“There’s no point in griping about it now Dan. Plus, I don’t think us just fighting it out would be enough to span an entire class. I’m surprised they left the bigger class with Professor Offerdero. She is not what I would call… stable.”
“You know she prolly tellin’ all them poor kids to go die and shit so she can bring them back to life!”
Hearing those words, Anaar’s head snaps to as he peers at Dan, Maggie giving him a similar look. “Oh, I didn’t know Necromancy was a thing these days. I really need to step up my research into new manifestations.”
Completely confused, Dan stares blankly at Anaar, blinking a number of times once his eyes became dry. “The hell is you talkin’ ‘bout?”
Maggie rubs his back patronizingly, “Don’t worry about it. Anaar is just having fun at your expense. Even the best Medics can’t raise people from the dead. That goes against the laws of science am I right oh mighty keeper of attunement knowledge?”
“I don’t know if there is not a scientific precedent for it that will ever exist. There are so many things we still don’t understand about attunements and where they come from. I know there are people who can come back to life, but that is more a byproduct of their unique genetic makeup and-”
“I was in no way serious… I could do without you going into nerd mode on us.”
Shrugging absently, “Fine, your loss.”
“What do you think we have in store for us?” When Anaar fails to answer, Maggie grumbles and swats him over the head. “Helloo! I’m talking to you here!”
“Oh, so now you are interested in what I have to say?”
“Of course, if it helps us win.”
“Y’all thank we got a chance at losin’? I mean they ain’t even been here a term good. How they supposed to beat us?”
“The same way Anaar and Phavian are the strongest in the school. It has been made clear experience alone is not enough to secure you a victory.”
“Damn, you thank they that good?” Maggie and Dan both look to Anaar, questions brimming from their eyes.
“Why are you two looking at me?”
“Let’s see, you are super smart, you are an absurd tactician, and you have a mentee in the class. Spill it.”
“Honestly, we are at a huge numbers disadvantage. Their combat class is the size of the entirety of our class. Not only that, we are missing a number of people because they could not get out of class. Not having Ryn is going to greatly weaken our defenses since she is the best Defender our class has.”
“Hey now…”
“Dan, you are awesome, but you are limited by your paper, and it has inherent weaknesses. The new class has 71 Quintessences. I don’t know what their abilities are, and we can’t presume all the Quintessences took this course, but all we need is one Pyrokinetic or Hydrokinetic and it drastically reduces your efficacy.”
“But I got the cards man!”
“Yes, that will help against water, but you carry far less of those than you do other paper. If there is a bombardment, you can’t cover our whole class in a dome made of cards. Also, Ryn’s special semi-permeable shields not only allow light in, but our attacks out.”
“She don’t make herself sound near as good as you do…” Sighing dejectedly, Dan slumps in his seat.
“I’m not going to lie to you Dan, that doesn’t help your case. I know you two often fight over it, but at the end of the day, Ryn is the better Defender, hands down. If only because of how few weaknesses her barriers come with.”
“You ain’t gotta twist the damn knife man.”
“Actually, I think I do. You keep trying to compare yourself to Ryn when it makes no sense.”
“How not? She make shields. I make shields.”
“She is a Defender Dan. Her job is to make barriers. She is a specialist. That is like going to an oncologist and trying to win a knowledge match about cancer when you are a general practitioner. Of course they are going to run laps around you when it comes to tumors and the like, but you have a much wider range of skills and knowledge since you are a jack of all trades.”
“There is butt cancer?!”
Maggie and Anaar both look at each other confused, with Anaar’s expression changing to say “That’s your boyfriend.”
“Dan, what are you talking about?!”
“Ain’t a oncologist the butt doctor?”
Sighing heavily, she rests her forehead on the back of her hand. “Dan… That is a proctologist.”
Dan’s eyes illuminate with understanding, and he suddenly is taken aback. “Aww shit! I gotta call my Uncle Larry and let him know that man was playin’ in his ass for no reason!”
Maggie gives Anaar a pleading look and he smirks. “Moving right along, Dan, you have a ton of things that make you far more useful than Ryn. For one, she is a proximal Defender. Due to the nature of your abilities, you are automatically a remote Defender. Also, defense isn’t even your greatest strength, so it doesn’t even matter if you are outclassed by someone who only has defense.”
“Well when you say all that I don’t feel so shitty.”
“Now that Anaar has given the overly technical reason for why not having Ryn is bad for us, and rebuilt your confidence, I have to agree we are at a serious disadvantage without her. I would trade her for Griselda any day.”
“Why her ass still takin’ this class anyhow? She fail like errythang!”
When Griselda peers back, cutting her eyes angrily at Dan, Maggie slaps him on the arm and smiles sweetly at Griselda. Leaning in to whisper whilst pinching his ear, “Will you shut up?! Just because she can’t do anything to us, doesn’t mean we should just go shouting from the rooftops how much of a failure she is!”
“Oh, my bad. I ain’t think she could hear that shit.”
“Uranus could hear that.”
“Well of course my anus could hear it. It’s like right here.”
