Excel sighed and continued eating his meal. He waited until he was finished before walking towards Celestia. He didn't look at her directly, but instead stared out of the window as she was doing. "Don't think you're the only one with a sad story. Many people trying to climb the tower have probably had it worse than you or me." Even his story was probably worse than hers. Both of his parents had been killed by someone that got pretty far up the ladder. This man had been a serial killer, with warped reasons as to why he was killing. And the tower's government hadn't done a single thing about it for at least two months before finally someone strong enough just happened to pass through the first 2 floors of the tower to take him out. He was only 12 back then.

"About your family." He now spoke a little most softly, not wanting the others to listen in. "I had my suspicions the moment I saw you use powerful magic that is usually only seen in the noble families. And after that you confirmed that suspicion several times. Any person climbing the tower is just another participant to me, so as long as we're a party I won't attack you at least." He didn't plan on staying with her for long. Though it depended on what kind of tests they were going to get after this. Maybe they were teamed up for more reasons than just the test they were about to take part in.

''I don't think my story is half as sad as anyone else's..'' Celestia said and didn't look at him. ''I would not even say mine is... Cause its not... Its about a overprotected father, that wanted his daughter to grow up like a good looking, young woman with a lot off potential husbands, longing for her hand.. A father that did not see what his 'little princess' wanted the most.. A chance to prove that she was strong like her brothers... More not.. When it got to far, I ran away... I knew from my mother that I her mother lived on the lower floors.. I went to her... from there I trained everyday.. Worked to get money..'' she said and stared back trough the window. ''I don't care that you knew I am from a noble family.. I just don't trust anybody... My father has enough power over the whole system that he can get me out of it.. That is why I do not call out my family name'' she said. ''I'll never say that name until I showed my potentials.. and showed that I can fight'' she said and then turned around. To her, the talk was over and she walked back to the table they had been sitting at.

She sat down and started to eat slowly from her, almost cold, dinner. She didn't mind, she had to eat something after all. She sighed and leaned with her head on her hand while she was eating. She was kind of wondering how her brothers were doing... They had never been really bad to her.. She did remember one was going to marry soon when she ran away. She was supposed to be bridesmaid... Shaking her head about the idea that she had to wear a dress, she took a bite of her fish.

Excel kept staring out the window until only 15 minutes were left. He walked back and sat down across from Celestia, looking at her. "See it this way. If you reach a high enough level in the tower you'll become highly popular. So you can do what you want, and still please your father." Strong fighters, especially from the noble families, often started to get fans once they reached a high enough level. And if she reached the top her family wouldn't even have a say in what she did. Whom she married or what her 'job' would be would all be up to her, up to a certain point. She could even become an administrator herself. That is, if he didn't reach the top. If he did reach the top and everything went as planned, he'd get rid of such things as nobles and the need to fight and kill to reach to a higher level. No more oppressing the lowest levels, no more dictatorship from a king, and no more absolute poverty.

"But beside that, we should discuss tactics. To be honest I have no experience fighting in a team, so any idea's?" If it was up to him he'd approach the fight the same way as last time. Waiting it out as much as possible and letting others come to him. But in a team capture the flag battle that might not be the best plan.

(Iets vergeten een paar posts geleden. Een van de andere teams ziet er zo uit: http://th03.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2013/174/e/4/old_man_potrait_by_secildes-d6adyl6.png )

Celestia sighed when he started about it again. ''You really have no idea how people on high levels are.. Its okay, you will find it out, eventually..'' she said and looked around. Inspecting the other teams, she listened to what he said about the next test. ''Well.. We have an thing where we are the same then... Cause I do prefer to fight alone too'' she said, she looked now at the green, crocodile / lizard type of team. She inspected the way they looked and wondered what there speciality could be, probably something with brute strength.

''I don't know what we can do best.. We have to agree that we will help each other but until a certain point... Cause I really hate the kind of man that stays behind just because his team mate is wounded or not able to run farther.. So lets just make that deal, if one of us says Run... The other Runs... Flag or not..'' she said and looked back at Excel. ''I hope you can understand that..'' she said and laid her hand on her pocket. ''Visible mode'' she said and her pocket floated above her hand. She searched for something and smiled. ''You know... They didn't say anything about how we had to bring the flag to the centre, so we can probably place it in our pocket and just run.. You do understand that my pocket is a 2 star... No, I did not get it from my family...'' she said and looked at him without any sign of a smile. ''Anyway.. I guess its best to just know that we both are no team players and that the best way to win this game is the way I just said..'' she said and placed her now empty plate on his.

