The War Of Crystaliam Book One: Preparing for Battle

Chapter 3: Crystaliam School for Talented Warriors PT. 1

The group of friends were outside of the school practicing techniques and procedures. They had not a clue how the test was set up, but they weren't taking any chances. They were going to go over everything.

"Stance!" Ashlie shouts and soon enough everyone (including her) is in the correct stance. "Grip!" She yells and everyone grips their practice swords like they were taught. "Alright! Nice session guys! I think we're really gonna make it in!" Ashlie beams.

"Don't get your hopes up star eyes, be prepared for both the best and the worst." Jessica chimes in. She had started to pick up the 'star eyes' nickname from being around Ashlie and Shelby's father for so long. She started to notice the things that trigger him the use the name and decided to start.

"Jess!" Ashlie's fumed. Her face was red from either embarrassment or anger. Jessica only smirked. She looked over to Shelby and saw her struggling not to laugh. Then she looked past Shelby to the boys and burst out laughing. Their puzzled looks pushed her past the limit. Then Shelby started to laugh just as hard as her. Ashlie only glared, red-faced, at her two friends

Soon, the laughter died down and Shelby and Jessica regained their composer. "Okay, let's get this match started!" Jessica blurts out looking directly at Ashlie. Ashlie began to chase Jessica into the school while the others follow close behind.

"Young ladies and gentlemen of the Blue Diamond Empire, you stand here today because you want to defend your Empire, right!?" The armored lady said into the microphone. The crowd roared with excitement. She continued, "Then prove you are worthy! Only the best will make it in! Show that you are the best! Prove that you are worthy of fighting for your empire! That you are worthy to die with honor! That you are worthy to be named a hero!" Every single person there began to scream at the top of their lungs. This school really knows how to motivate a crowd, huh?

Well, the tryouts are over. Here's a recap of the test. Essentially, you were put up against someone that is at your level requirement to join the school and you have to try and knock them down in 10 minutes. If you failed to knock them down it's guaranteed you're not gonna make it.

Uni went first in the group and passed in 4 minutes and 20 seconds, so did Jon and Tommy. Cory and Shelby passed in 3, Nick passed in 2 minutes and 12.15 seconds, and Ashlie and Jessica passed in 1 minute. It was a new record for the school. The previous was 5 minutes.

A random kid raced up to the group and jumped in the air. "What are you guys doing over here!?" He screamed in their face, "Didn't you hear? The results are published! You can see if you got in!" With that the kid ran off into a crowd of children in one area.

"So?" Ashlie rushes, "What are y'all waiting for? Winter? Let's go!" Ashlie dashed over to the crowd of kids and attempted to jump over the tall kids in the crowd. The other friends calmly walked over the join the red head. The crowd slowly started declining due to angry and excited kids leaving. After a few minutes, the entire crowd cleared away. Finally, the group could see who made it in.

"I probably didn't make it," Jessica says in her normal pessimistic tone.

Ashlie stared at her in disbelief at her for a few seconds. She said, "If you didn't make it, then none of us made it! In fact, no one in that crowd should've made it! We set the shortest record in the entire history of the school! If that doesn't get us in then this school might was well change it's name to 'Crystaliam School for Stupid Warriors!"

Jessica turns shyly from Ashlie, for her face was heating up and she didn't want Ashlie to see. "Thanks.." she says softly.

Ashlie began to scan the sheet. She spotted her name and almost screamed. Ashlie jumped up and down and clapped her hands.

"I guess you made it?" Jon jokes, lightly pushing past her for a better view.

Ashlie, unable to contain her excitement longer, emits a high squeal. Jon's ear was an unfortunate distance from her ear, getting the brunt of it. Once her squeal ceased, a soft ringing still lingers in his ears.

"Ow," Jon says calmly, "My ears are actually ringing." Trying to ignore the high buzzing in his ear, he focused his attention on the names posted. "Guys I'm shooketh."

"What? Why?" Nick asks, genuinely concerned.

"Dude, how lucky can we get!?" Jon almost yells, "All of us made it!" This only fuels Ashlie's excitement more. She goes to hug Jon, still bouncing up and down causing Jon to jump as well. They jump out of the way of the result sheet.

Jessica walks to the paper calmly. "All of us?" She whispers. Her eyes widen and her face flushes a bit when she actually sees her name on the sheet. "I made it? I made it!? I made it!"

The rest of the group radiates with excitement. They got into the school, and soon, they'd be fighting in a war. If only they knew exactly what they've gotten themselves into.