Fear

"WAKE UP YOU LOW RANKING DEAD WEIGHT !" a loud voice could be heard in the hallway, Zaria suddenly woke up to the commotion of the others trying to quickly get dressed.

Without warning the door was violently pushed open "Get to the damn arena now your training began yesterday and you lot decided to hit the town and have fun huh!?, but today it's time for a rude awakening!, gear up in the armour you already have since you all missed the inauguration ceremony where all new recruits receive armour and weapons, you will do so using what you already had as adventurers!"

As soon as Zaria heard this she stumbled out of bed, "Wait ! I have nothing at all I sold all I had just to be here!"

The man laughed "Why isn't this convenient little worm, so what will you do now ?, I could care less if you're ill fitted for combat , what I say here goes and get your pathetic scrawny arse into the arena" he said with a evil smirk on his face.

Zaria shocked by words of such cruelty fell on her knees pleading with the officer for any weapon he could spare. "Sir I've struggled my whole life to be a knight, now that I'm here I can finally make my ambitions come true".

The officer embarrassed looking down on the pitiful former adventurer, used his earth magic to create a wooden sword for Zaria. He held it with a grin on his face and tossed it on the ground before Zaria.

"Do your best out there little worm and try not to die.." he said as he laughed walking away. Zaria's group who had stood silent throughout this exchange finally moved towards her as soon as the officer left.

Keldorna slowly approached Zaria "Hey Zaria I'm sorry we didn't step in, we're not allowed to challenge any senior officers and honestly we were too scared.." she said with her head down.

Embarrassed Max put on a gentle smile on his face "Listen up ! We messed up big time last night but let's set things right by winning in the Arena today ! Let's give our best!"

Valor began to slowly clap his hands in agreement, the wise old man chose to reserve his words.

Anna too rushed to Zaria and pulled her up "Let's do this Zaria" she said with a shy m smile on her face holding Zaria's hands tightly.

As the group geared up and prepared for what awaited them, Zaria stood there as she looked at her comrades, they were all scared for what was about to come, Zaria had nothing she had sold every piece of armour and weapons she owned all she had were her boyish hand-me-down clothes she received from her brother and the poorly made wooden sword the officer had made for her.

The reality quickly sunk in of what she was about to do, but regardless she clenched her fist as was ready for the challenge.

As the group left their rooms they heard snickering and laughing in the courtyard where other knights were training getting ready to go into the arena themselves.

"What's wrong with him!?, no armour and worst of all a wooden sword ?" one new knight said to his group.

Another suddenly interjected, "That's that G rank trash girl from yesterday!! Doesn't that dumbass know that real swords and weapons are used!? This will be interesting..."

Zaria suddenly felt a sinking feeling in her chest and the realisation that the officer wasn't helping her but mocking her by giving her a wooden sword hit her like a pile of bricks.

Max patted Zaria on the shoulder as they walked trying to ignore the insults and mockery. "Steel yourself, you're a knight now, we can do this.."

Kel quickly responded, "Hell yeah let's give em' hell!"

As they approached the arena they could hear the loud cheering and the sounds of battle, the arena was built in the shape of a coliseum, the entrance led underground to the preparation rooms, each room was separated by a thick wall which had the hex of noise suppression magic to prevent the factions listening in on one another.

The black rose Knights sat and started to devise a plan on how they will be fighting against the other groups.

Keldorna made everyone sit in a circle and began to devise a plan. "Okay guys listen up, our unit isn't balanced and as we all know we're the weakest unit here so we best use our abilities to fight together, I use a war hammer so I will be leading the assault, Max uses a heavy shield and sword but for now he will be our tank using his shielf to defend Valor and Anna from long range attacks" Everyone was silent nodding as they listened to her speak, her voice mellow but holding the authority of a born leader.

She continued, "Valor you focus on long range attacks from the rear clearing the path for me to land a strike on anyone that tries to approach Max and I, whilst Anna do your very best in the rear to continuously cast strengthening and healing magic on the party." Anna nodded her head in determination gripping her mage staff.

Keldorna continued"This battle is not about who wins it's about who survives so Zaria..."

Everyone turned their gaze to her, this was her first time being involved in a battle she had never fought a monster let alone another person above her own level, she was sweating bullets and gripping her wooden sword tightly.

Kel continued "Zaria this battle is about surviving till the timer runs out we have 30 minutes..." she chuckled in irony, stood up and crouched to where Zaria was sitting.

"Listen Zaria Fear is False Evidence Appearing Real, I know you haven't fought before and I won't force you to, do your best and stay at the rear, we will do our very best to keep you safe okay because we're family now and we won't let anyone suffer no matter what, Right Team !!?" she exclaimed standing up.

As Zaria lifted her head she saw the smiles of her comrades, they were reassuring and comforting she felt her tension slowly dissipate.

The room's suddenly door opened and a woman dressed as an assessor walked in, "By the grace granted by Solaris the divine god of light your trial begins soon, may your efforts be fruitful and may you now proceed to the Battle Arena.." she said with a cold icy smile one that looked almost mechanical and lacked any compassion and emotion.

Max grunted and stood up picking up his giant shield, "Alright guys I guess this is it" with his signature grin and thumbs up he proclaimed "Lets Go!"

As the group walked in the underground passage leading to the arena they could feel the reverberation from the people above. They could literally feel the arena shake above them from the cheering people. Everyone's expression was serious. Zaria kept her focus on the task that laid ahead. She though to herself

'Just a few minutes in hell, that's all we have to endure, we can do this..' as Zaria was falling deeper into her own thoughts a group of battered and bloody knights approached them from the arena, they looked as if they had been swallowed up and spat out by carnage itself.

Their armour was shattered and falling off as they walked. In an instant she saw Athenis walking with the group, excitedly she shouted "Hey Athenis how was it!?"

As if he didn't even see her at all he kept walking repeatedly mumbling to himself "They are monsters, why did we get paired with them of all people, why ..." his expression was that of a person that witnessed pure horrors, the shock and terror could be seen in his eyes.

She kept staring at him as he passed her. Valor quickly turned to her, "I guess it's our turn to find out what happened to them, Zaria don't let that put you off, we will definitely come out on top".

As the group entered the arena from the dark hallway the light was blinding. They saw multiple rows of people seated in the coliseum cheering, some were booing and on the main terrace they saw Oracle Fay of the White flame standing besides her was Avaris and Aris, and seated beside the Oracle was the Pope, a title received by the strongest retired paladin knight who served the kingdom and ran the Church.

Zaria was in awe and her excitement grew a little she felt motivated and ready for battle until she turned her gaze to see who they were going up against.

In the distance Zaria heard the all too familiar voice spew it's venom like a serpent.

"Well, well, well boys it seems like today is our lucky day!..."