Dexter

I was back on a battlefield, sword drawn, facing a charging elf army. I turned to my own battalion of orcish soldiers. “CHAAAARGE.” I roared. They bellowed in rage and began to run forward. I joined their thundering feet as I winded my battle axe back. The elf army quickly approached; first thirty yards, then twenty, then ten. I felt a ripple as the armies finally clashed and blood started to fly. I grinned wide as I closed the gap to the front and vaulted over the elves' front line. I quickly picked off elf after elf as my vision started to be stained with red. They were no match for my strength. I cackled maniacally as my great sword tore through their armor like it was paper. The orcs around me slowly grew in number as I continued to push their front line. The elves eventually started to retreat, causing a bellowing charge to erupt from my battalion. I followed them as I continued to cackled. I suddenly stopped as the crowd parted and made a clearing and I came face to face with a jet-black figure. “Intriguing.” I heard it echo. “This has been an interesting development. I am almost tempted to let Almar have you.”

I grinned wide as I gestured around at the charging orcs. “It's Over You Pitiful King. Your Army Is Finished, Adympia Is Dying And I'll Finally Have My Revenge When I Spill Your Guts.”

Though the figure had no discernible features, I could swear it was smiling. “Yes, you will make a fine addition.” A dark sword slowly materialized in his hand as the orcs continued to charge.

I grinned as I readied my own sword and shield. “Not Going Down Without A Fight, Eh?”

The smile from the figure seemed to turn into a sneer as she stared at me. “It is a shame you no longer have memories of this plane. That might almost make this a challenge.” I let out my own sneer as I charged, sword drawn back, shield pointed forward. The figure waited for me as I alone closed the gap. I swung hard as I came face to blackness with him. The sword passed clean through the figure, not affecting it in the slightest. I swung again and again, each strike passing through. I retreated a short way as I suddenly felt uneasy. Something was wrong, this wasn’t right. The figured suddenly chuckled before speaking. “You should feel lucky. I have never gotten to use this spell before, but then again, I have never had an opportunity like this. It would be a shame to waste it.” It then raised its arm up, bringing the sword back to strike. “I promise this will end quickly.” I raised the shield as the black blade came soaring at me. I closed my eyes and braced for impact . . . but it never came. Instead, a thunderous bang rang out across the field. I stood there as I slowly realized I hadn't felt the blow. I looked over the shield and saw a new figure, this one decked out in orcish blood-red armor, blocking the blade with the handle of a large war-hammer. He suddenly pushed forward and threw the blade off, causing the figure to stagger back. I could've sworn the black figure now held a scowl. “What is this now? Another meddler?”

The red figure didn't reply, merely adopted a fighting stance, crouched low as I held its index and middle finger up and his hammer drawn back. The black figure let out a scoff as he saw the display. “No matter. You will be crushed regardless.” He suddenly thrust the sword forward, intent on hitting me. For a split second, I raised my shield again but stopped when another figure dashed out from the crowd of moving orcs. He stepped between me and the blade as he raised a shield of his own. Another bang rang out as the black mass struck the shield. I stared wide-eyed at the blue-clad figure before me, a mirror image of the red that stood next to him. A matching lance accompanied his shield, its tip giving off a deadly cold aura.

I bellowed in triumph. “Hell Yeah, Mother Fucker.” The blue figure threw the blade off and stepped beside the red figure, forgoing a stance for the moment. They still hadn't spoken a word, merely stared at the black figure before us.

The figure let out a low growl as he saw the warriors defending me. “Ah, so that's how it is. No matter. I will just crush the two of you and move on to him.”

I stepped beside the warriors and adopted a fighting stance again, shield up with my sword drawn back. “Come On, We Can Take Him.” I encouraged the figures. They didn't react to my order, merely continued to stare at the figure. The red figure holding as still as a statue while the blue figure tilted his head slightly.

The dark figure adopted a stance of his own, dark blade smoking menacingly. “You cannot resist forever. I will have your body offered to Almar. I will have those cannons.”

I chuckled as I tightened my grip on my sword. “I’d Like To See You Try!” I shouted back. “It’s Three On One And I’m Eager To See The Kind Of Damage We Can Do.”

