Chapter 79: Evaluation (3)
"Begin!"
The moment the commander gave that signal, the horses immediately started running around under the control of the newcomers. Some trainees looked stiff, while there were others who were holding the reins too tightly, causing their horses to become restless.
"H-Hey! Slow down!"
"Why is it going so fast?"
"I think I’m gonna fall!"
Another trainee bounced awkwardly on the saddle while trying to maintain his balance.
Meanwhile, Lionel calmly guided his horse forward, together with the others. His posture remained upright while holding the reins of the horse properly. The horse that he was riding ran at a nice pace while following the course ahead.
This is not that bad. Lionel quietly thought while adjusting his weight slightly.
Compared to the earlier evaluations, this one felt peaceful since he was just riding. However, that really only applied to those who already knew how to ride properly.
Soon enough, after riding in a plain field for the first few seconds, the trainees reached the first turning marker.
"Turn carefully!" one imperial soldier shouted from the side.
A few trainees immediately panicked after hearing that. One rider made his horse turn around too quickly that he was almost thrown off balance.
"Woah!" The trainee quickly grabbed onto the saddle tightly while the nearby soldiers sighed.
While he was seeing all those scenes, Lionel just calmly pulled the reins slightly before guiding his horse around the turn smoothly. He was able to pass through the first course without any trouble. His movements were not particularly amazing, but they looked stable and controlled enough.
Soon, the trainees approached the narrow wooden path next. This part forced the horses to pass through a tighter route without stepping outside the marked lines. A few trainees instantly became nervous again when they saw that.
There’s even one horse that suddenly refused to move forward, causing its rider to panic completely.
"Move! Move already!"
Thud!
"Ouch." Meanwhile, another trainee lost balance after his horse sped up too suddenly. The trainee immediately fell directly onto the dirt, causing several others to wince at the impact.
"Failed," the commander coldly stated as he stared at the trainee without even blinking.
The fallen trainee looked devastated while nearby soldiers helped him stand up. Because he failed this test, he would most likely be placed in the lowest training unit.
The lowest units inside the Imperial Army were infamous among trainees. Those units mainly consisted of people who lacked proper combat experience, physical ability, or basic military skills.
Compared to the other divisions, the training there was known to be far harsher.
The trainees assigned there were forced to repeat basic drills endlessly every single day. They also ran around the training grounds while carrying heavy sacks, sparred until exhaustion, cleaned barracks, and even endured brutal physical training.
The instructors in those units were also much stricter.
After all, the Imperial Army could not afford weak soldiers on the battlefield. If someone lacked talent, then the solution is that they would simply train harder than everyone else until they improved.
Of course, many people eventually quit because they could not handle the pressure anymore. However, even then, countless young men still dreamed of entering the Imperial Army every year.
The reason for it was simple. It was because the Imperial Army offered opportunities that ordinary commoners could rarely obtain elsewhere.
Once you’re a soldier, you will have a stable pay, food every day, a good place to sleep, and even the chance to rise in rank through military achievements.
If someone performed well enough, they could even earn land, wealth, titles, or personal recognition from the imperial family itself. Some commoners even managed to raise the status of their entire families after becoming successful knights or commanders.
More importantly, strength itself was respected inside the army.
Unlike the noble society where family background mattered the most, the Imperial Army at least gave talented people a chance to prove themselves through their own ability. Of course, the price for those opportunities was equally heavy.
There was the training and the discipline that they had to follow every single day. And once soldiers officially entered the battlefield, there was also the risk of dying. Still, many people were willing to risk everything for the possibility of changing their lives.
While everyone else became distracted by the fallen trainee earlier, Lionel successfully guided his horse through the narrow wooden path without any issue. He maintained his balance properly while keeping the horse under control the entire time.
The commander quietly observed him from afar. One look and he already knew that Lionel grew up properly trained.
Soon enough, the trainees finally reached the last part of the course too, following Lionel.
It was a straight riding path marked with several wooden poles placed across the field. Compared to the earlier obstacles, this one was simpler. However, it required the riders to properly control the speed of their horses while going through the markers cleanly.
"Maintain your control!" one of the cavalry soldiers shouted loudly from the side to remind the trainees of what they needed to do.
The trainees immediately guided their horses forward again. However, because of it some horses sped up too quickly, causing their riders to panic immediately.
"Slow down! Slow down!"
Meanwhile, others became too nervous to pull the reins, causing their horses to move awkwardly around the markers. It was only Lionel who could guide the horse between the poles carefully.
Because Lionel was careful, the horse that he was riding also responded properly to his control. Even though Lionel was not particularly skilled in techniques yet, he still knows it in theory. That was why his knowledge of basic skills was still much better compared to most newcomers around him.
Soon enough, one by one, the trainees finally crossed the finish line. Some looked relieved, while there were also a few who looked completely exhausted. However, there was still a number who failed the test on that last course.
The imperial soldiers quickly moved around afterward while recording the final results of the horseback riding evaluation.
Meanwhile, Lionel slowly climbed down from his horse before handing the reins back to one of the soldiers nearby.
"You have such good control, young man," the soldier briefly commented while accepting the horse.
"Thank you, Sir." Lionel lightly nodded in response.
Not long after, the commander finally stepped forward once more while holding another wooden board filled with their recorded scores.
Because of it, the entire field immediately became silent again.
The commander slowly glanced at everyone before speaking.
"Several of you failed to maintain basic control of the horse."
A few trainees immediately lowered their heads after hearing that.
"However..." the commander continued afterward.
"there are still a number of you who passed the riding evaluation successfully."
"Those who performed well in horseback riding may later be considered for cavalry-related units depending on your overall evaluation results."
Some trainees immediately looked excited after hearing that. After all, cavalry units were highly respected inside the Imperial Army.
Soldiers assigned there often received better equipment, lesser responsibilities, and more opportunities during military campaigns because they’re the ones taking care of the horses.
The commander closed the board afterward before looking at everyone sharply once more.
"Today’s evaluations are not yet your final placements," he spoke firmly. "These tests only determine your current level."
The commander’s sharp eyes slowly looked at every trainee standing in front of him.
"For the next three months, all of you will train according to the level and category assigned to you after a week."
The trainees quietly listened carefully at that.
"Those who performed poorly will start from the lower training units and focus on improving their basics first."
"Meanwhile, those who showed better results today will be placed in higher-level training groups."
The commander crossed his arms afterward.
"Do not misunderstand something." His voice became colder. "Being placed in a higher group now does not mean you can stay there forever."
The expressions of several trainees turned sour at that.
"You can still fall behind with your training. At the same time, those assigned to lower units could still improve and climb upward if they worked hard enough."
"After all, the Imperial Army only cares about results."
"So, after three months," the commander continued calmly, "all of you will undergo another complete evaluation."
"That evaluation will determine your official placement inside the Imperial Army."
Whether they would become swordsmen, archers, cavalry soldiers, shield units, support personnel, or remain in the lower divisions would all depend on their performance during those three months.
"And once your official role is assigned..." the commander narrowed his eyes slightly.
"...that will become your primary role from then onward."
"So take your trainings seriously from now on."
The trainees immediately became more nervous after hearing that. After all, this was no longer just simple training. Their future inside the Imperial Army would practically begin from there.
"And you," The commander’s eyes landed on Lionel, making him stand taller.
"I will talk to you privately in my office."
