Limpalak stood at the side of the training field, silently waiting with Centurion Garthrin for the Prime to arrive and watch their mock battle. On either side of the dirt field stood their centuries, silently waiting in ranks. Even at first glance, there was a marked difference between the two groups.

It wasn't just that Limpalak's group had bearkin and Garthrin's had foxkin, though that was something to take note of when assessing the other party. Limpalak was still unclear of the full extent of the Kin's abilities, but size had to matter for something, even if it was solely for the purpose of intimidation.

"Did you really incorporate them into your century?" Mocked Garthrin, finally breaking the silence between them that had existed from the moment the two centurions and their men had arrived. "The beasts can only get in the way of our castings and weaken our cohesion. It's better to let them act as flankers as it appeals to their nature to run around."

The hostility wasn't unexpected. Limpalak even felt some for the man next to him, though it was suppressed by the nervousness about whether his plan would work. Within every legion, competition within the 1st Cohort's centuries and centurions was encouraged. However, if the interactions ever crossed the line into sabotage and affected the combat-readiness of the legion, the consequences would be harsh.

The reason was simple, while all within the Prime cohort received half again as much pay as normal veterans, the century that won and kept the position of the best received double. That was on top of the respect and honor they gained from the duty of protecting the Legion Eagle, which was worth far more than the money to most.

Within the revitalized legion, any prime century had the chance to claim the honor, and this contest would be the first significant event in determining who deserved that privilege. No one was taking this competition casually, and it turned out that no one else was willing to take a risk. Everyone else fell back on what had long been established and tested as standard legion doctrine, and Centurion Garthrin was no exception.

Garthrin's integration of the Olimpian legionaries and Kin warriors was nonexistent. Already, it was apparent that he planned on having a core group of legionaries, with the Kin acting as flankers striking on the sides. Technically, they were working together, and against another legion, it could be devastating. But it wasn't something that was effective in a battle against a beastkin hoard, and that was what they were told to expect to be fighting.

With the numbers of a hoard, anything isolated from the central mass would be swamped and overwhelmed long before it could decisively shift the battle. If the two races were going to work together effectively, it had to happen within the confines of a legion shield wall. Which was not at all guaranteed to even be possible.

"Perhaps… However, I don't feel like that complies with the spirit of our assignment," Limpalak responded after a moment of thought.

"Pfft!" Snorted Garthin. "Maybe you are getting a little too old for this if you're going to overthink such a simple assignment. We are here to prove that the Kin and Olimpians can't work directly together, nothing more. Eh, what do I care? It's a free win for me."

Centurion Limpalak felt his back stiffen at the last comment, but before he could say anything, a voice barked out, "Gentlemen. Apologies for being late, but bureaucracy only ever seems to act fast when you have other engagements."

"It is no issue at all, Prime Centurion," Limpalak responded, while Garthin said something of a similar effect while they turned to salute their direct superior. Of course, neither of the two mentioned the beads of sweat resting on their foreheads after standing in the sun for over an hour. Propriety needed to be maintained, after all, and complaining to a superior over such an inconsequential matter was a step and a half too far.

"Good, good," The Prime centurion muttered while he glanced down at a clipboard while his other hand tapped his baton against this leg. Stopping his tapping, the man's head snapped up, and he spoke briskly. "Now, I don't have much time, so let's keep the talking short and sweet. I have been tasked with judging your ability to integrate the Kin into your centuries and reporting on the matter to Guardian Panta. To determine the potential of the integration, we will have a mock battle. There will be only wooden swords allowed in the fighting, and head and neck blows are to be avoided as best as possible. Unless you have any other questions… No? Then let's get this show on the road."

Waving his arm for them to get on with it, the Prime turned and strode to the side of the training field, meeting a small group of legionaries and a couple Kin, most of which were no doubt acting as runners and aids for him. One legionary was even coming to a stop next to the others, nervously hopping from one foot to the other in his rush to deliver his message.

Turning to his legionnaires, Limpalak nodded to the other centurion, then moved at a steady pace back to his men. As he drew closer, a ripple ran through the ranks. The previously slouching men who weren't quite in parade rest snapped back into place. Even the Kin were doing their best to look good and throw out their chests.

While the ice between the Olimpians and Kins had started to thaw in during training, Limpalak doubted they were putting on a show for his benefit. A couple of those observing with the Prime were some foxkins, and while they stood in the back, their presence meant they had quite a bit of status. Not that the reasons mattered so long as everyone was taking this mock battle seriously.

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"Okay, boys," Centurion Limpalak called out vocally, mainly for the sake of the Kin. "We haven't been with each other long, but I think we have come to appreciate each other's abilities, and we worked dam hard doing it. So let's go out there and kick the shit out of the 7th Century!"

"Hua, hua, hua!" Chanted the legionaries in response, pounding their wooden gladii against their shields, vicious grins on their faces.

"Good. Now form up! Long hollow square, Kin in the center!" At his command, the legionaries quick-marched, forming up around him and the Kin. The result didn't quite make a square. With the century being composed of half Kin and half Olimpian, there just weren't enough bodies to surround the Kin while forming a stable shield wall able to take a focused charge.

