Logan tried contacting Quinn but there was no response. After lunch, a new teacher filled in for Silver. The class was told the fighting lesson for next week had been moved up to this afternoon. Silver was in a meeting with the knights to discuss current events. This teacher was small framed, rounded glasses, and wore dark black robes.
Reli told the class that due to ongoing family matters the sparring lesson had been moved. All of the classes were to be involved, the subclasses would observe. Opponents had to be from different classes. Upon completion of a fight, there will be a discussion on what was done well and not so well. The winner would then select their next opponent.
On the field, Layla and Vorden locked eyes, they both had the same concern with Xander. Amy bumped into her teasing her about being into the tall blond.
There was a circular platform about a foot off the ground in the middle of the field. The students were told to sit around it. A teacher demonstrated there was an invisible forcefield around the platform so spectators wouldn't get hit. A fight was started between a male and female which the female was declared the loser when the male scratched her hand and drew blood. A teacher stopped the student from making a second attack.
After the discussion, the student had to pick. The crowd started cheering for Xander. Amy complained about it. The student gave in to pressure and selected Xander who bowed to his adoring fans. He then looked for Vorden before he even looked at the student he would be fighting.
Xander then was declared winner after just two punches. He looked for Layla and blew her a kiss which got screams from those around her. She was pushed a few times for being so lucky. As soon as he could, he selected Vorden as his opponent.
Vorden took all the pills Logan gave him hoping the increased strength, stamina and agility would help him not get hit enough to bleed. He felt an immediate effect. Logan asked if forfeit was an option. The answer was no. Raten offered to take over, calling Vorden a pretty boy.
On the platform, Xander said he'd been waiting for this but when the teacher told them to start, he was unable to move because he was scared. This student had been able to withstand the influence skill which meant he was strong. Vorden decided to defend at first so he waited for Xander to move then blocked both his attacks with his swords.
Vorden was able to block all the moves because he was experienced. He saw the shoulder movements which indicated where Xander would go next. He was doing well and Amy mentioned something to that effect to Layla and stated she no longer wondered why Layla liked him.
Layla was going to refute it, but he did look alright with that level of concentration on his face. Xander was getting frustrated, threw a blood swipe but even that was blocked. Raten took over, threw the blade where Vorden told him to, Xander looked into his eyes and thought he wasn't a vampire but a madman as Raten threw a spirit spear and hit Xander with it.
Raten swung the white blade then told Vorden it wasn't his fight and switched back. Logan had more MC so Raten had used Logan and Cia's power to create that spirit spear and significantly reduce Xander's fighting ability. Suddenly the black blade was swung toward Xander's neck as Vorden was able to regain his weapon. The teacher was able to stop it in time.
Layla was the only one that cheered. Lana was smirking. The vampires were all shocked. The teacher discussed the pros and cons of the fight then told them to shake hands. Both refused so the teacher grabbed their hands and forced a shake.
It was Vorden's turn to pick and he was quite pleased when Silver approached telling everyone to go home. School was cancelled for now. They gathered their things quickly and met up outside.
Lana was getting ready to ask the trees where Quinn was when Silver swiftly approached them. She told them someone rescued a wight and went to the 10th castle. She then left them there. Timmy noticed the others just standing around and offered to walk back with them. The group agreed.
Lana really wanted some answers so she stealthily held Vorden's hand and focused. She found out Quinn was the boy with Peter and was told they were heading toward the castle. Then the castle lit up. And promptly the lights went back out.
She then dropped his hand before anyone could see.
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Quinn didn't want to contact the others until he knew he was safe. He knew he was now the new leader but he didn't want it. He was not even 17 yet and felt it was too much. He just wanted to save Fex and get out of there. Quinn realized the whole area of the 10th felt dead compared to the other areas.
The castle was covered in cobwebs and no lights were on inside. There was another castle that had no lights. Quinn's system said it belonged to the Punishers. They were considered equal to the king because they enforced the laws, hence the castle was as big as the king's.
The front door to the castle was very tall and very wide. The system gave him the combination. The doors opened. When Quinn took one step in, the lights all started coming on.
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When Timmy saw the lights come on, he wanted to know what was going on at the 10th castle.
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The lights went out after a few seconds with Quinn's system giving an error that the quest to become a leader was not completed. He had just gotten the quest when he evolved after fighting Clark. The boys were now safely in the castle, though.
Close by, someone observed the lights come on, "you're finally back, sir," with tears in his eyes.
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