Testing...

Master Oscar watched the test takers slowly exited the Guild House, rubbing their temples since there was an item inside making it impossible for them to communicate using telepathy, which caused headaches. He didn’t know why since each room contained four test monitors that could tell the second someone tried. It was interesting that they came out and sat on the ground, not caring who they were sitting next to. As if the test was exhausting.

Now each of the parties contained sixteen members since Londra had helped to guilt a few and the prosthetic limbs motivated the others. Not only that, but they now had also three more parties that had started taking quest yesterday. They each had twelve, but they were all tight teams. Londra also helped with that by sending Anna to talk until the undesirables left. All six parties had been here at seven in the morning to work out together, another enjoyable sight. Then again, he had partaken in a few and they were not for the weak.

“Quite the sight,” a familiar voice said behind him. He turned to see Archduke Dristen and four of his knights. To Master Oscar he didn’t look like a stuffy Archduke but a seasoned warrior. Then again, he did travel his lands with his knights and refused to sit in the background while they fought.

With a smile on his square, copper face and appreciation in his vivid green eyes he turned towards Archduke Dristen, “that it is. Have you seen the morning workouts yet?”

A frown crossed Archduke Dristen’s tan, square face for a moment. His blue eyes looked at those around him trying to hide their smiles. “They have, yet… I have missed out.”

Zeona’s ivory, long, Elven ears twitched slightly but her oval face revealed nothing. Even her blue eyes showed little. “I watched the new ones yesterday morning. I was impressed at how hard they are trying.” Caldon nodded behind her, also showing no emotion while Rumbsey and Tallen smiled sharing gestures between them that only they understood.

“According to the latest data… over the last five years we have lost around seventy percent of our adventurers,” Master Oscar said sadly. “Part of it was the Challenge and the other was the past treatment of females and non-humans. It was sad to hear the problem was continent wide.”

“That is more than true,” Archduke Dristen sigh. “We only have one team in the north started and one team in the east. I didn’t tell them about the Learning Room because after I had them watched… I just don’t trust them not to use their power against us.”

“Can’t blame them,” Master Oscar sighed watching the six A Rank adventurers walk behind Continental Guild Master Lenardo, an average looking man with a bit of muscle and height. Also, the twelve monitors followed out to watch the next part of the exam, gently rubbing their temples looking annoyed, well as annoyed as High Elves of status could. No magic or buffs could be used in the duels, they would be able to tell instantly.

Tallen merged into Archduke Dristen’s shadow for a moment, so he didn’t laugh out loud. The six were puffed up like peacocks and none of them stood a chance against anyone here. His two Elves didn’t betray their feelings, but Rumbsey had to disguise his laugh within a few coughs. While the Archduke nodded with a smile moving some of his short, thick, fluffy, dirty blond hair with strands of silver away from his face to hide his silent laughter.

“Please group up in your parties,” Continental Guild Master Lenardo started. They were all laughing and talking about so many random things, it amazed him. There was no prejudice towards each other. Smiling they began to form their parties. Once they were all standing before him, “congratulations. All of you passed your A Rank exams. Actually, most of you got perfect scores. Now the data was lost so I don’t know where you were ranked before but… I just can’t raise you all to Rank A without a bit more proof that you can handle it… so your individual rank will be B. Now the six behind me are all Rank A or S adventurers and they will choose two from each party to test. I am sure the rest was explained to you.”

Ralph raised his strong, cinnamon colored hand, waiting for a nod. “Why weren’t there any S Rank questions?”

“Like a small fry could answer them,” the biggest man laughed loudly. Several in his party touched his arms while Archduke Dristen cleared his throat, staring at the man.

“The answer for that,” Continental Guild Master Lenardo started, his blue eyes narrowing on the adventurers behind him. “There is no written test for S Rank, just your number of successful quests. It is a rumor,” he finished with a shrug and a slight smile on his round, almond colored face. “Now, we will start with Orchid Blossom. Seth and Jim will be your opponents and will choose who they wish to fight. They were given your stats to look over so they should know your names.” With that, two muscular men, just over six feet tall stepped forward. One was pale beige while the other had black skin.

“This doesn’t look to exciting,” Seth mumbled looking over the party of mostly women. He sneered a bit, “can’t figure out who is the weakest since they all look weak.”

Jim stepped closer, his cold brown eyes evaluating the females while licking his thick lips. “Don’t know, it might be fun to watch them jiggle.”

“Don’t be disgusting,” Archduke Dristen warned glaring at Continental Guild Master Lenardo. He just shrugged it off motioning them to get on with it.

“I choose,” Seth started with a cold smile on his pale beige face, “Sara. What good does a songstress do anyway. Sing the creatures to sleep. Ba, what a weak link.”

