Chương 14: Combat Class

Ch 14: Combat Class If I were to say my night had been easy, that would be a blatant lie. First, there was the Mimic threat, obviously. Sahirah and I had agreed to take turns watching the door, but even during our respective shifts to sleep, there was always the sound of wood creaking, or worse, someone pacing through the corridor and startling us awake. To make matters worse, there was Sahirah herself.

She had moved her bed to the opposite side of the room and gone to sleep without even saying goodnight, making the whole place feel awkward, as though she were silently telling me she wanted to be left alone. Which I respected unconditionally. But then, deep into the night, during my turn to rest, she got out of bed, sat against the wall, and wrapped herself in a blanket. She stayed there for what must have been an hour. At some point, she realized I wasn't asleep either and quietly said, "I'm cold."

My first thought was that I could use her mana to generate a ridiculous amount of heat with the right spell, but thankfully I was wise enough to ignore that inner voice. Instead, I grabbed my own blanket and sat beside her. The awkwardness vanished instantly. Without the absurd pressure of pretending we belonged in separate beds, everything became easier. In the most ridiculous way possible, we abandoned two perfectly good beds to fall asleep against each other's shoulders on the hard floor.

It wasn't ideal, either logistically or rationally, since it arguably counted as a security risk, but somehow it felt like the best sleep I'd ever had. Even if the back pain were to follow me all the way to my first combat class.

I spotted Niko waiting for me at the entrance to the open training field, and I couldn't help but smile. He looked completely focused on my arrival, eager to keep his word and be the friend he'd promised to be. As soon as I got close, he sniffed the air around me.

"You smell like ink, and you definitely haven't showered since yesterday." Had he seriously sniffed the mana-conductive ink on my body? A wry smile spread across my face.

"Don't you think that nose of yours counts as an invasion of my privacy?" He burst out laughing.

"Says the human who wrote those privacy terms for the system."

"Wait, you actually read that?" Now that was a surprise, considering I'd made sure the thing was as painful to read as possible.

"Of course I did. What kind of alpha would accept an offer without reading the conditions first?" I wasn't entirely sure why, but his answer offended me just enough that my reply slipped out before I could stop it.

"With noses like yours, the Zufi should be legally required to publish a sniffing policy," I said.

"Seriously, who starts a conversation by pointing out that someone skipped a shower?" He grew slightly more serious, his voice conveying a more formal tone.

"We should establish what proper boundaries exist between our cultures before something goes wrong," Niko said.

"For my people, smelling whether someone has showered is perfectly acceptable. It would only be rude if I pointed out that you smell like the girl with mismatched eyes, which, by the way, you do. And everyone else will notice it too once we step onto the training grounds." To say I was surprised would have been an understatement, and my jaw hit the floor before I could stop it. My mind, on the other hand, remained focused, and I immediately concluded that I should probably share this information with Sahirah.

Not that it would make any difference today. She had left the room before me to attend another elective that happened at the same time as combat class. Still, the Zufi's sharp noses were something we would have to take into account from now on... though, considering the reputation Sahirah and I had already built, I wasn't sure it would change much anymore. Letting out a long sigh, I said, "Thanks for the warning about your noses, Niko. We can discuss cultural boundaries another time.

I'm actually fine with you reminding me about personal hygiene, though I'd prefer you didn't use it as a conversation starter." Niko seemed pleased to hear that and patted my shoulder so heavily my spine nearly gave out.

"Let me introduce you to combat class." With those words, we stepped onto the training grounds. I was greeted by the familiar sight of the usual cliques, except that only the students most interested in combat seemed to be attending this class. The Driari didn't have their usual numbers. There were only five of them, four males and a single female who looked like she belonged there more than anyone else. Zira wasn't among them, so she was probably attending the same elective as Sahirah.

As for the Granar, their entire group was present, including Kip and Kap. They didn't spare me so much as a glance. By now I knew those scaled people weren't fond of unnecessary conversation, and I also knew they had probably noticed me and simply didn't feel the need to acknowledge my presence. I followed Niko toward the rest of the Zufi. When he approached, they all bowed, males and females alike treating him with the same respect. Then they noticed me.

