Chapter 47: Safe
"Welcome back, dear candidates!" Lieutenant Long greeted.
"It’s so nice to see familiar faces that I remember from our first meeting. It’s interesting... Now we will see who will really survive till the end, candidates. I see you are all ready, coming here while the sun is not yet up. Yeah, I bet they have forced you to report so early, right? Well, that’s because the one who is handling the training now are young ones, so blame our young Lieutenants and Generals who came up with this kind of tests. So you can guess that I’m a part of ’Old Officers’, so we are good guys." Added the Lieutenant in a jest, followed by a wink.
The candidates laughed at the usual welcoming humor of Lieutenant Long.
"That officer is so comedic," commented Drey.
"That’s why he is always the one who welcomes the candidates," Lana said.
"Hmm, I’m sure Torin will soon replace him," May commented laughing because Lieutenant Torin was also a funny guy.
"Three days of physical fitness tests and challenges to assess endurance, muscular strength, abilities and cardiovascular respiratory fitness of each and every one of you. There will be three events that you must pass. The first event is today. If you fail to achieve a passing score, then you leave. If you pass, then you will advance to the second round on the second day. If you fail the second round, you leave. If you pass, then you will advance to the third and finally the final round. And finally, if you pass the third round- congratulations as the Oath-Taking Ceremony and Reception Rites, signaling your official entry to the Academy as a member of ZMA Class will follow!" Explained Lieutenant Long and left the remaining candidates in awe.
"What? Are we on some kind of a game? The way of the tests is simply too complicated." Some of the candidates murmured, they seemed to be complaining, which of course, reached Lieutenant Long’s ears.
"Candidates, calm down. Our exit gate is always open for those who are not determined enough to vie to enter our Academy. It’s called ’Survival of the Fittest’ so from the name itself it should be very obvious. Our Academy only wants and needs those who will survive the physical fitness test, obstacles and challenges our young Lieutenants and Generals here have prepared simply because they are S-U-R-V-I-V-O-R-S, which is our Academy’s requirement." Lieutenant Long declared with a heavy tone.