Chapter 2

Time seemed to fast-forward as I go back to class. I listen, I talk, I write. I head to my last class of the day: Drama. We haven't started anything important and we're just playing games related to the subject. Because of this, I take it as a chance to head to the guidance office.

The place to go to when you want to talk about your mental health and volunteer opportunities. I've been here before for the former but now I'm going for the latter. I opened the door to the waiting area.

To my left is a black coach and further out is an office space. There is a table in front of the couch with an incomplete jigsaw puzzle on top. As I look forward I see the L-shaped reception desk. I walk forward and put my hands on top.

“I would like to speak to my guidance counsellor for volunteer opportunities,” I asked swiftly.

This isn’t the first time I have gone through this process so I know what to do; Usually, you have to make an appointment to talk but hopefully, they’ll make an exception.

“Who is your guidance counsellor?” The receptionist asked.

“Ms. Coleman” I answered.

"She's free at the moment so you can go right on in." The receptionist said turning around.

I take that as my cue to look up and see that from the four doors at the back of the room, the second closest to the right is open. That room belongs to my guidance counsellor, who just so happens to be drinking from a water bottle jug thing. She makes eye contact with me, puts the bottle down and smiles in my direction.

"It's good to see you, Sean," my guidance counsellor said as I approached. I take a seat on one of the chairs in front of her desk.

"Good to see you too Ms. Coleman," I said.

"So has everything been alright?"

"Yeah, things have been good."

"The tests for ascended students were today."

"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about."

“Oh,” she pauses and doesn't say anything else. I think she's expecting me to go on a rant about me not being happy about the results. While I am disappointed that isn't why I'm here.

“Are there any volunteer opportunities for Ascended?” I asked.

"Oh let me go check," Ms. Coleman said.

She then goes onto her computer and checks. After some looking Ms. Coleman turns back to me.

"There seems to be a local Guild that offers volunteer opportunities," She said.

"Oh, what do I need to do to join?" I asked.

"It seems that the only qualifications are for you to be an Ascended."

"Wait really?"

"That's what it says."

"Then how do I join?"

“It says for you to meet with them in person and show your student ID and badge.”

“Badge?” I'm confused for a moment then remember something.

I rummage through my pockets until I feel something smooth. I pull out a coin-like item that's roughly five cm in diameter. It's quite thin and cool to the touch. On the front of it is a big letter D.

"Is this it?" I asked as I held the item near my face.

"That's it," Ms. Coleman said.

"Alright then. When does the guild next meet up?"

"Tomorrow at 4" I check my phone for the time. Today is Tuesday so it'll be on Wednesday. I'll be home at around 3 so that will give me about an hour before I need to be there if I don't want to be early. I also need to consider how long it will take for me to get there. I asked where they meet up and head back to class.

Nothing of note happens during Drama class and I go home with my bike. I check the place out to realize that it isn't that far to bike to. I don't have any homework so I can take it easy. Since I have the chance to I should take a closer look at my stats and the like. I take a seat at my desk in my bedroom.

“Open,” I say softly. The screen appears on my command. My stats have (unsurprisingly) stayed the same. They are all mediocre being within the 10-15 range. Or at least I think I am. I scroll down some more and notice two headings.

ABILITIES

SKILLS

Huh? Abilities and skills? What’s the difference? There are pretty much synonyms so to see them be used for different things is interesting.

I notice that there are two tabs at the top of the screen. One is already highlighted which must mean it’s the one I’m currently viewing. I tap the other one to see what it says.

INVENTORY

Wait... what? There is a grid with a lot of empty squares. Surely it doesn't mean what I think it means... Right? I turn to my desk for items.

My eyes settle down on a pencil. I grab it and hold it with just my index and thumb. I slowly put the pencil into my inventory. As soon as I feel my hand slipping in I pull out. I twist it around and flex it. Nothing happened to it.

I look back at the grid to find something that wasn't there before. My pencil. I put my hand into the square hesitantly. It feels like I stuck my hand into an empty void. As I swivel my hand around I feel something. It's small and fits in my hand easily. I pull it out and low and behold it's my pencil.

This confirms my suspicions. I have an inventory system. I should not have this. No Hunter that I've seen has something like this and the only Ascended that could have anything remotely like this would need to be a high-ranked mage that's incredibly experienced with temporal space magic.

Yet somehow, I can maintain something like that passively with no knowledge of the subject. How is this possible? Why do I have this in the first place!?

'Calm down.' I'll go nowhere if I keep this up. This is a standard inventory system. I can store items in it so I don't have to keep them on my person.

