Having Sir Gregory’s assistance, it did not take Talia long to gather the trainee’s under the Drill Sergeant. 

At the moment the trainees stood in a neat row formed in front of the solemn Drill Sergeant.

The trainees were unsure why they have been summoned here so urgently, however, each of them had a strange intuition it had something to do with a young girl and middle-aged man standing next to the drill sergeant.

Each of the trainees couldn’t help but shiver whilst trying to gaze into the young girl's cold, blue eyes, despite her having the same beautiful, delicate appearance as before, each of them felt that she seemed to emit a far stranger presence than before. 

Talia didn’t know it, but the effects of undergoing numerous life and death battles have made her develop an air of strength exuded by an expert, a normal person may not detect anything differently but these trainees who are more sensitive to such changes felt a suppressive feeling.

The effect of her new passive skill ‘Charismatic aura’ also played a role in the trainees noticing the difference as the skill provided a slight influence to person strengthening the impression they gave them since the trainees look up to Talia as the strongest among them it was only right she would give off such a feeling in their eyes.

Even the drill sergeant was affected by Talia’s aura as his eyes shone with even more respect, he had long since been loyal to the Princess, viewing her as the rightful heir of the Kingdom.

He was just good at hiding these thoughts since he was a true professional who ensured he carried out his duties as a soldier of the Kingdom.

However, now he unconsciously stood silent as if waiting for Talia to speak viewing her as a superior.

Even Talia felt things were a bit strange noticing the trainees and drill sergeants shining eyes showing honest acknowledgement. 

‘Is the effect of that skill that strong?’

She thought wondering that the ‘charismatic aura’ seemed a bit too powerful since everyone’s attitude towards her seemed to have increased greatly towards her.

However, what Talia didn’t understand was these were the true inner feelings of everyone present, the trainees had long grown to acknowledge her as the days went by with her training alongside them and the Drill Sergeant looked up to her as his superior from the beginning. 

The skill only revealed their true thoughts.

Talia was a bit in awe of the open looks of respect, at the moment she felt she understood the feelings of a leader with everyone looking up to her for the answers.

Quickly shaking her mind off these thoughts she decided it was time to reveal the purpose of this meeting to the trainees.

“I’m sure all of you may be curious why you have been called here…” Talia said gaining all of the trainee's focused attention.

The trainees nodded in agreement curious at what Talia had to say.

“Some of you may have noticed my rapid strength gain since my arrival here… let’s just say it was the power of alchemy which has sped up my progress, taking one of these potions has provided me great benefits. And for the competition with the nobles, I have decided to provide each of you one!” Talia announced causing a clamouring amount of the trainees.

An honest trainee couldn’t help but be abrupt saying, “We honestly believe you, Princess! However, how can we know these potions are as good as you say they are, I’ve heard some low-quality alchemy potions can bring great short term benefits, but a person's future potential may be destroyed as a result. I’d rather suffer now than to pay for the consequence later!”

Some of the trainees instantly quietened down upon hearing the honest trainee, each of them appearing solemn showing obvious agreement with his words.

Ritson, Ben and Oscar were also among them.

Each of them had great ambitions as a Warrior they would not sacrifice their future just for such short term gains.

Even if they respected Talia greatly they still felt cautious that the Princess may have been deceived by an enemy who wanted to harm them.

Seeing the looks of agreement among the trainees, she knew that even the charismatic aura and the trainee's trust in her couldn’t convince them to take the potions unless it was confirmed by a reliable source they were the truth.

And to be honest, Talia couldn’t blame them, she would share similar thoughts, after all the Princess had only trained with them for a short while and had little experience, she would find it hard to believe such a figure could bring out such good treasures without a cost.

However, that was why she confirmed the effectiveness of the potions with Sir Gregory beforehand.

As an experienced man who has knowledge of alchemists and is a strong Tier 4 Warrior himself, he was the perfect backer to remove all doubts.

Looking to Sir Gregory she said, “That is why I have tested them with Sir Gregory beforehand, he himself can confirm the effects!”

