“The three of us are obviously going to be on the same team, right?” Kamadra asked after fighting their way through the crowd.

“To be fair we get along too well to pick anyone else first.” Sienna shrugged.

“I’m glad. It’s a not well kept secret that you two are really the only ones I know here.”

Hyrua wrapped his arms around them and hoisted the two into the air in celebration.

Sienna groaned. “Besides, big bro here would never forgive me if we didn’t team up. ‘Oh, how I can’t bear to be apart from them any longer.’”

Her impression of her brother was almost spot on and managed to capture the gentle huskiness of his voice.

He threw out his arm and let her fall to the ground. Where she lost her balance and collapsed backwards.

“I didn’t say anything like that!” He gently let Kamadra down and scratched at his cheek. “Though it would be nice to have you on our team… strategically speaking I mean.”

Something about an almost two and a half meter high wall of copper skinned muscle acting so bashful left the two speechless. His own embarrassment didn’t help since his face was starting to resemble a cherry atop a tree.

“Yeah, strategically speaking.” They echoed while using their sleeve to hide a smile.

A violent clap sounded between them, bringing their attention back to Sienna.

“So who should our last two be? I personally think we can recruit at least one more person who has the ability to make it to the finals.”

Sienna never saw herself as a leader despite all of the roles and jobs her father gave her specifically to raise her into one. She was the only one who thought this though. Hyrua had been following her lead ever since she first got addicted to beating on him during morning training.

“I’m fine with whoever, as long as they’re willing to work together with us.” He said.

“That’s no fun, this stage has another week after the recruiting period ends. I think the most important thing is someone we can have fun with.” Kamadra added.

“We don’t know if we’ll stay in teams after this trial ends though. If we do, then we need someone we can rely on.”

“But we do know that the last round is individual matches, it always is from what I’ve read. And if they’re too strong then we’re just aiding a tough opponent.”

“That’s part of the fun!”

Hyrua stood in silence as the two grew ever more passionate with their arguments. Some of the surrounding competitors even took a few steps away from them.

“Alright team! So what’s the strategy? Are we hunkering down wherever these ‘hills’ pop up? Or are we laying waste to anything that moves until the judges have to skip straight to the finals?”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Laau Kai burst invited himself into their conversation, much like the first time they met. Thankfully he was wearing more clothes than last time. Even if it was only a wide sash that wrapped around his body.

“Are you a stalker or something? I swear you had to have been watching us before making your entrance.” Sienna pretended to shiver.

He gave her a blank stare. There was no chance he had planned anything. The only thoughts behind his eyes were the ones reflecting from the person talking to him.

“And who said that you’re even part of our group?”

“It’s only obvious, yeah?”

Kai looked the three of them up and down.

“Ugh, look, at the very least we’re expected to make it to the top twenty. At least three of us are.”

“Hey!” Hyrua spoke up.

“I’m not the one who called you out.” He suddenly became very interested in his own nails. “Anyway, since we’re practically guaranteed spots in the finals, why artificially make things harder on ourselves?”

Kai looked up from his hand and watched Sienna for any sign of objection before he could continue. Instead, she nodded and allowed for him to continue his argument.

“We can team up, coast our way through the first round, we’re skilled enough to get through whatever the second round is, and boom we’re at the finals. Realistically, what could they challenge us with that wouldn’t also automatically disqualify the majority of everyone else?”

He pumped out his chest as if his plan was the most brilliant thing in the world. The others didn’t feel quite the same though.

Kamadra hesitated, “He does have a point, kind of. It looks like they want to test our teamwork for the first round. And I’m not opposed to an easy win.”

“I won’t deny that it’d increase my chances of getting into the top twenty. And getting that far would be a world of difference for me.” Hyrua added.

It was now three to one. Sienna could fully understand where they were coming from, and it was a fairly sound strategy. One that other groups were more than likely trying to use themselves. It just pulled at her in a weird way, their father was a prideful man and the way he taught was the same. Perhaps some of that had rubbed off on her.

“Leave it to you two to see the genius of my plan.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Sienna asked.

“Well, I don’t mean to offend. But, the big guy is someone with just average talent, so this is the smartest option for him. And this one is a dual cultivator, right? Someone who practices such an easy method would always be inclined to the easiest and most efficient paths.”

In unison the three turned their back to him and started heading to the exit. Once they were a good distance away they started talking again. While making sure to maintain a volume that would make it easy to overhear them.

“Who do you think we should get for our last two spots?” Kamadra asked.

“Maybe we should aim for people who are likely to get in the top ten, that way we can save our energy for later rounds.”

“Whoever we get, they better know how to properly cover their chest. I’m not cuddling up to some stranger because they get cold at night.” Hyrua joked

“Very funny!” Kai cried. “HA. HA. I’d laugh harder but I think it was so funny that I left my ass back on our ship.”

“Did you hear that? I’m too short so it might have gone over my head.”

Sienna hoisted them up onto her shoulder without stopping. “I didn’t hear anything, but now I’m in the mood for black bread. Let’s get something to eat and look over our options.

While their food was brought to the table, Sienna was off to the side with a shady rat like man. When he turned and light peeked into his hood she caught what looked like a fleshy snout.

“This is everything on anybody worth knowin’ ‘bout. I even through in a dark horse with unholy amounts of luck.”

“Thanks, this will help speed things up.”

She started back to her table when he scurried in front of her and coughed before casually holding out his hand.

“You know, I don’t think they count as tips if you ask for them every time.”

She took out a small pouch and placed it in his hand. The rat man glanced around before taking a look inside and hopping around in excitement.

Composing himself he responded. “Even so, it’s not like they cost ya anything. And I always ‘ppreciate ‘em.”

The informant scampered off to who knows where with his payment and, more importantly to him, the bag of scales.

“If he wasn’t so useful I swear…”

When she returned to the table she stamped the end of the scroll on the table. Sienna took a moment to proudly show of her resourcefulness.