Chapter 26: Candidates

Standing near the small group of guardian knights and his elder sisters, the black-haired 18-years looking youth in servant's clothes looked at his guard's commander before moving his glance at his parents and at his little sister that was sitting on the green hydra.

A moment later, he smiled before climbing on his horse and moving out from the Freinos castle.

Lucia sighed, waving at her elder brother and elder sisters before telling the hydra to return while Darwin and Mira kept smiles on their lips as they watched how their children were leaving the family nest.

"I knew that our daughters would leave to participate in the expedition, but I was surprised when I learned that you let our son go there right now," muttered Mira, looking at her husband.

"It was also a surprise for me. It looks like he spent quite a portion of his alchemic pills, he saved up for years." said Darwin, after releasing a sigh, "He wants to get stronger, and I as his father wouldn't interfere as long as he doesn't endanger himself."

Mira moved her glance, stopping at the figure of the black-haired boy before releasing a sigh.

"He is no longer a boy. Don't you recognize yourself, looking at him?" asked Mira with laughing flames in her eyes. "I still can't believe some stories I heard when I married you,"

"That was a long time ago," said Darwin, releasing a dry cough and touching his nose, "I was too reckless at that time. Fortunately, my father always protected and helped when I didn't even know about it."

Darwin kept smiling for several moments, reminiscing events from his young years.

"I wish I could have met him," said Mira, releasing a sad sigh."I had always wanted to see the man that brought you up to the man you are today,"

The smile on Darwin's face saddened before he didn't hug his wife.

"I am sure that he would have liked you. Though I wasn't the best of his sons and wasn't even a worthy candidate to become a successor, I am sure I was the one he worried the most among all my brothers. He would have become calm if he met you,"

Mira could only release another sigh and hug her husband.

***

As Theo approached the distant outline of the camp with its 4-meter walls, towers, and block posts, he started seeing more people on their way, beginning from few scouts thousands of meters away, and finishing with the plethora of carriages, tents with different banners, groups of men and women that were practicing certain formations in nearby fields under the strict gazes of their officers with Freinos family insignia. The groups of riders were also training their formations and maneuvers in the same fields around the expedition camp. In short, the expedition camp was full of activity while the army was slowly finishing its last preparations. When Theo together with his sisters and a group of guardian knights finally reached the expedition camp, it was already the middle of the afternoon, the most active period of the day.

As they continued to move through the expedition camp, they passed through many groups of scouts that were constantly leaving towards the northeast while several groups of riders in armor and mages were marching after them with their banners raised, and armor and weapons ready for battle. This was the vanguard that has already finished its preparation and moved out towards the battlefield. As those men and women passed through the camp, many people saluted them and wished a safe return. Theo spent several moments watching after those people before choosing another route and continuing his way.

The expedition camp was located on the broad open field not far from the Freinos city and not far from those places where the battlefield would happen. Besides the magic-made walls and towers, thousands of tents inside the camp were mainly dwelling places of the knights and soldiers. This was the biggest part of the expedition camp with the strictest discipline. However, there were also many special constructions like blacksmiths, bathhouses, canteens, and other similar structures that were mainly inside the rear camp that was located in the center area of the expedition camp not far from the headquarters. Also, there was a small fort around the center of the camp with a magic shield inside in the territory of headquarters. In short, the biggest area where knights and mages were dwelling was called the "Battle Camp", the area where Theo was now moving to was called the "Rear camp" and the small area behind the fortified fort where all the army commanders gathered was the "Headquarters". All the buildings and structures in the expedition camp were created with magic or simple resources and could be easily recreated in new places.

Approaching the rear camp, Theo nodded to his guardian knights before turning to look at his sisters that kept him company along the whole journey from the Freinos city.

Just as his guardian knights moved out, entering into the rear camp, Theo smiled and cleared his throat.

