The next morning, despite his pounding headache. Travis went to check the announcement board. Sure enough, he found the details of the third trial posted.
"Leaders are the key to both unit cohesion and unit morale. While the leaders of the Empire, the Alliance, and the Kingdom may lead from the back, here in the Republic, leaders must lead from the front.
To accomplish this, you must be able to keep up with your soldiers. Therefore, the third trial will be a test of your physical abilities. Naturally using the power granted by your divine shards is expected. This trial will have 3 separate sections, and you will have a test immediately after each to see if you can keep your cool in stressful situations.
This trial will begin tomorrow at dawn, and those who have completed the trial will not be allowed to interact with or see those who have yet to do so. The exact details will be given to you right before you start, so you won't be able to prepare anything beforehand. The trial will be administered to 20 people at a time, but keep in mind you aren't competing with just those with you, but the entire company.
Good luck."
"Well, I guess that means we aren't drinking tonight." Justin said with a sigh, walking up and throwing his arm around Travis.
"So Kiara and Victor are going to kick our asses tomorrow, right?" He asked.
"Oh for sure. I just hope we're in the top 20 so their heads don't get too big for their bodies."
○○○
The next day, Travis found himself outside in the courtyard. He was one of the first ones there, so he would get to go with the first group. Kiara walked up to him.
"Wow Trav, you got here early. You that anxious to lose?"
"Whether I go now or 4 hours from now the result will be the same, so why sit around waiting if I can just get it done now."
"Alright! The first 20 get over here, it's time!" One of the sergeants from fourth platoon called. They all walked over to him.
"This trial will have 3 parts. Thr first is a 20 mile run, the next will be revealed at the first testing location. Remember this is a race, so your time matters here. Everyone on the line. Ready? Set. Go!" He shouted, and they were off.
○○○
He arrived 8th out of the 20 he was with. It took him 40 minutes and 23 seconds. As soon as he arrived, another sergeant handed him a paper and pen and told him to give it back once he was finished.
Travis took a seat and started on the test. It was all regulations like the fitness and uniform regulations. Asking what they were and specific questions about the content of them.
When he finished, he was confident he had done well, he handed it back to the sergeant.
"Your next task is to take one of these packs, and climb up that." She said, pointing at a rock wall that was about 200 feet tall. "Remember as soon as you put on the pack, your time starts. Good luck."
He threw the pack on and stumbled for a moment. It was heavier than he expected, about 100 pounds. He grabbed the first suitable handheld and started to pull himself up. As he climbed, he thought he saw Kiara about 3/4 of the way up.
'Focus Travis, thats not important right now. One hand at a time.' He thought.
After what felt like an eternity he reached the top.
"20 mimutes ten seconds." A familiar voice called. He looked up and found Taylor there. She handed him a test paper, and directed him to the seating area.
The test consisted of formations, troop movement methods, and a section dedicated to scenario questions such as how you would respond to an ambush and the like.
Travis finished fairly quickly, and gave his paper back to Taylor.
"Alright, the final part is navigating to these coordinates, pick up the package there, then get back to the company building." She said, handing him a slip of paper with two sets of coordinates on it.
He set off, plotting the fastest course between him and the three points he was supposed to go to.
○○○
Both of the spots he was supposed to go to had a sergeant waiting with pieces of paper, once he collected both, he ran as fast as he could to the company building. When he arrived, he found a Sergeant who collected both of the papers, and the paper with the coordinates on it, and wrote down his final time, as well as his time for the third part.
He found Kiara waiting there for him.
"Took you long enough, I've been waiting here forever." She said.
"Listen, I'm not as physically gifted as you are, ok? Besides I did well enough."
"Well enough isn't good enough." She told him, crossing her arms."Not if you expect to beat me."
"Beat you? In a physical contest? I wouldn't dream of it. You are quite literally faster and stronger than I am. I do think I did better on the tests in between though."
"Oh? And why's that?"
"Because you're a fucking dumbass."
She punched him for that. He could tell ahe was only playing but it still almost knocked him off his feet.
"Alright Mr. Genius, lets go grab some chow while we wait for the others to finish.