I posted this as a prompt on dirtypenpals, but since my last “crosspost” seemed to be somewhat liked, I figured I could post this one here as wel, as it actually sort of works a mini story in its own right.
—
Astra’s military has always been a rough environment, even for the most seasoned of warrior seeking for a steady regimen.
Violent abuse, both for disciplinary action as well as mundane training, is the King’s Battalion’s worst kept secret. Humiliation and degradation can really break down a soldier’s spirit, until it is like soft and wet clay, ready to be molded into a subordinate that throws themselves into battle as fodder, if need be.
Hazing runs rampant, too, especially for the new recruits, and the smaller ones. The ones who already can’t fight back. It is sickening, but such is military life, is the standard response.
Maybe it is…
I’ve known very little but abuse for the first few months as part of the infantry. Not because I am weak or a snitch or… many other things. No, I just happened to be a *”girl”* in a men’s world. An Elven girl at that.