The Kingdom Service Training Program
1910 Words
Even though we're prospective members of the military, we cadets still have our social obligations to people in the kingdom and beyond.
After all, soldiers, constabulary officers, and adventurers alike should not just be known for mere sword and sorcery.
This is where the Kingdom Service Training Program, or KSTP for short, enters the picture.
Regular students, as well as military and constabulary cadets, are mandated by law to participate in civic programs that tackle various advocacies such as poverty alleviation, environmental preservation, and literacy.
Even though our kingdom enjoys a thousand years' worth of peace and prosperity, we as a people still need to work hard and smart to ensure that advantageous status quo.
Here at the Lebenswasserheim Royal Academy Military School, we cadets are tapped to participate in various environmental programs that aim to preserve the natural beauty of our beloved land.
It's now the middle of Leafmonth, and Cpl. Ben-Kulera announces the following.
“The time has come once again, cadets, to uphold our social responsibilities to our fellowmen. For this semester's iteration of the Kingdom Service Training Program subject, we will all be conducting a tree-planting activity on the 30th of Leafmonth, 1016 CE. More details will be revealed in the coming days. Understood, everyone?”
“Sir, yes, sir!”
The details of the tree-planting program, as divulged in the preparatory classes for the KSTP subject, are as follows.
We will be reforesting an area that was affected by a wildfire a month ago by planting fresh tree seedlings.
The soil was revitalized beforehand with compost, as burnt soil is not fertile by itself.
As for the exact location, the area is located near a hill that borders Dinggiff and Avaya Prefectures, but the hill actually belongs to the latter prefecture.
The name of the hill itself is Boholgogi Hill.
This hill, which is roughly as high as Lebenswasserheim Palace, is pretty insignificant, except for the fact that a rare species of land crabs used to thrive there, until the crabs had to later migrate to a chain of islands belonging to the Republic of Sardentha due to humans populating nearby areas.
Going back to the topic, the cause of the wildfire is unknown as of this moment. Some say that a certain “red burny girl” caused the fire, while others say the fire was the fault of a couple who organized a gender reveal party with lots of fireworks.
As a people, we Lebenswasserheimische citizens rarely point the finger of blame, unless we substantiate that finger-pointing with viable proofs of evidence and proper avenues such as the Royal Supreme Court; and just move on with fixing the mess that was made.
The 30th of Leafmonth, 1016 CE. Fireday. 8:30 ante meridiem.
The area near Boholgogi Hill, Avaya Prefecture.
Every cadet, including us three, is here to plant the seedlings needed to reforest this area.
The reforestation itself serves a purpose. It will prevent massive flash floods and landslides that will threaten the lives of nearby residents.
The roots of mature trees help keep the soil stable, preventing landslides; and they absorb rainwater flowing down elevated lands such as mountains and hills, preventing flash floods.
According to the map of the entire prefecture, the nearest town should be Karma-Tashi; and the commanding officer told us that we can stay there for today only, after we're done planting.
In my hand lies a tree seedling; specifically, a seedling of the hardwood named sapelium.
I just have to strategically dig a hole near the spot where Laika and my sister are also planting their own sapelium seedlings.
Once I'm done actually planting the seedling, I just have to tie a tag displaying my name to the seedling's stem. The tag is provided with the seedling itself.
There! This entire activity may be a simple and small effort from me, but it will go a long way.
Once we three are done planting, the two girls then tell me...
“Keenan, we'll be staying outside the adventurer's guild in Karma-Tashi for the meantime.”
“Why?”
“Of course, to meet the adventurers there! We might learn a thing or two from them.”
“Alright. Meet you gals later.”
I should then take the opportunity to check up on the other cadets I've met face-to-face before.
First, Ivanka.
It wasn't that difficult to find her, as I just saw her planting a seedling of another hardwood, molavel.
“Oh, if it isn't Keenan.”
“Mind if I have another talk with you?”
“Why not? I'm almost done, anyway.”
After she's done planting her seedling, we both sit together on a nearby rock large enough to accompany two people.
“I really wanted to tell you something.”
“Please, something not embarrassing.”
“Fortunately, it's not. Your aura and mine are of an equal element, which is fire. It's evident when we dueled twice so far.”
“Yes, that much is true. I admit... I can be really passionate and fierce when it comes to encouraging others to shape up. My mom once told me... that I inherited her strong motherly instincts. Whenever I call out other cadets for simple overlooked things that can lead to demerits, they always tell me that 'you got it from your mom, huh'.”
“Hah. Normally, 'your mom' insults are some of the worst one can take.”
“But not me. Someone has to be straightened out, after all. I mean, we're both enrolled in the military school because we wanted to instill discipline to ourselves.”
