Karl turned to Rita. “You still didn’t answer the question about whom the other group members are.”
Rita shrugged. “That’s because we don’t know. What they’re asking of us right now is to pair you with a cleric and a mage, and we’ve got our mage right here. Alice will be your group leader for the rest of this assignment, but who the other two members are hasn’t been decided.
For all I know, they might send me with you if they decide that you’re going to officially test for Ascended Rank right away.”
Hawk laughed in Karl’s mind. He had said on the very first day at the Academy that it wouldn’t be long until they surpassed the evil woman who worked him without snacks, and now it was coming true.
Alice smirked as Karl realized that she would be his team leader for the mission, as she was a Commander Rank Mage, and he was picking from Ascended Rank clerics.
“Alright, I am at least vaguely familiar with Alice’s abilities. She is good with barriers, but specializes more in attack. We’re already well-rounded in attack and defence, with a versatile mage as the leader. Thor also specializes in defence, while Rae is full offence, and Hawk is our scout.
His presence made it possible to clear an entire zone by lunch because we didn’t have to hunt for the monsters’ hiding spots.” Karl explained to the clerics.
“So, mostly you need someone to keep you alive and fed, while making sure that the monsters die in a prompt and efficient manner?” Tessa, the War God’s Cleric, asked.
Alice nodded. “That is a pretty good way of putting it. We can obviously feed ourselves, and there are ration packs, but nobody says no to a bit more variety in their diet.”
The Clerics all nodded, and then they looked at each other.
Lotus smirked at Karl. “There really isn’t a bad option here, so if you’re hoping that someone will eliminate themselves, you’re out of luck.”
That was precisely what he had been hoping, but it seemed obvious now that it wasn’t going to happen.
“Well then, I guess we just need to work on a solid core for the group, no matter who we get for the last pair. Since that’s the case, who here is good with both healing and group buffs? We have barriers taken care of thanks to Alice, but combat enhancements are important.” Karl asked.
All five of them raised their hands, and Karl gave Rita a questioning look.
“They all have specialties, but I picked five that had the best qualifications.” She replied.
“So, this will not be easy. Alright, I am going to have to find some other criteria, or I will have Alice draw names to see who goes.” Karl sighed.
Lotus cheered. “Drawing names is the best way.” She agreed.
Jenny rolled her eyes. “That’s only because you have insanely good luck when it comes to trivial things. I’m not sure that it will extend to getting a party member, but if we were drawing straws for first shower, Lotus would win every single time.”
Luck might not be a quantifiable factor, but it was an incredibly valuable one.
While they were considering their next move, one of the High Priests came in and silently handed a note to Rita. Karl didn’t think much of it, as they were at the Seminary Academy, but the look on her face said that it was something important.
“The extra group members have been decided. I will be accompanying you, and they request that we pick two clerics to make up the five-person group.” Rita informed them, reading from the note she had been given.
Alice looked a bit startled to hear that, and moved the selection forward. “Either they’re short on Elites, or we’re going to be doing something unexpectedly annoying. I guess that means we’re definitely going to need someone good with combat buffs, and ones who don’t mind fighting.
Are there any of you who don’t get along well?”
They all shook their heads. There were no deep-seated rivalries between them.
“In that case, I will pick the ones who like to fight the most.” She finished.
“That would be Tessa and Lotus.” Jenny laughed.
“Not Kira?” Alice questioned, as Kira was a cleric of the Church Guard.
Tessa shook her head. “She might not look like it, but the tiny one is scrappy. My theory is that she’s part honey badger, and as she got more attuned to her Goddess, it made her want to pick fights with everyone.”
Lotus definitely didn’t look the part of a fighter. She was even shorter than Dana, despite being graduated from the Academy. On the other hand, Tessa looked more like a warrior dressed in a nun’s habit than an actual Priestess. Even from here, Karl could see the muscles on her arms, and the scattering of red scales. Plus, she nearly stood eye to eye with his 180cm height, making her exceptionally tall for a Priestess.
“Now, the real question. Can one of you use advanced food creation?” Karl joked, giving the clerics a wink so they would know he wasn’t serious.
Tessa laughed. “Funny story that. We both can.”
Alice extended her hand to Jenny, who was closest. “Thank you all for giving us your time, and know that you are still on the short list for any future missions that we take. We have to head out again as soon as the testing is completed, so we won’t keep you from your daily tasks any longer.
Tessa and Lotus, if you would like to go pack your mission bags, we will meet you at the testing cathedral in an hour.”
The rejected candidates waved as they left, while Tessa and Lotus gave each other a high five as they went to pack their bags.
“Well, this could be an interesting mission. Who would have thought that we would be assigned two clerics?” Karl muttered as they left the room.
Alice nodded. “It’s unexpected for certain, but the Colonel believes that you’re up to the task.”
That said a lot about how they ended up with such a strange group, and in such a hurry. Karl assumed the normal state of things would be for him and his chosen cleric to go back to one of the base camps and get assigned someone from the reinforcements to go with.
“So, are we really going to do the test for Ascended before we go?” Karl asked, instead of voicing his thoughts about what was happening with the Colonel’s favouritism.
“We are. I am a Commander Rank Mage, so normally my group would be all Ascended or higher. If we’re going to keep the military and the government dispatchers happy, you have to make it to Ascended as soon as possible.
We can write off a few weeks or a month as training, but after that, they will start wondering what is so special that you are out fighting when others are stuck in class.” She replied.
“So, I will be out for some time?” Karl asked carefully.
“Look at Thor and Rae. That sort of growth would never happen in the Academy. So, as long as it keeps up, we will keep finding you opportunities to keep them growing.
I must say some of it is personal curiosity on the part of Rita and myself, to see how fast you really can grow, but most of it is the practicality of it. The Colonel thinks you might be the next powerhouse, and that means doing all we can to make it come true.” Alice agreed.
“But don’t worry, we will get you back to your little Mage Girl before you know it.” Rita laughed.