Chapter 11 – A New Friend

After she'd OK'd it with Titus, Petra told Jordan all about Henderson and what had happened to them because of Henderson, and then about the Grandmaster afterwards. She left in the part about getting a tiny amount of experience points but left out the part about Titus being gifted a Class and an ability by The God of Balance. They'd only just met Jordan after all, and Titus internally agreed that Petra had made the right call, even though they hadn't really had the chance to talk it through properly.

In turn, Jordan told the pair about what the other White-Rankers had been taught following lunch when they'd been sent to their dorms. It hadn't been anything groundbreaking, seemingly just more about how Classes would synergise well in the Arena when it came to teaming up against monsters - which was the way things normally went. Also, there was a little about how Classes could change depending on the actions of the individual, though the instruction had been vague because it wasn't something that any of the new Contestants would have to deal with for a long, long time. Whatever the meaning of that was still wasn't particularly clear, but it seemed that within the main four Classes there were different ways of doing things, which would become clear later. Still, during his recounting Jordan hadn't mentioned anything at all other than the four main Classes of Warrior, Defender, Rogue and Spellcaster.

"So you want to go to dinner together?" Jordan asked once the three were all caught up as much as they could be. "I mean you don't have to, but if we're going to be living together then it kind of makes sense, right?"

"I think that's a great idea," Petra said. "Just make sure you don't let this one too near your food. I saw what he did at breakfast, getting his mitts on anything he could reach," she gestured towards Titus who stared blankly back at her.

"I think they make enough food for everyone," Jordan said. "But if there isn't and we need to share, then I don't mind."

Petra smiled and then realised Jordan was being serious. "No... I mean it'll be fine, I was just joking," she said.

"Oh, well, I don't mind either way," Jordan replied, shrugging. "Are you hungry?"

"I am," Titus said. "And I feel like I'm hungry for whatever you two have on your plates."

Jordan looked a little confused, but Petra snorted.

All three of the roommates then made their way to the dining hall, making idle conversation merrily along the way, where again they were greeted with more food than was necessary sat atop the ten remarkably long wooden tables which seated hundreds of Arena Contestants.

"You'll have to be pretty fast to get there before me," Petra said once the three had all sat together, spreading her elbows menacingly. "I'll have you know I'm going to become a Rogue. And then maybe an Assassin or something. So remember that the next time you steal food from me. What about you, Jordan?"

"Defender," he said automatically. Only really had two choices with my size, right? Defender or Warrior. And I don't much like the idea of having to do all the work myself. So if I can stand there and hold the monsters down while someone else does the real damage, that's fine by me."

"You know what, I wouldn't mind hiding behind someone your size and throwing the odd attack out every now and then," Petra said. "So Defender sounds like a good pick to me."

"What about you, Titus?" Jordan asked. "You strike me as a Spellcaster, or a Rogue too. A bit too small to be a Defender or a Warrior."

Titus stared at the larger boy for a moment before he realised he wasn't trying to be offensive; rather he was just speaking his mind. Something that Titus got the feeling Jordan did more than often.

"I, uh..." Titus started, trying to think on his feet. He couldn't say that he already had a Class, so he had to make something up and fast. "Yeah, Spellcaster, I think. Probably for the best, isn't it? But I mean I'd take anything because like I said, all of this is new to me and I still really don't know how a lot of this stuff works."

"You could make a pretty good Healer if you're light on your feet and don't mind not being much use with your attacks," Jordan said. "Every team needs a good Healer. That's a route a Spellcaster can take by the way."

But before Titus could respond, a voice interrupted them and his skin crawled at the very realisation that his new arch-nemesis Henderson was there with them. He'd approached the group without being seen.

"Probably best to get yourself some muscle for protection," Henderson sneered and gestured towards Jordan. "Wouldn't want you walking off in the dark and getting hurt again, would we?"

Titus made the automatic effort to check on his health, which stood slightly shy of his maximum. Had he been at full health, he might've fancied his group's chances against the boy who didn't seem to have his own two Blue-Ranked bodyguards with him anymore.

"Why don't you just drop it, Henderson," Petra sighed. "We didn't say anything, and we all know that's what you came over to find out. So why don't you scurry away, back to your kennel while your brothers live up the high life."

Henderson turned red and Titus inwardly face-palmed. It was like Petra just had no filter, and to someone like Henderson, that could be a problem.

"I thought you might've learnt your lesson after the last time you gave me your lip," he said. "But clearly you're going to have to be taught again, like a dog. Taught that until you do as you're told, you're going to get kicked over and over."

Jordan then stood up and turned to face Henderson not an inch away from the boy. Surprisingly, Jordan was actually taller than even Henderson, if only by a couple of inches.

"Sounds like you've got some issues with my friends," Jordan said. "And that means you've got an issue with me."

