3rd Plan; text

[blondtactician]

I'm curious. How many of us here are below the age of 20? Of those, who have served officially or unofficially during war or fighting in some capacity?

Comments

[hyanaimne]

Thank you? I do not know if it is deserving of being glad, though.

[blondtactician]

It can be difficult for young people on their own. It's a credit you survived, if it was that hard for you to find a way to support yourself.

[hyanaimne]

I suppose it is.

[she could tell him the whys and the hows, but that's getting far too personal for her, with someone she just started speaking with]

What about you?

[blondtactician]

I am a soldier, at fifteen. This seems to be a point of concern to some.

[hyanaimne]

I will admit that it is a bit concerning to me, as well, but it is also something fairly common where I am from. Young men join the knights at your age.

[blondtactician]

What is - or what are - the knights?

[hyanaimne]

They are similar to the police force? They uphold laws and keep the capital safe. In times of war, they are also the king's highly trained army, though there has not been a war since long before I was born.

[blondtactician]

Interesting. Actually, we are the king's army as well. We pledge our loyalty to the crown. Perhaps our military is a continuation of such traditions.

One branch serves as police and personal protection to the king.

[hyanaimne]

The king has his own guards that guard him all the time - but they are former knights. There are no branches that I know of, aside from that.

[blondtactician]

But you did not become a knight.

[hyanaimne]

No, I did not. Women are not allowed to.

[blondtactician]

They would exclude half the population?

[hyanaimne]

They certainly would. Even women mercenaries are rare.

[blondtactician]

What reason could there be for that?

[hyanaimne]

Because women are meant to care for the household and children. Or some silly rubbish like that.

[blondtactician]

That is indeed rubbish. What if a man is better at the housework and the woman is better at fighting? Are they just expected to go to the other roles they're unsuited for because one is a man and the other a woman? How terribly inefficient.

[hyanaimne]

Unfortunately, that is how my world functions. Though there are some of us who go against that. Even if I had not become a mercenary, I was to become my village's healer - a first, for a woman. I do not like silly social laws.

[blondtactician]

I cannot imagine why anyone would. Except, perhaps, for those who have something to gain from the inequity. [And that is something he could quickly understand, for the gap between the nobility on the inner walls and those who struggled living hand to mouth in the outer is astounding.]

What do you do here, now?

[hyanaimne]

It is something that has always been, sadly. I wish I knew why.

I am a healer; I work in the clinic.

[blondtactician]

I'm glad. I might've gone into medicine if I didn't become a soldier. [One upon a time, he followed Grisha Yeager around along with his son. Once, long ago.]

Perhaps I'll see you there sometime.

[hyanaimne]

Mm, perhaps. Hopefully because you decided you wanted to visit.

[blondtactician]

I already got a little banged up when the zombies attacked. I'm hoping I won't need to return for any reason soon.

[hyanaimne]

I meant a visit simply because you wanted to see everything, not that sort of visit.

[blondtactician]

I guess I could stop by sometime, if it wouldn't be trouble to anyone.

[hyanaimne]

It would not be a trouble at all.