Micah and Emile registered their names at the desk where a bored-looking soldier ticked them off the list without a glance. The sun was already high, and the air smelled of dust, heat, and sweat. The two of them strolled across the training field to the designated area.
When they finally arrived, they found the students sitting on the ground in rows. The instructor at the front was demonstrating how to fold a blanket with precision and efficiency, emphasising the importance of discipline and readiness. His voice rang sharply with each instruction, and not a single student dared to speak. Piles of olive-green blankets and neatly folded uniforms lined the ground beside them.
"Be quick. You must be ready at all times. A dispatch order could come without warning. Folding your blanket and making your bed is the first basic skill every soldier must learn."
