"Yeah" Kinnison said trying to ignore the steak in Pohl's mouth "Is there any other archers?"

"Nope" Pohl answered "Your the first"

"Oh.... so is that a good thing" Kinnison asked not really sure.

"Course it is" Pohl said "If you lucky you may even get to lead a Archer Unit if you turn out to be good"

"Are you really supposed to make those kind of orders?" Kinnison asked "I mean.... Your not very old...."

"Neither are you" Pohl said with a slight laugh "But really, I'll go get a meeting with Flik"

"When?"

"Later, he's busy this time of the day"

"Busy with what?"

"Leader stuff"

"Ohhhh........"

"Here, I'll show you around a bit first" Pohl said as he pointed to the room area "This is the eating room"

"You mean Dining Room"

"Uhh.. Yeah" Pohl answered as he stood up and began downstairs "We have a room made for a Blacksmith, a Storage area and sleeping quarters"

"Hmm... pretty nice" Kinnison said to himself "A lot better that where I slept last night"

"Now Upstairs" Pohl made his ways to the very top "On the East Room is Viktor's the left is Flik's,over there is the balcony"

"Now outside is the Guard Tower" Pohl said as he made his way downstairs and outside as Kinnison just nodded his head not paying attention "(gasp) Then theres the Training Grounds, the Outhouse, the Showers, the recreation center, the Kobold Grooming area, the Fighting Area (gasp) and lastly the Dog-Walking trail"

"Err..... I think I lost you on the Outhouse" Kinnison said as he tried to regain his concentration "Oh well, I'll catch on"

"Whew...." Pohl let out gasping for sweet air "Yeah... you will"

I looked at myself in the mirror. I was starting to grow facial stubble. Man, I looked hideous.

This whole merc fort thing sure was wearing me down. Between maintaining the fort, training the troops, hiring new soldiers, and a bunch of other little tasks that needed attention, I wasn't as energetic as I used to be. Sure, I'm not wrinkly and don't need a cane, but that doesn't mean my age isn't catching up to me.

I was mugged by bandits. That would have never happened to me a year or two ago. Letting a bratty kid knock the wind out of me? Blue Lightning indeed. My senses are dulling out. I'm getting rusty. I'm slowing down. I have no clue what the hell is wrong with me.

I'm almost thirty. I could do a lot of things when I was younger. I can't now. You just can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Okay, looking at myself here is depressing me. I think I'll go out and do some troop inspection. The fresh air would do me good. A woman named Onil once told me that fresh air is good for curing depression. She also said something about how rats will never eat cheese in the face of danger or some crap, but I figured this was at least worth a shot. I opened the door and walked out of my room. I walked down the stairs and into the dining area.

"How are things holding up here?" I asked the general consensus of diners.

They gave an energetic cheer of approval.

"Good. Keep up the good work." I walked out of the fort and went to the sparring area.

Everyone dropped what they were doing and saluted. I asked them "Hey guys, what's up?"

"Training, sir!"

"Well, keep up the good work." I walked away from the sparring area.

Heading over to the dormitory, I saw Pohl and a teenager standing outside it. By the looks of it, the teen was about eighteen. He was holding a bow, and had a quiver on his back. Not your everyday sight at the fort here.

"Hey, Pohl. Who's the kid?" I asked him.

Pohl turned around with a startle. "Flik! What are you doing here?" The kid turned around at the mention of my name.

" I wasn't too busy doing anything, so I decided to inspect on the troops.

Pohl chuckled nervously as the kid shot him a look.

"I thought you said he was busy!" Kinnison said giving Pohl a glare "And I listened to that whole thing about the Mercenary Fort too!"

"Well err...." Pohl said as looked around for a way out "Oh FLIK! Look, we got an archer now! We've been needing one right?"

"Yes we have" Flik said as he looked at Kinnison "What just happened?"

"Well Pohl...." Kinnison started before being cut off by Pohl.

"You, see it was ahh.. err... He umm.. err... I never got your name" Pohl said nervously "I'm Pohl, I figure you realized this is Commander Flik and you are?"

"Kinnison"

"Kinnison what?" Flik inquired.

