The Green Key school's opening assembly for the second term was held in the sanctum of the Temple. Because the first-year students just finished the term exam, many high-ranking members of the guilds that funded the school were always present. This was their first opportunity to see results from the newest students. Because of this, the assembly was held on Friday to allow the guild representatives to meet with any potential recruits. Certificates of Achievement were presented to individual students and parties that met certain criteria. Most goals were well established, but additional Certificates of Achievements were often awarded at the headmaster's discretion.
As the first-years gathered in front of the temple, Karen was searching for her new party members. As she caught sight of Alex's gleaming helmet, a slender hand landed on her shoulder. Surprised, she spun to find herself face to face with Cecilia. "Hello, Karen," said Cecilia. "What happened? I thought you were going to join us in Brightmoon Bay? I told my father you were coming, but you never arrived. I was worried." The end of the sentence fell into a false tone.
"Oh, Cecilia, you're back. Sorry for missing the trip, but something happened and I couldn't pass the exam until it was too late."
"Really, what happened? Anyway, father came back with us, so you'll be able to meet him this weekend. Now come on, we're all going to sit together so when they call us for our rewards, we can all go together and look professional. Not that we are trying to attract any recruiters, but it will look good for father. I mean, we're all going to join his guild, so we should look the part."
" I already have plans to sit with the party I passed with."
"Well, go explain that you're going to be with us. I'm sure they will understand. After all, we're going to sweep up the most awards. I'm sure they will understand."
"Cecilia, has it ever occurred to you that your score might not have held up?"
"Of course it did. We cleared in less than an hour fifteen. Who could possibly have beaten that? Or did you see something on the leaderboard?"
"The leaderboard was taken down on the last day. The mage star party still held the fastest time then."
"Excellent! Then there's nothing to worry about. Now go make your excuses to the necessary people. I'll wait."
"No, don't wait. All the good seats will be taken." Karen looked over Cecilia's shoulder "the others are waiting for you."
Karen turned toward the last place she had seen Alex's head. It remained where she had last seen it. Approaching through the rapidly thinning crowd of students, she explained her delay. "Sorry I'm late, Cecilia caught me. I swear, she's delusional. After what she put me through, there's no way I'm sitting with her."
"Not a problem. We are still waiting for" Alex's helmet shifted fractionally to look over Karen's shoulder. "Oh, for peats sake! Elidin, enough already! Are you really planning on attending the assembly in your tiger form?!" The look that the tiger-student gave the Paladin plainly said that the question had been foolish. Exasperated, Alex looked to Thomas for assistance.
"Don't look at me. I can't even get him to spar with me, much less change his form. Besides," he teased, "you're just assuming he's an Elf druid in a tiger form. What if he's really a tiger druid who can take an elf form?" At this, Alex threw her hands in the air and marched off toward the doors to the temple. The rest of the party followed. The grin on Elidin's tiger face was as smug as any cat's.
Glancing down, Thomas asked the feline impersonator, "Seriously though, what are you going to do when you're called up on stage? It will be hard to accept a certificate without hands." The tiger just looked up and winked.
After the school, and guests, had assembled the headmaster began. "Welcome back to the second term here at the Green Key school. It is tradition to use this assembly to honor the first-year students who performed exceptionally well during the end of term exam. This year, in addition to the normal awards, we have five special awards." This announcement was greeted with a surprised murmur rising from the students and guests. While special awards were commonly given for unusual circumstances, to give out five at one time was almost unheard of.
"The first special award goes to a young priestess who truly embodies the concept of a battlefield healer. In addition to her impressive score for healing, she also earned enough points from combat to beat the next highest priest's damage score five times over. Priestess Sara Harlow, please come forward."
With a rosy blush on her face, Sara walked up the center isle of the hall with her head high. Several students, and the headmaster, caught glimpses of the chainmail hauberk she wore under the outer robes of a priestess. Accepting the expensive parchment with the exquisite calligraphy detailing her accomplishment and embossed with the school's official seal, she turned and gave a small bow while the assembly applauded. As she returned to her seat, the Headmaster continued.
