3 A DEADLY EXERCISE (1/2)

”Wow!” yelled Yosh in total excitement while they were running for their supply run in preparation for their upcoming final examination. ”We're going to see Daddy! We're going to see Mama! We're going to the Northern Encampment!”

The tall grasses waved about in the meadows as if saying its goodbyes while they exit away entering a small forest that leads to a nearby river to the east. It is full of rocks and other tall grasses and wild shrubs that the small herd of deer forages upon. They were running so fast that any animal in their path ran about thinking danger was up ahead.

”Hahaha! That's right Yosh but that is 'AFTER' we finish this task… and that's still an 'IF',” replied Karus who is bearing excitement in his face.

”What do you mean 'IF'? 'IFs' are not in the vocabulary of the Great Limor House right Reus?” added Kayzar.

Reus whose face is blank, didn't reply. He nodded in agreement, but they can sense a strong presence of disbelief in his eyes.

”What's wrong Kuya-Reus? Why're you so serious, WE'RE GOING HOME! You should be happy. You've been bugging us all week on how much you long to go to the North.”

”That's not it.”

”Then what is it?”

”I think were not capable enough to complete this mission.”

”Hah! You dare question the skills of the mighty Yosh!” cried Yosh in utter confidence.

”No, I think we're going to fight against powerful military rank officers.”

”What powerful officers?” sneered Karus with a smile. ”I think you're being too paranoid again. Master Narra said that they are the ones who were watching us the whole time since day one and guard missions are usually given to beginners. Surely, they will add a lieutenant but that's the highest that they will provide. This area is not in the Danger Zone you know.”

”Do you noticed them following Master when we ran away?”

”Yes, we saw them walk away together.” Kayzar replied.

He stopped running in all seriousness and pointed upwards to the trees. ”Then who are they?”

The guardians that are following them were shocked as Reus revealed their positions. They tried to hide back from them but it's too late.

”Whoa!” Yosh shouted. ”Cool, they're up the trees? And Stella didn't know about it?” He looked at Stella as she landed on his left shoulder guard then bobbed his head. ”Even Luna? Luna!” he cried with a reprimanding tone.

”I think I saw a major and a captain class there,” Reus said seriously continuing his point. ”I recognize their eyes. They are always with Narra when he's going out to the North to report to father.”

”If what you say is true then… we won't make it,” Yosh replied bowing down in disappointment. ”I knew something's fishy. He won't let us leave without giving an impossible task. I was really looking forward to meeting up with mom and dad.”

”No!” refused Kayzar. ”That only means we should organize and think of the best plan to grab that flag.”

”Yes, Kayzar is right,” Karus added quite alarmed. ”If there is a time for us to prove ourselves, now is that time. We will not succumb, and we will not fail.”

”Spoken like a true warrior huh?” Reus snidely replied. ”How old are you Karus? Kayzar?”

”Where is this going Kuya-Reus? You know how old I am!” Karus said with a defensive tone. ”I'm not going to answer you that.”

”Alright then. Fourteen! And how old are you Yosh!?”

”Here we go again…”

”Eleven?” said Yosh with a frightened tone.

”Yes, eleven! What we will come up against are older than all of our age combined!” he waved his hand with a finger pointing at them. ”The twenty years of our total gap is the gap in battle experience they have been acquiring while we're still sucking our thumbs in Mama's belly.”

”—but master said they're not going to use any real weapon on us—” Yosh nervously replied.

”Do you know that they don't really need to carry real weapons to hurt us?! A true Daomagarian picks any nearby object and use it efficiently and effectively as a weapon to his enemy with deadly precision. I know this for a fact and from experience from the north.”

”So, you're ready to give up!?” Karus replied angrily. ”So, you think that in your age of seventeen, you'll be willing to just give up when the numbers are against you?” he grunted while walking away. ”We can defeat them. Even with that kind of gap, we can. You just have to trust your brothers and especially yourself!”