Sara rolled her violet eyes, while fixing her black headband to keep her short, layered, black hair out of her ivory, heart-shaped face. She walked over to pick up a training sword and small shield and Seth laughed loudly.

“I choose the cute little Fairy with the blue butterfly wings, Amaryllis,” Jim decided.

Amaryllis fluttered her golden eyes, letting her large blue, black, and violet butterfly wings fold back into her body. She was a foot shorter than the horrible human before her. With a sigh she gathered up her golden hair with black highlights, tying it back behind her oval, caramel colored face. She plastered on a smile, while picking up two, thin, training swords.

“No need of taking up too much time,” Continental Guild Master Lenardo commented. “You may both go at the same time. We have enough eyes to make sure the females don’t use magic or get help from another.”

“Oh, I won’t use magic,” Amaryllis grumbled looking at the man before her. He was all muscle and attitude with leering eyes that made her want to smack him around for a bit, but Captain Joan had reminded everyone not to play with their food.

“Just a question,” Sara started with her smooth, buttery voice. “This goes until one of us is hurt, unconscious, forfeits, or the time runs out, right?”

“That is correct,” Continental Guild Master Lenardo answered. He turned to see that all were ready to watch the two matches. “Begin.”

Both men charged at the females as if that would do anything, both stumbled by them. Sara sighed, this wasn’t going to be fun. Seth gave a growl and began to swing showing his strength as his bare arms vibrated from the exertion. Yet the curvy, toned Sara just took the blows without taking a step back. She could see his surprise as he turned to the judges who were just watching. “Eyes on me! When are you going to get serious. I am sure you must have more moves than that.” This caused him to growl louder. She simply blocked and parried his attacks then remembered what Joan had said. Her stance changed, now she was avoiding the swings while landing her own on his body. Right knee, duck, twist, parry, left side, left knee, twist, slide, parry, block, head, and done. Seth fell to the ground, unable to move the judges motioned that she won.

Jim didn’t get to see his partner go down, instead he was trying to stay on his feet as this retched female continued to land strike after strike, never backing down. He had never enjoyed defense but that is what this battle had been. After he rushed her, she immediately began to swing those two thin, training swords at him. Blocking his attacks while landing hers. She had a smile on her face, and he couldn’t find an opening to attack back. He fell to his knees just moments after Seth then to the ground.

Sara and Amaryllis smiled at each other, bowed towards the Archduke and Master Oscar then returned to their party while the others cheered. Continental Guild Master Lenardo looked to the monitors, but they just pointed to the females. “No magic was used?” he asked.

“Nothing was used,” a High Elf stated coldly. “Orchid Blossom won by their strength and skill alone. We do not like being doubted, Continental Guild Master Lenardo. Believe us, if anything had been done, we would have stopped the matches! We know our jobs!”

Continental Guild Master Lenardo frowned but motioned the next two men. “Are you two going to stay on the ground! There is no way you are still unconscious.” He marched towards them only to find they both were unconscious, with injuries. Magic moved them back behind the monitors. They did a simple healing spell before returning their attention forward. Clearing his throat, “Kyle and Jon are next. Choose your opponents from Rolling Flames.”

Kyle stepped forward looking over the selection, saying nothing but even the males felt cold chills from his lude glare. Ralph wanted to move the females behind him but that would get him in trouble later. “I choose,” he began, rubbing his square, cognac jaw, “Diana.”

“No,” Master Oscar yelled before Archduke Dristen. “It was agreed on that none with prosthetics would be tested. They use magic; thus they would have to take them off.”

“It is fine,” Diana smiled, her steel grey eyes focused on the man before her. A thin smile formed on her long, light brown face. She looked directly at Ralph, daring him to stop her. He sighed with his whole muscular frame but helped to remove her right arm. Her short, light auburn hair swished around her face as she turned to smile at her party. She headed to choose a training weapon.

Jon shrugged looking over the options. “I choose… Varsha, such a cute little Sprite. They have to take their human form for this, right monitors?”

“That is correct, human size without wings,” the High Elf in charge stated.

Varsha was sitting on Baldwin’s shoulder, smiling while he was trying not to laugh. She grew to human size so all could marvel at her unique, long, oval, translucent golden wings with swirls of yellow, brown, and circles of red. With a smile on her golden face, she dismissed her wings while using her strong hands to tie back her unique hair containing brown, yellow, red, with highlights of violet. Now it wouldn’t get in her oval face, nor green eyes. She headed to pick up the thin double swords to face this… man.

