Up next were two matches with some more Norfield students. Ruby Walker; the most annoying person in the year. She did not actively try and annoy people it was more of her incessant chewing of gum. Chewing wasn’t the right word she pretty much gnawed at it, which was a feat in itself considering how long she spent doing it was surprising that anything was left. Either she was amazing at sleight of hand or that was the same piece as the start of the year because no one saw her change it. Jude even heard a rumour going round that she chews in her sleep and her flatmates had walked into her room and saw it.

She was single because of this annoying habit. Sure, it was better than smoking or drugs, it won’t kill her, but no person could stand her for more than a week. Which was a shame though she was quite pretty with her emerald eyes, soft features, slim build, and the bob cut red hair.

Though what had not been known at the time was it was not a choice or something she enjoyed doing. It was worse than addiction, her alteration compelled her to do it. Alterations are tied to personality so whilst your personality can control the alteration and heavily influence it, it’s a two-way street.

She would be Jude’s next opponent if she won. He had not seen her during the first round since he was so busy being stressed, he missed the match.

He did know of her alteration. Whilst talking to other students he had more less gotten a gist of most people’s alterations. She could change the properties of anything she came into contact with to that of elastic or gum. Since there was no change in how either contact worked or having one centralised point of contact it was hard to tell which one, she would do.

Her opponent made the first move. Unfortunately, as soon as the word “Fight!” came out of the referee’s mouth Ruby had turned the whole arena into gum. They both were stuck. It was such a viscous halfway between a liquid and a solid that even if you could get out it required a lot of effort. The sudden loss of stable footing caused her opponent to fall face first into the gooey substance below.

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The downside of her alteration is she was not immune to the effects of her meddling. So, she was also firmly planted. But she had already prepared for this; reaching into her mouth she pulled out the piece of gum she was chewing.

The other side of her alteration meant she could remove her changes from anything she had touched, and not only would it lose its properties, but it would revert back to exactly as it was before the change.

When she reversed the effect of her alteration the gum began to harden and with a loud squelch it popped into the shape of a throwing star. With precision aim it only took one throw for Ruby Walker to become the winner.

Mark Parker, simply referred to as Parker by his friends was the next one up. He would be Jude’s opponent if he beat Ruby.

Parker was Jude’s first grudge whilst being at university. He was the one who squished him in their first test. Able to control his own relationship with gravity he used it mainly to float around.

Part of a tightknit friend group they were the ones that caused the loss of Archie’s glasses. Specifically, Parker and Jason (the pale skin one who can control light) they were messing around with the glasses whilst on their way over and accidentally dropped them on a road. Within seconds the blazing rubber of a tyre came and smashed them into shards.

Now here he was fighting his match. His fighting style had not evolved in the last three months. Simply floating himself up above his opponent and slamming down on them. There was no nuances or variations.

It was that simple tactic that earned him his first win; there was no fanfare or suspense just a win and a loss.

His opponent kicked themself when they got home that night. Unfortunately, this loss would not prevent their team from becoming the highest ranked leaving this competition.

Jude watched both of these matches like a hawk. Whilst some of his teammates enjoyed their afternoon in a new town or befriending the other students who had travelled here, he made notes and planned.

He was going to win.