1 Chapter 0.5

There are three thousand people in long neat rows as far as the eye can see. It's the event of the decade, men, guys, male supernatural beings, young men, and old men, gather together to compete. They compete to get into Universal Alliance Academy, the biggest combat, self-defense, soldier, and leadership training Academy in the world. Anyone is free to attend trials, and this year she is joining in. She has just turned 25, bought the best blend of peppermint tea and believes she is ready to fight. All of a sudden she had all this energy and no way to positively let it out. It is becoming hard to differentiate between her natural strength and the array of magical talents seemingly trying to establish itself within her. The trials operate in an easy-to-understand kill or be killed format, but attached is a note to make friends while you are at it. At Least that is what the Academy's pamphlet says is the school's motto.

And I think I'm ready for it. I have no choice but to be. I can not get help for my powers anywhere else, and they are getting out of control. I have to be the first woman to get in, and I have to be the best student for others around me to survive. I walk onto a large open arena, filled with very neat rows of men, as far as the eye can see, even for a Jaguar shifter like me. I notice some eyes turn to me, it must be strange from their perspective. I thought about blending in, but this could be good for people like me, so I am here in light blue traditional Jaguar murka, with a peach shoulder scarf, and a black head-tie. And don't forget my wooden basket of weapons and tea. The eyes looking me over show a variety of pity, shock, amusement, and disgust. I don't need or deserve any of those.

Lined up with the others, an announcement starts from a man who looks like a very old, very powerful vampire. He is standing on the highest level of the row seats, and holding a cordless microphone, with a knowing grin on his face. "Hello everyone, and welcome to this decade's preliminary academy tryouts at UAA. My name is Liam Drovet, and I am the Chancellor of this great institution." He says, with speakers that carry his voice throughout the large space, and I immediately regret my decision of wanting to come here, solely because of the noise. There is a booming uproar from the crowd around me, as though the wise-looking man told them he had the answers to their prayers. Technically he just gave an introduction to the answer to my prayers.

"Today, you have your first task, and it is very simple", he continues, then pauses for dramatic effect. It seems to be working, as anticipation comes off the arena in waves. "Your mission should you choose to accept it, is to kill as many of your fellow students as you can within forty-five minutes", with that, murmurs sound from everywhere, but he's not done, "settle down young ones, in this trial, you can have groups, or be a lone participant. The arena will be modified in a moment to fit a realistic battleground… Good luck and may the Gods be on your sides". I expected the trials to be hard, but this is a little harsh. No one knows what the trials are, but it is expected for people to lose their lives during trials, as well as training. I need to get in and by my Goddess Hekate, I will.

Before the trials, we are taken inside for our pick of weapons and food provisions, although most people probably brought their own. The room is equally massive, with tall brick walls, high-up rose gold light holders, and many dark wood tables sadistically covered in food or weapons. Some people clearly know each other and form groups, while others awkwardly try to make alliances within a short amount of time. I don't need a group, and I don't think it is worth trying to join one of these. They would probably try to kill me off right after the trial is over. I heard that the group you make in the first trial is one you have to keep till the end of training. So, if you start off as a loner, you remain a loner, and if you start off as a group, you remain with the group. It is not worth grouping oneself with a group for it to end up with all bad people.

I walk over to the weapons, most look like quite the hassle to fight with. I would need to infuse magic into the weapon, to get through the fight with those heavy clunky weapons. I cannot use magic, not yet, not if I don't want my cover blown. That's why all the weapons I have with me are guns and custom-made throwing knives. I have a damn good shot, even compared to others in Jaguar Territory, maybe even in the Alliance, considering my unexplainable shifter and vampire senses. As I make my way to just sit and wait, something catches my eye. A metal light blue staff, about my height, that matches my clothing almost perfectly, sits on a table near the end of the large room. I make my way to it, to get a closer look, when I'm close enough, I see there is also a sharp and very reflective blade at the end. I pick it up, and it feels like the perfect weight, and I guess I really did find one good thing at this pretentious academy.

As I inspect the object further, I sense a group of people walking towards me. I turn around to see myself surrounded by a half-circle of strong men, however, it is clear they clearly don't want peace and friendship. Shame really, I could think of a thing or two I could get up to with so many handsome warriors. The one who I assume to be the leader of their little group stretches a hand toward me as if asking for a handshake, all while wearing a perfectly serene welcoming smile. I am not falling for it, they can find another sheep, and I am about to tell them so, but I decided against it. While I'm here I might as well fall into some traps, have some fun…

I return the handshake and incline my head the tiniest bit to show I mean no harm, the perfect picture of subservience, I could win awards just for my acting alone. He looks pleased with the little display and introduces his little group. "Hello female, I am Drae, these are my brothers; Pan, Jiro, Coza, Nesham, and Luca", he pauses for a second after every name, as though they are the reason the older generations had prosperity, or why the sun shines every morning. Without asking for my name, he quickly launches the real question they came to ask, " Why are you here?... female". Why did they talk like this, female this, female that. I sigh inwardly and reply, without giving away my real emotions, "My name is Xan, and I am here to join the academy of course". There is a rumble of laughter, not just from the six strangers, but from others around that were listening in.

Drae clears his throat, and the laughter settles, then he says, "join my group female… Xan… and I will protect you", knowing fully well he meant kill I accepted his offer, someone needed to teach these assholes a lesson.

Soon the time for sitting around and grouping was over, and we are told to return to the

I mentioned earlier I had guns with me, have you ever heard of a silver MG 45 machine gun in action? I love magic and all, but there is just something about perfectly hitting your targets over and over in a smooth fashion that just speaks to me. And tonight there will be a lot of targets.

So a simulation is created in place of the field space and everyone is hiding the best they can. I am with this new group of guys and I know something is coming, and not just the inevitable sense of doom that hangs around in the room. A screeching horn is blown shortly after, and that's when I know, that's when we all know that from this moment on for 24 hrs, it's kill or be killed.

Of course, Drae immediately goes for the kill with magic, but there's one piece, not many pieces of information that someone should have told that guy, the most important one being "I can't be killed". I say this to him before pointing my simple Bodyguard 380 handgun to his head and shooting twice. Before his friends can really think about it, they are next. Except for one. Pan, has both hands up, and no weapon in sight. I let him go and make my way to higher ground where I can set up my non-magical weapon.