I sat at the table watching through an aperture in space and time as the crowd of competitors fled before the earth-wyrm’s rage.

I didn’t dare risk revealing the huge cheat that was my peculiarity yet. It’d be too obvious and though I could try to hide it, the best way to get oneself in trouble in any situation, was acting as if the other side was stupid.

Thus it was Darla who won the first spin of the wheel, giving her control over the first phase of the game. She decided to pick a card from the deck of bad events and got a fifteen on her dice roll. Now the ‘pieces’, or competitors, in our little game were running for their lives from an angry draconid.

A few of the clever ones decided to unenroll from the school of one-dimensional thinking and try to run to the side. Unfortunately, that fifteen Darla rolled meant that the race for their lives couldn’t be so easily circumvented.

Anyone who tried running off the set path soon found themselves running into an invisible wall. A few of the competitors tried to push past the wall, but they then either ended falling into oblivion past the boundaries of the illusory world, or the earth-wyrm caught up to them and ate them.

More than a few people got eaten during that first phase alone, and I couldn’t help wondering exactly how the other immortals expected the groups to survive the nights to come. I watched the Earth-wyrm bite one of the plush suit-wearing competitors in half and frowned.

I couldn’t help feeling anxious for Margot. Though she was probably okay and more than prepared for whatever the game threw at her, I worried that her teammates might end up being a liability instead of the aid I’d intended them to be.

The race ended at a point roughly seventy-five miles in. The competitors were befuddled to find themselves exactly where they’d started. Back in front of Camp Midnight’s administrative building. Most of the people just collapsed. I think I saw two of them simply die from the exertion.

Fortunately, Margot and her team were one of the few groups that managed to survive without any casualties. There were only two other groups that managed to achieve the same feat. I made a mental note to keep an eye on them and figure out which of my fellow immortals, those competitors were playing for.

“Nh, so the race is over. I think it’s time to spin to see who controls the next phase of the game.” said Barnabas.

“Okay, but I just watched twenty out of the thirty-one pieces in this game, bite the big one. I don’t see how you’re expecting these people to last a whole thirteen nights.” I said. Scratching the side of my face, and trying to look like I didn’t care.

“Huh? Oh! Do you mean the casualties? Don’t worry about those. That’s part of what the suits are for. They’re not only an extra measure to keep the pieces from freely using their powers, but the suits also grant each piece in the game, an extra three lives. And they can earn more lives if they do good in the challenges.” said Barnebas.

“Ah...You didn’t really mention that before.” I said. My tone sharper than I’d meant to be, as I struggled to hide my annoyance with the little devil.

“Er....S-, Sorry. I thought you knew. I mean it’s not like anyone here is pure evil. Of course, we were going to give these people a fighting chance.” said Barnebas. Seeming taken about by something.

Julian nodded with perhaps a little too much energy.

“It’d only be right. Otherwise, this is just murder. ” said Lamont. Giving support to his little friend and making me suspect that I hadn’t been totally successful in hiding my displeasure over the little devil’s omission.

“Right....Well, that’s good to know. You were saying something about the next spin?” I said. Changing the subject, while I got myself, and the murderous aura I might or might not have been leaking, under control.

“Er, yeah….” said Barnebas. Clearing his throat and resuming his ageless mien.

*************************************************************************************************************

Margot was back in the cabin. She’d remembered to give the door-beast another little treat as she and her teammates had rushed inside. Something about it just felt like the thing to do. Margot wasn’t sure why, but she was just very certain that it might pay off, in the long run, to be on good terms with the door-beast.

“So...That fucking sucked.” said Thomas.

“Yes...Yes, it did. What happens now?” said the female voice with the twangy accent.

“Now...I don’t know. I...Guess we wait and see what comes next?” said Margot. Frowning because she didn’t like being pushed into such a passive state. Unfortunately, there was just such a lack of information that all she could do was wait and observe.

“In the meantime, why don’t we introduce ourselves since we’re going to be working together for the foreseeable future,” said Margot. Deciding that it’d be best for their group to get familiar with one other while they waited to see what else the game would throw at them.

“To start off, I’m Margot Wallace. Player-handle, Strange Mage. As you might have guessed by the handle, I’m mainly a magic-user but I’ve got some fairly solid non-magical combat training, survival skills, and a few other things that I dabble in, `` said Margot. Not bothering to hide her identity because she’d already shared her player-handle and that alone was enough for a curious enough mind with enough resources to find her actual name anyway.

“Uh, well...technically we, Margot and I, already met before. I’m Thomas Yu. Feel free to call me Tommy. I’m a student at Ohio University...I’m also in the Hero Training Program that the Heroes League runs there.”

“Oh, you went there instead? I thought you’d had another place you’d wanted to go to?” said Margot. Mildly surprised at the news that her and Monty’s young friend was living closer than they’d thought.

“Yeah, but I didn’t get in there. Which I suppose is lucky because I heard the place got leveled when it turned out the school was actually a base for villains and had been mind-controlling its students into doing various crimes for them. The heroes guild in that area ended up catching on and during the ensuing fight someone called down a meteor shower that pretty much brought their semester to a definitive and early close.”

