Chereads / Mikael's Tale: The Ring of Seven Pillars / Chapter 16 - The Internships

Chapter 16 - The Internships

In the middle of the spring, all of the twelve cavaliers were called to the Red Auditorium. The building that looked just like the White one but smaller, shaped like a square and built with much shinier red bricks than the rest of the castle. \\

The whole place was like a convention room, almost empty and with no place to sit; the only thing in the room was a giant round table at the middle with a bunch papers and things on top of it. Beside the new cavaliers, there were three more people there, Raphael, Azazel and another Cavalier that they have not seen yet. She was tall, taller than Azazel but still smaller than Raphael; not a single one of the Cavaliers in the Red Castle was taller than the commander, Skael and Idiofyel were the ones closer to it, but still were no match. She had extremely long, dark brown and slightly wavy hair; wore glasses and held a clipboard in her hands. The uniform she was wearing was not like the other ones they were used to see in the red castle; the trainees use black clothes with a small red cloak above it, the non-Paladin Cavaliers use a white uniform with a long red cloak and the Paladins have a certain variance in their uniform. Raphael uses white clothes with a dark red long slim coat around it and Seraphim have a full white uniform which he doesn't use very often. Her clothes were two layers of intertwined fabric, one black and the other one light blue; the black part was mostly under the blue fabric but still could be seen. \\

They entered the room and saw the three standing at the opposite side of the table; as they walk towards them, the new cavaliers looked at the objects and pamphlets placed on the table. \\

—Hello and welcome everyone. — Raphael was the first one to greet them — You all were summoned here because we have more than excellent news for you. First, I would like to congratulate all of you for all the progress you have made in your training. It brings me a lot of joy, knowing that all of you are still here, strong and on the right path to become incredible Cavaliers and maybe Paladins, that I hope, I can work with one day. \\

All of the students smiled. \\

—Now that you learned the basics and how to control yourselves without putting others in danger, you can go out of the castle. Visit your families and even sleep in your houses again if you want. But now that part of your training is complete, you will need to start working for our community. On the table in front of you there are some pamphlets, right? In those pamphlets there are some internship offers for cavaliers around the city. I want each one of you to take a look and choose one that you like; then, you'll report which one you have chosen to Alíthela — She waved — She is one the Cavaliers in the Internal Affairs of the Capital; she is here to report the all of the information about you guys, your armors, training and now, internship choices. You'll have many options to choose from. From escort and police services to city hall assistants and forest ranger. If you choose one now but after a while realizes that it is not what you want, you'll be able to change after a two-week period, so please choose without fear. A commitment requires my presence so I will have to go now, but Azazel and Alíthela will be here, if you have any questions just ask them... Good luck and day to everyone.

After Raphael left, the cavaliers started to look around the table to see if some of the things offered there would catch their attention. The first thing Mikael saw was the pamphlet of the electric power plant, he immediately screamed Asphela. \\

—Hey, you can go there.\\

—No. It's boring. Stay there seated looking to some screen th...\\

—Imagine if they discover what can you do. — Mikael interrupted her — They would arrest, torture and force you to generate infinite energy for the entire city. \\

Azazel was walking by and overheard the conversation. \\

—Don't listen to him, the internship in the power plant is exactly like you said. \\

—Yea... I imagined. — She turns to Mikael — There is no way I'm going to take that one.\\

—Which one are you going to take then? — Mikael asked. \\

—I don't know yet. I think I heard Exoutius saying something about firefighters but I haven't spotted that one yet. \\

—Ah, firefighter. That was the internship I got when I started as a cavalier — Azazel enthusiastic said. — It is really good. You'll learn a lot. From rescuing procedures to how to interact with people during crises. I recommend. \\

When he finished talking, Amniela approached the Gold Soul and timidly asked. \\

—Sir, how is the internship in the city hall? \\

—The one in the city hall is very bureaucratic. When someone need to request something from the cavaliers, like escort and security for an event, they do that in the city hall. Since we are a public service, at least one of us needs to work there as a representative. If you start your internship there, you will go along Odiosel, who is our representative there; he will show you exactly what does he do and how to do it.

After a while walking around and looking at the offers, Laylah was the first student to talk with Alíthela. \\

—Hello. \\

—Hi, have you made your choice? \\

—Yes. \\

—Perfect, what is your armor's name? \\

—It's Laylah. — The Cavalier looked for her name at the files in her clipboard. \\

—7627—14, right? \\

—Yes. \\

—Ok, and which one have you chosen? \\

—The Saint Cloud Hospital, in the East zone. — The Cavalier noted in her clipboard and then smiled at Laylah. \\

—I will notify the hospital and pass on to you all of the information you will need like schedules and things they will ask you to take. In three days go to my office, it should be everything ready. \\

