Game Over

Nero was pleased that the Aes Sedai wasn't the all work, no play type – it seemed their reward for getting through the lesson successfully so far would be a final test, but one that sounded much more diverting. Though he had never played dodgeball – he had never had childhood friends to speak of – it sounded more like a fight than anything else. And in fighting, Nero knew, he had experience aplenty.

They broke up into the two groups Yasmene Sedai had designated to discuss strategy. While his teammates began to deliberate, the young male decided he would spend the first few minutes practicing the weaves the Asha'man had showed them. He knew that Water was not his primary strength, so he decided he would attempt one of the other options the Aes Sedai presented, the weaves strengthened with Air or Earth. He laboriously channeled threads of Water into a net; then he interspersed them with the lighter, almost effervescent strands of Air. To his surprise, this element came rather easily, with none of the induced sweat channeling Water had caused him. He tried the weave with Earth instead. While not nearly as difficult as Water, the element came to him with more difficulty than Air. How strange, he contemplated, wondering what that said about his abilities with the Power.

Unfortunately, he was so wrapped up in his contemplation that he didn't even hear what strategy his cohorts had concocted. The Aes Sedai's loud shout signaling the commencement of the skirmish had him jumping into the air. Nero had no time to acclimate himself to the situation, but then, one seldom did when engaged in a fight. And of course, the first ball came hurdling directly at Nero.

Determined not to make a fool of himself so early in the fight, Nero wove his Earth and Water globe quickly. The practice came in handy, for he deflected the ball of water easily, sending it hurdling across the field to one of the female novices. He hadn't even had time to direct it to a specific opponent. Rather than catching or deflecting his toss, the girl dodged out of the way, and the ball landed unceremoniously on the ground between her and another girl.

The next ball went to the opposing team, a tall man a little older than Nero. He sent it across the gap with little difficulty. Back and forth, back and forth, and then the orb went straight into the face of one of Nero's teammates, a male novice whose name he had already forgotten. Another volley ensued. Sadrok, that novice who had escorted Nero through the Tower on his first day, managed to score against the opposing team, taking out another novice. How Nero had lasted this long, he wasn't entirely certain. Perhaps he looked stronger than he had imagined; or perhaps he looked too weak to be any competition.

Nero was so focused on the volley that he fell immediately to the ground when one of his female teammates came careening into his side to avoid a ball that had been directed straight to her. He had time to note how very pretty she was – his hormones ascertained that Nero always had time for such considerations – and also enough time to realize that the other team was singling her out. As tempting as it was to remain within her proximity – might he "accidentally" run into her, too? – he would rather remain in the game a little longer.

His pretty little Domani teammate managed to catch a ball of Water and send it to the opposite side, though she looked surprised that she had managed to do so at all. Nero's team was looking extremely thin; only four other teammates remained. Meanwhile, the opposite side seemed positive of their victory. That, Nero knew, could end up providing them with false confidence that could result in their downfall. Nero would take advantage of what shortcomings he could.

The novices were growing more skilled. Almost all of them had managed to catch or deflect a ball so far, Nero included, so the pickings were more difficult, requiring more efficiency of aim. What with his limited strength, this novice doubted he would fare as well as he had before if someone singled him out a second time.

The game continued. The ball spiraled to one of Nero's teammates, the man with the cane that he had noticed earlier. He managed to deflect it across the field, and – score! – it landed squarely on the torso of a tall, copper-skinned female. What was her name? Madea? Medaea? She accepted defeat graciously, but Nero thought he detected a note of distaste in her carriage. The next ball went to the opposite team. Nero was too busily regarding that novice – had her name been Medaea? – for she was quite pretty, and he thought he might like to speak to her, if given the opportunity. She looked like a very nice girl. Unfortunately, whoever had caught the ball on the opposite team noticed his mooning and decided to take advantage. The ball hit him in the shoulder, sending a spray behind him as the weave fell loose against his body. Blood and ashes, Nero thought, scrubbing at his shoulder as if sheer friction would eliminate the worst of the moisture.

OOC: Yeah. I used like four of you in here, including some who haven't even posted yet… Hope you don't mind. =)