The next afternoon, Cloe gathered all the soldiers in the fortress onto the training grounds.
No one knew why.
The sun beat down on the lined-up ranks, and a quiet murmur passed through the crowd as soldiers exchanged puzzled glances. Everyone stood at attention, but confusion lingered on their faces as they waited for orders.
"What's going on? Aren't we supposed to be training?"
Alex leaned closer and whispered to Marci, eyes scanning the gathered troops.
"I don't know!" Marci replied, equally confused. "No one said anything."
Standing beside them, Mr. Hex crossed his arms, his expression unusually sharp.
"It must be something urgent," he said with a slight grin. "Another war, maybe?"
His voice carried just enough excitement to make Alex frown.
"Sorry for taking your time. Please step walk to the front when your name is called,"
Cloe barked, her tone sharp and authoritative as she unrolled a scroll in her hands.
The murmuring soldiers fell silent at once.
"Sir Hex!"
"…Me?"
Mr. Hex blinked, glancing at Alex and Marci with a puzzled look. After a brief pause, he sighed and stepped forward.
"Guess I'm up," he muttered, making his way to the front.
"Sir John!"
"Yes, Lieutenant!"
A man clad in full knight uniform marched forward with steady, disciplined steps.
Whispers stirred among the soldiers as he passed many recognized him
"That's Sir John!"
"Wasn't he part of the royal escort unit?"
"Damn, he's the real deal…"
"Miss Sophia!"
"Eh—!?"
All eyes turned to the back row, where the medics and clerics stood in a quiet cluster.
A young woman in a spotless medic's uniform looked up, startled. Her fingers tightened around the satchel hanging at her side.
With visible hesitation, Sophia began walking forward—cheeks flushed, eyes lowered as the murmurs rippled through the gathered soldiers.
"She's a medic?"
"That's Sophia, right?"
"She treated me after training last week!"
"She's always so gentle.. And gorgeous"
Sophia didn't respond. She simply kept walking, each step small and nervous, but steady.
"Next is… Marci!" Cloe called out clearly.
Marci blinked and turned to Alex, hesitating for a moment.
"Well… looks like my name was called. Guess I'm going," he said with his usual easygoing smile.
He stepped forward calmly, his posture relaxed, though there was a nervous energy behind his casual stride.
Whispers spread through the crowd almost immediately.
"Oh! Isn't that Marci?"
"He's really nice! Helped me carry supplies the other day."
"Did you see his bow skills? That shot during training was incredible!"
Once all the selected names had gathered and lined up neatly at the front, Cloe stepped forward, scroll still in hand.
She raised her voice so all the soldiers could hear.
"As many of you may have guessed, these individuals were chosen not randomly, but based on their performance, background, and potential," she said. "I have reviewed the reports myself."
She turned toward the lineup, starting with the man on the far left.
"First, Sir Hex."
The older man gave a small nod as the eyes of the fortress turned toward him.
"In his forties. A former knight with years of combat experience. Known for his composure in battle, and exceptional swordsmanship. He fought on the frontlines during the defense of Canos, and continues to train new recruits personally."
Mr. Hex scratched his grey beard, looking somewhat embarrassed by the attention, but didn't deny a single word.
"Second, Sir John."
The man in his early twenties stepped forward slightly and gave a crisp nod.
"A former member of the Royal Escort Unit," Cloe announced. "Renowned for his spearmanship and exceptional navigation skills. His name is well known in noble circles for protecting members of the royal family during a monster assault in the Northern Provinces."
Murmurs of recognition rippled through the crowd.
"However," she continued, her tone steady, "Sir John chose to step away from his position in the capital to serve under Lord Willson, offering his skills in the hopes of creating a force that could stand against threats both human and monstrous."
Sir John remained still stoic and composed.
"Third, Miss Sophia."
A girl around Alex's age stepped slightly forward. She had soft brown hair, a modest cleric's robe, and a beautiful, serene expression that seemed to calm even the restless murmurs in the crowd.
She offered a small, gentle smile, humble, but steady.
"Miss Sophia is a graduate of the Cleric Associate Academy," Cloe announced. "She has shown remarkable proficiency in healing magic and battlefield support. Despite her quiet demeanor, her performance during the post-battle treatment of our wounded was both swift and precise."
"And finally—Marci."
Marci stepped forward slowly, his usual cheerful smile on his face. His short red hair swayed gently in the breeze, and his soft, almost girlish features made him stand out even among the armored soldiers.
A few murmurs passed through the crowd—mostly warm.
"Marci is one of our newest recruits," Cloe began, her voice steady but slightly softer. "However, his skill with the bow is exceptional."
