We followed commander Zold (which we now knew to be his name) to where we were yesterday, except there were two men waiting. Both of them were tall and muscular, standing in a rather intimidating way as they watched us approach.
I kept my wits about me as I kept my eyes on them, they seemed strange, unnatural.
Prince Roy and his two men had walked with commander Zold while we trailed behind.
Everyone stopped walking when we reached the two men in the center of the area.
"I will not be fighting you for this final test. Instead you'll fight my men, two of the nest in the army." Commander Zold said as he gestured to the men, who glared at both me and Kio.
Yara hissed at them as her fur bristled and she tucked herself behind my neck.
"You'll each fight them separately as two verses one. You will start." Zold said as he looked at me.
I got a strange feeling in my stomach from his gaze, as if my gut was telling me that he couldn't be trusted.
I just took in a breath and nodded, looking up at him.
"Y-Yessir!" I said with a fake studder and accent as I saluted.
Kio gave a thumbs-up as Yara jumped off my shoulder and onto Kio's. And just out of the corner of my eye I could see Prince Roy smiling at me.
Everyone except the men went off to the side as I grabbed a training sword before standing in front of them, taking a stance.
"Begin!" Zold boomed as the two men jumped at me.
I dodged their first move before lunging into my first attack. I did nothing fancy or advanced to make sure that I wasn't suspected.
They were fast and smart, but I was smarter and faster. I took my time to defeat them as I kept my eyes on them so I wouldn't get hit, unless it was on purpose.
Although, I felt like Zold was glaring daggers at me the whole time that I fought. I wasn't nervous, oh no, just alert in case Zold did anything.

In the middle of my fight, just as I dodged some attacks from the men, five more men all dressed in black and purple jumped behind me.
My breath hitched slightly when I eventually saw them. These men definitely weren't meant for this final test, it was an ambush.
"(Y/N)!" Kio cried out as one of the men jumped at me, pulling out a sharp, metal sword as they swung it at me.
Kio ran towards where I was after grabbing a training sword, considering it was the only weapon available to him at the moment. He jumped at one of the men, hitting him on top of the head.
"Watch out-" I heard Prince Roy yell, but he was cut off by Zold.
"No, your majesty. This is their job. If they wish to be soldiers bad enough, they'll take these men down on their own." He said.
I was annoyed at Zold's words, but I blocked the man's attack nonetheless before quickly kicking him in the stomach.
Another man lunged at me, but I quickly dodged him before hitting him hard on the head. He winced, taking only a moment to regain his bearings before he attacked me again, cutting my wooden training sword in half this time due to his force.
I fake gasped slightly but quickly threw the sword away as I dodged another one of his attacks.
Looks like I'm going to have to go to hand to-hand combat. I thought as I narrowed my eyes.
I swiftly punched the man before he could attack me again before kicking him in the stomach and other vital and painful areas. I didn't stop attacking him until he was out cold, then I moved to another guy.
Kio attacked the men with me, helping me take them all down so that we wouldn't get killed or hurt.
We eventually took them all down, knocking them unconscious.
I wiped the sweat from my brow as I shook out my hands. It's been a while since I last did hand-to-hand combat.
Zold ordered the men I was supposed to fight before to take the attackers away, and the two men that came with the Prince also helped with this chore, leaving me, Kio, Yara, Zold, and Prince Roy in the arena.
Kio and I walked over to the commander, slightly panting from the fight to regain our breath.
"..... We'll done." Zold said, sounding hesitant.
"I have never seen two farm children like yourselves fight like that before! I'm very impressed. As of my word, I say now that you have passed the final test. Although this test may not have been as planned by  Zold, your skill, strength, and speed have shown me all that I need to know." Roy said.
Zold glanced over at Roy, slightly glaring before looking back at us and nodding as he crossed his arms.
"Very well.. you've passed." He said in a flat voice.
Kio's eyes sparkled as a big, goofy grin spread across his face from happiness.
"Thank you! Thank you kindly, Milord!" He said to Zold and Roy.
I just nodded solemnly.
"Yes, thank you!" I said, trying my best to sound as enthusiastic as Kio.
"My Lord, I shall go inform the rest of the guard of this attack. I will also order some of my men to escort you back." Zold said as he looked at Roy.
"Thank you, Zold! But I think that the new recruits should escort me back. They've shown me what they are capable of, so I'm certain I'll be perfectly fine with them." The Prince said.
My eyes slightly widened at his words as I was shocked at how soon he trusted us.
How is it that he trusts us so early on? Maybe this will go by better than expected. Now I just need to keep his trust and strengthen it so I can be his bodyguard. I thought to myself.
"But, your highness-" Zold argued, but he was cut off.
"It's fine, Zold! I'll be fine. Go tell the rest of the guard about the incident today. Thanks!" Roy said with a smile.
Commander Zold hesitated for a moment before nodding and turning around to go do as he was told.
Roy turned to us both as he smiled brightly.
"Alright then, let's get going!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alright, another chapter finally published! I hope you're enjoying this story so far. I'll see you in the next chapter, Dragon Riders!