Chapter 1029 (1/2)

After their afternoon sparring session, Vye lied on the packed dirt of the arena and distantly considered the sensation of blood drying on her face. It itched, as the moisture was sucked out of the crimson liquid by the low hanging sun. Which left Vye with only the scent of iron and her thoughts.

Number three, huh… it definitely must not be from sparring. I’m average at best in the fights; I lose as much as I win. And I might have worked for Erickson Steel, but that was only for a short time. So then, my points probably come from…

Image evaluations. From walking stupidly toward that strange being that lives within the cloud of ash…

When she had first seen her ranking, Vye had been rather dubious. She had a very anxiety-inducing worry that perhaps Garret had been right about Randidly’s… motivations for inviting her somewhere alone. And now he was putting his thumb to assist her more directly, perhaps…?

Of course, she didn’t think that was true at all, but in a paranoia induced frenzy of thoughts, she didn’t think it was impossible. She likely would have continued on that downward spiral if she hadn’t the presence of mind to notice that no one else seemed shocked by her ranking. Several people even offered her congratulations. So Vye began to consider.

Scraps of conversations floated back to her. A few complaints that she had overheard about how difficult the image stones were to approach, that were then abruptly cut off as she had walked closer and the speaker had noticed her. At the time, Vye had thought it was just people trying to prevent her from overhearing their secrets. Vye didn’t mind that. After all, there were several cliques appearing in the Order Ducis training camp.

Part of it was natural friendships, but part of it was that Naffur had mentioned offhandedly once that each new initiate into the Order would be able to have two direct assistants that were acknowledged by the Order Ducis. Therefore, the groupings took on a rather political edge as some of the less successful applicants tried to curry favor.

Still, Vye didn’t plan on getting involved in that. She had considered herself a work in progress, in terms of results in the training camp. She had improved, certainly, but so had everyone else. She wasn’t mesmerizing anyone with her combat ability.

But at rank 3…

In addition to the strange conversations she had overheard, Vye remembered the expression on Garrett’s face when she had stated she didn’t want to know how far she had proceeded toward the Image Stone. Also, the words Edith spoke as she had regained consciousness lingered in her mind.

“Now, now, no need to be so upset. If this sort of result is unsatisfactory, you’ll make the rest of us blush.”

“So that’s it, huh,” Vye said softly. “I guess images are something… that I’m good at…?”

“Vye!”

The sharp shout had Vye scrambling up to her feet on instinct beaten into her over the last month. Ajax, their instructor for the combat sparring, was striding over toward her. Although Vye had gotten over the fact that he was an anthropomorphic cockroach, the repeated beatings that Vye and all of the other members of the Order Ducis training group suffered at his hands was enough to keep the fear she held toward him very real.

He stopped only an arm's length away and considered her.

Vye clenched her jaw. I refuse to flinch. He may have mouth mandibles, but he’s still a normal person.

“Oh good,” Ajax said lightly. “I was worried I had beaten you unconscious. Good effort today, you are improving. But, you’ve been requested. As the current leader in the Image Evaluations… you will receive a small reward. Proceed to the command tent immediately. You won’t be given a break before the Raid today, so be quick about it.”

Around her, several previously boneless bodies propped themselves up on their elbows to watch Vye hurriedly limp away. Vye could practically see how their ears perked up at the mention of a reward. The memory of the “ultimate” reward that could be reached by touching one of the Image Stones was still fresh in their minds. Now, as a minor reward was mentioned, they wondered what it could mean.

It wouldn’t be a break day, but if it was even just a meal they didn’t have to inhale on their way to another battle?

As Vye walked out from the arena, she could practically hear the small gears in their heads turning. If touching the stone is worth a break day… what will she receive by being the closest…?

Perhaps Vye shouldn’t get too comfortable on top of the Image Evaluations. If the reward was good enough, she knew that most people would throw themselves at the Image Stones with renewed vigor.

By the time Vye arrived at the command tent, she had imagined dozens of possible awards that she might be receiving. Obviously, it wouldn’t be a full day, but if she would get even a little bit of the day to spend just by herself…

Well, I’d just sleep. But still… The prospect had Vye salivating. Non-necessary resting felt like something from a day-dream.

Which was why she hastily wiped her mouth when she walked into the tent and saw Randidly Ghosthound sitting there. She froze like a groundhog caught rustling in the bushes by a bear.