—I'm sorry, I don't know where is your... \\

—Oh, I forgot. — She laughed and then talked to herself — I just got here yesterday, of course that no one knows where my office is. — She turned to Laylah once more — Do you know where the Archduke's office is? — Laylah nodded — Mine is right in front of it. \\

After Laylah left the Red Auditorium, Valon was the next one to talk with Alíthela.\\

—Hello, what is your armor's name? \\

—Hi, it's ValonVorum. \\

—Uh, foreign isn't it? \\

—I... I don't know... \\

—7527—21, right?\\

—Yes. I've chosen the Anvia Memorial Hospital. \\

—Another hospital ahn... I guess with a class this big there are going to be people going to the same type of internship. — She noted in the clipboard — Everything alright, in three days go to my office, the room in front of the Archduke's office, so I can give all of the information you will need. \\

Next were Exoutius, Thysíla and Tius. Exoutius chose the internship at the Firefighters department and the other two at the Police.

Adam, took a fast look at all of the pamphlets and then went to speak with the unknown Cavalier. \\

—Hello, what is your armor name? — She was about to make notes. \\

—I haven't chosen yet, I'm here to make a question. \\

—Oh... How can I help you? — She gently smiled. Sanael blushed. \\

—Is there a possibility to work with the Internal Affairs? I looked at the pamphlets but haven't seen an offer... \\

—oh... Well, I haven't placed one. This CCc is relatively new and I'm the only representative of the IA, so I don't know if I would have the time to fully train... an intern... — She started to babble with herself again — But... well... since the castle is new it is not that big... maybe I can do and explain at the same time... well... it isn't that hard; it's just read documents and fill the missing lines... — Sanael called her again, she started at him and then continued her line of thought — For a teenager ask to do bureaucratic work like mine... he has to be predestined. I can see a small amber right in front of me... amber this that need to be thrown in... a gas tank, so it can fulfill its destiny. If I deny this young man his deepest dreams, imagine what I could be doing with the world... what I'm seeing here can be the start of the greatest bureaucrat in generations... if I say no to him right now, I will remember this moment for the rest of my life. When I'm old and almost dead, I will look back in my life and try to remember my greatest achievements... unfortunately they will be overshadowed by two little letters that I may say now... — Sanael called and poked her once more, she said loudly — No... \\

The boy was confused and slightly embarrassed. \\

—No, there it isn't a possibility? \\

—No, wait... — She laughed — If you want, I can make the offer, but it would be just the two of us ok? \\

Sanael blushed like never before, and, with his red face, nodded, agreeing with the situation of the internship he just chose. He told her his Identification Number and she explained to him that since his internship would be directly with her, he could go at her office by the afternoon and help with the others internship documents.

After looking for a long time, Mikael had no idea of what he wanted to do; he searched in all of the offers one that would stand out to him, but not a single one did. He did not want bureaucratic work, so things like city hall, water and sewage treatment plant and even electric power plant were not considered. From the others left, the ones that he disliked less were forest ranger, firefighter and police. Focusing on these three, forest ranger was the worst of them; he was not in favor of spending long periods far from the city in the middle of the woods alone or even with another people. The boy was afraid of the dark. \\

He approached Azazel and asked. \\

—How is the internship with the firefighters? Did you fight a lot of fire during your internship? \\

With his eyes shining and voice full of enthusiasm, the Gold Soul answered. \\

—It is great, you should go there. With your ice abilities you would be able to help a lot of people... \\

—What do you have to do there? — Asphela joined the conversation. \\

Before Azazel could answer, Mikael talked to Asphela. \\

—Did you choose the firefighters? \\

—Yes, just talked to Alíthela... Did you make your choice? \\

—Not yet, depends on his answer. — They both turned to Azazel. \\

—Well... When you get there, they will teach you how to apply first aids and how to behave in different situations like accidents and conflagrations... \\

—Conflagrations? — Mikael asked. \\

—Fires... — Asphela whispered to him. \\

—Oh... cool... So... did you stop a lot of fires in your time? \\

—No... they don't let the interns deal with the fire and riskier situations like that.\\

—Don't... don't they let us put out the fire? \\

—If it is too intense and there are still people around or in danger, no. But if...\\

Mikael turned around and went to speak with Alíthela.\\

—I want to go to the Police please...

