Silence the Hunger

“Well, what did you think of the first class session?” Isobelle's eyes shone in wonder, her mind taken over with the wondrous systems and magic they had learned about.

“He didn’t really tell us much–even then–it sounded like a half-baked answer.” Alphonse shook his head. Everyone was excited about learning about their magical abilities. However, Alphonse was thinking about the real reason they were here. Is there a more sinister reason lying underneath? Alphonse couldn’t shake the feeling.

“Alphonse is right, we have been kidnapped from our homes and forced to go onto these missions,” Marcel said. “Why would they force us to be soldiers? Soldiers are sent to wars.”

“Then what do you think the real reason is?” Ellena said.

“I don’t know… this is all way beyond me. I could very well be wrong. It might just be as Alfred said. I just have a bad feeling, that’s all.” Marcel shook his head. He hated not knowing what was going on. This whole thing was a mystery.

“Soldiers are also sent to protect as well, right?” Dillan added.

“I guess you’re right. It’s just my nerves acting up.” Marcel shrugged his tense shoulders to release the nervousness he felt deep within his bones.

Alphonse watched Marcel as he nodded to himself. It was important to keep one's guard up, especially in such situations.

Alphonse and the others looked down as their device was ringing.

“Combat class.” Ellena’s eyes gleamed, her hands itched as she rubbed her scarred knuckles.

“What’s with those eyes?” Dillan shivered as he looked at Ellena. It was like a predator was looking at him, flashing a toothy grin.

“Nothing, I just want to see how your powerful body holds up, is all.” Ellena shrugged as she followed the map on her device.

“What the hell does that mean?” Dillan’s cheeks blushed in embarrassment.

“Ah, I don’t think she meant- never mind.” Alphonse said.

You’ve gotten it all wrong. The thought fluttered in his mind before being dragged forward.

The combat class didn’t feel like a room. Sand-like dirt had been spread all over the floor. Weapons of all kinds lay in many racks that lined the walls.

No guns? Alphonse thought. He gathered the people here would provide them with high powered alien-like tech weapons. However, the only weapons that had been strapped to the wall were all cold weapons. Swords, maces, spears, to name a few.

“You’re late.” Sergeant Steele, the combat class instructor, stood in the middle of the dusty room with his arms crossed. He was quite a scary figure, his muscles were something he had never seen before. They were more akin to steel cables than actual muscle. Scars covered his arms and were proudly displayed as he was only wearing a tank top.

“Late?” Alphonse looked around. Only a couple of people were in attendance.

“Yes, late. When I say you are late, you are late.” Steele’s voice sounded like an engine that was forever stuck in one gear, monotonous. “What do you know about fighting?”

Alphonse looked around as he pointed to himself in question.

“Are you dense?” Steele said, his face never once changed expression.

“Ah, no sir.” Alphonse smiled helplessly. “I know a little, I suppose?”

Steele nodded as he pointed towards Alphonse and Ellena. “Both of you, to the front.”

Ellena smashed her hands together as she excitedly walked forwards. Whereas Alphonse… dragged his feet to the center, his eyes roamed around at the fact that he was now the center of attention.

“Fight each other.” Steele’s words were simple, but they left Alphonse rooted to the spot.

What the hell is going on? I need to fight her? Alphonse thought as his eyes moved to Ellena. He could feel her fighting spirit rise. She got into a boxing stance.

“Wait, Ellena, you don’t want to fight me, do you?” Alphonse backed off.

“Why not? Ever since I saw you when we first arrived, when I watched you face off against that Lance Corporal… I want to see how much experience you have.” Ellena said. She moved forward, her body was well balanced. Every time she placed her foot onto the floor, she was ready to punch forwards.

“You’re crazy.” Alphonse said with a smile as he crouched down to the ground, his hand placed on the sand like dirt underneath.

Ellena was quite surprised. She had seen only one fighter start a fight in that position, and it was one she looked up to. Her eyes turned serious as she placed her foot forward, her back foot pivoted, turning her strong waist as her fist rocketed forwards.

Alphonse dodged the fist as he flung a handful of sand towards her face. He wasted no time as he urged his body forward, his bony hands clasped around her throat, as he thrusted his head towards Ellena’s soft, squishy nose. Coldness flashed within his eyes.

Ellena’s arm shot upwards and came crashing down the next moment. She ripped his hand away that held onto her throat off of her. Her arms coiled around his waist like a snake as she lifted Alphonse off of the floor. His body crashed to the floor as a sharp pain to his ribs inhibited his breathing.

Ellena coiled around Alphonse’s body like a snake as she pulled his arm. Alphonse groaned at the sudden pain. He felt like his arm was going to be ripped off.

Alphonse desperately looked for a way out. He wouldn’t give up. His arm was groaning in protest. He could hear small cracks inside his arm. Saliva seeped out of his mouth as he desperately resisted. His eyes rested on her arm as he opened his mouth.

“That’s enough.” At the strict words Ellena’s death hold had been let go.

“Alphonse, are you okay?” Ellena got to her feet and held her hand forward.

“You really are crazy, you know that?” Alphonse shook his head as a wry smile appeared. He accepted her hand. His other hand rested on his arm as the shooting pains remained.

“You’re the crazy one. Didn’t realise you’d throw dirt in my eyes and go for a headbutt. Had to teach you a lesson.” Ellena flashed a grin.

“What did you learn?” Steele’s words resounded within the hall.

Isobelle’s hand shot up into the air as Steele nodded. “That Alphonse didn’t stand a chance.”

The room broke out in laughter as Alphonse just shook his head.

“That skill advantage changes based on if it’s a proper fight or not.” Marcel’s shaky voice was heard as everyone turned to him.

Dammit, why do I need to open my mouth? Marcel thought. His head lowered slightly at the gazes that had been directed towards him.

“What do you mean?” Dillan said. He had clearly seen that Ellena wiped the floor with him, even with the cheap trick of Alphonse.

“I mean, Ellena put herself at a disadvantage. If it was an actual fight, Alphonse could have bit through her arm, which is what he was going to do.” Marcel added.

“That’s true.” Steele nodded. “Ellena would have won regardless but, what if instead of going for a headbutt Alphonse used his fingers to gouge out her eyes while she was still disorientated? Then Ellena put herself in a dangerous position by taking the fight to the floor.” Steele walked towards Ellena as he took out a knife. “Try to fight me.”

Ellena was startled. Her eyes looked at Steele, his eyes told her he would have no problem gutting her stomach open. Despite her trained body, she froze.

“With this, her grappling is useless. Try any of that shit from now on and I’ll have you cleaning the toilets for weeks.” Steele’s monotonous voice drummed into their ears. “This is a class not for fighting, but for killing.” His words sent a chill down the young recruits' spines.

“Your enemies are going to want to rip you apart. Weapons, claws, teeth, magical abilities that will turn you into meat soup.” Steele finished his sentence and then, the floor rumbled, the less agile and weaker recruits stumbled to the floor as rocks that could be the same size as mountains emerged from behind Steele’s mountain-like back.

Steele turned around and sent a punch forwards, the compacted rocks shot forward like a cannonball being released from the barrel as they exploded against the walls. Rock collided off the wall as rock-like shrapnel fired in all directions.

“This is my combat class, recruits.” The monotonous voice sounded forth as their legs turned to jelly.