"Kinnison What?" Kinnison asked, he never really had a last name, and didn't use his first name, 'til recently "Kinnison err Kinnison is my whole name"

"I see......" Flik said "Well, welcome to the Mercenary Fort"

"I think Pohl gave me enough welcome as it is" Kinnison said remembering Pohl's looong boring tour of the fort "Thanks anyway"

"Lets see how good you are at Archery" Flik responded "Over there are targets for Spears, it will work for Arrows too"

"Err... All right" Kinnison said whispering a prayer not to shoot his foot again, Kinnison took one hour out and aimed it at the tree. The arrow was pulled back, his aim was true.. Bullseye, right in the center. Kinnison looked over at Flik, he motioned him to go again, so he did, it hit, right into the other arrow. "Must be the bow" Kinnison though to himself, as he let another arrow wizz, it also hit the target dead on. Kinnison put his arrows away and looked towards Flik and Pohl who was slowly back-stepping away.

"Impressive" Flik said as he looked at the target "That's better than Elves I've seen"

"Uhhh.. Thanks, I have a Rage Rune!" Kinnsion blurted out, he felt like banging his head in the wall for saying that.

"You do? Perfect. Follow me." The unshaven blue warrior lead Kinnison away from the spear-hurtling grounds. He led Kinnison to a scorched piece of land. The grass was brown, the trees were demolished, and the only thing around was a stuffed dummy sitting in the center.

Flik raised his right hand. "Cast Final Flame."

Kinnison's eyes widened. "Huh?"

"Final Flame" Flik repeated. "The level 4 Rage Rune spell."

Flik's thunder rune shined from underneath his glove. "Everyone, clear!" He shouted at the top of his lungs.

A giant lighting bolt from the sky encircled with fire struck the dummy right on the head. Then, the earth began to shake. Fire began to emit from the ground and enveloped the entire surrounding area. A giant sonic boom rocked the entire merc fort. The dummy was no where in sight.

Pohl sat there with his jaw on the ground. "THAT WAS AMAZING!"

"This is great." Flik nodded his head and a smile on his face. "Blazing Camp is the spell cast when a fire-type rune and a lightning-type rune are cast simultaneously. You see, when two magicians combine their magic powers with runes of both compatibility and power level, the effect is a much more powerful spell. I learned that from a wizard named Crowley."

"Wow" Kinnison said still in shock "That's awesome!"

"So where are you from?" Flik asked.

"Well... I was 'born' in Greenhill" Kinnison lied, not really knowing where he was born "But I lived in the woods around Toto Village and Ryube Village, me and Shiro taking what we needed"

"Shiro?" Flik asked "A friend of yours?"

"An old friend" Kinnison said "I don't really want to get into it"

"Understandable." Flik nodded his head again. "Well, Kinnison, I must say that I am impressed with your ability. Your strength and skill are to be admired for such a young person your age. As of right now, you are in charge of the merc fort's archery units. You will be responsible for all dealings with archery, bows, and arrows. You will lead a cavalry unit along side me in battle. How does that sound General Kinnison?

"What the hell? Flik! You're joking!" Pohl jested. "What's Viktor gonna say?"

"Who cares?" Flik retaliated and looked at Kinnsion. "So, are you up to it?"

"R-r-really" Kinnison asked awe-strucked again "Yes, I will, sure I'll get on it right away sir!"

'Wow, I'm a General! And to think South Window wouldn't take me" Kinnison thought to himself.

"You cant be serious!" Pohl exclaimed angrily "I've been in this as long as you and Viktor have, and this kid shows up and you make him a general?"

Flik shot Pohl a glance and turned back to Kinnison. "Well Kinnison, there are a few Kobolds and New recruits you can train later on, Pohl will show them to you"

"Pohl, I've already made up my mind." I walked into the main room of the fort.

Pohl walked in behind me and slammed the door shut. "Flik, you're insane. Making that kid a GENERAL? Giving him is own unit?"

I turned around and got in Pohl's face. "Don't challenge my authority, Pohl."

"The hell I won't!" Pohl stepped back. "I've been here way longer than that BRAT has! He can't be a general!"

"Pohl, he's a good magic user, and an ARCHER. We're lacking good archers, or have you forgotten? What better person than to train an archery unit than him?"

"I don't care what the HELL he is! He can't be trusted!"

"What? Are you jealous?" I turned my back and walked away from him.

"Don't turn your back to me!" Pohl shouted at the top of his lungs.

I stopped and look at him. "Pohl, don't you have something more constructive things you could be doing?"

Pohl looked he was about to cry. He started to walk to the door. "Odessa Silverburg you're not. That's for sure."

Blood. He will die. I unsheathed my sword and put it right against his neck.

Kinnison opened the door and walked in. "I'm not interrupting something, am I?"

I glared at Pohl. "No, nothing." I sheathed my sword as Pohl ran out of the room. He knocked Kinnison out of his way. "Is something the matter?"

"Well, it's about the burning of Ryube..."

"Burning of Ryube?"