Mantle of the Gods

Gesai woke us up at six the next morning.

Just the Blue team, which, at the moment, was Oz, Ether, Aelin, Ren, and Myself. I felt a little bad about dragging everyone into this, and even worse because getting Aelin up meant she woke up Justia as well.

The brunette Healer rubbed her eyes and waved to us as we headed for the gate. Once we got to the third floor Gesai started giving us the plan for the day.

“We’re going to end today with fighting the Floor boss, just like the other group, but…” Gesai looked at us, “We’re not going to out pace the other group, which means…” The redhead smiled, “You’re only allowed to kill forty eight things. But…” She pulled up a map of the floor. The map that we’d gotten from the Authority in town displayed like normal, but there were a lot of rooms and paths highlighted in blue.

“Rix has cleared all of these rooms.” She pointed to where the map was green and black. “This is where the other teams will be going today, so we plan on getting a lot of this map registered.”

“That has to be over seventy rooms that we’re going through.” Ether looked at the Teacher, “And you’re only going to let us kill forty eight things?”

“You can kill as many as you want.” Gesai held up her hands, “But for every zombie over the limit you go, you’ll have to go through two more rooms.”

“This is the punishment isn’t it?” I sighed, “More survival training?”

“You have no idea, with my class he…” She caught herself. A big grin spread across her face, “Let’s just say there are still a lot of surprises before you graduate.”

“Great.” Oz twirled the axes in her hands.

“Was it worth it?” Gesai nodded at the yellow ring on the other woman’s finger.

The raven-haired woman looked down at her hand, then over at me, “Easily.”

“But I didn’t get a ring!” Aelin pouted her lip and crossed her arms

“Do you want one?” I looked at Ether and shrugged.

“Oh Atlas…” Aelin walked over and put her hands on my shoulders, “I’m so flattered that you keep asking me to join your harem, but alas, my heart belongs to another.” She patted my cheek, “But since this is your fault I'm down here so early in the morning, there are other ways to make it up to me. I could use some new skills, but I spent all my All the last time I went to the store…” The blonde pouted her lip, “If only someone had some extra All that they would give me so I could buy the things I need…”

I reached into the inventory of my CB and pulled out a one-hundred All coin, “Will this work?' 'I knew it’d only really get her one skill, but she’d have some All left over to buy clothes or food or whatever else she wanted.

“Thanks!” Aelin smiled, snatched the coin and put it in her CB. Then she frowned, “But What about Jenne? I’m sure she’ll want to go too.” She batted her eyes at me.

“Fine.” I handed her another coin.

Aelin held the coin in front of her, “I’m sure Justia will feel left out if we don’t take her too…”

“There’s no way you’re going to convince me that Justia spent all of the All that Trent gave her.” I glared at the blonde who was doing a bad job of hiding how much fun she was having.

“You want Justia to spend her own money on the shopping trip you’re giving us?” Aelin gasped, “Atlas, I didn’t know you were that type of guy…”She clicked her tongue.

“Fine.” I handed her a third coin. “Happy?”

“You’re the best!” She leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek, then ran to the portal, “Let’s go!”

“Aelin! Wait!” Ether charged through the portal after her.

“Oh Atlas…” Oz clasped her hands together and pursed her lips.

“You got something already.” I turned to Ren before she could join in, “And so did you.” I nodded at the portal, we should get in there and help them.

“I knew you were easy, but I didn’t know you were this easy.” Oz kissed me on the cheek as she walked by laughing.

I shook my head. This punishment was just starting.