Well technically, Kryssa was probably not meant to be here either, but it was difficult for them to notice.
They were currently in a waiting room with most of the rest of the trial takers. The room was bare apart for seats for all of them and two doors. The one they’d come in, and the one on the other side of the room. Most of the trial takers, she supposed she should call them squires, were wearing varying levels of the same armour. It was similar to Abigail but as if it was made by memory instead of by instructions. Ratface winced internally. It looked expensive in every way that didn’t matter. A quick glance at the mana around them showed them all to be inefficient.
One stood out as better than the rest. It was sleek and made for a duellist. The mana coming from it was efficient and controlled.
The champions squire sat alone with only three seats around her. She made eye contact with Ratface and smiled in a way that somehow made her seem less friendly. Ratface grimaced but walked over to sit next to her. The girl opened her mouth to say something, but Ratface slunk into the seat next to her.
“So, the traitors get managed to find something. Your armour looks like it was made by a witch with all those charms,” she said. She was sneering. Ratface was actually a little fascinated by her. She hadn’t run into this level of arrogance since the elves.
“Funny you should say that. A witch did make it. The Lady’s favourite,” said Ratface.
That made the girls sneer die on her face. She tried to rally it, but surprise had fought its way onto her face which just made her look like she’d sucked on a lemon. It wasn’t a good look. She managed to rally though and tilted her head up.
“Unsurprising. Only that witch would help a traitor.”
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Ratface sighed. The girl was annoying, but so had Alberts friends in the sewers, and they had fought valiantly. Shame about them turning on her. She’d never forget Franklin just turning on her like that. She could barely remember his name but the action still stung. Ratface looked at the squire and saw another Franklin. Yet maybe she was another Albert, she could take the risk.
“We don’t have to be enemies you know,” said Ratface, “sure our trainers are against each other, but what does that matter to you and I?”
“Your ‘trainer’ is a traitor,” spat the girl. Ratface shrugged again.
“So? I haven’t betrayed anyone. I don’t even know what she betrayed. Why should we carry on a grudge that has nothing to do with us?”
Honestly it wasn’t Ratface’s best work, but her heart wasn’t really in it. The squire not being against her was useful, but it wasn’t like she liked the smug brat. The squire turned away from her and Ratface leaned back into her chair. They sat that way for a while before the squire turned and grumbled to her.
“Ask your knight about the fields if you want to know her sin,” she said. Ratface was about to ask her what that meant when the last two people walked in.
The orc woman had only added to her armour with more bone. Ratface could recognise the water serpent’s bones had been folded in. It had the effect of looking like all her armour was bone, though bits of metal peaked through if you looked hard enough. It was carved by a master and faint runes had been sketched into the bone and the armour to fuse them together. A glance at the armours magic showed that the bone felt connected to the orc somehow. Had she carved it maybe? It would explain why it moved so well with her. Worth remembering there was more to the girl than brute force.
Fulgora in comparison didn’t look nearly so impressive. Her armour still had that faint skirt to it and flesh still peaked through. Yet when she moved there was a faint hum of energy. Ratface’s hair started to rise. Her eyes widened. The metal was only half the defence. It was more direction for the other defence waiting behind it. A shield of lightning that would dart to whatever attacked.
Right. Faber had been described as a lightning smith. She’d thought the extra bit was for flavour but clearly the distinction was important. The two came and sat with them. Ratface somehow got stuck between the orc and the squire. It was cramped.
Fulgora gave her an apologetic smile and stretched out on her own seat. The woman had intentionally let this happen! Ratface would be upset if she didn’t respect the hustle.
She squirmed in place but stopped as the other door opened. The room went still as they all tried to look through and saw only darkness.
A claw shot out of the room and grabbed onto one of the cheap looking squires. He was pulled in with a yell and the door slammed shut after him.
They sat in silence for a moment. All of them listening into the other room. Nothing. Then, a sharp scream for a moment before it cut out.
A moment later the door opened, and the claw shot out and grabbed the next person.