Stumpy was behind the duo, having turned around to watch Norbert’s performance. Norbert waves to the man as Stumpy's face transforms from horror to mysticism to bewilderment, finishing off with annoyance.
Norbert smiled, his energy depleted, having held on enough for himself not to be completely wiped out as some of his previous attempts, but defiantly unable to give it the same try again.
Walking out of the bubble, the noise still as silent as when he was in it, nobody else moving. Turning to the others,, having stopped their practice in their bubbles,, also staring at him.
Giving a half-hearted wave towards them, watching as the onlookers realised they were staring before as ,they all looked away at whatever they pretended to catch their interest. Standing in front of Sally and Count von Count, whistling as they waited for them to come to their senses.
Half way through the tune both of them snapped out of it, Count von Count instantly joining into the whistling tune as well, slowly turning to the commander who had a pained look on her face.
Looking back to Norbert, Sally asks, “Can you do that again?”
Norbert shaking his head in the negative “Nah, all out of gas. Though with another potion, I can give it another crack.” Norbert explained to her.
The scepticism appeared on her face as she turned around, stepping towards Stumpy as the little man shuffled towards her, standing on his tippy toes as he listened to what Sally was saying. Eyes growing wide, nodding his head in the affirmative as he quickly scurried off with a salute.
Sally turning around and stepping towards them before she indicated to down the hall they were currently in. Staring at the void, the hall long enough that he couldn’t see the exit, Norbert just nodded as he followed after her. Sally was not even waiting for them as she continued to walk.
Count von Count took the tail as he took gallant steps to catch up with the other two. Norbert heard the clopping of their steps, the cold stone going up his feet, just remembering that he had no shoes. Now, his once clean feet were dirty from all the walking he would be doing.
Sighing in discontent, Count von Count whistled as well, going down the octaves in a sad tune as they walked. Norbert joining in as well as the two of them watched Sally’s back, wondering if she would join in as well.
***
Sadly, she hadn’t. Norbert stopped as they made it to the other side of the hall with the bubbles. The hall continued past it, just the bubbles have stopped and a perimeter stopping anyone else from travelling back.
Not that this far away there was anyone even practising, it has been nearly half an hour since Norbert had seen anyone even practising, no stairwell connecting to the other levels was seen either.
Walking past, Norbert saw another barrier covering the entire wall, changing to the magic vision. He whistled in surprise; all up the walls and on the floor, Norbert saw runes carved in, each glowing with the colours of the rainbow.
The barrier itself even consisting of multiple runes, all strung together looking like a child just went heavy with the rune stamp. As he looked at the barrier, he couldn’t see the rest of the hall, its contents, and the contents it stored hidden from his site.
Turning his eyes back down, seeing Sally having stopped, Norbert saw two other guards waiting there, instantly recognising her and standing to the side. Stopping anyway, Norbert did not pay attention to the conversation as she showed them some sort of pass before pointing to us two.
The guards looked sheepish and nodded along, waving Norbert and Count von Count along. The two walked through, Norbert seeing the guard's mouths move as they talked to each other but still unable to hear anything.
Whistling, confirming that he could still hear properly, Norbert walked through the barrier in the area the guards directed. Apprehensive on not being shocked Norbert slowly held out his hand, finger glancing over it as it passed through.
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Breathing out a sigh of relief, Norbert followed Sally, thankful he wasn’t blasted backwards. As he looked around the room, he found himself in his jaw again fully opened.
The first thing to hit him was the noise—the churning of machines, the grunting of people moving with effort and clanging metal on metal.
The second thing to hit him was the smell. Clean, the entire area, in juxtaposition to the men and women inside, all sweating with physical exertion as they trained.
The bubbles no longer seen as about twenty people trained here, Norbert watching them bash each other with all sorts of implements. Daggers, swords, staves, and magic were flung everywhere.
Stray shots interrupted others' practice, some taking the advantage provided to rein over their opponents while others stepped back, waiting for their opponent to recover before going at it again.