"Looks like we have to separate here," said Theo, looking at his elder sisters that were dressed in their battle outfits, "From here I can move by myself, you don't need to worry,"

Stella nodded, touching her reins, approaching Theo.

"Good luck, brother," said Stella, patting him on his shoulder.

Aurellia touched her glasses, seeming hesitant to leave her brother.

"Are you sure? This is your 1st time in such camps, you can get lost," said Aurellia, watching at her black-haired brother.

"Don't worry, I will figure everything out, and it would look much more natural for one of our family servants to ask looking for his destination in this place."

Aurelia nodded, throwing an encouraging glance before touching her reins and following after Stella.

Theo spent several moments watching after the figures of his sisters before turning and moving towards the rear camp.

***

As Theo expected the rear camp seemed even more active and louder than the "Battle camp" because as he entered into the territory of the rear camp, he instantly saw groups of servants running from one blacksmith to another, there were many carriages with ores and different resources moving towards blacksmiths and other buildings where different craftsmen were transforming them into the new objects.

Fortunately for him, it didn't take long to find a place where all the water porters were gathering, it was located near the edges of the rear camp and covered a 500 meters territory where all the water porters could rest, get instructions and prepare for their duty.

Passing through the line of carriages filled with water, Theo stepped on the open field where many boys and girls around his age were waiting. Just a glance was enough for Theo to realize that it was the place he was looking for, so he quickly hurried towards that field where the person on the platform was already speaking.

"You all have come here today to take part in the expedition organized by our Lord and noble houses. You all know who would be our enemy. Nagas created quite many problems for everyone in the Freinos city, and many suffered because of them. I don't doubt that there would be many who came just to revenge them," said the bald man in simple clothes, looking at the groups of kids below his 1-meter platform.

"Though the position of water porter is not big, it plays a significant role when we look at it from the bigger perspective. The ones who deliver water from the river to enchanters to purify it, the ones who then deliver that water throughout the whole camp to canteens and stables are water porters, we even prepare carriages with fresh water for the army units outside of the camp. In short, we play important role in the supply lines of this camp that helps our army continue fighting for the Freinos city." explained the man, looking as some of the kids started cheering after hearing his words.

"I won't waste my time, explaining other important things we do for the camp, I know that most of you came here for rewards in the form of alchemy pills and recommendation from the expedition camp that would be a big help if you want to get into the Freinos city army. So, do your duty, and don't slack off, this is the military camp, and only the best ones would become official army water porters that would accompany the army when it would move out to the battlefield," said the bald man, throwing his scrutinizing glance at the kids, reminding them about this place, "That's it for today, I am one of the official water porters that passed through the testing period and now I even deliver water to our battling units. If you want to follow in my footsteps, work hard, make big efforts, and you would become my comrade. Now come to those guys near the platform to register, get your uniform and squads in which you will be serving,"

A moment later when the bald man left the platform, many kids rushed, approaching the registration tables where water porters in the brown leather outfits were preparing sheets of paper.

Theo also followed after the crowd and half an hour later, he finally reached one of the tables where 20 years looking man was registering the candidates to become water porters.

"Name,"

"Theo"

"Surname or nickname"

"None"

"Do you have experience of serving as a water porter?"

"No,"

"Do you have battle skills?"

"Yes, I can use mana and battle energy,"

"Do you know how to ride a horse?"

"Yes,"

The man nodded before raising his head and throwing a glance at Theo. He smiled a moment later.

"Here take it," said the man, giving a brown leather uniform to Theo, "You will join one of the testing squads with other newbies, prove yourself worthy, and you would become my comrade."

Theo took his uniform before thanking the man and leaving after the others who also got their uniform.

Several moments later when Theo arrived into the small field where all newbies gathered, he noticed several familiar faces. There were Leonardo, Felix, and Zed, standing and talking about something.

It was quite a surprise for Theo because he never expected to see them here. Without wasting any more time, he approached them and patted Leonardo on his shoulder.