The blue figure suddenly turned to the red and briefly tilted his head towards me. The red one responded by turning and hooking the tip of his hammer under my armor. I stared at him, confused. “Head to the castle.” He rumbled simply.

He then proceeded to push up and launch me over the field, sailing over the dark-clad figure as he bellowed an echoing “NOOOOO” over the battlefield. The wind whistled in my ears as I soared through the air, the field behind me quickly fading from my mind. I grinned wide as I spotted the castle in the distance. “Let's Fucking Do This.”

For once, I woke up refreshed and energized. I sat up in my hammock and flexed my fingers. The muscles moved smoothly beneath the skin. “The potion must've been working through the night. I can't feel any soreness.” I turned and dropped from the hammock, grabbing my watch from the nearby table. 7:15 I grinned as I put on my glasses and made my way towards the ladder. The wood creaked as I climbed down. “I can take another potion and squeeze in a few hours before they arrive.” I walked over to the table of potions but hesitated, the taste of yesterday still fresh in my mind. I shook my head as I forced myself to pick up another bottle. “The things that are worth it are rarely easy, and the things that are easy are rarely worth it.” I clenched my eyes shut and quickly drank the vile concoction. What little I tasted brought disgusting visions to mind. I let out a cough as I finished the draught and put the now-empty vial back with its brothers. I shuddered one last time before moving towards the door. I stopped as I spotted a silver cloche one of the tables situated beside a roll of parchment. The boards beneath me groaned slightly as I walked over. I gently unrolled the parchment as my stomach let out a low growl. The letters on the page carried a certain elegance and experience as I read.

Dexter,

I was unsure if you would be hungry when you awoke. So, I took the liberty of having some food brought down. Do not eat this too quickly.

-Bulak

The parchment let out a small crinkle as I grinned to myself. “That’s sweet. I’m glad she thought of me.” I set the note down and lifted the cover off the platter. A rich aroma wafted up from the plate as my mouth began to water. The usual ribs were replaced by two massive cooked bird legs. My stomach let out another growl as I gazed hungrily at the food. I reached down and picked up one of the legs. “I have no idea what kind of animals are in this place, but they must be massive.” The legs were only slightly smaller than my own forearm, packed to the brim with muscle fibers and tendons. I licked my lips before taking a savory bite as my stomach again reminded me of my hunger. The leg exploded with flavor as I carefully chewed the meat. “I'm definitely going to have to thank Bulak for this.”

I quickly finished my unexpected breakfast, leaving the other leg and a few rolls for Amelia. I then rushed outside as I turned my attention back to the rite. “I’ll need to find out how best to manage the recruits. I’m certain they’ll have styles they favor. I’ll need to come up with a way to help them interact in the right way.” The sword and shield felt a little lighter as I picked them up. “I’m glad the potion didn’t affect my ability to grow stronger. Though it’s probably slower than without the potion.” I took a few steps back from the table and began practicing, swinging my sword about in mock strikes as I forced myself to focus. “I still have a ways to go, but I still have time to get stronger. I just need to find a balance between physical practice and team building. Once I find a good combination, we’ll be able to handle anything they throw at us.” I grinned to myself as the blade soared through the air, breaking the silence of the morning.

I spent just over an hour training before Bulak began walking over the hill. I paused and turned to her as I heard her footsteps. She grinned as she saw me practicing. “Did you see the note I left you?” I grinned back and tapped my chest before letting out a deep belch. “I will take that as a yes then.”

I nodded as another small burp left my lips.“How are you feeling? Is the soreness gone?” I asked. “You don’t have the advantage of a potion.

Bulak nodded as she moved towards the table. “It is not as bad as yesterday.” She admitted. “There is some soreness, but it is still an improvement.” I nodded as Bulak picked up the shield and battle-axe. She glanced at me as she walked a short way from the barn. “In any case, there is still much to do before you rite. So, shall we get started?”

I grinned and nodded as I adopted a fighting stance, shield pointed forward with my sword drawn back. “Let's fucking do it,” I replied confidently. Bulak grinned as she took up her own stance and we began sparring. clang bang boom The clash of metal replaced the silence of the late morning.

