"Best moment was when we tag teamed that group. Did you see their faces when Basil locked them down with vines only to realize there was a horse sized meteor headed right for their faces?" Emyr cackled in joy as he reminisced about the first round as their group made their way through the tunnels under the coliseum towards the class S waiting room.

They'd been directed to return to their original waiting room when they approached a bemused, and faintly concerned, looking professor after they left the 'Mad Tea Party Dome' as Liliana had mentally named it. She wasn't entirely certain why the professor had only looked at their group like that.

Perhaps they'd heard Emyr's maniacal laughter and crowed 'dance you pathetic weakling worms, dance.' after one particularly large and effective spell? Though why their entire group was leveled with that look when it was Emyr who showed villainesque tendencies, she couldn't be sure. Or perhaps it was because their group was laughing and smiling while the rest of the first years looked distinctly... traumatized.

Honestly, Liliana had no idea why the rest of her year looked as if they'd just come face to face with the grim reaper and been spat back out of hell as they stumbled along. She'd watched the entire first round almost entirely from her perch in the sky, and it wasn't that bad.

Sure, there was an almost nonstop barrage of deadly spells being flung around and a general sense of chaotic mayhem during the first round, but was it really that terrifying? It couldn't be worse than an entire dungeon of centipedes.

"My favorite moment was when Dawn got into the Dome and just froze when she saw us." Alistair said with a snort.

"It was rather rude of her to not even join us for some tea," Marianne huffed as she crossed her arms.

"You're lucky she didn't attack any of you." Liliana called back to her group as she rolled her eyes. Honestly, inviting an opponent to tea?

"Only an utter monster would interrupt tea time." Marianne cried, outraged at the very idea.

"Says the girl who decided to have tea in the middle of a massive battle!" Liliana retorted as she swung open the door to the class S waiting room.

"I don't know if you noticed, Lili, but there wasn't exactly an abundance of things to do inside the dome!" Marianne hissed at her, poking Liliana's side.

"Oh, so sorry princess that you were bored. I was a bit too occupied making sure you stayed safe and our plan proceeded to be concerned with your entertainment." Liliana sarcastically replied.

"This is why we only invited you to tea time once." Emyr said with a shrug.

"How many tea parties did you have?" Liliana demanded as they took their seats in the waiting room, barely acknowledging the other students in the room. A good amount of their class had made it, the majority from their team. About half were missing, though, and the remainder looked weary and battle worn.

Liliana was fairly certain she heard some whisper in horrified disbelief 'Were they having a tea party during the first round? What the fuck?'. She and her group chose to ignore that comment entirely.

"Four?" Basil said, tilting his head as he considered the question. "And a game of One." He added with a nod.

Liliana rolled her eyes. She'd had to hear the shouts from that card game while she managed the mage attacks. Another thing not on the contraband list this tournament that likely would be come next time- card games.

"Gods, the professors are going to think we're not taking this seriously." Liliana muttered, rubbing at her temples.

"Well... we sort of did, but we didn't?" Alistair said with a shrug, "with your plan, we didn't need to really take the first round too seriously. And that was the point, wasn't it? To save our energy?" Alistair finished with a helpless smile.

"Yeah, the plan worked a bit too well. Hopefully, the professors take it as a sign that we're just that good, and not a bunch of disrespectful hooligans." Liliana said with a resigned sigh. She felt like her team’s general aura of chaos and nonchalance was at least, partially, her fault.

"I wish the plan worked a bit less well. I haven't gotten to punch a single person yet!" Anya whined, flopping down on the bench so her head rested in Liliana's lap, where she stroked the wolf girl's head consolingly.

"Look at it this way, you get to punch people to your heart’s content in the single fights coming up." Liliana offered as an appeasement.

"It'll do, I guess." Anya muttered grumpily, her wagging tail betraying her excitement for a chance to finally fight.

Liliana was ready for a real fight herself. Causing mischief and harassing people with what spells she could use in Astral form was all well and good, but it was no replacement for real combat. She was ready to really fight, to show everyone here what she was made of. She'd shown the professors her ability to coordinate and plan, now she wanted to show them she could back it up with martial power as well.

"I am just glad I made it this far. I did not think I would get past the first round, truthfully." Rathwater said softly as he hovered at the edges of their group.

It was obvious he wasn't sure if he belonged with them, now that the round was over and he was no longer necessary for any plans. Liliana was of the opinion that if you fought together of your own free will, you were elevated past mere acquaintances. He might not realize it yet, but Rathwater had been adopted into their every growing group of misfits and rabble rousers.

"I'm sure, even without our help, you would've gotten to the next round." Alistair assured the boy with a welcoming smile.

"You're a strong mage." Koth'talan said with a shrug.

It was surprising he spoke up. He'd been glaring at his brother ever since they got back to the waiting room and saw the other prince already there. Somehow, he had survived the first round. He was as tenacious as a cockroach. Liliana pointedly kept her attention off Zir’elon, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing her ire at his presence.

