Johann was still reeling from the sudden loss, and still lying on the floor, when a familiar hand came into view. Looking up Johann found Gloria looking down at him with a grin.
“Fancy seeing you here. How’d you get taken out?” Gloria asked.
Taking the offered hand Johann let Gloria pull him up. “Not sure, but I think I got sniped by an archer.”
“Oh, too bad. I got taken out by this really annoying Druid I know.” Gloria said, a teasing smile on her face as she began walking back to her seat, Johann in step beside her.
“Okay, two things. First, I’m not annoying. Second, it wasn’t me that took you out, it was Cathach.” Johann said.
“Oh, so you’re saying you didn’t try and zap me, making me mess up my block and letting that little blade-swinger beat me?” Gloria asked, her eyebrow raised challengingly.
“Well I wouldn’t have had to if you didn’t keep blocking Cathach’s sword. Next time you should just accept your fate and let us kill you easily.” Johann smirked.
“Oh please, you wouldn’t have gotten the drop on us if that idiot Leonard hadn’t gone rogue.” Gloria scowled at the memory.
“Yeah, what was up with that?” Johann asked. “The guy just rushed in without the rest of you like he wanted to die. I mean, I know rogues aren’t the most stable of people, Torin being a prime example, but he seemed a little too nuts”
Gloria kicked the dirt in annoyance as she mumbled a curse under her breath before she said “The bloody idiot! The fool obviously had delusions of grandeur, thinking that we were strong enough to handle anything that came our way. I tried telling him, repeatedly, that there was any of a number of ways we could be taken out irregardless of fighting strength. If we had waited until near the end and then started to seek others out we might have won. I swear, if I have to deal with more idiots like that I might just quit.”
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In the three months that followed that would not be the last time Gloria threatened to quit, not even close. It wasn’t that she was particularly antagonistic, it was more that she found unfounded arrogance insufferable. Those who had the skills or Skills to back it up were fine, but those who failed to follow through and still wouldn’t be humble, those made her want to go very far away. As in, another planet far away.
Fortunately for Gloria the arrogant idiots were in the minority. Most of those who reached this stage had the skills or to back up their pride or the humility needed to follow another’s plans. The occasional chance to slug the arrogant idiots in the face certainly helped. The next time Gloria got to face Leonard in a fight she made a competent and well reasoned argument for why he should have listened to her rather than use his own plan. Sadly for Leonard, she made the argument using her mace.
Other than that Gloria found herself in heaven. An overly violent and bloody heaven, but a heaven nonetheless. The daily fights satisfied her thirst for battle and then some, the variety provided making sure that she was never bored. After the Battle Royale the first day there was a constant change in the fights, including everything from straight five on five matches in the arena to underwater cage matches.
There were other, less violent kinds of competitions as well. A few different races took place, Sergei found the six-legged race to be particularly enjoyable. The hide and seek, where Sergei was the one searching and teams would be disqualified if even one member was found, ended with the rookies greatest victory against Sergei; a total of three teams managed to stay hidden until the end of the day, earning the hidden rookies a point each.
Sadly for the rookies, that was one of the few identifiable times where points were given out. At the start of each day Sergei always stated what would grant the rookies points, usually their performance in fights, but he rarely told them when he gave them out or how much he gave. The uncertainty, where none of the rookies knew how much they had, kept most of the rookies on their toes.
Even with the constantly changing competitions the rookies soon got used to the new schedule. With them forced to work with new people each day new friends and new enemies were made and Johann’s small circle of friends expanded greatly.
Their first new friend came through Gloria; Rosa Pankhurst. Gloria met Rosa during the semi-finals of the tournaments and had recognized a fellow battle maniac in her. With the extra free time afforded by their new schedules the two would often meet and spar with each other. Rosa quickly became friends with the twins as well, though mostly due to their closeness with Gloria.
The next addition came as something of a surprise to Johann as, despite her incredible quirkiness, Johann found himself enjoying Mary’s company. Torin especially enjoyed talking with her, finding her unique perspective on many topics thoroughly hilarious. Torins amusement was a large reason for the presence of another of their new friends; Henri Gut-Koch. The mans clumsiness provided endless entertainment to Torin but it was his skill with the sword that attracted Gloria and Johann’s attention.
