School Grounds Grind

Meeting up outside the Grand Central Library a short time later and no longer in the unflattering potato sacks, the triop appeared to be generally more comfortable. Hopefully meaning that they would also be more agreeable—primarily Rionriv.

Looking to hedge my bets on this, I had also purchased everyone a Cinnamon Crème Latte with fire crystal shavings from a local café with the remaining copper pieces in my pocket.

I really need to start making money, like, stat. I thought as I stepped through the library doors with the tray of drinks. I guess I could start working in Phyllis’ shoppe while they’re in class? Not like it would be the first time I’d worked retail.

“And I have a coffee for Aes, Ri, and Zin?” I gave my best barista flair as I approached with the drinks in hand. I mean, it came second nature since that had also been one of my odd jobs for all of three months.

I suppose that could be an option too—

“Oh my gods, are those nicknames? I love them.” Aesandoral squealed as she grabbed her coffee from me.

“It wasn’t really a nickname. I just shortened your ridiculously long names.”

“My name is not long.” Rionriv protested as she pulled her coffee.

“Yeah, but one syllable is so much nicer.”

“Okay, Izzzz.”

“Hey, that’s fine with me. I kind of like it. Thanks for the nickname, Ri.” I stuck my tongue out at her and watched the electricity arc across her body.

“Why is my nickname the second half?” Sharzin asked as I bent over to put the coffee in reach of her. “Why not, like, Shar?”

“N-no reason? You’re just a little personal space invader, Zin. But if you want, I could be the sunny to your Shar?” Rubbing at the back of my neck, I smiled awkwardly before taking my drink in hand. “Honestly, I just didn’t know how to spell anyone’s name on the cups, so I abbreviated. We don’t need to use nicknames—”

“No-no-no.” They all protested in their own way, sipping their coffees.

“Okay, so are we going to stand around all day orrr—? We do have classes this afternoon.” Rionriv kicked the training into session, as she was good at doing.

Continuing to sip and walk, I explained my plan. It wasn’t overly complicated and involved using the school's own training techniques to power level our party through the adventure ranking system.

Not wanting to explain what they already knew, I glossed over the fact that the school employed vermin traps to attack students at fixed and randomized locations. There were also teachers and upperclassmen larping as more dangerous monsters roaming random areas. For example, the basilisk.

After walking a few blocks, I closed out my talk with a general estimation. By fitting in monster slaying in the mornings and between classes, we ran a decent chance of being at least Rank 3D by Winter Solstice.

The triop, of course, had some things to say about this. Mainly, that I was crazy for thinking we could get away with such a scheme. But luckily, I knew enough of the school bylaws from writing them to reassure them that no rules currently written prevented our group from taking advantage of this.

And while this reassurance seemed to be good enough, it still wasn’t enough to convince them that we could achieve rank 3D midway through the school year. Especially seeing as Second Years typically achieved that rank upon completing their second semester finals.

By the time we finished our coffees, a loose plan had been hatched. We established roles for our training regime that worked for everyone, all of which were thanks to Sharzin’s idea of strength training.

As the de facto tank, I would distract the enemies and learn to take the brunt of the blows.

Yay, me.

Sharzin and Aesandoral’s roles would be to keep hidden until I engaged the targets and then, and only then, get the drop on them.

Finally, Rionriv was the ace in our hand and would keep her magic talents for the killing blow when it was needed.

“I have to sit back and watch everyone fight for me?” Rionriv protested. “Hells with that!”

“Ri,” I tried to calm her down while simultaneously feeding into her ego. “You’re not sitting back. Your magic is powerful, but you only get so much usage of it in a day. Aes and Zin’s arrows can be recovered. Keep your—”

“It’s dumb. I want to fight.”

“You’ll be able to!” I insisted with a huff. “Any creature that isn’t killed outright is fair game. But please try not to use thunder. If we’re too loud, it’ll do one of two things. Scare away all the delicious low-level X-P monsters or lure in the heavy-hitting student body larpers.”

“I don’t know what you’re saying, but it’s starting to piss me off.”

“Okay, okay,” I raised my hands. “Hey, let’s try just a basic fight, okay? Do a few skirmishes in this school ground grind we’re planning and see how it works before we shoot it down.”

The arcing bolts of lightning began to subside as Rionriv looked to her friends. The triop exchanged glances with each other before the sorceress turned back and glared at me with a grimace.

“Okay, show us what you’ve got.”

With that, we set off to find a vermin trap. Luckily, the three directed me to a guaranteed First Year trap near the heart of the central campus. Stopping at the edge of a dead-end alley, I peered through the dimly lit space where I could make out a lonely, gilded tome sixty feet away.

Rionriv had explained to me that the book was, in fact, a hostile mimic. But that wasn’t all that was down this narrow passage, as the real trap was the corgsquitoes and rats that emerged from the sewer grate midway through the alley.

After a moment of careful observation, I laid out a plan for how I imagined the combat would work. Directing Aesandoral and Sharzin to either side of the alley entrance, our strategy focused on them hiding and only emerging once I gave the signal.

