TRAINING GROUND

Passing beyond the back door we came into a wide walled courtyard. Rankers were scattered around practicing. Swords, spears, arrows, and magic flew in the air in a myriad of colors. A hundred sounds scattered around like a hybrid of noise from a market place and a battle ground.

The ground trembled, occasionally, from heavy blows of magic and weapons. Here a guy threw a spell, big round balls of flames, at his opponent. There a girl swung down a war hammer at a shield welder. The potential of destruction behind each attack was dreadful, but the receivers took it with nothing more than a sweat or strain or- and- an apprehensive curse.

The shockwaves were enough to harm low leveled beginners like us but each fighting ring was demarcated by round dome force fields to, I suspect, keep the dreadful attacks inside. Still we steered away.

Grunts and growls and heaves filed the air behind the sound of explosions. A putrid smell hung in the air mixed with the smell of sweat and blood too. I spotted the cause. Trash gathered at the side of the walls where slimes and rats scavenged through the waste, and a green mist hung about everything there.

We crossed the courtyard, avoiding the rings of astral domes. Somehow we made it to the other side of the courtyard alive and unharmed, also miraculously not shivering in fear.

What we found was the spartan wall of the courtyard that reached high as two floors length, yet no door leading to any room. We stopped in confusion. Owen wondered if we'd heard the receptionist wrong but the rest of us were sure of what we heard. To the side people sold stuffs- drinks and potions and what looked like herbs- in stalls, we decided to ask one of them.

The middle aged man closer to us was short and stocky, with long red hair and heavy beard framing his round face. A big scar crossed his nose in a thin line and sat at his cheek where it fattened into a dot. More importantly he wore beginners scrubs making him more approachable.

"Excuse me," Chloe said with a friendly smile. He turned to us. His eyes were glassy pale gray.

"Yeah?" He said.

"Pardon me, we were told to head to room.." She glanced at the paper she took from Sid. "Room 41, but we can't find any rooms,"

"Freshmen huh?" The man smiled, not kindly. "Let me see,"

Chloe handed him the paper. He stared at it briefly then pointed forward, at space. "Over there," We stared across the courtyard, at the colorful domes and the spaces between. Seeing the blank look we gave him, he added. "Those domes of magic barriers are called rooms here, you'd see their numbers on the little pillar placed before each."

"Oh," we chorused.

"He should have explained," Chloe said in irritation. "We couldn't have known otherwise,"

"Is Rankers humor," the man snorted derisively. "Kelvin is especially good at it. I suspect he's at this very moment giggling to himself imagining your heedless selves prowling around like sad puppies. He'd ask around later for the gist,"

"I guess we disappointed the audience," I said sourly looking around at the idle Rankers staring at us with undisguised interest a distance away.

"That you did,"

Chloe stepped forward. "Who are you anyway? I am Chloe," she offered her hand.

"Cesar," the man shook her hand looking rather disgruntled. Then he stared at us with squinted eyes. "How many of you are Columbians beside the brunette?"

I froze. "Brunette, you mean me?"

"Who else?"

"Hey, I am brown haired not a brunette. Besides, how do you even know I am Columbian?"

Cesar grinned. "You tried to hide the accent, but Cesar has eyes for these things. Still if you must know, it's the way you carry yourself. Columbians are the most arrogant fuckers in the world after all,"

"No, that's the Americans," Willow scoffed.

"That answers part of my question." Cesar whistled. "This one does not hide her accent though, that's rare,"

The redhead looked slightly put off. "Why do you even want to know how many of us are Columbians?"

Cesar shrugged. "Because you always surpass everyone in Camp. Check five most powerful people in a year, three are most probably Columbians, check ten, you'd find six!"

"Why?" Omar demanded.

"No one knows, it's just the way it's I guess. You see, I have been stuck a beginner for twenty years now in this box, still counting. If I was Columbian I'd probably be hanging round with the best of the Rankers, or even at home celebrating Christmas at odd days."

"But that doesn't make any sense," Willow frowned. "People are not good at anything because of their race,"

"You think so?" Cesar scoffed. "What's the best movie ever made?"

"Why are you asking that question?"

"Humor me girly, in fact, all of you,"

Willow shrugged. "Titanic,"

Cesar whistled. "A big one, and you?" He looked at me.

