Soul of a Human

While Cutters boys got ready for their mission, Mor sat down with Jorgen, discussing the next step of his training with the boy. To Mor's surprise, Elly also joined, having decided that she wanted to learn this strengthening magic. She was reasoning that with this magic thing, she could draw a heavier bow or jump into the tree tops instead of climbing.

Mor didn't care as long as Lize was not against it, which she wasn't, and that neither broke his two iron-clad rules. Rule one was that this Soul-Ice-hybrid-technique training would only be done under his direct observation. Leading into rule two, the two Ice-kin were forbidden to overstrain themselves. Those Rules triggered the question of why this was important, leading to Mor telling the story of when he tried combining Ice and Soul techniques.

"You Ice-kin pull magic very differently to ours. It's more forceful and thereby faster, but also seemingly incompatible with the Soul-reservoir. However, I tried to combine its advantages anyway and even succeeded." Mor explained.

"Really? That sounds awesome!" Jorgen stated.

"Wait, then, shouldn't you regain your power faster?" Elly asked, and Mor nodded at that.

"Exactly, the reason is simple. I almost died trying it the first time. Luckily, my friend was nearby and could get me to a healer, who barely stopped me from dying. I still need to find out where the problem is, but it taught me one thing. Be careful if you try completely new things!"

At this revelation, both Ice-kin looked uncomfortable but understood why Mor insisted on those two rules. If the result of a wrong move could be death, though Mor didn't believe it would be that severe, then being careful about it would be reasonable.

Just like that, they started training under Mors' tutelage while also continuing Ice-kin training, which Lize had taken over entirely while the Cutters team was away. While the new hunter team struggled with their training, another youth looked at a new challenge.

Orth looked at his brother in absolute disbelief and disgust. His "training" had gone on for a bit, and he had resigned himself to only fulfilling what was expected, keeping his physical powers suppressed. Also, his roommate's constant tries to get into his pants drew on his nerves until he snapped at her that he wouldn't touch an old ugly hag with anything less than a stone puppet.

Of course, the girl was instantly offended, and because of that, Orth had to endure another scolding from his brother and then a second from his father because "he couldn't treat such a noble girl like that," leading Orth to bite back a comment from his side.

He had wondered where the girl was vanishing whenever he had rejected her advances and then took a page out of Mor's book, meaning sneaking after her using his trained dexterity to stay hidden instead of magic, idly wondering if the Soul-kin were really so stupid, they didn't think sneaking without magic was possible. However, what he discovered disgusted him to no end and made a connection in his mind, which he could have done without.

This very noble girl, honestly a perfect future bride with a bright future, as his father had described her at length, visited his brother's chamber on the regular. Of course, this wasn't that discriminating evidence because the two of them might plan on how to get Orth to cooperate in their idiotic scheme, but when he got closer and heard what they were doing, those thoughts were right out the nonproverbial window. If Clare would be half as enthusiastic when the two of them were ready for such things, then he would be a happy man.

Still, his curiosity and nothing else, at least he told himself that, so let him stay until the two of them were done. While he couldn't pick up everything listening in, he could pick up enough to be angry at them both. Their plan seemed to be for Orth to bond with the slut, and then they could continue their little affair without being careful of pregnancy.

Well, that plan was done with because Orth had now even less incentive to get close to that whore. However, his new animosity gets us into his latest troubles. Because of his slander, even if he had only done it while alone with his brother or father, he was given an ultimatum, an impossible one.

Under the orders of Lord Obsidian, Orth had time until his stay ended to lead a provided team to victory against his brother's elite because if he knew everything better than his elders, he should prove it. If he won, Lord Obsidian would allow him to choose whoever he wanted as a bride, but if Orth lost, he would have to apologize to Lady Shungine and hope she would still like him. In his annoyance, Orth had accepted without thinking deeply about it. The only thing he was sure of was that somewhere, a trap would be set for him.

Now, as he looked at his "team," the trap revealed itself in the least subtle way. His team was a ragtag group of the worst trainees Organ could find. However, while they were unfit as "normal" soldiers, Orth smiled to himself. He didn't see the worst of the worst. Orth saw untapped potential. Those trainees were broken down and ready to be molded, they just didn't fit the usual mold, giving Orth the freedom to do whatever he pleases. Meaning the intended trap was an advantage. He would have been worse off if he had gotten some average soldiers.

And he had just the idea for it because how had the human said once? "Don't fear the person who trained a thousand spells once. Fear the one who trained one spell a thousand times." His father was a man of a thousand spells. Just as his brother was, they practiced long enough to master the classical spell and then ignored it. Orth embraced the other mindset. He mastered one spell, and after reaching the pinnacle of the "usual" power, he evolved it, breaking his limits just like he would do with his ragtag bunch.

The only favor he wanted of his father was that he was allowed to share the barracks with his team, and to get a private training space outside of his brother's prying eyes, and to his surprise Lord Obsidian accepted it, and even ordered Orgen to leave his brother alone. Organ shrugged at the order. He didn't care because no matter how badly Orth struggled, a victory was utterly out of reach for him.

After everything was arranged, Orth addressed his team, and to the surprise of the squad of ten guys, he did it in the least noble way expected. Orth had flopped down on the rather uncomfortable cot and sighed in relief. For him, it was the absolute best bed he could find on this crap heap of an Isle, and while everyone else chose their sleeping place, unlike the strange high noble, Orth took his chance.

"Now, while we're all here, let's talk."

"Sir?" A trainee with bright blond hair and Amber eyes asked, surprised.

"What?" Orth asked.

"Don't we need to salute or something like that before you address us?"

"Well, first, tell me your name," Orth stated.

"Armin of the Ambror Family." The soldier answered quickly.

"Congratulations, Caster Ambror. You're my second," Orth said, starting a murmur in the small group.

"Quiet, please. Now for your question. I hate this rigid system and want to try something new. I can understand discipline and showing off in front of an Officer. But right now, I'm your squad leader and responsible for your well-being. However, how do you expect me to fulfill that role effectively if you guys are not comfortable talking with me or asking questions"? Orth continued, making his soldiers shrug.

"That hadn't stopped the other officers until now," Ambror stated.

"Yes, because they think they are infallible. I like knowing what the guy I will entrust my life to thinks of me and if he has a better idea. However! I'm in charge, and while I want to hear ideas and doubts, I also expect you guys to follow my orders if I give them." Orth explained further, leading to another question from the blond soldier.

"How does that work?"

"Let's see. If I say you and you, " he pointed at two random Soldiers. Make a stone wall! Then I expect to hear a yes! Or an alternative, like a ditch or any other defensive installation. A wall isn't always the best option, and I can miss some information, leading to a suboptimal decision." The young officer explained.

"I see. So if you say fly up there for lookout, could I offer you an alternative if it fulfills the same role?" Ambror asked carefully. To which Orth nodded, kicking off another round of whispered discussion among the troopers.

"We're in. This sounds interesting, and I feel like I'm being less of a mindless tool, " Ambror, already designated spokesperson, said.

"Very good. Then sit down and tell me what spells you like, where your affinities are, and what role you want to fulfill in this squad. Then we look at how we will get it all together and kick those haughty idiots in the nuts!" Orth said with a devious smile, which his team mirrored instantly.

Their common disgust and annoyance of the perfect elite team instantly forged a hard bond out of spite. Also, it felt good for the shunned trainee soldiers to have someone who wanted to give them a real chance and didn't simply want to press them into the mold.