"Our next achievement is awarded to a young mage who set the most damaging, well planned and effective obstacle seen for many years," the Headmaster began. "While her party was in heavy combat with most of the hardest enemies the exam offers, she realized that another large contingent of foes was approaching from one of the tunnels. Acting quickly, she recognized the foes, analyzed the terrain, and placed her obstacle in time to prevent thirty-seven skeleton warriors from entering the fray from the flank. Her obstacle was simple in design yet elegant in execution. Seeing that the skeletons would need to climb a steep slope to reach the chamber, she simply covered it in ice. Simple, yes, but highly effective, she is credited with eight skeletons killed and twenty-nine damaged, as well as stopping their advance. No student has ever gotten such a result, even with twenty times the preparation. For that we are awarding Karen Stone a special Certificate of Achievement." Again, the polite applause broke out. It did seem to be somewhat more energetic from several knots of students, mostly Scouts and Hunters. In other words, classes that routinely make use of traps.
"Our final special individual award likewise concerns a student succeeding well out of their class' norm. A Spirit course student far exceeded the average of his class in physical damage. While Druids traditionally stay in their normal form to cast their spells, this student spent all but two minutes of his exam in an alternate form, and scoring better than double the physical damage points of his next closest competitor. Druid Elidin von Sarguinius nar Cyotree please come forward."
At the Headmasters call, many of the spectators began searching the hall for the Druid. However, most were looking for him at head height, and missed him as he stalked down the hall from his position along the right-side wall. Those who did locate him had to smother the laughter that threatened to disrupt the assembly as they saw the tiger crossing toward the Headmaster. Echoing Alex's earlier sentiment, the Headmaster said "Seriously?!" and shook his head, and held out the certificate to the tiger. Gripping the document carefully in his teeth, Elidin raised his right paw in an invitation to shake the Headmaster's hand. After the Headmaster had acquiesced, Elidin returned to his seat. Tail high and the certificate proudly dangling from his mouth, he portrayed the epitome of feline smugness. The applause that followed him was more the applause of a delighted audience than the expected applause of congratulations.
Exasperated by the antics of the tiger, and acutely aware that his day had just begun, the Headmaster continued. "Congratulations to the three of you. Our next two special awards are being given to exam parties. Both parties accomplished identical feats, except for one small detail. As everyone here should know, the exam is designed to teach cooperation and party tactics. As such, the exam is purposely balanced for a mixed party to give the best chance for success. Every year, however, there are a certain number of parties that attempt to compete with a party from one course. Even more rare, are parties composed of only one class. Almost always, these parties fail, and then reform in a more balanced fashion. This year there were two parties, each composed of a single class that completed the task. While this is not in line with the aims of the exam, it is worth honoring for the difficulty of the feat alone. Please welcome the Mage Star party, party leader Cecilia Westbridge, Jasmin Sandrunner, Melody Swan, Amber Ranch, and Karen Stone." As Cecilia's party rose and were making their way to the front, Karen joined them from across the hall.
"Why aren't you sitting with us," asked Amber as they formed a line in front of the Headmaster. Keeping her voice as low as possible, Karen responded, "Do you really think I want to be here right now?"
Further comments were halted because the Headmaster was continuing, "And the Iron Arms, party leader Lenard Silvercrest, Lief Poleax, Mark Farmer, Ryan Hallguard, Manfred Richover, and Durin Understone." Lenard's party also approached the front. After the certificates were awarded and handshakes were exchanged, the eleven students returned to their seats. Cecilia appeared to be searching the audience for her father on the walk back, and didn't notice Karen return to her place with Thomas' party. Many in the audience did, and a speculative murmur began to rise.
As Karen resumed her seat, Thomas who had been watching Cecilia commented, "I think Cecilia is getting annoyed that you are not playing along with her plans."
"Who cares," responded Karen succinctly. "I've spent a whole term catering to her, and all it did was keep me from making any real friends."
"Well, I'm taking that as a complement," said Thomas. Karen reached over Alex to punch Thomas' leg.
The Headmaster moved on to the standard individual awards, which were more numerous but required less explanation. The basic formula was the five students who scored highest in a specific field were awarded. Sara was once again called, taking fifth in the healing category. The physical damage category was topped by Alex, followed by Lenard.
"For Magical damage inflected on opponents," recited the Headmaster in a well-worn way, "Fifth place, Jasmin Sandrunner," a smattering of applause followed the announcement as it had for all the categories so far. "Fourth place, Crystal Kavorn… Third place, Cecilia Westbridge… Second place, Karen Stone… and First place Thomas Walker."
After the applause had quieted down, the Headmaster continued his presentation, "Now for the highest individual score achievement. Given to the students who gain the highest number of points. The winners are; in fifth place ... Warrior Lenard Silvercrest; fourth place... Mage Cecilia Westbridge; third place ... Paladin Alexia Mason; second place... Mage Karen Stone; and first place... Shaman Thomas Walker."
