“I think they intend to see us fight tonight, it will let them evaluate everyone. I wonder what we are going to be tested against? Will they bring monsters into the arena? Is that even safe?” Gideon asked as he studied the coliseum below. “Look,” he pointed to the older students that were leaving the field. They took their places in the stands, sitting amongst the crowd that was slowly forming, other students were arriving as well. He gestured to the arena inset between the seating, “Do you think they intend to make us gladiators today?” He asked, the anxiety in his voice causing a crack.

Maximus stepped forward and looked at what Gideon had pointed out. “If so, I’m ready. There won’t be any monsters. I think they will have us fight each other,” For the first time Gideon saw Maximus stand up straight to his full height, a confidence exuded from his posture. Gideon noticed Primrose eye the boy, she saw his confidence levels as well and appeared to approve. Gideon thought she had an odd fascination with the boy. Sure, he was handsome and muscular, but that wasn’t everything. He did come in with Allary, but even if they weren’t together they both came from families of power. If they didn’t know each other, they ran in the same circle, one that he had never dreamed of belonging to. Gideon had zoned out, lost in thought while he looked in her direction. When his eyes focused, he saw she was staring at him as well, his cheeks flushed.

“Sorry, lost my train of thought and got a little distracted in my own head.” Gideon admitted. “What do you think is going on? Could this be something else that we haven’t thought of? Why did they bring us here, if not to fight?”

Primrose gave him a shrug. “I don’t know, but I am beginning to suspect you guys may be on to something. I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough though. Professor Hemlock is over there meeting with some other people. I bet they are professors at the academy as well,”

By this point, all the new students had seen the coliseum and it’s trainees. They noted the students training below had begun to clear out, then further commented as they went into the stands and took a seat. As Gideon listened to the other students, he looked at the various groupings next to the carriages. He saw Blake in the crowd down the line, his groups carriage was one of the last to arrive. Blake pointed to the right of the stadium, talking to Razor. They were too far away for Gideon to make out what was said. He looked to where Blake had pointed and saw a procession of students coming down a snaking stair case that lead to the base of the Coliseum. “Those must be the three factions in the school, look at the uniforms,” Gideon pointed out.

He could see three distinct colors coming down the stairs. One group was in gold and maroon, the second wore midnight blue and white, and the third was in gray lined with black. There didn’t seem to be a school uniform or some universal dress code aside from the colors. Some wore robes, others a dress, while others still wore slacks and a comfortable shirt. Then there were those in armor. Most of the armor wearers wore leathers or chain, but a few wore other forms of armor. The common thing for all the armor wearers was that the heraldry was dyed the proper colors for their faction. Gideon felt a little shame in his inability to remember the various armor types. He had heard Smith Brom talk about them more than a few times, but he hadn’t paid attention. He had very little hope to become a smith, so he humored the man.

A hand was placed on his shoulder, he traced it back to its source, his eyes followed it up. Maximus was standing next to him, a look of excitement on his face. “Don’t worry, stay near me if we have the option, we can team up. I’m a tank class, I’ll help protect everyone.” Maximus looked every bit the protector in that moment.

“Tank class?” Gideon asked.

Maximus stood a little taller. “You know how it works right? I’m a tank, I stand up front and take the hits while my support deals the damage and keeps me alive. We specialized in heavier armor to help us survive. You’ll want to find a good tank to group with if you hope to become an adventurer. Maybe after this trial we’ll be able to group up sometime. I think I would like that.” Maximus was looking down at the coliseum while he spoke, he glanced over to Primrose as he said the last part. Gideon thought he looked like he was evaluating the battle field. Was he looking for options so he could strategize? Or maybe trying to determine what the combat was going to be? Primrose was the boys achilles heel, an obvious distraction. For all of Maximus’s issues with social interactions and awkwardness, whether he was distracted or not, he was certainly in his element now; he was preparing for combat.

“Oh that makes sense. I guess I’m one of those too.” Gideon told the boy.

“One of what? A tank? You can’t be serious?” Maximus said as he studied Gideon with an appraising look. “You must be packing a serious ability or skill, because you sure don’t look built for it.”

“I have Armor...” Gideon began. Maximus placed his hand over his mouth.