Excel raised a brow. Leaving the other behind if needed... He didn't like that idea. A team was a team and had to stick together, whether they liked each other or not. But she was right. They might only be together for this one test. Why risk your own life for someone you barely knew like that? You couldn't make everyone happy after all. "I agree. We shouldn't risk our lives for the other. I wasn't planning to either way. My aim is not to find teammates, but to reach the top after all." He thought about her idea and nodded. "I guess that's a possibility. Though I wouldn't be surprised if they used a spell on the flags so you can't hide them from sight with magic. But if not, we can do that." Her pocket was a level higher, so harder to find when in invisible mode and harder to unlock as well. So hers was the best choice.

And then there was one final thing on his mind. The alligator-like team. Few people knew about the swamp-like world beneath the tower, consisting of large caverns and tunnels with underground plants, fungus and other such things growing inside. Excel had seen it once. After a cave-in there had been a tunnel leading down, and he had taken a peak. Though half a day later it was already closed off again. Rumours went that lizard-like creatures lived there. And these resembled that description. "Do you know anything about the lizard people?" He asked, nodding towards the team. "I've only heard some rumours, and heard that they're bad at magic, but make up for it in brute strength."

Celestia nodded. ''Good, then that is set..'' she said and looked over her shoulder at the lizard team. She shook her head softly and looked back at him. ''I do know that, like you said they are bad at magic but very strong... They could probably snap us like twigs if they want to..'' she said and looked at him. ''They live underneath the tower.. I've never been there and I would not dare to go either.. Only if I would be forced..'' she said and smiled some. ''All I can tell is that nobles like to use lizard-people in ghost story's to freak out their kids when they've been bad or something'' she said. ''Let's just be careful.. And make sure not to be noticed by them.. Their ears are not so good, but just like a lot other reptiles, they smell with their tongue.. At least, if I am right...'' she said and took the plates. ''I'm going to bring those away'' she then said and stood up.

Walking to the corner, where the woman stood with a smile. Celestia placed the plates on the corner. ''Thanks for the food, it really tasted good'' she said with a smile. ''Your very welcome, you sure are a sweetheart'' the women said with a smile. Celestia smiled. ''Only to those that deserve it Ma'am'' she said and nodded friendly at her, then turned around and walked back. Even though she was a fighting, she did walk on shoes with a 5cm high heel, and that was something you could hear. She walked back and took out the two tails she had in her hair and bound it together in one ponytail, her bangs hanging almost on her shoulders.

A few minutes later and the buzzer sounded, followed by the voice of the administrator. "All teams will be teleported to the arena 5 seconds after I'm done. Once in the arena there will be a 30 second preparation time before another buzzer sounds. That's when the test starts. Good luck everyone!" The man's voice disappeared, and now an electronic sounding one came through the speakers instead. "Five, four, three, two, one." And all the teams disappeared, and reappeared inside of the arena. Excel looked around, trying to judge what the best course of action was right now. Though he couldn't come up with something. So it was probably best to wait and see first.

"As you said, best not to attract attention from those alligator guys for now. So how about I stay here to defend our hallway, and you get rid of that weak team that was in the same test as us last time? With any luck those lizards will think we're weak, and attack the other team from their test first. That way we can see how strong those two teams are." He didn't mind going to take that other team out either. But since he was also stronger than her it was probably best for him to defend for now, in case the lizards decided to try and get their flag. Brute force could be difficult to handle, but if he was fast enough they wouldn't be able to touch him he hoped.

Celestia nodded to his explanation. ''Okay, good idea'' she said and looked around. ''Yet be careful'' she said and then ran off, she took her pocket and got her sword handle out of it. ''Pocket, invisible mode'' she whispered and then walked around, looking carefully around. ''oh please oh please, no lizards..'' she begged in whisper to herself. She kept walked and soon saw the other team that was in the same test as them. She hid herself and came closer slowly, carefully. She saw a few rocks and smiled, she could scare them a little... She took hold of a small stone and threw it away, it made a long echo and the team was scared.

