Second Life as a Soldier

Chapter 144 - The First Follower

“I called you here to discuss something important,” I said as Kael, Varric, Barry, and Garran sat in front of me in a semicircle, far more relaxed and comfortable than Peter. I was almost afraid one of them would put their feet up on the table.

Listening to my words, there was no change in their expressions. They just waited for me to continue.

“In the army, there is a possibility to select a few members of the squad as a permanent unit. Colin, Jack, and Owen were part of Sergeant Fenward’s permanent unit. Those with permanent units are also considered lieutenant candidates. Lieutenant Cicero has already approved me to select members for my permanent squad. Once those members are selected, no one other than me can order them, but this also means those members will become almost bound to me for the rest of their lives.”

As I kept speaking, only Kael showed some change in expression, looking intrigued and interested in where I was going. The other three just sat there looking at me with dead eyes. I was concerned that they had not even heard what I was saying.

But I still continued.

“I want to make our whole squad—”

“I am in,” (Barry)

“Oh, the fuck, I am out,” (Varric)

Before I could complete my sentence, Varric and Barry spoke at the same time. Honestly, I was not that surprised by Varric’s disagreement, but I was surprised that the first one to agree was Barry.

Varric looked at Barry in anger, while Kael and Garran just sat there, lost in their own thoughts.

Ignoring Barry, Varric turned to me.

“I do not know what the fuck is wrong with you or if you think of yourself as some motherfucking savior for us, but I am not about to start taking charity from you royal dogs. Me and my tribe have lived our lives fighting the bastards of Avalon, and I would rather die to some beast’s claws than lick the boots of a 19-year-old kid from Avalon who thinks of himself as a saint.”

He kicked his chair aside and walked out.

I did not do anything to stop him, mostly because what he said sounded like pure anger with no specific reason, and another reason was that I could not give enough of a fuck to waste my energy on him.

He might be right that I want to help the conscripts of my squad, mostly because helping them helps me, but he was wrong about me running a charity. Just like them I myself was trying to survive the army. I do not have time to run a charity.

Helping them grow or giving them freedom was not something I was against, but they would have to show results and work for it.

I have nothing to give for free.

Ignoring Varric’s abrupt departure, I turned to the remaining three and smiled.

“Ignore his departure,” I said calmly. “As I was saying, I want the whole squad as my permanent unit. That means no one else can use a mana oath on you.”

Then, looking at Barry, I said, “I do not need your answers right now. Take your time, and if you talk to Varric, tell him I do not run a charity. The only reason I am choosing this squad is that new members are highly moldable, even after being almost Tier-2, and I hate to admit it, but you four have combat ability that could rival most soldiers in this fort, irrespective of their elemental affinity.”

I dismissed them with a wave.

Slowly, all three of them stood up and made their way back while I sighed.

I hope Varric thinks about it and has a change of heart. Otherwise, losing him will be a huge loss in the combat prowess of my squad.

Looking at the figures of Barry, Garran, and Kael leaving the training ground toward where Varric had gone, I did not stop them. They needed some time to decide their future, and slacking for a day would not affect anyone.

Shaking my head, I returned my focus to runes.

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Third Person POV

Barry, Garran, and Kael made their way to a usual hanging spot. Nowadays, it had not been used much because of Edward’s training.

Now that Varric, in his anger, had rushed out of the training yard, they knew that was where they would find him.

They were surprised Edward did not stop them from leaving the training field. Most of the time, slacking for even a few minutes led to an increase in the intensity of training.

“Hey, Guard, you are joining, right?” Barry asked, looking lazily at Kael.

“I am still thinking, but I don’t see a reason not to,” Kael replied.

“What about you, big guy?” Barry turned to Garran.

Before Garran could reply, a huge shadow moved from the side, grabbing Barry’s throat and lifting him off the ground, his back pressed against the tree.

But Barry was not slow either. As soon as he felt threatened, he pulled his rune knife, cutting the attacker’s hand, loosening the grip over him.

Finally free, Barry was able to look at his attacker. It was Varric, standing there with his face filled with anger.

