章 275: Recruitment for the royal army(3)

Artio, a sturdy young peasant from the nearby village, had just completed the arduous task of running 20 laps around the training camp as part of the recruitment process for the royal army. Covered in sweat and dirt, he threw himself to the ground, panting heavily from the physical exertion. His rough, calloused hands clenched the earth beneath him as he gasped for breath.

His clothing, a simple and well-worn ensemble of tattered trousers and a faded shirt, bore the telltale signs of a life spent toiling in the fields. Artio's sun-kissed skin, darkened from hours under the relentless Sicilian sun, glistened with perspiration as he lay sprawled on the earth.

Exhaustion weighed heavily on his face, etching lines of weariness that belied his youth. With each deep inhalation, he fought to regain control over his breath, determination and a hint of desperation gleaming in his eyes.