" I challenge you Julien" came from a voice in the arena. Appareantly we were talking for a while longer than I had though, their was not only twenty minutes left, and It was now that people were going for the top spots.
____________________________________________________________________
In three arrows Julien incapacitated his opponent by putting him to sleep. His pink arrow hit the challenger in the leg and he passed out shortly after.
" Ha gram I'm no longer last place" He boasted, Julien was eighth with gram behind him in seventh originally.
Everyone aside from Caroline, Emmy, and I had fights, because the lower challengers couldn't win against the others. we weren't challenged. We also had a gross method to prevent people from coming into the top eight, that we though was a funny way to solidify our positions. If someone lost, which didn't happen, the person just below their previous rank would accept a battle and purposely lose to the person who lost, then challenge the one who won reclaiming the spot. It was an interesting idea and not one that needed to be used, but we were bored and the idea sounded funny to us.
As the time reached the end Eric, Lyric, Julien, Gram, and Tanya were haggard because they had the most fights, in the end they almost fought straight because people would ask to fight and when they lost someone below them would challenge and start the process over. Caroline had to go in for a few times because the others would go above her in rank from their victories, but it didn't change mine or Emmy's spot. The others were also too busy to challenge me.
" And that's the end of the Matches. Your rank has been recorded and will be released shortly." Said the Guildmaster
I looked around the arena and noticed that other kids started to stand around the arena in the stands and perimeter of the field.
The Guildmaster then returned to speaking " I would like to recognize our First, Second and Third place winners for their hard work" He up then paused then looked at the other children and us " Or lack there of, and their ability to maintain their position amongst you-all."
" Now, Your First place winner, Alice please come forth." I approached the Guildmaster and stood to his Right.
" Your second place winner, Emmavailya Astra, please come forth." Just as I had done Emmy stood to his left and my right.
" And last but not least your third place winner. Caroline Morningstar, please come forth." She stood to Emmy's left
He then approached me and asked" Do you have any inspiring words for your fellow peers?"
I walked forward and said " I would like you all to avert your attention to places third through eight, that actually did all of the fighting, let's give them the applause they deserve, because we here didn't do much of anything."
" Damn straight" Tanya said immediately after, " We didn't just go bust our asses for nothing" To which Lyric and Julien nodded. And a mixture of cheers and laughter from the crowd followed
" Woohoo" Gram started pumping his fist in the air, and went to give Eric a high five and was ignored. He looked shocked then down for a second, but got back into high hopes quickly after.
" Thank you all for your praise." Eric said as he stepped forward with a bow.
Everyone started talking and a happy feeling seemed to emanate from the crowd, even in their tired state you could tell they tried hard and we're having a good time.
The Guildmaster stood smiling at us all for a moment before calming is down" Now, now children we don't have time for this all now, the older children are about to start their fights. Your welcome to stay and watch or leave and do what you will. Your schedules will be put in order after today is complete, so you will have a few days to get settled into your living quarters. You all have completed the inauguration to our school and it is with great pleasure I now call you all my students."
A cheer rose at the end of his little speech. It would seem people were really excited for this school, hopefully it won't be as boring as in my last life.
" For the winners of the Competition and rank battles, I will meet retrieve you all later today to claim your rewards." The Guildmaster said
" All First year students please exit the arena, Second year students are welcome to enter as they please, I'm sure you all remember how this works" The Guildmaster called out and left or group which was heading out of the arena.
I met up with the others and we decided to get a bite to eat before we decide what we were going to do next. We entered the guild hall and went upstairs.
" Hello Kline" I said and the others said something of like nature and sat at two tables that were connected
" I see the group has grown a lot since last time." He said and put down a glass he was cleaning.
" So what do you all want?" He asked and put menus onto the table " If you don't know now I'll come back ... actually" He then places a order pad infront of me " you take their orders and give that to me, everyone here can speak Common yes?"
Everyone nodded in confusion "Good than I would like you all to order to Alice in it if you would" Kline then walked away.
" Why do we need to order in Common?" Lyric asked and everyone but Emmy and Caroline nodded turning to me
I rub the back of my head and sheepishly respond "I am current learning, I'm no great but it coming along" I say in common.
" You saying your not very good is absolute bullshit" Caroline said, " Yes you can't speak perfectly, but you've only been learning for like three days"
" What!" Caroline's comment supprized the others " How are you so good after three days?" Lyric asked," it took me two years to learn it to that level."
" Well you could say I'm a fast learner?" I reply as more of a question to myself "Anyways, what do you all want to eat?"
I got their orders and wrote it down and gave it to Kline, he pointed out the few mistakes I made and told me how to fix it. After he gave it to the cook, who I still haven't met, and we waited.
We ate lunch and it was fun, it started calm but slowly turned into a competition of who could steal the most food, which I won of course. I am the fastest of the group and am deceptively good with dining utensils, even if they are wooden and more bulky. ' I wonder if I should make some chopsticks, it may be fun and I do miss them when eating some things'
With lunch having concluded we now are deciding on what to do. " I think I want to go home for a bit, I haven't seen my little sister in a few days" Lyric said
" Oh, let me come I want to meet her too" Tanya voiced " Then again I'm soooo tired, nevermind, but you have to let me meet her soon."
