Melinda waved to the group cheerfully as she entered her cottage and closed the door, which made a loud click when it locked.

Without warning, the cottage launched into the sky, kicking up dust and quickly becoming a dot again, smaller and smaller, until it disappeared.

"NOW WE WILL HAVE A BRIEF INTERMISSION. GO GRAB A BEVERAGE OR A SNACK FROM THE VENDORS AND BE BACK IN A HALF HOUR FOR THE NEXT ROUND!"

The crowd began to disperse, breaking apart in the stands and flowing into lines.

"Andy! Arlene! Kermit!"

Andy heard the voice and spun around. Tobo was waiting just inside the archway through which they had entered.

The group made their way back.

"Fantastic job!" Tobo said as they approached him.

“When did you get here?” Andy said.

“I didn’t want to get in the way of your training, but I was certainly going to attend your arena event. I wouldn’t miss it!” Tobo said.

The attendants stood motionless and stoic, spears upright as the group walked through the archway into the covered hall.

"My, my, really well done. And all thanks to Kermit too!"

"Thank you!" Kermit said with a giant smile. "I got to be the leader."

"And you led well," said Tobo.

Andy leaned on the wall, relaxing a bit. He hadn't realized how tense he had gotten out there.

"What was that all about?" Andy said.

"It was a cooking challenge," Tobo said. "They happen from time to time, though it is rare."

"You said that about dying in the arena too," Arlene said. "Let's hope we don't draw the wrong straw on that one."

"I mean what was the dispute at the end about?" Andy said. "And who was that guy in all that black armor?"

Tobo grew quiet.

"Why don't we find a more private room to discuss this," he said.

The group walked through the hallways for a bit. There were a lot of people making themselves busy, shuffling in and out of the hallway, carrying trays of food, equipment, and other miscellany.

They arrived at an empty room with some large jars and a couple of benches.

"This will do," Tobo said, hopping up to sit on the bench.

Andy and Arlene took a seat on one bench. Kermit plopped on the floor.

"So, about the guy in full armor who just tried to have us disqualified, who is he and what is he all about?" Andy asked again.

"He's known as Knight Omega, and he's the enforcer of the will of the Noble Court," Tobo said. "From time to time, he will deliver messages from the onlooking nobility to the new arrivals and challengers competing in the arena."

"That's all he does?" Andy said.

"Well, that's all he does during the arena. He also works with the fighters, and tacticians to coordinate defenses in Cresthaven in times of war, and sometimes the berserkers on the rare occasion that he can gain their cooperation. He's known as the Supreme Commander."

"Great, the most powerful military leader in Cresthaven… and now he looks at us unfavorably," Arlene said.

"Well," Tobo's face fell. "Yes, I suppose that's correct. But just so you don't feel too bad… he's a nasty man and he doesn't get along with anyone."

"That doesn't make me feel better," Arlene said.

"Why was he trying to get us disqualified?" Andy asked.

"Well, if you recall what I told you," Tobo said, lowering his voice, "about the nobility limiting the numbers of new arrivals who make it past level zero."

Andy nodded.

"This seems to me like an attempt to eliminate you swiftly, and without bloodshed. If Kermit hadn't taken the Discern Recipe feat, which anyone rarely does, then you would have had no way to pass."

"You did good, bud," Arlene said to Kermit.

"And since we passed, the Noble Court sent Knight Omega down to ensure that we hadn't cheated, or perhaps to intimidate us into resignation?"

"Precisely," Tobo said. "The likelihood of you being able to access the information that you'd need in order to cheat is slim to none. I think the nobility wanted to drive a point home. Perhaps they wanted to break your will to continue."

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"So will the next challenges be, like, extremely dangerous?" Andy asked. "How should we prepare?"

"I don't know what the next challenge would be, but I wouldn't be surprised if it were combat," Tobo said grimly. "The culinary round, even though it didn't involve violent confrontation, was an extremely aggressive move on the part of the one who planned this event. I'm sure that the next rounds will be so challenging."

"That doesn't sound reassuring," Arlene said.

Tobo smiled nervously.

"As far as how to prepare, there's not much to do but have a snack and rest. You've got about fifteen minutes before the next round, so please, let's head back. I think I saw a fruit tray earlier."

***

The group headed back to the archway. A group of attendants had a table of snacks, mostly fruit, cheese, and bread, and fresh water set up. It was simple by Cresthaven standards.

A woman in a purple gown approached. She wore an ornate hairstyle, all gathered up atop her head in brunette braids and weaves, and she possessed the most piercing green eyes Andy had ever seen.

"We were wondering where you went," she said. "Please, have something to refresh yourself before the next round."

