Oathtaker | Chapter 11 - Welcome to the 35th

  Mark can feel the stares from their classmates

  The open field had everyone stand around as tension hung over the air as Mark and the other recruits, now wearing the standard combat armor of the Kristoph Ranger College which consisted of a basic chestplate, some bracers and greaves as all of them stood in formation. Mark noticed that it was a total of 30 of them, none of the people he could trust was present as it was almost random.

  And then there’s the glaring oliphant in the room.

  Standing next to him was Clint Werhein on another line next to him, yes by some cruel twist of all the people he knows that could have been with him in his platoon is the person who had it out for him the most.

  He glanced at Clint who was standing next to him and he had the same ‘why am I stuck with you’ expression on his face that all things considered something Mark could agree on but his lack of concern for Clint’s opinion on him caused him to disregard that notion.

  ‘Honestly, this could be an issue. Better play my cards right or else he’ll pull some strings to turn the entire unit against me.’ Mark thought to himself as the Veteran Ranger assigned under them, an Elderly Dwarf named Oakley went on and on about valuing discipline and respect and in the next few weeks he’ll be making sure that every single one of them would be worthy Scout Rangers. Though Mark was doubtful that they’re paying attention, what caught his attention was one line from Oakley that perhaps changed everything.

  “–henceforth we shall be setting up a watch camp on Hill 15!” He said enthusiastically, Mark remembers Hill 15 being the largest supply line that the Eastern Imperial Army has been using that leads to a massive bridge that connects to a larger network of roads and paths that also connect to the other Camps.

  If he could bring that down then he could no doubt deal a significant blow to them, but this also meant it would be the most well defended being a major artery within their network.

  ‘High risk, high reward.’ He thought as he watched Oakley give each member of his unit a property talking about how as Scout Rangers they are the pride of the world and not just the fallen Empire. ‘I’ll need to bide my time though, if I start charging into the camps they’ll think I’m a traitor and Clint will use that as ammunition. Maybe get some people in on this to make sure I have witnesses to prove my innocence too.’

  Mark was the first to volunteer for the watch, since none of them were that interested as they had hoped the adjacent area around Hill 15 was at some glamorous posting all things considered. But for Mark, he had one mission, to scope out the place so he can find the right places to sneak out and locate the Traitors so he can at the very least conduct solo raids and slowly cripple them.

  It’s not the best plan he can think of but it was the only thing he can think of under short notice, though he is thankful that he is sent to a vital bottleneck in what is an important Supply route.

  Though he only has two possible concerns.

  First is the possibility of the camps being moved after that as they’d likely have figured out one camp going dark implies that Revalante knows, this is his biggest fear as this meant that the information he gave was not only outdated but this also meant they have lost the element of surprise for that.

  Second is the fact that he needs to manage sneaking out as subtle as he can otherwise he would give Clint the ammunition needed to convince people that he is in fact a spy working for the Traitors, even if it isn’t the truth he will twist it in a way that makes it look like Mark is aiming to betray them.

  He sat by the watchtower and was given a radio to relay to the others who were less willing to take the watch as he watched the distance, keeping an eye for anything that seemed off especially since he volunteered to take the post that gave him the highest view of the area, which the others were more than glad as this gave him the longest watch and the last one to get swapped out.

  Mark’s thoughts were immediately interrupted by the sound of movement, someone climbing up the ladder that was heading up to the watchtower, he looked at his watch to show his turn for keeping watch as he sighed in disappointment as he barely made progress on ingraining everything into his memory much less pin point potential spots. He’ll need to get up close and find it himself.

  “Grauwolfe?” He glanced at the figure walking towards him who had just climbed up the watch tower. A somewhat tanned and stocky Buffalo beastman with black hair done in a buzz cut that also showed his horns, all the while a pair of swords that look like scissor blades as he let out a yawn while rubbing his sleepy yellow eyes. Mark remembered him as Andres Carrabo, he only remembers him as the more heat headed ones who never paid much attention in class but is full participation when it comes to physical training.

  “Better hurry, it’s breakfast time after all,” He said with a grin as he jabbed a thumb to the exit. “Better hurry, it’s breakfast time after all.”

  “Oh hey Carrabo,” Mark said as he shot one last glance to the distance. “Guess I should get something to eat.”

