Welcome to Gaia! ::

For the first time in their lives, rows and rows of new recruits stood in the center of the training grounds. This encampment would be the centerpiece of their schooling in this Military Academy for the three years to come. Understandably, many of them were nervous as the sun beat down on them mercilessly in this place that was a lot like a sinkhole. With rising cliffs of dirt or lengths of barbed fence on all sides, anyone would feel a little trapped. But for better or for worse, they were here, and excitement was in the air.

Those of the trainees who came from Shinganshina looked especially tense as a worried recognition stired in their eyes, despite this being their first time in the facility. To understand why that should warrant any difference in reactions, one would need to know about a certain very prolific, and very frightening family that would terrify the inhabitants of Shiganshina whenever festivals rolled around. Whether this was due to a shared passion for community events or some depraved family tradition, the sight of huge, bald men would be enough to send chills down any Shiganshinan's spine. Those outside Shiganshina might wave it off as a haunted rumor, but those from the town knew better.

Standing before this batch of fresh faces, beaming his unnerving, somehow seraphic smile over them as he slowly scanned the crowd was the massive, hulking shape of the man called Santos Baldy, chief instructor. Nobody needed to ask if they were related.

He was built like an ox, and would appear portly if not for the hard muscular stiffness across even his bulging stomach. Veins traced prominent ridges across his thick neck and beams of light gleamed off his hairless forehead like a halo as he nodded his acknowledgement to the last of faculty to arrive. Teachers of various subjects lined up facing the trainees, the welcome in their expressions unable to match the magnitude of that which was expressed by the chief instructor. It was hardly fair; his face was perhaps 50% larger than what would seem natural. Faculty wore different uniforms; military coats which, save for their darker color and knee-length cut, resembled the trainee's jackets in every other way.

"Listen up, you lot of piss-diapered babies!" Santos began, shouting with a heavy voice reminiscent of two saws grating against each other. The harshness of his words came as an inordinate contrast to his mysteriously ever-saintly expression, eyes sparkling through a pronounced squint. This somehow only made it more terrifying. "I'm supposed to give you all a speech about what an honor it is to serve the military and the important role we play in running this Kingdom. But all you little shitstains deserve is a warm, congratulatory WELCOME," he lifted up his massive arms and clapped his hands once, thunderously. "-TO YOUR DEMISE. This here isn't a VACATION, runts." He cracked his neck audibly. "It's you morons throwing yourselves into my TENDER EMBRACE. Whether you're crushed under the pressure or survive, you're not coming out the same shape you came. I'm going to squeeze every ounce of juice out," he pinched his fingers together to demonstrate, "like flattening a little bean- day after day for three years you will have the living s**t beat out of you and you better appreciate it!" He winked as if he'd just told a funny joke. Nobody was laughing. It was complete silence. He paced a few steps to the side and stopped. "Now, I'm an understanding person, so if anyone has any complaints, please, come and talk to me. I will even thank you for giving me a little story to attach to the wig I scalp off your head. With gratitude!" There was no darkness in his face. Only benevolence.

Santos Baldy turned his body toward the crowd once more. "Now. Some of you brats entered the military to escape your household responsibilities. As a family man, I will personally find you and make you work ten times harder than everyone else. You will have the joy of filling the prized position of my back scrubber. We will get to know each other VERY well!" That had been said almost giddily. "Some of you may have come here because you're actually interested in a military career. That's good! The other dunces will have someone to laugh at for being bigger idiots than they are. This is known as a recreational activity. And some of you," he continued, "want a shot at entering the Interior." He shook his perfectly round head and spat like a rifle's shot, leaving a little crater in the ground wet with disdain. After which he returned to smiling without a trace of contempt. "Shitty reasons aside, you all made it this far- and if your sorry a** survives, you will leave here as soldiers. DISMISSED!"

The faculty present saluted, signalling the recruits to do the same. After Santos had left, a staffer stepped up with papers in hand and went on to explain a bunch of things about trainee duties, the bell tower's rings and their meaning, how the place was run, where to find the infirmary, mess hall, and all a manner of information. Finally, he began to peer at his papers.

"Now Announcing Dormitory Assignments! Your names will be called out, followed by your dorm! If Falke, stand to the Left! Lusche, to the Center! Tragen, Right! You will be guided to your dorm by your senior!"

While waiting for the man to finish calling everyone out on the lists, a low chatter began to emerge among excited trainees.