“Ah, that's a bummer...Oops. Sorry for interrupting.” said Margot. Covering her mouth, and looking adorable as she did so thanks to the plush costume she was wearing.

“Nah, it’s cool. Anyway, like I was saying I’m a student, and a hero-cadet, or hero-in-training. I’ve got a few months of schooling under my belt, which basically puts me at around the range of what’d you expect from a standard army private, straight out of boot-camp. So...I guess I’m still pretty green. I also did some stuff with her and her partner, so I do have some experience in the field. Also, I can make swords and knives and shit, out of lights. So that’s something.” said Thomas. Growing oddly shy near the end. Looking jarringly cute as he traced a shape in the ground with his foot.

“This is kind of dangerous for a student to be taking part in, don’t you think?” said Margot. Feeling anxious on the young man’s behalf.

“Yeah, I can see that now... Some asshole instructor in the program suckered me into it, and made it seem like this was some big opportunity. I probably should have researched it more. Or maybe I should’ve just known that the prick was pointing me elsewhere just so he could give my spot in the regular program to his nephew. ” said Thomas. Shaking his head ruefully.

“Nh...Alright, if we’re all sharing. I’m Ashely Neuville. Hero name, Math Moth. I’m technically, unofficially, here on loan from Prospero’s Branch of the Heroes’ guild.”

“Neuville...Neuville...I don’t suppose you’re related to a Cassandra Neuville, are you?” said Margot.

“Huh?! Why do you ask?” said Ashley. Her tone clearly vigilant. The edge that crept into her voice sharpening that twangy accent of hers.

“Uh, no reason, my partner...happens to be friends with her...I think I’m starting to see why you’re here. Let me guess, you’ve pissed off someone in the heroes guild recently.”

Ashley’s vigilance disappeared and was replaced with the despondency.

“How’d you know?” said Ashely. Sighing.

“This whole game we’re playing is basically a death trap.”

“Well, what can I say? Even the heroes-guild has its bad apples, but it looks like absolutely nobody likes a whistleblower. I suppose this is the price of making sure creepy, hero-cadet molesting, assholes don’t get to keep their jobs.” said Ashley. Saying the words with a slightly manic cheer.

“I figured…it might be something like that, My partner didn’t clear this with me beforehand which means he didn’t know about it till shortly before he had you guys transferred which means that this was his way of helping...I think,” said Margot.

“Oh? And what if I was just that good and the league really thought I could pull through? What if I didn’t need help?” said Ashley. Feeling peevish.

“Er...I, I don’t know. I was just thinking...Even I’m not that good...Plus, I remember Monty talking about how you don’t know how to really user powers properly, so you’re basically just a normal B to C rank super, and I... I just...Er, never mind.” said Margot. Shrinking under the other woman’s stare a little, while simultaneously revealing the depth of her confidence concerning her own skills.

“Uh, it’s fine...Sorry for being shitty. It’s just been that kind of day, you know.”

“I...I can imagine.” said Margot. Deciding not to mention that she was here entirely because she wanted to be.

“Uh ...Anyway, I’ve got some training from my time on the police force. I’ve also spent more than a few years in the Heroes Guild as a C-rank hero. In terms of powers, I’m a force manipulator, I guess. But I’ve got to do a lot of mental math to make it work, and this stupid fucking place took my gear, but that doesn’t matter because this place also seems to be dampening my powers somehow...So, honestly, it is mostly just the emergency training and cop know-how that I’m bringing to the table right now.” said Ashley. Sounding like she wanted to cry, but also didn’t want to be stuck in a soggy mascot costume.

“Since everyone else has shared I suppose I’ll do so as well.” said the woman with the crisp and distinctly upper-crust speaking voice.

“I’m Henrietta Albani of the Albani family. I’m currently here on a mission to save my idiot cousin’s soul from hell. If I’ve been following this right, either you or your sponsor purposefully sought the three of us out whilst being aware of our circumstances. I’m hoping that means that the arrangement I had with my former-sponsor is still in good standing.” said Henrietta.

Margot paused. Frowning. Then after a moment’s hesitation, she nodded. Fairly sure that if Monty had purposefully added the woman to their group, he likely would have made sure that her arrangements were seen to in one form or the other.

“...Most likely.” said Margot.

“I suppose that’ll have to do.” said Henrietta. Sighing.

“In terms of what I bring to the table, I don’t have much in the way of powers or magic. I had some custom gene-mods that this place and these suits seem to be inhibiting, but they’re nothing too impressive. I also have an inborn heightened-intelligence which thankfully hasn’t been affected. At least I don’t think that’s the case.” said Henrietta.

Margot unconsciously nodded. She’d noted the same. Her cognitive performance was largely unimpaired, which made sense, because if her and Monty’s predictions were on point it’d be going against principles of immortal gamesmanship to meddle with the players’ thinking.

“Nh, besides mental capabilities I’m afraid I don’t have much to brag about. I’ve had a few years of tactical training. I’ve learned three martial arts, six languages, and I’m good with puzzles. I have several degrees in Electrical-, Biomedical-, Rocket-, Environmental-, Civil-, and Computer-, engineering. I have a fair bit of medical training. I’m also a certified accountant. ”

“Woah!... Now I’m feeling bad about my half a semester of hero-training.” said Thomas.