[Omen of the Witchblade] Chapter 143 – Picking Teams

Almace stood up, staying at his table. He looked ready to break down, but managed to keep it together. “I can only rest if our leader gets onto a good team.”

“A Second Champion healer like me? I’ll be fine.” Charlie said, rising to go over to the Pyreplace. “Any team made out of Magi, Archivists, and exchange students will be incredible.”

Most of the Magi were keenly interested in the Necromancer’s healing magic. They started talking amongst themselves, obviously planning to win her over.

The [Crown of Glory] glowed softly above Charlie’s witch hat. She was the first Vagrant to stand by the Pyre.

It annoyingly reminded Mel of the [Under Her Aegis] quest. Maybe it would fail when the next trial started.

No more [Destined Necromancer] for me, if I can’t win Charlie over. Who else would give me more maximum mana?

Definitely not Gwen, though Mel was curious what sort of enhancement the Berserker would give her.

Thomas joined Charlie.

Then it was a soot covered pair, Gwen and Heath. They pushed each other around good-naturedly.

More went up. Surprisingly, not everyone had earned Vagrant, though the majority of the Magi had.

Solomon got up to join Ashera, but Victor stayed seated, as did Logan Hart. The latter was hardly a surprise. He had gone solo. While he did very well for himself, he could have done a lot better.

I’m pretty sure Authority level is more than just how well you do in a trial, Mel thought to herself.

Almace tried to go up to the Pyre, but both Charlie and Adam were arrayed against him. When he couldn’t lift a shield with his arm wrapped in bandages, he hung his head and dragged his feet over to those sitting out by the bar.

Ashera put a comforting arm around his shoulders. The willowy lamora said something softly to him that made Almace’s shoulders straighten.

“Huh,” Mel said thoughtfully. “All right.” She pointed at Victor and Logan, the only two still seated. One looked like a professor from the 1940s and the other like a weird cross between Idris Elba and Ron Swanson. “What Authority level are you two?”

“Commoner,” they said at once.

“Oh dang,” Mel said. She hadn’t realized the majority of them had skipped right past an Authority level.

“Dang indeed,” Victor said. He turned to Logan. “Duo?”

“Duo it is,” Logan confirmed.

Mel turned to the gold and red flames of the Pyre. “Unless you’re against it, we have enough to make two full parties right here. There’s twelve of us, enough for two parties.”

Thomas looked curiously at Charlie and Adam.

“There are two healers,” Jacob said. “It seems an even split if we build around each healer, so neither team goes without.”

“There’s only two?” Gwen asked, bewildered.

Mel glanced at all the people assembled. “Huh. We only have two healers. In all the Magi. That…seems bad.”

Even Charlie was shocked. “Very bad.”

Camilla and Charlie looked at each other with deep concern, then at the rest of the Magi.

Everybody looked at Ashera, at least those who hadn’t been around her for a while.

“What?” she asked. “I am not being stuck as a healer again. Been there, done that. No, thank you. I can do some light backup healing with my class, but that is it.”

Shrubley nodded. “Same. Not that I am coming, of course!”

Mel looked at the Vagrant Magi. “So that means building around Camilla and Charlie unless you two want to make a duo party where you make out all day long and heal each other?”

Charlie covered her face in a gloved hand.

“The rest of you can suck it!” Camilla announced teasingly, putting an arm around Charlie.

That got a laugh out of the group.

Before long, they were working out who should go with what group. It was far more democratic than Mel or Charlie choosing, which would have made things easier in a way.

They weren’t a monarchy though. Mel and Charlie guided the Magi. They did not own them or tell them what to do.

Okay, we tell them what to do a little, Mel relented. But only when it matters.

As the discussions continued throughout the morning, the lines were drawn between the two groups. Shrubley had chosen to partner with Jacob, so it was a natural fit that Miranda and Cal wanted to join him.

Mel’s group already had three people clamoring to join her again, and since Sylvie clearly had a crush on Miranda, she joined Jacob’s group.

“Where Sylvie goes, Hal follows,” Thomas muttered. “Ever the dutiful older brother.”

Charlie cursed under her breath. She probably hadn’t been planning for this.

Mel looked at Charlie. “You don’t have to stay with us if you don’t want to, but it looks like you and Adam are coming with us unless Jacob wants to swap.”

