Counting the Days

Chapter Eight

The next day was the same training, though many didn't like how the Lieutenant coached them. Anna often bonked them on the head with the training sticks if they continued to go into a bad form after correcting them. She was brutal and strict; Charles didn't know why she had to train them all herself, but he could assume it was due to lack of seekers or incompetent trainers. He tried to talk to Corin more often, but they were stuck with their groups for the time being. But eventually the end of the week came as they were to now switch groups. While Charles did bond with Simon a bit and gotten to know how tired he usually was, the other in his group was still a pain to be around.

His two new partners were a darker skinned boy with dark brown hair and purple eyes, he was about five foot six tall. Many freckles dotted from his nose outwards and thinned out after reaching the middle of his eyes. While his dark brown hair was a little unkept, he did look nervous even though they all had been training for a week for the seekers now. Charles didn't know how he didn't notice the other's eyes sooner, but he did notice him keeping his eyes pointed away from groups mainly. Charles wanted to ask about it but was interrupted by a feminine voice beating him to it.

"What's with your eyes? They look really cool!"

Charles looked over to find a woman with dark raven colored hair, it turned to a white at the tips where it ended at her shoulders appearing to be dyed there. She was right next to him looking at the other boy, before turning to Charles. Now he could see her own eyes, a light blue to the point it was almost grey. Her face was slightly longer and pointed at the chin. Sticking her hand out to be shook, Charles noticed that she was just as tall as him. Taking her hand to shake it as he introduced himself.

"Charles Foestar."

The girl then spoke with a smile.

"Marcy Merret, pleasure to meet you."

Charles smiled back before looking back to the smaller dark-skinned boy with unusual eyes. He eventually spoke after about half a minute of silence between the three. "I'm Conner- C-Conner Wagner. I just have a really weird eye color, its nothing special."

"But they do look really cool." Charles spoke, happily complimenting the other.

"I'm just here to go into the researching branch-" Before he could continue, he was cut off by Anna calling to everyone to get to the training area. For such a short lady she could get the attention of everybody quickly. The group moved forward towards where they were instructed to be, from what Charles could tell, Marcy was very excited about joining the seekers as well. But when Charles asked why she just pushed it off, changing the subject. Charles didn't want to push her if she wasn't comfortable with answering anyway. 

Today they practiced with weapons that had a short reach, and as they would for a few days after from what Charles heard.  

Mostly everything was the same for a few days, training in weapons for going against infected. Charles was able to learn more about Conner and Marcy during the days as well. Conner wanted to go into the researching branch of the Seekers, but first the basic training and combat has to be completed. Marcy didn't share much, but from what Charles could understand she just wanted to explore and fight infected. He couldn't help but feel there was something more to it though.

The next day at training they were not met with the lieutenant, but instead a taller and broader man. Short dirty blonde hair, dark green eyes that was checking a notepad as the trainees got into position. After they all did the man began to speak. "Lieutenant Doremi will no longer be training you herself, as a group of seekers has returned from a mission and are now available to train you all instead. You may call me Captain Waters."

Charles saw somebody next to him let out a breath of relief, so it seemed. The Lieutenant didn't seem too popular among the teenagers here. Probably because of her vigorous training process they had seen so far, she had made them get up much earlier and run around before training. She didn't care if they were sore or tired, her response to those asking for a break was 'Are the Infected going to give you a break?'

Though through training she always made sure everyone was drinking water and staying hydrated. She was mainly feared more than respected here, but Charles looked up to her due to her dedication to training the Seekers. He was ecstatic to know they were training under the second in command, but he did understand that she was likely busy with organizing outside patrols and expeditions.

"We will be taking a break from combat to focus on what we know about Infected and teach it to all of you." The captain spoke, Charles was able to see from the corner of his eye that Conner had stood up a little straighter when this was said. His eyes seeming to spark a little bit, he did say earlier he wanted to go into the researching branch of the seekers. Maybe this is what he was hoping for but didn't get a chance with the lieutenant training them in combat.