As the day of the first squad battle drew nearer so did the tension amongst the students grow. Councilors from the Magi assembly and from the king's court were to arrive at Tempest to watch the squad's battle. It seemed that the occasion was a bigger deal than Tristan had first thought. People's careers and futures would be determined by these fights. But little did Tristan know just how much the battles would change the path of his own life.

***

The arena grounds were fully booked for the weeks leading up to the first round of fights so the Misfits were forced to find a place to train. Most of the students were training in the forests so Tristan's squad were forced to hike up the mountain to find a secluded spot. Tristan was still unable to cast a flame larger than that of a cigarette lighter. Luna was now able to summon two wolves from deeply shadowed areas and Jayce had mastered the Immortal Aegis ability, as he called it. The spell allowed him to sense his immediate surroundings and block all incoming attacks. At first he was only able to maintain the spell for a few seconds but after a week of training he was now about to last a full minute. His gravity magic was not going as well. He could use the Crush ability whenever he wanted but the spell increased the gravity for everyone in the area but him. Even after a week of late night's practicing he was still unable to select targets for the spell.

***

The night before the first round was a rest night. They feasted in the hall, even though the kobolds had still not returned to the academy. Instead they lined up as Cookie the chef dished them up large portions of roast beef, crispy potato wedges, yorkshire puddings and a colorful salad that only Luna ate.

After dinner Tristan went for a walk alone. He had Luna money on him and he felt giddy knowing that he was about to pay off a large chunk of his debts. He whistled as he made his way towards the Headmasters office. He rounded the corner and saw a familiar sight. The statue of the disfigured man holding a sword in one hand and an open book in the other hand. He’d passed the statue almost every day but for some reason on that day he stopped and looked at it. He’d often wondered who the man was and why the statue's face had been disfigured. It looked almost like someone had taken a hammer to it but he wondered why.

A scraping sound alerted Tristan that he was not alone. His hand went for his sword but he realized he was unarmed.

“What was the first order I gave you students?” asked Master Wraithen as he stepped around the corner. Tristan noticed the sabel sword swinging from the Masters hip.

“Always carry your weapon,” said Tristan reflexively. The Master had repeated that instruction enough times that it was drilled into Tristan’s head. “But it's in the castle. What can harm me here?”

The Master nodded. “Do you know how many students there were at the beginning of the school year?” he asked.

Tristan shrugged.

“Twenty six students,” said the Master. “Do you know how many students are left?”

Tristan tilted his head as he counted them in his mind.

“Eighteen,” he said.

The Master nodded. “Eight students are gone and we are less than half way through the year.”

“Is that bad?” Tristan asked.

“It's concerning,” said the Master. “The king is sending his own men to look into the incidents. I imagine he thinks the students are being recruited by an enemy.”

“Why are you telling me this?” asked Tristan.

“Something is different this year,” said the Master. “There is a taint over Umbra. Qualified Magi have been going missing, soldiers have been killed in their own homes and three Masters and eight students have disappeared. It has to mean something.”

Tristan eyed the Master’s sword and then looked up and saw that the Master was looking at the statue.

“Maybe it's our punishment,” said Wraithen. “The hero sealed away the dragon and brought peace. What have we done with that gift? We burn down forests to craft weapons so we can wage wars for profit.”

The Master looked at Tristan as if he’d just realized that he was still standing there.

“Have you discovered strengths yet?” he asked.

Tristan shook his head. He wanted to ask the Master if he’d been drinking but instead he remained silent.

“Well, find out, Tristan. The world is changing, we are going to need that strength for what's coming.”

The Master's words continued to echo in Tristan's mind as he made his way alone down the hallway.

‘What’s coming,’ he thought. Did the Master mean Malice or something else.

He was just heading back to the dormitory when he bumped into Pyson Mews. The pale boy was leaning against the wall. Pyson flicked a coin into the air and caught it then turned to Tristan.

“Good evening, rank one,” said the boy.

“Don't call me that,” said Tristan.