Throwing her bag at a snickering Anaar, “Not your… Nevermind.”
“The biggest loss to our class is Stefani though.”
“I know Stef has gotten super strong, but you have always put her on a pedestal. Why do you think her not being here is what will really set us back?”
“Besides her being a literal beast now, she is our best crowd control. We are outnumbered almost three to one. We will need something to even the odds. Since it is the incoming Freshmen’s class period it isn’t like any of them would have schedule conflicts. Much like yours, no one really knows exactly what Stefani’s power is, and that is after repeated exposure. She could basically take out the whole class with one song, without even trying.”
“Cain’t you just… Ya know, blow they ass up?”
“I would rather not scar the new students. I think this is technically supposed to be fun for us too, even though we are being graded. Seems like it would be a bad move to do that. Not to mention Peter is in that class. I don’t want him getting hurt. He is really tiny you know.”
“Could you see them lil’ legs all flyin’ in the air?! His ass just shoot off into space like a damn rocket!”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure there is some rule about sending your mentee into orbit.”
“Him and Codi still hate each other?”
Shrugging, “I wouldn’t call it hate per se. They are both extremely intelligent and like to be right. That doesn’t bode well for Peter.”
“Why just Peter?”
“Because Codi has already made the poor guy piss himself after getting into an argument. To be fair, I don’t think she quite factored in his size when she hit him with that much juice.”
Maggie covers her mouth with a gasp, “Aren’t you supposed to be stopping that sort of thing?!”
“When did I become their mediator? She is his mentor just like I am. They will work through their issues eventually. I hope.”
“She is surprisingly silent about her feelings regarding him for some reason. Usually she would be telling me all sorts of things. I’ll have to grill her about it later
. For now, we need to focus on winning.”
Just as Maggie was gearing up to pry more information out of Anaar regarding the other class, Professor Osadi came back into the room. Judging by the expression on his face, the idea of the two classes being pitted against one another was not one he could be considered to be fond of. Though his typical demeanor was surly, he looked particularly gruffer than usual and if examined closely, worry could be seen in his eyes.
“It is time to begin our joint exercise. We will make our way to the staging area. Because the other class needed more time for preparations, they will already be there. Even though both of us will be in attendance, I have taken responsibility for your class, and Professor Offerdero for the other class. Instructions will be explained to everyone on the field. Move out.”
The 23 remaining students in the class all looked around at one another somewhat nervously until their eyes fell on Anaar. Once they remembered he was with them, they seemed to relax considerably. Though this was not lost upon Anaar, it did not stop Hobb from illuminating such a fact.
“It appears your presence alone has a calming effect for your peers. 94% of students experienced relief when made aware of your attendance. 61% experienced a spike in sexual desire as monitored by their temperature and breathing.”
Why did I even need to know that last part?!
“I was simply providing you with my analysis of the data.”
There is no way their Vizer is sophisticated enough to know all of that without an implant.
“Actually-”
You know what? I’m not doing this with you right now.
Striding along, making a conscious effort to block out Hobb’s ramblings, Anaar was not ready for what awaited them in the staging area. Even though he was already aware of the situation, it did not make it any less daunting. Standing before them, most of the faces unsure of themselves, was a group of students that was three times the size of their own group.
Though there were a few in their number who looked bold and confident, most seemed overly scared and cautious. Anaar swept his eyes around, looking for Peter, but he did not find him. At least it appeared he had enough sense to not place himself front and center.
In her usual flippant attitude, Professor Offerdero pranced out onto the field between the two classes, evidently at the height of cheer. Her lithe, modelesque figure and deep dark skin were wonders to behold as she danced and swayed about. Finally after a few moments, she seemed to catch herself, giving a grin with her glimmering white teeth.
“Oh children, I can already see how fun this will be! Experience versus numbers! Which will win out?! How many limbs will require reattaching? Will the ground be charred black and stained red?! Oh I am positively trembling with excitement!”
Since it appeared Professor Offerdero could not remain focused, Professor Osadi took the helm and began explaining the exercise. “As you can see, the odds are not favorable for one side. As such we decided it would not be fair to make it so simple as one side eliminating the other.”
“Yes! Elimination is always beautiful!”
Shooting a sour look at Professor Offerdero, he continues his instructions. “For the experienced class, there will be a special bonus for whomever… eliminates the most students. For the new class, there will be additional points awarded if you can claim either of the two special bounties.”
A student in the front of the newer class raises his hand and immediately starts speaking. “Who are the bounties? When you say additional points, just how many additional points? What happens if it is a group effort taking down the bounties? Are the points split?”
Wow, if Maggie wasn’t already dating Dan, I would be certain those two were meant for each other.
As of late the two had been much more in sync with one another, so much so it was like they had a telepathic connection at times. In this moment it seemed to be operating at its highest level, because without warning Maggie slapped Anaar on the arm, squinting angrily at him as if she had heard his thoughts.
“That is a marvelous… series of questions my dear! While I will not be answering them, I will give you a hint! The bounties are for the most acclaimed students in the class!”