She approached Andy and placed her arm around his back as she guided him to the table.

Other attendants guided Arlene and Kermit similarly.

"Do you require anything else?" the woman asked. "Anything at all? Are you tense? We have a skilled bodyworker should you need recuperation."

She gestured toward a large, shirtless man standing off in a corner beside a massage table. He looked like he could snap Andy in half.

"I think I'm good," Andy said, smiling.

"Very well," said the woman. "If you need anything, feel free to call for me. My name is Brea and it is my duty to make sure you are perfectly comfortable during the intermissions."

She turned to go.

"Actually, I do have a question, Brea," Andy said.

"Yes, sir?" Brea said.

"Do you know who planned this event?"

"Why, the duke of course," Brea said.

"The duke himself?"

"Well, someone from the Noble Court, but the duke is the one who is credited with it."

"Ah, so the duke is responsible, but may not have actually planned the specific events?"

"Correct." Brea said, looking a bit confused about the line of questioning.

"Do you know who planned the specific events?" Andy asked.

"Oh, well… no sir, I doubt anyone knows that outside of the Noble Court. All the planning happens behind closed doors. My official rank is fairly low as those kinds of things are concerned."

Andy nodded. She wasn't going to know much more than Tobo.

"Thank you Brea," he said.

She nodded.

"If you'll excuse me," she said.

"Of course."

Brea walked off, meeting with some other gowned women, and giving them orders before disappearing down a hall.

"So?" Arlene said approaching. "Any news?"

"Nope," Andy said.

"It's all the Noble Court, but no one knows exactly who. Apparently people say that 'the duke' planned this when what they mean is that some unspecified member or combination of members of the Noble Court planned it. We just don't know."

"Figures," Arlene said, picking up a piece of bread and cheese.

"I don't suppose you've picked anything up from anyone else?" Andy said.

She shook her head.

"This all seems much more high-stakes than I imagined," Andy said. "I figured we'd go through a tutorial and get our first level and kind of be sent on our way. But even the initiation and training are wrapped up in the politics of this place."

"Yeah," Arlene said. "I'm not too crazy about that part. But maybe it's good for exposure."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, I mean like the druid said, this gives us the chance to be on the radar of the key players in the city… the nobility, the guild masters, all that. It could give us a lot of advantages."

"So far it doesn't seem that way," Andy said. "So far we've succeeded in ruffling the feathers of the two most powerful officials: Gar and Knight Omega."

"Gar is a pussy," said Arlene. "I can see it in his eyes. And I am still determined to kick his ass one day. Knight Omega though… he could actually be a problem."

Andy didn't agree with Arlene's assessment of Gar. Not entirely, at least. Gar struck him as impulsive, mean, and perhaps egomaniacal, but Andy wouldn't dismiss the threat he posed so quickly. Arlene was speaking from a place of anger, or perhaps even fear. But that was something to unpack later.

"As much as I want to skate through this, I really hope the next round is combat," Arlene said. "I have been psyching myself out for it this whole time."

"It would at least be more predictable," Andy said.

Andy noticed Kermit across the room, talking to Dilgur, Tobo, and a few attendants all at once, and he was working the crowd. All of them doubled over in laughter every few minutes.

Kermit was an enigma. He was at the same time shy and charismatic, nervous and brave. He was clearly caught between his fear and living to his full potential.

I suppose he's like me in that way, like all of us.

A few minutes passed as Andy ate a few bites of fruit: cantaloupe, melon, grapes, banana, and a few other unidentified but delicious selections. His physical health was just fine after the cooking match, but he still savored the food to get the most out of it, and the fresh, cool water soothed him.

Soon enough, Dilgur the druid gathered the group together by the archway.

"How are we feeling?" the druid asked. "Nice and refreshed?"

"Yep."

"Yessir."

"You bet."

"Excellent, good to hear. Now is everyone's armor strapped on correctly?"

A few other attendants stepped forward and began checking each of them, tugging on every armor strap to ensure that it was properly attached.

"All clear," an attendant said.

"Thank you, kindly," the druid said.

Arlene drew her bow.

"Ready for combat already?" said the druid.

"Yes," said Arlene. "I at least want to be prepared."

"We don't know what the next test is until you go out there and get started," said the druid. "But I, for one, have a good feeling about the three of you."

"The next round is about to begin," said Brea, emerging from the halls.

"Good luck to the three of you!" Tobo said. "I'm going to be right here the whole time."

Andy nodded at him and smiled.

Kermit shuffled nervously.

Andy noticed the announcer fly his platform to the center of the stadium. It was time.

"WILL THE NEW ARRIVALS PLEASE ENTER THE ARENA FOR ROUND TWO!"