Sandstorm

Rosalind's cheery voice rang through the arena carrying a sing song tone. She sounded like a young girl getting ready to go to a tea party rather than teenage lady wearing the academy uniform, her polehammer leaning on her shoulder easily and a smile plastered on her lips that nobody could see as anything other than genuine. This response left Bennet's jaw hanging slightly but he was quick to gather himself again. He responded with a smile that could only be seen as that of a snake, answering happily. "Sure, if we win you all pay up every copper, silver and gold coin you have. If you somehow win, then we will run your errands for you in the first term." The tall boy turned to Rosalind and extended his hand to her, which she took firmly, perhaps with a bit too much strength given the pained expression on the boy's face and shook it firmly.Jien sighed at the idea of fighting again so soon but also knew that this would likely help cement more connections here before the term would start. Being here wasn't just about improving your tactics and learning how to use your abilities from military perspective. This academy was a chance to build connections that would last you the rest of your life. While Jien didn't know if being friends with a bunch of children of bandits, he wasn't against gathering allies where he could. He would just need to ensure that they won at all costs. While they could survive without their wealth, given that the academy was based in merits, it was not worth it to lose out on the money they could use later in town or among other students in trade.Standing up and brushing off his pants of any sand sticking to them Jien walked over and double checked the conditions for the match. He then checked in with each member of his unit, seeing how they were doing in terms of fatigue and mana usage. His mind was spinning with each answer, thinking up the best strategy, formation and trying to minimalize the level of exhaustion they would have to endure. It was clear in his mind that Bennet challenged them now to capitalize on their fatigue. He had to work to prove that it would make no difference in the end.After talking with them all he brought them all into a simple huddle to explain how they were going to handle the match while Bennet and his group of rough looking individuals were performing their own huddle in the middle of the arena. Finally, several minutes later they all entered the arena and occupied their halves, grouping into their formations. Jien's team similar to their previous formation except that Andrew was now placed between Robyn and Lesley for his own protection.Bennet and his team roughly matched the formation of Jien's team though Bennet took the role of Vanguard with a woman who was wielding a saber in one hand and a buckler in the other. It was an odd combination but nobody on either side looked down on it. Everyone had their own way, whether with weapons, spells or even how they walked the world. Jien and his teammates had learned it firsthand when facing their mentors and next when they met Julie not long ago.Once again it was Rebecca who signaled the start of the match. The first move was made by scrawny looking boy in the back of Bennet's formation. The boy held what looked to be a simple hunting knife, or a training version of it with a blunted blade. His eyes were sunken and his skin a deep tan as if he spent many a day walking the desert around the academy. The boy spoke a number of words in a tone low enough that nobody could hear it, as his words were spoken the atmosphere surrounding the arena started to buzz as if the air itself was electrified. Soon a gust began to pick up from nowhere, swirling around everyone present, scraping the floor of the arena and dragging the sand up into the air.Before Jien's team could make a move to stop it the sandstorm swirled about them violently, the sand itself feeling like razors brushing their skin. The last thing they saw before their image was obscured entirely was a smirk on Bennet's face. Soon Jien was alone amidst the sand laden winds, his ears buzzing with its howling and his eyes and skin stinging. The look in his eyes, however, was calm. This wasn't the first time he had fought in such circumstances, and he doubted it was going to be the last. Still, he knew better than to belittle the efforts of his opponents or think himself to know what they were planning. He would have to put an end to this storm to allow his teammates free reign to end the match in their favor. He just hoped that they would last until he was done doing so.