CHAPTER 6: The First Test (1)

George sat on his bed two days after the fight. His face was still swollen, but it was getting better gradually. His ribs still hurt like hell though.

Thinking about the events of the past two days, he reminded himself to watch out for Alex Shampa. That was what he had been told by Alistair the day after the fight.

At that time, he had talking to Alistair at his bunk, with the rest of Alistair's people, when he all of a sudden told him to be careful.

"George, watch your back."

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. Watch your back. Alex has his own group now. If you don't stay with us, you'll probably be ganged up on."

"Ganged up on?"

"Sorry, you don't know what that means, do?"

George shook his head.

"I've heard my parents use it before. But I don't really know what it means."

"It basically means that they'll come at you together as a group."

George thought about what Alistair said as he sat on his bunk two days later. Three distinct groups had been formed in the past two days, centered around three people, Alistair, Alex, and a girl called Josephine Maene.

Alistair's faction, which was entirely composed of people who weren't members of nobility, was the lowest in number, having only fourteen people.

Alex's faction, which was the second largest, was made up of people who wanted to have protection through Alex's meat shield, Carter Xilidia. He was the one who had kicked George's side in the fight. He had considerable power for his small body, which made him practically invincible in this place. The group had fifteen people, an amount a little bigger than Alistair's group.

The last faction was centered on a person who George hadn't seen before, Josephine Maene. If the other two groups were created through smarts and strength respectively, then hers was made through pure charisma. The group was the largest, having thirty people.

Alistair had told George that groups that were formed as a result of one person, were both the hardest to take down, and the easiest to topple.

"Tell me George, which group do you think is the most dangerous?"

Alistair had been hanging off his bunk like a monkey, when he asked George this question.

"I would say Alex's group is the most dangerous, after all he has Carter, that monstrosity of a six year old."

Alistair pulled himself up, then shook his head.

"Nope. Although Alex does have him, he can be beat through pure numbers alone. The most dangerous group is the one built around one person."

Alistair climbed down, then started doing some basic stretches.

"George, since my parents are merchants, I've seen many people in this short life of mine. I've also seen many groups. And do you know what I noticed?"

George shook his head. He couldn't understand why this was so important.

"The scariest people, are those who are fixated one person. When they say they can give themselves up for their idol, they mean it. They always seem to have some extra strength in them when their idol is in danger. And they are always done for when their idol is killed."

"In other words, kill the head, and the snake will die. However, while the head is atop the snake, it can still be very dangerous if you're not careful."

"I've never met Josephine in person, but I've seen her from afar. She's a clever person. She knows how to treat people like her friends. After going through a shock like that, most people would have been stuck in a rut, but she actually had the time to be going around acting like the benevolent goddess, bringing light to the poor heartbroken children.

Alistair stopped doing stretches and chuckled.

"It seems she'll be a formidable opponent."

George nodded his head slowly. He didn't fully understand, but he got the basic gist.

"So what you're saying, is that she's the strongest person in here?"

"Exactly."

George sat on his bunk, thinking about what was going to happen next.

'What are the tests going to be like? Will they be happening soon?'

Alistair had told George that he should be doing basic exercises in preparation for when the tests start.

'Well, no use wondering about it.'

George got off his bunk and started to stretch.

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Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Warden had been watching them for the whole of the past seven days. She started to laugh like a maniac.

"Very interesting, I must say. I haven't seen a group like this in a while."

She leaned closer to the monitors with a cold glint in her eyes.

"But I hope you didn't think we would let there be no conflict, did you? As it stands, the groups are in a stalemate. This leaves no room for any action."

She brought out two files from a drawer.

"Alistair Brown and Josephine Maene, huh? They seem like they're going to be fun to watch."

A voice rang out from behind her.

"What about Alex Shampa?"

Warden gave a snort.

"That guy? He won't last long, I bet."

"Don't write him off too early. Once he throws away that arrogance of his, he could be quite a threatening opponent."

Warden chuckled.

"It doesn't really matter, does it?"

"True."

Warden's finger moved towards a button to the right of her.

"It's time to shake things up. Assistant, have the preparations been made?"

"Yep."

"Well then, let's rumble."

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George was still stretching when he heard Warden's voice.

"Everyone, assemble by the doorway. The first test is about to begin."

Those words threw everyone into a scramble.

George headed to the front of the room where he found Alistair.

Alistair turned to him.

"It's time, isn't?"

Alistair nodded with a grim face.

"I'm afraid so."

Warden voice came on again.

"When the door opens, go to the hallway where you came from and turn down the right hallway."

Alistair looked at George.

"Well, shall we?"

The group walked out the door, towards the place that would become the object of their worst fears.