“Begin,” Continental Guild Master Lenardo stated before either female was ready. Little did he know that it just doomed his adventurers. Diana was still testing out the weight of the grand training sword when Kyle came running at her with his training sword. She simply side stepped then two loud smacks rang out, followed by screaming. Kyle was on the ground gasping for air while crying out in pain.

Jon did the same, rushing in towards Varsha who was pretending to test her human body. Little did he know that she was the one training them all on endurance and body movement. She had been an athletic trainer on Earth, silly man. She parried a few of his sloppy attacks before attacking back. Her attacks were clean and precise as he fell to the ground. She smiled at Diana, and they placed the training weapons back in the pile.

“The ladies win, again,” the High Elf stated with the others around him chuckling at the pathetic showing that the supposed A Rankers.

Taking a deep breath, with anger displayed across his almond, round face Continental Guild Master Lenardo turned to look at the Archduke who was smiling yet appeared to be bored. “Mark and Tim, you are up. Try not to lose so quickly?”

“I won’t lose to a snake,” Mark stated, his long ivory face full of rage. “I choose Sasha. So, monitors, does the ugly snake tail stay?”

The High Elf with three others moved forward to look at the one called Sasha who was moving towards the fighting area. Her snake tail was unique but didn’t emit any magic when she moved. The top side was pure brown while the underside was a few shades lighter. The sides were pure yellow with red and green crisscrossing in an exact pattern from her hips to the tip of her tail. Her long hair containing yellow, green, and red was tied back behind her neck while her evergreen eyes and long, buttercream face showed little emotion for being called ugly. She let her tail coil and slink while she moved to pick up a training staff. “Her tail is just like legs. Her form is fine,” he decided.

Tim looked directly at Fern with such horrible thoughts crossing his round, beige face she was more than ready to beat him. “I take the stupid Fairy, Fern.”

Fern fluttered off Julius’ shoulder growing to her human size. Her soft fawn colored, oval face and vivid blue eyes showed no emotion. Her butterfly shaped, vibrant pink wings with lines of white, and spots of blue, orange, and yellow pulled inside her body causing her long, braided, violet hair to flop across her right shoulder. She tossed it back heading to get a weapon. She picked up a simple training sword, causing Tim to laugh.

“Begin,” Continental Guild Master Lenardo stated when Mark and Tim were ready.

This time the men didn’t get to attack first, their first and last mistake. With lightning speed Sasha was before Mark instantly. He couldn’t react in time to block the three blows she landed with the staff causing him to fall to the ground in pain, gasping for air.

Fern too was fast, but Tim had time. He was actually laughing, as his body was ready to block her attack. Instead, she jumped, landing a direct hit on his left shoulder. This caused him to drop his weapon. Two hits later he was on the ground as well, unable to move.

“Great job, ladies,” Archduke Dristen congratulated. “Though it was a bit on the boring side. I thought A Rankers were better fighters. Well Continental Guild Master Lenardo, they passed with ease. What are their ranks?”

Watching the last two being pulled back for healing, he quietly growled. It wasn’t that he was against having females as adventurers, it was these idiots had convinced him that they would win. He had made a deal with the Archduke that if one group beat those he brought, he would use a portal gem to connect this guild to the one in the North. The Manor Village of Lord Jordon would not take kindly to this selection of individuals. He was tasked with rebuilding a relic of a guild and then this happened. Continental Guild Master Lenardo cleared his throat, “I think we need to reevaluate the ranking system the old master had. Well, your party rank will be B, travel wherever you want. As a gift, tomorrow I will use an expensive portal gem to connect this guild to the one in Lord Jordon’s Manor Village which contains a seaport and several merchants. The portal will be open for twenty-four hours.”

The parties all bowed and said their thanks almost in unison. Archduke Dristen chuckled. “Now, since I didn’t see anything exciting. Captain Joan, how about a match with Zeona? Captain Ralph, how about a match with Rumbsey. Let me see… oh, Captain Londra, how about a match with Tallen? No magic but then again, Tallen uses shadows because he is a Demon and that is like Sasha’s lovely tail. Let’s set the timer for eight minutes. You will go one at a time because I can’t watch all three. This will be good!”

The three captains came forward with smiles and laughter as the monitors stayed in hopes of a real battle. Zeona, Rumbsey, and Tallen had bigger smiles on their faces. These battles were not one sided but evenly matched. At the end of the eight minutes there was no clear winner, just two contestants trying to breathe with an audience that was captivated by what they had witnessed.

While the Continental Guild Master was still there the other three new parties came to join the celebration behind the Guild House. This is when they showed everyone just what a songstress, a bard, and a spell crafter could do with the help of joyful people. Archduke Dristen left laughing while sending his Knights to see just what the spell had done. They reported back eight miles out of Manor Town was now purified to the point the tainted creatures waited just outside the circle they had created.