When three boys turned around, they made confused expressions on their faces when they saw a black-haired 18-years looking boy that suddenly touched one of them. They just didn't expect that an elder-looking guy would suddenly approach them.

Theo smiled, watching after their reactions, but it didn't take long for Leonardo to recognize him.

"Theo, is it you?" asked the boy with a doubt in his voice.

Others also showed doubtful expressions on their faces, in fact, they recognized certain traits in Theo's face and figure, but they haven't seen each other only in a short period of time, and never expected that their friend would change that much.

"Yes, I didn't doubt that you would recognize me with this disguise," said Theo with a smile on his lips, pattering his friend on the shoulder.

"Your hair, and height, you have become taller," said Zed, touching his face.

"Have you made a breakthrough in battle energy?" cried Felix with clear enthusiasm in his voice.

"Yes, I have recently advanced in rank in my battle energy, so my height became taller, and this," said Theo pointing on his hair, "I just made it as a disguise, so that some people didn't recognize me,"

"By the way what are you doing here? I didn't expect to meet you here."

The boys exchanged glances between each other for a moment.

"Well, you know academy lessons got canceled, and students were sent for a short break. As a result, we got quite a lot of free time, and when I returned home, my father was already waiting for me. It happened that he knew about the expedition in advance and that there would be a big need for non-combatant personnel. So, he decided to send me here so that I could try my luck with the testing period for water porters and try to get an official position in the army," explained Leonardo, sighing in the process.

Theo nodded and looked at Felix and Zed.

"We learned about the expedition by chance when we were looking for ways to get resources for our training. So we met one of the groups and joined them to get here. If we pass their tests and become water porters, we would get the lowest position in the army and would earn quite a sum of money for our service. After registration, we stumbled on each other and 10 minutes later, you appeared," explained Zed, throwing his questioning glance at Theo.

"I see, that's good. I will have a company then," said Theo with a smile on his lips.

"You escaped your family?" guessed Leonardo with a curious expression on his face.

"Yeah, my family prohibited me from coming here, so I dyed my hair, made a secret breakthrough, becoming taller, and escaped my house, joining one of the carriages that moved to this place,"

Boys made understanding expressions on their faces and wanted to ask other questions when a loud voice resounded across the field.

"Line up!" cried the man in a brown leather outfit with Freinos family insignia on his clothes.

When the kids heard his command, they stopped their business and rushed to complete his order.

The man sighed and shook his head when he looked at their line several minutes later.

"Nevermind," muttered the man before looking at the boys and girls in front of him, "Listen and pay attention. You are the candidates for the new water unit squads. I am your leader, responsible for your squad's results. I will be frank, you work and kick your own ass to complete the objectives or get kicked out of the squad. I and my comrades don't need parasites that would spoil the statistics of our squads." said the man, throwing a threatening glance at the group of around 200 hundred kids.

The man kept silent, making candidates feel the atmosphere until one of the water porters didn't approach him, giving several sheets to him.

He took the 1st sheet and looked at the candidates.

"Come and line up in front of me, if you hear your name," said the man, starting to read the sheets.

A moment later, one candidate after another started approaching the man and lining up in front of him.

The whole process continued for half an hour when the man finished reading and looked at the 5 lines of 50 people standing in different locations with their own captains assigned for them.

Standing in the line together with his friends, Theo saw how those 10 official water porters turned around and quickly approached them, evaluating the candidates with who they would work.

A short time later, they sighed and shook their heads before one of the girls didn't approach the line, looking at them.

"We won't tell you our names, there is no meaning in telling it to the candidates that might fail. Just call us captain for now, and make sure to follow our commands," said the 19-years looking girl, turning and returning to her comrades.

A similar scene happened in front of all the squads, and it didn't take long for the water porters to return to their previous positions and look at the man.

The man smirked, watching after certain reactions in the candidates' faces.

"Follow me, I will show you your main duty during the testing period," said the man, turning and leaving the field.