Benjamin arrived at the library and stepped inside. He scanned the place before identifying where he needed to go.
He strode over to the table labeled MCA which stood for "Magical Classification Administration" Benjamin stood in front of the attendee at the table. "Name," the attendee said in a bored voice. "Benjamin White," Benjamin replied.
The attendee went down the list on his laptop. "Benjamin White, Shadow Assassin," the attendee said, looking at him. Benjamin wasn't surprised and he was quite happy with this selection. As he left the library he wondered what everyone else would get. Benjamin waited outside of the library for everyone else to exit.
Isaiah and Xavier were the first ones out. Upon spotting him, Isaiah rushed up to him and asked, "What's you got? I got mage," Isaiah said excitedly. "I got shadow assassin," Benjamin replied with excitement.
"I got bard," Xavier chimed in grinning. Velena and Jackie exited the library next. Isaiah waved them over. "What'd you guys get?" Isaiah asked, bouncing up and down.
"I got berserker and Jackie got shadow assassin," Velena replied. "Benjamin also got shadow assassin," Isaiah said, his eyes widening. "Do you know how long everyone else will be?" Benjamin asked, peering inside the library. "Last I checked they were at the end of the line," Jackie replied. Benjamin sighed.
"We might as well go to lunch while we wait," he said.
Benjamin walked down the hall to his 3rd block class. His friends around him were talking about the classes they got and their future career aspects.
Evan had gotten magic swordsman, Lennox had gotten monk, Corey had gotten mage, Charles had gotten alchemist, and Miles had gotten determinate, meaning that his class depended on the type of powers he copied.
Benjamin didn't have time to focus on the others though. His powers meant that he could work in either the military or for the CIA.
He was happy with this result, however, he couldn't help but think that he was different from the other shadow assassins. Benjamin had just arrived in Coach Haynes's class when he heard his name being called on the intercom.
"Benjamin White," he heard Mrs. Goldsmith say, "Could you please report to the guidance office?" Benjamin looked up, confused. Velena shot him a glance before saying, "You'd better go." Benjamin heeded his advice and began to walk back down the hall.
Benjamin passed by several large groups of students, all of which were heading to their afternoon classes. Benjamin felt like an outcast, the only student in the hall walking alone and in the opposite direction. Once the students passed, however, he felt a considerable amount of relief.
The relief was quickly washed away when he stared down the hall towards the guidance office. Benjamin knew he had to go talk to her, but he was anxious about what he was being called for.
Benjamin resolved that it would be about his class to gather his courage and he set off towards the office. Benjamin stood in front of the door. He slowly knocked on the door, the sound echoing down the hall. A tired voice came from inside.
"Come in," it said. Benjamin stepped inside the office to see Mrs. Wilson sitting at her desk, a pile of files and papers neatly stacked on each side. She had a fresh cup of coffee on her desk, steam still rising from it. "May I help you," she said in a tired voice.
"I'm Benjamin White, you called me down here earlier," Benjamin replied. Mrs. Wilson immediately perked up, her exhaustion seeming to melt away. "Excellent," she said, gesturing for him to sit down. She flipped through the stack of papers. She pulled one from the middle and laid it down in front of him. "What's this," Benjamin asked, picking up the paper and beginning to read.
"It's a list of private employers that would like to invite you for an internship," Mrs. Wilson replied. Benjamin read down the list, seeing famous names like the United Assassin's Alliance and the Shadow Slayers United. "Why would these people want me?" Benjamin asked.
He was in his first year of high school, he wasn't anywhere near the level of the people who actually worked there. "You must understand," Mrs. Wilson began, rummaging through the drawers in her desk, "Nothing remotely close to your powers has ever been documented."
Mrs. Wilson pulled out a file and flipped through it. "My friends have rare powers too," Benjamin said, tilting his head.
Mrs. Wilson nodded. "Your friends will get their share of fortune 500 companies inviting them for internships, '' Mrs. Wilson said, stopping at the right page, "But unlike them, your powers are unique. Nothing like it has ever been recorded." Mrs. Wilson opened the file and began to read it. "Your powers include but are not limited to, raising the dead as shadows, using the shadows to enchant your blade, leaving a decaying effect on anything that touches your sword, manifesting shadows of massive creatures that do not exist on this planet, and having one of the most powerful healing factors ever seen, second only to Velena Stephens."
Benjamin opened his mouth to reply, but Mrs. Wilson cut him off. "The only reason I called you was to give you that list of employers," she said. Mrs. Wilson turned to her computer. "You are dismissed," she said, "Let me know if you have any questions."
Benjamin stood up and walked out of the office. He ran his fingers along the wall as he read the paper. There were at least 100 companies on the list.
Benjamin arrived in Coach Hayne's class to find that there was no one inside. Benjamin assumed they were outside and dropped his stuff at the desk. He walked through the door that led to the chicken coop and greenhouse.
Benjamin could see the outlines of his friend in the greenhouse. As he opened the door, Coach Haynes turned and welcomed him in. "Good to see you, Ben," he said cheerfully, "Mrs. Wilson already emailed me and told me that you'd be late so you're already marked present." Benjamin nodded and walked over to the table where his friends were grouped at. "What did she want with you?" Velena asked as Benjamin reached them.
Benjamin waved the list in his hand and said, "She just wanted to show me a list of internship opportunities." "I wonder when the rest of us will get our internship requests," Isaiah said, looking up at the ceiling. Benjamin watched this with interest for a second before replying, "She said that we'd be receiving emails soon."
"I hope I can get a decent paid internship," Lennox said, "I don't want to end up as one of those overworked, unpaid losers." "Well Lennox," Isaiah began. Lennox cut him off. "I don't need you to tell me how unlikely it is for me to get a paid internship," he snapped. "I was going to say that it is very easy to find a paid internship in construction," Isaiah retorted. Isaiah's flare-up made him release a speck of antimatter.
The speck instantly reacted with the air and exploded, sending bits of dirt and burning leaves everywhere. Isaiah worked frantically to clean up the mess while Lennox wiped dirt from his face.
Corey and Evan chuckled, prompting a smack on the back of the head from Lennox. Benjamin smiled and turned back to his plant which, to his horror, had caught on fire. He frantically patted the plant with his hands, trying to put out the small fire.
Velena covered his mouth with his hands to try and stifle his laughter as Benjamin grabbed some water and put the fire out. "Do I need to get the smokey bear," Coach Haynes said in a warning, but humorous tone.