  It has been a long time since he had this dream.

  He found himself sitting on a bus, an empty bus that resembled the last bus that Makoto Moroshima boarded on that particular day 18 years ago in another life. The lights were dimmed out save for the light above his seat forming a spotlight.

  “You’re getting sidetracked Marcus,” He heard a voice, it wasn’t a normal voice, it was his own voice. More specifically of Makoto Morishima’s voice he looked around to find him sitting next to him though in complete darkness but just enough that he could see the outline of Makoto. The unkept hair, the office clothes that were barely ironed out just enough to look barely presentable while a faint outline of glasses.

  “I thought you wanted to find your family?” Makoto said as he rested his head by the window while glancing at Mark, the light from the overhead light above him was reflecting on his thick glasses.

  “I will I just need to deal with–”

  “Those people mean nothing to you, nobody would bat an eye if the Traitor Army wiped them out and at best people will think you died. The more time you spend trying to play Military Academy the more time lost in trying to find your siblings.” Makoto told him it wasn’t malicious but apathetic and disconnected, he had a point he had plenty of time to find his family instead he chose whatever the hell this is and is clearly being sidetracked.

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  “But I need the training to find them.” Mark reasoned.

  “Is it? Or are you simply using that as an excuse?” He asked.

  [The Reluctant Reincarnation]

  His days at Hill 15 were mostly calm, he refused to call it Peaceful as it would no doubt jinx it. In those days he would cycle in between and also training and on occasion socializing with the other Trainees so he can at the very least get some form of trust within them and give some form of defense against Clint if he were to make a move.

  However only a handful of them, Mark included, actually took the assignment seriously as the rest were mostly loitering around or even halfheartedly doing their jobs that are accompanied with a few grumbles here and there. They were fortunate that the posting they got was somewhat peaceful.

  Mark knelt on the ground as he looked up to spot a trail of footprints of what seems to be a large movement of troops heading this direction. Standing next to him was a Sentralisian Bicorn, a breed of Horse that was common within the Sentralis continent known for their goat-like horns.

  They had received word that they lost contact with another squad meant to man a nearby outpost and they were sent to check on them as radio communications had gone dark as well.

  “What do you see?” His Squad leader asked as he walked over his shoulder while Mark looked at the trail ahead.

  “Large group, and based on the movements clearly show it was a march.” Mark explained as he glanced back. “A disciplined one no less.”

  He looked up to his Squad leader and had a hesitant look on his face. Both Mark and the leader knew that he wasn't much of a fighter and it's accepted that he's only a leader in name only and Mark only assumes the role, mostly since he's not interested in the clout while the leader in turn isn't interested in the responsibility so it was mutually beneficial for both of them.

  “I'll go ahead, check for the bodies and fire a Green Flare if it's safe and signal some kind of clean up. Red means it's a trap and tells the others that it's lost.” Mark said, pulling out a pair of flare rounds as he holstered the flare gun.

  “We'll head on ahead and tell them regardless, fire it when it's safe to send someone there.” The Leader said as he nodded, admittedly he's good at delegating and the middle men jobs but in a fight he's not that great. Mark on the other hand is the opposite so this was once more an acceptable arrangement.

  “I'm staying with him.” The two turn to Andres who was already readying his Flare Gun and his twin blades with a cocky smile. “Someone's gotta come drag your corpse back.”

  “I'd be more shocked if you weren't,” Mark smirked back as they both mounted their Sentralisian Bicorn and began riding off to the outpost over. Andres wasn't the brightest given his reasoning to join the Scout Rangers simply to fight stuff and nothing more, as mentioned he’s not sharp but he makes up for enthusiasm and he has saved him more than once during combat and Mark is grateful to know he has someone to trust on in combat.

  The two of them had made their way to the outpost and it was deathly quiet, not helping that the overcast skies had a bleak atmosphere to it while the old watchtower was converting into a watchtower as it entered the horizon from afar.

  ‘Not good, it’s getting dark and Outposts are given special orders that they have to keep the floodlights on to indicate it’s occupied, if it’s down then…’ His thoughts were filled with dread but then an empty window on the Watchtower flickered followed by the feeling of a bullet grazing his left temple in the process as the force of the bullet sent him flying off Goldline with a painful Thud!.