As weird and concerning as this is, I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. The best thing I can do now is to experiment with my inventory and prepare for the guild meeting.

(Next Day)

School passes by quickly and before I know it I’m home. I don’t change clothes because I’m already dressed and I can move around in this well. I fill my water bottle and put it in my inventory. I double-check everything and head out. I take my bike and ride to the park. Thankfully I’ve been to the place before and I put directions on my phone. It takes a while but before I know it I’m there.

It’s been a while since I’ve been here but it looks the same since the last time. It's a big grassland with a single path surrounding the namesake lake. Alongside, the path is an exercise circuit, a playground and a splash pad. If I remember correctly eight machines make up the circuit. There are so many places that it feels spread out enough to not be crowded yet connected enough to not feel empty.

While I am at the location, the ad didn't say what area they would meet up in. Since I'm early this puts me in a dilemma. Do I wait here and hope that they meet here? Or walk around and try to find them? After much contemplation, I start walking on the path and look around for Hunters. It won't be hard to spot one, just look for someone in armour that's straight out of a fantasy novel.

Unfortunately, as I walk around it seems that my strategy doesn't work as well as I thought it would. I keep walking around as I pull out my phone. Maybe I got the location wrong? Or maybe the time? But I soon come to regret this decision as I come face-first into something hard. 'This is gonna hurt' I think to myself as I brace for the impending impact...

Shouldn't I be in pain by now? I then notice that my arm was grabbed.

"You alright their lad? Sorry for grabbin' ya so suddenly but you were fallin' quite quickly," My rescuer said. He then pulls me to my feet.

"Eh it's fine I wasn't looking where I was..." My sentence dies off as I take a look at the person who saved me from my fall.

The first thing I noticed was that he was big. He isn't that tall but I have to pivot my head upwards to look him in the eyes (I'm five seven feet and inches or 170 centimetres which is average for a 15-year-old male). What I mean by big is that he's quite wide. And no, I'm not saying that he's fat because he's quite bulky. I would be surprised if he didn't work out. He has a tan that shows that he goes outside regularly.

The second thing I notice is the fiery mane held in a ponytail. It seems to go to about his upper back. The third thing I notice is the giant grin plastered on his face. With his eyes closed it's clear that he feels very proud of himself. The fourth thing I notice is the fact that I haven't been talking for the past minute and he's probably expecting an answer.

"I'm fine! I'm not hurt at all! Ha ha ha ha," I blurt out way too quickly that even I notice how badly I'm messing up. A quick look at the big guy's face shows that he's aware.

"Well, that's good lad. So where ya headed to?" He asked pretending he didn't notice.

"Oh, I'm here for a guild meeting in the park," I answered.

"Ahhh so yer a new Hunter eh? Well, welcome to the mercs!" He said

...

What?

This guy is part of the guild? Honestly, that isn't as surprising as I thought. But...

"What do you mean by mercs?" I asked making air quotes as I say mercs.

"Well ta actual term is 'freelancers' but we get hired to do jobs that require us to go to places and kill things. Therefore we're mercenaries," He said nonchalantly.

Oh, so that's what going on. There are technically two types of guilds. Proper guilds are actual organizations and companies that work with the government and; the freelance groups that get hired by everyday people to take care of rifts. They're kinda like the first responders. However, they don't get much work and usually get low-grade rifts to work on. Well, can't be too disappointed. If this was said to be volunteer work then I can't complain.

"Fair enough. So what do I get started on?" I asked.

"Woah their lad aren't cha forgettin' somethin'?" He asked. I think for a moment to think what I forgot and then realize what it is.

"My name is Sean Forester. It's a pleasure to meet you." I said as I extend my right hand. He grabs my hand and squeezes it. I do the same.

"Name's Robert. Pleasures all mine," Robert said as he shakes my hand. We share a brief handshake and separate.

"So how do I join?" I asked.

"Got ya badge?" Robert asked. I rummage through my pockets until I grab it and hand it over. He takes it in one hand and looks it over to see if it's fake. After a little while of inspecting Robert gives it back.

"Alright that's an official badge," He said.

"So does that mean I'm in?" I asked.

"Well you're a bit young and a low rank but I'll let it slide. Welcome to the Street Sweepers lad!" He exclaimed. I raise my eyebrow at the name but let it slide.

"So who's the leader?" I asked.

"Oh Ah probably shoulda mentioned it sooner but... That's me!" Robert said looking flustered and then proud. This guy being the leader of the Street Sweepers honestly doesn't surprise me at all.

"Alright, then leader what should I do?" I said.