''We should hide!'' the girl said. ''Are you crazy? And then what? Become famous as the scary-cats?'' the boy said. Celstia grinned. She took another stone and threw it, this time it hitted the girl softly in the neck. The girl screamed it out and started to run. The boy looked around, a little afraid now, but didn't follow his team mate. Celestia followed the girl and during her running around like a chicken without a head, Celestia got her knocked out just by holding the handle of her sword in the air. ''Sorry girl.. Only one team can win'' she said and then made her way back to the boy. She kinda had fun doing this, she just kept hoping she wouldn't bump into the lizard team

Celestia was off, and now Excel was alone again. He was used to being alone, really. Even his master had often left him alone for hours on end every day. Though he had to admit that it did feel a bit lonely. No one came at the hallway he was protecting right away. Though after a minute or so one of the lizards came running at him from a distance. Only good. "Good, I can fend off one at least." He spoke to himself, taking out his sword. "Puny human! I will show you how superior my kind is!" The lizard exclaimed. Excel just smirked and charged at the...man? It looked like a man at least.

The lizard had no weapons on him. Instead he had razor sharp claws and thick skin. So when they clashed, Excels sword was stopped by his enemy's bare hand. He jumped backwards a little, frowning. "I guess a normal sword won't work on you." He commented. "Guess I'll make it a special one then." The same blue energy from his hands started to creep up the blade until it was entirely engulfed. Then he attacked once again. And once again the Lizard blocked with a wide grin. "Even that won't work on me girl!" "I'm a guy, and we'll see!" Excel exclaimed, putting more force into his attacks as he swung at the lizard twice more. Both times were blocked by the man's hand, however...

"Argh!" The green one exclaimed as he pulled his hand back after the last attack. "Impossible! You cut through my skin?! What kind of magic is that?" "It doesn't have a type." Excel answered. "It's just magic energy." The lizard frowned, and now decided to attack as well. His arms were very muscular and he was at least 30 cm taller than the boy. But this was where Excel's speed came in. "Too slow..." He mused, dodging below the lizard's swipe, and countering with a stab at the man's side. He dodged too, but unlike Excel he was still hit. The sword made a long cut along the lizard's side. Both backed up a little, staring each other down. "Find another target and you'll survive, otherwise I can't guarantee your life." Excel spoke. "I'm not afraid of puny humans, even if they're as slippery as an eel!" Came as an answer before the lizard charged again.

Everything went as Celestia hoped, she was not bumping into lizards and she had found the boy already before he even could have moved. She stood in front of him. ''Hey, where is your mate?'' she asked. The boy frowned and looked at her. ''You are that girl with the thunder sword'' he said. ''Correct.. Correct'' she said. ''And when are you answering my question?'' Celestia asked. ''Not, you only care about winning'' he said. ''Yeah, well.. Don't you only care about that too?'' she asked. ''Yes.. I want to show how strong I am and show to the girl I love that I can protect her'' he said. ''Do you think she will like someone that went trough the tower?'' Celestia asked. ''Yes, I think she does'' he said. ''So stupid...'' Celestia said and she looked at her hand.

The boy followed her movement but before he even could do something, Celestia send a shock to his flag and destroyed it. ''Now.. Do I have to knock you down, just like I did with your mate?'' she asked. ''Bring it on..'' the boy said, but wasn't so sure. Celestia sighed and turned around. ''Your to dumb to fight with.. Your team is destoyed and your flag is gone'' she said but the boy didn't think that way and ran towards Celestia to attack her. Celestia turned around and laid her hand on his neck. ''Thunder palm'' she said and the boy felt a shock in his neck and fell on his knees.

''Dumb, like I said'' she said and looked at the boy, he fell down and she walked back toward the hallway she had left Excel. Would he be save? Suddenly she felt a little worried but shook her head, no.. He would be perfectly fine, he was strong after all. She would take down the other team that came along with the lizards. She walked trough the hallways, remembering the exact way that she walked. She had to remember where her own hallway was. She turned the corner but saw two death body's. ''Oh.. Grosh.. but, this means that I have to get back...'' she said, to herself and turned around. In stead of walking, she ran back now and found her own hallway, seeing Excel and the lizard man standing and swallowed, she kept quiet and watched them.

Excel spotted Celestia the moment she spotted him as well. Awareness of your surroundings had been the first thing he had been taught when he started training. Plus it helped that he was facing her direction, rather than having his back turned to her... However what he also spotted was something quite worrying... A large, cloaked figure. For his size he managed to blend into his surroundings rather well.