"Forrest Grump," I said challenging him with my stare to dispute me.

"I am not sure," Sid said. "But I think it's Lord of the rings,"

"Footloose," Sky offered.

"I don't know," Dragon frowned. When Cesar insisted, he said. "John Wick maybe,"

After everybody answered, Cesar nodded in satisfaction. "Now making Movies is banned in most civilized countries right? It still is right?"- we nodded- he went on. "And most movies we watch are from the old days. Most things we can trust about history are also from those movies that survived the war," he finger quoted and cleared his throat. "And from those movies, made in days where races intermingled, it's often implied that different races has different expertise. Like in Pain and Gain, ever seen it?"

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

I shook my head. Everyone else did the same.

Cesar frowned but brushed it off. "Anyway, in Pain and Gain, it was implied that blacks are good at sports, and there was this movie__ can't remember its name__ that said something about Asians being good at maths and Brazilians at soccer."

"So Columbians are good at dungeoning," Chloe completed.

Willow stared at Cesar skeptically. "It's impossible,"

"Yeah?" Omar scoffed folding his hands across his chest. "I think he's unto something,"

"Whatever," Chloe said. "We didn't come here to talk, we should head to our 'assigned room, ring, dome, whatever... So we just have to cram up in one of those dome thingys?"

"Not necessarily," Cesar shook his head. "It couldn't contain the lots of you even for laughs. Forget the number he gave you, just grab anywhere empty, is what everyone does. The Rankers are gonna thin out soon anyway. You with the bow, should practice at the range," he motioned to the far side of the courtyard, beside the wall and the putrid trash laying against it, where three circular targets stood. At the other side of the wall another range stood, also beside the wall.

I split from the others and walked to the range, bow and arrow in hand. I was close to the wall so the putrid odor was more intense, I coughed feeling like puking. Why litter here? After learning to breath through my mouth only, I stood straight, strapped the quiver to my waist and drew back thirty yards.

First to test the bow.

After an initial inspection, I drew out an arrow and nocked it on the string. Pulling the string with some strain I am not used to in mechanical bows, but still familiar with from my early training. I release it with a hollow sound. The arrow flew, cutting through the air and stabbed into the center of the target.

Nodding in satisfaction, I drew back another thirty yards then shot another arrow. It flew true, cutting into the first arrow, splitting it in two, as it stabbed the target in the center too. A good shot as I ever done, but still not enough, not anything I can't do without powers. In truth I was expecting something more supernal from my skills. Another thirty yards I went.

By the side a black guy welding a short axe was dueling a one eyed man welding double swords. I stared at the fight confined in the purple barrier in awe. Not because of what I could see but because of what I couldn't. These guys were moving so fast they were two streaks of blurs to my eyes, occasionally colliding.

I took a deep breath, mistakingly inhaling the foul air. I coughed bringing tears to my eyes. Frowning, I drew out another arrow with sweaty hand. Ahead, in the dome shield beside the target I was aiming for, Sky was teaching Sid how to use a sword. At the other side of the target, before another target, Chloe was practicing throwing a dagger, 30 yards out.

This time as I pulled the bow string I tapped into foreign knowledge in my mind teaching me possibilities and the power inside me. My eyes brightened and several parts of the target was highlighted. I looked around, objects seem bigger, angles seem steeper, edges sharper. The people were the oddest, every move Sky and Sid and Chloe did, and Omar learning to take a punch from Dragon, and Willow and Owen that were learning to throw spells, gave me something to work with. Where I could strike....

A load of information flirted with me, hinting at places to hit, predicting their next move. It was overwhelming.

No, I won't shoot the target I was facing, because I know I can. Hell, I can shoot it without superpowers. I drew the bow back as far as I could, turned, aiming at the other side of the courtyard perpendicular to me and obstructed by the domes. The projectile flew towards the target. The arrow bent around two dome forcefields on the way and struck true. An immediate rush of euphoria washed over me. "Now that's a trick shot," I muttered.

A few Rankers were looking at me wide eyed so I deduced I'd done something exceptional, ateast for a beginner. Regardless, I gave them a toothy grin, only for my expression to turn to panic and horror the next moment. I tapped my pocket. Groove is gone!

