The Blightspawn Noble

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

High in the central tower of Schopengaard , Leon rests in an arm chair that he thought may be trying to eat him with how easily he sinks into it. He passes the waiting period reading the spines of books lining shelves on the wall and placing his feet up on the edge of her desk. Bursts of violent flicker by candle lights hanging from the wall illuminate their dark blue paint.

Jessica enters the room briskly and sits down in front of him. 

"Welcome, Leon. I am Superior Magistrate Jessica."

"Yo."

Her nose twitched and the air in the room changed quickly. As if she was giving quick consideration to having him murdered where he sat.

"How familiar are you with Verectus?" she asks.

"I've been there." he says. 

More of a feeling than knowing. He's been many places and he can't remember most of them.

Jessica starts divulging about politics. Pretending to pay attention is straining. Of the elven nations, Verectus is the biggest and most influential. Verectus set up what's officially called the Elven Nation Exhibition of Milatary Power, or ENEMP. It's known in Schopengaard as the Verectus Exhibition, a nick name earned by the fact Verectus hadn't lost in this display in a long, long time.

"Each of the major nations taking part have warm up bouts against students from a selected academy. We're the first in line for that, honor. Three of our students against three of their soldiers."

"You haven't won a lot of these." Leon says.

"We chose you, to be one of our three representatives, and I'll warn you right now, death isn't exactly uncommon, even in these scrimmage bouts. Or permanent injury. Or, well, you understand."

"Not a student." Leon says.

"No, but as long as you're not a professional fighter or soldier, sending you in doesn't break any rules. You're as qualified, legally, as any student."

"You're sending me in to die. That's the idea."

"Not everyone dies.  Matches can be declared over if the official decrees a participant can't continue."

"They can do whatever else they want to."

"Yes, anything that happens between when the referee starts the bout and when they end it, can happen."

"and has?"

"It isn't in the best interest of a leader to always be honest, Leon, but it's your fune, fight. Many of these men and women have minds stained in blood and depravity, and yes, some cope by inflicting those horrors in this exhibition. In fact, its not uncommon that those no longer fit for actual service are utilized in these bouts instead, where they are unlikely to get their allies killed." she says in a voice that is steely but with a grim undertone. 

"Deaths aren't uncommon, but most survive. Not everyone who goes to the exhibition is a tragedy. Most aren't, actually, but there's no helping it. Most students look at being chosen for these exhibitions like a death sentence. Being brutalized by a far superior opponent in front of a loud and vocal crowd against you isn't an experience to underestimate."

Leon nods.

"This isn't something I want to do. This is how we survive." she says.

"What happens if Schopengaard said no?"

"We lose status.  Due to our circumstances, Schopengaard has to take steps like this to ensure we're in the Verectus Standard of Honors. Without it, degrees from our school wouldn't be considered acceptable. Our school would be useless."