We spent an hour sparring before the sound of a crowd started cresting the hill. We turned as the footstep grew louder and louder. “Showtime.” I took off my glasses, handed them to Bulak, and moved a few steps towards them. I stared at them nervously as they murmured to themselves. “Ready to get started?” I called down at them. A few of them nodded as they stopped in front of me, sneering at me as they chuckled to themselves. The rest just glared angrily at me. I let out a sigh and nodded as I gestured back down the hill. “Excellent, I'm having my friend bring the others up here around midday. Until then, we'll start with you, you, and you.” They nodded as they split into the respective groups, most of them heading towards the barn to wait while the three I chose went to get their chosen weapons. I turned and sighed thoughtfully as I waited for the three orcs to grab their weapons. “Seven days to go, a week to hammer out a plan, and a potion that basically means I don't need to rest when I go overcapacity. If my plan works out, everyone will leave the arena a declared warrior. I just have to hope that the trainees are somewhat good. . . I can totally do this.” I rolled my neck and grinned to myself as the orcs began walking over and we began the day's practice.

I spent another three hours sparring with the orcs. boom bang clang They hadn't let up from yesterday's training. crack boom bang If anything, they were trying their damndest to hurt me as often and as brutally as possible. bash crack thoom I felt a small trail of blood drip down the side of my head as the sparring dragged on, spurred on by the ever invigorated orcs. Boom bang crash The alternating weapons made it hard to keep up; axes, shields, spears, swords, hammers, halberds, scimitars, flails, daggers, maces, all of them required a different approach for my choice in weapons and very rarely did they line up to what I was fighting at the time. clang crack bang “A real battlefield scenario. Scenarios are never optimal.” I reminded myself. “I need to get used to suboptimal scenarios.” crack swish boom My shield weighed heavy on my arm with each blow and my sword resonated to my bones with each strike. crack bang thoom The orcs were really putting the potion to work, barely giving my body time to numb the pain before striking me again. bang boom Smash I crumbled to the ground again as they landed another hit to my face. “Fuck,” I growled softly, nursing the latest in a line of bruises.

I looked up as I suddenly heard another group approaching over the hill. I slowly crawled to my feet as I looked down the hill at the new group of orcs in the distance. They were definitively younger than most other orcs I saw, fewer scars and hair across their bodies. The few of them that had facial hair grew it in thin wispy strands, inexperienced in grooming the sparse hairs. They were also a little less defined than the orcs currently surrounding me, yet to rid themselves of the look of inexperience present in youth. They seemed slightly apprehensive as they saw the huge group of orcs standing near the barn door, but they kept moving forward. I noticed Brugo leading them up to the barn and made my way over. I gave him a smile and gestured at the half-dozen trainees he’d brought. “Hey, these the recruits?”

Brugo nodded as he gestured at the six orcs. “They are willing to enter the arena with you, reluctantly as it is.” I nodded as I looked at each of them. They looked barely older than me, unless the extended life also meant an extended maturation period. In any case, I could start planning strategies for the right.

I pointed up at the barn, towards Bulak who was leaning of the doorframe. “Go ahead and talk to Bulak. She'll assign two trainers to each of you. We'll get to know each other at the end of the day.” They glanced at each other for a moment before walking past me and Brugo, heading towards the barn and the orcs. I watched as they slowly shuffled towards the group of orcs. I turned to Brugo as I flexed my fingers. “Thanks, Brugo. They'll definitely help me in the arena.”

Brugo nodded as he watched Bulak sort the trainers. He seemed to teeter on speaking for a second. “If you do not mind, I would like to observe the training you are going through.”

I tilted my head slightly as I stared at him. “You don't have to tend to the bar?” I asked quizzically.

Brugo shook his head as he gestured behind him. “I have someone managing the tavern during this errand. I trust her to properly tend it while I am away. I can be gone for the rest of the day if need be.”

I let out an understanding grunt as I gestured towards the door. “Be my guest then. I don't see a problem with you being here. Pull out a chair if you want. I’m sure Amelia and Brokil won’t mind.” Brugo nodded as he made his way towards the door and I turned back to the orcs I was sparring. I stretched my neck as I walked back over. “Sorry about that. Let's get back to it.”