“You don't think you deserve that name?” asked Pyson.

“That's not what I said. We earned it and we’ll prove that in the arena.”

“You want to place a bet on that?” asked Pyson.

“I don't have money for gambling,” said Tristan.

Pyson tilted his head towards Tristan’s coin purse. “That purse would disagree,” said the boy.

“What’s the odds?” asked Tristan.

“Well you are rank one,” said Pyson. “So the bet is not just on you winning.”

“What’s the conditions?” asked Tristan.

“Beat the Vixens in less than five minutes you’ll win double your bet,” said Pyson.

“Double,” said Tristan.

Pyson nodded.

Tristan hesitated for a moment. He knew Luna would kill him if she found out but Luna would forgive him once they won. With that kind of money he could pay off his debts and give Luna her money back.

Tristan untied his coin purse and tossed it to Pyson.

***

The morning of the battle Jayce walked into the dorm room and saw Tristan sitting in his bed lost in thought.

“Watch where you step,” said Tristan.

“Ugh, What is this stuff, hoa,” asked Jayce as he wiped his hands on his shirt.

“Spider webs,” said Tristan.

“Why’s it all over the walls and floor? It looks like a spider orgy that went wrong.”

“You have a sick imagination, Jayce.”

“I'm not the sick one, Tris. Spider webs all over your room, that creepy crow sidekick of yours. The place looks like a comic book villain’s lair.”

Jayce looked around the room.

“Where is that bird of yours, I haven't seen it around lately. Not that I'm complaining.”

“Buzzbeak’s been missing for a few weeks,” said Tristan. “I think he got sick of my cooking.”

“We need to get going now, hoa. You ready?”

Tristan nodded as he stood up from his bed. He opened his bedside chest and pulled out his sword. “We are going to rip off their heads and crap down their throats,” said Tristan.

Jayce laughed. “You, my friend, are mental.”

***

The heads of the noble families as well as representatives of the king arrived the day of the battle. The arena had been transformed, the king's color flew from banners and flaming torches lit the arena ground. A large invisible dome only noticeable by those with magical talent stretched over the sands so stray spells wouldn't harm the audience seated in the stadium.

“We are up first,” said Jayce as the Misfits took their seats with the rest of the students.

“That's good,” said Luna, as she wiped her hands on her skirt.

“Are you nervous?” asked Tristan.

“I don't like waiting,” she said quickly.

“Just stick to the strategy,” said Tristan. “We combo them down quickly before they have time to set up their own attacks.”

“Why the rush, hoa?” asked Jayce. “We don't even know their abilities.”

Luna tilted her head as she waited for Tristan's response. He had explained to them that the Vixens had an ability that took time to charge up and that they needed to finish them before the attack could be used. But it seemed they were still not convinced. He couldn't say that he’d placed all Luna’s money on them winning in five minutes; that wouldn't be a good look for him.

“Trust the plan,” said Tristan. “Our information is reliable.”

Ambrose and a group of students pushed past in front of them and the three pulled back in their seats to make room for them.

Ambrose 'accidently’ tripped and his hand brushed Luna’s leg.

“Sorry,” he said and he flashed a smile at her.

Luna smiled back at him. “Good luck today,” she said. Before Ambrose could reply Sylvia pushed Ambrose forwards and glared at Luna.

Tristan’s face had gone red. Every time he saw Ambrose he just wanted to punch that stupid smile off of his face.

“Save it for the arena, hoa,” Jayce said beside him.

Master Wraithen strode out onto the sand holding a bell in his hand.

“Let's get to it then,” he said and his voice boomed out into the stadium as if by some invisible loudspeaker.

“The rules are simple. The first squad to disable at least two members of the opposing team wins. Non lethal damage only. We don't want to see limbs torn off, we’ll save that for the real battles.” The Master scratched the stump of his missing arm.

“As soon as you hear the bell you will cease fighting. If not, your squad will be disqualified. Understand?”

“Yes sir,” the students chorused.

