It had been several weeks now since Zuka was summoned to the army of Syl'arboreth. Training was intense, every moment a test of strength, endurance, and intelligence. The very first week was about the proper use of the bow and sword in combat, of which Zuka had already learned as a young child. The other recruits, however, weren't as blessed. On the first day at the firing range with the bows only Zuka was able to bullseye his targets, the other elves either barely hitting the targets or missing them completely. They also sparred against each other with specially enchanted swords that never broke the flesh. Once again, Zuka was able to use his superior fighting skills to surpass his partners. After the week had passed, however, the other elves were starting to bullseye their targets and each sword duel was becoming more of a challenge. Regardless, no one could defeat him as of yet, not even his two brothers Rizea'alc and Mahtan. The second week of training was about battle formations from everything from the star to the cluster to the columns to the phalanyx. Due to his unsurpassed leadership and fighting abilities, Zuka was quickly promoted to Gefreite ((Corporal)). The third, fourth, and fifth week they began combat exercises, which ranged from defending a town to capturing an outpost to raiding a mock-demon convoy. This week was supposedly the last week in training.
Today's mission, however, planned for them to take out an enemy outpost before dawn the next day and steal crucial documents. It was to be the longest of any of their missions that they had undertaken. In his platoon of thirty elves were ten archers, twelve spearmen, and eight swordsmen. Each one was dressed in forest green cloaks, and in their packs were black ones should nightfall come. Amongst the two swordsmen were Zuka, currently the platoon leader, and another High Elf named Czali'näh Lissësúl, also a Gefreite. They had briefly met earlier in the training, but they kept the socializing to a minimum. The group was currently in a forest, its deep, thick emerald canopy enveloping them and masking their approach. Zuka and the others snuck stealthily through, several times stopping to listen for any threats which turned out to be a squirrel or a bird. Zuka checked his pocketwatch: it was 4 p.m. Finally, their patience was rewarded when the view of the encampment came into sight a hundred yards ahead of them. Zuka motioned for them to halt, then gave a hand signal for them to hide. Silently his group obeyed and disappeared into the bushes, melting into its shadows. As for himself, Zuka climbed the nearest tree and settled on its highest branch, observing the enemy post. He counted fifty-two guards, most of whom were lazily playing cards or watching the forest, several tents, a fire, and their command post, a small hut of thatched wood and mud.
Zuka knew they held the element of surprise, so he silently curled into a ball on the branch and fell asleep.
-----Eleven hours later, 3 a.m.-----
Night had crept upon the Ran'galkaad forests while he had been asleep. Zuka glanced back at the enemy fortification; most of them were asleep now, and the sentries that had been posted to keep watch were playing cards again. It was time to move.
Zuka removed the black cloak from his pack and wrapped it around himself, literally disappearing from sight with black on black. Then silently he climbed down the tree and motioned for the group to form up. They all unsheathed their enchanted swords, noched their arrows whose head was a sticky thing that couldn't penetrate the skin, and readied the enchanted spears. The group melted into the darkness, surrounding the entire camp but remaining out of sight. The elves all climbed into the trees and manuevered into position by moving through the branches. Once they were above the encampment they tied ropes to the branches and the other end to their waist, then tested the strength of the ropes. Satisfied, they waited. Zuka motioned for them to strap their weapons to themselves and to cover the quivers so as not to alert the enemy by falling arrows. When they had completed thus, Zuka gave the signal. Stealthily they flipped upside down and repelled downwards towards the camp. When they were a few feet from the ground the archers untied their bows, took aim, and fired them at the sentries. Simoltaneously the spearmen and swordsmen untied themselves and flipped, unsheathing their weapons once they were righted, and charged the bewildered and shocked opposing force elves.
In seconds the enemy forces were overwhelmed and disabled by the enchanted weapons while Zuka and Czali'näh both stormed the command post. The enemy's commander was there, startled awake by the commotion, and swiftly surrendered. Zuka knocked him out by smashing the hilt of his sword into the commander's neck, then promptly checked his pulse. Satisfied that he was still alive, the High Elf quickly proceeded to sift through the papers until he found what they needed. Grinning, he placed them in his cloak. Czali'näh hog-tied their commander and gathered the group together. They hadn't lost a single man. The opposing force had been disarmed and tied to the numerous trees in the encampment. Zuka and his platoon began the trek home.
