"Just have a knack for picking that kind of stuff out," A half smile made it's way to my face, "Not that it really matters."
"Try them on," the smith looked me in the eye as he pulled them out of the case.
I stared at him for a second before picking them up, and putting them on like he'd asked me too. They were way too big.
"They're too..." I stopped talking when the gloves starting glowing slightly, and shrinking to fit, "...big."
New colors now striped the fingers. Dark blue striping through the blue of the thumb, sky blue on my pointer finger, gold down the middle, green down my ring finger, and a faint half line of silver on my pinky. The main color of the glove stayed a wispy blue. I tested the feel of them slowly. Opening, and closing my hands at varying speeds.
Ironically this felt far more natural than my human hands. I slashed them experimentally. A faint smile crossed my face.
"Looks like you like them," he smiled at me, "I've never seen gear change color like that. Do you want to test them out during the tournament? You'll have to bring them back when the tournament is over, but you can borrow them until then."
"You sure about that?" I cocked my head.
"I've never seen gear change color like that," he nodded confirming that he did in fact want me to use the gear, "Just tell anyone who asks that Gideon Smithson made them."
"I can do that," I threw a few more test swings, "How can you be sure that I won't just steal them?"
"You don't seem like the type," Gideon smiled at me, "Besides. Cheat me, and I'll never sell you gear again. That's a huge negative for you if you don't give me my shit back."
"Well," I snorted, "Only if I like your gear."
"You'll like it," His confidence was kind of funny actually.
I slid the gauntlets off, and put hung them from one of my belt loops. I'd save them for the tournament. Savannah met up with us outside of the prep room.
"Where you been?" I smirked as I patted her on the back.
"Doing some pre tournament chatting with my dad since he couldn't come to watch," Savannah looked, and felt kind of disappointed by that.
"I wish I could say I was surprised," I was slightly angered by his flippant attitude, "Your dad is a dick for not coming."
Savannah let out a huff of laughter despite her mood.
"You're a dick for saying that," Savannah retorted.
"True," I shook my head slowly, "So true."
"Ah fuck!" the second year walked into our prep room, and promptly turned around, "I can't be on the same team as him."
"Sorry kid," an officer just out of sight shoved him back in the room.
"You can't be serious," he complained, "One of them broke my nose, and another tossed me around like a rag doll."
"Quit complaining," A first year with a black watch shoved past him, and the door closed behind him.
Sealing the upset second year student in the room with us as the fifteen minute warning sounded. I recognized him as soon as he turned around.
"Hey Ethan," My surprised tone didn't match my expression, "It's that pain dude that used to hang out with Baron. So he's the second year they want to put in charge of us."
"Yeah," he chuckled nervously, "I don't think I could stop any of you from doing shit."
"We should go over our skills, and abilities," Jax sat down in a relaxed manner, "That way we can formulate a plan that works well in the time we've got left since the three of you were late."
"The three of us work well together," I could pick up a slight flux of mana within Jax as I gestured to Ethan, and Savannah, "We're close friends, and we've trained together a good amount."
"That doesn't mean I know what you three can do," Jax snorted arrogantly, "And he's supposed to be our commanding officer in this scenario so he needs to know as well."
"I'm a fire mage," Savannah replied, "But you already knew that."
I could sense her annoyance now that she recognized Jax.
"You know him?" I glanced over to her.
"We've met," Savannah didn't take her eyes off Jax, "He's an earth mage. He's stronger than me."
The fact that Jax was another mage was making Savannah nervous.
"Ethan," I grabbed Ethan's shoulder, "Your turn." {I'm not helping you this time.}
{I know} Ethan replied mentally as he swallowed nervously, "I'm Ethan," He spoke hesitantly, "I'm a natural born telekinetic. I can lift up to five tons with my telekinesis. I specialize in shielding, and precision strikes."
{Not bad} I let go of his shoulder as I straightened up, "I'm Wyatt. My ability is a bit odd. It's a strengthening type ability. When I get injured my body adapts to be stronger in response. Not entirely sure how strong I am now, but I'm pretty sure I can hold my own against Baron now."
"Who's Baron?" Jax looked back to pain dude.
"He's one of the strongest second years at our school," pain dude watched me carefully, "You do know that blank face there broke my nose for knocking his food off a table right? That, and he has a freakishly high pain tolerance."
"Freakishly high pain tolerance?" That got a raised brow out of even me, "Do I scare you pain dude?"
"What? No!" he said a bit too hastily.
"Yeah," I spoke as Ethan chuckled behind me, "Totally believe you."
I snorted as I walked up to him. He shrank away from me.
"You're not scared of me at all," I put on a false smile.
"Stop playing with him Wyatt," Savannah pulled on the back of my shirt, "You're wasting time we don't have."
I backed off. Letting him relax. I wasn't actually planning on doing anything to him. I just liked watching him squirm. He kind of deserved it.