Setting: Sunday walk to the academy. 2 weeks and 3 days have passed. 6 days since the practice between Death and War. Paintball scrimmage is a thing, and my homeroom has lost every single fucking time for the last 2 months.*

Let's be honest here: we were already undermanned to begin with. There were my friends, and a couple of random guys who didn't really give a shit. That makes 9 in the homeroom, much less than the maximum allowance of 16. Now we have the 4 Horsemen, and it will be interesting to see how this scrimmage plays out. I mean, we have enough manpower to at least be a proper team against the other homerooms, but I'll have to make sure these guys don't attract any of the wrong attention. As I am lost in thought, Famine and Conquest get into some ridiculous argument about the proper nutrition an army runs on, or whatever the fuck that's supposed ot mean.

Conquest: It is the prerequisite of all soldiers in an army to have the essential amount of calories and nothing more. Only the amount dictated by logistical command can hope to suffice.

Famine: And that's a perfect excuse to give bullcrap to soldiers. Y'all experts shoot the same spiel about nutrition when you just take all the good shit for yourselves. You higher ups always take what you want without excuse.

Conquest: And you guys always complain without realizing what we put in for you ... Don't think we'll tolerate anyone with appetites bigger than what the army could hold?

Famine: And you guys are too arrogant. Always snobbering around like you own the damn place without doing grunt work. Why don't you come into battle with us and see what it's really -

Me: That's enough squabbling you too. You sound like an old married couple about to fail going through on another separation only to end back together unhappily. Paintball practice is just ahead, save the squabbling for home Mr. and Mrs. Horseman.

This only leads them to start yelling at me, making me regret making that joking remark. Goddamn these guys are scary when they're pissed. I feel bad for what the opposing team is going to end up with if they end up on their bad side.

We enter the facility and take to the lockerrooms to put on our already assigned gear. Thank lord for the businessman. The Gatekeeper was somehow able to convince the businessman to help us with a few favors by calling the horsemen some very bright exchange students, then was able to pass them through by getting a couple of favors to work. Long story short: A shit ton of more money to the businessman land grants to use some property of the Gatekeeper in exchange for the indirect and anonymous (obviously not to us since we were informed by the higherups at the Tower of Glass (this is the only time I will use parentheses inside of parentheses: it is the base of the Horseman and other personnel of the Gatekeeper)) support in our endeavors such as the clearing of neighborhoods. Of course, backed by our friendly neighborhood and mysterious Gatekeeper? Who the fuck is this guy anyways, that he makes them all, especially Famine, gush so lovingly about?

I must have spaced out, because I feel off the bench in full gear that pushed into my clothes when I hit the ground. Ow.

War: Wake up Pip. We have to leave for Scrimmage remember?

Me: Fine, fine. I'm coming.

I head out into the arena of DOOM (not really) and meet up with the other 3.

Conquest: You're late. I now sense a 32% chance of uncertainty that we will not be able to follow your instructions as clear since there is a possibility you will rush your instructions due to time constraints.

Me: I believe Khan went over this with you, Thannat. We'll have to -

We are interrupted by a loudspeaker voice by the Businessman getting hyped over a match like this. He must be watching during the business meeting. Oh crap, this means my dad's watching me. He'd probably be happy I made some new friends, but he'd be disappointed if I lost this match. I mean, he's not strict, but he sure as fuck would hate to see my homeroom lose again.

COOOOOOMMMMMMMMMBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNTTTTTTTTSSSSSSSSSSSSS! ARRRRRREEEEEEEEEE YOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUU RREEEEEAAAADDDDDDDDDYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?

Never been more ready to get my ass whooped. The other homeroom is packed with guys who've been playing paintball since they were kids. Even with the abilities of the Horsemen, we shouldn't be able to beat them. Especially since they only just learned how to play.

Death: Move and shoot, right? Don't get hit or you get out of the game. We will protect you on the field. Don't worry.

She passes a sly grin, one that I might perceive as with respect and a tinge of attraction. It lasts for about 5 seconds before she looks forward and changes face to a battlehardened warrior.

3...2...1...FFFIIIIIGGGGGHHHHHTTTTTTTTT!