28TH GEAR - USELESS PREZ

“Whyyyyyyyy! Why do I have to wear this even at this jogging session? Whyyyyyy!”

This is the second day of the joint training camp, and we are on our early-day jogging routine. Waves of students jog around the hectares-wide perimeter without using magic. It’s a start of a usual day for a usual morning routine, but Ericka’s tantrums are echoing around the area.

Ericka is wearing a huge nametag hung on her neck that perfectly describes her stature and personality: “USELESS PREZ”. As punishment for last night’s croquette incident, she is forced to wear that huge tag until the joint training camp is over.

“This is too humiliating! I am the president of Merry Knights and the younger sister of the legendary mage Comette Azure! Why do I have to deal with this shameful punishment!?” Ericka wept as she jogged.

“Prez, just be thankful that your punishment is not worse than that. You almost killed fifty students, fifty-two if you included me and Flu. Normally, you would be delivered to your demonic sister in the Students Affairs Office. Captain Tezza is merciful enough to get you off the hook by doing a silly punishment.” Cruzo forced a smile as he tried to reason out.

“Shut up, Panda!” Ericka roared. “All my life I’ve been avoiding humiliation, and here I am, wearing this nametag!”

“Deal with it, Prez,” I said soft enough so that she wouldn’t hear. I’m trying hard not to tease her because she might throw icicle spears at me again.

I looked at Flu who is unusually silent right now. The reason she’s silent is that she is running while dozing off. We practiced up until two in the dawn last night, so it is given that she will be sleepy for this day. But still, jogging while sleeping seems kind of dangerous.

“Flu?” I tried to get her attention.

“Zzzzzz.”

“Flu?” I slowed down and tapped her shoulder.

“Aaah! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I did not eat the potato chips, I swear!” Flu shrieked.

I just raised my eyebrow and stared at her. What is she talking about? Potato chips? Is she dreaming about eating one? Wait, is she the reason I’m missing one snack in my bag?

“Ah, Tahahaha!” Flu scratched her head and laughed. “I’m sorry, my mind is flying with the potato chips.”

“Are you okay? You can sit out of this day’s training if you’re not feeling well.” I said.

“Don’t worry about me, I’m completely fine, Coach!” Flu pumped her fist as she went back to her usual full of energy. “I am looking forward to this day’s practice!”

“Okay, but don’t overwork yourself,” I said. “You already trained enough last night.”

“Yes, Coach!” Flu smiled brightly.

I changed to a curious stern look at her and then asked a vital question. “Hey, what was about the potato chips?”

“Ah, well…” Flu started to sweat non-stop. She pumped her fists and then channeled her energy. “Uwoogh! I love jogging! I’m gonna run twice as fast now!”

“You didn’t sneak on my bag last night and grabbed my wasabi-flavored chips during our night practice, did you?” I asked.

“Tahahaha!” Flu scratched her head again, and now she was sweating like waterfalls. “Wind Accel!”

“Wait!”

Swoosh! Flu overtook the crowd of trainees just to escape!

“I-I’m soooooryyy!” Flu cried.

Welp, it’s not even my potato chips in the first place. It was Cruzo’s. I stole it from his stash last night when he was busily snoring out loud. I don’t feel bad about Flu stealing it because I stole it in the first place. I’ll just keep my mouth shut.

<>

Today’s training for Speedmages involves one round tag where they should avoid the “goalkeeper” and touch the Checkpoint Tower. The player who scores the point will be replaced with the other player waiting in line until all players have scored a point.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

It is a fun game for Speedmages as it simulates the scenario where a player has to confront an ambush from their opponent, which is most likely a Striker or a Counter.

Fweeeet!

“Next!” Captain Tezza shouted through her megaphone. “Ericka Azure!”

Prez went in line with her “USELESS PREZ” nametag in it. Even if she’s in her PE uniform, she was still uncomfortable because her nametag is somewhat heavy and large. It hinders her movement, and she’s not as flexible as normal.

“Aaaaaargh! Why do I have to still wear this thing!” Prez cried.

“Stop yapping!” Captain Tezza raised her hand and blew the whistle.

Fweeeet!

“Ice Accel!” Prez dashed forward, skating through the floor of ice she steps unto.

The goalkeeper spread out his arms wide, and his eyes followed the movements of Ericka as she charges up close.

All of a sudden, Ericka made some graceful twists and turns in a seemingly random manner. She’s also speeding up and slowing down with no patterns at all. The goalkeeper sped up to go to his left, and then to right, left, right, left, right until he was already confused!

