"Well,Elmo, guess who won our bet?"
"I did not bet on anything loser!"
"Quiet, you two. I believe we have some results to announce. "
They have all returned next to the wagon. The tiredness of the long day was visible through their faces. They were all wet, exhausted and hungry. If they failed and didn't get a C-rank at least, they would die on the spot. Aefrine rubbing his eyes, felt a weird metal on his fingers.
The ring !! Oh my God, did I just forget this ? Like how... maybe it could help me when I ...
He couldn't really think of a situation where he could used the ring apart of when he was trying to take the headband off Moreno. He got eliminated by him in that feeble attempt. The buzzing noise made lose focus for moments which cost him the final task and an all-right stomach. All of his wishes were to get a B rank or else, it would all be for nothing.
"So,...Moreno Talio..."
"Yes!"
His chest lifted in the air like a soldier.
"We have agreed that you great reflexes and can easily handle hard situations. Your fighting skills are overall good. And you are excellent with phys magic, showing great usage of it. With that being said, you are not very versatile and even your best skills are average at best which makes you less useful on your own. So, we have decided that you would be a great raider, yet you will receive a C-rank."
"Thank you, madame."
"Here is you card."
Neither Sophie or Aefrine dared to take a peek for unknown reasons. It felt like any wrong move might make them a D-rank.
Oh my god, if he got a C-rank then what would I get ???
"Now, Sophia...Laila? So, we have agreed that you have great versilaty and excellent knowledge of soul magic and how to use it. You are very talented in the balanced usage of mana. And you have proven yourself worthy in most of the situations. However, we must point out that all this praise is just words once water is gone. So, I personally advice you to learn how to summone normal spirits in emergency cases, I definitely see a great future raider in you. Nevertheless, here is your card. Congratulations, you are a B-rank raider now."
"Thanks a lot!"
What? OK, maybe I have a chance... ?
"Now, Aefrine Svin. "
"Yes."
His chest also rose like his life depended on it.
"You have showed us great agility and intelligent. You also have an unique usage of soul magic and it seems you have perfected it. He also seem to have a decent grip on phys magic as well. I must say that you have good skills and all you need is find how to grow them. So, for your rank, you are a B-rank."
Yeeeeeees!!!
"Here is your card."
"Thank you all."
He read his new card in career slot it was now:B-rank.
"Now, you are all free to leave. Elmo would take you back home. May this be a beginning of your great journey. Stay safe."
"Goodbye!"
Once they were inside the wagon, only then, did they feel like they could finally relax.
"Imagine if there was a fourth task waiting for us at the gates."
Wondered Moreno while taking off his gauntlets in a nervous manner.
"Yeah, that would be wild... wait, would they ??"
"No, I don't think so...my friend only told me about three tasks. I sure hope, they didn't change it."
"Yeah, I am in no mode for anymore games."
"But why ?"
"Maybe because I am the only one with a C-rank, miss great future raider."
"Don't worry, it is just your first try. I am sure, we will meet each other with in much better place."
"Yeah, sure. Actually, we don't need to meet. Five years from now, you will all know the name Moreno Talio the new +S-rank raider ."
"Yeah, I wouldn't put my hopes that high..."
"How many +S-rank are there anyway?"
"Oh, I personally don't know..."
"How, on earth do you two don't know ,were you living in a tree or something?"
"Errr"
"Errr"
"There are currently three. The strongest is Bolesław the slayer of shadows, Victoria the lace of peace and Zhi the hammer of knowledge."
"Wow, those are cool names!"
"Not as cool as Moreno the fists of ....errr "
"Power! "
"Ok, Sophia Queen of the seas ."
"And Aefrine...?"
"The bow of mysteries!"
"Thanks , fists of power."
"Yeah, seriously, your bow is a mystery. I never thought soul magic could make a weapon. "
"And I never thought soul magic could make fish as your servants."
"Ohh, don't say it like that..."
"Well, my bow is just something I was born with. I don't know how it happened but it just did."
"So, like my eyes, I wish my eyes were special like your bow. They just make me look weird..."
"They look beautiful."
"Can you see with them?"
Both Aefrine and Moreno looked at each other.
"Oh, thank you. And yes I can see normally with them, I think..."
"Err, Sophia how do you make water spirits ? "
"Oh, it isn't really simple... like my staff helps me a lot with it. You need to understand each spirit and train to control them and you kinda make yourself in the spirit to guide it. It is a weird feeling like you are still in your place but you are also in the spirit's place at the same time."
"Is that why you don't make a lot of them ?"
"Oh, not really, once you get a hang of it, it becomes easy."
"What is the difference between a normal spirit and a water one. I seen a normal and it doesn't look much different to me..."
"Well, when you summone a normal spirit it takes more mana because you need to make the spirit yourself but by using water as a base material, you only give life to the spirit rather make one. However, normal spirits do have an advantage. The first being obviously that you don't need any raw material to make them and the second is that unlike water spirits you can't just punch them. You can only harm them physically in their weak spot or with soul magic. But with using water spirits you can just hit them like a normal animal. Also, I forgot to mention earlier that not all spirits can be summoned with one type of material. I mean I can only summone fish obviously..."
