"Knows how to cook, good at hunting animals…Oh, this is me!" Kassandra goes to the end of the applicant's line for Glazing with Inferno. After almost 1 hour, she finally has reached the membership committee's table.
"Hi! Good morning! I'm Kassandra Grinch. I am very much interested in joining your organization. I can cook, I am good at hunting-" Though she was very ecstatic in introducing herself, the membership committee ignore it and cut her introduction by directly asking the most important qualification to join their student org.
"Are you a fire bender?" One of the membership committee (Mem Com) members immediately asks her.
"I'm sorry?" She did not understand the meaning of the fire bender.
"She was asking you if you are a fire bender. Meaning, if you could manipulate fire if you could do this?" The other Mem Com member said while wielding an orange fire in his left hand.
"Oh…" Though she did not directly say no, the mem com members understand the meaning of her response.
"Ok then. Next!" She calls for the next applicant.
Kassandra moves out of their booth and proceeds to the booth next to it.
"Ok. Next is, The Garden of Eve." She quickly read the qualifications that say: Any level of Student, has an interest in growing plants and crops, knows something about growing the vegetation, and most importantly, can contribute to the innovation of The Garden of Eve.
The application line for this student organization is worse than the line for Glazing with Inferno. She almost took 2 hours of her time before she had reached the Mem Com's counter.
"What do you know about crops and plants?" The female mem com asks her.
"Plants need light energy, water, and carbon dioxide from the air for photosynthesis. They need additional chemicals, called nutrients," Kassandra was able to answer the first question. Based on Mem Com's facial expression, she did a great job.
"That's correct. So, what basic needs could you directly provide to the plants?" The male Mem Com member follows up questions.
"The sun could provide light energy; the lakes, rainfall, rivers could be the source of its water; while carbon dioxide is found everywhere. So, I could give them additional nutrients through organic fertilizer I guess?" Kassandra somehow makes them curious, so a follow-up question was made by the female mem com member.
"Organic fertilizer? What is that? And how could you produce it?"
"Organic fertilizers are fertilizers derived from animal matter like blood meal and bone meal. You could also derive organic fertilizer from animal manure, human excreta, and vegetable and fruit matter." Kassandra is very well versed in growing plants and making organic fertilizer since her Granny Ellie taught her almost every day since her childhood days.
"You are indeed knowledgeable in taking care of plants, and what you have shared to us will greatly help in our future goals and plans, however, we need to know what kind of power you possess." It is the male mem com member.
"Power? To tell you honestly, I did not know either. Prof. Aerea just tells me to enroll in this Academy because she felt that I belong here." She confessed.
"If Prof. Aerea told you that, you should believe in her. She is one of the most meticulous professors in our academy. She is well known for her efficiency; she doesn't want to waste any resources including her effort and time. Also, if she did not tell you your hidden potential, we have a tool to help you with that." It was the male mem com.
"This is a gem called Elemental Stone. It has the power to uncover any innate elemental power and other related power to someone who carries it." The female mem com briefly explains the use of elemental stone to Kassandra.
Kassandra accepts the stone and felt some energy flowing from her body going to the stone. The stone turns black.
"What does it tell?" Kassandra asked the two mem com members.
There is a minute of silence inside the booth. The male mem com member whispers something to the other mem com member which is inaudible to Kassandra.
"I'm sorry, I guess the Elemental Stone is not working properly. It cannot comprehend the elemental power within you. Please leave us your contact number and will contact you again before the weekends." It was the male mem com member.
"I don't have a smartphone yet. Maybe I'll just go back tomorrow. Thanks." Kassandra knew that they were just being civil to her and did not want to reject her in front of her face. So, she was thinking while exiting the booth the next student organization she must try.
"The gem says 'Nothingness'. I don't know what it means." The male mem com asks the other member after Kassandra left the booth.
"Maybe she doesn't have elemental power, or she could have a unique type of power, or she does not have any power at all."
"The gem turns black. If she does not have any power, it will remain on its initial state."
"I think you are right. That lady is a rare one. Do you think she is a big catch?"
"I don't know. I am not familiar with that kind of power. It might affect the Garden of Eve. I could not take a risk on that. The price is too high to make an impulsive decision like that."
________________________
Kassandra has only 2 hours left before her day ends and unfortunately, she does not have any student organization to join yet. She saw Mraz in the Clairvoyant Eye Organization and thought she could finally claim the success, however, like what the other student organization, she lacks the important thing they are looking for. She is not a mental manipulator, so even though Mraz is willing to accept her, they cannot bend the policies and regulations of Clairvoyant Eye.
Because of so much frustration, she was thinking of giving up and just apply to the most boring student organization in their academy. The Mathistery Club. This student organization does not require many qualifications in order to join them. You just need to have an interest in Math, history, and mystery.
"What misery." She mutters to herself while she was on her way to Mathistery Club. "Who needs power if you have the strength? Who needs magic if you have the skills?" She reads the signboard outside the building. "Is this the Mathistery Club? I thought they are the most boring organization." She asked herself while walking inside the building. "They are pretty wealthy to have access to this kind of building."