"Celes, behind you!" He exclaimed, barely able to dodge to the side as the lizard charging him tried to grab him. "Dark magic, enhancement." He spoke, blue energy quickly surrounding his feet. He dashed towards his teammate, as the cloaked figure was also charging her now. And he sped up to as fast as he could go when he saw a 2 meter long, huge club coming from behind his back.

"Dark magic: arms!" He exclaimed just as he reached Celestia, and just as the large figure was about to strike. Excel's sword clashed with the wooden weapon, only able to make a 2 cm deep cut in the surface. "The rumours weren't kidding about their strength..." Excel groaned, barely being able to hold back the huge weapon. "A little help here?" He couldn't move in this situation. And the other lizard was coming at them as well, so something had to be done quickly.

Even before she could see what happened or start to help Excel, she saw him charging toward her, she swallowed and didn't know what happened but when Excel stopped a huge weapon just behind her she knew she would have to thank him later. Later was exact the time to thank him cause he needed help, she saw him struggling with keeping the weapon away from her, she looked at the lizard running towards them. Think fast grand baby she heard as a memory and got low to the ground. A lizard is strong and some are fast.. But you are smaller so faster, know their weak spot she remembered her grandma's lessons and smiled. ''To slow!'' she said and grabbed her sword handle. ''Lightning breath!'' she said and stopped the lizard by smashing her electric sword into his shoulder.

She knew it was not enough to kill him, but she saw that he stopped and growled in pain. She jumped away from Excel to give him some space. ''Let's make sure they don't get our flag.. I am sure we have a change against them Excel'' she said and smiled some. She was still in shock of what had happened not even five minutes ago but she knew there was no time to collapse right now. ''They are strong... and some are fast... These are fast... But we are smaller than they are..'' she said as she stood with her back toward Excel. ''Electric...'' she whispered and took away her sword. She ran toward the lizard, jumped and kept a distance in the air. ''Palm'' she then continued and a shock of blue thunder came from her hand. It hit the lizard on his feet, even though she was charging for his stomach area. ''Damn..'' she whispered and landed on her feet again. ''That... Is still a think to work on..'' she whispered and looked up at the lizard which was badly hurt by the attack, even though it had not make a wound. ''Water is still on their skin, some how... Electric is good with that'' she said with a smile and then turned to Excel.

She made a fist. ''Jump away Excel.. I don't want to hit you'' she said and sparks came from her hand. ''Lightning.. Fist'' she said and charged for the other lizard, she got him on his wrist and the lizard let go of the weapon. ''Good boy...'' she said and breathed a little hard.. Using much magic caused that to her since she mostly only used it when it was really needed.

Excel smirked, glancing at Celestia for a moment. Had he really overrated her current power? No, he had always been good at reading people's power. Celestia was apparently unaware of what strength was still laying within her. Talent that had yet to be brought to the surface. "They're not -that- strong, really! Or very fast. But this weapon is troublesome." She dashed to the other lizard, so Excel decided to go on the offensive as well. When the lizard's friend was hit by Celestia it distracted him, so Excel quickly pushed with all his strength and moved away from the weapon.

The fight was only just starting. It was two versus two now. Yet Excel could only get excited. Despite his normally calm demeanor, a challenging fight could bring out the warrior in him. The urge to the feel the excitement of battle, of putting your life on the line. "Bring it, greenskin..." He softly spoke before charging at the lizard with it's huge club. The large weapon came down, so Excel dodged to the side. He then tried to slash the lizard's leg, but the club continued it's swing downward to attack him as second time. Once again he dodged, landing on his feet a few meters away from the lizard.

"Fine...you want to play on my territory?" Excel grumbled, noticing that his opponent had already adapted to put less strength, but more speed into it's attacks. "Then let's play..." He mused with a grin. "Dak magic: Enhance." He spoke, now not only his feet but his lower legs also starting to glow with a flaming, magic aura. Once again he dashed towards the lizard, but this time even faster than before. The large club came down, but this time Excel was just too quick.

The lizard kept on swinging his weapon, but while he couldn't his any more, Excel was now cutting his opponent all over it's body. Shallow cuts, but still enough to slowly weaken him. Then suddenly Excel heard Celestia's voice. He reacted immediately, dashing out of the way and jumping up high. As he already had a plan to finish this opponent. Celestia hit, making the lizard drop his club. And now Excel was right above him, his sword already ablaze with magic energy, as he came falling down again, a soft chuckle coming from his lips. The sword hit right in the lizard's shoulder, striking painfully deep. At the very least it would render the entire arm unable to move.