”Oh, stop it. You two look like fools fighting over nothing,” barked Kayzar irritated. ”We will do this Kuya-Reus whether you like it or not and the decision of us failing or loosing are not for us to decide but our fates. Let's wrap this up and hurry to the river before we ran out of time.”

Kayzar walked out annoyed with Yosh following him at his tail surprisingly bothered. Nothing can crush Yosh's unwavering spirit and yet he was overwhelmed with glum almost dragging his feet onwards.

”This is going to be ugly. I know it! And my hunches never lie—” Reus murmured.

They've gone together to the river and filled their canteens. The three sat for a minute to rest while Reus picked some sharp rocks near the river. After a while, they began to convene in a circular position discussing their initial plan. They created a replica of the training ground in the middle of them. Yosh tried his best to concentrate on perfecting the map as he remembered it and it turned out great. It's made with fist-big stones to depict the whole training ground. They selected hard-to-find shiny stones to represent themselves, some small dried branches for the enemy and the flag with a piece of a chipped wood. Then after some ruckus on who should be the shiniest pebble, Reus began deliberating the plan.

”The training ground is a clearing inside a forest. The best part to place a flag is usually in the area where the ground is higher which is practically here in the middle where they can survey any would-be attacker and counterattack efficiently,” he directed his finger at the middle almost touching the hill-like stone that Yosh made to represent the elevated middle. ”Through here they can see us and anticipate our every effort. Yosh, in your point, where would they station themselves?”

”uhmn… let's see…” he turned his back looking for something. He reached far back almost as if crawling, picked up a long dried stick and returned to the circle. ”I think all things equal and them — being high ranking soldiers and all— we can't expect the old they're-all-in-the-center routine... I mean they are strong so they will underestimate us — and uh…—” he paused for a second almost hesitant.

Yosh, who has been trained by Narra in the art of strategic positioning and anticipation of the enemy's moves, stopped for a lot longer than usual and was, for the first time, anxious of his ideas. The three regarded him as a genius in tactics since he's just a kid and he can develop countless unusual scenarios to cripple the enemy effectively with as little effort as possible but today he seems quite off. The stress and burden of being stuck there all summer flashed in his brain constantly nagging him, interrupting his thought processes.

”The short one will guard it I assume,” Karus murmured as if helping him in his analysis.

”—I mean obviously— yes, the shortest will be the one here near the flag, one will be standing very near here - behind the flag to survey - and here down below the tallest to intercept us…” pointing carefully to his map with a stick that he had picked near the river. He nervously thought that one small analysis can literally block his chance in seeing his parents that he hasn't seen for a very long time. This made his voice falter and his ideas less convincing. The other's noticed but didn't give a comment.

”Hmmn… that's very logical, continue…” said Reus trying to encourage him seeing that he's stressed trying to give his best. They encourage Yosh to explore his natural talent in tactical planning at a very young age, he is an Earth Molder after all – Masters of keen understanding on logic and simulations.

”—uh… also, upon observation, the tallest is a man and the other two are women. The man will be most challenging since he'll be the one who'll be at the point of interception, he'll be dubbed as the First Guard. Considering there are no projectile users, it's very easy to take out the first guard down below by using a diversion.”

”And how do we know they are not projectile users?” Kayzar asked as if giving him an exam.

”Based on their movement and stance, they are all trained to use their upper body strength. That is unless they are feigning it which is pretty doubtful. I don't think they will waste their time just to trick us. They are super serious by the looks of it.”

”And even if they aren't, we can still take solace for the fact that almost ninety percent of Daomagarians assigned in Nagozul prefers close quarters melee weaponry,” Karus reminded which Yosh noted.

