One man stood between a large crowd and a large pool of water. The pool itself resembled a natural lake, but it was man made for training. The pool was thirty feet deep and seventy feet in diameter. In the center of the pool was a large block of ice that had kept the water cold.

“This here is the ice pool. This will be the first part of your exam. If you fail here there will be no do-overs. You will pack your belongings and go back to the navy.” Announced Ocean Master Vaatu as he looked at the new trainees.

“In order to pass the exam you must be able to hold your breath for fifteen minutes. Your instructors have trained you for this task. Make no mistake you will most likely die. If you do not wish to take part in the exam then go back to the desk sergeant, and sign your papers.”

None of them took him up on his offer.

“Poor bastards.” He muttered under his breath.

Vaatu watched as the recruits were being resuscitated following their test.

“He’s dead Olkin. You can let it go now.”

Olkin then stopped pounding the recruit’s chest. “Yes sir.”

“Tend to the others while I get this one squared away.”

“Right away sir.”

Vaatu stood over the recruit’s corpse. “Poor dumb bastard.”

Vaatu picked up the corpse and carried him over his shoulders. He passed several instructors resuscitating their trainees.

“Di-di… Did I pass?” Asked one of the recruits as he trembled uncontrollably.

“Sorry kid. You missed the mark by a minute and thirty seven seconds. Can’t pass you like that.”

The recruit then started to cry. Vaatu sighed. It was commonplace. Not everyone makes it into the Makara. Most die during training, and others like the sniveling recruit go back to the regular navy. Still even if the recruit had passed this portion of the exam there was still one other test that he would have to take, and that one would most definitely kill him.

Vaatu reached the wagon where the dead bodies were piled on. He dumped the body on top of the others. He took a step back and counted how many had died. “8… 10… 14 in total.”

Then he looked at the other wagons as more bodies were being piled on. “Guess it’s gonna be another one of those days.”

“Ocean Master Vaatu sir!”

“Yes what is it Olkin?”

“Well sir… A trainee just beat the record sir.”

“That so? Record was twenty minutes. For how long did she hold her breath underwater?”

“Twenty three minutes and forty six seconds sir.”

“Holy shit! Well where are they?”

“Medical tent sir. The trainee took it a bit too far. Rin Rokudo from Mayvali Island.”

“Mayvali huh? Lot of mountains in that island. Okay then I’ll go check on them first. I have to see this. Let me know if there’s any others that stand out.”

“Will do sir.”

Vaatu walked towards the medical tent where several trainees were being carried over in stretchers. Vaatu walked inside the tent and saw several trainees clutching their covers trying to stay warm.

“Is…” Vaatu was suddenly interrupted.

“Sir some people are here to see you.” Replied Olkin as he tapped Vaatu’s shoulder.

“Oh? Whom?”

“Some sellswords sir. They say they have business with you.”

“Sellswords? I don’t know any sellswords.” Vaatu answered.

“Well sir they said that Argus sends their regards… Whatever that means.”

“Ah shit.” Vaatu punched the bridge of his nose. “Fuck me alright I’ll take care of it.”

Ryder and the Warden stood at the edge of the training grounds under watch as they waited for Ocean Master Vaatu to meet them.

“You know I always heard from my dad that the Makara were the scariest thing out in the seas. You ever fight any of them?” Asked Ryder.

The Warden grunted.

“Figures. Still… I’ve always wanted to see what they’re capable of.”

Ryder then saw a bald man with a skinny yet muscular build approach them.

“Alright you two care to tell me how else that bitch is planning on ruining my life today?”

“Ocean Master Vaatu right?”

“What’s it to you fuckface?”

Ryder pulled out the king’s mark from his pocket and threw it at Vaatu who caught it. Vaatu then laid his eyes upon the king’s mark.

“Shit must be bad if they sent sellswords instead of real soldiers. Why do you two have this? Scratch that… What did Argus say?”

“Only that she sends her regards. Nothing more than that. We need help to get into Karash. We’re looking to assassinate two legionnaires.”

“Legionnaires?” Vaatu then spat on the ground. “Those little bastards ain’t shit. No fucking way they’re the reason Ulammar’s going down the shitter.”

“And yet here we are. Can you get us in?”

Vaatu looked at the king’s mark as he traced his thumb over it.

Vaatu looked at the discharge papers. At the top of the paper was a blue seal with the Ulammarian Navy’s mark.

“Blue discharge… Behavior unbefitting and unbecoming… Un-fucking-believable.” He said as he downed another pint of beer.

“Well considering how you’re drowning your sorrows with beer I can believe it.” Said a woman sitting next to him.

“Eat a dick.”

“Perhaps it should be me saying that to you. Considering your preferred company.”

Vaatu did not respond.

“I can make it go away.”

“Bullshit! Nothing’s free.”

“You’re right. In return the king wants you at their beck and call. When they need something you answer.”

“Hmph…” Vaatu snorted. “And what could the king want with a lowly colonel?”

“Even colonels have some influence. Ocean Masters well… They have even more.”

“So it’s a gamble?”

“One that I’m sure will pay off.”

“No guarantees. Especially given that they’re on the offensive from what I heard.”

“Good enough. I thought that Ocean Masters were more independent?”

“Technically we are. We serve the islands first and the king second. That isn’t to say that we don’t answer the king’s call, but well… Given that we’re not at war with another country right now it’s a lot more political.”

“I see… Well we’re staying at the Broken Lantern Inn. Give us a call when you have made all the arrangements.”

“Yeah yeah.” Said Vaatu as he threw the mark back at them.

“Two legionnaires causing a civil war in Ulammar? No fucking way. Not a single Karashian vessel has been able to pierce through our navy.” Said Vaatu as he looked at the map of Ulammar and its surrounding islands.

“What do you think it means sir?” Asked Olkin.

“Not sure… Karash hasn’t even beaten the Dolsurians yet, and they’re already picking a fight with us? No… Something else is going on. In either case it’s out of our hands. Move up the timetable I want the second exam ready within these next few days. Once the recruits pass the second exam I’m taking them on this little expedition. We’ll see if they’re really worth it or not.”

“Yes sir.” Olkin then left Vaatu’s office.

“They must be some dangerous legionnaires if they have the king sending a hit squad.”