Darren's Game

5

The next few days went by smoothly, most of the candidates becoming more well-versed in their craft or learning something new. But the rain was not in the schedule, and it had been pouring down for almost the entire day now. A whole day, dedicated to honing skills, gone.

"Can you show me that trick again?" Owun asked from his bed.

Ladrel had been moved for shorter travel time to her training sessions, now being in the opposite bunk from Owun. Neither of them had bunkmates, mainly from the top bunks being so worn out and barely able to hold an average grain bag on them. They were in them now, trying to pass time before supper came around.

"Sure, if you can find me another pebble. My area is clean of them."

Owun hoisted himself upright and immediately stood up once he was able to from his position. He was gone for only a few seconds, easily getting a pebble from a group not needing anymore for their game. It got tossed to Ladrel, who easily caught it in her hands. Once Owun had gotten back to his bed, he rolled over to look at Ladrel's hands, eyeing the small stone.

Ladrel prepared the pebble between her pointer and thumb, barely grasping it as she focused her energy on her fingertips. It took a moment, but there eventually was a purple glow to which she pin-pointed her energy for her technique. The thumb then moved opposite of the pointer, moving into a quick snapping motion that sent the pebble flying towards a lit lantern. It fell to the floor from the force, the iron chain having snapped from the extremely fast and strong projectile, only being a tiny stone.

There was a stir from the commotion, but not a big one. After the initial shock, grumbling could be heard about losing another light. Ladrel wasn't the first to knock out a light. Many other users trying the same thing as she had accidentally caused the same issue.

"I'd love to try that. It looks so fun," Owun spoke as he watched Ladrel's purple magic fade away.

"Ask your teacher about it. I bet they could try something for you."

Owun rolled back onto his back and looked up through the gaps of the wooden slats above. "I don't know. I've learned how to focus my material morphing better, but nothing like you. I think my magic is more about enhancing myself, not other objects. But..." Owun's eyes trailed back over to Ladrel. "I think together we could be a good force. I'm trying to get my endurance to a point where I can shield others."

"You could only cover two of me, that isn't much," Ladrel replied.

"It's something." His gaze went back above. "There's a 'growth' type of magic and I'm hoping to learn it. I can only see myself as being the muscle, damage taker, or the 'stay-behind' dude if a blast or something comes at us."

"It seems dangerous," Ladrel spoke.

"All of this is dangerous," Owun shot back. "We're food to monsters. No one has ever survived this game the king started. He says it's for fighting against Xiessais and their children, but I don't think so."

The half-elf's eyes narrowed in interest. "What do you mean?"

Owun only put his finger up to his lips in response. "It's not safe here. Some other time."

Ladrel only sighed and turned her body, back now against the stone wall as she stretched her legs out on the mattress. "Do it before we're dead."

---

It had been a few more days. Training had been relentless with how it honed each person's skill. New abilities were learned by others. And some now knew how to pierce through the thickest armor there was, or smash it with their bare hands.

Either way, people were feeling confident. More of a chance that they would survive. Maybe to find a way to escape the forest and go into a new life.

Either way, it was their last day before they would be trapped.

Now it was time to show what they had learned, those being plain soldiers or of brute strength being first.

Many were approved, their destruction of the courtyard continually being repaired after every demonstration. Standouts were especially appreciated, notes taken on paper of what else to provide the stars once they were to go into the forest.

Eadward was one of them, his increase in his mysterious strength outshining any other person who had muscle. And while he didn't appear to be the bulkiest, he showed his strength was superior to all.

The main feat noted was how he had taken a piece of missed rubble, only a few centimeters in size, and threw it at the target with incredible speed, all thanks to how much power he could put into his throw. The impact broke the target like an explosion, scattering straw and wood splinters in every direction.

For the first group, he was the best.

The second group was efficient, going up against actual soldiers for their demonstrations and also attacking targets for ranged attacks. None stood out, but all were deemed ready to fight against the beasts they may see later that day.

Then came the third group, most performing unique abilities with their magic. Some were able to shift part of their body into bestial forms, others made a blade catch fire, or daggers launch further than normal. One person even was able to draw their daggers back to themselves after embedding them into a target.

When it came to Ladrel, she was noted as another skilled warrior. With swiftness and steady breaths, the arrows she shot all came with varying arrays of magic. Fire, ice, a unique poison that ate away at any organic matter, and the most surprising of all, one that evaporated everything within a five-foot radius of its hit point. Knowing that she hadn't known magic before coming here was a major improvement and skill that the observers noted down.

The fourth then came in, full-on magician students showing off the powers they had honed. Some also had learned new techniques, giving them an even greater edge.

Either way, this year's round of warriors was probably the strongest yet.

"To think these people have been here, growing into adults these last twenty-five years..." Tial commented to her three colleagues.

"Isn't the youngest fourteen?" A man in their group of four asked.

"Yes," the second woman in their group spoke. "He was in my section. Talented and strong. He's one of the strongest we saw here today."

The eldest of them all then spoke. "I think it's time then to gather all the students. The king wants them sent out as soon as possible." He stood from his seat, walking stick following in pattern with his footsteps. "We must gather the aids all of them need, then we shall send them off to do their duty for Hastone."