Charlie glanced sharply at Mel’s team. “Of course I want to stay with all of you. And yet, I figured I couldn’t land a spot. Not that I knew there’s only two Vagrant healers,” she admitted in a rush. “This team has the highest damage potential, lacking neither magical nor physical, plus a werewolf that can likely hold enemy attention better than a Defender like Almace. You won’t have to hold back with a defensive, high sustain healer like me.”

“Did that orc knock something loose in your head?” Mel asked. “Why wouldn’t we want you on our team? Aside from the fact that you’re a healer, you’re clearly skilled. Honestly, I’m surprised Sylvie isn’t screaming that we’re ‘teaming’ or something by consolidating the top two teams into one.”

“I can think of some good reasons,” Charlie said evenly. “But Jacob’s team is stuffed full of familiars. That’s likely mollifying Sylvie. They’re essentially Wildsmasters. Their soul aeder are not just for show. They’re battle ready.”

“That’s why their names were joined in the ratings?” Gwen asked.

Charlie nodded.

Heath looked over at all the adorable animals. “That seems a little unfair, don’t you think?”

“It’d be the highest form of cruelty if you expected a soul aeder to be considered an individual combatant,” Charlie explained. “Those with familiars like them share some aspect powers. It’s not the same, for example, as Gwen and Thomas.”

Heath frowned. “Still, I haven’t been around long, but if Komachi can do half the stuff I’ve seen inside a trial, their group has the equivalent of like nine people. What if you had a full six-man, each with their own familiar?”

“It’d be incredibly strong, but it’s still a false equivalence,” Charlie answered. “From what I understand of their fighting style, it’s tuned for…I suppose you could say lasting summons with abilities.”

Gwen pushed her fingertips together, seeming sad for once. “Wish I had a puppy like the Fire Oppa.”

Eyes wide, Adam looked between them all. There was anger simmering behind his eyes, but there was fatigue written all over him too. He was exhausted from the first trial. It hadn’t been that long ago.

“Adam,” Charlie began gently. “It seems I’m Harper’s healer after all. Sit this one out. You’ll be able to get some rest and guard the Rook.”

Adam stared at Charlie, then glared at Mel. “I’m staying. I’ll fight you for party—”

Mel had enough. She didn’t bother to counter or argue. She moved in a blur and slugged Adam right across the chin.

The man went down like a sack of potatoes.

Mel straddled the supine man. “This is me being nice,” she said. “I don’t know who you think you are, but if you want to come for the crown, you better not fucking miss and you best not give me warning. You’re sure as hell not going to take leadership from me, and I’m not taking your sorry ass on my team.”

There was clearly something wrong with the man, though Mel couldn’t tell if it was the usual Brookmoors drama or something more sinister. For a fraction of a second, she saw that same rotten darkness surround him, but it was so brief it might have been a figment of her imagination.

I’m still running on high alert from the trial.

Charlie suppressed a smile, relieved by the outcome.

“Was he always insubordinate like that?” Gwen asked the Necromancer quietly.

“No, I’m not sure why he’s changed.”

Almace came over and put a hand gently on Mel’s arm. She could read the pleading question in his kind eyes. She nodded and stepped aside when it was clear that Adam wasn’t going to retaliate.

At least, not now, Mel thought sourly. Hardly a day later and I’ve already got an adversary among the Magi. At least I can rule him out as Other Mel’s killer. Way too obvious.

Once Adam was back with the others near the bar, Mel realized how many Magi weren’t going to join the next wave of trials. It was more than she figured, which had been zero.

That’s something I haven’t thought of. Look how many Magi are sitting out. I figured everybody would be ready and raring to go.

It required a new way of approaching the trials. Not everybody would be available at all times. Barring serious wounds, Mel could understand that sometimes you needed a few weeks to recover from the brutality and the danger.

Magi were used to dangerous situations, but they usually had some level of control over them. Realmwalking to a new Worldshard didn’t mean you were dropped in the middle of a deadly battlefield and expected to stay there without rest.

As the gold elf, Mira, Mel had lounged around in Murkmire and then later in Brightsong and Dalmanii for weeks at a time in some cases with absolutely nothing to do but relax (and sometimes worry about her friends).

Leaving Brookmoors behind was rough for most Magi. Not everyone was instinctively tuned for the wilds like Mel and Gwen were.