“Good. First up Misfits vs the Vixens.”

Tristan felt sand squishing between his toes as he stepped barefoot onto the arena ground. Jayce stabbed the end of his quarterstaff into the sand and Luna fidgeted with her hair as she gazed out over the audience.

“Hoping Ambrose is watching?” Tristan asked.

Luna shot him a look which immediately silenced him.

“Come on you two,” said Jayce.

Cora Temple, Evelyn Featherswallow and Imogen Hart, also known as the Vixens casually entered the arena to the sound of applause and whistling by some of the boys.

“You might have won the crowd but that's all you'll be winning today,” said Jayce.

“It looks like you are compensating for something with that staff?” said Cora as she twirled a dagger in her hand and eye’d Jayce.

“We are going to pound you so hard you won't be able to walk for a week,” said Jayce.

The three girls burst into laughter.

“You wish,” said Cora.

“Come on, hoa,” Jayce said to Tristan. “You got to help with the trash talk we are tanking here.”

“Don't look at me,” said Tristan. “Talking trash is all your speciality.”

“Good luck out there,” said Luna.

“You two are hopeless,” said Jayce.

Evelyn laughed. “Don't worry,” she said. “We won't hurt you… too much.”

“Remember, when you step onto this sand you represent the whole academy,” said the Master. “I want a clean fight.”

The two squads nodded.

“When the bell rings you may begin.”

The Misfits stood in triangle formation, weapons out with Jayce in the front and Tristan and Luna in the rear. The Vixens on the other hand looked like they were waiting in line for ice cream.

“You ready?” called the Master.

Tristan nodded and Evelyn yawned and waved a hand.

“Don't reveal your abilities until we have to,” said Tristan. “We need to press the attack and get a quick win.”

The bell sounded and the arena burst into a flurry of motion.

Cora launched a dagger directly at Tristan and then she vanished.

Tristan ducked and as he did so he saw Cora appear behind him. He twisted around and felt a blade cutting into his skin and grating against his ribs. He swung his sword at her, she jumped back and blocked his attack with her dagger. She flew back a few feet and then vanished again.

Cora landed in the sand between her two companions.

“You ok?” Luna asked.

“She's a teleporter,” said Tristan through gritted teeth.

“We noticed, hoa.”

Imogen Hart, a pale girl with purple hair, hadn't moved since the bell had rang. She now stepped forward and raised her hands into the air. “Terra nova,” she shouted. The sand rose around her and compressed into solid rocks. Imogen stretched out a hand and three rocks shot forward directly at the Misfits.

Jayce leapt in front of his companions, his staff whirling. He shattered the first two rocks with his staff and the third he managed to deflect. The rock coursed through the air and collided with the shimmering dome. The rock shattered into tiny stones that rained down on the two squads.

Everlyn used the distraction to dart forward and pass Jayces defense directly at Luna.

Tristan jumped between the two, narrowly avoiding a dagger thrown by Cora.

Evelyn thrust her long sword at Tristan and he spun his blade to block it but his sword went straight through her weapon and he grunted in pain as something invisible sliced open his leg.

Evelyn attacked again. A low slash which Tristan dodged but this time his arm was sliced open.

“Duck,” shouted Luna, as she tossed a handful of sand at Evelyn.

In that moment the sand revealed something startling.

“You have two right arms,” said Tristan as he panted for breath.

Evelyn laughed and lunged again. One of her arms had gone invisible again. Tristan ignored the visible arm and instead blocked where he thought the other attack would come.

His sword collided with steel and the visible sword passed straight through him harmlessly.

“It's an illusion,” said Tristan. “You made your sword arm invisible and then created an illusion of another sword arm.”

“Clever,” said Evelyn. “But just because you know a thing doesn't mean you can do anything to stop it.”

Tristan smiled.

“What’s so funny?” asked Evelyn.

“You’ve shown your hand,” said Tristan. “And it's… underwhelming.”

“Press the attack,” Tristan shouted.

