Chapter 4: "Tested"
I walked to school the next morning in the scorching sunshine, Stormwind was subject to a heat-wave, which didn't happen very often. I was wearing my drab school uniform, but more importantly, my silver headband which my fringe partly covered, and held on to my bag real tight with the present for Jam in it. Jam met me at our usual spot, outside the weapon masters house.
"Hiya Ju, how was your day yesterday?" Jam asked casually
"Nothing special, you?" I replied.
Jam shrugged " Same," He eyed my new headband "That's a nice headband, you buy that with your winnings?"
"Yeh, actually," I said as i bought the delicately wrapped out of my bag. "This also." I handed Jam the parcel and watched as he carefully unpicked the wrapping paper, so none of it was ripped. He gawked at the small silver object that lay within.
"For me?" He asked. I nodded " Aww you shouldn't have. Hey it matches yours!"
"The blue stuff is from the same crystal, so I'll always have a part of you, and you of me, no matter where we get sent of to." I said. Jam smiled and fitted the armband around his semi muscular arms.
"Ju that's so sweet" He commented and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. I blushed profoundly and walked on to school.
"Today!" Snakey shouted as he walked into the room. We all jumped "You will learn more about yourself than you could ever know. Shortly we will proceed to Elywn Forest, where your instructor has set up the test. You have not been informed anything about it apart from it's importance in deciding your future." With that Snakey waved his hand and we were led to our future.
"Whad'ya think your gonna be?" Jam whispered into be ear from behind me as we all bustled along in a line behing Snakey.
"Dunno, priest maybe?" I whispered back.
"Well I am going to be a mighty paladin, who smites enemies with holy wrath!" Jam replied
I rolled my eyes. "Jam, night elves can't be paladins, you know?" I said
"Darn, I'll think of something different then." I looked forwards to a clearing with an important looking man in alliance armour.
"This is where i leave you class!" Snakey shouted, and marched off, leaving all of us in a clearing with an unknown man.
"Hello class. I'm Sir Vant. I'm here to help you! Each of you, in turn will come with me to a place a short distance away from here. You will have minor padding, just for safety and you will not know what to expect. Those who have finished will be led to a different clearing so you don't give it away to your friends by my helper Asiz. You will call him ." He said "Ilija Smithy, Leeroy Jenkins III? You two are first. Come." Smithy nervous stepped out from the crowd and went to stand beside Sir Vant. Mr. Vant put his hand on Smithy's back and ushered him away from the clearing. Smithy glanced back and us once more with a nervous look on his face. He then disappeared into the shadows.
Me, Jam and Jane lay on the grass looking at the cloudless sky. Jam was twiddling a piece of wheat in his mouth. "If it were any hotter, I could boil." Jam said.
"I think Jane already has!" I giggled. Jane had turned an odd shade of purple that could only be night elf burn. "Just be thankful were not doing some crazy unknown test right now." Jane said. I had almost forgot about it until she brought it up again. Smithy and Leeroy had already been called. Sir Vant emerged from the shadows yet again for the 30th time.
"June Moon, Jamain Earthpaw" He called. Dammit, i thought. It's my turn! Jam gave me a pat on the back.
"Good luck, my friend." He said. We somberly got up and walked to the human.
"Oh, and Ju, Jam?" Jane called as we raised an eyebrow "Don't die on me." She smiled enthusiastically. I stuck my tongue out as we were led into the trees. We stopped after 3 minutes walking at a shadowy clearing. I could barely see as Sir Vant strapped small shouder pads, knee guards and a leather chest plate to me. He did the same to Jam. He nodded and pointed and a small hole in the ground and looked at me. he pointed to a hole just next to mine and looked at Jam. " Come out when your ready." He said. Well what the hell was that supposed to mean? Oh well, After this I would know what I would do with my life. I obeyed and climbed through.
I crawled for quite a long way in the underground tunnel, i was thankful for the knee pads. I came to a point where I no longer had to crawl. I couldn't see a thing and I had no idea where i was. I kept my cool and stood up. I decided to close my eyes and listen instead of straining them to see. I crept forwards, one foot at a time. I heard screeching coming my way fast. I whirled around and ducked as something unknown swooped in to attack. I heard it make a U turn and come at me again. I was prepared this time and punched it as hard as i could. Whatever it was, dropped to the floor. Wary of further enemies I crept forward to find an escape. I felt solid wall, so i shuffled round to find a door. My hands came into contact with wood, which i took to be the door. I fumbled for the handle and walked through the door. The light was almost blinding as I came outside. I rubbed my eyes as they got used to the sunshine again. I seemed to be in an arena of sorts. I wasn't alone. Jam was also in the state i was, looking round the arena. Our gazes met and I ran over to him.
"You too? And the cave?" I asked. Jam nodded. I looked like we had both been through the same thing. A figure emerged from the far side of the arena. It was Asiz Tant. The assistant of Sir Vant.
"You second and final test!" He boomed. "Pick your weapons!" he pointed over to a shmorgesboard of weapons laid out on a nearby table. Me and Jam obediently went over to the table. "Any idea what we'll have to fight?" Jam asked
"If I did I'd tell you!" I replied. I looked through the weapons. On offer there was a sword and shield, a two handed sword, a staff, a variety of daggers, a polearm and a bow and arrows. I tried the sword and shield. The sword was two heavy for me to hold in one hand and the shield got in my way. I lay them back on the table and tried all the different weapons. The bow was fine except i couldn't get the arrows to fit in. The two hander was way to heavy and i had to use all my strength to just lug it back on the table. The polearm admittedly was okay, but was taller than me by about 2 heads, meaning it would hit the ground a lot. I liked the dagger, it was small enough to wield and to move about with at the same time. I picked up the dagger. But what about my other hand? I had no defense if anything came at me. I couldn't use a shield so what could i use? Another dagger? I guess it was my choice so i picked up another dagger. I glanced at Jam. He was swinging around the polearm. He nodded and kept the polearm. We went back into the centre of the arena.
"Good, you've finished. Now let the battle begin!" Asiz said as he left the arena. But what was there to fight? I looked at Jam puzzledly. Jam's expression mimicked mine. "There's nothing in here but me and you!" I said. Jam's face suddenly looked terrified. He stared straight at me. I knew what I had to fight. I didn't want to. The only other thing in the arena was...Jam. I had to fight my best friend.