Avryn was out in the courtyard, practicing his swordplay. He didn’t have the privilege of having a training room to fight hologram Sir Iver, but he figured he would at least be able to contend against him at his current state.

  “Hey, Avryn,” Harver introduced himself. “There’s a problem with your training. You don’t have a partner with you.”

  Avryn smirked. He nodded and beckoned for Harver to come closer.

  “Just make sure we don’t go too crazy here. Property damage and all,”

  “You got it,” Harver prepared his estoc.

  The two friends fought, steel against steel. They used the courtyard’s arrangements to their own advantage, jumping over and under hedges to make clean breakaways between the fighting. The sound of their spirring stirred the others and made them come around and look.

  “So, we’re taking bets?” Leifren smiled.

  “Easy, money’s on our boy, right, mister squad leader?” Kiria placed her faith.

  “By our reckoning, we’ll go for our squad leader,” Valoche crossed his arms, amused.

  Rinna silently watched on. She took note they were faster than before. Their technique had improved immensely. A silent determination stirred within her.

  Avryn and Harver were caught in a bind. The former went in for a headbutt which rocked the other. One dropkick later, Harver was on the ground. Avryn got on top but was flipped over almost immediately, but Avryn countered by flipping once again. The momentum sent them back onto a standing position.

  “Man, I’ll never get bored of doing this,” Avryn panted.

  “Neither can I,” Harver responded.

  Just before the final blow was struck, Avryn and Leifren’s Scribe rang. Sparring had to be paused. The leaders checked the message. It read that the squads are summoned to the barracks for an afternoon exercise. Avryn checked the time, and they still had a couple hours to prepare.

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  “Wonder what this exercise is about,” Tvira wondered.

  “Must be important if they messaged us,” Leifren looked up at the clouds. “We should prepare and make haste.

  The squads assembled just outside of the barracks. The barracks officer was at the helm.

  “Is this everyone?” his voice boomed across them all.

  “Sir, yes, sir!” they exclaimed in chorus.

  He went on to explain today’s training session would be a special obstacle course relay race. The training room could accommodate four squads simultaneously. Winners would get the extra days of leave, while exceptional performing squads could get a promotion.

  “Did you hear that? A promotion!” Harver was excited.

  “And the absolute bottom of the barrel squads will be stuck with cleaning duty for two weeks,” the officer warned.

  A nervous murmur spread and audible gulps were heard. The officer picked up on it,

  “Do I sense fear? Are you not supposed to be The Chain’s best soldiers?” he questioned.

  “Sir, yes, sir!” their hearts were stirred.

  “Then go on and win. The lieutenant here will show you the obstacle course map,” he gestured to the man.

  The lieutenant gestured to the screen behind him,

  “This is the obstacle course you will run,” he gestured around.

  It was a four part obstacle course. Each part testing the squad’s knowledge. The first part of the obstacle course is your standard, physically demanding portion, with magical flora that would surely do everything in its power to stop the first person. Second would be a desert with powerful headwinds seeking to stop the second person. The third part was a land mired in darkness, where one true path is laid underneath. The runner there would be given a weak torch to navigate through, but must be wary of Corpse bats trying to snuff it. The final part was one laid with magical projectiles and traps.

  The first four squads were chosen and the races had begun. The rest of them huddled and strategized for it. Avryn already hatched up a plan.

  “Tvira and Valoche can go first and second. Rinna, you’ll be on the third part, and I can do the final part,” he told them.

  “You sure you can do that, Avryn?” Tvira asked him.

  Avryn smiled and gave her a nod.

  “I’ve been looking forward to this,” he replied.

  She returned his nod with one of her own.

  “Let us do our best,” she assured.

  A few minutes later, their numbers were called. They were joined by Leifren’s and two other squads. It was time to prove themselves as one of the best squads in the unit. They were transported to the obstacle course. Tvira started first. She knew the jungle-like area like the back of her hand. Her light foot and awareness helped her dodge many of the plants that were slowing her down. She finished her part of the obstacle course and passed the baton to Valoche.

  He charged through against the headwind and sands. He raised his hand to cover his face as he trudged through. The wind howled mercilessly and almost knocked him off his feet. Valoche used his abilities to manipulate some of the winds to his side.

  “You shall not stop me,” his brow furrowed with determination.

  He reached the midpoint and now the winds twirled sideways. The sudden shift caught him by surprise and now how was spinning around. He fell to one knee and was clawing at the ground as he was toyed with. He bode his time and shifted his weight at the right moment, and he was out of the whirlwind. The next part was in sight, and he passed the baton to Rinna.

  The darkness had set in. She raised her torch and navigated her way to the darkness and stayed on the true path. A noise from beyond alerted her. Corpse bats descended and tried to pick her off the spot. She dropped her torch in favor of her halberd and went to work. The bats circled just out of reach of her but she fired off several bullets that hit their mark. She noticed a problem: the bats kept coming. A strategy change later, she held the torch in her other hand and navigated on the path while keeping the bats away from her. It was a long stretch but she finally made it to Avryn and gave him the baton.

  He held the baton and looked forward. The final stretch was in sight.