My focused meditation shattered covered truck went over a bump, briefly throwing me into the air and hard onto the floor. With a huff, I slowly settled back onto the floor.

The sudden movement attracted the attention of my guards, the same group of people that I had taught magic. "That was rough," Moonflower mumbled as she adjusted herself back onto the wooden bench the military called seating. Instead of her nurse's uniform, she wore the military garb of a private.

"This a beat-up old truck. Could they have not gotten us anything better? I can see the stitches on the patches." Lunatide wildly gestured to the poor stitching that pocketed the cloth cover stretched over metal arches.

"Think of this as a meditation exercise with a multitude of distractions." I rolled my shoulders in a failed attempt to soothe my stiff muscles.

"I wish we could be learning more spells." Quartz nigh-silently mumbled.

"I can't exactly teach magic in an area where it could cause damage if it goes wrong," I stated in a bored tone. "I don't want to be here either, but I'm not exactly trusted to fly myself there." Admittedly, I had been grounded so long, that I began to have some concerns I would struggle to take off due to weakening muscles. "At least we get fresh air."

"If you could fresh as being mixed with car exhaust." Lunatide huffed.

"It's better than the air in the closet." I shrugged and decided to leave the topic there. "I guess while we're stuck here, what spells do you want to learn?"

"Explosions," Apollo immediately spoke, "spread damage to hurt multiple monsters would be useful."

"Until the affected area includes allies," Umbra stated in a low tone.

"Fine then, what do you suggest?" Apollo huffed slightly.

"Healing," Umbra spoke, "you do not understand the pain of someone dying in your arms while you are unable to help them." He cast a pensive gaze at the floor.

"I know several healing spells," Saki spoke, "but for me, explosions more happen by accident. I don't know any real spells for it. It was not in the book."

"Hoshiryu doesn't even know them?" Apollo looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

"I don't. With my magic, I was too much of an endangerment to others." I shifted my wings as a bump shot slight pain through my shoulders. I longed for the open skies. I would probably arrive faster flying than riding this rattling vehicle. "So healing and what else?" I glanced around at the other faces in the room.

"Can we fly with magic?" Keesho asked.

"How about some shield spells?" Quartz requested.

"If we can make shields, are weapons made of magic possible?" Photovoltaic raised an eyebrow.

"All good suggestions." Saki praised.

"And possible with enough practice and training." I agreed.

The covered wagon suddenly jolted to a stop as the engine cut. A door in the front of the vehicle slammed, rattling the metal frame with vibrations. I remained calmly still as boots stomped on gravel from the front to the back of the truck.

The soldiers around me stood at attention as Helios snapped open the flaps of cloth covering the opening. "At ease, let's move."

Following the protocol, half of my escort immediately disembarked, while the rest waited until after Saki and I jumped down before following. I glanced around at the other trucks as they unloaded the other magic recruits from the southern base. The two vehicles carried about twenty South Base magic recruits. Many of them had been guards tor my original class, while others had unknown faces.

I looked ahead at the bland stone building. It looked similar to the southern base in Ionai, perhaps a bit bigger. Most buildings looked the same to me. I hope we get a better place to sleep than a closet. I stretched, mentally laughing at myself for even considering the idea. I doubt Coriolis would give us anything if it wasn't for the magastron's decree.

"Move!" Helios barked and urged us forward. "To the announcement hall." Thankfully, he led the way through the maze of bland, identical halls of grey bricks and doors. Eventually, Helios pushed open a set of double doors. "Mage squad, get on stage, the rest of you, take seats."

I nearly rolled my eyes at the silly name Saki and I were escorted onstage. Meanwhile, the others seated themselves on the uncomfortable-looking folding chairs among the soldiers from the other bases. Whispers filled the room as I walked down the center aisle, the hushed comments mixed disbelief and anger. I hoped Saki couldn't hear the ones directed at her.

I kept a straight face as I stepped onto the stage, then settled in the center, surrounded by my magically-trained guards. While Saki and my entourage remained standing, I felt no need to. It was in my best interest to appear as non-threatening as possible, though it was at the cost of appearing lazy.

Saki glanced at me, her expression a mix of different emotions. She wanted me to stand but was also wondering if she could sit as well.

I returned her silent communication with a calmer expression, and her nervousness slowly deepened. With a small frown, I moved my paw slightly closer to her so that it touched her foot. That seemed to help calm her.

I glanced out to the auditorium as more people filed into the room and seated themselves mostly in groups based on the base they originated from. Their faces changed as they spotted me from mixed excitement to confusion and antagonization. As more people filed into the room, the whispers slowly increased in volume and became more incoherent as the population within the space increased.

Based on the slight differences in their uniform badges, the southern base had the most representation, while the western base had the least with only a handful of recruits by my count. The eastern and northern bases both had about a dozen soldiers in the seats. The ranks were randomly distributed, I did not note any specific patterns. There were even some non-military personnel within the ranks.

However, the room immediately silenced as the five generals and Magastron Kosmos stepped onto the stage. The young ruler stepped up to the front of the stage with Courage a step behind him on his right flank. "Good afternoon," he stood as regal as his teenage body allowed, "Thank you for volunteering for this endeavor. However, if at any point you decide to drop out, you may do so. Also, if you are not genuinely interested in learning magic, then you should drop out after dismissal. No one will be penalized for their actions in the past." He gestured to Saki and me, "Saki and Hoshiryu will be your instructors. I trust them, but feel free to drop out if you distrust them."

