It was raining heavily. Auna was up early again sneaking down the halls with Theo as her guide. Theo was much better at direction than her, her map was helpful but not nearly as clear as just following the pup.
“Up early again? I thought for sure you would rest later today.” The king smiled at the small girl he once again caught sneaking in the dark of the morning.
“Good morning, my king.” Auna gave him a wide smile while squinting at his lamp which was at eyeline. “I am always awake early. I usually have an early class.”
“I see, sorry about the lamp.” The king raised his lamp higher out of her eyeline. “Breakfast?” The king started toward the kitchen as Auna happily followed.
“Is it good?” The king was wiping her face as she went for more fruit. “I know fairies like fruit, but please try to get it into your mouth.”
“It is so yummy!” Auna hummed as she ate more fruits, the king had eggs and meat with his fruit. Auna was happy with just fruit for breakfast. “Can I ask a question?”
“Sure, you can. I can’t let you know the monsters for the event though.” The King teased as a staff woman took over cleaning Aunas’ face.
“I know. I want to know about the prize. I heard there are ten eggs per category. No one told me what kind of egg, though.” Auna ignored the light teasing.
“They are spirit eggs. Do you know what that means?” The king asked.
“Not really.” Auna admitted, she didn’t have classes on taming or monster care. The only thing she knew about monsters was how to hunt them.
“Your tamed beast, Theo, is a divine class, right?” The king asked.
“Yes, my slime is a unique-normal class.” Auna nodded.
“Really? Do you know what that means?” The king smirked. “Are you a tamer?”
“No, and also no. My jobs are not tamer. I do have a skill for taming though. Do you want to see my status?” Auna tilted her head to the side.
“Do you often let random people see your status?” The king sighed shaking his head.
“No. Don’t you remember the whole ordeal with the church?” Auna glared. “I am not stupid. I don’t show my status to just anyone. You can see it though because you are the king. I can trust you.” Auna smiled.
“I appreciate it. How about if you manage to free yourself from the church and myself, I will gladly look at your status at that time?” The king gave a warm pity-filled smile at her.
“Sure. Now the eggs?” Auna asked.
“Hmm. Let's start with explaining the classes of beasts. Common, Uncommon, Rare, Unique, Divine, and Spirit are the main classes. There are subclasses of normal, and peculiar that are actually fairly rare to have. The common class is numerous with most creatures of low magic and intelligence.” The king stretched.
“The uncommon class are creatures with more magic, and slightly smarter. The rare and unique creatures have more magic, and intelligence and are harder to find. The Chances of common up to unique pets birthing a creature unique and above is low. Even the unique monsters have a hard time having unique babies.” The king took a drink of his morning wine.
“The Divine creatures are ones with high intelligence and magic. They can give birth in a conventional way by having a father and mother. They can also lay eggs by gathering magic to form the egg. This egg can then produce any class of creature. It is almost random, at least from our point of view. The Spirt creatures have intelligence far greater than even some sentient races. Their magic is also far greater. They rarely give birth properly mostly just laying magic eggs.” The king sighed.
“The eggs are precious but most come out as rare or lower creatures. So having them as a prize is fine. The eggs here as prizes are from my personal spirit beasts. They have been examined to have lower magic power. Even if a spirit class is hatched, I won’t take it back. That is why everyone is excited.” The king held up his hand.
“Now, subclasses are normal and peculiar. If a monster or creature has this it means they have potential to grow to a higher class. The normal means it is possible, the peculiar means they are close to doing so. The subclass can be lost as well, meaning something made it lose the ability to grow in class.” The king gave a nod. Showing he was done.
“I see. So, it is random to what we will get?” Auna asked holding her head with her eyes shut.
“Very random.” The king gave a long laugh.
“Interesting.” Auna groaned.
“My king I think you have given her too much information at once.” The man in the shadows whispered even though no one but the king and Auna would hear him.
“Hmm. Say why did you participate this year? And with your brother and cousins no less.” The king pondered this while the girl leaned back with a big sigh.
“My king, how cruel of you to overload my head to catch me off guard to ask your questions.” Auna giggled at the face the king had made to that. “Honestly my friend is a tamer, she really wanted to try for the eggs.”
