We were lining up to go in to the preliminary testing ground to cull the useless regulars when I saw the guy who'd charred off my hair. Skinheads weren't uncommon, but it was weird enough to get a couple of glances. I definitely saw the guy smirk before going in. I looked over and saw that I'd be going to go into another prelim testing ground. When I got in a voice read out the rules in a mechanical voice: a deathmatch with 30 regulars until the total got cut down to 8. We'd all go in and take positions, then start fighting when the signal went off.
Times like these I really thought that the tower was ruled by thick muscled idiots. Who the hell rigged the tests in favour of the friggin fishermen. Luckily I was one of the last ones to go in and had plenty of time to make alliances in the waiting room. I approached a guy sitting on the ground. He seemed like the right kind of guy. Strong, lean, but not spectacular. Spectacular meant that they wouldn't need me to cover their asses, or at least they didn't think they'd need me. This kind of guy was ordinary, but seemed like decent fighter. I sat down next to him and started talking in a low voice. Never went well if people figured out we were in an alliance.
"Jeez, the odds are really in favour of the fishermen huh?" I said in a low voice. The guy looked around. I continued "I'm a light bearer. Seems like the only way to pass is to work together."
The guy smiled in return. "Sounds nice. I'm a scout, name's Cosmos. Don't really have any special fighting abilities but I can keep the regulars away from you. I think we need some more."
I tilted my hand in that so-so gesture everyone uses when they're afraid of going too far in any direction. "One, maybe two more. Anymore than that and we definitely get betrayed halfway in. And none of the strong ones, they won't need our help."
Cosmos nodded tentatively. "One more then. I'll leave it up to you." He looked back down as if nothing happened.
By now, there were only 25 people left. I avoided the chick standing in the corner and made a beeline for another regular fingering his spear nervously. This guy looked pretty young, not just in terms of size but in terms of confidence. This was probably his first time taking the test and that was good. Guys on edge are perfect to befriend. Now, don't get me wrong. I have nothing against chicks and girls. But in my experience the fishermen types of girls tended to have napolean complexes from being looked down on, and usually lashed out at you if you tried to offer help. Of course, they were also too proud to accept it. I gotta admit the chick in the corner did catch my eye. She had long brown hair and green eyes, and tight leather gear that clung to her body. But I didn't have time to admire her. I walked up to the spearbearer and gave him the same spiel I gave cosmos. He was called Yaan and he accepted my proposal without question. Suddenly he stood up and I realized he had to go in. I quickly whispered to come to my position as soon as the test started, and watched him leave. I told the same thing to Cosmos and could only wait we trickled into the battlefield. When I got in, I swore quietly so no one might hear me.
That was the thing with plans. They. Fell. Apart.
When I got in I realized why they made us go in one at a time. They were guiding us to a specific place in a maze. We were blinded until the signal went off, and right away I knew that I was in trouble. Luckily, my lighthouse still worked and I worked out the layout right away. I was also smart enough to register both Yaan and Cosmos on my lighthouse in the waiting room so I knew where they were. I just didn't know how to get to them without bumping into the other 27. For Zahard's sake, we were on opposite sides if the maze, almost like the admins had deliberately set us apart. I quickly sent messages to their pockets and gave them directions. As for me, I hopped onto my lighthouse and floated to the ceiling. The admins weren't dumb enough to let me hover over the maze, but no one ever looked up, especially in situations like this, and so long I didn't move to catch any attention, I was much safer than them.