They offered polite nods, and as the noses at the tips of their snouts began opening and closing, I suddenly knew exactly what they were thinking. For the sake of my own sanity, I forced myself not to dwell on it and focused on the upcoming class instead.

"So what exactly do we do here?" I asked Niko quietly.

"See those magic circles on the floor?" He pointed toward the large circles etched across the stone arena.

"We fight each other on top of them. Think of it as a battle royale." A single glance was enough to recognize several of the circles. Some increased gravity. Others reduced it. A few blasted hot air upward, and at least one looked suspiciously similar to my Pain-Inducing spell. My gaze drifted beyond the circles, and another question immediately came to mind.

"What's with the muddy pool and the ropes hanging from the ceiling?" Niko laughed.

"That's part of the battlefield. The Driari always run for those ropes as soon as the match starts. They hate close-quarters combat. They'd rather keep their distance and cast spells from somewhere they can pretend they're standing above the rest of us." That certainly sounded like those elves, which left only one question unanswered.

"So... who's the teacher?" Niko smirked.

"You're in for a surprise, Eric." I didn't understand the smug look on his face until, a few minutes later, a robed figure emerged from the back of the training grounds. He wore the same flowing robes as every other teacher, but what caught my attention most was the thick fur visible beneath them. A smile spread across my face as I finally understood. Yeah, the teacher wasn't a Grey. He was a Zufi like Niko, and he had a lot of fur.

The broad-shouldered beastman strode straight toward me, his presence way more intimidating than Niko's. He stopped only when he was standing directly in front of me. The nostrils at the tip of his snout flared several times as he took in my scent. He frowned.

"What species are you supposed to be?"

"Human," I answered without hesitation.

"First one in twenty years." If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"Rift season ended over a month ago. Why are you attending my class for the first time today?" I scratched the back of my head and lowered my gaze in exaggerated shame.

"I've... been a little busy. Turns out surviving, inventing things, and almost getting murdered by Mimics takes up more time than I expected." He stared at me for a long moment before snorting.

"Hoko," he said.

"That's my name. And I'm not repeating an entire month's worth of introductory lessons just because you finally decided to show up." He then looked past me toward the Zufi students. His nostrils flared once more, his gaze lingering on them as though he were reading body language I couldn't even perceive.

"Looks like you've already made yourself some friends with my people," he said.

"Good. Then you won't be a burden to me." Without another glance in my direction, Hoko continued walking. Only after reaching the center of the arena, beside the maze of magic circles, did he raise his voice for the entire class.

"Positions!" The single word reached everywhere across the training grounds. His gaze swept over every group.

"Standard battle simulation today. If your goal is to enlist in the Grey Army, this is the closest thing you'll get to the real entrance test. Move." As everyone rushed into position, I felt a brief surge of panic. The truth was I had absolutely no idea how this class worked.

"Hey, Niko," I whispered, "can I use magic? And what are the rules?"

"Magic is allowed," he replied.

"Raise both hands if you surrender and you're out. No biting, no gouging eyes, and no spells that leave permanent injuries unless you want to spend some time in jail. Everything else is fair game." Somehow, the fact that he stopped there worried me more than if he'd kept talking. It felt like I was missing half the rules. Still, I followed everyone else and took my place along the edge of the arena where the engraved circles began.

I deliberately picked a position near one of the least threatening enchantments, one that would merely make me a little heavier if I stepped inside it. I could feel curious eyes on me from every direction, but I ignored them. So what if everyone wanted to see how the first human would perform? I had no intention of joining the Grey Army. As far as I was concerned, this class was nothing more than an opportunity to field-test the runes I'd inscribed onto my own skin. Victory and defeat were equally meaningless.

The only thing I cared about was gathering data. Well, and not getting hurt was important too. Yeah, not getting hurt sounded amazing. Oblivious to my thoughts, Hoko stepped back from the arena and barked a single command.

