Fides Army

by Mia Braun

An army, ready for war. A captain, pretending to have a heart of stone, because of her haunting past. But, deep down, she cares. Her soldiers, different in every way, except their willingness to fight. Their willingness for war. From beginning to end, filled with action, romance, and betrayal.

Author's Note

This story is based off of a role-play that me and my friends completed. This means, all the character's are based off of real people, and much of the dialogue is quoted from our role-play. It was not all my work, we did it together.

https://www.wattpad.com/story/357012476-fides-army

Prologue: Megan

You're useless.

My head was ringing.

You're weak.

"Ugh", I groaned.

You ruined our lives.

The words echoed through my mind.

You couldn't save us.

My hand flew to my head.

Her corpse. Her dead eyes.

The memories.

Blood soaking the walls. Blood soaking the door.

They were back. Flashing in my mind.

Blood everywhere. Not my blood.

I couldn't even remember if I have blood.

I smacked myself quickly, so I would snap out of it. Push it down. I am walking away from all of that. That is not me anymore.

Now, I am in Italy. To be more specific, I am in Sorrento, southern Italy.

Here, I will no longer be known as Megan. They will call me Captain.

Who are they?

They, are my soldiers. The soldiers I will train. The soldiers I will have a fresh start with. The soldiers I will not let down. Not this time.

Present: Coleen

"Alright Coleen, are you ready?"

Taking my sword, I moved to the center of our practice arena. I started taking my battle stance, when I remembered I needed to bend my knees. I hadn't gotten used to that yet, so it was slightly awkward.

I was in my element.

"Yes, Captain. I am ready." I replied.

"Then, you may commence."

Without another word, I charged towards the target dummy and swung my sword toward its lower leg area. Swiftly, I spun around now targeting its upper body. My sword stuck.

"That was good", I heard the Captain comment dryly.

Slightly out of breath, I asked her, "Am I going to do the rest of the tests too or not right now?"

I don't quite understand why I was already out of breath. Normally, it took a lot more. I've been attacked so many times in my life....

"Ugh...", I groaned quietly as my head started spinning. I briefly forgot where I was.

Shaking my head, I focused back onto the present. I needed to get rid of the memory before everything returned...

Point is, I've had enough training to fight back for a long amount of time.

"Well, we aren't done yet," I heard Captain's voice suddenly replying to my question, "Come here."

"Here, ma'am." I saluted, quickly switching my grim face to its usual smile.

"Raise your sword and get into battle stance." she said. I followed as instructed. "I am going to go into offense, and I would like you to defend yourself as best as you can."

I was ready.

Taking a step back, she swung the sword at my right side. I was able to divert it in time. Captain was swift, and a good fighter. She knew what she was doing when she used her momentum from my deflect to spin and return at my left shoulder. Again, I was able to avoid her blow. This time I tried to push back on her.

She saw it coming, and deflected hard. I took a step back, annoyed. I needed to change strategies. I held my stance with my sword ready. As expected, she came at me immediately.

She swung at my left again, but in the last minute dropped low and kicked me off of my legs.

Stop.

In that fleeting second, where I lay on the ground, I was a little girl again.

A little, helpless girl.

Stop. Don't do it.

I couldn't breathe.

It was her. She was standing over me.

No.... no. Not again.

I saw the flash of a sword in front of me. The moment was over.

I rolled back and got on my feet as fast as I could, to avoid Captain's blow. Everything I did now, counted towards my passing or failing of the test.

I could not slip up like that again.

This test was important to me. I had nowhere else to go. I was proud to be the first trainee, but that meant nothing if I failed any of these tests. Captain was harsh and she knew who she wanted on her team. I had to be good, great even, because anything less would get me kicked out.

I focused back into the scene when I saw Captain standing straight up and grinning.

"You are showing promise, soldier.", she commented. "Are you ready to try another round?"

I nodded, bringing out my usual bright smile, "I was born ready."

Present: Solathàr

I felt the ice-cold blade twirl between my fingers, as I watched their combat commence. When Coleen crashed to the ground, I resisted the urge to chuckle.