“I knew you were green, but I didn’t think you were clueless. Look Gideon, you can’t reveal your abilities and skills to anyone. Never tell anyone other than your instructors at the academy and the City Magistrate for registration purposes. My grand father, my Papa always said, “To know a man’s strengths is to know his weaknesses,” and he was a pretty good adventurer in his time.” Maximus said with a note of pride. “Really good actually.”

Gideon saw the pride in the boys face and posture. He wished he had the family to fall back on like that. Then he heard and understood the words the boys had said. “Registration? This is the first I’ve heard of it. Am I going to get in trouble? I didn’t know!” The anxiety was building in Gideon, there were so many things that seemed natural to others that were new to him. So many mistakes for him to make, not even knowing he had made them.

“You’re good. Your sponsor preregistered you and your possible abilities based on his assessment. They will assess your abilities further in school and document them. That will be registered with the Magistrate along with any information you provide.”

“It’s a blind assessment then? So, I tell the Magistrate what my ability is, then the professors assess my ability and tell them what they think it is? They should probably match as close as possible? Then they can use the comparison to see if you’re lying or try to learn more. That makes it a balancing act for when you’re supplying information doesn’t?” Gideon asked. “You should supply enough so they don’t doubt you, but hide enough so they don’t suspect your full potential. Does that sound about right?”

Maximus laughed at Gideons words. “That is an interesting way of looking at it, but I suppose it does work something like that. You sure you’re a tank? The system doesn’t usually put guys with a mind like that on the front line. Too much risk to get your brain rattled.” Maximus elbowed him in the ribs and laughed again.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Thanks, I think,” Gideon said. Professor Hemlock approached the group of students. An older man with glasses similar to Primrose’s walked at his side. His hair was white and well kept, if not a bit long. His beard was of similar style. He was dressed in finer clothes than Professor Hemlock, but not like some of the peacock nobleman that Gideon had seen pass through town on their way to the docks. Usually coming or going on a passenger ship heading out to sea. He looked more like a higher end money lender. Someone that had the means for comfortable clothes, so that is what they wore. He wasn’t wearing them for status at all, he just didn’t have that aura about him.

The Professor cleared his throat, then spoke loudly for everyone in the general area to here him. “Students, I need all the first years to gather around me. All of the rest of you, find a seat below please.” The students all began shifting to the locations they were told.

“I thought we were all first years,” Gideon quietly asked his friends.

“No, only the wealthy or truly gifted live at the academy full-time, able to practice and learn year round. The rest go home to their families in the off season and return with the first years. The academy covers the costs of the train and tariffs at each gate when they register your license as an attending student,” Maximus told him.

“So since I’m not wealthy, I can stay at the academy year round unless they tell me no. Then I’ll get sent home. When I leave, I won’t be able to pay the fees to come back unless the academy renews my license for me. Seems like a rigged system? The wealthy or the powerful will easily attend all the alloted years. Those that aren’t as well off will wash out after a year and not be able to come back unless the academy deems them gifted.” Gideon said.

Maximus tapped the side of his head then his nose, signaling to Gideon he was right on the mark. “The system does self correct. If you do well in the delves, you can earn a good amount of coin. Those that do poorly, likely shouldn’t have been here in the first place and will wash out. With delve coin, you would be considered wealthy by the standards of the lower districts. You could easily get a nice place to stay there in the off season. Do really well, you may be able to move to the upper districts.”

The boy trailed off as the distinguished older man stepped forward to begin. “First years. I am Professor Dagon, Headmaster of the Academy of the Awakened here in Rime. We are one of the most prestigious academies in the world. Today will be your first test. As you can see, eighteen of you stand before me today. In the current era, we take either nine or eighteen new students a year, regardless of how many are of age. The rest are taught in the city with tutors or even professors from the academy if it is deemed necessary, some may be considered the following year after they mature. You may have noticed the house colors of the students below. You will all be assigned to a house before the end of the day. Each house will place bids on you if they deem you a good fit for their style of training.” Professor Dagon stopped for a moment. “Titus Payne, you have a question?’