”Kuya-Karus can intercept him while Kuya-Kayzar follows behind,” Yosh continued while moving his stick quickly indicating movements of his brothers. ”This can give him an opening to prepare an attack using poisoned pins – which he says he's going to use today for the first time. While intercepting him Reus and I will bombard the Second Guard with a series of projectile weapons from the other side. The Third Guard, being the smallest will be at the flag. She would not dare move from her position. If our assumption about them is correct, the guardian of the flag will not try to help his comrades in the ensuing skirmish. It'll be insulting for highly ranked military officers to aid one another defeating us mere children. That'll be their downfall since they are going to be lax on security and will be underestimating our tricks. If both Kuya-Karus and Kuya-Kayzar succeed in poisoning and immobilizing the First Guard, they can come in near the Third Guard and distract her long enough for Stella to grab the target. After which we will all retreat covering Kuya-Karus and Kuya-Kayzar to safety… that's what I think…”

”So, what's the worst-case scenario?” asked Kayzar.

”Well…” said Yosh thinking carefully with a sigh. ”…You two not being victorious and taking a long time? That would lead to Reus being captured and the two of you being badly injured — considering Of course, that the guard is a military officer. There won't be enough time to have an opportunity for Stella to react so I, being a projectile user, cannot mount a rescue therefore the match will be over… unless you escape in time that is…”

”So, we need to prepare for that—here,” Kayzar gave Yosh a long knife. ”Change of plans, we need to create a lightning attack like the Damsel-Kidnapped-by-the-Pusakal Challenge last month.”

”But Kayzar that's too risky!” Karus added surprised on what he heard. ”Attacking them head on will only play to their advantage.”

”No, silly—” Kayzar grabbed a stick on the ground and started pointing on the rock diagram.”—Yosh should stay close to Kuya-Reus while giving bombardments of attack. He will then support him using that knife if any of the guards move close to where they are. If they do, Kuya-Reus should pick up his pace and move into the flag area and distract the guard while you, Karus, move in and further divert the guard's attention to the flag leaving me and Yosh fighting the other two. By then, I think Stella can have an opening to snatch the flag.”

”Well, that seems more of a suicide mission don't you think?” Yosh criticized. ”I mean, after Stella snatching the flag, what happens next? The guards would outmaneuver us, and we'll all be taken as hostages leaving Stella to fly with the flag…”

”Well, you're right, you're right,” Kayzar said pondering and finding a thought for defending his point.

”Arggh…” shouted Karus flustered. ”There seems to be no opening for us without sacrificing a member or two. How can we get the flag without getting caught?”

”Hey, I keep noticing that I'm always being caught in the plan?” Reus complained almost scratching his head.

”Yes, Kuya-Reus,” smiled Yosh. ”I'm sorry but that's what usually happens. Based on your physical…”

”Don't take this the wrong way,” interrupted Karus almost laughing tapping Yosh, ”Not that we think you're not physically fit, no sir you're fit as a bull. It's just… we just think you're always carrying bad luck on your pocket. And that's ok because you're our equalizer. Yosh is carrying too much luck and too much luck is a bad thing.”

”Yeah,” seconded Kayzar smiling wide to their clumsy brother giving him comfort.

They are all in agreement that Reus is the ineptest Nagozulian in the battlefield, but they dare not say that idea to him. If they don't give him a place in the skirmish, he'll be in complete distress being left out and he's getting depressed training for a long time with them as it is, so they are somewhat mandated to include him. That's what good brothers do. They have included him indeed and in time impliedly became their commander, their team captain.

He has shown great promise in handling situations and coming up with weird tactics which has greatly benefited them over the years, but they surely paid for it dearly in every exercise that they've been. He's the one responsible for their immediate improvisations in the battlefield – being too clumsy to manage himself in combat leading for the others to rescue him mid-event. While it is true that they've grown adept in operating in tense situation being able to get creative at every deadly circumstance because of him, it is still a risk that they want to manage especially in their upcoming final exercise. His hope is what motivates him giving him the will not to jeopardize their chance to escape to the north and they wouldn't want to lose his hope now, now that their summer vacation is at stake.