The second half of the day was marginally better. bang thoom choom I had a smaller supply of orcs to pull from, but that still didn't stop them from trying their hardest to hurt me. clang bang boom Near the end I think I was cutting into their stamina limits, but it was hard to see past the moderate bruising on my face. boom swish Smash I collapsed on my hands and knees as one of the orcs finally got a good shot in on my stomach. I coughed for a minute as I forced my now churning stomach to calm down. “Had enough yet?” The orcs gasped, fatigue clear in his voice.

I spat into the dirt as I held my stomach. “For the moment.” I coughed. I crawled to my feet as my stomach finally settled and I wasn’t at risk of losing my lunch. I stared down at the orc as I felt a drop of blood falling from my fingertip. “I keep forgetting how tall I am in comparison to them. Only a few of them here are as tall as me.” I gestured insistently as I let out a low sigh. “Are you going to tell me what I should've done?” I asked challengingly.

The orc gritted his teeth as I confronted his smug demeanor. He stood there for a moment before finally growling a response. “Your shield was too slow. A blow like that should have been easy to block with a shield.” I nodded as I turned to the other orcs. The trainees were sparring with a pair of their own, one running through exercises while the other coached them on the side. Each of the trainees had selected their own weapon to use; daggers, spear, a flail, shields, and a sword. I turned as I noticed one of them had chosen a bow, using a shield that Bulak had brought within the sack of weapons as a target.

I let out a sigh before raising my voice to let all of the orcs hear. “That's all for today,” I called out to the orcs. They all stopped and turned to me. “The trainers can head home for today. The apprentices will stay and meet inside the barn so that we can talk strategy for the arena.” The trainers glared at me briefly then begrudgingly began heading down the hill. The trainees glanced at each other then began walking into the barn.

I turned and slowly shuffled towards the door as Bulak rushed over and started helping me. “You have improved.” She said encouragingly. “You are making fewer and fewer mistakes.”

I nodded as I walked towards the door. Brugo was standing there, arms crossed as his face displayed a soft scowl. “That is quite different from the outsider I saw in the battle,” Brugo remarked. “You are remarkably lax here in comparison.”

I nodded as I looked down at my hand and clenched it. “As I said earlier, I was working off some deep reserves and fighting for my life to pull those moves off. All this is so that I don't have to do that the next time I get involved in a fight, plus get that title I earned during the battle.”

Brugo nodded as he rubbed his chin. “I suppose you have a point there.” He remarked. He suddenly pointed inside the barn. “Anyway, I have seen all I need to. Go inside and inspire your recruits. They may need it if they are to follow you faithfully into the arena.”

I nodded as I looked towards the doorway. It stood above me menacingly. “Thanks. I'll keep that in mind.” I replied, limping the rest of the way into the barn.

Brokil looked up as Bulak pulled the door closed behind us. “Not again.” He muttered as he walked over. “I thought I told you to exercise caution.”

I let out a groan as Bulak lowered me into a chair. “Yea, well, I don't exactly have control over that,” I countered. “Spending hours outside, I’m bound to make a few mistakes here and there. Plus, I told them not to go easy on me so I can be prepared for the arena.” I could hear Brokil sigh as he examined my wounds. “Just fix what you can. I'll handle the rest.” Brokil nodded as he began healing the cuts I'd managed to receive during training. After another minute the pain faded enough for me to look up at the recruits. They were still eyeing me skeptically as Brokil worked on the last of my injuries. Finally, Brokil backed away and Bulak handed me my glasses. I put the frames on and stood, weathering the pain that was still in my muscles and joints. I let out a sigh and clapped my hands together and I approached the recruits. They continued to eye me warily as I spoke. “Alright, let's get this thing started. First things first, introductions. In case you're unaware of my name, it's Dexter. And yes, I am going through the rite so that I can receive a title. In case you've heard of this rumor; yes I created the pulse that drove the elves from the city. Don't ask me how I did it, I have no idea myself. Beyond that anything positive you've heard about me is probably true. Anything else is likely a malicious rumor.” I glanced around at them as they stared at me. They appeared to have relaxed a bit, they still seemed on edge as I stood there. I gestured towards them encouragingly as I spoke one more time. “Now, would anyone else like to introduce themselves? If we’re going to go through the rite, we might as well get to know each other.” The recruits were quiet for a minute, glancing at each other as if unsure whether they should go first or not.

