Their limbs felt heavy. Arms not being able to be raised. Legs dragging on the cobblestone pathway below them. Some had aching backs and others felt a strain in their necks.

"Forty-seven."

That's how many Ladrel counted, save for the group from her village.

"Are you serious?" Eadward whispered back to her. He didn't let another moment slip by as he continued on. "That means fifty-one of us will never see outside of that forest ever again."

Those that could hear Eadward's words lost color in their faces. Others swallowed in fear as they contemplated putting their fate in their own hands once free from the military surrounding them. But then again... if one tried to flee now, they would escape the forest and have a swifter death.

A large clang of a hammer on metal rang throughout the large opening, directing the gazes of most captive subjects up to the source. The large bronze shell was stopped abruptly by the man who had hit it on the high balcony as another man stepped forward. Almost the entire body of people could even hear him clear his throat before speaking.

"Chosen citizens of Hastone, you are here today because of the unique feats you possess. Strength, vigor, wit, cleverness, hardiness, agility, and many more wondrous abilities. As the speaker for the king, I am pleased to state you are the next group of warriors we desire to send off to fight Xiessais, parent of the monsters."

Xiessais, it is a name that strikes fear into most mortals. Only idiots, the ridiculously brave, or descendants of the fae found themselves less threatened by the name of the great dragon. Their children were spawns that wreaked havoc on the world. Other dragons, strange bird-like creatures, and large mutated animals with magical abilities were known to be Xiessais's spawn. For other monsters, no one had survived with a piece to prove it to be their child.

For the most part, those monsters now resided in the forest no one wandered into, mainly thanks to mages keeping it sealed away. Nothing can escape, and nothing can enter.

"In a week's time, we will be sending you all to the forest to fight and slay their children. But for now, you will live like soldiers. Be trained for combat more efficiently. This is with the hopes that at least one of you can survive and lead us in the fight against Xiessais themself."

Before anyone could make a disruption at the end statement, the speaker waved his hands in a unique motion. Soldiers that were stationed around the group of citizens directed and moved them towards a large archway leading into the tall structure. Soon, the only light that anyone could see came from lanterns bolted into the brick walls as they went deeper into the building.

"I have a feeling this isn't the king's castle..." Owun muttered from behind Eadward.

"No shit..." Eadward looked around as he eyed the mixing of soldiers and fellow villagers from all the different locations. "This has to be the barracks. I just hope they don't torture us with this 'training' they'll be putting us through."

They went silent again after that, all hoping that whatever higher being there was would protect them from their fate in the barracks. That hope only dwindled as they spotted a stop up ahead, sorting people in different directions. If they couldn't stay together, that would only fare more of an issue.

Most who were captured were mainly sorted off to the far right, seeming to stay completely to the right. The next majority seemed to be the line just left of the far right. It was mainly large, burly, and athletically fit people going in those directions. Smaller folk seemed to be pushed to the two left directions, a few outliers sometimes joining them.

As they were pushed toward the filtering themselves, it wasn't long until they were at the front. With Edelin in the very front, they took her first.

"Edelin, daughter of Catelin. You're a blacksmith and proficient in most weapons by our paperwork. Can you confirm?" The soldier who sat down looked up from the papers in front of him, eyeing the stout and strong woman.

Edelin nodded her head. "Yes. My variety goes from daggers, axes, swords, and even javelins."

"Good, good..." He marked a spot on the paper with the quill in his hand. "Please go down the furthest path to the right then. We have soldiers there to help direct you to your temporary living quarters."

Before taking her step there, Edelin looked behind her and gave a silent goodbye to her village mates. The plea in her eyes only showed how much she didn't want to be separated. Her step was quick and light, barely heard as she soon drifted into shadows down the unknown corridor.

The man then moved the papers to the stack on his right before pulling papers off the stack on his left. He was fast to read the name out loud. "May I have, Owun, son of Orellus, next please?"

Ladrel and Eadward stepped apart to let Owun through. The male blocked any light in front of them, leaving Eadward and Ladrel to predominantly see darkness.

The soldier craned his head up to see Owun's face. Seeing a tall, muscular man who was obviously above two meters was rare, especially when fae blood was in his veins. The visual of some flesh appearing dented like metal also didn't help the soldier as he fumbled with his words.

"Owun, you are a strong and fit man, but also possess strange magical abilities, yes?"

"I do." Owun kept it blunt, not wanting to speak much on the matter.

"Could you please describe the magic you use? We need to know so we can sort you properly." The soldier began to get ready with his pen, repeatedly dipping it as he tried to stall and calm his nerves.

Owun raised his hand and faced the palm toward himself. His almond skin went to match the colors coming off of the flames but soon began to turn neutral in color and shine like a freshly polished gauntlet. His one hand not on display went into the satchel attached to his hip and pulled out a small rock, which he then proceeded to slam right into the back of his displayed hand. The bang that resonated startled almost everyone there, but those watching wanted to see what had happened to the man's hand. 

As Owun released the rock from his hand and dropped it, the rock showed itself embedded in his hand's back. The crinkle of metal surrounded it and began to creak as it started to reform itself, pushing the rock outward and eventually making it drop onto the wooden table below. His metallic hand continued on to repair itself until it was smooth once again and eventually turned back to flesh.

"Transmutation," the one mage there stated to the soldier sitting down. "He's both magical and a physical fighter. You must decide off of that."

The soldier and mage shared a look before the soldier turned back to Owun and made a mark on the paper without looking. "Second to left, please."

Owun didn't speak another word to the soldier but sent one to Eadward and Ladrel as he left. "See you guys later."

"Ladrel, daughter of Guanla. Please step forward."

Ladrel took a casual step forward, keeping her hands clasped together in front of her as she waited for her questioning.

"You're a swordswoman with knowledge in elven archery, correct?"

"I am proficient in elven archery and swordsmanship, plus I have learned the more 'brute' human swordsmanship as well." She kept her tone monotone but kept it high enough to try and belittle the soldier. "If you're keeping records even on the recently deceased, then you should have it on the people you pick for this fight too."

The man's eyes dropped from the woman's and he muttered, "I apologize. We were not informed of your mother's death. Only of birth records and what our patrol guards are able to pick up via gossip."

Ladrel's nose scrunched up in disgust, not enjoying the answer given. She would stop her games with those who harmed her father, for now. "Just tell me which way then."

"Second to right, please."

Ladrel did as followed, making sure to give her best friend a pat on the shoulder as she crossed in front of him. With voice low, she was also quick to whisper, "You and Edelin need to meet me as soon as you can," before taking off in her given direction.

Eadward looked at her confused before being called himself.

"We don't need anything else to see you're of brute strength and nothing else, to the far right corridor, please."