“You attack me one more time, and it will be your throat,” Barry said, looking into Varric’s eyes.

Varric shook his hand and took out a normal knife. “You are not the only one who knows how to use knives,” he said, ready to go another round.

But before they could start fighting, Garran blocked Varric’s path while Kael blocked Barry.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Garran said to Varric in his deep voice.

“What’s wrong with me? There is something wrong with him!” Varric said, pointing at Barry. “For all the talk about hating Avalon and its fucking nobles, he has no problem licking their boots. I could understand Kael and his dream of being a soldier. But this fucking rat bastard was the first one to stab us in the back, and to do what? Join a weak kid?”

“Oh, fuck you, you barbarian’s piss!” Barry shouted. “I see what you really are. You are not the prideful warrior you think yourself to be. You are the same as all of us, trying to survive. If you are so brave and unafraid of death, go—there is the wild out there. I am sure the kid would not even stop you. Go out and die like the rest of your tribe—without any meaning.”

“What did—”

“HEY!” Kael shouted, shutting both of them up before the fight could turn into something worse. “Varric, you don’t have to join Edward, but honestly, I do not see how joining his permanent squad is different from what we are doing right now. Once he leaves, you will once again be under the command of someone like Fenward.”

As Varric was ready to shout once more, Kael raised his hand, and Garran tightened his grip over Varric’s shoulders, holding him in place.

“Why don’t we sit and talk? While you all might have assumed that I want to join Edward’s squad, even I am not as sure as Barry about joining. I would like to hear why he has no doubt about working for Edward,” Kael said, looking at Barry as if asking if he was okay with sharing.

Barry nodded.

Kael and Barry made their way to a chair a few paces away, and Garran practically dragged Varric to the seating spot.

As soon as they sat, all eyes turned to Barry.

“Look, I grew up in the slums. From the age of six, I have been stealing to survive, and other than stealing, the only thing I learned there was how to read people to find perfect targets. Since Edward joined us, I have been observing and testing him, and I will tell you that the kid is not weak. At least five times I remember he was ready to kill me if I had affected his mission any more. More than that, he has saved my life more than three times, and he has yet to use that over me. I believe he does not even think of it as something to lord over us; he thinks saving our lives is just his job.”

He let out a deep sigh, as if uncomfortable sharing his past and thought process.

“I don’t know about you, but in the slums, a boss who is decisive and who can save you is the boss you follow.”

Kael nodded, then said, “Also, becoming his permanent squad means we no longer have to worry about others using us as meat shields.”

“What if he starts seeing us like meat shields?” Varric asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Then he does,” Kael said casually, “but I don’t see it happening. Why would he oppose the rest of the army, fighting with fellow sergeants for using mana oaths on me, only to later—when we are willingly following him—turn on us? How does that make any sense?”

“And you are okay with following his rules?” Varric asked, looking at Barry.

Listening to Varric’s question, Barry once again lost his temper. “What the fuck are you worried about? Right now, every loud-mouthed fucker could come here and leave me in pain for the next 7 days. If something allows me to get out of this, I will take it, no matter what rule. You—”

Kael tapped Barry’s shoulder, stopping him once more. “Barry is not wrong. Moreover, Edward has given us meat and mana crystals. He hardly enforces rules that every normal soldier follows. He even allowed you two to go on extra killing when you both spent too much time idle to take out your anger,” Kael said, looking at Varric and Garran.

“I am also joining,” Garran’s deep voice caught everyone’s attention. It was very rare for him to speak unless forced. “Edward knows I like to kill, but there is no difference in how he looks at me. Even my own mother was not able to do that.”

Garran couldn’t help but remember the looks people used to give him because of his family and the reputation of his village. He remembered the fearful gazes of Rokan and the other new recruits when he returned from one of his hunting trips into the clearing, covered in blood. With his giant-like stature and stoic nature, fear was the reaction he had grown used to. Other than Varric, Barry, and Kael… Edward was the first person who treated him like he was normal

Their back-and-forth continued, and without even Edward knowing, four of the most difficult forced conscripts of Fort Darrow were deciding to serve under him.