In the end, four people went to the Police, Mikael, Thísila, Amniela and Tius; ValonVorum, Laylah and Sotíel went to internships at hospitals, Valon and Sotíel at the Anvia Memorial Hospital and Laylah at The Saint Cloud Hospital. Asphela and Exoutius were going to the Firefighters, Onami and Prospounae to the Forest Rangers and Sanael was going to work at the Internal Affairs. \\

When everyone finished talking to Alíthela, Azazel explained the situation once more: \\

—Just like the Commander said earlier, you are not locked in here anymore. You can go visit your families if you want, move out of the castle too. But the classes are going to continue, so, if you decide to sleep at home, be careful with schedules. — He picked up a small box from the ground and opened in front of everyone — This right here are your payment cards; currently, they have seven silver and fifty bronze units, which corresponds to half of your Spring payment. On the seventh day of each season, you'll receive fifteen silver units, at least until the middle of winter. Depending of your results in the RDPE your salaries will change but the payment cards will stay the same so don't lose it. — He delivered to each one a card — The Commander gave you a free day, so all of the classes you would have in the afternoon are canceled, go out and do whatever you want for today. But remember that tomorrow the classes are normal. \\

The cavaliers were excited, for the first time in weeks they were going to see their families and friends. They left the Red Auditorium in high spirits, laughing out loud and talking about what their families would do when they get home. \\

—I'm going to brag so much to my brothers. — Adam said. \\

—How many brothers do you have? —Mikael asked. \\

—Two. I'm the middle one. — He laughed extremely loud — Imagine this, the middle one being the most successful. They may even get depressed. \\

—I think my little sister is missing me. — Amniela said thoughtful — She is really close to me, and we haven't talked since the beginning of the Spring. \\

—I... honestly... love my brother... but the when I get home, the only thing I'll worry about is my bed and We haven't seen each other in so long. — Tius.

—You guys are seriously going home? — Mikael said — I'm going straight to the mall. There are so Many things I'm going to buy with this money we just got.\\

—Oh God. — Laylah stopped walking and everyone looked at her — The mall. I'll go with you. — She deeply stared at Mikael — Never... In my Entire Life, I spent this much time without going to the mall — Her eyes stated to tear. \\

… \\

—Does anyone want to go too? — Mikael — I don't feel safe going just with her... — He turns to Asphela — Wanna go? \\

—Well... Can we just quickly go see my parents? I just want to say hi to them... \\

—Fine by me — Mikael responded and Laylah nodded — Who else wants to go? Valon? \\

—No, thank you. \\

—Why? Don't you like to go to the mall? \\

—I've never been to the mall. \\

… \\

—WHAT? — Mikael shouted. \\

—What...? \\

—Did you never been in the mall? \\

—No... \\

Mikael stopped walking and stared at Valon. He slowly walked to him and tried to hug him, Valon instantly pushed him away. \\

—Are you crying? — Valon asked. \\

—Little bit... I don't think I've ever heard something so sad as this.\\

Asphela, Adam and Onami laughed. Mikael grabbed Valon's shoulders and spoke. \\

—We are going to take your mall virginity today man... \\

—Oh God... But I'm going to go home first. \\

—Alright, so we go in Asphela's house and then in yours. Just to clarify who's going? \\

Laylah, Adam, Thysíla and Onami raised their hands; Prospounae waited a little to see if Onami was going, when she raised her hand, he raised his. \\

—Ok. So, it will be me, Valon, Asphela, Laylah, Thysíla, Onami, Prospounae and Adam, right? We will go to Asphela's house, then to Valon's house and then to the ma...\\

—Wait, can we stop by my parents' house too? — Laylah gently asked.\\

—That fine by me... So, after Valon's house we go to yours and Then, to the mall. \\

Asphela's and Laylah's house were in the northern part of the city and Valon's was in the west, so they decided to stop by Valon's house first, but, when they were leaving to castle, Valon decided not to go to his house. He claimed that go there to a five minutes visit would only make his mother miss him more so they went straight to Asphela's.

It was a giant house, large gates, tall fences and an enormous garden. She opened the gate and ran inside, the other ones decided to wait outside of the house; in the moment she entered the house they heard and very loud scream and then some weird barking. Prospounae smiled. From inside the house someone started to peek through a window; when they noticed, a woman opened the door and started to walk in their direction smiling. Asphela ran after her but before she could do anything, her mother was introducing herself to the cavaliers. \\

—Hello, — She said with a big smile in her face — I'm Leah, you must be my baby's friends... \\

—Hi, — Mikael said with an even bigger smile — You must be Asphela's mom... \\

She shakes his hand while turning to Asphela. \\

—Asphela, such a beautiful name... Way better than that atrocity your father named you. \\

—Can you go back to the house please... \\

—I'm meeting your friends... \\

—We need to go Ms. Meier... — Prospounae intervened — We are in a mission... \\

—Oh... It is so good to see you. I talked to your mother today, she was very miss you. Did you stop by your house already? \\

—No, I'll go there tomorrow... \\

—Good then... — She turns to the others — What about you? I want to know everyone's name... \\

Before she could talk to the next person, Asphela took her mother in her arms, turn her legs into lightning and ran to the house, leaving her mother inside the house in an instant and immediately going out, locking the door in the process. When she returned to the others, Mikael said. \\

—Your mom seems nice... \\

The visit in Laylah's house was way faster, she just entered the house said hi and ran off before her parents could follow her. When they asked her where was she going, she simply responded: "Taking a friend's mall virginity"