"Oh, isn't he a large one?" Henderson said, though there was a slight twinge of uncertainty in his voice. "Maybe I should put a muzzle on this one the next time I get the chance so you can all learn your places? Tell me, do you like cages?"

Titus watched as Jordan shifted his weight. He was almost certain that his new friend was preparing himself for a fight, but just before anything else could happen, Miss Kane's voice carried around the dining hall and it caused Henderson to quickly scurry away, and Jordan to sit back down.

"Good evening, everyone," Miss Kane said, seemingly with no effort at all. "For those of you who are new to the Arena, I trust that your first full day here has been exciting, informative and inspiring. For the rest of you, I hope you've been welcoming to our new Contestants."

She paused for a moment to allow the final few Contestants who hadn't managed it yet to take their seats.

"As this is the start of a new season, it is customary for basic combat training of the new Contestants to now commence. So anyone wearing a white armband, that means you. But what is this combat training, you may ask? Well, it is our way here at the Arena of improving your odds of survival and becoming a Hunter."

"For the people!" A loud, practised chorus returned to the Grandmaster from everyone in the dining hall not wearing a white armband. They clearly knew when they were supposed to respond.

"It doesn't matter what your current level of combat prowess or experience is. It doesn't matter how much time and money your parents spent on preparing you with a sword and shield because, as you will all come to realise, all Contestants are equal. That is why we do this. So what you will learn over the next two weeks is not only the breaking point of your physical bodies, but also how to stay alive for as long as possible when you have nothing to hand but a basic weapon and perhaps a shield. And when I say you'll learn the breaking point of your physical body, know that I mean that literally and not figuratively."

Titus looked around the room at the Contestants not wearing the white armbands, and he could see more than a handful of them looking back at him and some of them were smiling and slowly nodding. But the look he saw in some of their eyes was one of sympathy.

"If you do have the chance to speak to your higher-ranked counterparts, then they will not sugar-coat what is to be expected of you. But know that they are still here - and alive - because of their training and in no small part the very training you are about to embark on."

The dining hall went silent for a long moment as Miss Kane's words sank in.

"Now then, onto our next business," Miss Kane said, her voice turning instantly light and perky. "Once this training has been completed, for the first time in a long time, some of our wealthy benefactors would like to visit our Arena and see how our Contestants are doing. So that means we're going to do something we don't usually do here: let Contestants fight each other as a bit of an event."

She let those words hang in the air for a moment, and it seemed that everyone had been stunned into silence. This sounded very much like it wasn't a normal everyday thing to Titus.

"Not to worry, of course; these will be exhibition matches and serve no real purpose other than to display your unique skills and abilities. And who knows, if you do really well, perhaps you'll gain an admirer or a wealthy benefactor who could choose to furnish you with new weapons or armour in the future?"

Now there were whispers coming from the Contestants, and some even started to look excited for the opportunity.

Miss Kane coughed and continued with her cheerful tone, "So, sharpen your skills, refine your Classes, and train hard during the upcoming days. These exhibition matches will not only be an opportunity for you to shine but also a valuable learning experience. After all, it's not every day you get to perform in front of esteemed guests. As for now, enjoy your dinner," Miss Kane concluded. "And remember, the real fun begins in the training sessions tomorrow. Train hard, Contestants, and strive to be the best you can be!"

The Grandmaster retook her seat, and the dining hall erupted into excited chatter. Everyone sounded like they thought this was going to be an amazing opportunity for them, but Titus looked worried.

"This training... it sounds like it's going to be hard."

"Ah, don't worry about it," Jordan said. "She's just making it sound like that so we take it seriously. It's probably just standard combat forms, you know like the ones they would teach you back in camp."

"I'm sorry, camp?" Titus asked.

"Yeah... I'm with Titus on this one," Petra said. "What camp are you talking about?"

"Combat camp, of course!" Jordan replied, spreading his arms out wide. "Three times a year my parents sent me. We'd learn how to use all kinds of different weapons, how to fight properly and all that. You... went to combat camp, didn't you? With the City guards?"

Titus and Petra stared at Jordan, both shaking their heads.

"Oh," the larger boy said. "Then this isn't going to be as easy as I thought."

"No, it isn't," Petra said. "But I have done a bit of hand-to-hand in my time, and Titus here is really good, I mean truly astounding... at burning bread."

Jordan looked confused.

"...His dad was a baker... but he was bad at it," Petra explained as best she could.

"Oh... OK," Jordan said, though it was clear he still didn't quite get the joke.

"Just stick close to me, and I'll do what I can to help you, alright?" Jordan said with a smile.

Those words actually made Titus feel a lot better; it was going to be very useful to have someone around who knew what they were doing because as his mind returned to the vision of the Deadlands Boar charging at him, he felt like he would've had a much better chance at survival if he only knew the first thing about fighting.