Time felt like it was literally flying by for Dharen, it had only be yesterday he could have sworn that he had found out that he had be the topper for the class in there midterms, and now it was the final moments before the first of the war games of the year were set to begin.
His line of people were a true mix. He had people from all of the classes from the school as a whole, five came from people who were studying to become siege engineers, that he did not even know existed, then a further two were from those aiming for the maritime forces that existed. Leaving the last thirteen to be a mix of those from his class, as well as those studying for combat medicine and some who were planning on becoming drill masters.
It was an odd group for sure, and he did not really know any of them. The only name that he had so far even managed to remember was that of Mark, who was from his own class and had an alright score and place from the midterms. Mark, he also had been appointed as his second in command.
This game in particular revolved around capture the flag, with it being a one versus one. If you were hit by anything deemed to be fatal you would be eliminated from the game and removed. It was self explanatory to be honest, but Dharen could not help but feel nervous.
He had checked his own armour over multiple times, to ensure the chain mail, and leather armour were attached correctly and that all of the straps were in the right place. His nerves though, had led him into checking everyone of his own group's armour. They were all correctly done as could be expected but he could just not help himself, he had to do something and keep his hands moving.
"Dharen, you need to relax a little. It will be fine, for one you could probably beat every single person who tries to take our own flag anyway. We can just win by elimination and not bother with even taking their flag?" Mark's words had calmed him a little, but it did not help him that much.
Dharen had felt inside, that just winning by his own personal prowess did not feel right, it was a war game. Not just a simple fight, he had to show some kind of prowess with his mind as well.
As he looked down once more, he heard a noise that was a lot like the shattering of glass and as he looked up, he found himself and his entire line somewhere else completely.
As he quickly looked around, he first took note of the flag which sat in the middle of a small outcropping of rocks, as for the rest of the terrain, there was a small stream that snaked around half of the outcropping and a this eventually lead to some kind of woodland in the distance.
He also could make out behind him, another outcropping of rocks. This though was across the plains, which kept going down and up, that was just enough so that you could probably hide and move a small group through it undetected.
"Mark, you take everyone aside from those four. Split yourselves into two groups and advance on that outcropping of rocks from two directions, and stay as hidden as you can before you launch your attack."
Having formed a basic strategy quickly, he gave out his own orders, but he seemed to have forgotten one fact, which was soon brought up by the person who he had put as his second in command.
"How do we know that they are over there? They could be in the woodland behind us." His words were met by a small mummer of agreement from the others.
Dharen thought for a minute before giving his answer. "If this were not the first game, I would probably agree with you that there is a chance that the other flag could be in the woodland. But this is the very first war game for us. So, it will be kept simple so they must be at the outcropping of rocks, like we are."
Hearing no more questions, Dharen quickly made sure that everyone started moving, then he and the other four who had remained behind, moved into the rock outcropping itself. He found a spot where he could see other rocks, which also gave him an even more elevated position.
Looking at everyone moving according to plan, he was happy. He could make out the two groups as they occasionally had to move to a higher elevated piece of ground, but this was only for a moment before they were hidden in their movements once more.
After watching their advance for at least five minutes he suddenly found himself starting to think that he had been wrong from where the opponents that they were faced had started, but then he saw them.
A full fifteen of them, marching in a tight formation straight for his outcropping. He could not make out anyone in that group yet, but he could have guessed who would do such a thing.
That kind of advance always has its own perks, but he valued the surprise factor far more recently, he just would have to hold onto his own flag until Mark had taken the other flag.
For now though, he could only watch as they got closer and closer, he thought for another moment, and worked out the most likely entry point that this block of people would enter the out cropping by.
"Two of you, go and hide yourselves in that depression and do not come out until the fighting has started." He pointed out where he meant, as he turned and spoke to the people who were nearby him, waiting for his words.
"As for the two of you, follow me. We will have to hold that gap, and pray that we succeed."
He walked off, sword drawn, his face taunt in focus.