Then came the challenge. Turning my focus to Rionriv, we quickly discussed what other magics she knew beyond air elements. She explained that she could harness a variety of spells, though many were rudimentary at best by her high standards, which could have meant anything. Spitballing a few ideas of what she could do to aid combat aside from a lightning bolt, I felt confident we were ready.

Finally, the moment of truth had arrived. Would they listen? Would this turn out better than the last few traps I’d stumbled into?

Only one way to find out.

With a deep breath, I began to run down the alley. After quickly passing the sewer grate, I continued half the distance to the mimic, where I slid to a stop. Glancing behind me, I watched the manhole cover open as expected.

Perfect. I thought as I began to run back towards the emerging threat.

Now for Operation, Hold ‘Yer Ground.

I jumped into the fray as half a dozen corgsquitos buzzed annoyingly around as a pair of dog-rats, frothing at the mouth, fought to emerge from the hole. With fifteen feet to pick up speed, I did my best to punt one of the rats into the sun. As an upside, with my successful follow-through technique, I did hear a disgusting crunch sound as my foot connected with the beast’s pinned head.

Hngg—gross. I thought as I leapt through the swarm of corgsquitoes, looking back as the rodent I had struck limply disappeared into the sewer.

“Aes—Zin, now!” I shouted, tumbling forward and entering a defensive position between the beasts and the alley entrance.

Two arrows whooshed overhead and found their targets. A cloud of bloody mist burst into existence as a pair of corgsquitoes disappeared and the arrows clattered in the distance.

“Godsdamned—nice! Cover. Ri, go!”

The archers retreated behind the alley threshold, using the thick stone to give them protection as Rionriv stepped center. She extended her hands, overlapping her palms as she muttered an incantation. Straining herself, a neon green energy swirled down her arms, pooling at the end of twitching fingertips before a beam of liquid magic burst forward.

The corgsquitos dodged out of the way as the corrosive element splashed against the nearby wall, leaving a deep, steaming scar in its wake.

“Jezzuz—” I yelled out, looking to Rionriv. “That’s terrifying. Good A-O-E though. Try hitting a few of them at a time with it.”

“Don’t tell me what to do!” She screamed back.

The buzzing grew louder as I pulled my attention back to the vermin, where the remaining four corgsquitos were beginning their charge.

Unfortunately for them, I was ready.

With a slow exhale, I smacked the first out of the air with my bare hands. Then the next. One after the other bounced to the ground, missing their target—me.

As two of them hit the cobblestone, a pair of arrows stuck them into place. Their bodies instantly bursting, painting the ground with tiny blood slicks.

Glancing up to congratulate the two, all I saw was Rionriv standing before me, mid-incantation, with her palms glowing neon green.

Crap! I dropped prone to the ground as a blob of acid flew over my head.

A loud shriek from behind me drew my attention, as an acid-scarred rat lay twitching before succumbing to the wound. I stared in horror at its missing head and a slowly melting body.

“Watch out behind you.” She lectured.

Just then, a pair of corgsquitos raced towards the distracted and dangerously close Rionriv.

“Watch out!”

Leaping from the ground, I hugged Ri’s waist and pulled her onto me. As we hit the stone, I rolled over her, instinctively covering as much of her body as possible from the incoming strike.

Bzzzz—pwft-pwft.

Two daggers plunged into my rear.

“Why always the ass!” I yelped as I felt the monsters each taking a cheek.

A pair of arrows whizzed overhead a moment later, painting my body in a spray of fresh blood from the corgsquitos currently biting down on my cheeks.

And, from my count, it was done. We had won with limited damage done.

“That is all of them!” Aesandoral cheered as she rushed forward. “That was amazing. It was only a few seconds, and I didn’t get hit once!”

“That’s nice.” I groaned as a fist connected with my gut from below and a blast of wind followed. “Gah!”

I flung from Rionriv as she stood and dusted herself off. Her face was scrunched up with a hint of colour on her cheeks as she fixed her clothing before hardening her look once more and staring lightning bolts at me.

“What was that about?!” She declared, crossing her arms and turning away from me. “I was fine, thank you.”

“I was trying to protect you! That was my job, remember? Captain Meatshield? Just like you were supposed to be Captain Stay-The-Fug-Away?”

“I said I was fine!”

Rionriv pointed over my head and, with a whisper of quick words, launched a lightning bolt past me. The thunder echoed out from the alley, reverberating through the campus streets. Looking behind me, I stared at the smouldering pages of the mimic tome.

“Ahg, too loud!” I grumbled and hit my ears. “Ri, I know you can handle yourself. That’s not in question. But my job is to be the shield, and your job is to keep your distance. Would you have reacted the same if Aes jumped in front of you?”

“Yes,” Aes whined. “She’s really confusing.”

“I am not! Take that back!”

As they bickered, I sat and watched, all the while sipping one of the peppermint healing potions. Enjoying the flavour, I gave the area a once-over, where I caught sight of Sharzin as she picked through the vermin. When I asked if she had found anything good, she simply shook her head disappointingly and held out a single silver piece and three copper coins.

“Well, well, well—” A gravelly voice interrupted the verbal sparring.