Snak's Arc

Chapter 5 of 6

Snak left the compound at dawn, heading toward the nearest orc settlement. He found three young warriors arguing over a broken training dummy outside a rundown fighting pit. They stopped when they saw him. He told them about his training ground—the climbing walls, the weapon racks, the honor pillar. One of them laughed. Another asked if the training was real or just talk. Snak grabbed a nearby practice sword and sparred with all three at once. He disarmed them in under a minute. When he walked away, they followed. The three young orcs arrived at the compound by midday. Snak led them straight to the dining hall. The brownish burgundy stone walls rose high above them, and harpoons hung from the roof beams. Banners lined the walls, each one waiting to display the names and achievements of trainees who proved themselves. One of the young warriors touched a banner and asked when his name would go up. Snak told him to earn it first. He showed them the tables where they would eat after training. He showed them the space where they would gather and learn from each other's mistakes. The hall felt empty now, but it wouldn't stay that way for long. Outside, Snak walked them to the raised fighting ring. Two of the young orcs climbed onto the platform and began sparring without being told. Their movements were rough but eager. The third one watched from below, studying their footwork. Snak let them fight until they were breathing hard. He stepped up onto the ring and corrected their stances. He showed them how to keep their balance when an opponent pushed forward. They tried again, and this time their strikes landed cleaner. When they finished, Snak pointed to the posts near the bunker. Colorful flags hung between them, bright against the stone. He told them those flags would mark their progress. Every technique they mastered would be celebrated here. The young orcs stayed through the evening. They asked questions about the training schedule and the combat drills. Snak answered each one and watched their faces. They weren't laughing anymore. They wanted to prove they belonged here. He had built this place for warriors, and now the first students had arrived. The training ground wasn't empty anymore. It was starting to work.