Hushed mumbling briefly slithered through the air before being silenced by a quiet "ahem" from Courage. As she stepped forward. "Hoshiryu and Saki will be guarded at all times; every class will have at least one general present. This afternoon there will be an evaluation to divide you into different classes based on your current skill level. Fourteenth hour. Don't be late." She gave one last sweeping gaze over the recruits. "Dismissed."

Chatter between the soldiers immediately started with vigor. The multitude of voices created a cacophony of various incoherent words in the echoey auditorium.

Coriolis approached. "I'll show all of you to your quarters." She looked up and down my line of guards, then exited the stage. "All of you are in the same hall for security reasons. I expect you to have rotating night shifts to ensure the monster stays contained."

"Yes, sir." Umbra nodded, though the subtle gaze in his eyes implied he knew full well I wouldn't try anything.

I stood and followed the eastern general down several hallways before she stopped in front of a door with several locks. "This is where the monster will be staying. I expect two guards in front of this door as long as he is inside. I will lock his door at night." She pointed to two other doors. "Left door for the men, right for the women." She stood. "I want no reports of shirking or mishaps. Am I clear?"

"Yes sir!" The squad echoed.

Coriolis nodded in approval. "Good. Be on the main field before the fourteenth hour." She turned and strode down the hall. "The meal hall is across from the auditorium.

Saki blinked and glanced around for a clock, then frowned when she saw the time. "That's a few hours away, after lunch."

"We'll go with you later," Shinestar promised.

"Let's see what accommodations we were given." I used a paw to open the door and revealed a closet.

"About what I expected," I responded as I eyed the stained floor and crinkled my nose at the stench of old dirty mop water. At least the metal shelves and corners had been cleared of cleaning supplies and tools, but had not been used to clean the space. The dust balls in the corner were large enough to act as a blindfold.

"There's no way that is your quarters." Photovoltaic raised an eyebrow.

"I'd only put an enemy in quarters like that," Apollo noted.

"I am the enemy," I responded and entered the small space, ducking under the shoulder-height lowest shelves. The room was small, and even when I reached the back wall, my tail remained outside the closet. I turned, feeling cramped but fully inside. "I can deal with this, but I doubt there is enough space for Saki as well_ She did not supply a cot either."

"Saki can stay in the real room with us," Keesho glanced back at the women's quarters as if she hoped it was an actual room. "And I do not think you should stay here either."

"We could take the complaint up to the top" Albedo snarked

"There's no point in that." Lunatide huffed.

"You're right," Quartz started, "He can sleep in our quarters. It will be easier to guard him, and if anyone asks, he didn't fit into the broom closet."

Lunatine looked at the officer with wide eyes. Before he could comment, Photovoltaic nodded. "That sounds like an excellent idea. I'm sure we could easily get General Helios and his majesty to agree to the change."

"We can report and gain permission for the change when we meet them for the evaluation process." Umbra grinned a bit. "And this way, we don't have to make anyone redo the arrangements. They're likely strapped for bunks with the influx of magic recruits." He opened the door. "Besides, I don't think his majesty would approve of those squalor conditions anyway."

"I've slept in worse conditions." I shrugged, "it's at least indoors."

"It smelled like outdoors." Albedo entered the room and slung his small personal bag onto a bunk. "This one is mine!" He declared.

I raised an eyebrow in confusion as the other men rushed to claim spots on the stacked beds, tussling slightly as they raced for their perceived best spots. The metal frames almost looked like stacked cages with padded bottoms, except the bars were horizontal and only on two sides.

I sensed magic flare in the room and immediately targeted its source. "No magic for whatever thing you're doing!" I order, and they all look at me with raised eyebrows. "If you're going to fight, don't hurt yourselves." I huffed.

"You've never had to fight for the best place to sleep?" Lunatide looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

"We got dragged to our assigned cages and locked there. After I escaped, I slept mostly outside. There wasn't much to fight for. The quality of my cage was based on my performance." I looked at them. "Those are beds? They look like cages."

"They definitely feel like it sometimes." Umbra chuckled from his top bunk. "But it's better than the floor." He paused, then looked down at the faces in the room. "Though usually, I'm in a room with a bunch of privates. Mixed-rank housing is unusual."

"We're a squadron now, by all accounts." Quartz pushed two of the bunks in the corner together to create a larger space. "Hoshiryu, you can have those two. You're a bit big for just one and this tiny room has no floor space."

"Thanks?" I was admittedly surprised by the kindness and approached, then climbed into the narrow space. Between the walls and bars at the ends of the bunk, it felt like a cell. I didn't know if that made me feel more or less comfortable. At least it felt familiar, and the thin pads were nicer than the floor.

"Alright men, settle down, then we'll head to the meal hall before we go to the field," Apollo stated.

"Yes sir!" The others agreed.

Meanwhile, I was confused about why they were semi-nice to me. I was still a prisoner, but their faces lacked the glares from their first class. Maybe they've realized how terrible of a monster I am. Either that or they know I'm the best ticket out of this war.

"By the way, do we have to be evaluated or do we automatically get to the hardest class?" Lunatide huffed. "I don't want to go through magic basics again."

"Everyone will be evaluated," I responded as I lowered my head on the leather-covered bed. "Saki has this idea of fairness." But I'm not going to tell them they'll all qualify for the hardest class.

Lunatide scrunched his face, then went about his business.

I withheld an amused chuckle as I meditated until it was time to leave.