Those with potential

I head to the grounds and there’s already a big group of people with civilian clothes there. I decide to wait a little before going to join them. Definitely don’t want to be the first of the line.

(Better let a couple of them go in front so I can get a feel for the exam.)

They begin making their way to one of the hills. I follow them and blend into the crowd.

As we start to make our way up there I notice many lines are being formed, but with so many people is a little hard to find the end of one so I can go behind.

I give up trying to find the end and with all the pushing and I just end up positioning myself in what I feel like is the middle of one of them, when I hear a voice.

“Hey you! No cutting!”

I look around but no one is looking or talking directly to me. The guy in front is looking ahead not really paying any attention and the guy on my back is talking with other people.

“I’m talking to you! With the two-color eyes and hair.

I look again. I’m not seeing it. I also can’t see no one else with two colors for their hair or eyes. Is it got to be me, right?

Suddenly, I feel something hitting me on the back of my knee, and I lose balance. I’m now kneeling on the ground. And when I look back, I’m on eye level with what looks like a kid.

He has bowl cut hair with a light blue color and is barely over 1 meter tall. His body type resembles a halfling, with all of his limbs proportionally small and he has a really young look to him.

“I said I’m talking to you punk! No cutting in line.”

“Sorry I didn’t’ see you there. Go right ahea…”

He grabs me by the collar of my shirt.

“WHO ARE YOU CALLING A SHORTY BRAT, HUH?!!”

I put my hands on his face and try to push him away.

“I didn’t even say that!”

“THAT’S BASICALLY WHAT YOU SAID WHEN YOU COULDN’T SEE ME!”

“What’s wrong with you?! Let go of me!”

He keeps pulling me close as I try to push him away.

My hands start to lose their grip on his face, and my palms slip past him. With nothing stopping his pull we both headbutt each other. A streak of blood runs from my nose and from his, a streak of blue liquid.

“Just go ahead and take the stupid place.” I say angrily.

“Oh, so very gracious of you. I was here first!” He goes past me.

“Moron.” I mumble under my breath.

“DID YOU JUST CALLED ME TINY?!!”

“THAT’S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT I SAID YOU IDIOT! THEY DON’T EVEN SOUND ALIKE!”

(Am I not going to meet anyone normal after Gora and the other?!)

After the commotion of the lines dies down, we start to head to the training field on top of the hill.

Theres around three separate lines that all lead up to a table where they are collecting our information.

I get a little nervous, but after I say my name they tell me they already have everything sorted out.

(Must be Mr. Tom’s doing)

Next, we head back again into another, singular line up to what looks like a big white crystal-like stone. Inside of it there this black smoke that swirls around inside.

The contestants tale turns placing their hands on it and as a faint light appears inside but quickly is consumed by the smoke. The guild members call it a failure, and they head back to the carriages.

Some go away gracefully, while other lament. A few even break down into tears.

As the line walks no one has managed to do anything that has resulted in success.

Soon enough is the turn of the blue haired kid in front of me.

He walks up to the crystal and places his hand on it. It begins to shine brighter than all the other participants before and completely envelops the smoke.

All the people in line as well as guild members who are watching from the sidelines gasp in awe.

After the light dies down only a thin wisp of the black smoke remains, and many people start clapping.

For the first time the examiners overseeing the test send him to the other side. Deeming him a success.

He looks back at me and gives me a smug look of superiority.

(Some of the people here are really testing my patience.)

I’m up next.

I’m suddenly getting nervous. Forget my deal with Sonala, if I don’t make it here what am I supposed to do in this world?

As I reach the crystal the black smoke is already back to how it was before. Swirling inside like it’s alive.

I put my hand on it and nothing happens. I have no idea what I’m doing and the books I read didn’t really explain anything about how to start using Blessings and Protections. They were focused after you already had experience with them.

I look at the crowd of guild members and see three figures waving at me. Gora, Lumiere and Ruina. Gora and Ruina waving with all their might while Lumiere is being forced by the two to wave back.

I relax a little and remember what Gora said before. It is all about feeling. I recall the times Ruina and Volkan healed me, the warmth I felt, the kindness they emitted.

A light starts shining in the crystal, but it is somewhat faint. It is not enough.

I remember Goras lesson in the carriage, just blessings aren’t enough. Protections are all about suppression. I remember the time back in the cave when I was attacked. The fear I felt, the cold, the rage.

I then feel the smoke inside the crystal, like I’m connected to It. I then begin to think about the time after I drove the wolf away. The feeling of safety, calm and relief that came from being so close to the outside. The hope I felt of being so close to the finish line.

The smoke starts shrinking and the light grows stronger, overtaking it inside the crystal.

I hear the gasps of awe from behind me, but I can do better.

(Is it all about feeling right?)

I recall back to the times I spoke to Sonala.

As obnoxious as she was, it was never dull. I could feel the care she had for this world. The desperation when she asked for my help. The anger when she noticed Umbravar wasn’t following the rules. It reminds me of my little brother back when he was a kid.

It just made me feel safe and happy.

As the smoke shrinks, the light grows stronger until everything around me goes white and I can’t keep my eyes open anymore.

I take my hand off from the crystal and the light goes away. Opening my eyes again everyone is looking at me in silence.

The silence is broken by Gora and Ruina

“YEEEEEAHHHH, GO AKIHIKO!”

The guild members follow with cheers too. The participants all look at me with their eyes and mouth wide open.

The examiner approaches me.

“Well, that’s definitely a pass. You can go over there now.” He points me towards the blue kid who looks flabbergasted at me.

I’m so surprised at myself I don’t even think about trying to look smug.

“Oh, that’s not good.” One of the examiners are taking a look at the crystal. “Attention everyone we will be taking a break now. Don’t go anywhere, we will be right back.

As I look back at the crystal, the black smoke inside of it is completely gone.

(Did I break it?)

As the crowd start talking again, Gora and the others come over.

“That was amazing Akihiko!” Goras says holding my hand.

“You made your big sister proud.” Ruina has a smug look on her face.

“Not bad. You’re not dizzy right? If you are you better say it.” Lumiere says. His kindness spilling out once again.

I thank everyone and after a couple of minutes a new crystal is brought out.

The exam continues but there are still a lot of participants so I can’t see the rest of applicants as I’m taken away by other members into the quest hall.

We are individually taken to Tom’s office where he welcomes me as official recruit of the resting guild.