"Eager to be put to work eh? Good. Join us on our jog around the park." He said with an almost savage grin. That doesn't sound too bad. As an Awakened my physical prowess has probably increased significantly. Even non-martial classes would be able to do this easily. Also, I'm decently active myself. I walk toward the group and start jogging with them. This'll be a fun warm-up for whatever is going to be done next...

10 minutes later...

I'm dying. I'm huffing and puffing with my hands on my knees. My body is drenched in sweat. I feel like a limp noodle. A strong breeze could probably make me topple over. Am I really this unfit? Awakened shouldn't be struggling this hard right? I hear footsteps approaching. I look up to see Robert standing in front of me. Looks like he didn't even break a sweat from the looks of things.

"How ya holdin' up their lad?" Robert asked.

"I'm huff gonna huff die," I said wheezing between each word.

"Whistle you look beat!"

"How do you manage to do this every week?"

"Well, we went a bit slower than normal since you're new here," I glare at Robert.

'Wow, way to rub salt in the wound.' I think to myself. I fully stand up and look at my superior. Unlike me, he doesn’t even look like he broke a sweat. The only way I can tell that he even went on a run is because of the deeper rise and fall of his chest.

“Okay then, what’s next on the agenda?” I asked stretching out my body.

“Rest,” Robert said. I raise My eyebrow at that.

“We’re already taking a break?”

“We aren’t, you are,”

“What!?” By now I've regained my barrings. I'm fully stood up and staring Robert dead in the eyes.

"I just got here, barely did anything and now you're telling me to leave?" I unintentionally raise my voice due to my growing anger.

"Not for you to leave, just don't strain yourself anymore," Robert said calmly still keeping his friendly demeanour. I stare at him for a solid minute before exhaling and looking away.

"Fine," I manage to bite out. I turn around and walk away. But as I leave Robert says one last thing to hook me in. "Hey! If ya interested I can give ya some weapon training next week!" I smile. What does that guy see in me?

"I'll hold it to you!" I shout back. I walk away not feeling as bad as I did before. Finding a shady spot under a tree, I take a seat and decompress. I grab my water bottle from my inventory and quickly start downing its content as if I was in a desert. After drinking enough to feel refreshed I lie down.

The breeze feels soft. I let it brush across my face. Despite being a week into September you really can’t tell it’s fall. Leaves are mostly green with some being yellow. It’s warm enough to where I don’t need a jacket. I can feel the wind. The way it makes my clothes rustle. The leaves flutter. The breeze is subtle but there.

Ding!

I shoot up. The screen pops as I sit up.

[New notification!]

[Open?]

"Confirm," I said, confused as to what it could be telling me and for what reason.

[It is both peaceful and serene, as well as destructive and terrifying. It can produce subtle breezes on a nice day. It is part of natural disasters like tornados and hurricanes. A versatile element that is a root for all life is now yours to command.]

[Wind Element Unlocked!]

Wait what? Did I just get a new power? How? I’ve been doing but recovering from the jog. I feel like I did something but I don’t know what. Opening the menu and searching for where it is I find it.

SKILLS

Wind:

‘Huh blank’ I think to myself. Just because I obtained a new power doesn't mean I can use it immediately I guess.

There’s also the fact that it appeared in ‘SKILLS’ and not ‘ABILITIES’. That must mean that they represent different things. Still don’t know what those things are though.

'So how do I use it? It's not like I can just create wind in the palm of my han-' My thought was prematurely cut off as said thing happens. It isn't a strong wind so I'm not blown away. I look back in my hand and see a small ball of wind. Actually, it's less that I can see it and more that I could feel it. I immediately let it fade out of surprise. However, after a brief pause, I try again. I make my hand flat as possible and concentrate on creating wind. After a bit of waiting, I hear a familiar whoosh and feel a spiral of wind in my hand. I flick my hand and it vanishes. I look back at the menu.

Wind:

Element Creation

'So I have to make moves then it'll show.' I thought, understanding how this works.

'It's weird how I have to figure things out as I go through. From what I've seen Awakened just get and know how to do their powers instantly.'

'It doesn't matter though.' Yeah, it doesn't. I may have to work harder than the average Awakened but I'm fine with that. If anything that just makes things more exciting. Plus that makes me unique.

Regaining my motivation I start experimenting with my wind magic to see what I can do. I spent an hour messing around with it when I feel something weird in my pocket.

'That's weird. I made sure pack light and kept the majority of it in my inventory.' Knowing that whatever is in my pocket wasn't there originally, I pull it out and look at it. What I see surprises me and leaves me shocked.