"The points have been tallied. Here are the two remaining squads and their points."
The students stood in attention in front of Gen. Bennette. The able ones, at least, while more than half of the participants were sent to the infirmary to be treated.
"Two? Did he say only two squads remained?" whispered Xander.
"That means that only our groups were left standing!" Dorin said with a big grin on his face.
"Well, obviously, we're the winners with two members left alive!" said Johan.
"Don't be so sure," said Margarette. "The points still need to be tallied in the end."
As I have said at the beginning of the drill," Gen. Bennette continued, "your token is equivalent to 10 points plus an additional 10 points for each token you break, and 50 points for surviving. A dead member will be equivalent to a negative 30 points each for each surviving squad member. Dying is less 50 points from your individual points, and a member gaining 0 token points will get a hundred point deduction."
Another officer handed Gen. Bennette a piece of paper.
"First, is the surviving team with the most remaining members," he went on. "Their raw points are as follows: Survivors Margarette Gunnar with 270 points and Matthew Owen with 260 points get additional 50 points each.Their expired members areLilith Grayson with210 points; Dorin Ignacius with440 andJohan Silvius with420. The three expired members will get 50 less points, while the survivors will be deducted 90 points each. Their total comes to 1,370 points."
The students cheered after hearing the partial results, as the score of the first team was posted on the wide screen monitor. It read as follows:
Gunnar 270 + 50 - 90 = 230
Owen 260 + 50 - 90 = 220
Grayson 210 - 50 = 160
Ignacius 440 - 50 = 390
Silvius 420 - 50 = 370
=====================
Sub Total Group Points = 1,370
"Next is the other remaining team with only Guiscard Boulvar remaining with 340 points. He will recieve 50 points for surviving will be deducted 120 points for four expired members. His companions are Alexander Bryon Louise Alcione with 490 points; Serica Dennison with 310; Mordecai Almicione with 160, and Benedict Venet with 350, for a total of 1,380 points."
There were more cheers as the other team's results were shown.
Boulvar 340 + 50 - 120 = 270
Alcione 490 - 50 = 440
Dennison 310 - 50 = 260
Venet 350 - 50 = 300
Almicione 160 - 50 = 110
=====================
Sub Total Group Points = 1,380
"What?!" Johan said incredulously. "They still beat us by 10 points?!"
"Hah! Now we know who the real winners are!" Venet boasted.
"Shut up, the points are still being tallied!" Margarette told the wind mage.
"Now, the surviving groups will receive 100 points for each member left standing," Gen. Bennette continued. "which gives Boulvar a total of 1,480 points, and Gunnar and Owen' group a total of 1,570 points."
The cheers from the crowd became louder as Dorin, Margarette and Lilith jumped and hugged each other.
"What? Did we win?!" Johan asked, confused.
"Yeah, we won!" Dorin yelled at his team mate. "We did it!"
"Can I please get my sword back?" Matt asked as he got tossed about by an ecstatic Johan and Dorin.
"So what have we won?" asked Dorin.
"Yeah, is it edible? I'm really hungry right now..." said Johan as his team mates began to laugh.
"Better!" said Lilith, "We got points!"
"What?" Johan looked disappointed.
"That's it?" asked Dorin.
"You need points to pass your classes in the Military Division," explained Matt. "It can get deducted or increased, depending on your conduct and achievements."
"You need a total of 1,000 points to advance to the next class," said Margarette, "And by dividing our total points by 5..."
"We now have 314 points each!" Dorin said, amused.
"Right, and since all cadets start at zero in the beginning of each year, then having more than a quarter of the required points is a really big deal!" said Lilith.
"Now, we only have 686 points to go!" Dorin grinned.
"We just need 686 more points to rise to the next level," said Matt.
"Then, does that mean I can change levels any time, as soon as I reach 1,000 points?" Johan asked with interest.
"That's right, but remember, that you can easily loose points with every infraction you commit, and that your points reset to zero at the end of the academic year – which is the end of May next year."
"Oh... that's interesting..." Dorin said thoughtfully. "So how can we gain more points?"
"Doing community services, passing exams, participating in millitary programs, joining in missions..." enumerated Lilith. "There are quite a lot of ways to get points, but the points they hand out are not as much as we gained here today. Also, it is so much easier to lose them, especially when you get into trouble, which I heard, you two are usually in."
"Missions, huh? That sounds interesting..." mumbled Johan.
"Yeah, I was thinking that myself," Dorin agreed. Obviously, they have not heard the rest of Lilith's explanations.
