Chapter 351: Evaluation (1/2)

“I can bring you if you’d like. They know me well and it might save you a couple annoying talks and explanations.” Dale said after a while.

The recruits were actually rather well trained. Ilea was particularly impressed with their focus. Most were below level fifty, the bigger part with various warrior and body enhancement classes. A few had rarer mage classes but nothing Ilea didn’t already have a resistance to.

She glanced at Dale. “Sure, if you don’t have any more pressing matters to attend to.”

The man chuckled and shook his head. “You’re literally the Shadow, here to take care of the most dangerous threats that the whole city has to deal with.” He laughed, “It’s pretty much my job to make sure you get where you need to be as fast as possible.”

Ilea just waved him off, “Ah come on Dale, I’m not just here because of that. You’ve leveled quite a bit. One forty already. How have you been, how’s the family?” She smiled at him.

The warriors fighting in front of them tried very hard to seem like they weren’t listening in.

Dale smiled, “Keep those skills up, recruits.” He walked on and answered her after a while. “Most of them I got with the hunters. I can’t complain. The pay isn’t bad and with Alistair it’s only gotten better. My wife doesn’t really have to work anymore, not that she’d ever stop.”

“What does she do?” Ilea asked.

“She’s a cook.” He said with a smirk, “Damn good one at that.”

“I definitely approve of you two.” Ilea said, glancing at the approaching guard.

He smiled and stopped a meter in front of them, “Ma’am, may I ask a question?”

“Of course, lowly peasant.” Ilea said with a serious tone.

“Lowl… you are Ilea, right? The warrior who was here over a year ago, having a bout with captain Dale?” His voice didn’t sound so sure anymore, his expression less confident.

“Yea, that’s me.”

He scratched his neck, trying to avoid looking into her eyes, “Well… there has… sort of been a bet. To see if anyone could land a hit on you. Because… the captain failed to take you down.”

“Neil, you’re talking to a Shadow. I think she has better things to do than that.” Dale said in a calm voice.

Ilea was happy neither of them seemed too intimidated by her, Dale especially. Then again, other than shock he had usually seemed pretty collected. Compared to Walter or her friends in the Hand. Maybe because he was never super powerful to begin with.

“How do you test them, just look at them as they fight?” Ilea asked Dale, looking at the recruits.

“You’re not seriously considering…,” he shook his head but couldn’t hide the smirk that tugged on his lips. “We have them fight officers, they get evaluated and either promoted or they stay recruits.”

“Can they go all out?” Ilea asked, the suggestion evident.

Dale looked at her, scratching his chin. “No, of course not. We tried dummies, before you asked. It’s not in the budget with how many of them get destroyed.” He paused. “But I really don’t want to have you stay here. The missions are more important and you should be briefed as soon as possible.”

Ilea cracked her shoulder and spoke, “I’m not in a hurry, Dale. If it’s really that important, you can inform the governor already. It’s not like he could just make time instantly anyway.”

“You’re underestimating your own worth. I don’t think anybody expected a Shadow so soon. With the siege of Virilya and the war.” Dale said and gestured for a nearby guard.

The man ran over quickly.

“They broke the siege. Earlier this week I think. Huge massacre in the Baralia camp. I heard it right before leaving Ravenhall.” She said.

“What?!” Dale nearly shouted, startling the guard. “Inform the governor that a Shadow has come to answer the summons. Add that said Shadow informed us about the end of the Virilya siege. The empire struck back.” He quickly explained.

The guard nodded and ran off, teleporting occasionally before he jumped over the low walls, continuing over the rooftops.

“You didn’t know yet.” Ilea said and chuckled. “Oh well. So what about it? They all get a shot at me, can go all out and you tell me what I should do. Attack, defend, dodge, fly, ranged. I’ve got it all baby.” She winked at the captain.

He shook his head again and laughed. “You come here and bring the most important news in the last year. You know what, why not. Only if I get a shot too, as well as any other guard or hunter who wants to try.” Dale suggested.