"Begin!" The entire class exploded into motion. The five Driari darted across the arena, quick things they were, weaving between the enchanted circles. It quickly became obvious they weren't trying to fight on the ground at all. Their real objective was the ropes hanging above the muddy pool, where they could secure the high ground and rain spells down on everyone else. The Zufi, meanwhile, clashed with the Granar almost immediately.

The scaled warriors simply bulldozed through the enchanted circles, enduring their effects as though they hardly existed. The Zufi fought differently. They tested each circle only long enough to identify its effect before using their speed to reposition, avoiding the most dangerous enchantments whenever possible. I realized almost instantly that none of their strategies would work for someone with my miserable status.

The only advantage I had was being able to read the runes beneath my feet and understand what each circle did before stepping into it. Before I could come up with a strategy of my own, something slammed into my chest. I hit the ground flat on my backside. Laughter echoed from above. The Driari had already claimed the ropes, effortlessly swinging from one to another above the pool while using whatever bloodline ability they possessed to cast air spells from their elevated positions.

"Look at the human! His status must be pathetic if one air spell knocked him over!"

"If anyone still doubted it, they don't anymore!" Their voices overlapped in mocking laughter, and even the Zufi and the Granar slowed their fights long enough to watch me make a fool of myself. I gritted my teeth and forced myself back to my feet, yeah, the lie about my status might be on the brink of being exposed.

Unfortunately there was no time to think about that as standing back up apparently counted as a challenge; all five Driari released a single hand from their ropes, raised their palms toward me, and unleashed another volley of spells. I activated Haste, one of the spells I had inscribed on my skin, before they could finish casting. The familiar sensation hit me immediately. Mana poured out of my body as a violent burst of force launched me forward.

The dizziness was almost enough to throw off my balance, but somehow I kept control and landing exactly where I'd intended, even if the landing itself was anything but graceful. The barrage struck the ground where I'd been standing a heartbeat earlier. Silence fell over the Driari. Unfortunately, that was also the exact moment one of the Granar finished his own fight. The massive reptilian turned toward me.

Then he charged, barreling across the arena like a living battering ram that had just found the softest target on the battlefield. No panic despite knowing he was several times stronger and far more robust than me. I raised my left arm, and he instinctively prepared to defend himself, thinking I was about to throw a punch. But I wasn't. A lot of my mana surged into the Kinetic Push magic circle inscribed on the skin beneath my shirt.

A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I had to grit my teeth as the recoil slammed through my arm. It hurt, and I nearly lost my balance, proving once again that even someone who planned to rely on runes and spellcraft might need to attend body-strengthening class every once in a while. Still, the Granar had it worse. The point-blank Kinetic Push blasted him backward and sent him flying into the filthy pool, where he glared at me with the yellow eyes of a predator that had just been outsmarted.

Well, that was tomorrow Eric's problem. Because right then, those freaking elves decided to act again, forcing me to use another improvised burst of Haste, this time without enough time to plan my landing. The dizziness was even worse now, and my landing was anything but graceful. Worse still, I landed inside a high-gravity magic circle. It activated the instant my feet touched the ground, pinning me down mercilessly.

My knees hit the ground first, and when I managed to lift my head, one of the Zufi was already charging toward me.

"No hard feelings, friend of the Alpha," he said. He kicked my leg, not hard enough to injure me, just enough to assert his dominance and make it clear that he was fast while I was trapped inside the gravity circle. Unfortunately for him, I had slept very little, and I wasn't in the mood to be the adult in the room today. Instead of raising my hands and surrendering, I forced myself to roll across the ground despite the increased gravity.

The next magic circle was a harmless one that merely blasted hot air into my face, and I used that brief opportunity to raise my left arm. Kinetic Push activated almost instantly. The recoil slammed through my shoulder again, and I knew immediately I'd be paying for that cast with several days of pain. But the Zufi paid an even steeper price. He was hurled across the battlefield and raised both hands in surrender while clutching his shoulder. In the end, only the elves and I remained.

"We won again."

