Finn found himself in a giant courtyard, larger than he could have ever imagined. The expanse was vast, dwarfing any stadium he had ever seen. The sheer scale of it was overwhelming, with its boundaries stretching beyond the horizon. The courtyard had a dreary, ancient atmosphere, with a sense of grandeur that had faded over time but still maintained an aura of its former glory.
Towering columns, now weathered and cracked, stood proudly despite the wear of centuries. Moss and vines clung to their surfaces, adding to the aged appearance. The ground was paved with worn stones, many of which were chipped or broken, creating an uneven surface that whispered of countless footsteps over the ages.
As Finn looked around, he saw countless people gathered—humans, Vorath, Ursox, and dark elves. They were all teenagers like him, dressed in clothes typical of their cultures.
The races started being drawn to each other, creating their own groups started to converse. Strangely, Finn found that he understood everyone around him, regardless of their language. He assumed it was a feature of the system, a convenience to bridge the cultural and linguistic divides of this diverse gathering.
The air was filled with a muted hum of voices, a blend of different languages and dialects. The atmosphere buzzed with a quiet, tense excitement, as if everyone was waiting for something significant to happen. Faded banners and flags, tattered and worn, fluttered weakly in the breeze, bearing symbols and insignias of various factions and clans.
Despite the initial sense of awe, there was a palpable tension among the gathered teenagers. They had just been torn from their worlds, thrust into this unfamiliar place with no choice in the matter. Faces showed a mix of fear, confusion, and reluctant determination. Many huddled in small groups, seeking comfort and familiarity amidst the uncertainty.
In the distance, massive archways led to different parts of the courtyard, each one guarded by formidable sentinels who seemed to have emerged from the shadows of history. At the center of the courtyard, an enormous platform stood elevated, its surface covered in intricate patterns and runes that had lost much of their original luster but still held a faint, mysterious glow.
Finn realized that this place, despite its ancient and worn appearance, was a school. A school on an unimaginable scale, with a vast number of people currently in the coliseum-like courtyard. He couldn't see how many, but the sheer number of teenagers, each from different worlds, was staggering.
Finn looked around;
The humans were the easiest to identify, their diverse appearances and familiar mannerisms grounding him amidst the sea of unfamiliar faces. Most of them looked to be around his age, their youthful faces a mix of curiosity and determination. Seeing other humans gave him a strange sense of comfort, a tether to the world he once knew. They varied greatly in appearance—tall, short, different skin tones, hair colors, and builds.
Then he noticed the other races, and his heart raced with a mix of excitement and apprehension. The Vorath stood out immediately. These adolescents, around his age, were imposing, standing over five and a half feet tall with muscular builds. Their leathery, dark grey skin seemed to absorb the light, giving them an eerie, almost spectral presence. Finn was struck by their predatory eyes, which glowed faintly, constantly scanning their surroundings. Their jaws were lined with sharp teeth, and their fingers ended in curved claws.
Next, he saw the Ursox. These bear-like beings, also adolescents, stood between five and six feet tall. Their powerful, muscular builds were covered in thick fur that varied in color from black to brown to white. Finn could see the strength in their limbs, the way their muscles moved beneath their fur. They had strong claws and a presence that commanded respect.
Finally, his eyes landed on the dark elves. They were tall and slender, with skin tones ranging from deep ebony to pale grey. Their features were sharp and angular. These dark elf adolescents moved with a fluidity that was almost hypnotic, their eyes gleaming with intelligence and a hint of danger. The dark elves seemed to glide rather than walk, their movements smooth and deliberate.
Finn noticed everyone looking at him. Glancing down, he realized he was still covered in blood from killing the bodyguard. One of the Vorath walked up to him, looking aggressive.
Finn wasn't sure what to do; he decided to do what you do when you run into a bear in the woods—make yourself look bigger and don't back away. The Vorath was a head taller than him, staring him down with those predatory eyes. Finn stared right back, like he was telling the Vorath he could go fuck himself.
A couple more Vorath joined the first, their presence intimidating. Their dark, leathery skin and muscular builds made them look even more menacing as they formed a semi-circle around Finn. Their eyes glowed faintly, filled with a predatory hunger that sent a shiver down his spine. He could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating.
No humans came to his aid; apparently, Finn was surrounded by cowards.
Finn never stopped looking the Vorsth straight in the eye.
The other humans close to Finn had looks of fear and hesitation, averting their gazes, unwilling to step into the brewing confrontation.
Finn clenched his fists, ready to throw a punch. His heart pounded in his chest as he braced himself for the inevitable clash.
Just as he was about to swing, of all things, an Ursox came up behind him. The Ursox was just a bit taller than the vorath. The Ursox's presence was commanding, and it stood behind Finn, staring at the Vorath with a fearless stance, its fur bristling slightly.
Interesting, Finn thought, feeling a strange mix of relief and curiosity.
They continued to stare each other down, tension growing every second.
Then everyone got a system message:
**Fighting is prohibited until instructed otherwise. Infractions will be dealt with harshly.**
The Vorath grinned, still staring Finn and the Ursox down; stepping away without a word, huddling in a group with others of their race.
