron.

"So how was it?" She asked again.

"It’s tiring. I don’t know how Marix managed to have the time to lay up in bed with that girl of his and run around to do this or that. There’s just too much to handle."

Tara reached out and gently rubbed his forearm.

"Was he not keeping up with things? Did he leave you with a big mess?"

Briggs put his fork down and placed his hand over Tara’s.

"No. That’s the surprising thing. It seems like he kept up with everything. I just don’t know how."

She gave him a sympathetic look and took his hand, rubbing it with her thumb, "Come on Bridge~ I’m sure you must’ve learned a thing or two from serving under him all these years."

He shook his head, "We worked so closely but I can’t think of anything in particular he’d do that would make a difference. I’m delegating like he did, maybe I’m just not doing it right."

"You’re doing great. You just need to get into the groove of things. Once you do I think you’ll find that you’ve got more of a handle on this than you think."

Briggs smiled and brought her hand up his lips before returning to his meal.

Tara rested her head on her hand as she watched him, "So what about the war? Have the issues he caused been sorted? Do we need to worry?"

His fork froze midair as he looked over at her. Her eyebrows were knitted and there was a pleading look in her eyes.

"As long as I am alive, I promise you, you will never have to worry."