Chapter 453: Evaluation (1/2)
”Bien venue to our Trading Guild,” said she with no other in the queue. Igna's firm stance and unwillingness to focus on other matters was a good show of what was to come. Her whiskers rose with her smiling, her outfit was one of rather obtuseness. Skimpy, sexy, overly standoffish, plain old ripped off garments – tis the comments heard on the streets. The boys fixated on her well-formed chest; the contours were astonishing for a demi-human.
”Gather-up everyone,” yelled Mr. Fletcher with a single breath. They scrambled over to stand with chatter. Many of the conversations were to do with the trader's guild. They joked about it never finding glory and being scammers.
”I bet he joined the guild because of her breast.”
”Yeah, I know – he felt bad for the lady and decided to help. What a shame.”
”Not really, he's scrawny, he'd be more of a burden than an asset.”
”Could you guys kindly shut up,” said the boy wearing glasses, ”-I care not for the opinions of fleas.”
”What's wrong with you?” laughed the host of the inconsequential chatter, ”-are you the serious type who can't take a joke?” As annoying as a mosquito doing circles around one's ears during sleep, Fletcher's right-eye narrowed, the blood pulsed to greatly show his vein on the forehead.
*Clap, clap,* the murmuring drop to silence. ”Didn't you hear to remain quiet?” The innocent smile flashing across the visage was tantamount to staring at a demon.
”Good,” said he now calmed, ”-next we're going to assign guild tags.” The double-doors at the back opened to blaze the dim interior. Guild-people in their respective outfits stood with white gloves and hardened expression.
”Alright boys and girls,” he waltzed to the front, ”-we're heading to the battle-arena. Now's the time to show off any skill thee have. Don't forget, merit and strength gets one far in life.”
'Are they that excited for battle?' thought Igna stood at the back of the line. 'Look at him showing off that sword. Does he not realize it's a weapon?' the line moved at a slow pace, '-and him, bragging about slaying a goblin. Is battle that exciting?' *thud,* '-not now,' quick to hide his mouth, the lady noticed.
”Are you ok?” asked Melisa.
”I'm fine,” came the muffled words between the fingers.
”Look, the trader is getting cold feet,” said the same pest of a boy. The large figure, short hair cut unprofessionally, pimples, and scars of acne riddled the cheeks towards the chin. He would often smile and show yellowish teeth accompanied by a bad-breath.
”Ha-ha-ha-ha.”
”Face the line,” voiced the lady angrily.
”Sorry ma'am,” he obeyed without remorse. Why would he care since the damage was done?
”Igna are you ok? I won't put it pass to have the traumatic experience of the battlefield come forth.” Her reason for concern was due to how he had hidden his mouth. Slightly bend with the brows frowned as if to puke.
'What do they know,' he squinted forth, '-my teeth are getting sharper. Why does it have to happen to me.'
”Hey, hey,” she patted his back, ”-are you ok?”
”Excuse me lady Melisa,” droplets of blood fell to the floor, ”-I'll head to the washroom.”
”Sure, sure, go, I'll call on the nurse.”
”NO!” to which he sprinted back inside and made for the restroom.
In the following minutes, the classroom arrived at the battle-arena. A coliseum made to resemble those in the scripts of the gods. Circular and gradually inclined to allow more seats – the add of modernness with the comfortable spaces, a holographic screen at the center. A podium laid close to the seats and held many o' strange figures. The battle-ground itself was filled with cages and supervisors. Medical tents were spotted between the hallway leading inside.
”Wait here,” ordered Mr. Fletcher who soon walked to speak with another.
”I'll head to the podium – be on your best behavior. It's not unheard of to have people die on the very first guild assessment,” the warmly Melisa vanished into the ever-stretching passages.
'Come on, go back in,' panic set-in, Igna sat on a toilet with hands shaking. The canines and thirst grew to the point of nausea. He hurled a few times as the clock ticked. *thud,* '-finally,' the stall opened with a click. The plain-white shirt was stained in blood and turned reddish-brown.
”Are you feeling better?” the door opened to a lady who stood with crossed-arms.
”Yes,” he smiled and faced the ground, ”-just a side-effect of not eating I suppose.”
”Is that so,” she sustained the 'o' as means to imply of another matter.
”Yes, that's so,” he returned with the same sustain on the 'o'.
”If you can make jokes, then let's return to the battle-arena. Down the hill and into the main entrance, the echoes of the orders given resounded inside. The students stood in lines and faced the podium.
”It's ok, go,” she tapped his back and waved at the speaker. The latter frowned and continued.
”Listen up, the time for evaluation has come. Combat will be included; this will give a vague idea to the Instructors on what to teach. Guild Tags will be assigned shortly after. Make sure to not die,” the veil lifted over the boxes scattered around. Metal cages with goblins and wolves in a weakened almost hypnotic state.
”Without wasting time, each student will fight in groups of five. Since we have 15, please split according to your row. From first to last, you'll be Team A, B, and C. I'll give five minutes to elect a leader.” Introductions followed shortly after. This time, the lines were mixed with boys and girls unlike earlier.
”Hello everyone,” each group formed their clique, ”-I'm Rena,” said a girl with medium bright-blue colored hair tied in a middle-bun. Sharp nose, fierce eyes, and a darker-skin complexion with a beauty mark under her right eye. ”I'm a sword user,” said she confidently.
”My turn,” said the boy with glasses. Dark-brown hair, a stoic expression with a solid mustache and goatee. ”I'm Leonard, a magic-user.”
”Hello, I'm Jen,” smiled a very tranquil girl, ”-I'm a trainee-blacksmith. I was trained in the ways of marksmanship, bow, guns, anything that shoots, I'll take.” Compared to Rena, her eyes were smaller, the black hair was tied in a pony-tail leaving bangs covering her forehead. Her nose was round and small, the lips were gentle and always smiling.