  “Sniper!” Mark immediately shouted as another flash was spotted from the window as Andres took a dive and hit the ground as his own horse ran off in fear while Mark got up and hurried to the nearest rock, fortunately the cags within the area provided them some form of protection from the sniper atop of the window.

  “You alright Grauwolfe?!” He heard Andres’ voice echo across the crags forming this near labyrinth-like area which leaves Mark on the edge because if there is a sniper was it to lure them here for those hiding.

  “Keep your head down! Watch your corners we got lured in here by that sniper!” Mark shouted back as it echoed across the crags as he raised his sword. “Regroup the tree before we enter here and we need to get out of here!”

  But his worst fear was manifested as pain shot up on his shoulder as a bullet lodged itself on his left shoulder and saw an incoming group of Traitor Soldiers with their swords drawn, Mark scowled as he gritted his teeth and gripped his sword with both hands to steady the uneasiness seeing how outnumbered he is.

  He pulled out a smoke grenade and quickly threw it, letting out plumes of smoke as he charged at the Traitors as he impaled the first one with the Imperial Steel sword he had in the chest as he used him as a human shield as the other Traitors turned their guns at him only to open fire on the Traitor as he was ripped into pieces from the gunfire.

  Mark immediately threw the corpse of their ally to the next person as they fell to the ground with a thud and Mark impaled both the corpse and the soldier underneath killing the latter as he picked up a shield and used it to block even more incoming volleys of bullets with the now thinning plume of smoke but the moment he got to the third Soldier he gripped the shield tightly that with a roar of anger slammed the edge of the shield against the Soldier’s helmet so hard it so hard the shield cracked and the helmet shattered.

  Mark sensed movement behind him as he turned to find a Soldier descending unto him with a Halberd in hand ready to chop his head off. This prompted Mark to pivot as swinging his sword in the process as the soldier was sent flying to a nearby rock from the force of the swing

  He looked onwards and found a dozen more ready with the Halberd wielding Soldier getting up unfazed from the fight.

  Mark sighed as he tossed aside the broken shield and pulled out his Flare Gun and fired a red round into the sky. He knew it was a trap and they walked into, the best is to just hole they see it too and with that done he gripped his sword once more with both hands as walked slowly towards them as the Soldiers began charging at him hoping to bring him down immediately.

  Mark immediately impaled his sword on the first soldier that charged at him but then proceeded to land a decapitation strike at the same soldier as her head was sent flying all the while the Halberd wielding Soldier from earlier had rushed at him again in hopes of fighting but this time Mark sliced the Halberd in two and impaled him in the neck as he finally bled out from the sword.

  But then he heard a shift in the change in the air after he took down the five but from behind him he can see the commotion in the rear as he noticed that more soldiers with more decorated armor started arriving as the other soldiers began to step back and give way as one in intricate SIlver and Black Armor walked towards him, in his hands was a Blue and Gold Sword that from what he can see looks exactly like the Dawnbringer seen in the Sol Triumphi all the while in what appears to be a First Era Imperial Helmet with a T-Visor in everything all the while flanked with two Soldiers in equally intricate First Era Imperial Armor.

  More importantly he can see familiar words ‘May the Moon forever watch over us’ in Imperial Script.

  “That’s enough, I prefer we spill less blood shall we?” He said his posture was relaxed but Mark can feel a chill down his spine from the immense pressure from him just walking towards him. It was hard to tell from the way he carried himself or perhaps the Sword had the same words from the Dagger that was supposed to be used to kill him.

  “You fight well for someone so young,” He said with an impressed tone. “You would make a fine Praetorian, yes killing five of my soldiers in quick succession and all that.”

  “I’m assuming you’re here to offer terms of surrender?” Mark said, taking a step back with a weary look on his face.

  “I wouldn’t consider it as surrender but more like…changing allegiances.” He said walking towards him with his hand extended. “If you join me, then you’d make a fine soldier in the New Empire I am building.”

  “Not interested,” Mark said, taking a step back but kept his sword drawn. “My loyalty is to the Noxsolis Empire.”

  “Then you shall die with your empire with your lips.” He said as he took a step forward and readied a combat stance, the way he took a stance was clear that he is also trained like an Imperial Knight.

  “So be it.” Mark said calmly.