Ranvir, Esmund, Sansir, Grevor, and Dovar waited in silence as the queue slowly progressed into the administration building. The noise of the students enveloped them, as they impatiently awaited their turn.

Though not yet inside, Ranvir could see that they’d done some remodeling. A temporary sign had been raised in front of each of the available rooms in the first hallway, ranging from first year to fifth year, the crowd dispersing significantly as they progressed deeper into the hall. Ranvir noticed a significantly smaller amount of fifth- and fourth years, though even third years were sparse.

Finally making it inside, they entered the reception area. What had once been a decently sized room with a few chairs stationed along the walls and a long desk had changed. Now, multiple smaller desks and a dozen men and women dressed in the administration uniform were running to and from these smaller desks.

When it was their turn their group stepped over to one of the desks.

“Names?”

“Esmund, Ranvir, Sansir, Grevor, and Dovar.” Esmund said, standing at the front.

The clerk nodded and disappeared into the connected room, usually leading to the collective administration office. They waited for a few minutes before he returned, paper in hand.

“You’re in group forty-three.” He told Es, handing him the piece of paper and waving them off.

“Thanks.” Esmund nodded to him and their group walked out.

“We didn’t all need to go for that.” Grev grumbled.

“It builds team spirit.” Sansir said with a little smile.

“It wasn’t that bad.” Es said. “It only took like half an hour. Look at the line now.”

He had a point. Thanks to Sansir’s timeliness, they’d been one of the first groups in line. Now it stretched all the way to Masters’ Tower and beyond. Ranvir shuddered to think how long it would take to get all the way through that line.

“Sucks to be them.” Grev said, then complained. “I still don’t see why we all had to be there.”

“Let it go, Grev.” Sansir said, pointing towards the eastern fields. “Looks like the twenties are supposed to gather over there. Tens are there. So the forties should be over there somewhere.”

They walked in a group, Esmund somehow managing to restrain himself from running ahead. Soon, they arrived on the designated fields for the forties. “Doesn’t look like the rest of forty-three’s showed up yet.” Muttered Dovar after a second of searching.

“I guess not.” Es said, sounding a little disappointed.

They decided to post up in one corner of a field and settled down to wait, depending on where the rest of their group were in the line, it could take a while.

----------------------------------------

“So. No. Wait.” Es said, holding up his hand. “You actually like Warfare Theory?”

Dovar nodded, scanning the groups that slowly emerged from the cluster of buildings. Some appeared in twos or threes, most in groups of five with only a few individuals. “I’ve been trying to convince Ranvir that it’s actually interesting.”

Es scoffed. “I mean it’s kinda bland. Like, if this happens, then you should do that. Unless of course it’s raining, then you need to do this. But if you got a few ice tethered, then you can actually do this fifth thing instead, unless there’s a hill then you need to do this.”

“I don’t like to think of it like that.” Dovar said. “That’s too distant for me. An army, a squad, a regiment, or a battalion isn’t just a few numbers. It’s men. It’s people who care. People who feel. It’s the young man who’s just left everything he knows behind to come help at the front lines. It’s the father saying goodbye to his kids, who trust in you to make sure he gets to see them again. It’s so much more than: ‘If this, then do that.’”

“Also,” Sansir added. “I find it a lot more interesting when you put it into old cases. Like the Ambush of Drymarsh. Why did the Generals decide to push their advance? What were the signs they missed from the ambush? How did the ambush get allowed to run so wild? Then taking that and employing it with modern tactics and knowledge.”

Es looked from Dovar to Sansir. “That does sound pretty interesting.” He even sounded like he meant it.

“Plus, it’s something you could ask Kirs about.”

“Oh?” Es visibly perked up.

“Yeah,” Ranvir added. He wasn’t against the class, he just didn’t find it that interesting. “There’s an entire wall dedicated to texts on battles. I’m sure she could help you find some good ones.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Grevor just shook his head. “I’m just happy that I don’t have to handle that kind of shit. I’ll be too busy bodyguarding.”

“You do know that you’ll have rank and file guards underneath you.” Dovar said.

“Normal guards, do not an army make.” Grev countered.

“Group forty-three?”

Ranvir started at the new voice. Turning quickly to watch the newcomer. He was a tall man, built of iron cord muscle and not much else. He was almost as tall as Sansir and Dovar, but significantly thinner. He didn’t hold himself with the ready grace of the incarnate combatants either, though he had a confident demeanor that made Ranvir think he knew what he was doing.

“Yes sir.” Dovar said, seeming to transport from sitting to on his feet. The rest of the group followed more slowly.

“Good. Have the second years shown up yet?” The stranger asked, gesturing for them to relax.

“Not yet.” Dovar replied quickly, his stance somehow relaxing without changing much.

“They should be here within the hour.”

“The hour?” Ranvir couldn’t help but ask.

The stranger nodded. “The line’s long, but it’s not that long. Most of it is people in groups. In actuality, it’s about three to four times as short as it appears.”

Ranvir frowned, turning to look through the building. They were too far away to make it out cleanly, but he could still see the definite shapes of people. It was significantly shorter than previously.