The silence was only broken once one of them finally stepped forward and began his introduction. His voice strangely boomed, despite his younger appearance, and gave him a sense of power and authority that even some of my trainers lacked. “My name is Wurthu and I am here to complete the rite as you are. I do not have as interesting a tale as you do, but that does not change my commitment to obtaining my own status.” I nodded at the orc. He was just short enough for me to see the top of his head. His brown hair was pulled into the usual ponytail and his green eyes gazed around in a calculating manner. He definitely seemed like someone that was planning ahead.

I looked around as I waited for one of the other orcs to speak up. After another minute a second orc stepped forward. “I am Yargug and I am also here to complete the rite.” I waited for him to say more, but he didn't. Instead, he looked around at the others, dark hair swaying free and blue eyes waiting for someone else to speak. He was clearly a man of few words, a paradoxically efficient yet inconvenient choice for the rite.

A pair of orcs suddenly stepped forward and began their introductions. “I am Urgran and this is my younger brother Umurn.” One of them said. I nodded as they also chose to stay silent about other notions. They looked near-identical, the only thing distinguishing them besides their stature, wispy beard, and brown hair were their eyes. Urgran had a pair of dull brown eyes while Umurn possessed bright green eyes. Urgran was considerably thinner and stood a few inches over his brother. He looked almost catlike, his fingers flexing delicately at his side. Umurn was equally built like a barrel, his shoulder’s bulging beneath his shawl. His right hand was flexed into a dense fist, knuckles a pale white at his side. I turned to the two remaining orcs expectantly as I waited for their introductions. They stayed silent as everyone stared at them.

I let out an impatient sigh as I gestured insistently. “I can choose for you, or you can choose amongst yourself,” I provided firmly. “Either way, I need to know your names.”

Their silence was finally broken as one of them stepped forward and introduced himself. “My name is Vargan, and like the rest of you I am here to complete the rite, though I have heavy doubts about doing it so soon, especially with the outsider.” I nodded as I watched him rub the back of his neck. He was slightly shorter than the average orc, about Amelia's height. His green eyes and brown hair just screamed of someone that was nervous, eyes shifting back and forth like a mouse in the presence of a cat.

I nodded encouragingly as I gave him a smile. “Thank you, Vargan. You don’t have to work about me. I’ll try to hold my own.”

Vargan let out an unconvinced hmm as I tried to ease his concerns. “If you believe such.” He muttered. I nodded as I chose to drop the subject. After standing in silence for a moment, everyone turned to the last orc as he stared, bored, at the rest of us.

He finally let out an exasperated sigh as we continued to stare at him. “Fine, my name is Yamarz; and like Vargan there I have doubts about this whole endeavor, though my feelings are much more severe.”

I nodded as he finished introducing himself. He was the only one of them that was my height, dark hair and green eyes holding the same bored expression his voice did. His scowl gave him a bullheaded look, a contrast to the thin frame he was sporting. He was like a mantis, waiting to strike. I gesture at the others as I gave Yamarz a warm smile. “Well, I hope we can change your mind about this prospect,” I said encouragingly. Yamarz growled and shrugged as I turned back to the rest of the orcs and glanced down at my watch. 6:45 I pointed to an open table as I continued speaking. “The food should be here in about ten minutes. We can start discussing a strategy until then.” The recruits nodded reluctantly and moved to take a seat at the table.

We spent a good two hours discussing a plan for the arena. During that time the recruits filled me in more about the usual rite of passage. The beast could range from a bear to a deer depending on how the council was feeling about the group. I twirled the bird’s leg I was munching on and let out an intrigued hmm as I heard that piece of information. “I doubt they’d go for the more mundane animals,” I warned. “Dubak mentioned the council would no go easy on me, considering my nature and all.”

