A hundred recruits from Bial stood in rows before Commander Boja and President Arni.
Arni said, "Children of Bial, you are now soldiers in the Frata army! You've earned this rank. When I look at you… I don't see Light blood. I see the blood of your human ancestors who fought the Lights and won!
"You have been injected with a marrow fragment from the noxious Nieth, slain by our ancestors one hundred years ago. I expect each of you to use his power to protect Frata and humanity."
Among the recruits were Nier, Elir, Mika, Ayk, Andra, Arlo, Inini, Fojta, Seeta, Riz, and others.
Arni placed his hand over his eye and stomped his foot. "Long live Frata!"
The recruits repeated the gesture, putting their hands over their eyes and stomping. "Long live Frata!"
Inini smiled. "I thought we wouldn't qualify after losing our last fights…"
Mika said, "That jerk never said we'd fail to qualify if we lost. He just wanted to see if we'd fight each other on command."
Seeta said, "So you didn't have to hit me as hard as you did."
Mika looked at her with mock terror. She laughed and said, "I'm joking."
Mika growled, "Wow, they'll let anyone into the army now… Can't you check if they need maids or seamstresses in the castle?"
Seeta's face flushed with anger. "I'll remember that! The next time we fight, just watch—mark my words, Mika."
Mika laughed as though everything she said amused him. Seeta glanced at Nier and thought, I made it, Nier. She touched her face where the scar remained.
Someone else watched Nier and Elir, too: Arlo. Even though he remained, even though he and Inini had joined, he still felt the bitterness of that first defeat against Elir. Elir… his arrogance, that superior look… I hate it. I hate it.
Mika said to Ayk as he examined his uniform, "But, brother, look at these clothes… we look like someone important!"
They wore gray uniforms with black belts and an emblem on their chests.
Ayk said calmly, "Mika, shut up. The president is still talking. You never stop talking."
Arni continued, "Commander Boja has taken care of you until now. You will be assigned to different units of the Frata army based on our assessment. Each of you will serve under an Iron Hand soldier of Frata's forces, who will be responsible for you. You cannot move or use weapons without their permission. You will be their subordinates."
Mika called loudly, "Ah, so they give the orders and we do the dirty work, so they don't soil their Iron Hands, right?"
Ayk kicked Mika's leg and said firmly, "You idiot!"
Arni smiled. "True… we don't want Frata's children to stain their hearts and hands with blood. We rely on you and your tainted blood."
Arlo muttered angrily, "They're treating us like trained dogs, then…"
Arni continued, "But it honors us that the Black Wings protect us! It honors us that they dedicate their cursed blood to protecting us!"
Nier's eyes lit with enthusiasm. "It doesn't matter! Let them use us! I'll give them whatever they want!"
Arni finished, "Welcome to the Frata army!"
The recruits stomped and placed their hands over their eyes. "Yes!!"
Above, on a higher floor of the castle, soldiers in blue uniforms bearing Iron Hand emblems watched.
One of the girls said, "Why haven't they shown their wings yet? I want to see them so badly!"
Another girl, leaning on the stairs, said, "Don't get your hopes up, Noel. It's just a rumor. I think they're normal humans like us."
A tall boy approached the girl and said, "You're wrong, Sabana. They're not humans like us."
Noel said, "What are you talking about, Berko? Look at that short blond boy—he looks so cute… maybe he'll show us his wings!"
Sabana shook her head. "You're a lost cause, Noel…"
A young man nearby laughed. "Come on, these recruits will be in our squad. Let's welcome them."
Another soldier said, "Berko's right, Rin… they might look like peaceful kids, but don't forget, they're Lights' descendants. And now they have Nieth's cursed power injected in them."
He added anxiously, "Is this really a good idea?"
Noel said, "Soul, how can you worry? They've done this for a hundred years. The Black Wings always obey the Iron Hands. We just have to lead them well so they protect Frata. And maybe… just maybe, they'll show us their wings!"
He stood there with a white aura over his head, golden wings spread wide, saying, "Those bonds… they are what we lacked." A man and woman stood before him holding a child, smiling. Then the child started screaming and crying as the mother and father fell to the ground, killed.
Elir woke with a start, clutching his heart. He looked around to find himself in the barracks.
He thought, What was that dream…? He touched his face, noticing tears. Why am I crying?