"You did well." Liliana added with an encouraging smile towards Rathwater.

Rathwater looked around at the group and his shoulders relaxed from the protective hunch they'd been in, as if he was waiting for them to tell him to shove off and leave now that they no longer had a use for him.

"Liliana?" A voice called out.

Liliana turned her head and met the gaze of Diana. The girl was standing hesitantly to the side of their gathered group, looking markedly worse for wear compared to Liliana's team, who looked as fresh as they had at the start of the round.

"Yeah?" Liliana responded, tilting her head slightly.

"Can I talk to you? Out in the hall for a moment?" Diana asked, shifting her weight from foot to foot nervously.

Liliana nodded and gently extricated herself from Anya, following Diana as the girl left the waiting room and walked a ways down the tunnel until she was sure they were out of hearing range. Diana looked down at her tightly clasped hands, glancing at Liliana a few times before darting her eyes away. As if she didn’t even have the strength to keep eye contact.

Liliana leaned against the wall, one foot pressed to it as she crossed her arms and waited for the other girl to work up her courage to say whatever it was she brought her out here for.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Thank you for saving me." Diana said, softly, still not looking at Liliana.

"No problem. I know we're not really friends right now, but I didn't want to see you get hurt if I could help." Liliana said with a shrug, hoping she kept the pain from her voice. Diana rejecting her still stung, even if she understood why.

"I didn't deserve it, after I just dropped you like that. I was an awful friend to you, and I'm sorry." Diana rushed the words out, tripping over her own tongue as they spilled from her lips. As if she was scared if she didn't say them all right this second, she never would. Liliana felt her breath catch in her throat as her heart gave a painful squeeze.

"It's okay. I mean, I get it. I put you in a lot of danger you never signed up for and it wasn't fair to you. I never held it against you." Liliana said softly, holding her hands out in a placating manner. Diana looked on the verge of tears or panic as she finally lifted her baby blue eyes to meet Liliana's.

"Even when I was so mean to you, you're still so nice. I don't deserve this at all." Diana blubbered as the tears finally fell and Liliana let out a fond sigh at the familiar waterworks.

Diana crying was something she saw often when they had been friends. Liliana gathered the other girl into her arms gently and rubbed a consoling hand on her back as she cried. At least Diana didn’t hate her so much she wouldn’t allow this much.

"It's alright. You were just protecting yourself, and there's nothing wrong with that." Liliana soothed as Diana cried. When the other girl’s tears finally slowed, she pulled back, looking up at Liliana with wide, shining eyes and a trembling lip. Liliana was a bit jealous of how pretty Diana was, even when crying.

"Can we be friends again?" Diana asked hesitantly, and Liliana felt a wide grin split across her lips.

"Of course!" Liliana told her, hugging the other girl tightly.

Diana let out a sigh of relief as she pressed her face into Liliana's shoulder and hugged her back just as tightly. They stayed like that for a few minutes before breaking apart, Diana wiping at her damp face, erasing the signs that she'd been a sobbing mess a few seconds ago. The girl had perfected crying without getting swollen eyes or a bright red nose.

"Sorry for getting your shirt all dirty." Diana said with a small grimace as she motioned to Liliana's soggy top. Liliana shrugged it off.

"It's fine. It'll get soaked with sweat and dirt soon, anyway." Liliana said with a small laugh, "and I can clean it in a snap, see?" She activated [Cleanse] erasing the tear stains as the spell washed over her, returning her clothes to their previously clean state.

"Gods, cleaning spells are so useful." Diana groaned, a hint of envy in her tone.

"Right? Thats why I bought one. Should I grab you a spell scroll for one, too?" Liliana asked as they started to walk back to the waiting room.

She knew someone from a commoner family like Diana likely couldn't afford to spend money on a frivolous cleaning spell, but Liliana had access to Rosengarde money and no compunction about blowing it.

"I couldn't ask you to do something like that." Diana demurred as they got to the door. Liliana waved her concerns away as they reentered.

"You're not asking, I'm offering. It's not a big deal for me, and what are rich friends for? Right?" Liliana joked as they returned to the group.

She noticed several raised eyebrows at their jovial behavior, especially considering until today Diana and Liliana hadn’t even been on speaking terms. Liliana saw more than a few suspicious glances sent Diana's way beside the disbelieving eyebrows and glances. Liliana had easily forgiven Diana, and even understood her reason for pulling away. Her overprotective friends, however, would take longer to warm back up to Diana.

Diana could obviously feel the less than hospitable welcome she received from the group as she hesitated on the outskirts. Liliana situated herself back in the spot she had vacated, not entirely oblivious to the way the others shifted closer to her, as if closing ranks.

She knew she couldn't outright chastise them for this, no matter how rude it was. They wouldn't listen and it would only serve to further embarrass Diana, to have it pointed out blatantly. Besides, while Diana had apologized to her, she hadn't made amends with the others yet. And Liliana wasn't the only friend she'd hurt by pulling away from them all.