Wurthu let out an intrigued hum of his own and tapped his fingers together thoughtfully. “A bear may be the least of our worries then,” He remarked. “They could bring in a Chemisit or something far worse.”

I nodded as I put down the leg and rubbed my head. “There's no telling what they'll throw at us. They might even use a creature that doesn't exist in my world. For all I know, you guys have another creature I know nothing about. When it comes to guessing we might as well be walking into the arena blind. The best course of action against this unknown is to train so that we'll be able to adapt to the threat as we know more about it.”

The orcs nodded as they stared off thoughtfully. “What do you suggest we do?” Yargug asked.

I let out a hum and gave the question some thought. “Specialization.” I finally replied. The others looked at me, confused. I gestured to Urgran as I recalled something he said earlier. “You mentioned the same weapons being used by multiple orcs, correct?”

Urgran nodded as he began explaining. “The notion behind the idea is to create a veritable army against any creature they present us. Many rites become boring due to trainees utilizing their strength of numbers to overpower their creatures. As enthralling as it is to see an army fight a Chemisit, such a creature is rarely chosen for the rite.”

I nodded as I gestured towards him. “Well, I propose we do the opposite. Each of us should enter the arena with a unique weapon, one we are well versed on. That way, we're more likely to have a weapon that'll easily take down the beast.”

The orcs glanced at each other skeptically as they heard my plan. “So, we each use a different weapon?” Umurn asked.

I nodded as I began explaining. “If we encounter something that can't be killed by a single weapon, we find out what combination of the weapons we do have will allow us to easily kill the beast.” I pointed at Vargan. “I noticed you were training with a bow. Out of curiosity, how far can you hit a target?”

Vargan considered my question for a minute before shrugging. “About a hundred yards.” He finally replied. The other recruits let out an impressed hmm but were quickly interrupted by Vargan. “That is if I am given enough time.” He clarified. “If I am rushed or the target is moving I can only hit it at fifty yards.”

I nodded as I heard his addition. “That's still a useful range,” I said encouragingly. “If the beast prevents melee weapons from getting close enough we can use that as a distraction or for an outright kill.” Vargan nodded nervously as I solidified his choice of weapon. “The other thing about specialization is the relative skill in your respective weapon,” I added as I looked around at the recruits. “We have one more week to prepare for the rite. During that time, you should train with one particular weapon instead of trying to gain the skills for all of them. At this point, I've defaulted to the sword and shield, but we should have at least two or three others with a shield so that we're not relying on one person to provide defense for our entire group.” They nodded as they heard my reasoning. I leaned back and rubbed my chin thoughtfully. “Beyond that, I don't see a reason to limit the offensive weapons you use. You can use any you like; war-hammer, battle-axe, even throwing knives if you're good enough at it.”

Yamarz immediately sat up at the prospect. “Throwing knives?” He asked as a smile began to creep onto his face.

I stared at him, confused. “Are you good at using knives?” I asked as Yamarz's face evolved into a full smile. He didn't answer, merely reached into his shawl and pulled out a polished knife, about as long as his hand. The blade was sharpened into the shape of a raindrop, the tip glinting in the light. Before anyone could react, he turned and threw it up at the loft, causing the knife to appear in the side of the boards and a cry of fear to emanate from Amelia as she ducked out of sight.

Yamarz turned back and grinned wide as he pointed up at the now embedded knife. “I can easily hit targets at double that distance.” He boasted.

I cringed as I fully registered the series of events. “That was certainly impressive,” I admitted. “but maybe we should refrain from such demonstrations inside.”

Yamarz’s face suddenly fell as he realized his actions and looked around at the other recruits. The stared at him with apprehension as one would rising cobra. He then turned and looked up at his knife and down at the just now emerging Amelia. She was scowling angrily at him as she rose back above the table. “Oh gods, I am terribly sorry about that. I have no idea what came over me.”

I gestured calmingly at Yamarz. “It's alright, that energy is good. Just don't do things like that inside.” Yamarz nodded as he stood and moved over to the ladder. Amelia continued to glare angrily at him as he started to climb. I leaned forward as an idea popped into mind. “Do you need two hands to do that?” I asked. “It might be unorthodox, but you could be one of the people carrying a shield into the arena.”