"Yes. I don't know how the human is casting without paper, but that spell can't reach us up here." My answer didn't involve words. Slowly, I climbed back to my feet. My left arm was practically useless now, so I decided it was finally time for the much longer-ranged Pain-Inducing spell. A smile spread across my face as I realized my mana reserves were nearly empty. But, in fact, I had just enough for five casts. I took a deep breath and aimed. The first elf barely had time to blink.

His body suddenly folded in half as if someone had driven a spear through his stomach. Every muscle locked at once. With a muffled scream, he let go of the rope and he plunged into the filthy pool below with a loud splash. Another smile spread across my face. I adjusted my aim ever so slightly and activated the spell again. The second elf cried out the instant the mana reached him. His entire body convulsed violently, and a moment later he followed his companion into the murky water below.

The remaining three froze. Panic spread across their faces. The large female shouted something, and all three immediately abandoned their positions, leaping from rope to rope above the pool in a desperate attempt to make themselves harder targets. Unfortunately for them, the spell Elitha Hearthstrong gave me wasn't something you dodged after it had already locked onto you. I calmly followed the nearest male with my finger. When I activated the spell again, he lasted less than a second.

His jaw clenched, his eyes widened, and then he folded over, releasing the rope before crashing into the water. The fourth elf suffered the exact same fate. And now, only the female remained. She grit her teeth when I cast the spell. One second. Two. Three. I frowned. Was she actually going to outlast my remaining mana? Just as that thought crossed my mind, her composure shattered.

A cry escaped her lips, both hands lost their grip at once, and she tumbled into the pool, sending a wave of muddy water in every direction. I lowered my hand, breathing heavily. My muscles ached, my head spun from mana exhaustion, but apparently... Eric Nevermore had won. Niko had already surrendered to a group of Granar earlier, leaving me as the last student still standing. Teacher Hoko began walking toward me at an unhurried pace. I assumed he wanted to inspect the runes painted across my body.

Instead, the moment he reached me, he drove a boot straight into my stomach.

"Oof–" I folded around the impact before being launched backward into the same filthy pool as the elves.

"What the fuck?" The cold and muddy water swallowed me whole. When I surfaced again, coughing and wiping the muck from my eyes, black streams of diluted ink were running down my arms and chest. The expensive mana ink dissolved into the water in twisting ribbons, washing away the carefully inscribed magic circles... and the expensive ink. I sighed. That was one hell of an expensive boot kick, but at least Sahirah wouldn't have a reason to complain I didn't shower today. Silence settled over the training grounds.

Every student was staring at me now. Or rather, at what had been hidden beneath my clothes. Their gazes followed the fading runes covering both my arms, and more than one jaw slowly dropped as they realized I'd painted combat spells directly onto my own body. Hoko waited until everyone had seen enough before speaking.

"I won't say you broke any rules by covering yourself in expensive ink and using spells you normally shouldn't have access to during combat class." His gaze swept across the entire battlefield rather than lingering on me.

"But you violated the competitive spirit of this exercise, and I can't update the rankings with your name at the top, human." His eyes finally settled on me.

"You're still welcome in this class. But from now on, painting spells on your body is forbidden." He looked around.

"That rule applies to everyone." I wanted to argue, but honestly... I couldn't say he'd handled the situation unfairly. This was probably the first time he'd ever seen a student fight like this. I doubted another person in that class possessed both the rune expertise and enough credits to spend upper-middle-tier mana ink on temporary combat tattoos. Of course... I wasn't about to forget that kick to the stomach. One day I'd get even by giving him an embarrassing title in my system.

But fortunately for him, there was already quite a long queue of people waiting for that honor. As the elves climbed out of the pool, still cursing my existence, Niko walked over and extended a hand.

"I think you did well," he said.

"And since you don't have a pack, I understand why you lied about your status back then." I accepted his hand and climbed out of the water.

"Do you think people are going to bother me because of my weak body?" Niko shrugged.

"Hard to say," he said.

"But I would think twice before picking a fight with you and I'm among the strongest."