I was fucked. How the hell had I managed to catch the beautiful eye of a Warlord's daughter? I couldn't think of any worse situation to be in.

A poisonous viper had enraptured me. What could I do now? Her gentle eyes seemed to take on a hint of malice even while I was looking. She would be able to have me killed with just a word. There was no way I could speak to her for much longer. I had to escape.

"Well, are you going to return the favor?"

I had to answer. I couldn't lie. She was going to know who I was. Someone who could rally the entire army if she so pleased.

"My name is Micael, part of Heti Squadron Ilkwell."

She nodded at that. Crossing her arms in front of her, forcing my eye to something so tempting but so dangerous. It took all my willpower to move away from her and focus on the matches.

"So, that's who you are doing all that homework for?"

I nodded. The less I said, the less likely she would have me killed was the only logic I could follow in my mind, with her sweet scent rupturing any other thought other than to stay close to her.

"That seems like a lot for one captain to give." She stole some glances at my pages, seeing my notes on summoners that were there. She gave me an appraising glance once more.

"A summoner ay, it's rare for captains to give specialized work like that on top of the normal tactical analysis. Who else is training you?"

What in all the great empire, why the hell was she interested? She had gotten all that about me from just the work in front of me. Well, it should have been no surprise she was knowledgeable about the Heti training program. She was the daughter of a warlord, after all.

"I am getting training from a family instructor of the Turin Clan."

She seemed surprised at that. She reached out and touched my arm.

"You are the outsider paired up with Iirin?"

She knew Iirin. He had always said they weren't a big deal in the hordes. Only being one of the slightly more powerful families.

I could only nod. Her touch stopped me from moving too much. Afraid for her to take it away. I had to kick myself mentally. She was the daughter of a warlord. You are her enemy. There would be no chance even if you weren't. Control yourself.

I would have liked to have thought that worked. The facts spoke otherwise. Her touch moving from my skin seemed to pain me physically.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"So Unusu is training you? Impressive, I'd say you could put on quite the show. You have been reawakened as well. A surprise."

That was what it was called when people took the Hiroto herb. Their change in power was like they got a second awakening. Only people who had been through the same thing would call it that, however.

"Have you taken the herb as well?" The fact we had something in common seemed to make my heart sing in joy.

"By the Hordes no, that can mess with your later progression if you aren't careful. No, I will take it when I am breaking through into a grand mage."

She said it with such certainty. Not only her heritage, but also her talent was guaranteeing her a spot among the elite of the world.

We were in completely different mindsets about the world. She saw it as her plaything. I saw it as my enemy. There was no way we could relate to each other.

She seemed content with watching the royale continue. I was not complaining. I was more than happy to stop talking.

Ben's team hadn't gone far in the time we had spent talking. They had yet to find a flag. So they were continuously wandering in ever-growing circles. With that route, it would take them nearly an hour before they would be able to find a flag with only a bit over an hour left of the competition that would be tight.

It was plain to see how crippling it was for a team that didn't have any scouting capabilities. One of the weaker teams who would be destroyed in a one on one with any of the major teams were happily sitting in a cave with three flags laying around them, far from any other teams. Their promotion was already realized.

The minutes seemed to pass. I somehow even managed to forget about the existence beside me.

"Eloise, there you are. We have been looking for you everywhere."

Coming out of my tactical analysis. I came face to face with the peak tier 5 that had led the team that trounced us so thoroughly. He was with two of the other strongest members of his team. As well as with some others I didn't recognize.

"Bitu, hello. I am happy watching the fights from here. I have made a nice new friend."

That brought all their attention to me. Bitu seemed to grin after a second. Recognizing me as well.

"Oh, the little summoner, doing your homework, I see. Well, you needn't worry about tactics. No matter what you study, you guys are going to do quite well with Urtil on your side. But breaking into the top 5 will be all you can do. Tactics or not."

The chuckles of his companions accompanied Bitu's grin.

"Would you guys just shut up? It's the last hour now. Things will start getting interesting."

Bitu sullenly with his crew, sat down beside Eloise. They all kept to one side of her, leaving me still too close to her. Why couldn't one of them sit between us, then I could slip away without anyone noticing.

No, I was still too close. The thought of her touch driving me crazy once again before I managed to get a reign on myself.

I tried focusing once more on the fights, which was easy as the arena began to close. It would get much smaller by the end of the match. Barely ten kilometers. Allowing the crafty teams just enough space to hide. While also giving the more brash teams a chance to battle it out for the flags. It also heralded the appearance of the Horde Flag. If you managed to finish the game with that in your possession, then you were greatly rewarded by the warlord.

It was going to be a contested flag.

The countdown began.