" Agreed I want to meet her too" I say and the others agree. Lyric was very passionate when speaking of his family especially his younger sister, it made all of us eager to meet them.
" Alright then I'm off" Lyric said "See you all later" He then left the guild running.
" Didn't we have to meet the Guildmaster in a little while, will he be back by then?" Julien asked
"... why didn't you say something earlier" We all turn to him and he steps back, "Whatever we need to make sure he remembers so who's chasing him?" Caroline asked
Eyes fell on me and Tanya " They are the fastest" " Alice didn't even do a thing in the rank battles" " Your up Alice" " Good luck."
I was pushed out the door, " Go tell him for us okay, you'll have to find him but you'll be alright" Caroline said and shut it on me
I looked around to see if I could find Lyric but couldn't. " Damn it, why does it have to be me"
' Language little sis, and it's because your the fastest remember' Oreo said to me and caused me to jump. " Guess your right" I said and start to ask around for the directions of a boy with wolf ears.
I asked people for around Thirty minutes but everyone was clueless as to his possible whereabouts. " I probably already missed my window" I mutter
' It will be alright just breathe and think of another way' I was reassured by Oreo.
I ask a little more and I finally found something to go off of. An old woman who was selling charms as a vendor on the street seemed to recognize the characteristics.
" Now the only boy I know like that is little Lyric, a real cute child of I do say so, just like his little sister" She said with a smile
" so you know him, can you tell me where he lives" I ask enthusiastically
" Patience child, I have a favor to ask before you, go on your way. Could you perhaps help me with closing my stand? I have been here a while and feel like closing up shop today" she said
I hesitated, I didn't want to be rude, and not help, but I wanted to find him too.
" Alright, but I need to find Lyric soon, so if you would please help me afterwards I would really appreciated it." I said
"Of course my dear, I would love to help" We then get to work, I diligently began to pack up her wares and disassemble her stand, she did her part too, but I could tell she would have had some trouble doing it alone. "We're done, now miss, I don't mean to be rude but could you please tell me where he is I'm in a hurry"
" But of course dear, help me carry these things home and you'll seen him in no time." She said and picked up some of the things we had packed up. she was deceptively strong for an old woman but age was still getting to her and it showed.
" Sigh, alright miss, but I am expecting at least some form of directions afterwards." I say " Lead the way."
" Ah, I remember back when I was as much a go getter as you. Can't do as much with these old bones, it has really made me slow down and appreciate the little things." she said as we started walking. Our pace was a little slow for me but, I've never been one to mosey.
We left the populated commercial district and we're now in a place surrounded by fields and occasional tree's.
" So tell me child why are you looking for that boy." She asked as she was slowly admiring the trees that
" We're both students at the guild academy. He and a couple of our friends have something to do later and we wanted to make sure he hadn't forgotten" I say. The lady was an odd one but she's seemed like she was just an innocent senile old lady. A kind one too.
" Oh so he has finally made a friend, it's been so long since they came and I never once remember hearing about a friend of his." She then chuckled " He would however go on and on about his sister"
" That's the Lyric I know." I say with a smile
We reached a line of tall trees that became dense on the edge of the farmland
" Why are we in front of a forest?" I asked
" Because some of us like the peace and familiarity is brings us" She said unhurriedly
We enter the forest and it was pretty creepy. I tried to stay close to the old lady but it seemed as if she had started to speed up once we entered the forest, while I slowed down. I had work much harder than before to avoid trees and with the things I was carrying it made it harder to judge distance but she seemed to be just fine.
" Have you lived here a while?" I asked
" Ho ho, what brought on that question" she asked and we stopped momentarily.
" Well, you seem to know this place well. So it just popped into my head." I say and walk up beside her.
" Well, I've lived here a long time, lost count after about eighty years. Most of the people from my time are gone now, my times coming too, but I'm not gonna let that stop me." She said
~ Snap ~
I Jumped at the sound to find a squirrel running up a tree. I hear a soft laughing behind me.
" Now you sure are a ball of energy aren't you. Well I've got a trick for the jitters, small fears if you will" She said to me " Helped me back in my adventuring days. The secret to not being scared is not over thinking." she then taps her head.
" We have a awful habit of scaring ourselves and that can hurt us in the end, an old lesson from my father I learned when I was about your age actually." reminiscing she smiled " He told me just breathe, focus you eyes and slow your heart, accept what you see, and don't worry about whay may be, but what is. Only then can you act without fear."
I was dubious at first but thought it no harm to try, so I did what she said, I focused on staying steady and calm I closed my eyes and steadied myself, and opened. I looked around me and accepted what it was, a forest, a place full of life. I noticed things looked a little different though. It didn't seem as dreary as before, and I wasn't as afraid ' Fascinating'
" So it works for you too, I'm sure my father would be proud, he was always a man of courage. Raised me to be one in the same. Now let's move on, we have a boy to find don't we?" She was smiling
"Yes ma'am." I say and we continue going deeper into the forest.