The first few months was a bit hard for Irida to get used to and fully settle in. The contrast in the weather being one of Irida's biggest headaches, there was also the problem of people. Irida wasn't really used to seeing so many people on a daily basis, back in her hometown, the air was fresher and it was more peaceful, even visiting the library or the art gallery was peaceful. Unlike here, everywhere was always filled with a few hundred people all at once, she really wasn't used to it.
After the winter break, Irida slowly adapted to the country, after all she'd be be spending the next four years here. She would always write to Ian twice every week and made sure she called home every weekend. Irida and Elini tried to always communicate as much as they could, but Elini was always busy because she was studying psychology and her first year was hectic
Whenever Irida called, Elini would always rant and complain for hours about how tired she was and she really wanted to quit.
Irida made two new friends in her faculty, Elise, a Blondie with a cute smile. Her personality and appearance were stark contrast from each other. Elise looked gentle and cute but her mouth was foul, with a furry temper and an almost obsessive sense of justice. Josh on the other hand was mostly quiet and always had a smile on his face, he looked like a gentleman but he was more cunning than Irida herself and had a brutal streak. He always kept his black hair permed and his thin lips always had a hint of a smile
"Wipe that fucking smirk off your face you bloody psycho" Elise said in disgust
"You know you don't have to be jealous that girls like me" Josh snapped back
"Only a fool would be jealous of you. Ugh you give me the chills, smiling like some pant stealing creep everyday" Elise said
She really was tempted to punch the disgusting smile off of his face
Everyone was blind, the teachers, the girls, whoever liked Josh was just plain blind
"I know you love me" Josh taunted as he wrapped his arms around Elise
"Get off of me, don't make me a public enemy" Elise said as she peeled Josh's arms off
"You both argue like an old couple" Irida said as she laughed
"Please don't give me nightmares" Elise said as she walked briskly
Irida looked at Josh before catching up with Elise
......
For the past few months, the only thing Ian could see was sweaty men. At first he'd always get irritated by the smell of sweat and loud noises of so many people all at once trying to suffocate him, but eventually he got used to it. He would also sometimes forget to take a bath before passing out in bed due to the fatigue. They were always made to wake up at an ungodly hour every morning and made to run laps and do exercises before having breakfast, they only get a thirty minutes break before they're made to do more exercises. Sometimes they got tied up and thrown into sea as a form of training where they were forced to unbind their selves and make it back to shore before they suffocate, and you get punished for being slow.
Sometimes they were thrown into the forest for weeks and expected to carry out tasks with food rations enough to last just the first three days. Sometimes the trainings felt so hellish that it made the young boys almost want to give up
"Ian, Ian" a loud voice called starling Ian from his thoughts
"Sir" Ian yelled as he quickly stood in a salut
"What are you daydreaming about again young man. A second of distraction could get you killed in battle" the sergeant chastised
"Give me three laps, on the double"
"Sir yes sir" Ian saluted as he ran
Ian ran around the field three times before finally dragging his tired body to his room
He laid weakly on the bed and pulled out Irida's letter and the recent picture she sent. She was the only reason he was still holding on, he had wanted to give up so many times
"Who's that?" His bunkmate asked curiously as he pulled the picture from Ian's hand
"Give that back" Ian calmly said
His bunkmate laughed and passed the picture around, earning needs from the guys in the room
"Give that back" Ian said as he angrily snatched Irida's picture and stuffed it into his chest pocket
Irida would always write to him, often encouraging him, he'd call her or his ma with his monthly call time. Soon Ian got used to the intensity of the trainings and his skin looked more wheat colored and toned. Ian was diligent in his training and would often receive encouragement and praise from his supervisor
Later Ian was made the squad leader of their dorm.