Xed
Running Wild
LEYN
Leyn had sat out of battle of champions this year as he had the past two. He preferred more 'intellectual' displays of magic like Siege Defense and never bothered with BoC. He only ever observed the finals because they were the only ones worth watching and he had far more important things to do like his work as the house leader of Geomancers than watch rookies and weaker students try their hand in the earlier rounds of the competition. This year like always he had observed the finals while doing his work, ignoring the banter of the other students over who they thought would win. He would cast it a few glances to see if anything good was happening but was met with disappointment when each time he turned to see what the ruckus was, it was just another small fry getting wiped out by the competition. The only good parts were almost always near the end of the competition and even then he'd find his work more interesting. However, curiosity would always draw his attention to it every year. He had been startled when he heard panic from the students looking up to see dark skies and a thick mist swallowing the arena grounds. The glimpses the screen showed of the remaining contestants had displayed panic, fear and urgency. He soon understood why when he saw a hooded figure holding a scythe appear on screen. A reaper. And it wasn't just one. The sight of the creature had him unsettled and all around him panic began to spread, creating chaos. Anyone with a brain knew just how powerful reapers were and an army of them were descending upon the academy. It was enough to drive some of the younger students to tears and borderline insanity. He'd made a dash to the courtyard in time to see Kuroha take his place beside Ivan, a reaper's scythe on his back as he inspired the other students to fight. All around him, confidence levels were rising, words of 'we can do it' and 'we'll stop the reapers' reached his ears. He scoffed at them. Kuroha's strategy wasn't bad but not everyone at the academy was battle smart of strategic. Some relied on pure brute force and power to beat their opponents. There was not an ounce of strategy in the way they fought. There was no way some of them would make it back from fighting the reapers even if they were in groups because some simply didn't have the intelligence. He had joined in the meeting for the strategists but barely made a comment. There was little they could do in this situation not that anyone of them were going to simply accept the cold harsh reality of the situation just like that. Especially when Kuroha had somehow managed to kill one though it was probably just luck or another reaper's doing. He wasn't that stupid. Logic always prevailed. And logic told him Kuroha didn't have the capability to kill a reaper and this was a battle they had basically no chance of winning because some idiot somewhere was sure to mess up and cause panic rather than inspire hope. Then it happened. The Dark Overlord's voice rang out clearly in everyone's heads. Earth, water, gravity, plant and of course dark. His allies in this upcoming war they were now caught in. He felt a burning pain on his right shoulder and saw a mark form. A mountain of Earth. Everyone around him was talking, unsure of what to do. Listen to the Dark Overlord and follow his orders or disobey. Leyn didn't even have a shred of doubt. The most logical answer was to join the Overlord. It wasn't even a question. He cast a glance at the student who had asked him what he made of the situation and what he was going to do. "I think it's pretty damn obvious what we should do so I can't understand why all of you are so wishy washy and uncertain. I'm doing what the Dark Overlord said. I'm joining them as should the rest of you if you value your lives." Silence fell over the room at Leyn's confident declaration. He pulled his war hammer over to him and headed over to the door. "I suggest you make up your minds quickly. I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of those scythes."