-----Eight hours later, 12:20 p.m., debriefing-----
Zuka and his platoon stood at attention inside the auditorium of the training facility. Every trainee and drill instructor was there in the audience, including their commander. The platoon was dressed in their dress uniforms for the occassion. The pants were of a soft, silky material, and colored a dark forest green. The coats were the same color and material, trimmed in gold around their cuffs, the bottom of the coat, where the coat overlapped, on the collar, and on the shoulders. Blue insignias above their right breast pocket identified their names, and on their collars on the left sides were the golden torches of the Syl'arboreth Armed Forces. On Zuka's and Czali'näh's right side of their collars were the insignias of a Corporal, a small silver pendent resembling a helm. Silently their commander, Rahl'bateriüet Faulen'ta, and an assistant mounted the stage and halted in the center. The two gave a right face and came back to attention, staring directly at Zuka. Faulen'ta marched forth and halted two paces in front of Zuka, then spoke.
"For leading a platoon into the opposing forces's command post unnoticed, capturing the objective without losing a man, and for completing his training, I present Zuka Telemnar with the rank of Feldwebel ((Sergeant))." Zuka was bewildered at the achievement, but he knew that he had deserved it. He held out his left hand and received the medallion of his new rank, two silver spears crossing with a silver star connected to and above the junction of the spears. When he received his rank he crisply saluted Faulent'ta, who simply returned the favor. The commander did a right face, took two steps forward, halted, did a left face, and stared directly at Czali'näh. "For being instrumental in leading this covert mission, for helping to capture the objective, and for completion of training, I present Czali'näh Lissësúl with the rank of Feldwebel as well."
-----A few minutes later-----
Zuka and Czali'näh stood together at the docks after the debriefing was finished. They eached glanced ambitiously at their new ranks, eager to do service for their country. However, they knew that they would soon be parting since training was complete, and the war required them.
"So Czali'näh, tell me. Where are you going to go now?"
"Ah, maybe train to become a Paladin. I've heard that they're few and far and that they're needed the most against these vile creatures of death and destruction. Heh, they won't stand a chance against me now!"
"You think too much about your own ambitious prides, bud."
"How about you Zuka, where are you going now?"
"I don't know. I was thinking about becoming a Sorcerer, just like my girlfriend is."
"Itarildë? You haven't mentioned her in a while. Are you two still planning on getting married?"
"Yeah. We were discussing it the night before I was sent to here. She wrote me a letter saying that she might be able to secure me a spot in her Sorcery group since one of their members was killed in the previous engagement against the demons."
"Thats good to hear that you two are still thinking of marrying. A Feldwebel and a Leutnant ((Lieutenant)) marrying each other. That'll sit well with commander Faulen'ta."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
"Don't worry, I will be there on your wedding day to remember how two such lovers were so into each other, and I will be there the day that your marriage loses its spark, laughing all the way."
"Shut up you imbecile. I love her very much. She's the only reason why I want to become a Sorcerer: so I can see her every single day and be there for her."
"Hmm...you do seem to forget the heavy action that they have been facing lately. The demons seem more possessed and determined to wipe us out. They're fighting unlike any army I've ever heard about, careless and heedless of their millions of casaulties that they sustain."
"Yeah, I've heard about that." Zuka looked up at the arriving military transports. "Well, I guess that I will be seeing you later, Czali'näh. Take care, and may Sariuthian ((The major holy diety of El'th'norann)) guard and bless you."
"And may Sariuthian guard and bless you and Itarildë as well."
"Good bye, old friend."
"Good bye, Zuka."
Zuka mounted the first transport while Czali'näh mounted the second. Their destinations were ten miles up the ocean and two miles apart. Zuka didn't know it at the time, but this was the last time that he would ever see Czali'näh on such friendly terms.