Second Day Ranking

The ground beneath them was crumbling and falling apart. 

Hestia used her vines to wrap the three unconscious people with them from falling down. She and Althea were supported by Adgar, who used the air as a cushion to climb higher. 

Under Hestia's lead they climbed up the other side of the chasm. Due to the cavern collapse under the wolves' lair, the other side collapsed completely. 

"That was close," Hestia chuckled, gasping for breath as she fell on her back, her feet hanging at the edge of the chasm. 

Beside her, Althea stood upright with a calm expression. The quickened movement of her chest was the only evidence of her exertion. 

Adgar sat on the other side and looked at the three people laying on the ground. "It seems the boy is going to survive. Any idea what happened down there?"

Hestia groaned and pulled herself up into a seated pose. "Not exactly. But I can guess. There was a dead guy close to him. I suspect a Dawnbringer."

"I peeped inside the cavern." Althea joined the conversation from the side. "Based on the layout I think the place was some sort of hideout. But due to the emergency I couldn't see much more."

"Well, no point in aimlessly discussing. We will just have to wait for these three to regain their wits," Hestia said, getting up to her feet while stretching her body. 

Adgar looked at the two other people. His eyes narrowed when he saw the girl with light brown hair. "Is she…?"

Hestia followed his gaze and nodded. "She was probably captured by the Dawnbringers. The purpose remains a mystery for now."

"Anyway, for now we will keep their status a secret," Hestia said, glancing at Althea. "Even from the other Knights."

The last part was intended for Althea, who nodded after giving it some thought. It was clear that at least one the three had seen or met more people belonging to the enemy. If word about their survival got out, it would only serve to alert them. 

"I will continue to gather more points for now," she said as she pulled a pouch from her belt. "This is his." She threw it towards Hestia and walked away with her spear on her back.

"Smart girl," Adgar whistled, a dark gleam passing through his eyes. If she had shown any form of hesitance, he would have obstructed her from leaving. 

But when his gaze met Hestia's he noticed her inquisitive look. 

"What?" He didn't feel comfortable being stared at by Hestia. She was beautiful as a rose, but like a rose, she was filled with thorns. 

"You made a breakthrough?" 

"Ow, that. Partially yes," he replied smugly, raising the back of his hand, where a faint circle glimmered around the yellow triangles.

…

On the other side of the mountain a robed man stood beside the corpse of a Fiend stage beast. A maw made of darkness gnawed rapidly at the corpse, but the man's eyes were looking in the direction of the collapsed chasm. 

"The self-destruct array has been activated," he mumbled softly. There was a worried look on his face as he seemed too distracted to notice that the dark maw had finished engulfing the corpse.

"We can always start the research over. I just hope nothing has happened to you my dear disciple."

…

The people of Grindeston remained blissfully ignorant about the things transpiring in the mountains. The only thing they could follow along were the rankings on the banner. 

Sadly for them, the ranking only updated once someone visited the checkpoints to register their additional gains. After the first day, the people only gathered in the evening at the entrance of the mountain path. 

"I wonder if those merchants will remain at the top."

"Bah. They just got lucky the first day. Do you think someone can beat the military in combat and wilderness hunting?"

"You guys are morons. I don't care what or who comes to the mountains. No one knows it better than our people. Just wait, young master Clannad will conquer the rankings."

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As more and more people gathered around the banners, people started to break into discussions. Everyone still was convinced that the groups they had bet on, would prevail. 

Despite Hex's excellent first day ranking, very few people seemed to support him. Whether it was due to his label as outsider or their conviction that Hex didn't deserve to become the baron's disciple, the people of Grindeston didn't want to see him rise. 

The hubbub of the crowd didn't die down as time passed. On the contrary it only became rowdier as the sun set on the horizon. 

The Merchant Union and the Gambling den had put up many stands around the area to entertain the crowd. Of course, the elite of the town earned a share out of these sales. 

"Look!"

Suddenly someone in the crowd shouted, gazing at the banner. Almost synchronized everyone turned in the same direction. 

The rankings of the banner started to appear once more. Silver colored light rippled through the banners, indicating that an update was occurring. 

Knight Ranking

1. Silver Serpents' Lady Dollaire 1000 points

2. Silver Serpents' Lady Rublena 1000 points

3. Silver Serpents' Sir Pesor 900 points

4. Baron's Sir Oron 850 points

5. Northern Hawks' Sir Ivrain 820 points

6. Northern Hawks' Lady Briella 800 points

7. Northern Hawks' Sir Orvyn 750 points

8. Baron's Lady Hestia 560 points

9. Baron's Sir Adgar 450 points

The visiting merchants had broad smiles plastered on their faces as they saw the rankings. The Merchant Union had taken a huge lead. 

The majority of people were disappointed to still not hear anything from their town's team. And the other team with home advantage seemed to be performing very poorly.

The taunts and teasing from the visitors agitated the town folk extremely. In their embarrassment they started to curse the baron's team. They didn't like the feeling that outsiders were trampling them on their own turf. 

"Those bastards of the castle are just the worst bunch."

"Yeah, they can only act haughty thanks to the baron. But they are just shit."

"Just wait. Once the young master's team appears, they will show these outsiders what we are capable of!"

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Under the shouts and cursed the crowd turned towards the other banner. The people of Grindeston hoped that the Squires performed better so they could have at least some face.

But once the ranking appeared, the faces of the town folk fell. They looked with dark expressions at the banner. 

Squire Ranking

1. Silver Serpents' Sterling Poundersire 800 points

2. Silver Serpents' Ella Moneiwell 700 points

3. Northern Hawks' Althea Thunderhawk 650 points

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14. Baron's Aran Kleinpie 400 points

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21. Baron's Hex Darkenmane 310 points

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The Silver Serpents were dominating the rankings. They had nine Squires in the first round, all of whom were in the top twenty. Seven of them were even placed in the top ten.

The Northern Hawk took seven places. Except Aran, everyone else fell on the bottom side of the rankings. And this was not even considering the two teams which still had to register their points. 

Seeing Hex take the last spot among the people who turned their points in, made the folk of Grindeston hate him even more.

…

"Urg," Hex, unaware of the newborn hatred against him, finally opened his eyes.