Rae van Daleon – The Roots of the Storm
by Lea von Löwenstein
Chapter 50: The Second Year Begins
The air around the Scola crackled with renewed energy as the second year began. The courtyard, once quiet and tense, was now alive with the synchronized footsteps of novices marching to their stations. The rebuilt walls stood tall, their polished surfaces reflecting the golden light of the morning sun.
Rae and her team stood at attention with the rest of their cohort, their expressions calm but focused. The scars of their first year—both physical and emotional—were hidden beneath their crisp uniforms, but the weight of their experiences lingered. They were no longer just novices; they were survivors, forged in fire and bound by loyalty.
Commissar Varn strode across the courtyard, his gaze cutting through the rows of recruits. Behind him, Drill Instructor Halek, Sister Verena, and Magos Omnitek observed silently, their presence a reminder of the challenges to come.
The Address
Commissar Varn stopped at the center of the courtyard, his hands clasped behind his back. The novices stood in absolute silence, the tension in the air palpable.
“Your first year tested your resolve,” Varn began, his voice sharp and deliberate. “It weeded out the weak, the unworthy. If you stand here today, it means you’ve earned your place. But don’t mistake survival for success.”
He stepped closer to the front row, his eyes narrowing. “This year will be harder. You will be pushed beyond your limits, not just in body, but in mind. The enemies of the Emperor grow stronger with every passing day, and we must be stronger still.”
Varn’s gaze swept over the crowd. “This is no place for hesitation or doubt. Those who falter will be left behind—or worse. Do not falter.”
New Challenges
After the address, the novices were divided into groups and sent to their respective training zones. Rae’s team was assigned to advanced combat and reconnaissance, a testament to their performance in the previous year. The new focus was immediately apparent: no longer were they simply learning to survive; now, they were being trained to lead.
Drill Instructor Halek led the first session, a grueling course on close-quarters combat. The team sparred against each other in rapid succession, their movements sharper and more controlled than ever before.
“Faster, Rae!” Halek barked as Rae dodged a strike from Celestine. “You think the enemy will wait for you to catch your breath?”
Rae countered with a swift kick, sending Celestine stumbling back. “No, sir,” she replied, her voice steady.
Marcus squared off against Tyren, their match a clash of brute strength against agility. Tyren used his cogitator to predict Marcus’s movements, but Marcus adapted quickly, forcing Tyren into a corner. Halek nodded approvingly.
“Good. Use your strengths, but never underestimate your opponent.”
Reconnaissance Drills
The next session was led by Sister Verena, who guided them through the art of stealth and reconnaissance. The team was tasked with infiltrating a simulated enemy encampment, retrieving a data cache, and escaping undetected.
Rae and Celestine led the way, their movements silent as shadows. Tyren stayed close, using his cogitator to disable security measures, while Marcus and Soren provided rear support.
“Two sentries ahead,” Soren whispered, his crossbow at the ready.
“Take them quietly,” Rae instructed.
Celestine slipped forward, her twin knives flashing in the dim light. The sentries fell without a sound, and the team moved on, completing the mission flawlessly.
Sister Verena met them at the extraction point, her expression calm but pleased. “Faith and focus will carry you far,” she said. “But remember, one misstep can undo even the best-laid plans.”
The Trials of Leadership
Later that week, Magos Omnitek introduced a new layer of complexity: leadership trials. Each novice was assigned a team and tasked with leading them through a simulated battlefield, balancing strategy, communication, and combat efficiency.
When Rae’s turn came, she found herself leading a group of unfamiliar novices, their inexperience evident in their hesitant movements. She quickly assessed the situation, assigning roles and guiding them through the simulation with a steady hand.
“Focus on your objectives,” she instructed. “Stay together and watch each other’s backs.”
By the end of the trial, her team had successfully completed the mission, and Magos Omnitek offered a rare word of praise. “Efficient. Logical. But do not let precision overshadow adaptability.”
A Growing Reputation
As the days turned into weeks, Rae and her team’s reputation grew. Their performance in drills and simulations set them apart, and even their rivals couldn’t deny their skill. Erik Krenz, though still brimming with arrogance, began to keep his distance, his taunts replaced with wary glances.
The instructors took notice as well, pushing the team harder, their expectations rising with each success. Commissar Varn, though sparing with his praise, began to call on Rae’s team for more advanced tasks, testing their limits in ways no other group faced.
A Quiet Evening
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the team gathered in a quiet corner of the Scola grounds. The air was cool, the sky painted in hues of orange and purple.
“We’ve come a long way,” Marcus said, breaking the silence. “Feels like yesterday we were just trying to survive.”
“And now we’re setting the bar,” Celestine added, her tone light but proud.
Soren leaned against a nearby wall, his crossbow resting at his side. “It’s not just about us anymore. They’re watching us. The other novices, the staff—they’re expecting something.”
Tyren adjusted the straps on his cogitator. “Then we give them something to watch.”
Rae looked around at her team, her voice quiet but firm. “We keep moving forward. Together.”
“For Talia,” Soren said softly.
“For Talia,” the others echoed.
As the stars began to emerge, Rae felt a flicker of hope amidst the weight of responsibility. The second year was just beginning, and the trials ahead would be tougher than ever. But they were ready to face them—stronger, smarter, and more united than before.
