Joining the Elite

As the days dragged on, the young man was made to march in the tight ranks of the Legion's defense divisions and how to ride like the cavalry. Reynold was taught how to properly ride a horse and, despite falling multiple times attempting to perform the actions of the cavalry divisions of the Legion, made progress and was noted as a talented young starter. His frequent use of violence to make those who stepped out of line towards him or other recruits led to him being punished frequently but it was only replacing his sleep with more training and drilling. He would, after all those reprimands and punishments, grow to be one of the top recruits of his group and Reynold has already accomplished his dream, to become a legionnaire.

Their training came to an end and the recruits were all summoned to be appointed to their new divisions. It was what the young man had been waiting for since the time he had been told of the ceremony's existence, "Attention!" The main instructor announced and all the black uniformed recruits stood in perfect lines. Some had dropped out, some had been to injured to continue and forced to do so but all those who were left had gone through the grueling training and came out a real legionnaire, "You are to be assigned your divisions by the representative of the Dawn Lady, Field Commander of the 1st Cavalry, Field Commander Olborn" A man stepped forwards with heavy armor, it was white and silver with golden patterns. The most visible pattern wasn't on his armor but was on his face where a large scar rested over his left eye, only just missing his eye. He was the replacement commander of the man who had saved Reynold when the Legion was only a burgeoning faction.

"I am glad to see such a healthy looking group of recruits," He commented as he took the scroll from the instructor and began reading, "Yennette Av, 6th defense!" The young woman stepped forwards and saluted before walking to the field commander and shaking his hand, "Do us proud."

"Yes, sir."

"Good," She moved to the instructor that had been indicated for those joining a defense division. Reynold stood waiting as others went ahead, joining the 3rd defense or the 5th shock divisions. A few joined the cavalry divisions but they all joined lower ranked divisions as the 1st and 2nd groups were reserved for elite of the Dawn Legion, not something he could achieve he thought as he was the last man standing to be called upon, "Instructor Green, there must be a mistake here," The instructor looked at Olborn, "Reynold Iver," The rest of his words were not audible to the young man who stood stiff and in the correct posture without moving or betraying his nervousness or confusion.

"There is no mistake, the Dawn Lady signed it herself," He indicated at the bottom of the scroll and the Field Commander nodded.

"Reynold Iver, 1st shock," The other recruits looked at each other as Reynold couldn't help but look at Olborn confused, "Step forwards, young man," He nodded and approached the armored man, "You are now part of the elite, don't let your title taint your dedication and skill, remember," Reynold interrupted him.

"Others before myself, be the shield that people in need require, sir," Olborn smiled and put his hand on the young man's shoulder and laughed before patting it.

"Join your comrades and do us proud."

"Yes, sir," He marched over to his comrades as Olborn left the training area with a salute to the recruits and back from all of them. The Dawn Lady had elected him to talk for her and was simply someone that was known by that name for all those who did not have to directly interact with her as she preferred to maintain herself in the safety of her quarters. She benefited from the protection of her guards, the Dawn Guards, elite members of the 1st defense division of the Dawn Legion.

He arrived in an armory with the handful of recruits that had been chosen for the shock divisions and was directed away from the group. The building was a hot, stuff place in which the armor was made, the weapons forged and the uniforms reinforced with leather and metal studs. It was lit by the torches on the walls and the fires of the smeltery and the blacksmith's station fire, "1st shock, huh?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good for you, young man, being elite from the get go," He was handed a pile of clothes with metal foot and shin guards as well as metal gauntlets, decorated with engravings and symbols of the sun and the bold cross of the Legion, "Your new uniform."

"Thank you, sir," The armory man chuckled, "What is funny, sir?"

"You have just the uniform, you will have weapons too," Reynold nodded as they moved towards a set of weapons, "Spear, crossbow, short blade and shield," Reynold held the pile of clothes in his hands as the man added the rest of it to his pile, "Now, go try on those and let me know if they need refitting."

"Do you do this for all the legionnaires, sir?"

"Nope, only the elite get this much comfort in equipment," Reynold nodded and entered the room designed for him to get changed in. He emerged minutes later in his new uniform and adjusted his new headwear, a wide hat with a pair of red feathers. The feathers were the main symbol that represented the shock division with their origin in the crimson wing eagles that flew around Galewin. He looked the part and with his weapons in his hands and hanging at his belt, he felt the part, "So?" The armorer asked as he looked at the finishing of the newest shock legionnaire's uniform.

"I like it, it feels good," He looked at himself and smiled. Months ago, Reynold was a boy with a dream to be a legionnaire in the Dawn Legion and now he was entering an elite division to serve in the worst fronts of the fight against the dark lands. He would be riding out that same night to join his division in the southern side of the kingdom and join his group and a bunch of the king's men to push back a particularly active part of the dark lands and hope to contain it. The recruits slept in the same barracks as they had done for the few weeks of training as Reynold was both the center of attention for good and bad reasons. Jealousy was rampant among the young and ambitious men while the older men who had become legionnaires alongside him didn't take him seriously.

"Hey Reynold," The young man turned in his bunk and saw a recruit sitting on the edge of his bed, "We are being sent out to the same place."

"You are Henry, right? 4th Defense?"

"5th."

"Oh yeah, 5th, sorry," He chuckled, "What's so funny?"

"You remembered it was defense, so you can be easy on yourself," The young man chuckled and shook his head, "How long do you think we will last in there?"

"A few years," The two grinned and chuckled, "I hope to at least."

"You are a shock unit," An older man piped up, "You'll be dead in a week."

"Shut up, Jerry, let the kid have his dream be shattered when it does, not now."