“How priorities suddenly shift.” Ilea joked. “I thought the Shadow needed to be briefed immediately.”

“They wouldn’t let me live it down. Ever. You’re the only Shadow I’ve met that would agree to something like this, let alone suggest it themselves. Plus I’m sick of people thinking I made up all those stories about you.”

Ilea crossed her arms and sighed. “Then we should get started, don’t you think? There’s a bunch of people around.”

Ten pairs of eyes glanced their way, some anxious, some excited, others again outright terrified. A cold gust of wind flowed over the training square, the sand shifting slightly. It almost seemed like the soon to be guards or hunters held their collective breath.

“Well, I’m in too deep now.” Dale whispered to himself. “Did anybody say stop?!” He shouted at the recruits who had interrupted their bouts.

Unsure glances were exchanged before they started again, many of them looking disappointed.

A moment later the captain shouted, “Stop!” He smiled and glanced at Ilea. “Form ranks!”

Three lines formed quickly, some of the men and women stumbling as they got into position. One actually fell down but was up again quickly, helped by his colleagues.

“Can I use your name?” He asked her.

“Sure. I’ll keep the armor on at least. Not that it really matters anymore.” Ilea replied, the last part more to herself. My decision to use Ilea or Lilith is just as arbitrary as me hiding my face. She smiled at her own inability to ever become a spy. A good one that was. I’d get murdered on my first day.

“This is Ilea. She’s with the Hand and today, she will be evaluating you. Combat ability, speed, dodging, range, attack power. If she has time, we might be able to test team setups as well.” He trapped her effectively and looked at his officers. “You’re free this morning but she offered to let any guard or hunter try. Make sure word gets around.”

The guard lit up and were about to vanish when Dale spoke up again.

“If I find any post unfilled, any rotation being done sloppily, I will execute the punishments myself.”

They gulped and nodded, rushing off to likely inform their friends.

“A good test.” Dale said in a quiet voice, walking back to Ilea.

“For what? Loyalty?” She asked.

An officer joined them with a list and nodded to each.

“No.” Dale replied, “Frederick Trail, you’re up first.” He added and looked at Ilea. “It’s not unheard of to distract city guards with an attraction, a festival or something along those lines. Rare, sure but not unheard of. I’ll have some of our rogues and rangers try to get into the city as well as some key locations throughout.” He said it silently, knowing she would hear it anyway.

“Smart. Sure, I’ll be your attraction.” Ilea said. “Whoever manages to draw blood gets a gold coin.” She added in a much louder voice.

The recruits looked at each other with exciting eyes. Some actually looked confident.

“You’ll break them.” Dale said.

“How else would you get them to go all out? Plus, it’s been a while since you saw me, Dale. Enjoy the show.” She said and winked. Ash started to form around her, cladding her in a dark, nearly black armor.

The recruit who had been named stepped up, wide eyed and glancing around as well as back to his fellow doomed.

“Trail…,” Ilea started, getting the man’s attention. She saw him gulp. “Do you know a man named Joseph?”

“No ma’am.” He replied.

[Warrior – lvl 38]

She just nodded, a couple of ashen limbs forming on her back. “You may attack. I can heal myself so feel free to go all out.”

“You heard her. First speed and attack, show us what you can do.” Dale said and stepped aside to join the guard holding the list.

The warrior looked unsure but still unsheathed his sword.

A well made blade but nothing that could hurt Ilea without a seriously powerful and skilled warrior wielding it.

He approached carefully, glancing at the swaying ashen limbs before he focused. Spells were released, his body growing more nimble, his muscles more dense and powerful. His heart rate increased before he dashed forward, his blade slamming down on her shoulder.

It stopped dead, surprising not just the man himself but many of the watching recruits as well.

Maybe it is good to show them what’s possible. Ilea thought and spoke, “You would probably be dead if I was a wild beast.”