"You are showing promise, soldier." I heard Captain's comment.

I am better.

The thought flashed through my mind. I knew it was true.

I have always been better.

My expression revealed no emotion, except fixed certainty.

I leaned back against the wall, and glanced up. Vivid blue stretched as far as the eye could see, shining across the mountain range. It tinted the world in heavenly brilliance. A supernatural glow emanated from the stone walls when sun rays hit them. The landscape was draped in green, its vibrant colors bringing life to this lonely cliff. A light breeze grazed my face as I turned away from the mountains and looked the opposite direction.

Across the gulf, the city showed all of its glory. The homes, built to adapt to the large rocks rising from the ground and towering over the sea, were stacked in a way that made you think of a majestic stairwell. Even from a distance, the business of midday was visible in the streets. If you listened close enough, the wind would carry the sound of laughter and conversing from the town. It would carry it all the way to this secluded complex.

My gaze followed the horizon, back to the rigid outline of each mountain behind me. As I turned back slowly, my thoughts went to the camp. Most of the locals had no idea that across the clear bay, lay the camp of an army in training. To most of them, the density of the trees and secludedness of the cliff was a boundary. Nobody dared to guess what might be hiding here.

That hadn't been the case with me.

One last time, I looked towards the sea. Somewhere not far, lay a beautiful island with Punta La Marmora towering over its subjects. Beyond that, you could reach the coast of Spain. It was my dream to discover those places, and get away from all of this.

They say I should be happy to have grown up in a place like this. They call it lucky to live in a paradise.

But, tell me, what's so special about it?

Standing against the door frame of the training arena, I was able to compare this bright scenery to the inside of the arena. It had no roof, instead covered with a rusty metal grate. The shadows shaped by the towering walls, loomed from all sides, fighting against the sunlight. It created something like a spotlight for the two combatants at its center.

I stepped closer towards the inside, embracing the dark and cold of the shadows. The cool breeze hit my skin.

Inhale.

I would choose these shadows over any sunny day.

Exhale.

I would choose this moment over any minute spent in the city of Sorrento.

My eyes caught the small dagger, twisting across the palm of my hand. Its spine easily slid between my finger tips, then twirled back around in repeat. The touch of steel, the sharpened side, its precise aim. It gave me a sense of comfort. It is something that I could control.

Finally, I started to relax in my surroundings. My stern expression curled into a smirk. The temptation to thrust my dagger into something entered the atmosphere.

It continued to linger as I looked around for a potential target. Besides the dummy figures we use for training, nothing of use was laying around.

I was bored.

Instead of continuing my search, I parted with the darkness. I stepped outside and leaned against the stone wall once again.

________________________________________________________________________________

I was dozing off, when Coleen came running out of the arena, bubbling over with joy. She was bubbling all over me.

It was disgusting.

"I think I passed! I only get my results tomorrow- I'm so excited!", she gasped excitedly.

I rolled my eyes.

"I'm headed to lunch.", I replied dryly, already on my way.

"Yeah, it's lunch time now anyway. Meet me at the dining hall?", Captain said, coming out of the arena.

________________________________________________________________________________

I had just cleared my plate, when I heard Captains voice booming through the hall.

"Alright, lunch is over. Is anyone ready to take their test?"

It's time.

I stood up, "I'm ready."

She nodded once, and walked towards the arena. A little flustered, I followed in a hurry.

Once in the arena, Captain sat in a chair, and leaned back.

"When you are ready, you may start." she stated, devoid of emotion.

"I am ready."

"Let's see what you've got."

I charged with a thundering war cry. A quick twist of my wrist and the sword came down on the dummy's neck. A step back. I dove for its lower body, sweeping it off of its feet.

Captain leaned forward, "Have you finished?"

I glanced, "No."

She sat back, watching closely.

I set the dummy back on its feet before continuing.

Then, I thrust my sword at the dummy once again. This time aiming for its heart, yet... missing. I stumbled forward aimlessly, in confusion. That didn't last long.