“Sorry sir, but why only nine or eighteen, and why those exact numbers? It seems odd is all sir,” Titus asked. Gideon notice the boy wore tight fitted fighting clothes. Everything seemed in place and had a strange symmetrical balance about his body. He had a fair complexion with the golden blond hair to match.

“Ah yes, I was getting there. While I appreciate the politeness of Titus and the fact he raised his hand and waited, now is not the time for questions. Those will come later, when you’re assigned a house. Your mentor group within the house will assist you then. Many of your questions will be answered in due time through the process. As for his question. Groups of three, that is a traditional Delve group. The houses must also be balanced. In recent years we have taken on new students for one or two additional delving groups for each house. It depends solely on the number of promising prospects that are of age that year. Does this mean that some students that deserve to be in the academy don’t make the cut? Unfortunately yes. But, it also means that we don’t bring in students that shouldn’t have made the cut, looking to fill a numbers quota. These students wouldn’t survive the delves, their blood would be on our hands if we knowingly brought them in. Now...”

Headmaster Dagon stopped, a look of impatience on his face. “Yes, Gideon Daniels? Whatever you have to ask must be truly important after being told no questions. I will allow it, if only for the sake of curiosity. What in the world would have you try to buck the system so early.” The Headmaster asked, his soft voice had a power to it.

Gideon felt that soft voice to his core. It commanded him to speak his mind, that there was no backing out now. “Headmaster Dagon, I am truly sorry, but you said the houses must remain balanced. You also mentioned there are deaths that occur within the delves. How does the school handle house balance and deaths?” Gideon asked. His voice had faltered and almost failed him near the end, causing him to stutter.

Headmaster Dagon raised an eyebrow at this. “Young man, in all my years of teaching, a first year has never thought about the repercussions that a death has on the academy after a failure in a delve. While this is a truly sad event when it occurs, it does occur. You have a marvelous mind! First let me just commend you with a merit award. The merit will be claimable by your house and will be applied toward the house competition. That should raise your bidding price a bit I should think."

The old man paused for a short time before he continued. “As to your question, this is the one time we make exceptions mid term. Those students that didn’t make the cut will be evaluated again. The best of the group will be brought in to fill the spots of the dead. The tutors do the best they can, but it isn’t academy teaching. So those students will have a difficult road to travel to catch up.” With this statement Gideon swore that the headmaster winked at him. Does he think I have the same difficult road to follow, Gideon wondered? “Now where was I?” Headmaster Dagon asked.

Professor Hemlock leaned in to the headmaster and said, “The trial Phineas.”

“Ah yes, yes. The trial. We are going to go find our seats with the other staff and students. The rest of you are going to head down into the coliseum. Then when the signal is given you will show us what you’ve got. A free for all battle. There are Magitek systems in place on the coliseum to limit damage and prevent death. There are also healers that will be on site. This battle will be quick, so show the houses what you’ve got. You only get one chance for a first impression. Your guild is the second most important thing at the school. The first being your delve group. You want to join the guild house that you belong in, not the one you ended up. There is a big difference.” With that the old professor turned and went to find a seat. “Hemlock, you coming?” The Headmaster said over his shoulder. Hemlock took one last look at the students and then followed the headmaster.

Maximus looked around at the gathered students and whispered quietly. “I hope they give me a challenge.” Then he yelled at the top of his lungs, “Lets do this!” With that, he charged toward the arena below and the future that awaited all of them.

“I guess this is it. Good luck down there guys,” Primrose said. “And stay safe.” With that she was gone.

Hank and Riley Bumped fists with one another and they held one out to Gideon. He held his out as well. “See you on the other side,” Riley said.

“You won’t see me at all,” Hank told them. They both laughed and jogged down the hill.

Riley stopped and turned back. “Hey Gideon, watch out Prim.”

“Oh I will if I can,” Gideon said.

“No, I don’t think you understand. I mean watch out for her, as in stay out of her way. Go to the other side of the arena. I don’t know. I just have a bad feeling. If she goes all out, you don’t want to be anywhere near her. Good luck, later my friend,” he said and continued down the hill.

Gideon took a deep breath and then followed them. He’d already been in a real fight today, how bad could a practice one be? As it turns out, practice can be just as bad or worse.