"Ah, I have to check over my gear. Maybe after the tournament we could get a meal together in the caf?" Diana asked, eyes bouncing from face to face even if it was obvious her question was directed at Liliana.

"Of course. Good luck in your match." Liliana said with a warm smile as Anya dropped her head back in her lap, eyes narrowed at Diana. There would need to be a lot of apologies in her future if she hoped to integrate back into their group.

"You too." Diana said, giving a strained smile before scuttling off to another part of the room.

"Be nice." Liliana hissed after Diana had left, pitching her voice low.

"No." Emyr said bluntly, meeting her eyes in a challenge. Liliana rolled her eyes and sighed. She hadn't expected anything else from him truly.

"She can't just waltz back in and act like she didn't ignore us for months!" Marianne muttered darkly, leaning against Liliana protectively.

"They're right, Lili. You're not the only one she hurt. If she wants us to forgive her, the least she can do is apologize to all of us." Alistair said with a shrug, face disgruntled.

He had taken Diana's rejection almost as badly as Emyr, but his protective nature had been ignited by Liliana's revealed traumas and any perceived attack on her hadn't been received well by her older brother.

"And that's fair. But it doesn't mean you need to act like you all forgot your etiquette lessons at the door." Liliana chided her friends.

"I never had those, so I'll be as rude as I want." Anya retorted mulishly, sticking her tongue out at Liliana from her lap. She got a flick on her nose for her impertinence.

“What, were you raised by wolves?” Liliana responded on instinct. It wasn’t until the words left her mouth that she finally realized what, exactly, she’d said. She closed her eyes, resigned, as the group went quiet.

“Yes! I was! Problem, rich girl?” Anya flashed a smile full of too long fangs as Liliana groaned.

"So, any idea what we're supposed to be doing?" Basil asked before a fight could erupt between the two girls.

"We get a one-hour break before the start of the individual rounds so everyone can regenerate Stamina and Mana, and so the audience can get food. They should be putting the listing for the fights up soon once they're decided." Liliana answered promptly, waving away Anya's hands that were swatting at her.

"This is the last real break we get. The others are whatever time we get between matches, however short or long that may be, they won't be stopping them until we have a final winner." Liliana finished with a shrug.

She'd played through enough tournaments in the game to know the itinerary by heart. It had been one of the most enjoyable experiences in the Academy arc in the game, since opponents were entirely up to RNG and it was one of the very few instances where sometimes you wouldn’t be in a team, as match types were also randomized.

While there was a set roster of possible opponents, they were so widely varied only the most dedicated players had a thorough plan for every one of them. Liliana had enjoyed, and simultaneously cursed, the randomness of it. Now she was just excited, and more than a bit confident. She was certain there wasn't a first year in the Academy that would pose a risk for her, not with her tames.

She was, admittedly, a bit overpowered for their year when she factored in her tames. Even without them, the bonus stat points she'd been getting at each level meant she would always be ahead of those on her own level. She was certain that barring any outrageous outliers, she would get to the finals, at the least. The only way she wouldn't was if she made a truly heinous mistake.

In a way, Liliana was a bit disappointed that the tournament that held such weight in the Academy wouldn't prove to be a true challenge to her. But she'd rather be disappointed than outclassed. She'd come to the Academy to gain power, not limit herself. If that meant wiping the floor with the tournament, then so be it. Liliana would take her wins and every advantage she could scrape from it.

"How will they give us the match assignments?" Alistair asked, and Liliana shrugged. In the game, it had simply been a pop-up.

"Maybe an announcement?" Liliana hazarded a guess.

"Or perhaps a list will be pinned on the door?" Koth'talan said.

"Yeah, that sounds reasonable." Liliana said with a shrug.

"It should. Since that is what has been done." Koth'talan said, voice faintly amused as he nodded at the door, where a large parchment was now pinned.

That had not been there a few minutes ago.

Liliana's group looked at each other for a moment before they all scrambled wildly to get to the door, pushing and shoving at each other. Liliana ended up behind Marianne, who had utilized her very sharp and bony elbows to get to the front.

Everyone searched the list for their names, groans and sighs emerging when they found them. Behind them, Liliana could hear the rest of their class rushing to the door when they figured out what had drawn her group.

Liliana scanned the parchment until she found her name, letting out a sigh of relief and annoyance. She wouldn't be fighting any of her team, or even her class until at least her fourth fight, and it would be Rathwater if he made it that far. Her first round would be against a student named Tristan Blythe, and they'd be fighting in the fourteenth round.

She checked the document again and smirked, meeting her brother's eyes. If they both made it to the semifinals, they'd be fighting each other.

"See you in the semi-finals, brother?" Liliana asked as their group pulled away from the door to let the rest of their remaining classmates see.

"Be prepared to lose." Alistair promised her. Liliana smirked, showing off her fangs.

"I don't lose, brother dearest." Liliana promised him.