At the end of combat training, Kiah's name moved two spots up on the scoreboard. It wasn't a massive leap, but she wasn't aiming to stand out.
That morning, they sat in their usual spot in the cafeteria, chewing on stale bread and soggy vegetables.
Since the shrill alarm hadn't jolted them awake today, they figured the next phase of the training was starting soon, weaponry.
Everyone had their bonded weapons in anticipation. Kiah had her labrys. Kira had her bow, and Wayne's majestic sword rested on the bench. And Naya, to Kiah's surprise, held a sleek, elegant spear.
"I thought you bonded with a sword," Kiah questioned when they met at the table. She could have sworn Naya had one during their test.
"No, I've always bonded with a spear. I only used a sword that day because it was the only weapon I could defend myself with. That's why I'm so excited about this phase. I heard Warden Tatiana is a master of all weapons. She can wield anything."
Kiah nodded and let out a quiet sigh.
"You've only been here a few weeks, yet you know practically everything about everyone. It's kind of admirable."
Naya smiled as she swallowed a spoonful of food. Then she shook her head slightly.
"I don't know everything. I just know a lot about the legendary Wardens. When my town was attacked by Thrashers, it was Warden Tatiana who came to our rescue. Warden Eden has also helped us a couple of times when she was a vanguard. Though I've never met them personally and only see them from afar, I try learning what I can about them. It's my way of honoring my heroes."
Kiah listened quietly, perplexed, as Naya spoke enthusiastically with a hint of reverence.
She hadn't known much about the outside world, but it was becoming clear that the Wardens she had taken lightly were celebrated heroes in Duskworn.
After all, these people had saved countless lives, risking their own lives in the process. They were more than an underground resistance; they were icons beyond the base walls.
It made her wonder just how far the prestige of the Wardens stretched outside. She hadn't really considered it before, not having stepped foot beyond the training compound since her arrival.
She made a mental note to introduce her little group to Eden sometime. It felt like a small, good thing she could do for them. She could imagine them just combusting with joy.
Naya kept going, her voice filled with awe.
"...it's hard not to admire them. They are just… spectacular. Warden Eden and Thorne advanced quite recently. They are the youngest wardens on the entire base, probably in all of Duskworn. No one else has become a Warden before twenty-five. Before them, the youngest was Warden Tatiana at thirty years old."
The rest of the table listened, mostly Kiah, because all this information was new to her.
"Why is that?" Kiah asked.
Kira spoke up.
"Unlike the older generation, who were only regular humans before the modification, people born after the Fall were born modified. It makes our evolution much faster. But even with that, Eden and Thorne were far ahead of their peers. It takes most people almost two decades to reach Warden status in Duskworn. They moved from Initiate to Warden in six. They're simply unmatched."
Kiah hummed in thought.
"So then, what's the average time it takes to advance a rank up for the newer generation?"
It was Wayne who answered this time.
"At least five years, if you're consistent with training. But it gets harder the higher you climb. Like, it might take three years to reach Vanguard, but six more to become a Warden. And to be a Sentinel could take close to ten years. Most people give up before then."
Kiah frowned.
"Then why not start early? Can't you start training from an early age?"
Kira rolled her eyes.
"Maybe in Veloria City, they can. But out here? The only way to advance comfortably is to join the rebel organization or an underground crime ring. And neither of those is crazy enough to recruit kids. You've got to be at least fifteen before they even consider it."
Kira paused as Kiah nodded. Everyone had gotten used to the purple-eyed girl's cluelessness by now. Most times, they either gave her a blunt answer or ignored her entirely. But today, Kira was in a generous mood, so she would update the lost soul.
So, Kira continued.
"Even at that, some people can't even advance. There are cases where people get stuck in one rank for years until they die. Others didn't see the need to advance and put themselves into harsh training until the degenerates showed up. Many people do this just for survival."
Kiah's eyes widened slightly. She had realized early on that the youngest person in their batch was sixteen. The rest ranged from seventeen to twenty-five. Their little group skewed young, but not all squads were the same.
Her mind drifted to Anwyll for a moment. According to a little digging she'd done, she learned that he actually joined the organisation less than two years ago and had already advanced to Vanguard. It was peculiar. Everyone else from his batch was still stuck trying to break past the Initiate rank.
That kind of speed was terrifying. He was even faster than Eden.
A chill crept up her spine at the thought. If Anwyll kept going at that place, he'd become the next monster in Duskworn. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to get on his good side… just in case.
Before her thoughts could spiral further, the alarm blared through the air, followed by an announcement to gather in the training room.