**This is a short chapter that I wanted to separate from the scene that follows. I apologize for the very short read, but I'll be posting the following chapter within 24 hours of now. Thank you!**

  Linhart was standing face to face with Poppy at the center of the ring. Her big brown eyes were staring deep into his own, like she was trying to read his mind or cast a spell on him.

  “Don’t be afraid, this is going to be fun.” Poppy was speaking to him so close that their cheeks touched. Her warm breath tickled his ear. “You were so cool when I saw you in the ring yesterday, I want so badly to wrestle alongside you.”

  Looking around, there were 12 Fighters who were gathered in the center of the ring, and he was the only Freshman among them. He did not belong up there. In fact, he would’ve excused himself and sat back down again if it wasn’t for Poppy’s iron grip on him.

  “Okay,” Linhart exhaled, “Just don’t leave me alone against them.” He pointed at a group of 3 junior girls who stood slightly off to one side. They were an intimidating trio. One was as tall as Tullia, the other two were just as wide as her. All three of them looked much too big and to be enrolled in a basic wrestling course. Pits of hell, they looked more like fully matured adults than juniors at the Academy. “Why are they even enrolled in a course like this one?”

  “Oh, those girls. Don’t worry about them. I think they just enroll in all the Fighting courses they can. They're here on a wrestling schorship, from what I understand. It’s the only thing they’re good at.” she added the st part in a sad voice.

  “Well, that doesn’t help us when we are just about to fight them, Poppy!”

  “Don’t worry, they are uber competitive with each other. Each one thinks she's the best Fighter in junior year. They’ll likely try to eliminate one another and leave us alone."

  Poppy turned the other direction and pointed to a group of boys who had joined the ring just on the other side of Lollipop and Glitter. "The ones we need to worry about most are Quan and his Fighter boys. Quan is the tall, muscur one standing with those two others. I’ve seen them win many group fights before. They’ll attack like a wolf pack, three against one. You may be surprised to find out that those three are among the highest ranking junior Fighters.”

  “Arrggh! Why did I let you talk me into this Poppy? There’s no way we will come away winning this match. My Fighting Score is 570 right now. If I drop below 500, I will lose a level!”

  “Oooo,” Poppy made an impressed sound, “You’ve got a high Score, for a freshman! Let me feel your muscles!” She reached her hands out and squeezed his chest through his shirt. Linhart spped her hands away.

  “Focus, Poppy. Can we depend on those girls for help?” He gestured to Pixie, Lollipop, and the others.

  Poppy looked over at them and ughed, “Nah, they’re just as likely to attack us, as they are to help us.” She leaned close to him again, rubbing her high nose over his. “I’m the only one who’s going to protect you in here.” She looked over at the audience. When Linhart turned, he saw Serapha sitting, as tense as a coiled spring, with an anxious look on her face. Serapha was staring at him and Poppy. Poppy held his face in her hands and nded a surprise kiss on his mouth, sucking hard on his lower lip.

  Linhart pushed her face away. Magister Tullia was reciting the rules of the fight now.

  “This match is called ‘Queen of the Ring.’ The only ways to be eliminated are if your opponent pins both your shoulders to the ground for a long count of three. Also, if you lose consciousness you will be eliminated. Fighters are permitted to punch, kick, and bite on top of their usual grappling maneuvers. Healing will be made avaible at the end of the match, so there is no reason to hold back. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Magister!” The group of Fighters chanted as one.

  “Then find a starting mark and be ready.” she called out, pointing at the small circles that Linhart just now noticed scattered across the square.

  Linhart found that they were already standing in a circle. Poppy stepped backwards and out, leaving him alone in the circle.

  “I’ll be back for you soon,” Poppy assured him, letting go of his arms and hopping over to a circle not too far away. The two assistant instructors were taking positions within the ring. Apparently, they were to act as referees, counting out any pinnings and judging whether a wrestler has been rendered unconscious or not.

  The voice of Magister Tullia boomed out across the Pit, surprising Linhart, though he had seen this done before. The Magister's voice was amplified magically so that she could talk the audience members through the action in the ring, This certainly was a big way to start off Grappling and Wrestling 101.

  "And it looks like one more freshman has decided to join the match," Tullia's voice commented, "She is Freshman Serapha Kyrion. Welcome to the ring."

  Linhart was shocked by the announcement. Turning around, Linhart saw that Serapha had sprung to her feet and was heading to a starting mark as well. But she's just a freshman... this was her first day of wrestling. Why was she joining the match?