Chapter 5: New Training Routine
In the early hours of dawn, groups of knights all gathered in the castle courtyard. However, Kent saw that all the knights had a sense of exhaustion, most of the knights were still rubbing their eyes to keep themselves from falling back asleep.
Kent observed these details and made sure to fix these details. But even if all the knights were lethargic from their early mornings, one of the knights was clearly awake. That was commander Deryk.
Commander Deryk is the head of all the knights stationed in Hestanar. As his name indicated, Deryk is a commander, meaning he is responsible for training, coordinating, and organising everything related to the knights.
Looking at his appearance, Deryk had a scruffy brown beard that highlighted his bold head. He was tall and he had a muscular build that was evident by his bulging arm muscles. One could tell he was an experienced knight just by the way he conducts himself.
Kent observed these details as he stood next to Deryk, "Is this how you train your knights?"
Deryk was embarrassed and only gave an awkward laugh, he knew waking up this early would make some knights unused to this, but he never expected every single one of his knights to be this sluggish. He was ashamed.
"Commander Deryk. The reason I gathered all the knights in the city is that I believe we need a new training routine. Look at these knights, this is the reason why." Kent boldly stated
The commander had nothing to say, his knights and the way they were behaving gave Deryk no reason to object. The commander gave Kent a slight nod, agreeing to his suggestion.
Kent looked at the knights gathered in the courtyard and shouted.
"Knights! Line up in lines of 10 men, that an order!"
The knights, upon hearing a thunderous voice commanding them, immediately scrambled to line up in lines of 10. But as they got into positions, they were all curiously observing Kent.
When the last men finally got into position. Kent began talking again.
"That was too slow. You, you, you, and you. You four took too long to get in line. As a punishment, you are to run 10 laps around the castle courtyard. Do you understand?"
The 4 knights were dumbfounded. 10 laps around the courtyard? They would take forever.
"Why are you still standing here? THAT WAS AN ORDER! RUN!" Kent yelled at them in his highest voice.
The four knights dejectedly start running around the courtyard. Whilst they were running, the knights that got in line quick enough all sighed in relief as they looked at the unlucky knights that were made an example of.
"Now, knights of Hestanar. I gather you all here today as I find your attitude in training quite disappointing. Hestanar doesn't need knights like you. We need knights that are committed, valiant, and faithful." Kent bellowed as he looked at the faces of each of the knights.
Kent made sure his voice was also loud enough to be heard by the four knights running around the courtyard.
"Most of you don't have those attributes. But I am willing to let you have a chance to prove yourself. In 2 weeks, there will be a test. All those that perform poorly will be axed from being a knight here!" Kent revealed.
All the knights that heard this froze. The knights all had families to feed, losing their jobs could be life and death for the family. In this medieval society, males were, most often than not, the sole bread earner in the family. The knights all grew vigilant from this news, all vowing to train their absolute best to pass the test.
Kent observed the knights' eyes and was satisfied. The knights looked finally awake and ready to take training seriously.
"Of course, the test is not only used to get rid of the unqualified, but reveal whose that are worthy. Those that perform exceptionally in the test will be promoted. Meaning more pay."
The knights' eyes gleamed. They could get a pay raise if they perform well in the test, this must be a blessing. The knights all saw this as a great chance to get more pay, not for themselves, but to let their family live more comfortably.
"Now, are you ready to begin training?"
"Yes." The knights yelled, even the four knights that were running in the courtyard yelled back.
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU," Kent yelled even louder than all the knights combined
"YES LORD KENT!"
Kent was satisfied with the results. "Do you see that, Deryk?"
Deryk only stood there in shock. He observed the energized and focused knights in front of them and couldn't believe the differences. Deryk always tried to train his knights' discipline, their attitude, and their strength, but he always failed to get his knight's attention and couldn't get them to commit to training.
So, you could get their attention this way…
"I want to establish some rules here. They are simple. No.1: I am the law in this training ground. No.2: You are to call me sir, not lord, sir. No.3: When I ask you a question, you are to answer me immediately. No.4: When I am not in command, you are to follow Commander Deryk. Do you understand?" Kent shouted.
"YES SIR"
"We will formally begin our training. Everyone is to complete 100 push-ups, 100 star-jumps, 100 burpees, and 100 squats. You are to do the exercise in sync. When I tell you to do one push up, you all do one push up at the same time. NOW GET ON THE GROUND, WE START NOW."
All the knights hurriedly got on all fours and readied themselves.
Kent yelled out "One push up!"
All the knights did one push up in sync.
Kent continued, "How many push-ups have you done?"
Some of the knights replied:
"One push up"
"One, milord"
"One"
Kent's face grew cold as he stared at the knights. "Have you forgotten? When I ask you a question, you add the word, sir. And I expected everyone to answer me. Do I need to punish all of you?"
"NO SIR!" The knights all replied in unison.
"Good… Two push up!"
The knights did their second push up in unison.
Kent: "Three,"
"Four,"
"Five,"
...
...
Seeing his knights all doing push-ups diligently, Deryk felt cheated when he just stood not needing to do the exercises.
Thus, the commanding knight Deryk walked to the side and…. started doing push-ups.
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