Continuing down the path previously graced by the carriage, the entourage found themselves walled on either side by sprawling farmlands. The captain, marching at the forefront, brought her strides to a halt before spinning on her heels to face the group, a sudden spark of curiosity illuminating her eyes.

"By the way," her question unfurled into the stillness of the rural setting, "What are your names?"

Astrid stepped forward and, with a determined poise, she motioned to herself, “I’m Astrid,” before flicking her hand towards her companions, "This is Kenji, the wielder of the katana," she indicated the youth standing next to her, "and towering over there are Adara and Storm. The four of us are denizens of the South-West Village."

Picking up the relay of introductions, Kenna chimed in, "I am known as Kenna. The robust one is Atlas, and the blonde-haired one is Keanu. We originate from the South-South-West Village."

The captain absorbed the introductions, her gaze falling thoughtfully upon Kenna. "Would I be correct to assume that you South-South-West villagers have a few more years to your names than the rest?" she asked, an inkling of curiosity flickering in her eyes.

Atlas answered for them, his voice a deep rumble, "Your assumption holds true, Captain."

With a nod of acknowledgment, the captain directed her attention to Adara, one of the tallest of the bunch. "Adara, was it?" she asked, noticing a plaster above the girl's left eyebrow. Adara locked her dark eyes with the captain's, offering a single nod of affirmation. "Yes, Captain."

The captain couldn't help but inquire, "What happened to your brow?"

A flicker of pain shadowed Adara's features as she touched the healing wound. "A bear attack in the forest was the cause. Fortuitously, Kenna came to my aid, and she saw to my injury."

The captain's eyebrows perked up at this information. She turned to Kenna, a question hanging between them. "A healer, perhaps?"

With a touch of bashfulness, Kenna admitted, "My parents are the village healers. I've learned from their wisdom."

As the group continued their journey, the captain introduced them to the training regimen that awaited them. She explained that the first two years would focus on general training, including swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, archery, and horse riding. Afterward, they could specialise in their strongest areas, as exemplified by Kenji's potential for swordsmanship and Kenna's talent in healing, although they would have a few days dedicated to training outside of their specialised area. 

Amidst this journey of introductions and revelations, Atlas raised a hand to bring attention to an unsettled topic. "Captain, there are rumours about bandits lurking in the southern forest..."

The captain raised her hand, pre-emptively dismissing his concern. "We're already arranging a team to deal with the situation. They will be dispatched tomorrow."

Storm arched his eyebrows at the captain's swift response. "Was the capital unaware of this issue until now?"

Her only response was a curt, "They were not."

Kenji, dissatisfied with the vagueness of the answer, pressed on. "Then why was there a delay in taking action? The danger was real, we could've been gravely injured, or worse!"

The captain let out a weary sigh, her shoulders sagging slightly. She turned back to the path, her voice carrying over her shoulder as she explained.

 "The capital dismissed it as trivial disputes between neighbouring lands trying to stir trouble and chose to overlook it. The gravity of the situation only dawned on them when a group from the West-South-West Village arrived bearing serious injuries. The emergency response was triggered by this unfortunate event." 

Atlas echoed his disappointment, posing a rhetorical question, "So it took people being injured before anything was done?"

The captain offered him a sombre look, "Welcome to the real world."

A shared grim understanding spread through the group, their chuckles dry and humourless. The reality check was momentarily disrupted by the captain's pointing gesture. "We've reached the capital."

Their journey led them to an imposing sight, a colossal red-brick wall reaching skyward for a staggering seven meters, seemingly stretching into infinity. Nestled within it were iron gates that were just as imposing. A pair of soldiers stationed by the gates responded to the captain's arrival with a nod, before pushing open the heavy barriers.

As the group passed through the gates and the short tunnel beyond, they emerged into the throbbing heartbeat of the capital - a bustling marketplace. They were met by the sight of towering brick and stone buildings offering shade to the enthusiastic merchants below. Fine ladies and gentlemen paraded about in pairs, hands intertwined and occasional public displays of affection drawing the group's attention.

Pulling their attention back to the task at hand, the captain led them further into the marketplace. As they navigated the busy market, dodging the bustling patrons, they found themselves feeling overwhelmed.

With a decisive step forward, the captain beckoned the trainees, her voice lacing through the market chatter, "Come along. I want to introduce you all to a merchant who sells something quite extraordinary."

Guided by the captain, the group weaved their way through the dense crowds, narrowly avoiding colliding with the bustling patrons. They moved deeper into the market, towards a quieter side that offered some respite from the overwhelming atmosphere. The tranquillity was a welcome relief for Keanu, Astrid, and Kenji, whose flushed cheeks spoke of their discomfort amidst the unfamiliar chaos.

In the remote corner of the marketplace, they found their destination. A simple make-shift table manned by an elderly woman, her kind grey eyes twinkling from a face lined with age and wisdom. Spread out on the table in front of her were curious small, brown blocks that drew inquisitive glances from the newcomers.

Spotting their confusion, the old lady's laughter fluttered through the air, a warm, inviting sound. "First-timers, aren't we?" she asked rhetorically, revealing, "These are chocolates."

As Oriana reached into her pocket, likely for silver coins, the merchant waved her off with a benevolent smile. "There's no need for that. Seeing as this is their first experience, it's on the house."

Oriana, acknowledging the generous offer, dipped her head in thanks. The old lady then extended her invitation to the group, "Go ahead, choose any one you'd like."

© Crimson B