Finn turned around to look at the Ursox. The Ursox was imposing, standing over five feet tall with a powerful, muscular build covered in thick brown fur. His deep-set eyes met Finn's with a calm intensity.
Finn finally said, "Why did you help me?"
The Ursox immediately replied in blunt, simple words, "Seemed a little unfair, and I don't mind a fight." The Ursox said grinning.
Finn replied, "Life can be unfair sometimes."
The Ursox nodded. "This is true," he said, still grinning.
Finn held out his hand. "I am Finn."
The Ursox looked at Finn's hand, clearly puzzled, wondering what Finn was doing.
Then he responded still looking at Finn's hand "I am Mountain Ridge."
Finn put his hand down, realizing not all races shook hands as a greeting.
This this was a different world now. Looking at the Ursox.
There and then Finn decided he would meet people at the level they wanted to come at him.
Challenge him, and he'd challenge them back.
Welcome him, and he'd welcome them.
He gave a nod to Mountain Ridge, acknowledging the beginning of what could be an alliance or even a friendship. The Ursox returned the nod with a slight smile, before walking back to a group of Ursox
As he finished talking, Finn heard a booming voice command, "Silence." He felt a pressure pressing down on him.
"Sit," the voice demanded. Finn was forced to sit down like everyone else. Finn as though a will outside of his own had forced him. Sweat beaded on his forehead, having tried to initially resist but it was useless; he abhorred the idea of being to weak to resist a simple command; this is the power he wanted.
From a balcony overlooking the courtyard, he saw two large orcs, an elf, and a human standing there. The larger orc, who stood at the front, seemed to be in charge. "My name is Gorath, and I shall be your headmaster," he announced, his voice resonating through the courtyard.
Gorath gestured to the elf beside him. "This is the assistant headmaster," he said, introducing the wood elf named Elowen.
Next, Gorath introduced the human standing next to him, a suave, silky-looking older man who was rather short. "This is Alistair, from another universe," Gorath explained. Finn was inwardly surprised to find there were other humans in the multiverse.
Finally, Gorath introduced the other orc as his clan brother, Kragar.
Gorath continued, "Now we shall oversee other masters performing your day to day training. Typically, schools would explain what you're supposed to do from here, as I'm sure is being done in other schools for your universe. But I prefer not to waste my breath on those not worthy. We shall perform a culling of the weak first.
You will go through a hell week, at the end of tha week you will have 1 life and death battle. Your foe shall be a starving goblin on the verge of death from starvation; it'll be weak, but goblins are savage beasts and it will stop at nothing to eat you.
If you cannot kill the starving goblin, you deserve to die, you are not worth my effort nor the systems.
"You will be armed with a weapon of your choice; you shall receive instruction about weapons and a master shall advise on what is suitable after three days of training; you must choose wisely because it will be your main weapon for the next three years.
Now you each shall be assigned living quarters that must be shared with three others; each race must be represented in every room. And the more members alive in your quarters; the more resources you shall receive, rooms shall be reset every term.
You shall choose your roommates, but if you do not choose within ten minutes, you will be punished and your roommates chosen for you.
Gorath coughed. "You may share rooms with the opposite sex, but mating is discouraged; mortals bear children very easily, because of ambient spiritual energy. Any acts of mating without consensual consent are forbidden; perpetrators will be put to death."
"If you have any questions, don't bother asking, because I will not answer. Timer begins now."
Finn sighed and looked around. He and Mountain Ridge immediately made eye contact and nodded in silent agreement. A dark elf male standing nearby caught Finn's eye.
Before Finn could approach the dark elf, the Vorath who had intimidated him earlier walked up. With a predatory tone that seemed as natural as water being wet, the Vorath announced, "I shall stay with you."
Finn, more curious than anything since he needed a Vorath for his room assignment, asked, "Why?"
The Vorath grinned, baring his sharp teeth. "Because I see fear in the eyes of many humans and elves," he said, pausing briefly and glancing at the Ursox "As as some of Ursox." Before looking back at Finn. "But you, you are not like the other humans. You are excited. Zorak does not like cowards."
Finn raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Zorak's straightforwardness. It was a refreshing change from the usual tension and deceit he had grown accustomed to.
Finn then greeted the the dark elf, who had walked over and been observing the exchange quietly.
"And you?" Finn asked, meeting the dark elf's piercing gaze.
The dark elf inclined his head slightly. "I am Lyrian," he said in a calm, measured voice.
Finn took in Lyrian, Zorak was right a lot of the dark elves were similar to the humans; to scared to move. Many weren't even trying to choose a group even though punishment was looming if the timer ran out.
Finn nodded to both the Vorath and Dark Elf. And stated "Okay I guess we got a human, dark elf, and vorath." Mountain Ridged join the group as Finn added. " I'm Finn, by the way."
Mountain Ridge, standing beside Finn, gave a curt nod. "Good, we have our group then."
The four of them formed an unlikely alliance, each bringing their own strengths and quirks to the table. They each stared at each other tension still palpable, as the timer ticked down.