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Looking around he waved at Sara and she pointed at the empty chair next to her so he made his way over. It was nice to know at least one person there. Most were younger as this was an entry level undergrad class. He had tried before, but it just hadn’t worked. Hopefully a different teacher and location would mean a new way of approaching the subject. “How are your legs feeling? Mine have stopped shaking finally, but they didn’t like that run. I thought I would be fine when it started, but man was I wrong, even though I have been running with heavier weights.”

Sara nodded. “I think I can feel my feet, but I am not too sure. I wasn’t expecting a stream, or a wall in the morning run, but should have. Do you think either of the others will show tonight? I was surprised Jack was there at all. But to show up with a cup of coffee and wearing dress shoes? What I am surprised that cap didn’t send him packing. Did he make it back?”

Devlin said. “He made to the stream, fell and refused to go on. Also says that he is suing for the destroyed clothes. Turns out his jogging outfit is dry clean. Vale was laughing as he was describing it to me. I don’t think he will be back, clearly he didn’t think he would be expected to really do anything. He clearly has no experience with even the aftermath of a raid. I wonder just why he signed up in first place if he felt it beneath him to do the work. I know that some of the other units are a bit slower passed, but they still expect effort be put in to insure that you can handle what you will encounter. I am going in as a medic but I must be able to care for myself or I am just a burden.”

Sara said. “Just so. It is harder than I realized, but I am not going to refuse to do something just because I wasn’t prepared. I know that any Unit is just as strong as the weakest person. I will never have skill with a blade so I owe it to the others that will be with me to be the best I can in areas I can control. If I can’t adequately defend myself I have no business even being at the back. That is why I am doing this.”

Another boy said, as he took the chair next to them. “Just so. If they are here I would expect them to know it won’t be easy. I am taking the course because I want to help if I can. I have no idea what use I will be, for I am not a fighter but if I can I want to be ready. My home has been seeing a lot more of the old evils, the critters that see humans as food. I have a strong mage gift, but mostly centered on illusions. Still there is a call for mages, so even though I am awful at the battle magics there might be something I can offer. I want to be prepared and know it means work. That said I am glad that I didn’t get put with the unit you did. They are the hardest to get in and the most disciplined. For all their cap is young and came in newly bonded. It didn’t take long for them to get a reputation. It is a second year unit, most don’t solo until third. They were sent out alone twice all ready, one was expected to be hot the other wasn’t, but still. They are a bit to dedicated even for an air unit. Do they really make you start at dawn?”

Devlin said. “Near it, it was a run at six. I am glad that they were willing to let me train with them. It is what I need, for all Cap is a bit more ridged than most the course she set is a good deal like what I would be doing at home where I want to be in the field. It is mostly bandit clearings, but we have some bogs and there monster and a neighboring nation that is known to summon daemons and work with the Bloggaer and their kind.”

Sara said. “The units reputation is well earned. They are the best at what they do for all they are new. I am glad they are letting me train with them, for all I never expected it. I know it is going to cause some yelling. My father said I could take the classes but didn’t think that they would but me with a front line team. He doesn’t think I have any business trying to go to the field, for all I just want to be in the hospitals. I know better than to even consider going into the lines. However being in the back shouldn’t raise the danger to those working with me as I will not be visible. That is as long as I can reasonably defend myself. That is why I am here, trying to learn this again.”

The teacher entered so the other guy just shook his head, clearly thinking they were nuts to be happy with the placement. Not seeing just why it was a good thing to be with a tough commander for training. The instructor reached the front and said. “Welcome. You are all worried about this class, for you have failed to pass a battle magic course at least twice. You are also all combat support, not fighters. Therefore we are going to try this a different way, it still might not work. If that is the case you will start working with someone else in a different form yet again. It will be frustrating but we will do everything we can to help you master what you need to know to work with the troops. We won’t give up as long as you don’t. You are needed, it is few that understand they need to train even if they won’t be fighting. We are going to start with defense.  For that is what those in here will use the most. Knowing it should make learning the needed attacks less frightening so easier to grasp.” With that it was down to work. It was far from easy, but it was making a bit more sense to Devlin than the other times he had tried it. Shield he could understand, but using the energy to make a crater or send others flying just wasn’t something he could believe was right. Even knowing they would be aiming such forces at him.

Devlin starched, glad to be off the course it had been harder time as he was a bit sore and would be for the week at least. Still it felt good to be doing something and he didn’t think he was that much worse than the others trying for a place. Vale said. “So are you coming to supper? No point in trying to cook when you don’t have to, after all. You are going to be running on fumes until you get used to the work.”