“The matter of your brother and cousins?” The king pressed.
“They needed partners, and we needed three more. I don’t hold any real hostility towards them. They are only products of their upbringing. Besides Seth has calmed his attitude down some.” Auna gave a shrug.
“I see. How mature. I do hope you put on a good show again today.” The king rose giving her a pat on the head as he left.
“Bye!” Auna gave a big wave as she left with Theo as well.
Auna and her friends watched the other children in the event fight. They mostly fought packs, or unique monsters. The rain was making it very difficult physically and by increasing the aggressiveness of the monsters. The children who had gone into the forest had returned before the arena event finished. Many came back injured. They had even finished the judging and would announce the winners after the event.
“Wow, no one is really making it past the seventh today. It’s taking longer though.” Jensen mused as he watched the current team fighting a pack of wolves.
“I know the battles are being drawn out due to the slippery ground and anger of the monsters.” Auna stretched one final time. “We are up next, then we can eat dinner.”
“Yes, please. Ciela must be worried about us as well. I want to hurry home.” Auna gave a look to the rest of the team. “Get ready this team is nearly out. Our aim is the tenth.”
“Tenth?!” Seth glared. “Only one team has made it to eighth, how are we going to get to tenth?”
“There is no room for failure, so prepare yourself properly.” Auna gave him a last look before their team was called into the arena.
“This is going to be so fun!” Jensen called out as they were faced with a group of over fifteen slimes of various colours.
“You are all crazy! Why are we getting unique monster packs? The others didn’t.” Seth groaned as he got into position defending Meredith.
“Didn’t you know? The king loves to test our Auna.” Meredith laughed lightly as she prepared buffing spells for her friends. She was not worried.
The slimes went down easily, the children were no strangers to fighting in less-than-ideal conditions. Seth only needed to kill a few as Chloe was able to stop the others. Though the children would be tested on their teamwork, Seth not participating often would not score them lower. He was a rear guard for the support caster he was only needed if the others couldn’t manage the front line.
Next were wolves with various magic. They attacked with great swiftness. The cousins were able to take a few down from behind. Auna and Jensen led the triplets in a front assault while Chloe and Seth handled the smaller ones who quickly passed them.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Next was another bear, everyone except Meredith surrounded it taking turns dealing damage. Jensen mostly dove in front of the others with his shield using his rapier sparingly. He was quick even with such a huge shield often avoiding dangerous blows to his friends.
“I can not understand how we have gotten this far.” Seth wiped his face despite the rain. They had won against goblins, orcs, a giant lizard, ants, and ugly bats. They had all been unique with odd powers. No other team had to deal with such creatures. Right now, they were fighting crazed pixies with no real thought left. They were not the gentle and curious pixies of legend.
“Focus Seth.” Meredith called out taking a pixie down with a swing of her staff. Chloe was also close swinging widely. There were at least twenty of the small-bodied things throwing out random magic in all directions.
“Sorry.” Seth groaned with exhaustion.
“WOW look at them go!” The announcer which Auna had been ignoring in both events got really close to her. He was using special magic that allowed him to fly, increase the volume of his voice, and put up a magic shield. He was not supposed to get so close. In response Auna threw out fire magic in his direction. “How Feisty!”
“What is this?” The announcer floated towards the back line. “Why is the support wizard throwing useless light stones?”
In an instant Auna whirled around just as one such stone got close to her. She knew this as the signal for help, they were drowning. “Change to form 2! Seth Stay, cousins flank the triplets. Everyone pull to the back!”
“Oh, a new form? Ladies and gentlemen, our champion orphan seems to have switched tactics. Again, though it seems three of her teammates are not practiced in them. Forcing her to partly explain what they are doing, wasting precious seconds!” The announcer was very annoying today as he was yesterday. “Looks like this will be the end for them the little Bloodwave girl seems doomed, is all lost!”
Auna dropped her sword, Jensen grabbed it, spreading her wings she dashed to Meredith. Using her wings as a shield she deflected, with great pain, magic aimed at the back of Merediths’ head. “Seth pull in! Group up!”