As Norbert watched a female with orange hair flying about in a magic duel as Norbert stared, turning around to see Norbert as a dagger thrown across his vision by someone else, the design feeling familiar as Norbert realised he was looking at Lily.
Turning Lily seeing Norbert, giving a half smile before going back to her duel. Norbert turned to Sally, wondering what the point of all this was. Turning to Count von Count, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration, the first time Norbert had ever seen his buddy make a face like that, wondering what he could be thinking about.
“What is this?” he asked her.
Sally turned around, arms waved outwards as the fights slowly died down one by one, a victor being made as they both turned to face the trio that entered. Finally the last blade dropping to the ground as Sally finally spoke “Welcome to Sigma Eight” Sally exclaimed.
Her voice echoed out as Norbert squinted in pain, wondering how she was able to make her voice that loud. Everyone behind Sally saluted as they all stared at Norbert.
Turning his head to look at Count von Count the vampire stared, open jaw as well. Finally seeing Norbert staring at him, the vampire stood up straight, wiping his mouth on his sleeve before shaking his head in annoyance.
“So this is where you’ve hidden.” Count von Count said.
Sally shrugging “For visitors yes, you really think we’re stupid enough to let a vampire trample on everywhere they want?” Sally asked him.
Count von Count leaned his head to the side, indicating Norbert, “Well, this human is.” He said.
Norbert turned to the vampire, accusation on his face. “You take that back.” He said to the vampire.
The vampire turned properly to Norbert as he bowed, his right hand over his heart as his left was on his lower back. “Oh, how I have slanted your reputation; whatever can I do to repay you.” Count von Count said, a single tear dropping onto the ground.
Norbert just shook his head as he smacked the vampire on the back of his head. Count von Count did not budge an inch from the impact as Norbert felt the vampire grinning.
Norbert left Count von Count to his antics, and turned towards Sally, ,wondering what to do. Sally lowered her hands.
Stumped, Norbert waved. “Hi, everyone, I’m Norbert. Happy to meet you all.”
The crowd in front of him was stone silent, Norbert glancing over all of their eyes as they stared at him like he wasn’t even there.
Turning to Sally, seeing her face do the same, Norbert felt sweat beading on his forehead, cheeks flush with nerves as he stared, wondering what had gone wrong.
Norbert stared as Lily slowly started grinning, turning to the person she was duelling with before with a hand held out, a single coin being passed over; Norbert was unable to see what type the coin was before everyone else started moving towards him.
Before he could say anything, names were thrown at him,, hands shoved into his own for shaking. Norbert was not moving from the spot, as the flood came.
Quickly, everyone was doing their introductions, Norbert not remembering a single one as they all stood. Finally the last one made is as Norbert looked at them all, waving his hands, indicating all of them Norbert asked the question “What’s all this about?” He asked them.
Sally just smiling, Norbert now hearing something being rolled out of one of the side doors, “An interview.” Sally said.
Norbert looking at Sally, confusion on his face “An interview for what?” He asked her.
“Well, to join the team, of course.” She said it like it was the most common sense thing in the world.
Norbert just looked at them, “But I already have a group.” Norbert said.
“That you do, but with what you’ve just shown, depending on how it can be repeated you will be changed.”
“Do I have any say in this?” Norbert asked.
Sally grins in response, something disturbing Norbert in the look she was giving him, like he was only a piece of meat meant to do what she said.
“No.” She replied, turning around as Norbert looked at the contraption that entered.
Norbert stared at the tubes coming off the glass barrel. Several of the tubes came out, ending in needles that Norbert could see. The liquid inside is same as the mana potion; the base is that of rainbows swirling around each other.
Seeing it stop, as rows of the metal block was placed in a row, Norbert seeing that the contraption placed on wheels so it could be moved down the line. Norbert watched as he counted more than ten, swallowing as butterflies came around his stomach, wondering what Sally wanted him to do, and the evidence being provided did not make him any happier.