Marinah's mood seems to be remarkably improved as we head on to the fifth and final test of the day. We are corralled back outside to the place we completed the obstacle course. Only one person got disqualified from the last test and our group is twenty strong now.
The instructor looked over us as he began speaking.
"Good.. this will be easy since there are an even number. Everyone, make four groups of five. You're fellow examines will determine if you fail or not, so choose wisely."
I am instantly bombarded with feverish glances and for a moment my mind slips back to the arena.
My fans want blood, and I will give it them. I am Kelric Bladebane, Champ-
My thoughts are interrupted when Elias puts a hand on my shoulder. I reach out to break it.
I stop myself halfway as my mind clears.
It has been a week since I last killed a man. All of the day's activity has stoked my wicked desire for blood. I hate myself for it.
"Hey friend.. you alright there..?"
Elias looks concerned and I have to shake my head forcefully to clear it.
"Yeah.."
I look around and notice that no one had formed up yet, they know I'm the best and want to be on my team. I turn to tell Elias to get three others for our group.
His mouth drops open in shock before he burst out in laughter.
"Oh wow… hahaha.. phew. I don't believe anyone has ever ordered me around besides my father before. Gods Kelric, you're funny and interesting."
I wonder what his families rank is as he turns and does my bidding. Then I realize I just ordered a noble around.
'Idiot! You're not the top of the food chain here.'
Soon, Elias brings Marinah and the guy who had the death affinity. I've forgotten his name. The other two he chose, look to be twins and they are tall and strong.
They introduce themselves as Dean and Jean. Very creative parents had sired these brothers.
The skinny weird death affinity guy introduced himself as well, but he's very unremarkable and I forget his name instantly.
'Bobin… no that's stupid. Hobin? Fobin?'
Everyone is soon in their teams of five and the instructor begins speaking again.
There is a devilish smile on his face as he does so.
"Now that everyone has grouped up, please select a leader. This is very important, so make sure you choose wisely."
I'm instantly looked at and crowned the leader. The instructor wants the names of us chosen before he starts the next portion of this test's explanation, he was holding back a laugh now.
"Pfft.. Okay, now that the leaders are chosen, they cannot be changed. The rules of this next test are simple. The leader will be given a flag to be tied around his shoulders. This will be a test to measure your teamwork with strangers… well except Dean and Jean."
There are a few laughs of agreement.
"There can be a maximum of two winning groups in this test. Your objective: keep your leader safe and try to steal another team's flag. You can use hand to hand combat to disable your opponents, just don't go overboard. The leader is not allowed to move from the spot he chooses and cannot defend himself against other teams from taking his flag. The test will be exactly an hour long, so don't give up hope if your flag is taken early."
The other teams who had originally despaired at the idea of facing me, now wore confident smiles.
I see a couple of ways for my flag not to be stolen easily and ask a question.
"Are there any rules on where we have to stay, or can I choose wherever I wish."
His eyes briefly go wide, and I think he's surprised I found the little loophole that gives a leader a way to defend his flag.
"You may choose whatever spot you wish, just know that you and your team will be disqualified if you move after the timer starts."
I nod my head in understanding, and he directs us into the tree line.
Each team is separated and taken into the woods in three-minute intervals.
The man guiding us is using a pulse stone to know when it's time to let us get in position.
I see the dark orange rock tremble and he gives us a nod.
"You have 1 minute till the hour timer starts, if your leader moves after the test starts, I will have to disqualify you."
I had thought about climbing a tree and staying out of sight, but I doubted I was the only one who could climb.
Instead, my fingers plunged into the dirt as I dug between two trees. I had just managed to get into position when the man watching us yelled, "Begin!"
Elias and Marinah walked up to either side of me and each had an eyebrow raised.
I think Elias understands as his mouth drops open.
Marinah just looked confused.
"Umm.. Kelric. What are you doing?"
Her tone doesn't have any mockery in it, but her voice sounds like a mother who can't understand why her child has done something dumb.
Elias responds for me and nods to my hands grasping the tree roots.
"You see how the top of his back is dipped into the hole he made."
Marinah nods but is still confused until recognition comes over her. She clapped her hands together.
"Ohhh I see. Wow.. I don't think I ever would've thought of something like that."
Dean and Jean plod over then. Followed by… Mobin?
The death affinity guy doesn't understand at all and asks for an explanation. Elias gives it to him.
"You see how the flag is wrapped around his shoulders? It'll be very hard to take it from him like that, my friend Kelric here is insanely strong. You'd need at least a couple people trying to get the flag from him at the same time, while he has it pinned."
It felt very uncomfortable with so many people crowding above me.
"Could you all go or something… we're not going to win if you keep standing around."
They asked me if someone should stand back to guard me, I told them no and had them find another group to rush all at once.
I wasn't too put off by the fact I wasn't able to move, I've been watching Elias and while he's certainly weaker than me, he's leagues above the rest of the others here.
Ten minutes go by as I wait and two people from another group stumble upon me. Literally. I tighten my abdominal muscles as a lanky knee crashed into my stomach.
They panic and jump away, scanning the area around us. Two faces start wearing grins I've seen many times before. This was the look a lot of dead men had given me before my name was respected in Kalabar.
They think they've won this test almost instantly. There are no words spoken as they nod at each other and bend down to try and peel the flag out from under my body.
They can't.
The one who had fell on me soon voiced his frustration.
"What's wrong with this guy, how can he be so strong!?"
His companion just shook his head and looked down at me.