They all stop to think for a plan. The flowing water and the soft breeze that continued to move were the only sound one can hear in their spot for about a minute or two and then Reus shouted.

”Hah!” he cried smiling. ”We're all discussing on how to attack their position when we should be discussing on how we can use our abilities to coincide with our strategy. We are Nagozulians after all!”

”Yes!” Yosh shouted with cheerful tone but immediately returned to a confused state. ”uhm… I think you're forgetting that we haven't even finished our proper elemental training yet. I mean, I haven't! I'm just at my rudimentary classes.”

”Yes, and don't forget that I can't command fire yet. If I do try it, I'll end up with a great migraine again and you'll be left with me squirming on the ground puking all over. I think that won't help you at all…” Karus added trying to pass it as a joke. ”I can command wind, but Master thinks I should limit my elemental summonings to minimum. I can't risk having an attack here.”

”But Kayzar and I can. I've been dying to test my new skill that my friend taught me,” Reus confidently stated.

”What?! Who's that friend of yours?” Yosh sneered. ”I've never seen you train with someone. Let alone talk to other people.”

”What? I… err… never mind that! The point is I have a plan…” smiled Reus. ”…a great plan even… and that will lead us to victory.”

They all lightened up and leaned forward as Reus explained the details with great enthusiasm. After then, the three princes began to have their eyebrows fixed unevenly on their faces, confused on what he just said.

”Uhmn… I think I have a very bad feeling about this plan of yours…” Karus commented.

”You think so? I think it might work considering that we're out of options…” Yosh defended.

”Yup, and if such problems arise in the midst of the clash, we'll just do what we always do. Improvise in Action,” said Kayzar with a very big smile on his face.

”OK! WE'RE READY!” Reus stood up and lifted his sling bag that he filled with sharp stones.

”BRING IT OOONNN!!!!” Yosh shouted on the top of his lungs.

They inspected their belongings and stood up to ready themselves. They bowed to pray for guidance from Bathala and they ran away from the flowing river, passing the green meadows, deep in the forest to meet their fate.

A speck of doubt lingered in their minds as they ran along the narrow path of the forest. A small voice, at the back of their heads, swaying them, that they need more time to prepare, more time to train, that they were not worthy enough to fight against strong warriors that are not within their level but that doubt was overwhelmed by their longing to see their parents again for the longest time. They thought on how their looks have changed, what they're doing at that very instance, and on how their sister Rika have grown.

Their sister Rika was just five when they left her, and their mother said that she will personally give her her training. Oh, how Yosh envied her and wished to take her place. To be with them day and night, to laugh with them while having a stroll on the mountains of the north, and for his parents to defend them, especially to their uncle, aunt, and grandmother the queen who appears to be bullying them all more and more in each passing day as if they've known about their impending vacation and are getting their fill before they left for good. They all snapped in their reminiscing only to find themselves nearing the training ground. They all stopped running and rested for a while under a big tree to finalize their discussion in the assault to grab the flag.

”So, you know the plan, right?” Reus said. ”We'll go to the original plan made by Yosh and when I do my move that I've discussed to you earlier, you'll do yours. We'll call this plan A.”

”Yes, and we'll call the plan by Kayzar 'Plan B',” said Karus ”~which I doubt we'll use~” he added.

”So, are you all ready!” Reus said with a bracing tone.

”Yup, we're ready!” they said in unison.

”Okay, stay close here Karus and Kayzar. We'll go to the other side. On Yosh's whistle you'll move on and carry out your job. Understood?”

”Yes, captain,” The two replied.

”Good,” Reus picked something in his bag and gave it to Kayzar. ”Here, it's a spare whistle. If anything goes wrong on your part just whistle and we'll retreat,” Kayzar grabbed the silver whistle dangle and wore it in his neck. Whatever happens we'll double back at this tree and regroup. Good luck on us all!” he smiled, and they pushed on to go around.