Yamarz nodded as he moved over to his knife. “I just require a single free hand to throw. I can carry a shield in with me if you wish me to. I merely need a supply of knives to use.”

I nodded as I watched him pulled out his knife and move back towards the ladder. “That means we have three decisions in terms of weapons.” I turned back to the others. “What about you four? Any ideas on the weapons you want?” They each paused and considered for a minute.

Wurthu finally let out a sigh as he gestured towards the door. “I have always been partial to a battle-axe.” He admitted. “I am already familiar with the techniques. So, I should be well prepared for the arena. I can also carry a shield in with me. It would also do me well to hone my single-handed maneuvers.”

I nodded as he finished expressing his choice of weapon. “Excellent choice. From what Bulak has shown me, battle-axes have a good deal of power and speed behind them. It’ll be good to bring that one into the arena.”I turned to the other three as I waited for them to make a decision. They gave their answer another moment as they each seemed to consider their options.

Umurn suddenly grinned and let out a chuckle as he turned to his older brother. “Remember when we used to have mock battles as a kid? You used a piece of bark as a shield and a long stick as a spear while I always managed to find a large stick and used it as a sort of war-hammer.”

Urgran smiled and chuckled at the memory. “We certainly had active imaginations.” He remarked. “Do you recall the battle of pine fort?”

Umurn bellowed in laughter as he slapped the table enthusiastically. “That battle was truly hard fought, brother. . . . . Are you thinking what I am thinking?”

Urgran chuckled again and nodded as he gestured to the two of them. “I say it is time for the return of the brothers smash and stab.”

Umurn roared with laughter again as he nodded fervently. “This would be the perfect opportunity for them to make that return.” He affirmed jollily. The brothers turned to us as they grinned happily. “We will bear the burned of another shield if you so wish. I will ensure my older brother does not foolishly waste his combative talents on mere stumps.”

Urgran let out another laugh as he nodded in agreement. “So long as I am allowed to protect you, I will be happy.” He affirmed.

I nodded as a grin briefly crept onto my face. “It sounds like you two have made your decision. I’m sure you’ll be able to contribute greatly to this rite.” I turned to the final orc as the brothers nodded in agreement. “What about you, Yargug? Any idea on what you want to bring in?”

Yargug sat there as he seemed to heavily consider the question. He finally let out a sigh as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I do not have the skills you lot have. To be honest, my first inclination was a sword and shield. However, since that is already taken, I suppose I will settle for a morning star or some other flail weapon.”

I nodded as he chose his weapon. “Excellent that solidifies our weapons for the arena, but there's one final thing that we need for this plan to work.” They stared at me as I paused. “For dramatic effect.” I gestured towards the door as I explained. “We need to coordinate. We can't just charge the beast with reckless abandon. We need to work together to use our weapons as effectively as possible. That's going to be the whole point of these meetings; so that we can work together in the arena.” The orcs nodded as they heard my last addition. I absentmindedly cracked my knuckles as I glanced at my watch. 6:54 “We should spend the next hour or so drawing up strategies. After that, you guys can go home and come back in the morning. Sound like a plan?” They nodded again as a few of them took another bite of food. I clapped my hands and rubbed them together as I let out a sigh. “Then let's get started.”

We ended up spending an hour and a half cooking up combinations of weapons and designs for the formation we'd use. The table of food that was brought eventually dwindled down to a few scraps left on each plate. I picked up the last bit of bread and began munching on it as I let out a sigh. “That should be all for today.” I mused. “We’ll review these formations tomorrow and try to improve where we can. For now, head home and get some rest. This next week is going to be intense.”

Wurthu nodded as he stood and stretched, his joints letting out soft pops as he stretched them. “That would be most wise. There are still many preparations to be done before the rite. I have my own rituals to complete.”

I nodded and stretched as I let out a groan. “Go ahead and do that if you think it’ll help. I want the best chance of success we can manage. The same goes for the rest of you. If you think up a way to increase our chances, let it be known. The council won’t give us the same courtesy.”