“I didn’t think of that.”

“Let’s handle a quick round of introduction while we wait.” The newcomer said, placing a hand lined with veins on his chest. “I am Yngvar, fourth year student, the leader, and healer, of our group.” He gestured to Dovar and the group quickly made brief introductions.

Ranvir noticed something like a flicker of recognition from Dovar’s introduction, but Yngvar didn’t comment on it, nor did he seem too certain.

“It’s nice meeting you all.” Yngvar said. “It seems like you’re already familiar with each other, can I assume you weren’t a group assembled by the teachers?”

“Yeah, we came like this.” Grev smiled, before nodding towards a pair of students in second year uniforms. “Looks like they might be the last ones.”

“Forty-three?” Yngvar asked once they got closer. The fourth year took a step forward before he spoke.

The first student was short. Really short. Shorter-than-Esmund short. He had red hair so bright it looked wrong to Ranvir. He was an eye catching array of oddities. Something about his general build also put him off, like his proportions weren’t quite right.

The second student was of an average height, though he had a very well groomed mustache. Especially so, considering he was only a year older than the first years, who all but Dovar couldn’t quite grow anything substantial yet.

“Yes sir.” The short red haired one said. “Herlu, at your service. Smoke Veil.”

The taller one nodded. “Kalf, Flesh obsidian.”

“Yngvar, I’m the one in charge of the group.” They finished their greetings before turning to the first years. “Another quick round of introductions are in order, I think.”

Once more, they repeated themselves. “You’re oddly diverse.” The redhead, Herlu, said. “Also, aren’t you the first to advance among the first years?” He asked the last part of Dovar.

“I am. Smoke Flesh.” The enormous man said.

“Not only do we have the first to advance among the first years.” Kalf said, the second year stroked his mustache looking at Esmund. “We also have the second to do it. I believe he either finished right before, or at the beginning of this trimester.”

“Both of you?” Yngvar asked, a slight flush to his cheeks. “I guess a more in-depth introduction is in order.”

“I can’t believe we’re in a group with both of the advanced first years. What are the odds on that?” Herlu asked, shuffling slightly to look closer at Esmund. “Though, I’ve heard your year is especially potent.”

“Maybe you can elaborate.” Kalf said eagerly. “I heard that there were a few other students that were on track to advance around the beginning of the next trimester. Maybe, you could point them out.”

“Sure,” Esmund replied eagerly. “What are their elements? Do you know?”

“Ice and light.” Kalf replied, excitement dripping from his voice.

Ranvir glanced at Sansir and Grevor. How could a second-year possibly know about them already?

“How fast do most students advance?” Ranvir asked. He vaguely recalled it either being late first year, or early second year.

“If you’re good, then early fourth trimester, if you’re really good then the middle of the third trimester.” Herlu said, scratching at his chin. Ranvir was halfway convinced there was some sort of condition related to the man’s height, though he didn’t dare ask.

“It might be Sansir and Grev.” Esmund said, turning to Ranvir. “They’re getting close to advancing, right?”

At first, Kalf turned to the ice and light tethered, but after realizing where Es was looking, he turned his attention to Ranvir.

“Enough.” Yngvar said. “This can wait until later. We’ll be spending the rest of the day and many more during, at least, this trimester. You’ll have plenty of time to talk. We’ll do a brief overview of your powers and capabilities. I hadn’t thought it necessary for you-“ He looked at the first years, “since I thought you’d all be pre-stage. Dovar, let's start with you.”

Dovar nodded. “I’m trained in the sword, axe, spear, and hammer. I’ve been training since I was five years old. I am Flesh of Smoke-manipulator, with the Concept of Smoke like Air. It makes me faster and even more agile.”

Herlu whistled as Yngvar briskly led them on to Esmund. “I’m not really trained in weapons. But I’m a Dagger, in warp. Uh, generator”

“Mainly trained in axes, and I’m an ice-generator tethered with some capability, though I’m still pre-stage.” Sansir said, not waiting for Yngvar’s prompt.

Grev followed immediately. “I’ve trained since I was six. I’m competent with most weapons, but prefer the sword. I'm a light-manipulator working towards Veil, then moving to Flesh.”

Ranvir cleared his throat as he stepped forwards. “I’ve been training with the hammer since weapon class began. I’m still a pre-stage working towards Veil, like Grevor.” He hesitated, before continuing. “I’m a space-manipulator.”

Yngvar didn’t react outwardly as they each briefly went over their capabilities. Herlu had a significant look of consternation. Kalf nodded along, his face neutral.

“Well, I feel woefully underwhelming.” Kalf said once they were done. “We have the two most talented tethered in quite possibly all of elusrian history. Two, who appear to be runner-ups. The rarest tethered in all of Elusria. And then there’s these two fuckheads.“ He gestured to himself and Herlu. Turning to Yngvar. “And, let me guess, you’re probably some sort of ancient Master from an ancient and secret civilization sent here to spy on them.”

Yngvar nodded along. “Sure.”