"Say Kelric.. why don't we make this easier on the both of us. Relax a little and let us take the flag or things are going to get unpleasant.."
I feel my face turn into an excitedly ferocious snarl at his threat.
"Let's see what you two little idiots can do."
A boot rocks my head to the side and my ear stings slightly. It was a good hit, and I think my left eardrum has been blown out because of the fuzzy feeling deep inside it.
The one who had kicked me leans back over and tries to remove the flag again. I don't let him.
He shakes his head as he stares down at me.
"You asked for this.."
This time, the heel of his boot smashes down on my stomach and another kicks my head the other way as his teammate joins in.
I feel the battle energy pulse through me, and the pain makes it take a second for me to get control over it.
A knot form on my right temple as I look up, unimpressed, at the two.
They don't try for my flag and hit me again.
There's a sharp crack to my chin and my head strikes backwards on the dirt. It hurts to breathe a little as the other stomps on my ribs.
My control over myself is wavering and I really want to kill these fools.
They try for the flag again.
They don't succeed.
I'm going to make my team fail this test as the bloodlust takes hold of me. Their strikes lay into me as I try to hold it back.
Suddenly, no one is hitting me anymore.
My eyes are shut tightly in anger, and I open them to find Elias and the twins pummeling my attackers.
The man watching has to intervene and prevent Elias from stomping on their unconscious bodies. I see him spit on each before he turns and rushes over to me.
Everyone in my group is a little battered, but Elias smiles as he reveals a flag of his own. He squats down near me and whispers.
"You look awful.."
I've never really thought of myself as attractive, so I agree with him.
"Never been told otherwise."
He then barks a laugh, and I turn when someone else kneels besides me. I have to completely turn my head because my eye is swollen shut. Marinah looks like she's about to cry.
I'm wondering if she got hurt, I should've told Elias to keep her back since she can't fight very well. I relax my body a little and they shove the new flag under my back. I'm honest with Elias as we wait for another group.
"Good thing you retuned when you did, I think we were about to lose."
He laughs a little at this.
"I'll say, they were beating the piss outta you."
I nod awkwardly because of my position.
"Yeah, I was about to get up. I don't know if I could've held back from killing them."
Elias laughs again; he soon stops when he notices my face is serious.
"That wasn't a figure of speech I presume…"
'Why would I make such idle chatter? Of course I meant it.'
For some reason, I tell him this.
Elias looks at me, concern plainly displayed on his face.
"You.. you would've killed them over something like that?"
I shrug a little.
"I've killed a lot of men for less."
Our conversation ends at the same time the test does.
I get up and roll my shoulders as we walk back to the clearing. I'm a little distracted by Marinah, she kept getting my attention and would open her mouth to speak. She would then get angry and close it as red sprouted up in patches across her cheeks.
I'm not very experienced with women and I don't know what I've done to make her angry again, but for some reason I can't help thinking she looks so-
I cut off my line of thought. Nothing good would come of it. The instructor congratulates the two groups who passed and sends us off for the day.
"Tomorrow, we start bright and early, be at the school's entrance before the sun comes up. Dismissed."
I start walking away and plan my next course of action. I shove my hand in my pocket and see I still have some silver left from the man who tried to rob me last week.
'Should last me until I can stay in the academy dorms. If not, I'll just find another thug to play with.'
I'm snapped out of my internal musings when I reach the front entrance of the school. I turn and look at Elias, who was following me.
"Do you need something?"
He grins at me and leans in conspiratorially.
"Want to have some fun tonight?"
"Not really."
I turn to leave and start walking away. His voice is panicked as he tries to catch up.
"Kelric, my best friend in the whole world! Wait!"
I sigh and turn back to him.
"When did we become best friends?"
Elias was about to say something stupid again but stopped when he saw me turning to leave. He finally stops his act and comes clean with what he really wants.
"Kelric, I need some assistance today and you're the perfect man for the job."
I'm intrigued by his words and dig for more.
"What job? Also, what's the pay? I'm not cheap."
His shit eating grin reappears, and I know then that I should've just left when I had the chance.
"Here's the thing… my allowance is a little thin at the moment so.. ahem.. I can't really pay you in money- Hey! Stop! Come on Kel, don't be like that."
I do stop and turn back to him when uses the shortened version of my name that Harry called me by. That my dead father used to say with a tender smile.
I know it's unreasonable, but the visceral reaction it causes is instant as I speak. My voice dangerous and edged with unconcealed threat.
"Never call me Kel. That name is not for you."
I reach out a hand and clamp down on his shoulder.
"Am I clear?"
He squirms under my vice like grip, but when he doesn't answer immediately, I place my thumb under his clavicle and dig in.
"Y-yes! Gods Kelric calm down, I won't call you that anymore! I swear!"
I release him and a little shame washed over me. I overreacted and I can't help but curse my quick temper.
"Sorry.."
Elias rubs his shoulder and massages his collarbone.
I don't wait for him to question me and instead ask about this 'job' he spoke of. His mood completely recovers as he tells me what he wants me to do.
My sigh is loud and full of exasperation as he finishes.
"Soooo.. you in or out?"
'If I do this, it will probably make us closer, and he'll be more likely to help me in the future.'
"Alright, I'll do it. When do we leave?"
Elias looks me up and down and grimaces, "Right now, we need to get you in some proper clothes first."
I frown as I respond, "I just bought this, what's wrong with it?"
His hand makes an all-encompassing motion.
"All.. of it. You look like a tailors show room floor."
"Oh.."