The following day was much of the same as the previous, at least in the morning.

  Half of them had left and the half that remained gathered in front of the barracks and stood patiently awaiting the words of the gnome.

  Standing on his makeshift podium he began expining the second competition.

  “Congratutions for making it through the first day. Like yesterday, today’s challenge will start at noon. You will not be retaining your groups. Instead of teams of ten, you will be paired into groups of five instead.”

  The gnome accepted a small tempered steel egg from one of the guards standing below his makeshift podium.

  “Today you hunt. In the dungeon sometimes loot can make a terrible experience worth it. These eggs will be hidden around the arena and a timer will be set; two opposing teams will be hunting per round. If two opposing participants find one of these tempered steel eggs before the other you can decide who gets it. This game has no restrictions. The team with the most eggs at the end of the game wins.”

  Just like the day before, they were told what teams they were in by the guards, and like a stroke of fate, Alden was in her team again.

  Alden patted Isran’s back a bit harshly. “Well, well, well. Aren’t we the best duo.”

  Isran smiled at him.

  Their teammates this time were two animalkin and a dwarf. The dwarf was a bit tall for his race. And his beard was the shortest Isran had seen. The animalkin were a wolfkin and cowfolk.

  The cow folk was a very tall muscur woman. Her muscles were so rge, Isran wondered if when she flexed, her biceps they were as big as her head.

  The wolfkin had a fair bit of muscle on him, but was mostly lean. His ears moved every which way but his eyes remained on Isran.

  “I’m Alden.” Alden smiled at them.

  The wolfkin remained quiet but the dwarf answered. “I am Dravin.”

  The cowfolk smiled, her thin tail flicked behind her. “I’m Darcy. It’s nice to meet you.” She patted the wolfkin’s head gently. “And this is my partner, Isabelle.”

  Isran tilted her head at the wolfkin. “I’m Isran.”

  Isabelle’s eyes finally left Isran’s face after the introduction.

  Alden cpped. “Alright! So does anyone have a hunting-reted css? Or at the very least is good at finding things?”

  Dravin lifted his hand. “I don’t have a hunting-reted css, but I grew up hunting… though looking for tempered steel eggs is very different from hunting griffin eggs.”

  Alden nodded. “So… any strategies?”

  “I think this would be less about strategies and more about speed. We check everywhere we can and gather as many as we can before the time runs out.” Darcy said.

  Isabelle, the masculine wolfkin finally spoke.

  “The eggs aren’t very rge but tempered steel reflects in the sun… let's hope that helps.” Her voice was quiet and almost timid, but her face severely contrasted that. The stern calcuting look was ever present.

  “So when the game begins are we splitting up?” Alden asked.

  Darcy and Dravin nodded.

  “I think we should remain in groups.” Isran thought out loud.

  “We’ll cover less surface area,” Darvin answered.

  Isran didn’t really agree. She swallowed and forced her thoughts out. “I think most teams are going to split up and yes this is about finding the eggs… but when push comes to shove stealing the eggs…”

  “And the more we are the easier to overpower opponents.” Darcy hummed.

  Isabelle frowned. “But that could cost us. If we spend our time fighting for them instead actually finding them we could lose.”

  “I don’t think so,” Alden said. “We are five so one of us will be alone. Those who go in pairs will split up just enough to make it not seem like they’re glued to the hip.”

  Darcy nodded and mumbled under her breath. “We can get glued to each other’s hips?”

  So after a little more of working out how they would proceed with the challenge they finally settled on Darvin alone, Darcy and Isabelle together, and Alden and Isran together.

  They picked up their weapons, received the protection spells from the mages, and finally waited for the pairings to be announced.

  Their team was once again team two, and because they were in groups of five they were once again eight teams.

  The pairings were, team one versus team five, team two versus team three, team six versus eight, and team seven versus team four.

  Probably because they would hide some of the eggs in the same pces they weren’t allowed to watch the first match. Isran was part of the second group and waited anxiously as the first teams competed.

  They could hear the cheering and had been able to hear the gnome repeat the premise of the game for those present. It was the same thing they had been told earlier, the only difference was the time was specified.

  For the hunt, they had a time limit of twenty minutes and even if all balls were found before the twenty minutes were up, the game would continue.

  From the sounds it seemed hunting wasn’t the only thing being done. Metal cshed against metal followed by louder cheers from the crowd.

  The match ended with the gnome announcing team five had won, then after almost ten minutes, the next groups were ushered into the arena. Team two versus team three.

  Isran took a deep calming breath as they entered. I am amazing.

  Who is this cutie?