Chapter 8

Chapter 8 — The Field

“Over there, you’ll find some training gear. Put that on and come find me when you’re ready.”

Dre and Morgan walked toward the area Barnes had pointed out.

A large, burly man sitting behind a table waved them over.

“Here. The captain said to give you this gear. You’re responsible for maintaining it. It’s enchanted, so it shouldn’t break easily. But if you do break or lose it, you’re paying for it.”

Dre looked at Morgan.

Morgan was already inspecting the equipment.

A light chest plate. Forearm guards. Shin guards. A belt with a sheath holding a medium-length sword and a dagger.

Morgan's expression was one of intense focus.

Dre recognized it immediately.

That was the look of a professional.

Barnes approached them.

“So, you’re geared up. Good. Now we can start.”

“Start what?” Morgan asked.

“Your training.”

Barnes looked between the two of them.

“You have military backgrounds in your world and combat experience. That’s good. I don’t have to teach you how to kill.”

His grin widened.

“I have to teach you how to survive and work as a unit with us.”

Barnes looked almost excited.

In fact, he seemed to be practically vibrating with it.

“Most people wouldn’t be able to handle an exercise with my unit, but I’ll have you battle-ready in one week. I’ll drill you to exhaustion, make you master your skills and our formations, and show you what to expect on the battlefield.”

Dre and Morgan exchanged a look.

Neither of them liked the sound of that.

“Hey, Dre.”

“Yeah?”

“He seems way too excited about this.”

Dre watched Barnes continue talking.

“He’s still talking.”

Morgan shook his head.

“He sounds like a drill sergeant.”

Barnes suddenly stopped.

“Sir Dre.”

Dre looked over.

“All I know about your abilities is that you sent me flying. Obviously, you’re strong. Probably SS rank.”

Barnes pointed toward Dre.

“What are your abilities?”

Dre raised an eyebrow.

“Can you see my stats if I pull them up?”

“As long as I can touch your shoulder, yes.”

Dre nodded.

“Status.”

The familiar feeling washed over him.

Barnes placed a hand on Dre’s shoulder as the information appeared.

Strength: 100

Defense: 90

Agility: 110

Intelligence: 105

Magic: 25

Endurance: 100

Mana Capacity: 80

Rank: SS

Skills: Theft, Stealth, Evade, Weapons Expert, Mimic

Morgan and Barnes leaned over Dre’s shoulder.

“Well, well, well.”

Dre immediately looked at Morgan.

“Don’t start your shit, Morgan.”

Morgan stared at the screen for another second.

Then he started laughing.

He laughed so hard he had to grab his stomach, nearly falling over.

Barnes looked confused.

“What’s wrong with him?”

Dre sighed.

“In our world, there are jokes about people with my skin color stealing shit.”

He pointed at the Status screen.

“And this dumbass couldn’t help himself.”

Barnes looked at the word again.

“Theft?”

Dre nodded.

“Yep.”

Barnes looked at Morgan, who was still trying to catch his breath.

“Well, jokes aside, Sir Dre, I can see why you sent me flying. You’ll be damn good on the front lines.”

Morgan finally stopped laughing and wiped the tears from his eyes.

Barnes turned toward the training field.

“Now, you two join the others over there. We’ll start formations and movement drills soon.”

He looked back at them.

“Tomorrow, I’ll teach you how to properly use your skills.”

Morgan and Dre made their way onto the training field.

A knight stood in front of a group of soldiers and began calling out movements.

The knights moved with perfect synchronization.

Morgan and Dre did not.

They tried to follow the formations, but their movements didn't match the soldiers around them. More than once, they bumped into someone or ended up in the wrong position.

“Hey, dumbass!”

A knight shouted at Morgan.

“Are you trying to get someone killed out there? Stop fucking up before I shove this spear up your ass!”

Morgan clenched his jaw.

“Stop looking around!”

Another soldier barked at Dre.

Dre looked forward.

“Got it.”

The drills continued.

Again.

And again.

And again.

By the time the sun began to set, Morgan and Dre were exhausted.

They finally dropped onto the ground beside each other.

Dre leaned back, breathing heavily.

“That dude definitely is a drill sergeant.”

Morgan stared up at the sky.

“Yeah.”

Dre closed his eyes.

“Fuck, I hate field training.”

He paused.

Then nodded off.

Night fell.

The training field grew darker than expected.

Stars filled the sky, but it was as if the light was being absorbed. Campfires dimmed, and the voices of the soldiers began to fade as they lay down for the night.

Morgan stared at the stars.

He began to wonder if he would ever actually see his family again.

He closed his eyes.

“Morgan.”

The whisper made his eyes snap open.

“Barnes?”

“Morgan, wake Dre. Grab your gear. Quickly.”

Dre and Morgan moved on instinct.

Their hands never left their gear.

“Stay quiet!” Barnes hissed. “Stay low and keep up.”

Barnes took off into a sprint, Dre and Morgan right behind him.

Barnes was fast.

Extremely fast.

Morgan could barely keep up.

Then he noticed something strange.

There was no sound coming from Barnes' feet as they hit the ground.

Barnes slid and rolled onto his stomach as soon as he reached the tree line.

Dre and Morgan did the same.

Morgan whispered angrily.

“Barnes, what the fuck is going on?”

“Quiet!”

Barnes looked around.

“Where’s Dre?”

Morgan almost started to giggle.

“Shut up, Morgan. This ain’t the time.”

Barnes nearly had a heart attack.

Dre was right beside him the entire time.

Dre whispered.

“Calm down, Barnes. It’s dark and I’m Black. What did you expect?”

Morgan tried so hard not to laugh that his stomach began to hurt.

Barnes slapped Morgan and Dre on the backs of their heads.

“Shhhh…”

He froze.

“Fuck. They’re here