"Too bad, missions are mostly held outside the University City," said Margarette.
"It is?" Dorin looked disappointed.
"Can't your prattle wait until after the tournament is over?" said a voice from behind their group.
Dorin and Margarette stood in attention as a tall lieutenant passed in front of them.
"Oh, it's you, Lance!" Dorin smiled at him.
"That's 1st Lt. Lance Gunner to you, Private!" Lance snapped at him. "You're lucky you don't have your badges yet or I would have deducted 5 points from you for insubordination!"
"He can do that?" Dorin heard Johan whisper behind him.
"Now be silent as the program commences."
It took a while before Gen. Bennette finished reading out the results of all the students who participated in the tournament. Dorin kept still all the while, but Johan, whose stomach has been grumbling through the whole proceedings, was grumbling to himself as well.
"Isn't this ever going to finish?" he mumbled behind Dorin.
"Before we dismiss you, may we remind everyone of the on going curfew around campus," said Gen. Bennette, "Due to current security threats, we have set a curfew that starts at 10 pm and will end at 5 am the next day. Please be guided accordingly, as anyone caught outside during curfew hours will be deducted 100 points."
An audible murmur filled the area.
"100 points?! Isn't that too much?" Dorin heard the rest of the cadets say.
"Only cadets and students with a valid permission slip from a Colonel or General may be excused and allowed to break the curfew," Gen. Bennette added. "For further questions, as well as the procurement of badges for new cadets, please go to your captains or other officers of higher rank." the General looked over the students one last time before he concluded. "You are all dismissed."
"Dorin!" Xander called to the young wind mage, "Where are you going after this? Do you mind joining us for dinner?"
"Your treat?" asked Johan.
"But of course!" Xander said with a laugh. "Your whole squad is invited!"
"No thanks, I'll just get my sword and will be on my way, thank you!" said Matt who has been eyeing his sword since the tournament was over.
"Oh, I almost forgot..." Johan gave the glowing blue sword back to its owner, but as soon as Matt touched it, its blade turned back to a dull metalic gray.
"Oh, I see, that must be an enchanted sword!" said Xander. "No wonder you were so strong!"
"What do you mean–" Johan started.
"That's right," Dorin piped in, "I guess it amplified Johan's fire magic, even when his fire was sealed by Professor Raevers." He stared at Johan.
"Congratulations to your team."
Johan and the rest turned around to see Gen. Bennette standing behind them. Dorin kept his eyes on him. He looked about in his mid 50's, with platinum blond hair braided neatly to the back of his shoulder. His face was clear with only a couple of lines and creases near his mouth. His white uniform displayed several awards upon his left chest, with the golden badge of a single dragon general upon his right shoulder.
"Thank you, Gen. Bennette." Margarette, Lilith, and Matt smartly saluted. Dorin and the rest did the same.
"Gen. Bennette, I thank you for allowing us to participate in this tournament," said Xander whose retinue stood at attention in front of the General.
"It is my pleasure, Prince Alexander. I thank you as well, for joining the Magical Defense course under the Elemental Magic division," he added, "I look forward to training you." He looked at Dorin and his group next. "As well as the young thunder god and the rest of his squad," he added.
"We are much obliged, Sir," answered Margarette who gave another salute.
"At ease, soldier," said the general, "I have heard nothing but praise for you since you entered the Military two years ago, it is no wonder that you are already a 2nd Lieutenant at such a young age. I look forward to your growth this year as well."
"Thank you, Gen. Bennette," Margarette said, beaming. "May I also congratulate you for your son's inclusion to the Special Class in the Magic department."
Johan and Dorin looked surprised while the General glared at her and did not reply.
"Major General Muller will be giving you your badges," he said looking at Dorin and Xander's group. "I shall be seeing you in the grounds."
With that, Gen. Bennette turned around and left the group on the field.
"Don't tell me... is that Bennette's dad?" Johan asked with a frown.
"Yes, but as you can see, he is not very fond of his youngest son," replied Lilith in a whisper.
"Hmm... no wonder their surnames were the same..." Dorin pondered. "They don;t look anything alike, though, aside from their hair color."
"Anyway, can we go and eat now?" Johan moaned, "ever since I got here and got used to all the food, it seems that my tummy can no longer stand being empty!" he complained.
"Don't we need to go back with the Dean?" Dorin asked.
"Dean Leopold?" said Margarette, "I think he left as soon as the tournament started."
"Then, we're free to go wherever we wish!" said Xander who grabbed hold of both Johan's and Dorin's hands. "Let's go have a feast! In celebration of today's victory!"