Against all probability Henri was just as capable with the sword as he claimed, if not more. The first time Johann had been placed in a team with the man he had commiserated over his misfortune. Then Henri had unsheathed his sword and suddenly it was as if he had become a different man. His movements fluid and precise it seemed as if Henri was dancing rather than fighting, his gladius flowing through gaps no one else could see to strike his opponents down.
Henri was naturally a melee attacker, one of only two that Johann, Torin and Gloria had befriended. The other was Geoffrey Monmouth, a slim elf with an excellent sense of tactics and decent swordsmanship. He wielded a silvery, ornate sword that seemed more ceremonial than practical but was nevertheless deadly. Having had matches alongside all three of them they had found the man to be incredibly smart yet easygoing. His agreeable personality along with his skill had made him many friends yet he chose to hang out with the three of them.
It was an oddity that the man chose to spend his free time with them, considering their reputation. Between Johann’s annoyingly persistent ‘Captain Stupid’ nickname, Henri’s clumsiness, Gloria’s ‘Screaming Banshee’ nickname which had somehow made the rounds, Torins load mouth and Lucy’s quirkiness, their group was seen as the nut jobs of the rookies.
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No one in the group cared much about it though. They knew it wasn’t true and they wouldn’t want to be friends with anyone silly enough to believe the rumors anyways. Sadly, that did exclude most of the other rookies, leaving them with a small and rather eclectic group of friends, not that any of them minded. Quality over quantity, as Torin was fond of saying. Which was rather humorous considering the amount of nonsense he spoke, an observation Gloria pointed out often.
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The final day of the third month rolled around and the rookies found an irregularity, the first in three months. Rather than the list of teams that they had become accustomed to, the rookies found nothing but a small piece of paper with only three pieces of information written on it; Tournament, Noon, Choose Your Own Teams.
The surprise rippled through the rookies, questions and discussions popping up like flowers in the desert after the rain. The rookies might have stayed there, discussing the turn of events, if not for the golden rule; never be late for a meal. The Mess Hall provided some of the most exquisite meals they had ever tasted but it was also extremely strict when it came to time. If you were even one micro second late for a meal then you would be forced to starve, a fate only crazy people would inflict on themselves.
Once in the Mess Hall the groups found Sergei already there, seated own and enjoying a plate of fluffy pancakes drenched in maple syrup. Despite the presence of the one man who would be able to answer all their questions no one asked any. One particularly determined young man began to approach Sergei only to receive a glare of such loathing and hatred that he suddenly lost all feeling in his legs and collapsed into a nearby booth.
Johann chose the more meaty option of a full Pono breakfast. Consisting of sausages, eggs, bacon beans, hash browns and toast, the meal was just what he needed for a day full of fighting. He didn’t get to finish it though, as Sergei began moving. Trial and error had proved that asking Sergei anything within the Mess Hall was a one way trip to the infirmary, but asking him just outside was perfectly fine. So, as soon as Sergei stood up Johann did also, abandoning the rest of his breakfast in favor of getting information.
Johann and about thirty other people that is. The outside of the Mess Hall became crowded very quickly as people waited for Sergei to exit. Once he did no one spoke a word. They knew by now that if they all began asking questions Sergei would get annoyed, but if they waited patiently then Sergei would provide answers anyways.
Which he did. “Round-Lint tournament, starting at noon in the Arena. You choose your own teams, each team has to be five people with one of each role. The winning team gets five points each.”
Sergei strode off, leaving a group of stunned rookies. Most of that they had already guessed, though a confirmation was nice, but the points sent them reeling. The most Sergei had ever knowingly given out at one time was one. Five points was massive, a prize that would have everyone chomping at the bit to win.
As soon as the shock wore off there was another rush, this time into the Mess Hall as people sought out teammates. Johann wasn’t part of the rush. He knew his friends would prefer to make a team within themselves before reaching out to, or taking offers from, others.
Reaching their table Johann explained the situation to the others and a discussion immediately sprang up.
“We get Henri.” Torin said.
“Hel’s no, we get him. You’ve already got Gloria and Johann, leave Henri for us.” Rosa argued.
“What, Captain Stupid and the Screaming Banshee? If anything, that should mean we get Henri as recompense.” Torin said.
