While Zaos was heading to the Northern gate of the capital, he noticed that the whole capital was already up despite the fact that the sun had just risen. He had heard from his father before, but he didn't imagine that such an event would be so massive. Basically, all the boys of the capital who were around ten years old and wanted to serve the army were leaving their homes. Thanks to it, Zaos could see a lot of people crying, seeing their kids off. Zaos was the one who had a hard time keeping the tears from falling. After all, until now, he had never experienced a day where he didn't see his mother a single time.
"I believe there is enough to train a decent army in the capital, but the recruits are forced to leave away from their homes to make them mentally stronger," Zaos concluded.
By looking at things, the kids around his age will have to become mentally and physically stronger as they go since Zaos noticed that they were already in the same gear he was. Still, they were having a hard time enduring all that weight.
"Zaos! Zaos!"
Zaos sighed when he heard that loud and somewhat annoying voice. He sighed when he turned around and saw Drannor. Naturally, since they were born in the same period, Drannor and Zaos would be enlisted in the army around the same time. Much to Zaos's surprise, Drannor's eyes were red and a bit wet. He wasn't a crybaby since he could swing his spears until the skin of his hands began to peel, but it looked like he cried a lot when he said goodbye to his family.
"So, you are going North, too," Drannor said.
The kingdom was big, so the army had four bases across the kingdom, one in each direction: North, South, West, and East. Zaos and Drannor didn't reveal to each other their choices, but in the end, they ended up following the same path. Unfortunately, that only served to annoy Zaos since he didn't want to follow the same path as his father. Still, Laiex didn't tell him the region in which he served. If he changes his direction now, Zaos will be late.
"You didn't say goodbye to Ameria, did you?" Drannor asked. "She was pretty pissed yesterday since you have been avoiding her."
"I had all the reasons to do it," Zaos said.
Zaos didn't want to spoil those six months, but it looked like Ameria had other plans. The very moment she learned that Zaos and Drannor would enlist in the army, she returned to the days where she was the old and very annoying spoiled princess. Since she was always in a bad mood, Zaos decided to keep his distance.
"If you say so," Drannor said. "Anyway, you have quite the bag on your back…. what are you carrying?"
"Just some change of clothes, some tools and an encyclopedia," Zaos said. "You sure are traveling light on the other hand."
"Why are you bringing an encyclopedia?" Drannor frowned. "I don't think you will have much time to study."
"We will see," Zaos said.
After a couple of minutes, Zaos and Drannor reached the Northern gate, and on the sides, they found around one thousand kids around their age wearing armor. Most of them were resting on the ground since the training would begin in just a few minutes… all of them will have to walk the Northern base of the army that is located four hundred kilometers away from the capital. Everyone will have to reach the destination by walking and while carrying all of their luggage and with their armor equipped in fifteen days. Those who drag their feet will be disqualified immediately…
"I am getting a bit nervous," Drannor said. "It looks like a lot of people here are also quite tense."
"Stop staring at strangers… we need to present ourselves to the official in charge of this group," Zaos said after a long sigh. "It looks like some guys have already appeared before us."
A real soldier stands out amidst that sea of recruits like a sore thumb. The man was a black-haired spear wielder who had a scar on his right cheek. Maybe it was due to the fact that even he will have to walk to set an example, but he was wearing some pieces of light armor.
When the official saw the two approaching, he immediately rolled his eyes. Both Zaos and Drannor noticed that, by the look of things, he recognized that those two were from some noble houses, and that wasn't a good thing. At least for him.
"Good morning, sir," Zaos said. "I am Zaos Sielders."
"I am Drannor Seres, sir," Drannor said.
The officer showed a slight look of surprise, and other kids also began to look at those two. While both of them were used to being the center of attention, they had prepared to arrive earlier to avoid that. Unfortunately, some kids arrived before sunrise.
"I heard that lord Laiex and lord Drian had kids and they would join the army this year, but I didn't expect both of you would choose the Northern region…" the officer said. "I am the lieutenant Elius and for the next two weeks or maybe less I will be your commander. I hope you fathers have trained you well, because I don't like young masters such as yourselves."
Zaos wanted to sigh. It looked like some people don't like nobles. While Zaos knew that in the army, accomplishments, and rank were everything, he didn't expect he would hear such a blatantly declaration of hate.