11. Strength Training

The grim atmosphere blanketed the encampment with a sharp ache following in every step. Nathanial stepped forward, walking down the path as the other footmen lifted their heads and stared at him. Some in admiration, while others in disbelief. There were rows of tents lining the path, living quarters occupied by different platoons. Each with their respective members lifting the fabric of the tents to see the patrol party that had somehow survived an ambush that wiped out countless others.

Nathanial ignored the piercing stares that tried to see through him and continued walking forward. He could feel the pain in the palms of his hands pulse and the aching muscles hammer against his bones. His blood had seeped into the fabric of his gloves, beneath his iron gauntlet, and much like his armor, the weight pressed down heavily upon his battered body.

His eyes glanced over to the golden screen, focusing on the words Vow of Enduring Burden. Part of Nathanial knew that the cost of heightened senses would come into effect, but not so soon. The increased pain burned throughout his body, and the fear of failure loomed over him.

Are these effects permanent?

Nathanial slowly opened and closed his fist. His broken iron sword rested in its scabbard, and the scratches on his iron armor told of his valor. He focused on his heightened senses, catching the whispers of the nearby soldiers.

“Is that them?”

“I heard they’re the only ones to survive the ambush. The attackers destroyed the rest.”

“Didn’t they just get lucky?”

“No, no, no! I heard they were surrounded on all sides and fought their way out! In fact, it was that lad in the back with white hair that got them out of that mess! He saw through their deception!”

Somehow, he could hear everything clearly.

The distant grinding of metal sharpening against whetstones.

The hammering of anvils as new weapons breathed in the flames of life.

Everything felt clear in his mind, and the men whispering around him didn’t matter. Nathanial knew what he needed to do. With the little time he had left until their next engagement, he needed to gather his strength and plan his next steps.

The system had yet to issue his next mission. Only when he encountered trials or some sort of wall did the messenger deliver his next task. And when it came, it was a gamble whether he lived to see the next day.

Nathanial pushed aside the tent flap, allowing the warm air of the lantern to cool against his skin. Inside, Richard and Fredrick were already waiting.

“There he is!” Fredrick grinned. “Our hero, the man himself who foiled the Empire’s ambush and took control as our previous patrol leader, shit himself!”

Richard sighed. “Can’t you be less… vulgar?”

Nathanial watched as the two bantered against each other before softly chuckling. He walked over to his bed while unfastening the straps of his dull iron armor and carefully set it aside.

“Now isn’t the time for you two to argue; we need to figure out what we plan to do next.”

Fredrick stared at Nathanial with wide eyes. He released Richard from the headlock he had imprisoned the man in before frowning. “What? I mean… what can we even do?”

“I don’t know, I was hoping either you or Richard had some kind of idea.”

“It’s not like we can just grab our auras and smash them together until a star forms.”

Richard released a heartfelt laugh. “If it were that easy, then we’d all be four-star aura users!”

“Four? I wouldn’t stop until I reached the fifth-star and unlocked my world!” Fredrick joined in and chuckled as well, but after a moment, he released a long, heavy sigh. “But really… what can we do? If we run into another aura user that’s stronger than us, then we’re just dead.”

“That’s what I want to prevent.” Nathanial sat down on the linen cloth. He stared at the white fabric walls of the tent, the oak support beams, and then the packed dirt floor. “We could keep trying to train and build a steady foundation, but that’ll only get us so far if we don’t have a goal in mind.”

Fredrick raised a brow. “You… you’re not suggesting we swing our swords like crazy again, right?”

Nathanial turned to Richard. “Do you think that’ll help us unlock our second star?”

“That’s a tough question. I would assume no, but aura mastery differs per person. What worked for me won’t necessarily work for you. Sometimes, what matters most is the desire that burns within one’s heart.”

Nathanial remembered the words on the golden screen. The very words that strengthened his resolve, his desire to save his family.

“I want to put an end to this madness. I want to end this war.”

Richard and Fredrick both looked at each other. Even though Fredrick would normally taunt and laugh at his friend with playful banter, he could see the stern gaze in Nathanial’s eyes, and who could blame him? They had almost died.

“Look… I know you’re feeling a bit ambitious here, and I don’t want to bring you down, but… we’re at the bottom of the barrel, Nathanial. We don’t have rank, nor do we have the strength to turn the tides of battle.”

Fredrick cleared his throat and walked over to his bed before sitting down. He cupped his hands before his lap and took a deep breath. It took a moment to collect his thoughts as he wrestled with the words lingering in his mind.

“I know you’re not going to like what I’m about to say… but we’re practically fodder.”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Richard stood to the side and nodded. “I fear he’s right in that regard. Even I would be nothing more than an insect against squires, let alone a knight.”

“But what if we were to ask the Knights of Hearthfire for training? Wouldn’t that help us even the odds?” Nathanial asked.

“Well, I doubt they would help footmen like us,” Richard replied.

“Actually… they have already helped us,” Fredrick pointed out. “A day ago, the captain of their group gave Nathanial some pointers.”

Richard narrowed his eyes, at a loss for words. “I see… but even if that’s the case, we lack the muscle mass to endure their training.”

“But couldn’t we begin strength training in that case?” Nathanial leaned forward. “If we need weights, there are boulders and logs we could use nearby.”

Richard slowly nodded with his hand on his chin. He played with the idea a bit in his head. It was crude, but realistically, if they wanted to, then it would serve its purpose for strength training. The timing also benefited them since the commander had given them time off now that the watchmen had arrived to handle the scouting operations.

“It’s a tad bit amateurish… but it could work if that’s our desired path to grow,” he said.

All three of them looked at each other. Nathanial knew at a glance that they had reached the same conclusion, and in an instant, they all clapped at the same time.

“Alright, we got a plan.” Nathanial stood up with Fredrick and Richard in tow.

Together, the three of them marched out with a single mission in mind. Their wide strides and confident gazes drew the attention of the other soldiers lazing around.

Nathanial could hear them whisper about him.