Norbert walked over, knowing what he would need to make it work for when the tournament came. Turning to Lily, Norbert asked, "Is there a dummy here that shoots spells?"
Just a shake of her head, Norbert looked out at the hall., "Guess I need to ask to be the dummy for someone then?" Norbert asked her.
Lily just shook her head. "Not here; other sections are more designed for that sort of thing. And anyway, around here are the ones not in the tournament." As she began walking off.
Norbert followed after her, wondering if they would change their floor again. They continued to walk forward, finding themselves heading past the stairs. Norbert looked at them as Lily continued. Norbert did not want to interrupt her or else get berated for the entire walk.
Following silently down the hall, going deeper and deeper inside turning back, Norbert could no longer see the wall on the far end that they came from. Watching as it disappeared into a white haze.
Turning back around, Norbert felt a change in the air. Gone were the rows and rows of magic circles, that were sparsely occupied. The domes were still there, each one bigger than the previous one, some ranging in size from enough to have two large groups battling each other to the size of a telephone box. The barriers that formed it constantly pulsed a light colour, creating a shimmering haze on anything inside.
As Norbert passed, seeing some here having groups of people inside, especially the larger ones, seeing almost complete teams available. Norbert watched as the groups clashed with each other, spells flying everywhere. Norbert watching in silence, the sound not exiting the dome. Norbert asked Lily, "What are they training for?"
"Same thing you are, for the most part. It will get busier soon when the announcement reaches all the expeditions, and they are able to finish off their assignments." Lily said, continuing to walk past.
Thinking over her words, Norbert said, "Was it just luck that I came back when I did?" Norbert asked her.
Lily just smiled. "Was it luck or Luck? We shall never know." Norbert shakes his head.
Turning to her, she asked him, "So, how did you know?"
"When the rumour came about of statue of Luck's water flowing again in Alasium. As well as a report Sally had on the area." Lily explained to him.
"That was a mighty fine leap in logic," Norbert told her.
"That and your vampire friend over there, as he put it 'spilled the beans'." Lily said, pointing to Count von Count on her other side with her thumb.
In return, Norbert glared at Count von Count, the grin appearing on the vampire's face again. Norbert focused on removing the thought it had, which would only distract him from his goal to come here and have a competition to see who was the best.
A question: "If everyone is battling against each other here, what is the point of the first tournament?" Norbert asked Lily.
Lily pointed out a desk clerk sitting with a leader board beside her. "It's unofficial and helpful with the tournament for rankings, for this is entertainment, and the creators of this one want to have the best fights. Don't want your best facing off against each other too soon, possibly losing in the next tournament." Lily said to him.
Norbert nodded, seeing that this was just a process to give anyone a chance that an expedition group would seem worthy. He opens his mouth to ask another question, but Lily smacks him on his arm.
"You need to register, so get your identity card out, and make sure it's out before you get to the front desk; the clerks on this floor don't appreciate the tardy," Lily said to him, the last part dropping off, not wanting anyone to overhear her remark about the clerks.
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Norbert did not respond as he ruffled through his bag, checking the pouches inside for the card. Shuffling through the line, Norbert grasped it, pulling it out as his heart stilled. He started back up again as he confirmed it was the card he was looking for.
Looking up, the queue he had been in now disappeared, only one person in front of him as they received their card in return and a plaque. Norbert stepped forward, placing his ID card on the desk.
The clerk slid the card towards her, not even speaking to Norbert as she looked down at the card and then back at Norbert. The only change in her demeanour she recognised was a faint eyebrow raise before reaching for a plaque and giving it to Norbert.
Picking it and his card up right away, Norbert looked down, the only words being his name and number. Stepping to the side, finding himself in front of the leader board, Norbert looked at the rankings. Seeing only a wooden board with static writing, Norbert watched as it glowed.
Norbert turned to Lily, who just lifted a finger; Norbert watched as the static started to move, scowling down to the bottom. Landing on number 1573, Norbert saw his name next to it.
Looking at the plaque, Norbert confirmed the number to be the same, shaking his head in annoyance as he looked at the rank, now on 1573. Seeing the order of things, Norbert watched as Lily brought it to the top; seeing the person in the top rank being number 101, dismissing the name, Norbert turned to Lily.
"How do you move up the rankings?" Norbert asked her.
"Simple, move one rank up per person you defeat who has a higher rank than yourself. You lose ranks for every battle lost against someone below you. Someone below can challenge anyone above without repercussions, and people need to accept challenges."
Norbert nodded in response, thinking there should be more rules to stop spamming people. "And what stops someone from inundating someone else with rankings?"
"It doesn't matter; this is only to help the rankers for this one. There isn't any point in doing that." Lily says to Norbert.
Nodding in response to it, Norbert looked around. "So, how do you challenge someone?" Norbert asked.
Someone tapped him on the shoulder; Norbert looked around and saw someone behind him. Looking down, Norbert saw the man wearing similar gear to his, not seeing any weapons on the man, the distinct feature being his bald head shining back at him in the light. "Heard you want a challenge?" they asked.
Face scrunching up as Norbert looked forward. "What's your ranking?" Norbert asked the man.
Waving, responding to the question, "Guess it's your first time. I'm your matchmaker. Gloober."
Norbert just stared back at the man, not believing his name. Just nodding as Norbert looked around, "Norbert, number 1573, so anyone you think I should go against?"
Gloober pointed out one of the challengers, standing around. "That one is a good one."
Norbert just turning to who Gloober pointed out, suddenly being pushed from behind, stumbling forward hearing a shout behind him “This one challenges you!”
Everyone turned to him as Norbert pointed his arm at the man, gaining his balance as he looked at who he was pointing to. The man rolled his shoulders as he nodded, walking away from Norbert toward one of the domes. Norbert looked around as everyone went quiet, a crowd forming around the dome the person went through.
Scanning the crowd, Norbert looked for Gloober, unable to find his shiny head in the background. Gulping, Norbert walked forward, Lily coming up behind him, taking his backpack off his back. Norbert opening his mouth to ask a question, only to receive a shake of her head. Staying quiet he ruffled around, taking out his helmet, and holding both pieces, Norbert looked down, seeing her hands flash for a moment before nodding and handing it over to him.
It was now, knowing how deep he was getting, Norbert stepped forward, donning his helmet, clipping the two pieces together as he entered the dome, feeling like he was walking through the smoke before it cleared again.
The man standing there, with no weapons, looked towards Norbert. Norbert placed his hand on the hilt of his sword before taking it off, holding his hands on top of it. As Norbert just stared at the man.
Norbert waited as the man flicked his hand forward, Norbert unable to see anything before his body slammed into something. Norbert looked forward as he went down the barrier, surprised that it stopped his body and he didn't go flying through.
Norbert looked down on his body, and there was nothing wrong with it as he stood up, brushing himself to ensure nothing was wrong. His hands moved as he felt them crack back into place.
Turning to the crowd behind him, Norbert asked, "Does that mean I'm out?"
The crowd shook their head in negative, pointing to another dome. Norbert stared as someone was blasted away, the dome turning red before someone stumbled out. Norbert looked at the dome, seeing it was the same colour as before, not counting him as yet from being eliminated.
Brushing his clothes off once more, Norbert stepped forward, pushing energy into his body and eyes, trying to increase his reaction time for the next spell coming his way. So he wouldn't make as much of a fool as he did the first time.