"Moving on to party awards, starting with the fastest times. Fifth place goes to the Master Keys!" As the Headmaster called out the members, Thomas muttered as he clapped "Cecilia's going to blow her top when she finds out who beat her."
"I don't think so." Responded Karen. "She'll be pissed that I didn't give her a heads up. But since I was with you and she wants to use you, she'll probably let it pass. Especially since she will still take second." As the fourth-place party was called, she continued. "The fireworks will really start when she learns that her party didn't even place in the top five on party score. I wouldn't be surprised if she made a scene right here in the hall, before the assembly is even dismissed. I wonder how her father will react."
"In third place, with a time of one hour twenty-eight minutes six seconds the Iron Arms!"
As he was leading his party to receive their award, Lenard shot Thomas a look that showed nothing but smug superiority. Lenard obviously thought that, while Thomas may have beaten him in the individual score category, there was no way he could have assembled a party capable of being faster or scoring higher than Lenard's own Iron Arms. Thomas just shook his head at the show of prideful arrogance.
"You're up next Karen." He said to the mage. "we'll pick you up on your way back."
Karen chuckled "I think I'll ruffle Cecilia's feathers some more when I'm up there."
When the Mage Stars were called for, Karen dutifully joins the group to receive the award. This time Karen was standing next to Cecilia. "We did great on this exam." Cecilia was beaming, as the award was being handed out.
"This is only second place, Cecilia." Karen reminded her.
"It's a little disappointing," Cecilia said from behind her smile, as the group turned to face the assembly. As she gave a wave to the crowd and began the walk back to their seats, she continued "But, so what if someone beat our time by a few seconds. It won't change enough to matter. Now, come on. We've been saving a seat for you. "
As Cecilia took Karen's elbow to lead her towards the row that Cecilia's party had taken, Karen pulled back. "Sorry, but I..."
At this point the Headmaster, who Cecilia's had been only half listening to, had just completed his announcement. "First place, with a time of fifty-three minutes forty-seven seconds, goes to Exam Party Eleven."
The commotion that erupted after the announcement shocked Cecilia into stillness. Wide eyed, Cecilia turned back to Karen, "Did he just say fifty-three minutes?! I'm dreaming right."
"Yes, he did, now if you'll excuse me I ..." Karen's excuse was cut off when the Headmaster called out the final member of the party's roster "And Karen Stone."
Disbelief clouded Cecilia's face as Karen turned and joined the members of Thomas' party. "I thought she was going to drag you out of the hall." said Alex.
"She was still dreaming about taking first overall. Our time has finally cracked the wall if her superiority complex." replied Karen. As they turned, they saw Cecilia still standing in the isle, staring dumbfounded at the party that had shattered her time. As the Headmaster began to speak again, one of Cecilia's party members pulled her into her seat.
"In the six hundred twenty-three years that the Green Key school has been open, this is only the fifth party to accomplish a sub hour run on the exam. Therefore, we will also be awarding them an additional certificate of achievement to commemorate their feat." The Headmaster handed out the certificates, during the applause that followed. As the party passed down the aisle, the Headmaster spoke again. "For those who are interested, Exam Party Eleven has the third fastest time ever recorded for the first-year end of term exam, and the second highest score."
Cecilia had recovered from her shock, and her mind was whirling. Her plans were in shambles, but things could be salvaged. Seeing as Exam Party Eleven had the two highest scoring magic users, the top physical damage dealer and the fifth highest healer, and the first sub-hour time in decades guaranteed that they would take first place in the overall party rankings as well. A horrible thought began to run through her head. Karen had known, and had not warned her. Apparently, Karen was not the dependable friend Cecilia had always assumed. She would have to deal with that later. Now, how bad was this? Not very. Sure, it stung that they wouldn't be able to get first overall, but second wasn't that bad. Just some dumb luck. And questionable actions from a friend.
As the awards for the party total score were being announced, Cecilia clapped along mechanically. She was pleased that the fourth and fifth places did not go to Lenard's Iron Arms, but she became worried when third place went to a party led by a priest. With Thomas' party sure to take first, that only left second place for her party. When the second place was also not given to her, she began to panic. Thomas' party taking first turned her panic into erupting rage. As the Exam Party Eleven left the stage for the final time, her anger and pride burst past any semblance of restraint.
Cecilia shot to her feet and bellowed out over the applause "What's the meaning of this!"