I grinned. Jumping off the wall in a backflip, I was airborne for a moment of quick glory. I brought the sword down, cleaving its head in two and continuing down its chest.

My slip-up was intentional. Or, that's how I made it seem.

I was panting.

Turning towards the Captain I asked, "So?".

She stood.

"That was.... considerable."

What?

My mind hissed.

I stared at her blankly.

She continued, "A slip-up like that on the battlefield, however intentional it may be, could cost you your life."

Out of habit, I stood a little bit straighter.

My pride was damaged. Inside, I could feel it start to boil.

I answer, with a slight growl, "I shall do better next time."

Instead of responding, Captain simply walked over to one of the walls and picked up a sword.

Nervously, I took a defensive stance.

"I am going to attack you and I would like you to defend as best as you can." she told me.

"I promise not to hurt you too bad." I said winking, pushing down my anger.

The whole thing was a blur. All I can remember is she was too fast. Metal scraped the ground as she slashed at my legs.

I was seeing everything in slow motion.

I dove to the ground, avoiding her blade. Next thing I knew, I jumped back up, and her weapon was at my left arm. I saw it too late. Pain hit me. I quivered, her sword now an inch away from my face.

Stepping back, I dropped my own sword. The metal clattered when it hit the ground. Humiliation engulfed me.

She pulled back, and asked, "Are you alright?"

My emotions were in complete turmoil, as I looked at the ground. I had embarrassed myself. I wanted to hide. She kept staring at me.

My mouth tasted sour with anguish. I wanted to throw up. And suddenly, I wanted to hurt her. I wanted to see her face torn with pain. I wanted to make her pay.

I need to leave.

Before I do something I'll regret.

"Fine", I barely responded before storming off towards the barracks.

I wish she hadn't followed, but she did.

"You beat me", I spat, "What now? Do you want to rub it in my face too?"

I knew it wasn't right, but I wanted to hurt her.

She simply raised an eyebrow.

Her calm demeanor lit a fire inside of me. I was mad. I wanted to snap. I wanted to lift a sword and thrash it at her neck.

But I couldn't.

I wanted some kind of reaction.

But she didn't give one.

I needed to be here. I wanted to rise to her level, learn to be unbeatable. I wanted to earn her trust. I wanted her to believe I would stay loyal.

For that to happen, I couldn't push her boundary.

"That is no way to talk to your Captain."

Fury burned and threatened to escape. The want to push her to the limit washed over me. But, I shoved it down.

"Look at me."

I turned and snapped, "What?"

I barely stopped myself from spitting at her again.

"This attitude will get you no place good", a hint of sadness leaking from her voice. More than anger or hurt, sorrow tinted her deep blue eyes.

Shame overcame me, and I looked back at the ground. I couldn't hold her gaze anymore.

Keep it together.

"You're only 19, don't make this anger of yours a reputation. You are very emotional on the battlefield, but you've shown promise."

Her voice reached out to me like a sympathetic hand. I wanted to reach back, but something was holding me.

A sarcastic, "Sorry", escaped me.

Everything hurt. I mumbled something.

"What did you just say?", her eyes were piercing. Her voice was suddenly hard.

I looked up, seeing that her gaze had changed. It was full of irritation, but the sorrow still lingered.

Finally.

A reaction.

"Sorry. Doesn't matter."

I knew this would get to her.

"There will be no mumbling", her voice stern but steady, laced with bitterness.

Keep it together.

I needed to remind myself. I feared I wouldn't stop pushing her buttons.

"Sorry Captain." I replied, faking humility. It was almost convincing.

She shook her head, disappointed.

"I won't have this."

What? What does she mean?

Fear started creeping in.

She could kick me out. She has power that I don't.

I was confused and didn't know what to say. Panic hit me like a shockwave.

"This is not how you treat anyone", she turned and started walking, "figure it out Sol. Otherwise you will be drinking your life away at the age of thirty."

With that said, she left me.

Fine. Walk away. I'll show you.