“Yes!” Came a weak reply.
“Triplets, Chloe surround them! They need a rest. Jensen with me, lose the shield.” Auna began using her fists to pummel the pixies, grabbing some and ripping their heads off. Jensen soon joined her, the triplets using his shield and theirs to fully cover the tired children. Meredith was still standing using her magic to slow the pixies near for Chloe to pummel.
“Oh wow, what a save! While the three rest, the others are clearing the field for them! What teamwork! It seems they are switching out now, how clever. While fighting pixies with overwhelming stamina switching out is a reasonable strategy!” The announcer got close to Jensen who was now on the ground with Auna while Chloe and Meredith rested the cousins and Seth began to fight again.
“Why are you so close you freak!” Jensen threw his great shield slamming the announcer to the ground. The announcer was a bit dazed but not hurt due to his own magic shield.
“Wow, just as feisty! But what are you going to do without your shield little Pearl?” the smirk on the announcers' face turned to shock as Jensen rolled his eyes. The shield reappeared in his hands before his eyes were finished rolling.
“I am a great shield user; do you really think I can just drop it?” Jensen roared as he turned away, back into the fight.
“How interesting, these kids show great promise don’t they folks?” The announcer didn’t get so close after that, making it easy for Auna to block him out again.
After a grueling hour, all the pixies were dead. Blood covered the children. The tenth level was next, there would be no more rest. A big bore was released. Auna squealed in delight much to everyones’ surprise.
“Are you really happy? Do you know how hard it is to fight that thing! It has sleep magic! We need to bow out before it gets close.” Seth pleaded.
“Stay here!” Auna called with a beautiful grin on her face, she walked into the range of the bore.
“What is this? Does the strong sleep magic not work on her?” The announcer was now beside Jensen who was watching her with a wry grin, he quickly followed.
“Does it not work on him either?" The announcer questioned the remaining children to no response.
Magic screens were showing close-ups of the two children fighting the bore with bright smiles. “I almost feel sorry for the bore, the sleep magic it is always relying on is not working!” The announcer was going wild as the other children decided to flank the bore. They stuck to the outside as Meredith cast support spells. The other children threw ranged spells when they could, shifting around to ensure they didn’t get too close.
It was over far too quickly. The bore should have put up a bigger fight.
“We have killed the bore!” Auna yelled.
“Yes, would your team like to fight the special monster? You have exceeded my expectations; I thought no group of children would defeat the bores.” The king smiled warmly.
“What do you say?” Auna asked looking around.
The triplets, Chloe, and Jensen were grinning with big thumbs up. While the cousins and Seth looked like they were going to drop any second. Meredith was looking at them in pity.
“My king, thank you for the opportunity to gain more honor. At this time though my team can not continue.” Auna sheathed her sword putting Seths’ arm around her shoulder to support him. Meredith held Marell and Jensen took Darell with him as they began to walk away.
“Very well. It is a sign of a true leader to know when to retreat.” The king sat back down as the festivities continued. There would be a break, the prize for the older kids would be given, then they would get their prize. They were sure they would be first place.
“Sorry.” Seth said as they sat waiting. They had heard the older kids had all gotten winged salamanders from the eggs. It was likely they would too, as the eggs came from the same parent. It was possible the spirit eggs that were given for this event were all the same as they all had similar magic signatures.
“Don’t be. We are a bit crazy when it comes to combat. You guys all did a great job!” Auna soothed the upset boy as Jensen groaned nearby. “Jensen be nice.”
“Fine, fine. Honestly, it was probably for the best. You had a hard time yesterday. You need proper rest.” Jensen got up. “I think it is time, let us go.”
Sitting in the arenas’ prepping area the children watched the third, and second-place teams be given plaques and a speech. They were really excited; a few other teams were also standing by excited. They all wanted to be first place.
“Come forth the team led by A, Jade. You have won first place.” The King welcomed the children to the stage giving each child a little speech about their courage, strength, and willpower. “Now what everyone is waiting for. The eggs.”