"That is the 100th applicant for today, and no one has passed the requirements." Cael slams his body on the sofa bed inside their training studio. "Seeing them fails makes me tired and sick." He crossed his legs and closed his eyes.
"Most of our applicants just did the try out because they heard Tehmo joined our organization," Zoe said while picking up the rapier which fell on the wooden floor during the last try out of their 100th applicant.
"Speaking of the devil guy, where is he?" Cael asks Zoe while releasing a good yawn.
"He is sleeping on the second floor. He did not want to get involved with the nonsense that we dealt with earlier. If not for a deduction on the quarterly allowance, he would not waste his time going here."
"Excuse me. Are you still accepting applicants?" Kassandra saw two male students in the middle of the vast training studio. The first guy, who is holding the rapier looks at her direction.
"Cael wakes up, another woman is here."
Cael opens his left eye and looks at the direction of Kassandra.
"Yes, we are still accepting. Actually, no applicant has passed the challenges yet." Zoe smiled at Kassandra.
"Is that so? I thought Mathistery is a pretty lax organization." She innocently uttered.
Cael burst into a hard laugh upon hearing Kassandra's comment.
"Did I say something funny?" Kassandra has no idea of what is happening.
Cael cannot contain his delight in Kassandra. His laugh echoed in the whole studio which wakes Tehmo up.
"Nothing. Don't mind him. By the way, I'm Zoe Frigore. I'm the president of this organization."
"I'm Kassandra Grinch."
"Oh! You are the new student of Prof. Lucila." It was Cael. He is full of astonishment.
"I did not know that I am pretty famous. Anyway, I here to apply to your organization." She is dubious of what she has learned.
"Alright then. Pick your choice of weapon." Zoe shows her the different kinds of weapons in the studio. Most of it is a weapon during the medieval era.
"I want the longbow and arrow." She seriously mutters. Its been a week since she was able to hold a bow and arrow. When she is was still in the woods outside Noel City, longbow and arrow is her weapon in hunting animals.
"Nice choice. Just a friendly reminder, all weapons in this studio cannot be amplified by any elemental power. So, you will just rely solely on your strength and skills." Zoe's tone is friendly and soft.
"Not a problem. By the way, I could step on this platform, right?"
"Do as you please." Zoe releases a soft chuckle.
"Ok. So, let's try." Kassandra slowly steps up on the 5-meter tall platform. When she was on top, she draws one arrow and positions herself, getting ready to release the shot.
After a few seconds, the arrow she had released hits the focal point of the first target, which is 18 meters away from her. Zoe and Cael were left in awed when they saw the perfect shot that Kassandra has made. Tehmo who is standing on the second floor is smiling while slowly shaking his head because of disbelief.
Without giving them the time to recover, Kassandra jumps from the 5-meter high platform, while she was still mid-air, she quickly draws one arrow and hurriedly released it. Like what happened to her first attempt, the arrow landed on the center of the second target. When she lands successfully on the floor, she started to run while loading three arrows on the bow. While still running, she slowly releases the arrows, as if she already calculated its speed and her distance, the arrows hit the center of the third, fourth and fifth targets respectively. On the last target, Kassandra accidentally slides and was about to hit the ground when she released the last shot.
"Kassandra!" Zoe and Cael said in unison. They worriedly approached her. Tehmo, on the other hand, was about to jump down but held back himself when he felt someone's presence around.
"It hits the last target." She said while still lying on the floor.
Cael shakes his head in disbelief, he smiles and offers his right hand to help her get up.
Kassandra accepts it. "Thanks."
Unexpectedly, Cael hugs Kassandra and carry her up. As if he was carrying a child in the mid-air.
"You are so great! I am beginning to like you! Please join our club. You are an amazing archer!" Cael, of course, uses his air bending abilities to carry Kassandra as if she is light as paper.
"Oh." Kassandra was unable to react because of so much surprise on Cael's reaction.
"Cael. Your hair is on fire." Zoe calmly said. He shifts his gaze to the second floor and saw Tehmo. His eyes are on Cael.
"Ahhh!!!! What happened? Who did this?!" Because he lost focus, Kassandra almost fell on the ground, luckily Zoe was able to catch her.
"Thank you." Kassandra calmly utters though her face turns red.
"There you go." Zoe put her down and furtively glance at Tehmo. "Don't put me on fire. I only help your woman." He whispered to himself.
"So, what is your verdict?" Kassandra asks the two.
"I guess it is a yes for me, and obviously, it is a big YES to Cael." Zoe directly looks at Cael who is currently checking his burnt hair.
"Thank you!" Kassandra smiles genuinely at both men. "I'm so happy knowing I will have enough gold coins for food."
"So, you are also worried about the budget for your food?" A familiar voice was heard from the entrance of their training studio.
"Kieran!" Kassandra was shocked when she saw the man who helps her escape from the fourth floor of Night Grand Quarters building.
"It was nice to see you again, Kassandra." A sweet smile escaped from Kieran's lips, which is never seen before.
"Crap. They know each other." Zoe cannot help not to look at the second floor. He saw changes in Tehmo's expression. From shocked, enraged, until his eyes show signs of disappointment.