Twist of Fate

Chapter 23: Mistakes

A\N -Sorry...broke my tablet and was lazy...

Match one ended with, astonishingly, Team Two's victory. It seemed they were less spooked by their teammate's scream, which apparently happened, while Team Three was knocked off guard. The girl from Team Three was seen by one of the men guarding the flag while she was distracted, and was forced to submit when he pressed a sword to her throat. After, another from Team Two somehow ran into the three from Team Three, who were also shaken, shadowed them and took them out easily. He snuck up from behind and easily knocked out two of them with solid blows to the back of the neck. When his teammates dropped, the remaining one went on the offense and lunged. Unfortunately, even I could tell he was a first year. His first mistake was going too close to an enemy of unknown abilities. It was over before it even began. The two members of Team Two, including the man who took out the group of three, attacked the guard of Team Three's flag from two sides. Perhaps it was their strategy, or maybe just luck. This ended the match as they captured the flag.

Afterwards, before they began to search for their missing teammate, Instructor Oden appeared in a storm of leaves carrying a man whose shoulder was bloody and the uniform torn. When he was brought back to the Academy's infirmary, we learned he was attacked by a lion-like animal that bit into his shoulder through his chainlink shirt. Headmaster Kaelon cheerfully warned us of its presence and preceded to the second match.

My team proceeded to the Carnivorous Forest along with our opponents, Team Seven. We passed by each other on our way into the forest and I noticed it was half full of first years with only two third years. It was a team you'd expect to have an easy win against, but I could tell it wouldn't be wise to judge them at a face value. Those first years had a commendable amount of tenacity. And you couldn't dismiss the fact they'd advanced to the second round, no matter how painful it was to watch. Could hard work surpass my teammates' experience? I also couldn't ignore the fact the third years on the team were above average when it came to aura emittion.

I couldn't underestimate them.

Because of what occurred in the first match, an Instructor was to be assigned then on. Instructor Oden was to continue on through the second round and others would take his place in the third round and fourth. Instructor Oden was also given the duty of signalling the beginning of the match and its ending. Once both teams had gathered around their flags, he called out, "Begin," in a loud voice that the wind carried throughout the forest.

"Let's begin plan a," Issa said. "Kei, you'll go straight for the flag. Do not engage in combat if possible. Rolen, for now, stay close, I'll have need of you if something doesn't go as planned. Velero, you'll need to scale the trees and track down our opponents, and, if possible or necessary, slip a stone onto their persons unaware."

He paused, and they nodded. "Lareria and I will guard the flag again. Myself on the ground, and she will be above, in the trees. Lareria, you will also keep an eye on our surroundings. Observe Velero too, you may need assistance when climbing these trees."

I nodded. "How far should I go?"

"That's for you to decide," Issa told me, glancing my way. "Though I suggest you going high enough to keep an eye on everyone, but low enough to get to the ground quickly."

"Yes, sir."

"Then, Velero, head out now." Issa turned back to the others. "Lareria will be watching your technique, so try not to go too fast."

Velero nodded and directed his gaze to me. As silent as always, he turned away and began climbing a wide tree that was among the tallest in the forest. He was fast, so fast I had to hurry to catch up to him at the rate he was going. Instead of going up the same tree, I chose a smaller tree, better fitted for my size but still rather tall.