Urgran and Umurn nodded as they stretched their respective joints. “My younger brother and I shall inform you if such a notion crosses our mind,” Urgran answered. “I hope you shall do the same.”

I nodded as I finished up the roll and wiped my hands together. “There’s not much I can make in a week,” I admitted. “But I’ll try to come up with something within that time.”

They nodded as they followed Wurthu towards the door. Umurn waved my way as he gave me a grin. “I look forward to seeing more of your combative skills.” He said encouragingly.

I grinned and nodded as I let out a satisfied sigh. “Likewise,” I replied.

I looked up as I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder and saw Yamarz’s guilty expression. “I apologize again for my unprofessional behavior.” He voiced. “I will do my best to remedy my harm.”

I gestured dismissively as I glanced at Amelia. Her face was buried in the spellbook in front of her. “You don’t need to worry. You’re perfectly fine. Being able to throw knives is definitely a useful trick.”

Yamarz grinned as he heard my praise. “Thank you.” He voiced, bowing slightly. “I appreciate your leniency.” I nodded as he turned and followed the others to the door.

I turned to Vargan and Yargug as I gestured towards the door. “You two should get going. You’ll want to be well-rested for training tomorrow.” They nodded as they stood and followed the others outside.

I let out a small burp as the others left the barn and vanished into the night. “I'll see you all in the morning,” I called as I climbed to my feet. I let out a sigh as I stretched and turned to the array of plates on the table. There were still a few scraps of food left, but I was not in the mood to finish it. “That potion really boosted my appetite, but even I have a limit.”

I reached towards one of the plates and began cleaning the table as Bulak walked over to join me. “That went rather well.” She said happily.

I grinned and nodded as Bulak began helping me clear the table. “I got a lot done today.” I winced as a raw patch of skin suddenly rubbed against one of the chairs. “Despite everything else.”

Bulak nodded as she carried a stack of plates over to another table. “You controlled the situation rather well.” She admitted. “I was expecting you to come up with these elaborate outsider plans that would miraculously work if executed properly.”

I let out a sigh and shook my head as I thought about my conversation with the recruits. “I don't think such a tactic exists,” I admitted. “Even if there is one, I wouldn't know it. I know basic fighting skills, but that’s about it. I'm a civilian, not a soldier. At least I was until this whole Banestorm thing happened.”

Bulak shrugged as she walked back and began stacking more plates. “I suppose you have a point. Even if what you speak of is occasionally nonsensical, there is only so much madness one can spout.”

I grinned and let out a small laugh as I picked up another plate. “I don't know, I haven't even scratched the surface the outsider madness that resides in here.” I countered playfully, tapping my head. “Even the stuff I learned in high-school would sound like madness to you.”

Bulak grinned and nodded as she picked up the last of the plates. “You will have to share some that madness with me sometime.” She replied. “Who knows, maybe I will develop a similar madness.”

I chuckled loudly as I carried the plates over to the other table with Bulak. “I don't know; even outsiders have trouble with this madness sometimes. An unprepared mind could break from the mere presence of it.” I let out a sarcastic sigh as I set the plates on top of the others. “It is both a gift and a curse.”

Bulak grinned as she stacked the plates on top of mine. “Given how much you have done in the span of a few days, Gashur could definitely benefit from understanding your madness.”

I nodded as I let out a sigh and cracked my knuckles again. “And this is only what I came up with because of the time crunch. If I had more time I might've tried to invent a new weapon to bring into the arena; but since I don't, this is all I can do.”

Bulak nodded again as she glanced at Amelia and Brokil. They were still studying the spellbook as they practiced a new incantation. “So, what now? Do you plan to practice magic once more?”

I shook my head as I let out a yawn, feeling a sense of lethargy from my full stomach. “I'm too tired for that.” I sighed. “I'll probably just head to bed and start training in the morning.”

Bulak nodded as she watched me stretch. “That is probably wise. You want to be well-rested for training.”

I nodded as I turned towards the ladder. “I'll see you in the morning then.” I yawned, making my way towards the loft. I faltered as something else suddenly occurred to me. I turned back to Bulak. “Actually, can you bring food by like you did this morning? I'm definitely going to need it after I drink another potion.”