I groaned as I shuffled into the Training Hall at six o' clock the next morning. I really wasn't used to getting up this early. Void was waiting there boredly. He looked up as I approached like a zombie. "You're late." He observed gruffly.
I grunted moodily in reply.
Void sighed, rolling his eyes. "Five extra laps for that."
"Oh come on-!"
"Get running!"
I groaned loudly and walked over to the track, barely spanning the gap between walking and running. He had me running for over ten minutes, and then five minutes more, before he finally let me stop.
I flopped onto the ground tiredly. "Can I go home now...?" I asked.
"No, we've just gotten started. Get up."
I sighed and stood, just in time to catch the wooden practice sword he tossed me. I beamed. "Are we gonna spar?"
"Don't be stupid." Void said. "Alright, there are four basic motions for sword fighting. The overhead, the strike, the stab, and the parry. But I like to add my own fifth move. It's very self-explanatory."
I blinked. "What is it?"
"A punch."
"Oh..."
"I take it you know how to punch."
I nodded. "Yeah, I guess..."
"Good, we can skip over that part." Void said. "Now, hold your sword up."
I did so in confusion.
"And bring it down." I did so, and he blocked it. "Good for your first try, I suppose." I rolled my eyes. My self-esteem was gonna drop so low doing this... "Now, swing at around at me, wide arc."
I sighed and did as he said. Again, he blocked it. We repeated this with the stab and the parry as well.
"Now, there are three types of parries." Void explained. "The overheard parry, the swipe parry, and the block."
He showed my all three. Overhead was the horizontal one held across my head to block an overhead strike. The swipe parry I assumed would defend against stabbing motions. And the block locked the swords in front."
"I don't understand, how am I gonna know how to use these specific motions when I'm scared for a my life?" I asked.
"Okay, first of all, don't be scared for your life." Void said. "If you get scared, you'll overthink, and probably die."
"Oh thanks, that really helps."
"Secondly, don't ask stupid questions. Now, go through all of them again, in order."
I sighed and did as I was told, but once I got the the first parry I was taken by surprise as he suddenly took offense and I barely had time to block the hit. He noticed instantly and stopped. "What the hell was that?"
"I didn't know you were gonna hit me!"
"Well how else are you gonna block a strike?!"
"I don't know, just - why don't you just warn me?"
Void shook his head. "You're gonna have to be ready, rookie. If you make one wrong move on them battlefield, just one, you're dead. Game over. End of line. That's all it takes. Nobody's gonna warn you then."
I sighed. "Whatever..."
"Again." Void barked.
We went through the sword drill again and again, for hours, until I was sure my arm had been pulled in so many places if was a push-open door.
Finally, he dropped his sword down to his side. "Take a break, kid."
"A-A break?!" I shouted.
He raised an eyebrow on me. "You wanna continue without one?"
"No! We've been going for hours, I wanna go home!"
He squinted at me. "What, did you think this as gonna be easy?"
"I didn't know what to think! I'm starting to think this is my punishment for busting into your room!"
"Did I ever say it wasn't?" Void turned his back to me, looking like he was going to get a drink of water.
"Ugh! What even happened to you?! Everyone says you used to be happy before your fiancé died!"
Void stopped. A sense of dread washed over me. Oh great. A billion more laps. But then, yet again, the old man surprised me.
"Dismissed." He muttered softly.
I blinked in shock, and I almost felt bad for what I said. He still didn't look at me. "I said you're dismissed!" He said louder.
I took a step back, then slowly sheathed my sword and finally did as I was told. The first thing I did was go home and take a shower. Then I grabbed an apple and bit into it as I sat down, staring at the open Book of Missions. This thing was so interesting, it was so cool to read about the past. The base actually had such a neat history. I could spend all day doing this...

*Ty*
"No no no! I said overhead, are you deaf?!"
I sighed. "Look, buddy, I didn't ask for help."
The boy rolled his eyes. "Your entire begin is a cry for help..." He muttered, walking away.
I sighed and sat down. This was terrible... I wasn't even close to a fighter. Maybe I should just... Go home.
But then, suddenly, somebody sat beside me. "Ugh, I hate combat training."
I looked at him and blinked in surprise. He was shorter than me and just about as small-built. I recognize him as the leader of the Dead Army. "Um... Hello sir." I greeted uncertainly.
He looked at me and nodded once. "Sup."
Well he was unusual. "Um... Can I do anything for you."
"No." He said. "But I have a suggestion for you."
I blinked in surprise and he looked at me. "You would do well in the Dead Army."
"Oh, no, I'm not flexible at all!"
"You could be. I was watching you train."
I sighed and he nudged me. "Just think about it. You have all day."
I nodded. "Yes, sir..."
"Hey and don't call me sir. Void may like all that protocol shit, but I sure as hell don't. Call me Thomas, Tommy, Tom, Paxwell, call me bloody Finnegan, honestly I don't care. Just don't ever call me sir."
I nodded uncertainly. "Yes, si... I mean... Thomas."
Thomas smirked and nodded. "Good luck choosing kid. I think you're smart enough to pick what's best for you."
I sighed and nodded a last time as Thomas stood and left the Training Hall. I really didn't expect I would serve well in the Dead Army... But to be honest... I really didn't have much of a choice.