Ericka is doing feints every time she twists and turns. Since most Speedmages react based on the enemy’s movement, it will be hard for them to track down Ericka!

All of a sudden, Ericka went straight to the goalkeeper’s face, and then turned around to the left!

“Ah!”

Beep!

Ericka’s hand touched the Checkpoint Tower!

Fweeeet!

Captain Tezza blew the whistle. “Next!”

“Phew. This nametag is restricting my movements. I’m glad I still touched the Checkpoint Tower.” Prez said in a relieved manner.

“That’s awesome, Prez!” Flu pumped her fists excitedly. “Please teach me how to do feints like that!”

“O-Okay,” Prez said as she tilted her head. She looked at Cruzo who seemed to have a grin. “What are you smiling for, Panda?”

“Nothing.” Cruzo is still smiling as he denied his words. “You seemed to be a lot more composed than normal. Maybe you have finally gathered the determination and guts not to puke out!”

I noticed it too. Ericka was able to do those excellent maneuvers without casting any other spell than Ice Accel. It felt like she was tranquil in just that short amount of time, only focused on the goal. There are no signs of her vomiting due to pressure either.

Was it because of her nametag? Or was it because of the humiliation of carrying it?

<>

The training continued with Triangle laps, obstacle courses, and magical invocations; those things that Flu trained last night. Flu managed to get average scores on all the tests and she was now doing well, albeit she looked sleepy the whole day. As for Ericka, she never had the urge to vomit ever since she got that “USELESS PREZ” nametag.

There’s no actual problem on Cruzo except for the early jogging session. His Speedster playstyle plays fine in Triangle Laps, and he was already well-trained in obstacle courses and magical invocations. He had mastered the basics, but his stamina sucks. He’s nowhere near Ericka’s excellence, and Flu is rapidly catching up.

When the afternoon sun fell, everybody was looking forward to our dinner. It was Cruzo’s group who are in charge of the kitchen. Unlike the massacre last night, the ones who are responsible for serving us dinner are completely normal people. Captain Tezza is a good leader unlike our useless president, and Cruzo is kind of a chef.

It’s hard to say this, but our training today was completely normal. There’s no notable event as we had a good exercise and good food for the night. I think I have gotten used to unusually ridiculous days that I find normal days boring.

Anyway, it is what comes after dinner when everybody was compelled to look for the next day of our training camp.

Captain Tezza gathered all Speedmages in one giant bonfire. There is also a wide white screen that seemed to have been made from a giant scroll floating above the giant bonfire. The Lightning Captain used her magical megaphone to make an announcement.

“Good evening, fellow Speedmages. Tomorrow is the last day of our joint training camp, so we will have to end this event with an explosion! Let us see what you have learned in three days of your hardships!”

Captain Tezza snapped her fingers, and a long list of names is projected to the white screen. It has the names of all the participants in this camp.

“Tomorrow, we will have a one-versus-one Speedbattles with each other!”

All Speedmages murmured to each other. Some are nervous, some have despaired, and some are excited. One of those people who can hardly contain their excitement is Flu, who is repeatedly pumping her fists like a kid who got overdosed on sugary candy.

“This is awesome! I’m excited to play!” Flu squealed.

The projector randomized the list of names and grouped two names who will be participating against each other. When the names have been grouped, the giant scroll that was used as the wide screen burst into hundreds of sheets which distributed itself toward the Speedmages!

Cruzo got his paper first. He happily looked at the sheet and realized that it was something not to smile about.

“My match will be against the President of Eaglecrest Guild- Levi Armstrong!” Cruzo beamed with a nervous smile. Heck, his teeth are making clicking sounds.

“Wooow! Good luck!” Flu cheered, unaware of the pressure Cruzo is experiencing.

Ericka got her paper and squinted her eyes. When she got a read of her match, she smiled menacingly.

“I will be fighting against Captain Tezza Flaschk. I guess I will just have to pay her back for the punishment she gave to me!” Ericka clenched her fist.

“Hey, your punishment is yours alone. You brought it to yourself.” I commented.

I looked at Fluonessia who have gotten her piece of paper. She just had her blue eyes staring at her name, and her mouth is shaped with an “o”.

“Who are you fighting against?” I asked.

“I will be fighting against Haruka Firangel,” Flu answered with an excited smile.

“Haruka Firangel? She is one of the three captains of Cool Escape Guild, right?” I asked.

“Yes! This is going to be awesome! I’m so excited!” Flu giggled.