As Raika entered the room, which had been converted into a training ground, the sound of Violette's voice echoed throughout the space, "Raika, it's time for the Practical Test - the outcome of which will determine your rank."
Raika took deep breaths to prepare herself, and then something emerged - a dummy that resembled the NightBeast. As Violette's voice echoed through the speaker, Raika's expression turned to one of shock. "Please don't be alarmed, Raika. This is just a dummy. Now, could you demonstrate your full power by hitting the dummy?"
As Raika took a step back, she gave a nod and clenched her fist, then shut her eyes tightly. A burst of electricity shot from her hand, striking the training dummy with a jolt of lightning. Violette was standing in another room and looking at the screen, which displayed a power level of 82.21%. She smirked and said, "Your power is good, now let's move on to the weapon."
"Weapon?" Raika inquired, clearly puzzled. "Could you please explain why I need a weapon?"
"Is it your honest opinion that we can overcome the NightBeast without any weapons?" asked Violette, her tone serious.
"No!?" Raika asked, her eyebrows raised in astonishment.
"There you have it," stated Violette in response to the question. "Once you turn around, you are welcome to pick any weapon that you feel is appropriate. Once you have made your selection, we will ensure that your chosen weapon is prepared for you."
As Raika turned around, her eyes landed on the weapon selection, and after scanning through them, she chose the katana."The katana is a good choice," Violette spoke with a smile, "you just need to focus your aura and let it flow into the katana."
With a serene look on her face, Raika closes her eyes and begins to concentrate her energy, directing it towards the katana. Suddenly, the blade crackles with electricity as sparks shoot out in every direction. Raika directed her gaze towards the dummy, then proceeded to change and launch a full-on attack at it. Observing the screen, Violette saw the score and stated, "That's enough for now, why don't you come and meet me?"
Raika walked out of the room and upon seeing Violette waiting, she flashed a smile and complimented herself, saying "Well done Raika!" With a smile on her face, Violette hands Raika her ID card, saying "I have seen the score and, with this, I hereby declare that you have officially become a B-Rank Meister."
"I understand," Raika said, as she looked down at the card and nodded her head.
"The estimated time of arrival for your weapon is two or three weeks from today." Violette spoke, her smile apparent as she did so.
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Upon finishing the test, Raika made her way towards the location Kyosuke had given her. As she approached it, she realized that it was a detective agency that looked like it had seen better days. Raika opened the door and walked inside where she found only Alice, Keigo and Katsu waiting for her. With a smile on her face, Alice approached Raika and warmly greeted her, saying "Raika Narukami, welcome to Freedom Scepter."
"It's wonderful to see you here," Alice said, her face glowing with delight. "Allow me to introduce myself," said Alice with a smile directed towards Raika, "my name is Alice Kiryu, I'm the leader of Freedom Scepter."
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Raika," said Katsu as he walked up to her and shook her hand with a warm smile. "My name is Katsu Matsuoka," said Katsu while looking directly at Keigo, who was comfortably sitting on the couch engrossed in a book. "The individual standing beside me is none other than Keigo Shirogane, and I want to introduce you to him."
"Keigo!" exclaimed Alice, "Would you please stop reading for a moment and come say hello to Raika?"
Keigo's greeting was short and unenthusiastic as he barely acknowledged their presence with a quick "Hi."
Alice walks confidently towards Keigo, reaches out her arm, and takes the book out of his hand. "HEY!" Keigo bellowed at Alice, his face twisted into a furious glare. "Could you kindly clarify your reasoning behind that decision?"
"Could you make an effort to be more social?" Alice gave Keigo a dark glare as she asked him the question.
Keigo expressed his dissatisfaction with a sharp "Tch!" and then shifted his attention to Raika, speaking to her. "I'm Keigo Shirogane."
"KEIGO!" Alice yelled.
"It's fine, Alice," Raika said, attempting to soothe everyone. "From what I know about him, I am certain that he did not have any ill intentions when he said or did what he did."
Raika approached Alice and as she hugged her, Alice looked at her with gratitude and replied, "Oh, you are too kind, Raika."
"Alice," Katsu said, "I think we should tell Raika about our unit, anyways."
"Right," said Alice, looking at Raika intently. "The unit we are currently in is Scepter 5, which was previously a detective agency owned by Keigo's uncle until his retirement." said Alice and smiles. "Keigo received it from his uncle right after we arrived at the Scepter 5 base."
"This place used to be a detective agency." said Raika. "Thus, it can be inferred that other units possess their individual bases."
"Indeed, that's correct," confirmed Katsu. "Once a unit is formed, it has its own base, and each unit can have anything as its base."
Alice walked over to her desk and turned to face Raika. She spoke earnestly, "Listen Raika, I want you to understand that being a meister is an incredibly serious and dangerous job."
"She is right," said Keigo, looking at Raika with a serious expression on his face. "We have witnessed many meisters who lost their lives."
"Can you tell me the number of lives that were lost?" asked Raika.
Alice let out a deep sigh and glanced over at Raika, "There are just too many."
Despite the current situation, Katsu attempted to create a happier atmosphere and suggested, "Anyway, shall we get started?"
"Oh! right." said Alice, her face brightening up with a smile. "The time has come to celebrate Raika with a welcome party.""
With a smile, Katsu directed his gaze towards Keigo and asked, "You're going to join us, right?"
"Yeah Yeah." Keigo said as he sighed, his voice filled with exasperation.
Raika couldn't help but smile lightly as the celebration for her joining Freedom Scepter continued.
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It had been two weeks since Raika had joined Scepter 5 when she decided to walk to the Freedom Scepter base. She walked inside and spoke a simple "Hello."
Alice, overwhelmed with excitement and joy, rushes towards Raika and gives her a tight hug while shouting her name repeatedly, "RAIKA!!!!!!!!!!"
"Please let go of me, Alice," gasped Raika, her breaths coming in short bursts.
With a little laugh, Alice let go of Raika and said, "Sorry."
"Do you know where Katsu and Keigo are?" Raika asked inquisitively.
"They're on a mission with their mentor," Alice said as she handed over her weapon. "This just come in."
Raika looked down at her weapon, a smile spreading across her face, but then turned to Alice and asked, "I'm curious, why do they have a mentor?"
"To help them to impove." said Alice. "Each meister is assigned a mentor whose role is to assist them in enhancing their power and achieving rank up."
"Did you have someone to guide you as a mentor?" asked Raika.
Alice's lips curved upwards and she gave a nod of affirmation, "Yes, I do, but she's currently on a mission."
"So that I may also acquire a mentor," stated Raika.
"Yes, but the selection will be made for you," Alice remarked as she made her way towards the door. "Raika, would you like to come with me for a walk?"
Raika nods her head in agreement as she walks towards the door. Walking out of the door, Alice and Raika both start their journey towards New Arc City.