Devlin said. “Not tonight. I am going to my folks. My uncle will be calling and I need to let them know how the classes went. So I will see you in the morning.” He looked over at Gale and frowned a bit as Hank was right next to her.

Vale smiled a bit. “Cap is fine, it is just that Sir has been delayed so Hank is troubled. None of us like when they have to be apart, and the longer it is the more we worry. She tries to much to hide how what she needs.”

Devlin said. “That sounds like her, at least she has all of you watching so she will not get away with forget to take care of herself. She had a bad habit of saying yes she would do something when she should have said that she need to rest or eat. I best run or I will miss the vid call.” He waved and took off smiling.

He got to the house and entered, relaxing when he saw the others were around the computer. “I hope I haven’t missed Uncle’s call? I tried not to linger but had to change before coming over, I fear the training course left me rather muddy. At least I had a decent time.”

Wilber said. “You made it just fine, and we would have kept him talking. One of you want to get him some food. Dev come sit before you fall. You look all in. Were the classes that bad?”

Devlin sat down gladly and accepted the plate his sister held out to him, then waved at his uncle. “Hi Uncle Wane how is everything there? The classes weren’t that bad. Not even the battle magic, for all it was a struggle. All of us in it have failed a few times and are not fighters. Therefore they are starting us on defense rather than blasting. That is making it easier to get my head around. So I might just have a chance this time. I just forgot what it is like to run a obstacle course with a full pack. May days start with a run at six, which includes crossing a stream and a climbing wall, as well as rocks and hills. A big change from the groomed trails I have been running on the last few years. It feels good, but I am going to be tired and sore until I get used to it again. I can see why few make it in the Gold Dragons and why cap has the hard reputation she does. However I am glad she is willing to let me train with them. There is nothing that would see me better fit for being in combat.”

Wane said. “Good to hear that Gale hasn’t changed much. How does the course compare to the ones she had you run out behind the house? Or her monster hunts? Things are doing all right here, but there has been a slight rise in human bandits. Small bands easily handled by the road patrols but more than last year at this time.”

Wilbber said. “You don’t need to avoid saying her name. So she has a reputation already? I haven’t heard much of any unit, but then I’m not in the military area so don’t expect to. Outside of the odd call up taking a student out of class.”

Wallace said. “Must Air units go out with a second unit in command until they have been formed for three years. The Gold’s have gone out on solo or with the Silver, which is more or less the same unit, before they were a year old. That makes them a top unit and even being biased in Idras they would normal be consider one of the top teams to get on. However they have the fewest trying for a place and most will never make it a week, finding the rules to strictly enforced and the training to demanding. That was what the others in the school told us, before they saw us talking to Gale. The warnings were worse after it. We both placed well in the testing and a few units made offers, for all we are too young to join. All likely to make Master get offers. Have you heard of a Star training team related to the international force?”

Wilbber frowned a bit, wonder just where that was coming from, he nodded, but Wane spoke first. “Yes, it is basically the office cadet school for the force, but I haven’t been able to find out anything about the requiring. I have been trying we could us a few in commission in the teams as well as just a large presence in it. Why do you ask?”

Wallace said. “I was wondering if it was a real thing. I was offered a place, but it just sounded too good. As they said that if I did well I would come out of it with a ranked position in the force, no additional schooling needed and they will take me as soon as next week, but I have until the end of the year to say yes. They expect that they will convince me before the year is up, said they weren’t going to give up. It would be three years there and two in the international, if I agree. There is a bit of a spending allowance and of course house, clothing and weapons provided. It is a bit hard to believe. I will need to do more checking, but it does sound good. I mean it is what I want, well I never thought international, but I want a service career, not academic.”

Wilbber said. “It sounds like it is worth looking into. You never have cared much for the academic side of school, it would well be that you would do better in military training than high school. For all it means living here longer than you planed on. Is there allowance made for religious differences?”

Wallace said. “That is one of things I plan on asking for more information on. They said that all faiths were accommodated, but that was all the details. I am not rushing into it, but it helps that you have heard of it.”

Devlin said. “Gale told me that you both did well and have grown a lot in the last year. Uncle I don’t know what your plans are but you need to come to the summit. That is why I wanted to be sure and catch you. The rulers of Irdas. Myth and Willburg will be here as will a number of others. There is more going on with Darkland than we know. Gale has heard they have taken more land and have made some new friends. Willburg is have problems with races we thought were no longer living. Then there was some talk of updating the treaty as well. It is going to be a mess here and there is a chance I will be at some events in uniform as it turns out that Gale’s unit is Royal. Sorry to spring it on you but I just found out last night at dinner and knew you would need time to get plans made. It wasn’t something to say over the phone.”