The best Limpalak could manage was forming up the legionaries in a shield wall two ranks deep on three sides… Well, it was a line of fifteen legionaries two ranks deep, and the sides each had a line of nine one rank deep to cover the flanks. The back of the formation was entirely open and meant to be guarded by the Kin should it prove necessary.

If Limpalak could, he would trade out some of the Kin and replace them with more legionaries. Not because he didn't want the warriors but because he wanted a thicker line. He had faith that his strategy could work, but he wasn't sure he had the numbers to do it justice. As it was, the bears were responsible for covering the rear, and he didn't have nearly enough spotters for his liking.

Shoving his doubts to the back of his mind, Limpalak raised his centurion baton over his head and sent out a pulse message, signaling he was ready. A moment later, Garthrin did the same. It was only a few seconds before the Prime released one of his own, signaling the start of the battle.

"Slow and steady, forward march!" Limpalak called, half his mind monitoring the union with his Olimpian forces while he watched the Kin with the other.

"Centurion Limpalak…" Rumbled a bearkin to the human's side, who he thought was named Kirten.

Glancing over, he was slightly irritated that he was being distracted and barked, "What?"

Looking hesitant, the bear finally rumbled, "…I think some of those foxes are apprentices."

After looking blankly at the large man's head and shoulders looming above him for a second, Limpalak murmured, "Umm, okay… what does that mean?"

The Kin's face scrunched up in annoyance, and he shook his head, but before he could speak, Limpalak's head whipped forward as the opposing legionaries smashed into their front ranks. The air resounded with the slapping and crack of wood as the shields of each century impacted the other. Blows that would break bones if they impacted unenhanced fleshed battered at each opposing shield wall. It wasn't just the gladii that posed a danger, as the shield bashes being thrown out contained enough force to knock a grown man back ten feet if they weren't rooted in place.

The limbs of the men on both sides of the conflict were seemingly moving independently of their own thoughts as they blocked and made attacks at blind spots that should have been impossible for them to see. Fifty minds began to merge their experiences and perspectives as they strove to best the other side. As everyone fell into the flow of the struggle, individuality was lost, and the front lines became two struggling entities instead of dozens. Their bodies simply moved, wielding their weapons, seeking to end the stalemate in their favor.

It wasn't meant to last. One of the century's psy would run out, a weapon would break, a complicated series of coordinated moves would be performed, or simple chance would result in one side gaining the advantage over the other. Limpalak wasn't one for complex strategies, and rolling the dice wasn't something he had a mind for, either. However, he was willing to put all his hope behind the judicious application of brute force.

"Open a hole there!" Limpalak sent into the union along with a mental picture. Reaching forward, he started patting a Kin on the back, and before he could lower his hand the second time, the bearkin was already surging forward.

Everyone along Limpalak's century shield wall took a small step toward the outer edges. No one person did a lot, simply slightly overlapping their shields with the man next to them, but a hole large enough for the Kin to charge through with more than a foot of clearance on each side formed in less than a second. The 7th Century might have known it was a trap, but Limpalak had to give them their due, as they still surged into the gap in an effort to wedge it open.

When they crashed into the massive Kin, moving with the momentum and speed of a knight, the result was unpleasant for the advancing legionaries of the 7th Century. Even with a layer of psy reinforcing the back of their shields, the legionary's shields cracked in half in a spray of splinters. However, the result couldn't really be said to have gone one way or another.

The Olimpians' psy castings came into contact with the Kin's enchanted shield a moment later, and the bearkin's entire body flickered as a few of the amulets scattered around his body broke with flashes of light. The Kin staggered in a circle, not able to take advantage of the situation, but he had already done more than his job. Limpalak's legionaries pressed in from the sides, shoving the Kin back and pressing against the weakness of the opposing line.

It didn't quite work as good as Limpalak had hoped, but the results were more than enough to tilt the battle in their favor. A smile stretched Limpalak's face as he could taste victory, but at that moment, it felt like the mental network he controlled was blown away in a strong wind. Before he could brace himself, the backlash hit him like a horse kicking him in the head.

The world swirled, and the next thing Limpalak knew, he was staring up at the sky, a legionary of the 7th Century standing over him, a cocky smile on his face. Before the man could speak, the Prime Centurion thundered, "Stop the exercise! Grathrin, congratulations on the victory. Limpalak, see to your men and come find me; we have something to talk about." Staring up into the sky for a few seconds while the earth stopped rocking, the centurion didn't know whether he should cry or shout for joy.

A shadow fell over him, and a familiar bearkin loomed over him. The side of the Kin's face was rosy from something hitting it hard, and the spot would turn into a brilliant bruise soon enough. "What happened?" Limpalak asked.

"Hmm… I told you one of the foxes was an apprentice. Not quite a mage, but almost. They swept around the back and destabilized a couple of our artifacts. The release of mana hit you guys first, dissipating your psy spells before dying out. We tried our best, but with everyone collapsed, we couldn't hold them back."

Grunting as he climbed to his feet, Limpalak turned to the Kin and reached up to clap him on the shoulder. "Next time you notice something important, make sure I pay attention to you. Alright?"

The comment earned a flash of teeth and a snort of amusement from the bear as he turned away, "Will do."

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