We watched our seniors duke it out, in silence.
No one in the audience spoke, no, we were too fixated on the match that was unfolding. By the time it was over, the heavily strained breaths of everyone seemed to let loose—heaves of relief spread across the hall.
Finally, the horrid match of desperation was over.
Unfortunately, this was only one of the several matches that would unfold—
Three Classes
Three Years
Three Departments.
While the nature of each Battle Royale would be different, we would have to watch, awaiting our turn, as classmates destroyed one another for the right to remain in the fold.
Why did they try so hard? It was only a competition after all.
Of course, the answer was obvious—Apprenticeship.
If they made an indelible impression on the Lecturers who were scattered about, these students would get the chance to be personally taught by them. It was a desperate strategy, but the returns made it all worth it.
