[b]Toletum - Noon[/b]

King Charles XII sat in his office with a stack of reports. He sighed as some concerning reports came in recently that would shape the continent in the coming months... more importantly the events would shape the continent in ways that King Charles XII Phillip would harm the Kingdom and its peoples. He looked up from the reports and looked at the two guards on duty that stood by the door. Charles XII called out "Corporal, tell me. Our soldiers are known throughout the continent for their abilities. What do you think makes our army different from the others?" The more senior soldier snapped to attention and saluted when he was called. Taking a second to think, the soldier replied "Our officers and traditions, My Majesty." Charles XII replied "How so, Corporal?" The Corporal paused for a few seconds once more to consider his words. "If I may tell you a story, My Majesty?" Charles nodded in approval.

"Majesty, when I was in training as a fresh volunteer to join the Hispalis Army, one of the other volunteers was caught one day by the camp's Commandant. The volunteer was on night watch duty, but was found asleep by the Commandant. Normally, most other armies would have the man whipped for his failure as punishment and a painful lesson, but that could potentially cripple even a young man. The Commandant instead woke up the volunteer and told him that if they were at war then the volunteer would be dead and the camp raided by the enemy. Thus, since the volunteer was a dead man, the Commandant ordered him to cover his head with a white blanket and become a ghost at midnight then walk through the barracks, making ghost noises and shaking everyone awake. For a month, me and the other recruits woke up in the middle of the night because of that volunteer. The Commandant made the point clear. The volunteer let himself down and his brothers in arms down, and the shame and humiliation stung more than a whip. At the same time, it taught us all a lesson and that moment remains both one of my hated and favorite memories from training, My Majesty."

Charles XII stifled a laugh as he imagined a grown man pretending to be a ghost in white sheets. Yet, the point was clear. The Commandant likely experienced something similar himself when he was younger and in training. It was the long military tradition of Hispalis in its centuries of constant conflict that had slowly formed a unique, collective memory in the Hispalis Army. A memory that has been passed down for generations and taught officers and soldiers what was effective. Charles XII replied "A very insightful story, Corporal. You may carry on." The Corporal saluted and returned to his former position as Charles XII returned to his reports with confidence, not just in himself but in the traditions and memories of the Kingdom.