It also made sense, aside from the need for rest, that they would want to make their new home more comfortable and secure.

While Mel would never admit it, she hadn’t exactly thought of what it would mean to leave the Rook entirely alone while they went on to the next trial. She figured they could always collapse it, rather than leaving the building empty.

Mel appreciated Shrubley for being considerate where she had been careless.

Anything could have happened to the Rook while they were gone. Especially if the only people who could look after it were Sabrina and the others. Mel knew the place was in good hands. Besides, the odds were high that the trials didn’t always synchronize like this. Some might pop up while they were away, and maybe one or two Magi would go off.

Mel must have missed something, because Gwen was picking up Charlie and hugging her. The werewolf seemed excited about their team gaining a new Magi, so that was a relief.

Charlie did not look happy about it.

“Figured you’d be used to that by now,” Mel said, gesturing to the pair of them. She looked over at Jacob. “You sure you don’t want to come over here? We’re the underdogs now with only five.”

Jacob laughed. “You won the crown last time,” he said. “Think of it as a challenge mode. If you can rank higher than my group this time, maybe I’ll believe you deserve the title.”

Mel could tell he was joking, but at the same time she couldn’t help but feel there was a kernel of truth there. Technically speaking, Charlie and Mel had…massaged the rankings slightly by working together to get above Jacob’s position.

New Quest: Take One for the Team

There is more than a little truth to Jacob’s claim that you did not fairly win the last trial. While fairness has nothing to do with the Convocation, the Magi will look upon you more favorably if you accept the handicap.

Objective: Complete the upcoming Convocation trial with a standing above Jacob’s team (0/1).

Do not take a sixth Magi before or during the trial (0/1).

Reward: Increased Magi loyalty.

Orange, Green, and White Deeds.

Mel had never seen a quest list out Deeds like that. Usually, that was something that went on in the background. If the quest was bringing it up, it must be a big deal.

Plus, having more Magi loyal to her could only be a good thing. Especially since Adam would be free to stay behind and bring others around to his view of things.

She stepped up to Jacob and extended her hand. “You’ve got a deal. Better watch out though. With five people, we’ll be able to move faster than you.” Mel grinned. “You want a head start?”

Jacob laughed and shook her hand companionably. “No, no, I think having six versus five is enough.” He looked at his party, then back at Mel. “However, I think it’d be best if we still worked together. After all, the spoils we gain will still benefit the Magi Order regardless of who gets first or second.”

“Assuming there’s a ranking,” Hal pointed out. “We don’t know how the Convocation judges these things. It would be foolish to expect all trials are the same.”

“That’s a good point,” Mel said, looking Hal up and down.

He even stands differently. So wide, as if he expects Gwen to knock him down.

Mel nodded at Jacob. “Then we should all prepare.” She looked at Victor and Logan. “You too.”

Logan looked up from his conversation with Victor. “We aren’t even in the same trial.”

“All the more reason for us to prepare together,” Mel said. “The Order is supposed to be here for all of us. To support us when we need it and help us in the trials and the greater Shardrune. Kinda useless if we’re just a group in name only.”

“She’s right, obviously,” Charlie added, hanging limply in Gwen’s arms. “Please put me down, ever so gracious wolf queen.”

That spooked Gwen enough that she let go of Charlie.

Mel shook her head. “First thing first, we need to pay the Starling Tower another visit.”

“Why?” Thomas asked.

“Elian didn’t have a fancy card to contact him. He said the attendants there would know how to get in touch. I, for one, don’t feel like walking around the city to find the best shops. If we’re going to do this right, we need to do two things first.”

Mel raised a middle finger. “First–”

“C’mon, Mel!” Sylvie cried. “You know that’s not the right finger.”

Mel looked at it, then turned deadpan to Sylvie, still holding the middle finger. “As I was saying, first we need to outfit ourselves properly for the trials.” Mel raised her index finger. “Secondly, we need to solidify our Order by completing three contracts.”

“We could do contracts while you are in the trial,” Ashera said thoughtfully. “That would give us something to do and help out the Order.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Mel said with a triumphant grin. “Oh, and number three, we need to get Gwen a cooking permit.”

“A what?” several voices asked at once.

Mel rolled her eyes and headed to the door. “Come on, I’ll show you. Anybody interested in a profession will probably want to join me.”