I decided I would just follow the majority of the crowd to see where they would end up. It appeared that a large section of the crowd was headed in a single direction, while everyone else split away in their own directions. I remained with the crowd, walking at a rather slow speed.
“Did you hear what happened in the Capital?” A disembodied voice asked.
“Which one do you mean? There are three of them.” A sarcastic voice replied.
“Lunaeum of course!” The disgruntled first voice responded.
“Ha, did you actually say Lunaeum? I think you have spent too much time in the South. The capital in the North is Lunari, you know named after the Kingdom of Lunari. Honestly.” I couldn't see these people, but I could visualize him shaking his head.
“Shut up! Anyway, I have some contacts in the North. They that there are have been an unprecedented rise in population. Apparently there have been an explosion in populations across all of the continent.”
The third voice chimed in, “Ha, probably flocking from the country side. You know how the country peasants are, always needing farm hands.”
The first voice spoke again, “I do not know, I hear a census check will be conducted shortly in Lunae- Lunari. But the most disturbing news that I heard form the capital in the North, is that the number of deaths are increasing.”
“Well with a rise in population, of course the death toll will raise. It's natural, isn't it?” The second voice asked.
“I concur. I mean-” The third voice was cut off.
The first voice interjected, “No, these aren't your usual murders, the victims have weird wounds on them that look the same from victim to victim, also the victims are left with hardly any blood.”
“No blood? Do think it has anything to do with the increasing amount of nobility renouncing their ties and following that Lich in the South-East?”
“Thun'quqyg? Maybe, it doesn't to be unusual enough to be the case. Hey, you've family in Royal Army's ranks, yeah?”
“What of it?”
“That queen, everyone knows she is rapidly expanding her forces, why is that? An eminent war perhaps?”
“Perhaps. You can bet that the Principality of Shadows will involve them selves somehow toward the end. But, you know I will miss this fragile peace we have now. I don't look forward to seeing you on the battle field.”
The first voice paused for a moment, “Yeah, I do not wish to meet my friends in combat. I have grown rather fond of you, despite what everyone else says about you!”
“Hey!” At this point I stopped listening to these people and I split away from the crowd, as saw my squad in the distance.
I wandered over to them to see what was happening. As I got closer, I saw another group casually talking to them. It was then that the wonder twins saw me.
“Oi, here he is!” Potitus announced.
Titus joined him in announcing my presence, “With him on our side, you are going down!”
I shook my head at their comments and I looked on to our supposed opponents. I saw six new faces that I have never seen before, but their were three that I recognized immediately; Ashley Smith, Jason Blud, and Litavia Solaeum. I looked at their robes and saw a gold pendant on each robe that looked like sun with eight rays coming from it, two opposite rays were longer than the rest and seemed stretch clock-wise. In the middle of the sun was a squiggle that separated it in half.
Suddenly, I heard an argument burst between Litavia and our very own princess Yumari. “So what if you have him? We have Jason Blud, he also defeated an elite.”
“Oh yeah? I seem to recall that our teammate beat a princess, that would be you, I believe.
With that, the opposing team walked after their outraged princess. At this point, I had to ask, “What is going on?”
General Mizo spoke up, “Were you not informed? For the Entertainment Bout, the three orders will go against each other. Us, the Blue Order. Them, the Red Order. And an order of diplomat spies, the White Order. A three way battle should be entertaining, no?”
I kinda figured I was going to be the Entertainment Bout with the earlier comments, but a three way battle? “So what are rules?”
“Well, they are the same for every year. A designated figure in each of the nine man teams is the 'Head'. Like in war, kill the head, and the body will soon follow. So the team with the last 'Head' wins.” She replied.
“So protect the princess? Got it.”
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“That would normally be the case, but we have a different strategy in mind. See every year the princess, or the representative of the Kingdoms would be the 'Head', but we are going to use a deception maneuver. We are going to have five members protect the princess, and three as a spearhead to get the other princess. You will be part of this spear head, but the deception is that you are the 'Head'. They will not see it coming since there is a student with more status than yours on the team.”
“That sounds ingenious. What of the White Order? I assume they are from the Principality of Shadows.”
“You assume correct, but you need not worry about them, they aren't fighters and they will mostly likely immediate target the 'False Head' from her shadows. We will worry about them when the time comes. The battlefield isn't a place for spies after all.” She smiled at me.
In the distance I heard a horn sound off, presumably from the Arena.
Princess Yumari then announced, “It is time, we march toward victory!”
…
“Entertainment Bout is begin-” The Announcement Lady was cut off.
“Welcome to the Entertainment Bout! Hey, stop that!” A familiar announcement voice could be heard.
“Why are you here! You are injured!” Announcement Lady yelled.
“Who's fault do you think that is?! I just couldn't sit on the side lines and listen as you murdered this important job!”
“Go sit down! You are over reacting, I can not be that bad!”
“I can not, my ears cannot take it anymore, everyone needs me!”
“Whatever, do as you wish.”
