At the end of combat training, Kiah's name moved two spots up on the scoreboard. It wasn't a massive leap, but she wasn't aiming to stand out.
That morning, they sat in their usual spot in the cafeteria, chewing on stale bread and soggy vegetables.
Since the shrill alarm hadn't jolted them awake today, they figured the next phase of the training was starting soon, weaponry.
Everyone had their bonded weapons in anticipation. Kiah had her labrys. Kira had her bow and Wayne's majestic sword rested on the bench. And Naya, to Kiah's surprise, held a sleek, elegant spear.
"I thought you bonded with a sword." Kiah questioned when they met at the table. She could have sworn Naya had one during their test.
"No, I've always bonded with a spear. I only used a sword that day because it was the only weapon I could defend myself with. That's why I'm so excited for this phase. I heard Warden Tatiana is a master of all weapons. She can wield anything."
Kiah nodded and let out a quiet sigh.
"You've only been here a few weeks yet you know practically everything about everyone. It's kind of admirable."
Naya smiled as she swallowed a spoonful of food. Then she shook her head slightly.
"I don't know everything. I just know a lot about the legendary Wardens. When my town was attacked by thrashers, it was Warden Tatiana who came to our rescue. Warden Eden has also helped us a couple of times when she was a vanguard. Though I've never met any of them personally and only saw them from afar, I tried learning what I could about them. It's my way of honoring them as my heroes."
Kiah listened, quietly perplexed, as Naya spoke enthusiastically with a hint of reverence.
She hadn't known much about the outside world, but it was becoming clear that the Wardens she had taken lightly were celebrated heroes in Duskworn.
After all, these people had saved countless lives, risking their own lives in the process. They were more than an underground resistance, they were icons beyond the base walls.
It made her wonder just how far the prestige of the Wardens stretched outside. She hadn't really considered it before, not having stepped foot beyond the training compound since her arrival.
She made a mental note to introduce her little group to Eden sometime. It felt like a small, good thing she could do for them. She could imagine them just combust with joy.
Naya kept going, her voice filled with awe.
"...it's hard not to admire them. They are just… spectacular. Warden Eden and Thorne advanced quite recently. They are the youngest wardens in the entire base, probably in all of Duskworn. They are twenty-four years old. No one else has become a Warden before twenty-five. Before them, the youngest was Warden Tatiana at fourty years old."
The rest of the table listened, mostly Kiah because all this information was new to her.
"Why is that? How did they advance so fast?" Kiah asked.
Kira spoke up.
"My dad told me it was because of the forced evolution. The first generation of humans to undergo the genetic modification did it in order to adapt to the dangerous toxins in Novaris. The overseer injected the nanites that rewrote their DNA in form of a vaccine which forced their bodies to upgrade.
However, the next generation of humans after the fall were born with this genetic code and went through natural evolution. This made them far stronger than the previous generation, and it was said that with each progressive generation, the evolution rate was faster like us."
Kiah nodded attentively as Kira continued,
"It's safe to say that prodigies like Warden Eden and Thorne will become more common in the future. But even with that, they are considered elites among their peers. It takes most people close to three decades to reach Warden status in Duskworn. They moved from Initiate to Warden in nine years. They're simply unmatched."
Kiah hummed in thought.
"So then, what's the average time it takes to advance a rank up for the newer generation?"
It was Wayne who answered this time.
"At least ten years, if you're consistent with training. But it gets harder the higher you climb. Like, it might take ten years to reach Vanguard, but twelve more to become a Warden. And to be a Sentinel could take up to thirty years. Most people give up before then."
Kiah frowned.
"Then why not start early? Can't you start training from an early age?"
Kira rolled her eyes.
"Maybe in Veloria City they can. But out here? The only way to advance comfortably is to join the rebel organization or an underground crime ring. And neither of those is crazy enough to recruit kids. You've got to be at least fifteen before they even consider it."
Kira paused as Kiah nodded. Everyone had gotten used to the purple-eyed girl's cluelessness by now. Most times, they either gave her a blunt answer or ignored them entirely. But today, Kira was in a generous mood so she would update the lost soul.
So, Kira continued.
"Even at that, some people can't even advance. There are many cases were people get stuck in one rank for years till they die. Others didn't see the need to advance and suffer though harsh training until the degenerates showed up. Many people do this just for survival."
Kiah's eyes widened slightly. She had realized early on that the youngest person in their batch was sixteen. The rest ranged from seventeen to twenty-five. Their little group skewed young, but not all squads were the same.
Her mind drifted to Anwyll for a moment. According to a little digging she'd done, she learned that he actually joined the organisation less than three years ago and had already advanced to Vanguard. It was peculiar. Everyone else from his batch was still stuck trying to break past the Initiate rank.
That kind of speed was terrifying.
A chill crept up her spine at the thought. If Anwyll kept going at that pace, he'd become the next legend in Duskworn. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to get on his good side… just in case.
Apart from Anwyll, all other things were falling into place. From what Killan had told her, what she read from his journal and the little she had heard around, she now had a clear picture of what happened years ago.
After the fall, the overseer brought order to Novaris once more, becoming it's primary leader after eradicating all the dangers. He built advanced transport and houses, and restored hope to the planet. But a few years into his reign, an unrest started.
The common people were mad at the fallen nobles and the privileges they got, and soon their anger turned into slaughter. They attacked the noble houses and ended the lives of a few elites — their biggest mistake.
Soon after that, the construction of the wall began. At first, only a few knew the purpose of the wall, most were clueless thinking it was another great invention. The wall took almost two decades to complete and when it did, a carnage started.
After the true purpose of the wall was revealed, people fought to get in, but by then, the Overseer's chosen few were already complete which consisted mainly of noble families. Killan mentioned it was a bloodbath.
People ran after the transport vehicles heading for Veloria City, some tried to sneak in, but each those people were gunned down like flies. Anyone who resisted was massacred. Parents begged for their children to be given a chance but all requests were denied. They were tagged inferior and thrown out.
Even after the wall was sealed, people still attempted to scale it from desperation but it was impossible. Turrets and various defense mechanisms built along the wall killed anybody who got too close.
Even now, it had become a popular suicide spot. Some people went to the wall to end their lives.
Eventually, Duskworn was named and people began accepting the harsh reality. Since there was no law and order anymore, crime rate increased and the reminants of nobles who didn't make it to Veloria were hunted. Those who survived lived in secrecy.
Shortly after, a bigger threat emerged, new wave of degenerates. The night became dangerous for a whole new reason. People were forced to pick up weapons to defend themselves.
A few mechanics and engineers like Killan who remained in Duskworn replicated the overseer's designs and made weapons available for the masses. Secret factions created bounty hunters to end the degenerates but were defeated. The degenerates were stronger than the weak people of Duskworn, and once again, people had to evolve to live.
It was around that time the rebel organization was formed by General Denvil, a former general in the army before the wall, and a few military personnels. They teamed up to eradicate the threats and made training available to those interested in their cause.
The rebel organization was created approximately ten years after the wall, fifty years ago.
"Revolution Exists Because Every Life is Significant."
That was what their name stood for, REBELS.
Their motto was, "We guard the forgotten."
Kiah found it quite touching, and it made her hate General Denvil a bit less. At least, his intentions were pure, but that didn't excuse the countless lives that had ended because of him.
After that, the rebels became the hope of Duskworn. They were called the soldiers of humanity.
Before her thoughts could spiral further, the alarm blared through the air, followed by an announcement to gather in the training room.