Beautiful Scar

Thirteen

“Listen up men!” Scarlet announced during the second day of training. “In two weeks’ time, we will disembark on an expedition to the Rise Continent. Please see to it that all preparations for the journey are made accordingly”. Her experienced men responded unanimously. “Newcomers and suitors”, she even turned to those five men. “You are to participate in this expedition. This is not an option”.

Lucas gulped hearing that. The other five suitors had their brows furrowed.

“In the meantime, I will train you lot to be deemed fit to join the expedition”, Scarlet added.

“And if we’re deemed unfit, what would happen to us? We would still have to go, don’t we? Or…?” Zuber bravely asked.

“What do you think, hm?” Scarlet only shot him back with a query. But her eyes seemed to communicate the answer. A death-cold stare was enough. Zuber shut his mouth from speaking further.

When no one raised any query or opposition at her, she clapped her hands.

“Alright men, on your feet, meet me at the deserted field near the mountain’s foot”. Scarlet ordered.

All the other men had started to ready themselves. Almost like they were readying for a run or a sprint.

“Be there in two hours’ time. The time begins…now”.

And all the men started to file in an orderly manner, slowly jogging themselves to build momentum. All the men except for the new ones and the suitors.

They slowly followed suit the actions of the unit, but they were still dumbfounded at what to do really.

The sun was up and bright outside. And it was growing hotter reaching noon.

Newcomer warriors were faring quite well considering these were similar to their previous trainings before, except Scarlet’s regime was more strenuous.

The suitors were also able to keep up.

Somewhat.

James and Jackel were rather lagging behind.

And for the first time, some of the Scarlet’s men had started to strike a conversation with them. Well, more like in spite.

Because when James and Jackel looked over behind them, they were alarmed at the infuriated faces the warriors were making at them.

“Oy, can you be a bit faster?”

“We don’t want to be late”.

Jackel forced a gulp before replying, “Y-you can just move past us…”

“No can do. We are assigned to guard you lot from behind…at the same time to arrive on time”

“So, do us a favour and pick up the pace, will ya?”

Both of the suitors turned back and focused on increasing their speed despites their panting.

“Officers, status report?” the voice of Scarlet reached their ears from the back group.

One of the warriors responded, “All is good, Captain”.

Scarlet was also jogging with them. She started a bit later than them, ensuring they all left the base. But she had steadily reached the back unit of the group.

She glanced at James and Jackel. “Are you sure? Do you want me to release the hounds to hasten the pace?”

Sweats trickled from James and Jackel’s forehead, either from these exercises or an impending fear at the mention of hounds.

The officer managed a calm response to his Captain, “I don’t see there is a need, Captain. We are managing well here”, he panted through.

Scarlet remained silent. Then, she said, “Very well”. And jogged ahead of them.

When Scarlet’s back had disappeared among the crowd of the warrior men ahead, James, Jackel and even the remaining men behind sighed in relief.

“Thank God, you were able to convince Captain to not use the hounds” one of the men behind said to the officer.

“Thank God indeed…you hear that?” the officer addressed the two suitors in front of him, “Move your legs faster or be chased by the hounds”.

And either the fear of the hounds or being bitten by the men behind them, James and Jackel pushed themselves forward as much as they could. As much as fear could drive them forward to run.

Meanwhile, Zuber, Neville and Dylan managed to keep up just behind the frontlines, until they saw a wave of faded black and gray tousled hair passing by the unit.

Salutations of Captain were heard. And suddenly, the steady pace increased in speed, making them pant more than before, trying to keep up with this group.

Dylan was annoyed. He thought being at the front meant he could maintain a momentum to be steady until they reached the place. To be earlier than the rest and at the same time to not feel rushed.

But these men were suddenly riled up seeing their Captain had started to be ahead of them. They started to catch up to her.

And since the three of them were stuck in the middle of the group, it was difficult to detach from it.

They had to wear their legs out till they reach the mountain foot.

Scarlet reached first. Gradually, followed by the experienced men in the front lines.

They all panted and some immediately quenched their thirst and some uncapped their container and poured water onto their head, to cool themselves. Some sat on some boulders and big rocks and barks.

When Zuber, Neville and Dylan reached, they were panting hard. Some of the men offered their water and they wasted no minute and gulped down the content.

They sat down, easing themselves from the exhaustion and cooling their sweats off. They were offered damp towels and they graciously took them and wiped some of the sweats off their faces and necks.

The three were all tempted to take off their shirts but felt conscious at the same time. While some of the men took off without a care, they were somehow very self-conscious knowing that Scarlet was in their presence. But the thought vanished as they merely glanced here and there, the group of men who had reached before them and those that had arrived. They noticed some even approached Scarlet who was sitting at a far corner in the center against the mountain’s stone wall.

They were talking to her and Scarlet listened on, then gave a nod. Then, she spoke something to them and they also nodded and left.

They observed various kinds of men were in her unit, of various shapes and sizes. But they all had one thing in common here it seemed. They all had outstanding stamina.

“I haven’t seen James or Jackel. Are they alright?” Neville spoke between them.

Then, they heard the last group of men finally reached their place.

“Maybe that’s them”, Zuber said.

As they followed the other men greeting the last unit arriving, they saw James and Jackel, looked much haggard and exhausted than the rest of them.

“Someone lacks fluid”, Dylan commented.

Neville nudged his elbow, and then, someone pushed Neville and Dylan apart.

Scarlet.

“I-I’m sorry for blocking…” Neville managed. Dylan merely ‘tsked’ for being shoved.

The suitors suddenly realized that Scarlet had discarded her shirt and was only in a white clothing that wrapped her chest and torso, her shoulders bare, covered by her mass jacket hung over her back.

While Scarlet was aware the eyes that were gazing in surprise, she was more concerned on those two paled-looking suitors who just arrived.

As James and Jackel approached to join the rest of the suitors, they both collapsed in front of Scarlet.

Scarlet who foresaw this, signaled to a few of her men, “Carry them to the lake to be treated”.

Without waiting for the men to respond, she turned back, and continued to give another order, “We proceed to the lake, men”.

When they reached the lake, the remaining conscious suitors were gaping, in amazement.

The water was clear and shimmering under the sunshine, the lush greeneries and flowers that bloomed in this corner brought out colour in this place.

And then, they noticed the group of men that had approached Scarlet before, were already making fire and already roasting some fishes and fruits or edible plants they managed to forage here.

“While we wait for lunch, let’s properly welcome the suitors and our newcomers!” Scarlet announced. And all her men cheered as well.

From the excruciating jog they had to reach here, the place was transformed to a more picnic setting.

And the breeze that came by made it like what they went through just now was eons ago. Well, except when they saw James and Jackel finally awake and was weak. The two suitors managed a small smile at the sight of their peers.

Suddenly, Lucas approached the remaining three standing suitors.

“Y-your highnesses, Captain Scarlet requests your company to join her on a boat ride on this lake”.

But Dylan whose mood and energy had somewhat lifted replied, “Well, it’s just a request, we can always turn down…”

“P-please, I understand it is only a request, but I must ensure you three follow me back…” Lucas was really not good in this kind of communication especially when Scarlet wanted him to use the word ‘request’ even though she demanded those three to be present with her.

“Now, now let’s be gentlemen and entertain the Lady Captain”, Neville said. And Zuber and Dylan shrugged. “Lead the way, Officer Lucas”. Though, for Neville, there was slight unease.

Lucas’s eyes brightened hearing Neville’s words, “This way”.