Auna was given an egg bigger than a kicking ball. They all were big. Excited she leaned into it giving it her magic power to release the spell. She was greeted with a cracking egg. It fell into magic residue quickly leaving a small blue and red-winged salamander. It was an uncommon-peculiar class. Excited she called out to Jensen. “Look isn’t she cute! I’m going to name her Kaida! Awe yours is so cute too!” Auna was basically jumping with joy showing her Kaida to the little one in Jensens’ hands.
“Kade, his name will be Kade. They both look similar.” Jensen smiled happily.
“Look, isn’t she so cute?” Auna held the small creature closer to the Kings' face with bright eyes. She bonded with the little creature instantly.
“Yes, child she is. How heartwarming unlike the older children you seem very pleased with getting a little salamander as a pet.” The king patted her head as the other children caught up in her excitement were now all smiles.
“Oh, sorry my king I forget myself.” Auna blushed lowering her head and bringing the small creature to her chest.
“Do not worry, I don’t mind.” The king laughed and addressed the crowd again.
The children were escorted to the stands to watch the king fight the special monsters. There was only one left. A huge wyvern was released into the arena.
“I am very happy we did not have to fight that.” Chloe and Jensen spoke at the same time.
“Wow that is something coming from you two.” Auna laughed as she watched Theo carefully shift with the little salamander on his head. Auna cooed a little at the sight.
“You, really like the little thing, don’t you?” A bigger boy with blonde hair asked.
“Of course, I do?” Auna answered puzzled. She was watching the king easily play with the monster. He was like a cat playing with a mouse.
“Do you want mine? I didn’t name it.” The boy reached out, a small winged salamander with a yellow body in his hand.
“Are you sure?” Auna asked.
“Yeah, my dad said not to bring it home, to release it. I feel bad releasing it though. You were very happy to get yours thought two would make you even happier?” The boy gave a sloppy grin.
“I’ll take it.” Auna gently took the small creature putting it on Theos’ head beside Kaida. “Thank you.”
“No thank you, my dad was disappointed. We come from another taming house so having me care for such a monster would look bad.” The blonde waved goodbye.
“The king is amazing, say what are you going to name it?” Meredith asked.
“I’ll let Ciela have this one. It appears to be female as well. I missed the whole fight?” Auna was surprised it went so fast.
“Ciela will love it. Besides that, that boy isn’t very smart. Mine has a subclass, did his not?” Meredith sighed.
“It does. As does mine.” Auna smiled.
“Why does that matter?” Seth asked. He was sitting with them, his father sitting in the noble section had not called for him.
“It means their class has a chance to evolve. He must have not known that?” Meredith looked to the spot the boy had been.
“Oh, that makes this prize even cooler.” Seth smiled at the small thing in his hands.
“Very.” The cousins agreed.
“I for one am tired, I think I am going to go to bed early. Tomorrow is going to be hell for me.” Sighing Auna left. The next few days were royal holidays so they had some time to get back. There would be just as much motion sickness for her though.
Auna retired to her bed, again she would need to travel with everyone for appearances. She couldn’t wait to see her little farmer again.
“Good morning, leaving so early?” The king asked as he once again saw Auna in the early morning.
“Yes, my king, the Duke Pearl has a long way to travel. It is fairly dangerous this season.” Auna answered as she walked to the front.
“No breakfast? I saw your friends eating already. Also, why do you have two of the salamanders?” The king eyed the two sitting on the wolfs’ head.
“A blonde boy gave me his. Said his dad told him to release it. I get sick from the carriage motion; I will not eat until later.” Auna reached the front door with a smile she saw the Duke already loading some items with his men. They would move out quickly at this rate.
“I see. I think I know who you are talking about. I am going to make it a point to ask him about the yellow-bodied salamander and how it is doing from now on. I might even ask him to bring his son to show me, if he lies about it doing well. It would be a great shame if his family lost a tiny thing. They are tamers, they should be able to keep it alive and well.” The king gave a crazy smile as he laughed. It was apparent he would be having a great time teasing the poor noble.
The king saw them off before leaving himself. Auna made herself comfortable on the floor of the carriage hoping to lessen the sickness.