Excel then pulled out again, still grinning, and jumped towards Celestia to join up with his temporary team mate again. His sword raised up, pointed at the two badly wounded lizards whom were laying on the ground, but still alive. "Last chance. Give up your flag and you can get out of here alive."

Celestia didn't know what she saw, in the short time that she was taking to let the lizard drop his cub, Excel had been a tornado of attacks. She looked at how he got to the air when she was about to attack the lizard and after her attack how he wounded the shoulder badly. Once he stood next to her again, she turned to face the other lizard to see his reaction. "Last chance. Give up your flag and you can get out of here alive." Excel said and she waited to see what they would do. The lizard she was facing tried to stood straight, she watched it and narrowed her eyes. What was he going to do? She then jumped into the air, making a front flip and landing behind the lizard, at the side of their flag. ''It is simple to destroy a flag..'' she said and stood now in front of it. ''But I won't let you come any closer..'' she said then and looked at what the lizard was planning to do.

''You are strong..'' the lizard with the badly wounded shoulder said. ''For mere humans you are really strong.. I guess this wasn't our lucky day'' he spoke and looked at his team mate. ''I don't know what you want, but I don't want to lose my life to a human.. Not before floor 50..'' he said. ''Your right.. But we are close'' the other lizard said. ''If you want to die, I won't stop you.. But I don't want to leave my family behind..'' the first lizard said and looked at Excel. ''Take care of yourself boy.. and also over your girl.. She is quite special'' he said and turned around, he left the hallway and soon was followed by the other lizard. ''Good luck in the rest of the tower'' the second lizard only mumbled.

Celestia looked at them and couldn't believe it. She then smiled and ran to Excel, in her excitement she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug. ''We won'' she said with a big smile. When she mentioned what she was doing, she let her arms fall next to her and looked away, a bit embarrassed. ''Good job you did there with his shoulder.. Nice timing also that you didn't got hit by the lightning'' she then said and smiled some. ''Oh... And.. Thank you, for saving me..'' Celestia said and gave him a little smile. She looked at the flag and walked to it. ''Shall we take this and go to the centre?'' she asked and took the flag out his stand.

Celestia joined in with the threat. And it seemed the lizards agreed as well. They were smarter than they looked. Soon they left. Defeated. The first real floor, even if it was called 'floor 2', had been cleared. Even while facing an opponent that should have already been at a much higher one. This meant that Excel's guess that it would be easy until at least floor 15 was more likely. A comforting thought.

The man had been spacing out for a bit, but was snapped out of it when Celestia threw her arms around him. He blinked, looking down in surprise. "Oh, right, we won. No need to thank me. As long as I am in a team, even with strangers, I will act as a proper team mate. Which means making sure the entire team finishes the test." He smiled a little bit, then pointed to the door they had come out of at the beginning. It had opened up again. "I think we have to go back in, since it just opened." Considering how they had won a more challenging fight, Excel was rather calm about it. Mostly because he had a good idea of what he should expect in the top 20 floors. At least, if his master had told him the truth about being about as strong as the people living there.

He waited for her to let go of him before walking back to the door. And once they were both inside the door on the other side opened. Behind it was the hallway leading back to the briefing room and behind that the common area.

Celestia followed him and looked at him. ''I already thought you would be that kind of a team player... Let me guess, if you could have survived but you would have to leave me alone.. You wouldn't have done it'' she said and looked around the briefing room. She walked to the table they had sat the first time and sat down. ''I wonder what is going to be next.. And if we stay a team or not'' she said and while sitting, she threw her arms in the air and stretched her upper body. ''Pfffft.. It took quite some energy... All the magic.. Do you not feel a little light in your head?'' she asked and looked up at Excel who was still standing.

She knew that if they would be separated now, and the next test for today would be a fight between them, she wouldn't survive. Simply because she used to much energy in the last fight. She yawned and placed her hand before her mouth. ''Oh bleh.. This I don't like about using to much magic..'' she said and shook her head. She stood straight and walked to the older woman that served their food earlier. ''Could I have some tea?'' she asked and placed some money on the counter. The woman looked at her and took the money, then she walked away to make the tea. ''Oh... Excel... Do you want something?'' she asked and turned around. Yet it was a little to fast and she had to grab the counter to not fall down. She had her eyes closed tightly and breathed in and out slowly now.