TBATE - Havaca Rises

Chapter 41 - War and Conquest

"You know I have seen many fine arts and artifacts but I haven't seen or heard of a silver tongue that is as finely crafted as yours... Come work for Tekkadan as our spokesperson and I'll pay you 10 times your current rate," I offered.

"I'll have to decline, I'm under contract for another year," she dismissed.

"Tch, most unfortunate," I sighed.

"As I was saying what better to showcase their abilities than with a friendly game of WAR AND CONQUEST!?" She yelled with a maniacal grin.

"WAR! WAR! WAR!" the apes, ahem civilized and esteem children of noble birth chanted.

"All right, all right, all right, settle down everyone," Glory said calming the crowd.

"Professor," Curtis called out, "Why not have the three DC officers on one team," he suggested.

"Yeah, that way we could on our teamwork as well as show off our strength," Claire added.

"Killing two birds with one stone... I like it!" Glory responded as her fierce eyes landed upon Tessia and Clive. "Why don't we have a DCSC battle!? The Student Council vs the Disciplinary Committee!" she announced as the students voiced their agreement.

"Professor, there are only two of us and three of them," Clive pointed out.

"So, it would seem," Glory said as she stroked her chin, "Hmm, who wants to join the Student Council team?" she asked as numerous hands shot up. "Who to pick? Who to pick?" she thought aloud to herself.

"Professor I would like to volunteer," a deep voice rang amongst the students. Following the sound, everyone's head turned to a well-built but not overly muscular dwarven male.

"Ah, Mister Ferron Conley another rising star amongst the student body. Light orange at the age of fifteen a rare and very notable accomplishment indeed," Glory praised. "You six know where the changing rooms are; if not your seniors will guide you. Go get changed and meet on the field to receive your protective padding. The rest of you make your way to the viewing area," Glory ordered.

Like an army of obedient ants, the student body trudged to their designating seating. A few minutes later I, along with the members of both teams re-emerged from the changing rooms to collect our padding. Shin pads, knee pads, and elbow pads which straps whose straps weren't being very cooperative.

'Master could use [Ruler's Authority] and command the straps into position,' Sage suggested.

'But if he does that then he won't have a cute moment with his princess,' Regis teased just as Tess made her way to me.

'Hush!' came my most intelligent retort yet.

"Need some help?" Tessia asked.

"Yes please, these tiny devils refuse to stay in place," I sighed.

"*Chuckles* We don't want them falling out mid-match, now do we?" she asked as she fiddled with my strap.

"No. we don't," I said as she finished. "Hey Tess," I called out as she was turning to head back towards her team. "After I'm done with Conley if you've beaten Curtis in that time why don't we spar, after all, I can't wait to see how much stronger you've become."

"You're going to regret that Leywin," she taunted, leaning in closely.

"We'll see about that," I replied also leaning in.

"When I'm done with you, you'll be in the hospital room for a week," she playfully threatened.

"Well lucky for me I have... decent regeneration abilities," I said.