Hearing Talia’s announcement the trainees stared at Sir Gregory who stood forward and said, “The effects of the potion are as described, even as a Tier 4 Warrior my strength has been increased… almost to the point of me once again advancing back to a Tier 5 Warrior, there are no repercussions to the body only benefit. However as Talia mentioned it can only be taken once and is very effective for the physique, and is something even a Tier 9 Warrior would find valuable, so I would advise taking one, if you remain unconvinced by my words after this, you may refuse but I will warn you this may be your only opportunity to receive such a good thing.”

Hearing Sir Gregory’s persuasive words each of the trainees felt convinced.

After all right through his speech, they could clearly feel Sir Gregory emitting a stronger aura to demonstrate to them his strength had indeed increased. 

A Warrior can naturally emit their own aura to deter opponents, Sir Gregory’s greatly weakened as a result of his crippling injuries, now he was giving off a completely different feeling to the one they were familiar with they realised his strength did seem to have recovered as he mentioned.

Already the first trainee approached to take the potion. And it was the familiar tall figure of Ritson who had regularly spared Talia.

“I not only trust Sir Gregory’s judgement but also your highnesses, I feel confident that I am making the correct decision and if I’m wrong I have no regrets, as it will at least allow me to increase my usefulness in stomping those nobles…” Ritson said passionately grabbing a pottle chugging in one gulp before walking back to the line.

Following Ritson soon enough every trainee approached to take the potion, Ben, Oscar, the honest young man who spoke up earlier, each took a potion and drank it.

Soon enough the first to feel the effects were Ritson who had taken the potion first began gritting his teeth in pain as he endured the torment of his physique being refined.

The Drill Sergeant who had already taken a potion earlier despite his protests was staring at the trainees with great interest, he was impressed with some key figures among them pain tolerance especially Ritson as he knew firsthand how tormenting the Tier 1 physique potion was despite its benefits.

Shorty Ritson was the first to complete his metamorphosis, feeling the clicking of his bones, Ritson gripped his hands into a fist feeling the new-found strength in his body his confidence seemed to have increased greatly as he threw a few punches getting the feeling of his all-around improvement.

Suddenly he turned his gaze to Talia with a look of challenge however this soon turned to one of fear as she just returned his look with the stare of a predator as he instinctively felt a shiver down his spine.

‘Not a good idea! I will not openly challenge that monster!’ Ritson thought, despite his strength increasing greatly he still did not fancy his chances against Talia.

More and more trainees began finishing their transformation after taking the potion until finally the last one had their physique thoroughly tempered by the potion.

Each of them had a look of satisfaction at the great strength increase, as Warriors also knew their body better than most, they could instinctively realise if the potion had damaged them internally, however, each of them have found their body conditions have only improved not decreased, even hidden injuries developed over years of training had completely healed. 

The drill sergeant appeared very satisfied looking at the collective strength increase, smirking he said, “Looks like those nobles have unknowingly thrown themselves into a pit unintentionally”

Talia laughed and said, “I’m excited to see the look on that brat Edward’s face when he realised the scheme he set up is foiled!” 

The Drill Sergeant nodded in complete agreement, he had thought the trainee's chances in the duel against the nobles were bleak no matter how favourably he looked at them.

Each of the nobles was among the most privileged in the Kingdom and have received many resources from the young, even if he felt that on an equal strength standpoint most of the trainees could beat the lesser experienced nobles who have almost entirely trained with spars instead of participating in a proper duel, the strength difference was too big even with this slight advantage.

Yet now he was confident in each of them unless the nobles brought that guy with them, every trainee was sure to win a complete victory.

“I hope that boy develops some sense and don’t tag along with them for that brat.” The Drill Sergeant mumbled with some concern.

The only figure among the noble's younger generation he was truly worried about was the Alcheton Duke’s Son Alistair.

Talia remained silent noticing the Drill Sergeant's demeanour entirely changing whilst murmuring the name of a noble.

‘I wonder who is he so worried about?’ As of yet she had not completely digested the memories of this body and had missed a figure known as Alistair, yet she would need to further review these thoughts if the Drill Sergeant was deeply worried about such a person.

This duel was important not only for the trainees but it was significant in her taking the first steps towards defeating the Governor.

She already felt responsible for these trainees who treated her as their heir, she was not going to let them face defeat under her watch.