I scanned the courtyard quickly with my eyes but couldn't find the reptile. Chewing my lip and trying to look normal, I weighed my options. Finally I walked to where Sid and Sky where training. I stood outside the dome shield and watched. Sky was teaching Sid about stance and the 'intricacies' of swinging a sword.

Has Sky always been good with swords? Apparently. I'd been good at archery before I got it as a skill, plus the guy at the front counter hinted at the possibility of forming a skill by practicing the skill. But that doesn't explain my Shadowalking. In any case, there was no use thinking hard about it. Some dungeoning genius has probably already written a book on it.

I stood, fretting on how I'd ask Sid for help. I still have my pride, plus it felt like I am reporting myself for a scolding. Just then Sky looked at me. "You wanna join?"

"Not really," I said, "Sid get over here,"

Sid paused mid swing, a frown gracing her face. God she'd already started looking like she's been swinging swords her whole life. In fact, the wooden sword spoiled the picture. I bet she'd look like Rambo, with a real sword. She lowers the sword and walked out of the dome, stepping out of the thin veil of magic. Besides shimmering slightly it didn't stand in her way.

"What is it?" She asked staring down at me.

"Groove is gone," I whispered.

"Who's Groove?" Sky said. I spun to the side not even knowing when she'd arrived next to us.

"Keep it down," I hissed.

"Yeah sure, mouth zipped." She did a silly face and a salute. "So who's Groove?"

I gave her a dirty look, I heard Sid saying something but ignored her and snarled. "Tell me Barbie, who the fuck told you you were involved in this conversation?"

"Dunno," Sky said carefully. "I thought you wouldn't mind."

"Wouldn't mind?" I sneered.

"Come on, don't be like this Samy,"

"Samy? I fucking hate..."

"Sam!" Sid shoved me on the shoulder. I spun to her.

"What?" I snapped.

"Focus," she said calmly meeting my glare head on. "What do you mean gone?"

I remembered what I came here for with a douse of panic. Still, I steadied myself. After giving Sky a warning glare I turned to Sid. "I was practicing when I noticed he's gone, I can't find him!"

Sid pursed her lips. "When was the last time you saw.. him?"

"Um, I think at the library,"

"You don't really know where you lost him do you?"

I frowned. "See I came here for help not to get bitched about,"

"Sorry," Sid looked away and sniffed. "I am just so fucking stressed and took it out on you. Do you think you lost him in the library?"

I frowned harder, concentrating. "No,"

"Good. Did you lost it.. him, on the way here?"

".....No, I felt him in my pocket when we walked in here..." I left the rest unsaid. 'I think...' I didn't want her doubting me.

Sid frowned. "Then where do you reckon a little lizard would hide here?"

We turned to the trash at the side of the wall as one. Slimes, rats and green putrid mist around the area. And it was just next to the shooting range I'd been practicing. Sky followed as we went over, and I ignored the nosy cheerleader with effort.

"Groovy, Groovy," I called quietly not wanting to draw attention to ourselves. I was mostly successful as people kept doing their thing. Of course a few gave us odd looks but it didn't last long. Luckily Chloe had walked away to talk to Dragon about something so I didn't have to worry about her questions. I thought she said we aren't here to talk?

Me, Sid and Sky walked the length of the wall calling softly but no sign of the creature, and hope was quickly fleeting. So when Sid said, "There he's!" And pointed a finger, I didn't outright believe her but turned to the direction anyway.

My heart skipped. There he's, the little chubby horned lizard. The horns were little knobs protruding backwards up on his large arrow shaped head. This time he had took on the mottled green- brown color of the trash.

I watched with a complicated feeling as he crawled out of the dirt, his scales turning completely brown to match the ground as he stepped on it. I wondered if loosing him would be a bad thing. The weight the reptile carried, the wish of a dying man and possible the fate of all humanity in a balance, was more than I am worth. Plus it might get me in trouble because of his connection with the famed Diggers.

I thought of all that with honesty. Still, I shielded the creature from the rest of the courtyard with my body and scooped it in my hand, letting it crawl into my pocket.

"What was that?" Sky asked.

"What's what?" I paused watching her with narrowed eyes. Then I wondered, like I always do when I am with this particular girl. "Can you keep a secret?"

"Mostly," she shrugged. "I mean, if it doesn't involved life and death,"

I grinned evilly. "That's exactly what it involves cousin,"

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