Time sped along with his heartbeat as Soral raced back to base. There was so much everyone needed to know. Most importantly, despite the threats, the test was still going. They needed to make sure it stayed that way. This was their last and only chance.
“Soral?” Ruena asked as he burst inside, “What happened?”
“A lot,” Soral panted, “We’re going to need to use Storm’s training after all.”
“The test is in danger,” Ruena realized and used the signal they had arranged to call for the others.
Soral waited until everyone gathered before he explained everything he had seen and heard. Oddly enough, Ruena did not seem surprised to learn that powerful people wanted this test gone enough to send intruders in to stop it. There was no surprise, but her confidence in them had not faded either.
“Let’s do what we can to keep this from the rest of the testees,” Ruena told them, “There is no need to drag more people into my problems. We can handle this.”
“Is it… her?” Soral asked.
“She would do anything to stand in my way,” Ruena confirmed, “Even if bystanders are trampled in the process.”
It was the first time Soral began to understand the level of threat Velcorna Alodan really was. If that was the case, he would have to strive to be an equal force to stand against her. First things first, they needed to save this test.
Before anyone had a chance to plan, much less prepare, the promised mock battle was announced. Was it really a good idea to let the others believe a real threat was just a simple part of the test. Along with the announcement came instructions. Their opponents were going to be professionals, so the teams needed to band together to face them. Any more information would be relayed at a briefing that night.
It was at this perfect timing, a guest knocked at the door to their base. Soral recognized the young man who stood there as the leader of the one team they had acknowledged as their rivals, as well as the one who had lost to Jazz. He had a rather serious expression on his face that matched the words that came out of his mouth.
“I heard everything.”
“Bring him in,” Ruena ordered, “and do something to stop any further eavesdropping.”
Before Soral could argue that his earthen walls should have been too thick to eavesdrop through, the young man came to his defense.
“I was able to hear everything thanks to my special skill,” he explained, “I want to help. You aren’t the only ones who need this test.”
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Ruena looked their guest up and down. “If you really heard everything, what makes you so confident that you can help, Ruben Phasta.”
He flinched, especially when she mentioned his name, but did not back down. “I’m not, but if the threat is as big as you say, you are going to need two things. Influence and manpower. I can at least make sure the others listen to you.”
“In return for?” Ruena asked. Soral agreed that he wouldn’t have offered his assistance without expecting something from them in return.
“When you pass this test, become powerful. Powerful enough to bring it back.”
The answer took Soral by surprise. “You’re going to forfeit your chances to help us?”
“If that is what it takes,” he replied with determination, “I knew my chances of passing were next to nothing the moment I saw this absurd building pop up out of nowhere.”
“This is a test, not a competition,” Ruena reminded, “Everyone who gets enough marks will pass.”
Soral observed their dispirited, and somewhat desperate, new ally. He seemed so sure that there was no hope, but Soral was more inclined to believe Ruena. In that case… He reached into his pocket and produced a cupcake, holding it out.
“Then lead your team to glory alongside ours. You wouldn’t have come here if you didn’t have the talent to pull through.”
“That’s right!” Liza agreed, giving him a p[at on the back, “This is just hands on experience. The threat can’t be that bad or the test wouldn’t have continued.”
“The briefing for the mock battle will be tonight. We should make our own plans based on that,” Rosalie suggested.
Ember nodded in agreement. “We can’t afford to waste time on uncertainties.”
“You can find us at the briefing easily if you look for me,” Flame suggested, flexing his wings.
“Gather your team and meet us there,” Ruena ordered, seeing the general acceptance of the group. Dillon deflated a bit, having lost his chance to say something cool with the others.
“I will,” Ruben promised, taking the offered cupcake and turning to leave. After a moment, he paused and bowed to Jazz. “Sorry for bothering you earlier.”
‘You could have at least offered decent fish,’ Jazz grumbled, but only Soral could understand him. He managed to hold back his laughter until after their guest had left.
The team only left their base when it came time for the briefing. They were all surprisingly less nervous than they expected with an actual battle full of conspiracy approaching. The sun had begun to set, leaving Flame’s wings glowing like a beacon in the approaching darkness. As promised, Ruben used this to approach them with his team.
However, the crowd that followed him was far too large to just be one team.There were at least two, if not three more. It looked like he was just as influential as he had claimed.
Unfortunately, judging by their attitudes, his skillset did not seem to include keeping secrets. Like any good secret worth its while, everyone seemed to know about it. Some were scared but determined. Others seemed filled with foolish confidence. There were even those in deep thought who seemed to be plotting how best to turn things to their advantage.
Rather than Ronav, it was Ronda who awaited them at the briefing site. She watched all who approached with a careful gaze as if judging their worth. Her gaze was especially piercing when it landed on Soral, and the group they had gathered together. She knew that they knew for sure.
“Welcome to the Mock Battle Briefing,” she began, her voice magnified so it could reach all of the onlookers, “Though we call it a briefing, there is not much we can tell you. A group of professionals will strike sometime during this week. You cannot know how many there are, or when they will strike. Consider it like a surprise attack with a warning.”
A surprise attack with a warning? Could it even be a surprise if there was a warning? She was doing a good job of making it seem like part of the test to those who didn’t know, but those who did only grew more nervous.
“When I call them professionals, I don’t just mean people who have passed this test. I mean people with years of experience under their belts. They will not show mercy. They will not back down if you get scared,” Ronda warned, “If you cannot handle this battle, you will not be able to handle the rest of this test. I recommend leaving now, because once the battle begins you won’t be able to.”
She was giving people a chance. So that was how they intended to protect those who were not ready. Paz, or the man Soral assumed was Paz, showed up right then. “I will guide anyone who wishes to leave to the entrance and help them reclaim their things.”