“Hey!” “Asshole!” Johann and Gloria made their protests known.
“That’s why you should take Geoffrey, his tactics will let you turn those crazies into assets.” Rosa replied.
“Oh come on!” “Rosa?!” Johann and Gloria were starting to feel insulted.
“Fine, but we get Mary.” Torin said.
“Now way. Then I’d need to get a rogue, a ranged and a healer.” Rosa argued.
“Yeah, but without the two crazies you’d have no problem finding people. Everyone knows how good Henri is in a fight. Deal?” Torin stuck out his hand.
Rosa turned it over in her mind before nodding. “Fine, deal.” She shook his hand.
“Don’t we get a say in this?” Henri asked.
“No.” said Rosa while standing up. “Now come on, we need teammates. Other than Mary, who’s your go to for healing?”
“What do you mean?” Asked Henri.
“I know exactly how accident prone you are and there’s no way Mary heals all your cuts, bumps and bruises, so who else?” Asked Rosa.
Johann didn’t hear the rest of their conversation as they moved further away. Besides, he was far more interested in watching Gloria firmly but non-violently manhandle Torin out of the hall. Violence was in no way allowed within the Mess Hall, but outside was just fine. As soon as everyone else finished their breakfasts they moved to join the two, Geoffrey suggesting they work out some tactics for the tournament.
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Noon came rolling around and, without a single exclusion, every rookie sat in the stands of the arena, their teams already formed. Due to the irregular number of rookies there were three odd ones out that wouldn’t be able to participate but they were still here nonetheless.
Previously, Sergei had dealt with the three odd ones by either excluding them completely or by involving them in an irregular manner. This could be anything from having them help judge matches to introducing them as wildcards, outside fighters that would randomly appear to upset a match. Since they didn’t know if they would be included or not they didn’t dare be absent, even if they felt unwanted from not being chosen for a team.
Sergei appeared suddenly, as was his custom. Despite the occasion Sergei was dressed no different from usual, with the sole exception being a small black bag made of some sort of soft leather hanging from his belt. Looking around the rookies Sergei opened his mouth but, instead of the belting shout they had come to expect from the man, he spoke in a soft, almost gentle voice.
“Well done. This is the last day that I will see many of you and I have to say, you lot almost make me proud. I’ve put you through almost literal Hel and you’ve still refused to quit. It’s probably out of stubborn idiocy, but I’m an optimist and I’d like to think it’s because you’re all tough enough to handle it. So, before we get started with the tournament, I just want to say that I am 100%, honestly and truly proud of you all.”
Sergei stood there in the stunned silence for a few moments before he resumed speaking.
“See, I can be nice. Now, where are the three individuals who weren’t able to form a team? Raise your hands.” The three raised their hands. “Ah, good. The three of you are failures, get out.”
Stunned silence reigned once again, though only for a moment. The three began to protest before Sergei held up his hand to silence them.
“I know, I know, it’s not fair, but I don’t care. The three of you were unable to prove your worth to your own peers enough to make a team, obviously you’re not good enough to become adventurers, so you might as well leave now. Don’t worry though, you won’t be alone; the bottom two teams in the tournament will be kicked out, which will bring our number to a nice even 50.”
Surprise rippled through the crowd.
“I know what you’re thinking, what about the points? Well, there never were any. I made it up to force you lazy pieces of shit to work hard. The final fifty is always chosen through a tournament.”
Shock and indignation surged though the rookies, several voices of protest sounding out.
“I DON’T CARE!! I said I can be nice, not that I have to be, so SHUT UP! Next person who complains gets to switch with one of the three WHO SHOULD ALREADY BE GONE!! WHAT ARE YOU THREE WAITING FOR, A SWIFT KICK TO THE ASS!?!”
The only sounds left came from the three who scrambled to leave.
“One person from each team comes up and picks a number out of this pouch. I’ll be calling out which team fights which. After everyone has fought everyone the two teams with the least amount of points will be kicked out.”
After a few moments of discussion people began coming up to pick numbers out of the pouch. Torin was chosen to get the number for their team, snagging the number seven and making them team seven.
As soon as everyone had gotten a number Sergei said. “Alright, lets start off simple. Teams one and two, your first.”