So, as it turns out, being able to swim is very important to being in the navy. Who would have guessed that a military focused primarily on marine combat would place a requirement in being able to swim? As an officer, my physical requirements are lower than those of the enlisted, but I still have to be able to keep my head above water if I want to remain in the navy. Makes sense, drowning would be a pretty sad way to go.

Anyways, so today as I just alluded to, today we had to do a swimming examination. Now, I can swim of course. I know I’ve probably given any reader the image that I’m pathetic and weak. If you think that, you’re absoltely absolutely correct—but despite all my pitifulness, I can swim. Considering we live on a collection of islands, it would be rather stupid for anyone to not learn to do so, but I guess some people just assume they’ll never go on a ship at any point in their lives. Given how Deepeners activity seems to be ramping up, I think it’d be wiser to learn to swim. But hey, nobody ever said humanity was wise.

Anyways So I went down to the pool at noon, that’s when the exam was. I haven’t measured the thing (and judging by how the edges are uneven, I don’t think the builders did either), but I’d wager it was about two hundred paces across, maybe thirty wide, and one and a half Ocea Twalks deep. I hope those measurements provide an attiquite adequate image of that forsaken body of water, because I’m not measuring it properly. There were about fifty other officers of my rank down there, as they were grouping us by rank, and I, as a Novice Officer, was with the other Novice Officers.

I was about to take off my uniform to swim, before remembering one little detail about my body. Now, contrary to some rather absurd beliefs in Brimsey, I, as a Farath, do in fact understand modesty. But indecency wasn’t the issue—my undergarments were reasonably covering by most standards. However, my undershorts were not enough to hide the cursed scales on my leg. Honestly, I was about to panic—I can’t have anyone knowing I have a sea curse. I already had a reputation of being the weird one. Our instructor, though, told us we were going to be swimming in uniform, not in anything less.

Now, the Black Iron Navy uniforms were redesigned from the original Central Star Navy’s to be easier to swim in. Austyx valued function over fasion fashion, so when he re-made the navy, he stripped the sleeves from the old uniform designs and lightened the material (which also helps with the heat). I learned all of this when I was bored and went to the library… again. That said, there’s still a massive difference between swimming in uniform and swimming in undergarments or water-fits. The cloth seems to drag like metal weights, not only slowing you, but pulling you down.

Thankfully, I didn’t drown, but that was likely the most harrowing experience of my life. I only barely made it across, and I half considered drowning myself before completing the lap. While I did come in last place for speed, I at least did better than one of the other officers who went after me: he had to be rescued. Hope the poor guy learns to swim properly before our next exam, or, worse yet, our next battle.

Later, I met up with Ivakina and told her I just took the test. She had some funny stories regarding the swim tests, actually. She told me that, when she first joined, she was so uncomfortable with the idea of undressing that she was just going to do the test fully clothed, which, of course, turned out to be how it was done anyways. Funny thing is, nowadays she has absolutely none of those reservations. Also, apparently the stereotype of Farath having no modesty standards comes from an enlisted going to the pool completely in the buff. Guy who did it is still apparently in the navy, and has several… humorous nicknames for his antics.