“Sorry about that folks, let us continue the Entertainment Bout!” with a brief apology, Mr. Announcer continued, “We have a special treat for you all this year. As you may know we have both princess from the kingdoms of the Silent Continent! What if I said they will lead a team to fight each other? Now what if I added the bonuses of a team of spies? Say 'Hello' to the Entertainment Bout!” Our joyous Mr. Announcer was back.
“With all three teams on the field, let us begin!”
I felt my squads eyes directed toward the Red Order, as if it were only natural. I had a strange feeling that the White Order were up to something, and so acting upon that, I glanced in their direction.
Most of the people had black robes, indicating Dark magic, but there were some light purple robes in the mix as well, indicating Air magic. However, I wasn't interested in their robes, but at their pendants, as each Order had their own. Their pendant was that of a dark hand, made of knives, with only four fingers. I know each pendant has something to do with their own country, but I think the symbolism in these were deeper than they appeared.
My gaze didn't seem to phase them, as they turned their backs toward us and made a huddle. “Jack!” My attention was called by Yumari, “We are starting, we need you to be focused.”
General Mizo spoke as we gathered in formation, “Today we seize victory for the Princess of the Kingdom of Lunari, the rightful heirs to the Marble Throne, seat of the lost empire. We are her knights, with our duty to guard her highness, and attack her foes. Today we will show the Divine Academy of Mages the might of the Blue Order! Strike true, your enemies, for we have decidedly won! Now Charge!”
With that myself, Mae, and Sergeant Frostcaller ran forth, with Yue, Potitus, Titus, Fuki, and General Mizo 'protecting' the Princess. To double secure the decoy, just in case they figured out our plan, or even got close enough to the princess, I wasn't even in charge of the assault unit. That honor was given to Sergeant Frostcaller, I proposed this. Originally, I thought to recommend Mae, but something about her just didn't sit well with me.
I wasn't in a full sprint, but I did follow closely behind Sergeant Frostcaller. It didn't take long until we met the Red Order's assault unit. I thought we were in for an immediate quarrel, but Sergeant Frostcaller paid them no mind as he continued forward. I caught a glance the faces that passed us, I saw Jason Blud and two faces I did not recognize. I was struck with the thought, that maybe they had the same idea as us and one of the figures that ran passed us, my bet being Jason, was the real 'Head'. I ignored my gut feeling and continued my pace with the Sergeant, until we were met with a giant earthen wall that surrounded the enemy command unit.
It would be normally impossible to scale this thing as it was huge, and I doubt that I could phase through solid matter in my Mist Form. From the top of this small fortress, I could faintly see leaves. Leaves? Just I had questioned my eyes, I felt the ground give just a little under my foot. My sudden reaction to this was to turn to mist to protect my self from harm. I noticed that both the Sergeant and Mae jumped to side, as if their bodies commanded them to do so from instinct. The Sergeant I could understand his reaction times with his military background, but Mae?
The reason the ground was unsteady was because of some roots jutting out and acting as tendrils to ensnare its prey. Unsuccessful, these long roots fell limply. I remained in my Mist Form, but I stayed on guard. I took note of the small movements in the roots that lay on the ground, and even the ground below them. “Watch it, I do not think these roots are dormant.” I called out. My warning was met with two brisk nods. I was put on a team with the silent duo.
We stood there motionless and stared at the wall. I could almost see the gears in Sergeant Frostcaller's head spinning, trying to find a solution to our predicament. The roots stayed call, even at our approach, I do not think they can see us. To reaffirm this hypothesis I re-materialized my arm and grabbed a rock, which I threw at the wall. On impact, roots shot of the wall and toward my direction. Completely sound activated. Nice.
I turned toward the Blue Order's command unit and saw that General Mizo was valiantly fighting off the Mist form of Jason Blud in a stalemate. Meanwhile, the other two members of the Red Order assault force were winning in a one sided duel against the wonder twins. Meanwhile, Yue and Fuki were standing on guard of the Princess.
Now that I assessed the situation at base, I re-materialized my body and I walked up to the wall, with the full intention of waking up it. I raised one foot, and slowly placed it on the wall as I could. Lifting my other foot gave me the oddest sensation of falling, as my body fell part way and halted midair. It was like I caught myself without catching my self. I placed my other foot silently on the wall and I looked down on the wall beneath my feet. In my perception, the ground and the earthen wall had switched sides. What was even more bizarre was the fact that my body had acted like the gravity had shifted from the ground to the wall. My tome strapped to my side did not flop to the side, neither did my sword slide out of its hilt. My blood normal, as if I was walking perpendicular and not on the face of a wall. I took another step, and I saw nothing had changed, it was really splendid. I decided to try my luck and quickly but quietly advance more steps.
I looked back to see the faces of the Sergeant and Mae. Priceless. Sergeant Frostcaller's usual grim face was struck with unsettled astonishment. Mae wore the face of utter shock. They didn't keep their faces for very long and instead ran around the walls hitting the surface to draw roots out. A distraction.
I no longer needed to take cautious steps, so I ran as fast I could to the top and flung myself over the lip.