Two shadow wolves jumped out of Luna’s shadow and snapped at Evelyn’s face. Cora and Imogen, who were attacking Jayce from opposite sides, left the mohawked man and joined their companion.

The three girls stood back to back as the wolves surrounded them.

Jayce spun his staff and yelled, “Impedimentum.” He stabbed the butt of his staff into the ground. A wave of pressure descended onto the ground. The sand flattened out smoothly and Tristan struggled to put on foot in front of the other. This attack of Jayces was half the strength of his crush ability, it broke no bones and caused no internal bleeding but it did make it nearly impossible to move. The three had been working on this basic strategy for a week now. Luna herded the enemy together, Jayce immobilized them and Tristan dealt the finishing blow.

“Gossamer shock,” said Tristan and threads of silk infused with lightning streamed out of his extended hands and draped itself over the three girls. They screamed in pain as the net sent a jolt of electricity through their bodies. Imogen fell first followed by Cora. Evenly struggled to remain standing and Tristan sent another jolt through the webs. She trembled and let out a shout of pain before collapsing onto the sand.

Tristan immediately released his spell and he felt the pressure drop as Jayce released his own. Lunas wolves snapped at Evelyn a final time and then lopped across the sand and dived back into Luna’s shadow and disappeared.

Master Wraithen’s bell rang and the fight was over.

Jayce and Luna threw their arms around Tristan.

Jayce’s shirt had been shredded from Cora and Evelyns attacks and he bled from small cuts across his chest and arms. Luna sported a black eye and a thin cut along her cheek.

“How long did it take for us to beat them?” Tristan asked.

“Who cares, hoa,” said Jayce. “We won.”

“Four minutes and thirty two seconds,” said the Master.

Jayce helped Cora to her feet. “Nice moves,” he said. He pointed at a long cut along his arm. “Think this will leave a scar to remember you by.”

“It was nice getting pounded by you,” she said. And a small smile crossed her lips. She reached up a hand and ran it down Jayce’s exposed chest. “Let's do this again sometime.”

Jayces face went red and he began to splutter as he choked on something.

Madam Myrtle arrived on the scene with a trio of nurses who laid the Vixens onto stretches, to the three girls’ protests. The healer ignored their complaints and led them off the sand and into the nurses tent that was set up on the far side of the arena grounds.

“You three come as well,” said Madam Myrtle. “We need to get those scrapes seen too, before infection sets in.”

Tristan, Luna and Jayce returned to the stadium and took their seats in the empty front row. It seemed like the audience wasn't too trusting of the protective dome.

They arrived at the end of the second fight between Harandolf and Sylphwyn. Both sides were bloodied but Harandolf was the last team standing.

***

The final battle between Tantalus and Banecroft was what Tristan had been looking forward to the most. Ambrose as the Tantalus captain strode onto the arena groups first to the applause of the whole school including Luna.

The two teams bowed to each other and the bell rang for the fight to begin.

Sylvia Grenlock dug her hands into the sand and vines shot out of the ground and wrapped around the three members of Banecraft. Theodore Morgan who was built like a brick shithouse tried to snap the vines but more and more came from the ground and wrapped around his arms and legs squeezing them together in a deadly embrace.

“Do you surrender,” Sylvia called out.

“Never,” shouted Theodore.

Sylvia clicked her fingers and thorns grew out of the vines and the members of Banecraft cried out in pain as thorns the size of fingers penetrated their exposed flesh.

The sounds of shouting were so loud that the arena who were looking away from the grizzly sight hadn't even heard the bell ring.

“Enough,” shouted Master Wraithen as he rang his bell again.

Sylvia nodded. “Receedlio,” she said and the vines released their victims and sank back into the bloodied sand.

“By the Nine,” groaned Jayce. “What are you meant to do against that?”

Tristan paled. “That's not the worst of it,” he said.

“It gets worse?” asked Luna.

“Yes,” said Tristan. “They know our abilities but Ambrose and Pyson didn't reveal theirs. We have no idea what we are up against.”