She paused, glancing down at her notes for a moment before continuing.
"While still raw, his precision and focus show promise far beyond what was expected of a new recruit. With the right training, I believe his abilities will grow to surpass even my expectations."
"That is why he was chosen."
Marci rubbed the back of his neck, smiling awkwardly as more eyes turned his way.
"That's all," Cloe announced, rolling the scroll back up with a sharp flick.
"Everyone else, return to your training."
A wave of chatter and movement rippled through the crowd as the rest of the soldiers began to disperse.
Cloe turned her helmet toward the selected group.
"And the four of you—please follow me."
Her voice held no room for hesitation.
Mr. Hex, Sir John, Sophia, and Marci exchanged quick glances before stepping away from the formation, following behind Cloe as she turned on her heel and began walking toward the fortress.
Alex watched them go, their backs growing smaller as they followed Cloe toward the fortress.
A strange feeling stirred in his chest a tight, hollow ache he couldn't quite name.
He lowered his gaze, the training field suddenly feeling much bigger and much lonelier.
'I haven't improved at all, he thought to himself. Not in the way that matters.'
He still felt weak. His sword skills were clumsy, his body lacked precision. And more than anything, he felt invisible , unacknowledged by Lieutenant CLoe, who hadn't even looked his way once during the selection.
===================================
The four selected soldiers followed Lieutenant Cloe through the stone corridors of the fortress, their footsteps echoing faintly in the quiet hall.
Eventually, they arrived at a familiar wooden door the entrance to Lord Willson's office.
Without hesitation, Cloe pushed it open and led them inside.
Seated at his desk, Lord Willson looked up from a stack of parchment, his sharp gaze settling on the group as they entered.
The five of them Mr. Hex, Sir John, Sophia, Marci, and Cloe, stood before him.
And without needing to be told, the four bowed respectfully.
"Lord Willson, thank you for this opportunity," Mr. Hex spoke first, his voice steady.
The others followed suit, each offering their own words of respect and gratitude.
Lord Willson leaned back in his chair, a calm smile resting on his face.
"Cloe, would you do the honors and explain why they're here?" he asked gently.
Without hesitation, Cloe stepped forward. Still clad in her full armor, she pulled out a second scroll—this one smaller, sealed with a crimson mark.
She broke the seal and unfurled it.
"Under Lord Willson's authority," she began, her voice steady and formal, "a new unit is being formed. A covert military group that will operate outside of standard chains of command."
The room fell completely silent.
"A force that will work in the shadows—handling reconnaissance, special retrieval missions, and preemptive strikes that traditional forces cannot manage."
The words hit hard. Even Mr. Hex's eyes narrowed slightly.
Marci swallowed.
Sophia clutched her satchel tighter.
Even Sir John's expression stiffened.
"I, myself, will be leading this unit," Cloe continued, rolling up the scroll with calm authority. "So please rest assured you'll be in capable hands."
"Hmm… I see."
Marci let out a light smile at her words, visibly more relaxed.
Cloe then straightened her posture. "Now then—our first assignment has already been approved by the higher-ups. We'll depart tomorrow morning, and I'll brief you on the full details during the journey."
Her tone was confident, efficient—leaving no room for uncertainty.
Just then, Lord Willson leaned forward slightly, raising a brow.
"Hmm… and who will be your carrier?" he asked in a calm, almost teasing tone.
Cloe paused.
"…Lord Willson, I believe we can manage on our own."
Willson smiled knowingly. "Yes, yes—but I already gave you permission to assign someone to assist. Someone to carry supplies, handle support, and keep you stocked while on the move."
"...My apologies, Lord Willson," Cloe said, bowing slightly. "I hadn't considered it yet."
Willson chuckled and turned his gaze to the group.
"In that case, I'll allow you to choose. Recommend someone you trust, someone who won't slow you down."
The group went silent for a moment.
"I don't want to burden anyone from the infirmary," Sophia said softly. "They're already short-staffed. I wouldn't want to drag my colleagues into this."
"If I may—" Sir John began, but before he could finish—
"Alex!" Marci suddenly said, raising his hand.
Everyone turned to look at him.
Cloe's eyes narrowed slightly. "…Alex?"
Marci nodded enthusiastically. "He's reliable! Strong too! And, well… I want him to come."
"True, though."
Mr. Hex chimed in, arms crossed and expression firm.
"Alex is someone you can trust."
Marci turned and shot him a grateful smile, while Sophia gave a quiet nod of agreement.
Cloe glanced between them, then back at Lord Willson, who now wore a mildly amused smile.
"…It seems like the special unit is completed," Lord Willson said.