Taking care not to draw attention to herself, Maggie slightly yanks at the back of Anaar’s shirt. Recognizing what she meant, he only gives her a slight nod. It stood to reason they were the two bounties. They were both members of the group of students who could say they stood at the top of the school. It would only make sense to place more emphasis on their removal.
“With how much talking we have done, that should be more than enough time for preparations! I am feeling quite gracious today though, and will give you one more minute to strategize amongst yourselves! Tick tock! Time is wasting!”
Professor Offerdero’s final words did something that was quite beneficial in Anaar’s mind: It created a ruckus. With everyone scrambling and talking at once, it was unlikely the other team would be able to hear what they were saying, even with a particularly powerful audial Synestate. There was simply too much chatter to sift through to get a coherent message in the short amount of time. Immediately he turned to Maggie and Dan.
“Maggie, shooting people in the lungs is off limits.” Seeing the look of protest on her face, “And no walloping people over the head either!”
Grumbling, “I’ll think about it.”
“I’m serious Maggie. We should be giving these kids a break. I don’t think scarring them before their first Melee is going to inspire campus solidarity.”
“Kids?! They are the same age as us! They knew what they signed up for!”
“I ain’t know what I sign up for when I came here.”
“Shut up Dan, you don’t count. Love you!”
“Dan, can you save some paper for a cage?”
“I ain’t got enough paper for all them.”
“Not all of them, just one of them. I may not be a good mentor, but at least I can keep Peter safe. He can be reckless in situations like this. Just keep him locked down.”
“I can do that. The lil’ munchkin, right?”
“Err… Yes?” He then looks over to Yasmine. “I know you have likely already prepared, but can you tone down your Toxin? You wouldn’t make them lethal, but my mentee is pretty tiny, and if he gets hit by a bullet he will probably die.”
“Fuck that. If he is on the other team, he is fair game.”
“This is why I don’t like that cu-”
Cutting his eyes at Maggie, “Whatever, I’ll just take care of it myself.”
A whistle sounds and immediately everyone is brought back to reality. Before anyone can begin to react to the start of the bout, Maggie dives forward. With one grand flourish, she rips the gigantic, exquisitely decorated emerald green fan from her back, opens it, and lets off a series of wide sweeping gestures. From her reaction, even she was not ready for what happened next, as she stood gape mouthed at the result.
Unlike previous times where her manufactured tornado moved at a slow speed, its churning winds vicious but otherwise not overly detrimental to a person’s wellbeing, students across the field were being grabbed and thrown all about. Their clothes were being ripped from their bodies as they tumbled in the gusts like clothes in the spin cycle of a washing machine. The localized storm moved so swiftly through the group, it utterly decimated the ranks of the large clustered class. It was only when a man who looked as if he was under considerable strain emerged forth, that the winds died down.
“Maggie, what in the hell was that? Are you trying to murder an entire class?”
“That… has never happened before, maybe I pushed too hard? Why did it stop so abruptly?”
Pointing at the tired man, “Isn’t it obvious? They have an Aerokinetic. I’m guessing he isn’t used to raging winds he doesn’t create, because he looks as if he is about to pass out.”
“Whoo!! Damn!! That’s my girl! Take that ya sommabitches!!”
The rest of the class stood shocked be
hind Anaar and the celebrating Dan as they watched the group of 70 be reduced to easily half in one attack. Those remaining were cowering under a number of barriers, no doubt hastily thrown up in an attempt to block the storm. Taking that as their cue, the older students charged forth into the fray to join the now much less daunting fight.
In response to their approach, a number of Artillerites began throwing blasts of energy, only to realize their protection was also hindering their attacks. Anaar darted forth, weaving through students now exposed since the shields had been dropped. Tonfas out, he was a blur of kicks and strikes to various students until he finally found what he was looking for. A wide-eyed Peter was being clung to by a weeping Genevieve.
Storing his tonfas, he swooped in, grabbing Peter into a fireman’s carry, much to the shocked man’s resistance. Given his size and Anaar’s strength, he would have had an easier time attempting to escape from a bear trap. Leaning down to the still teary-eyed Genevieve, he gives her a smile.
“I’m going to take this one, we know he doesn’t know how to act. Also, your class is going to need you. If anyone gets shot or stabbed by an unknown force, you will need to use your abilities to help them. Yasmine isn’t stupid enough to make lethal doses of her Toxin, so your Purification should almost immediately counteract the poison.”
With that, he takes a still squirming Peter and dashes off. Regrouping with Dan he throws Peter into the contraption Dan had made to house the small man. Whether it was just to flex his muscles in creating constructs, or if he genuinely wanted to conserve paper, Dan had opted to make the cage functional, turning it into a semi-autonomous golem.
It seems like Dan has really been taking that construct training I started with him a few weeks back to heart. This is pretty good.
The fight continued, with only two of the less combat capable members of the older class falling in the fracas. Anaar did not need to do much in the fight, but he did protect the golem Dan had Peter in. What he realized about the new class was something he had never considered before.
Apotheosis (Song of Sophangence Book 3) Page 16