“They don’t want us to succeed,” Treacle said, nodding slowly. “It’s open, but only if you have the school’s seal of approval. Only the strong should survive. The weak should just give up.”
“Treacle, this isn’t helping us,” Logan said. “Yes, alright. Everything is against us. Yes, we’re the weakest of the weakest. But I keep thinking about the law of diminishing returns, and I feel like you guys just aren’t getting it. Rockheart made it clear that cores like Chadrigoth and the First Cohort aren’t going to level that much during their time here. But us? We’re going to level our asses off. Already, I feel stronger, tougher. Hold on.”
The gem in Logan’s belly glowed, and he was able to cast an image of his character sheet into the air. Yes, it was kind of like dropping his pants, but he was going to have to trust his cohort.
<<< ※ >>>
Logan Murray
Guardian Core Matrix
Base Race: Fungaloid
Current Evolution: Toadstool
Cultivator Class: Deep Root Cultivators; E-Class, Rank 8
Primary Elemental Affinities: Morta/Toxicus
Racial Abilities:
- Digestion
Racial Skill:
Domestic Fungi
- Cultivated Fungi: Outstanding Allotment!
Fungal Form (Active):
- Harden
Fungal Form (Passive):
- Fungal Vision
Spore Halo:
- Pollen
- Symbiosis
<<< ※ >>>
Logan had the perfect example. “Listen, I know my Matrix isn’t impressive, but I started off the day as a Rank 9 Deep Root cultivator. But after a single day, one day, I’m Rank 8. And I don’t even know how to cultivate properly. Those are massive gains. Chadrigoth and his buddies can get into the library after hours, but I’d be surprised if they stopped flexing in the mirror long enough to come down here. They don’t need to. Like I said before, they are gonna skate their asses off. Just coast along because they already know they have it made.”
Inga squinted. “E-Class? Rank 8? You’re proud of that?” She looked aghast.
Marko had another question, which was even harder to answer. “What’s Fungal Vision? Can you hallucinate at will? Also, follow-up question—can you give me Fungal Vision? That’d be trippy.”
“I don’t know,” Logan said. “I’m as clueless as Treacle when it comes to this stuff. We have a ton of stuff to learn, but we have Inga, who is not only brilliant, but she was an impressive archivist.”
Inga threatened tears again. “It’s true. I was so impressive. Terribly, terribly impressive.”
“Stay current, Ms. Moth,” Marko said a little desperately. “We’re not talking about the past. Ever. You’re still impressive. Believe you me.” He shot her a wink.
Treacle opened his mouth and closed it, snorting a puff of hot air from his oversized nostrils.
“What were you going to say?” Logan turned off his gem.
The minotaur shook his head sadly. “It wouldn’t be helpful. I am enjoying your motivational speech. Please, continue blowing sunshine up our butts. I think you missed a spot in my large colon.”
Marko burst into laughter.
Logan wasn’t going to let a dumb joke stop him. “In the mirror, you saw that I didn’t have my left leg. You know why that is? Because I lost it in combat. Roadside bomb, just north of Fallujah—which I know doesn’t mean anything to any of you, but it means everything to me. What matters is that I got off lucky, because I survived. Not all of us did. Not Sergeant Martin. All the doctors told me I would be lucky if I ever walked again, because there was also shrapnel lodged in my back. Which is when I decided I was done with luck—that I was gonna make my own luck.
“No one believed in me, but I believed in myself and I put in the sweat equity. I put in the work. I went to rehab. I went to the gym. I worked and worked and worked until I could strap on a prosthetic, walk right out of that hospital, and take charge of my life. We can do this if we want it bad enough. We just need to work for it. That, and we need to be prepared. If my time attached to the 2nd Infantry taught me anything, it’s that prior preparation is the key to victory. Which is why I vote that we wake up at five a.m. tomorrow so we’re out in the Akros Coliseum at six. Inga can give us a private lesson on cultivating the rich Apothos out there.”
Marko pooched out his lower lip. “I don’t get it. What’s a five a.m.? I’m pretty sure that doesn’t exist.”
“Marko, our lives are on the line,” Logan said, somber as the grave. “This is the only card we have left up our sleeve. We’re going to outwork everyone else and level up, and we’re going to do it together as a team.”
That satyr wasn’t convinced. “It’s official. I hate this guy. So much hatred is in my heart right now for this guy.”
Inga ignored him. “It really is the law of diminishing returns. Even if Chadrigoth and his crew worked as hard as we’re going to work, they wouldn’t show the same results. We are uniquely poised to advance exponentially.”
Logan tried to snap his fingers, but his finger nubs were too stubby and moist. “That’s right. Being the worst makes us the best.”
“Worst. Motto. Ever,” Treacle said, folding his furry, tree-trunk arms across his chest.
“Gah.” Marko burst out with a, “Fine, I’m in!”
Logan quirked an eyebrow.
Marko grinned unabashedly. “Oh, I couldn’t stay mad at our little mushroom leader. He’s too cute. Also, I’m a joiner. I like to join things.” He poked the minotaur with an elbow. “Come on, Treacle. We can make all of your murderous labyrinthine trap dreams come true!”
“I’ll get up early. I’ll work. It won’t matter.” The minotaur inhaled doubt and exhaled sorrow.
Logan would have to work on him.
Inga smiled. “It will be a lot of reading. I like that part. And I like teaching. But it’s late, and I need my ten to twelve hours of—”
“Drinking,” Marko finished. “Ten to twelve hours of solid drinking. We’ll sleep for fifteen minutes, and then kick some butt.”
“—sleeping,” Inga said firmly.
Out of habit, Logan checked his wrist for a watch. “It’s past eight. If we’re getting up at fiveish, we need to get to bed.”
Marko complained the whole way back to the dormitory. At one point, Treacle huffed, ears twitching like mad. “Honest to gods below, but you’re starting to sound like my long-lost wife.”
“If only I could be that lucky, you sweet beast you.”
Chapter Thirteen
AFTER TREKKING THROUGH what felt like half of Shadowcroft Castle, they finally returned to the Azure Dragon wing of the keep. Each clan had its own residential area for the students, complete with common room, training hall, and dormitory—though the dormitory was further divided by year. The common room was a welcoming space with gray stone floors covered by plush rugs edged in blues and golds. The clan colors. An ornate marble fireplace large enough to fit a horse occupied the far side of the wall, burning with an otherworldly blue light.