Testing

Testing

The afternoon selection tests for Guard members proceeded smoothly. Although some people gave up the opportunity after considering the greater dangers they would face in the future, most arrived early with their weapons and equipment, hoping to be chosen for the well-paid Southshore Guard.

Alwyn had been deeply provoked by the morning's events and kept a grim face throughout, causing many townsfolk who had intended to plead with him to back down. The somewhat harsh requirements prevented many from passing the tests.

They had to run several laps around the training ground under the blazing sun while wearing full armor, all within a set time. At the end, they had to attack wooden dummies until they pierced their hearts or chopped off their heads.

Some of the weaker militiamen could not even complete the first test. After running their laps, some were so exhausted that they could not even lift their weapons, much less attack the dummies with full force.

After the count, fewer than eighty people had passed all the tests. Yet what surprised Roderick was that only two members of the group from the Jade Mine had been eliminated. Everyone else had met the standards he had set, and the taciturn bald giant had achieved the best results of them all.

"Your name is Yug, correct?" Roderick asked the man soaked through with sweat as he stood beside the group with Adrian and Arnold.

"Yes. I am Yug from Tirisfal Glades, Lord Roderick," Yug replied in a deep voice, neither servile nor overbearing.

"Yug, it's me, Adrian from Southshore. Thank you for the roasted spider legs last time." Adrian stepped forward to greet him as well.

"Of course. Thank you very much for the wolf pelts you gave us. We were terribly rude at the time. We truly did not expect you to be a knight."

"Really? Back then, I did not look like a knight in shining armor. I looked more like a destitute wandering hunter, haha." Adrian freely joked about his own status, making everyone who had seen his bedraggled appearance back then laugh. Even Yug's expression gradually relaxed.

"Congratulations to all of you for passing the rigorous selection. Now then, are you willing to join the Southshore Guard and protect the peace of Hillsbrad?" Roderick asked the crowd in an even tone.

The people before him all looked eager to try, yet no one spoke first. Dozens of eyes turned toward Yug, waiting for his answer. Roderick watched him with a subtle expression as well. This man clearly commanded everyone's respect.

Yug only grew calmer. Facing the knight before him, he said, "Lord Roderick, we are not residents of Southshore. We currently make our living mining at the Jade Mine, and we have women, children, and elderly relatives who need our care. We wish to fight at your side, my lord, but if we leave our mining jobs, I fear none of us will know where tomorrow's supper will come from, let alone our wives, children, and elders at home. So I have a proposal for you, my lord. I hope it will not offend you."

Roderick had not expected this from the man before him, but he immediately guessed Yug's intentions and became even more certain of his abilities. "I am not a petty man. Humility is a virtue every knight must learn. Please, speak."

Yug retained the same tone as before, but his words stunned everyone. "I hope Lord Roderick can advance us this month's wages so we can arrange for our families' livelihoods."

As soon as he spoke, the refugee miners who had come with Yug widened their eyes and stared at him in disbelief. Adrian's face changed at once, and he coldly snorted. How ungrateful! He turned his head away. Arnold looked at Yug as though he were an idiot. Someone tugged at Yug's clothes, but he remained unmoved, staring at Roderick and awaiting his reply.

"It is good that you always think of your family." Roderick smiled warmly. "Adrian, go to Alwyn and bring back ten gold coins." Though unwilling, Adrian still carried out Roderick's order. Before long, he returned with a cloth bag containing gold coins and handed it to Roderick.

"Count it carefully, then return home as soon as possible and settle your family matters. In three days, the Guard will raise its banner and officially be established. I hope none of you will be absent." Yug accepted the money bag, looking somewhat dazed, when Roderick continued, "If possible, you may recruit some miners who are still working there. Their pay will remain the same."

"Yes, Lord Roderick." This time, Yug's voice held a little more respect. After they left Southshore, someone finally could not help shouting, "Heavens, Yug, is this real? He was actually willing to give us ten gold coins! I have never met such a generous knight."

"Captain Roderick truly is a knight of great virtue."

"Yug, let's buy some mutton. The children have not eaten delicious meat in so long. Oh, and we should buy a large barrel of liquor too. May the Holy Light bless us, I have almost forgotten what alcohol tastes like."

"That's right. Once we return, we can tell the people who fled from Ambermill. No one wants to stay there for another day..."

The unexpected windfall brought long-lost joy to the refugees. Yug also set down the burden in his heart, hoping Roderick would not disappoint them, hoping Southshore would become the final refuge for these pitiful people.

The noisy training ground finally quieted down. The crude wooden huts left from before were now piled full of equipment and weapons, while Alwyn directed the crowd through the final cleanup.

"What is it, Adrian? Still angry?"

"Roderick, I know you want them to join the Guard, but this is unfair. The young men in town have not received their share. Why should they get to do this?" This highly skilled ranger did not agree with Roderick's actions.

"It is nothing. I did not give them extra compensation; I merely paid them in advance. Besides, they are better soldiers. Years of hard labor have given them tough bodies. Though thin, they possess remarkable endurance. Mining requires cooperation, so miners naturally have better obedience and discipline. More importantly..."

"Oh, I understand. Roderick, you must be using their performance to motivate everyone else. After all, we have known these Southshore people since childhood. Given enough time, they will surely grow lax," Arnold hurriedly said.

"I never thought you knew so much besides causing trouble." Adrian perhaps had never considered such matters at all.

"You spend all day out in the wilderness with those cats and dogs. Of course you have no time to read The Art of Soldier Management. It is a required course for knights." Arnold retorted indignantly.

"Do you want Lupos chasing after you to bite your backside again? I told you, he is not a dog. He is a dire wolf!"

The two soon fell into an argument. Roderick did not try to stop them; this was also one way they expressed their deep friendship. It was indeed impressive that Arnold had thought of that, but he had not stated the most important reason.

Whether they would fight orcs or battle the undead in the future, these Guard members born in Southshore lacked sufficient motivation. He could force them into battle with orders, but the combat strength of militia driven that way was easy to imagine. Only those who bore bone-deep hatred for the undead and orcs would willingly gather beneath his banner and fight. These refugees from the Kingdom of Lordaeron would become his most important source of troops in the future. But there was no need to spell that out so clearly. It was time to go home and deal with Remilia's matter. After bidding farewell to Adrian and Arnold, who were still bickering, Roderick turned and entered his wooden house.