A Week in the Dormitory

A week has never been slower than inside the dormitories.

Always the same routine....

I do not doubt how useful this training is, but will we ever see the battlefield? Many are strong among us, so to stay here is a waste.

Especially when the commoners have been sent to the front right away after their recruitment... With such weak bodies they probably already died of some illness or for the cold weather while here we are, wasting time.

The commoners will be trained on the military camps by the battlefield, ready to brace arms at anytime.

Only a few of those commoners and refugees stayed back, just a small group so to "maintain public order" since every trained person is far away.

We can never be sure of where they will hit next... It almost feels like the real battle is in the cities and the battlefield is just a diversive for the troupes...

But nobody seems to think that, or even care, being only women and stray kids the one risking their lifes.

On the other hand life in the dormitory is quite tranquil, so much that it's beginning to get boring.

This morning our General is absent for some Military meeting, to determinate the state of the war progression, since it started months ago...

Apparently these meetings occur often, most of the times nothing revolutionary happens but other times they find themselves having to take harsh decisions, like when they signed the decree for every man in the country to be taken in the army.

The guys today are all wasting their time, not training at full potential...

-Do they think this is some kind of school lesson where you just study an unpleasant topic for a good grade?-

-What do you mean Lai'Er?-

-Look at them... As soon as the "teacher" is not around they loose the focus and lay back- I say coming up from my plank exercise to start a more arm focused training

-Well... I guess we are all just tired...-

-Tz! Who does she think she is? She's just a woman!- whispers a guy

-Exactly, only cuz she did good these days doesn't mean she can look down on us-

-As much as you heard me talking about how inefficient you guys are, I too can clearly hear you bad talking about my gender-

-So what?! Aren't you a woman? Go back to the kitchen and make me a sandwich, that's where you belong!-

-Do you mean the bedroom maybe? Haha!- The two guys move away for the training ground

-This is what I mean Hua'Ge-

-I I see, but... Maybe, always pointing that out and looking all mighty and perfect is...-

-Is what? Unpleasant? Annoying? As far as I can remember, when I enrolled being lovable wasn't one of the requirements-

...

During one of the mountain climb trainings I find myself circled by a group of guys, two of them are the guys from the physical training the other day

The rest must be peoples with their same kind of ideas...

-Well well... What do we have here?- one guy twists his hands

I rise my eyebrow -You are blocking my way-

-Tz hahaha! So what? Should we say sorry... "Lady"?-

-Well I could be forgivefull if you do-

-As if we are scared by a woman!-

-Aren't you...? Then why coming to me in a group of 7? Do you really understimate yourselves so much? If 7 of you are needed to fight one normal soldier then we're screwed- I mock them trying to pass over

-No no beauty... You don't go anywhere until we are done... You really think to be better than us men? Only cuz you've been lucky and payed to have your training to be easier?- he walks closer grabbing his crotch, with his hands ready to unbuckle the belt

-If I were to pay someone it would be a doctor to remove that useless thing in your pants before you make the mistake of reproducing... We already have enough idiots in this world anyway-

-Ah! What a little brat we have here-

-Should we just knock her out or have some fun fist uh?- says one passing his tongue over his lips

-Well then... You leave me no choice- I put down my bucket before proceeding to fight them with bare hands...

One punch land on my check making me turn my face to spit

-Now you got me angry...- I clean my lips with the back of my hand

-Enough of holding myself back- I say before jumping with my hands around the neck of a guy, I block his arm twisting it at the point right before breaking it, pressing on his throat with my knee...

-P... P... lease- I release him before taking out my knife from my boots point it at the throat of another one, pulling on his hair from behind him

-Are you done screwing around now?! I have a treaning to finish!- the other guys in front of me have all shocked expressions

As their lips turn into a smile, I hear a light step from behind me

-Lai'Er!! No, stop!- screams Hua running toward me, but before he can make any more steps I already turned around taking away the stone from the hand of a guys who was about to hit me...

-You...!- lost in anger I thrust my short blade in his shoulder kicking his stomach

-This is a warning for you! Now scram-

-Y y yes! Surely will!- one from the gang takes him and run away

-Lai'Er! This could have gone bad! You should stick with us as planned!-

-I can handle a few idiots, you know?-

-Enough Lai'Er!!! I really can't stand you when you are like this!

These idiots are trained soldier! You can't keep talking about cooperation while going always alone!-

I look away ashamed, I'm at fault this time.

-Let's keep going now guys...- says Hao, I begin to follow them watching around me bitterly...

A bit further away I notice Dong Hu, who stopped in his track to observe the scene

"How haven't I heard him approaching...?"

...

-It's not even one full week that we are here and I can't stand it anymore... I need to rest- sigh Hua on the breakfast table

-Yes... My body can't keep up anymore with this intense training- agrees Hao

-At least we all get to eat 3 meals a day... Our second day was hard since we failed, but now we can manage to eat normally.

Look at those guys there... They have to always rationate their food and keep getting skinner and skinnier...- Shun points at some guys trying to sneak rice cakes into their shirts

-If we keep up the hardwork we will surely make it to the battlefield- I murmur mostly to myself

-And then what? Will it change? Not at all... There's still a war to fight and no time to sleep- growls Xiao, clearly repressing his anger

-What I mean is...- I try to explain but he stops me

-I don't care what you mean! I'm tired of all this!- he stand up yelling.

Hua covers his face ashamed of being stared at, a guard makes a move to approach us but someone on the door stops him

Xiao amost throws his bowl to the ground, hitting the table enraged -We are all gonna die, what we should care about is...!-

I stand up and slap his face, shutting him up

-We should what? Go home and let the enemy kill us all while we feats with some wine?! Don't be an idiot and grow up! stop shaming yourself in front of everyone, eat your damn food without talking so we can get back to training.

Or you will have even too much time to rest soon-

In the hall silence falls, everyone is watching our table

-Is it pleasing to watch?! It won't be pleasing when the enemy will make use of our fear and distrust to break into the Empire forces, you should all remember this! Wars are won by Troupes, not by single peoples...

So train for eachothers!-

-As if you are an example of cooperation...- he rushes off the room murmuring between his teeth, banging the doors behind him

A few guys In the hall share some awkward stares with eachother before going back to eat, so I sit down too.

I see Dong Hu by the door, staring at me with a pleased smile.

-Youve've put on quite a show...-

-I don't care... I'm not going to die on the battlefield for some idiot like him slowing us down... Everyone is free to think I'm "miss perfect", that I think I'm better than anyone, that I don't feel emotions, they can even hate me for what I care.

As long as we can save lives I'm willing to take on this role-

-She's right... Let's just keep on eating now-