“And I observe that you are one of the most straight-laced ones in the bunch. The other one being Laika.”
“Ah yes, your childhood friend. Her loyalty to you... means she also lives a dignified life.”
“Touche. Alright... I think I'm getting hungry. Any plans?”
“I'll go back to the apartments in a few minutes. If you ever want to visit me, I'm in room 501, Hugh Jeffrey Salazar Building.”
“Noted. See you later, then.”
Once I part ways with Ivanka, the next girl on my “I must talk with her” list is Hershey.
Oh, I think she's not within my immediate field of sight.
I ask some other cadets about her whereabouts, and...
“Oh, her? She immediately went back to the apartments. She just planted the tree, and that's it.”
“Aw, bummer.”
Better join Laika and Yulissa, then.
Once I get to the entrance of the town of Karma-Tashi, I spot a familiar face.
Someone whom I've met before, back in senior high school.
He's a half-elf, evident by his ears that are less pointy than normal elf ears.
He has brown-black hair and olive eyes.
His name tag proudly displays “LUMBÈRE B”.
“Bienvenide Lumbère, is that you?”
“Fancy meeting you again at the military school, Keenan Floribunda!”
We then shake hands.
“First of all, I'm sorry for spreading rumors regarding your relationship with your sister.”
“Apology accepted. I know you get that 'ticklish' feeling whenever you see me doing headpats and face strokes to my one and only Yulissa before.”
“Yeah. Come on, let's continue our little reunion... right at that porridge stand.”
Seconds later, he and I are at Mister Varieties Soup and Porridge Stand, which is a simple food stand offering various kinds of soups and porridge.
We hold a conversation over a bowl each of homemade chocolate rice porridge, which is made from gelatinous rice and chocolate tablets made from pure roasted cocoa and sugar.
He paid for the tab, by the way.
“I recall, besides that, I also spotted you at the Grand Library reading novels with titles such as My Little Sister Can't Be This Prude and I Can't Believe Big Bro Is a Billionaire. You sure are a sister-holic, so to speak.”
“Well, Keenan, I haven't disclosed to you yet why I became infatuated with that specific relationship, as well as consume so much sister-related media such as novels and moving pictures. It's because... all those things remind me of my own younger sister.”
“And I bet she was an astounding beauty, huh.”
“Indeed, she was. Candida... that's her name. I affectionately called her 'Candy'... because everything about her is as sweet as her namesake. Yeah, she could be a little annoying, but her cuteness made me want to protect her.
“But then... once she was ten years old, she was diagnosed with a rare blood disease, and she had two months to live. Words could not express how betrayed I was by that thing called fate! Imagine that... her entire body becoming a ticking time bomb, and mom and dad and I were unaware of this.”
“And you couldn't protect her from a silent killer, huh.”
“Indeed. She perished within two months, as I had feared. And with her gone, I wanted to remind myself of the good times I've spent with her. Pictures and sphaeramnis clips of her weren't enough. Over time, I've accumulated so much sister-related media using my savings, just because every waking thought of mine ever since that day is none other than her! My sweet Candy... why? WHY?!”
I can spot his tears already dropping towards his bowl of chocolate rice porridge.
I console him, “Look, dude. Different people have different coping mechanisms whenever they lost their loved ones. Yours are valid. But please... why did you enter the military school in the first place?”
“Ain't it obvious?! I wanted to see you and your sister always in happy times!”
“Stop dwelling too much in the past! We are both here because we want to protect this kingdom we call home! And... I'm sorry if I just raised my voice like that.”
“That's OK, Keenan. Sometimes, I just wanted to move on, but it's freaking difficult.“
“Hey, if you ever want counseling, just give our superintendent a call. Maybe he knows what to do for you to move forward.”
“Thanks. I'm sure that as a future soldier, I should not be burdened by what I've went through, lest it will lower my morale.”
“Yes! That's the spirit!”
We then proceed with eating the entire porridge from our own bowls, with no drop left.
And once we're done, the half-elf cadet declaims...
“Thanks for straightening me up. If my parents couldn't do it, you did! Alright! I'll continue fighting, as long as Candy's with me in spirit! May we meet again someday!”
He then leaves the town, invigorated by a brand-new resolve.
Ah, yes! I have to meet Laika and Yulissa!
“Welcome back, brother! And I see you've met our old classmate who gets all excited whenever we're together, huh?”
“Yup. He's now found his own purpose in life, and I'm sure as heck his journey as a soldier will be driven by it.”
“I'm sure he'll have bright prospects,” Laika concludes.
Different people from different walks of life have their own motivations for becoming soldiers.
But all the same, they are ready to risk their lives to protect the place they call home.
- Writer
