Training the Elves Part 2

Vincent's eyes narrowed as he zeroed in on the elf responsible. The elf in question stood there, rifle still aimed at the target, his face pale as he realized his mistake. The silence in the clearing was deafening.

Vincent's voice cut through the air like a whip.

"Who fired that shot?" he demanded, his tone cold and controlled, though it was clear he was barely containing his anger.

The elf who had fired slowly lowered his rifle, his hands trembling. "I-I did, sir," he admitted, his voice shaky.

Vincent strode over to the elf, his boots crunching on the forest floor. The other elves watched, tension thick in the air. Alpha 4 remained where he was, his eyes fixed on Vincent, ready to step in if needed.

When Vincent reached the elf, he stopped inches away from him, looking him directly in the eye. "Do you have any idea what you just did?! Do you have a problem with me?! Are you going to kill me?"

The elf's eyes widened in fear, his face growing even paler as Vincent's words hit him like a physical blow. He shook his head frantically, his voice barely more than a whisper. "N-no, sir! I-I would never-"

Vincent cut him off sharply. "Then why? Why did you fire before I gave the order? Why did you have your finger on the trigger when I specifically told you not to?"

The elf swallowed hard, struggling to find his voice. "I-I don't know, sir. It was an accident, I swear. My finger just slipped. I didn't mean-"

"Didn't mean to? That single, careless mistake could have cost a life. Could have cost my life. Do you understand what I'm telling you?!"

The elf nodded quickly, his whole body trembling now. "Yes, sir. I understand. I'm so sorry, sir. It won't happen again, I promise."

Vincent scoffed. "I thought elves had more discipline than humans, more refined and more in control. Yet here you are, making a mistake that even a raw recruit would avoid."

The elf flinched at Vincent's harsh words, clearly feeling the weight of his error. The other elves remained silent, their expressions ranging from shock to shame. Vincent's words weren't just for the one who had fired the shot-they were a reminder to everyone present of the seriousness of their training.

"Listen to me," Vincent continued, his voice stern but not as harsh as before. "These weapons are not like your bows or swords. They don't just require strength or skill-they demand discipline, precision, and respect. One wrong move, one moment of carelessness, and you could take a life. Your own, your comrade's, or an innocent. Do you understand that?"

The elf nodded again, more firmly this time. "Yes, sir. I understand."

"Good," Vincent said, stepping back slightly but still holding the elf's gaze. "Because if you don't, you have no business handling these weapons. Mistakes like this are unacceptable, and they will not be tolerated. Is that clear to everyone?"

A chorus of "Yes, sir" echoed through the clearing as the elves straightened up, their resolve evident in their voices.

Vincent exhaled slowly, allowing some of his tension to dissipate. "Alright. Let's reset and try this again. This time, you follow my orders to the letter. No one fires until I give the command. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!" the elves responded in unison, their voices stronger this time.

"Good," Vincent said, nodding with approval. "Take your positions and prepare to fire. Remember your training-trigger discipline, proper stance, sight alignment. Make every shot -count."

The elves quickly moved back into formation.

Vincent watched them closely, ensuring that everyone was in the correct stance and that their weapons were properly handled.

"Alpha 4," Vincent called over. "Make sure everyone is ready. I don't want to see any more mistakes."

Alpha 4, who had been observing the situation with a keen eye, nodded and moved among the ranks, checking each elf's position and weapon handling. He corrected a few stances here and there, ensuring that everyone was prepared to fire safely and accurately.

Once Alpha 4 gave him the signal, Vincent raised his hand again, ready to give the order. "On my mark... fire!"

This time, the shots rang out in perfect unison, the sound echoing through the clearing. Vincent watched as the bullets hit the targets, most of them striking close to the center.

Vincent allowed himself a small nod of satisfaction. "Much better," he said, his tone softer now. "You're starting to get the hang of it. But remember, this is just the beginning. You need to keep practicing, keep refining your skills. Master these weapons, and they'll serve you well in battle."

He turned back to the elf who had fired prematurely. The elf stood at attention, his face still pale but his posture more confident.

"You've learned your lesson. Don't make me have to teach it to you again."

The elf nodded, his expression one of determination. "I won't, sir. I'll make sure of it." "See that you do," Vincent replied before addressing the entire group again. "Now, let's move on to the Sig Sauer M17. Same principles apply-discipline, control, and precision. Follow my lead."

Vincent picked up a Sig Sauer M17 from the rack and demonstrated the basics of handling it, just as he had with the M4 Carbine. He showed them how to grip the pistol properly, how to aim using the sights, and how to fire a controlled shot.

The elves watched intently, absorbing every detail. When it was their turn to handle the pistols, they did so with greater care, clearly taking Vincent's earlier reprimand to heart.

As they practiced with the pistols, Vincent and Alpha 4 moved among them, offering guidance and corrections where needed. The training was rigorous, but Vincent could see the improvement with each round fired. The elves were adapting, learning to wield these new weapons with a blend of their own skills and the modern techniques Vincent was teaching them.

By the time they finished the session, the elves were exhausted but clearly more confident in their abilities. Vincent gathered them together for a final debrief.

"Today was a good start," he said. "You've learned a lot, and you've made progress. But there's still a long way to go. I'll see you all tomorrow for another session."