"Can you teach me ?"
"Oh, well ... I don't think that I am a good teacher but I suppose I could but it takes a lot of time like a lot. And I am still looking for a guild..."
"Hey, how about we three make a guild together eh? I will make you the master since you are smart. "
"Great idea, but I already have a guild waiting for me. I am glad I got the B-rank because it was a lowest requirement for me to join..."
"What really ?! If you need a B-rank to enter then it must be a great guild what is its name ?"
"Oh, it is the Valley of Wolfs... I think ?"
"Oh, it originates from the Ural Khaganate! I know it. It isn't very big though..."
"Oh, I didn't know that."
"Yeah, I always look for raider news and stuff. So, when did you two arrive?"
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
"I know you are both new here, because I never heard of you two. I live here since my birth,so nothing about raiders gets off my nose . Where are you from ?" Asked Moreno with a curious tone. His serious attitude was replaced with a more childish face.
"Well, I come from Tabollba, its capital Monastadt. I only arrived like two days ago. I'm really glad that I got my raider license in this short period of time."
"Well, for me I come from err-r the outskirts of Sofax. I have been here for like a year now."
"Oh, I never been to the capital. Tell me how it is like ? They always tell me 'it is like Olson but bigger' "
"Well, no. I have never been there. But I have seen it from a far distance, and yeah, it does look like Olson but bigger in some way..."
"Ehh, really...what a disappointment...so, why did you leave ? Don't tell me the war ?"
"Oh, no. Not really. I didn't really notice that a literal war was going on until I started to hear the news in the city, here. I was just travelling for a while, and then..."
"And then what ?"
"Well, I heard about the duel raider tournament and I thought it might be a good experience. I mean, even the last place gets some sort of "participation prize". So, I decided to give it a try...this whole raider business... I decided I search for a good guild in Hamilton. I will be leaving soon."
"Wait, how about you join with me in the Valley of Wolfs guild ?"
"What about me?!"
"Well, I would love too but my master said he would only accept B-ranks..."
Moreno grumbled at this response as if he wasn't expecting it.
"But, I am leaving for the tournament, are they going to it?"
"Yes, the master said something about the tournament and I have already planned to go to Hamilton anyway. "
"Ok, guess I will give it a try...Plus, I do need a partner for the tournament..."
"You two make a bad team and you know that."
"Eh?"
"What is the tournament about?"
"How on Adanya, do you not know?"
"I just got here?"
"Fair enough, so in Hamilton a huge tournament is being organised. It starts next month. Two raiders form a team and they will be facing other teams in challenges, I think. The prize will be one million Flanes but that isn't the real prize..."
"Then what is ?"
"On the trophy, there is the key, a very suspicious looking key. You know..." He whispered "a key of fate"
"What???"
"Yes, you know those rumours about the eight keys of Fate that change your fate? The key fits all the descriptions of the key-"
Suddenly, the wagon stopped and they all tripped.
"Get off now, kids. I am in a hurry." Called Elmo with a distance voice.
As the wagon road away, Moreno went running in the opposite direction.
"See you later, I need to tell me uncle about this! Goodbye. "
"Goodbye"
"Goodbye"
Not soon after, Çetin appeared seemly out of nowhere.
"Hello, sir and miss. Your ID card please. "
He looked dumbfounded for a moment while looking at the girl with Aefrine. It was probably the eyes...
"Oh, yeah...here.."
He handed him the card . Çetin observed it quickly and handed it back even quicker.
"Congratulations, you are now one of us. Now let's get going."
"Er, wait...I was thinking, Errr this is Sophia she is a new B-rank raider like me. Can she join ? She is very talented-"
"Sorry, miss but I only have one spot left. So unless, the gentle man here gives you his spot, I can't help."
"Oh, no, of course. I totally understand sir. So... I must get going, see you later Aefrine. "
"Goodbye."
Çetin put his arm around Aefrine's neck and pulled him over as they walked.
"So, Aefrine how was the test? Pulling the ladies already?"
"What? No, I didn't-"
"Stop acting, kid. I know stuff when I see it. You were too friendly for someone who was just hours ago an opponent."
"No. It was just that she is going to Hamilton to compete in the duel raider tournament. And since we know each other, I thought we might be a good team. "
"You plan to play in the tournament?"
"Yes."
"Well, then no worries, I am planning to join too. We have plenty of time to train for it. But I must tell you in my guild, I only have another B-rank. And she happenes to be an archer too. So, you will have to prove that you are better than her if you want to join me in the clash."
"Wait, you are going to participate?"
"Obviously...But we have unfinished business tonight, so we will be heading for the raider center to join up with the rest of the crew. I know you had a long day, so..."
"Yes...I would prefer to rest for the night, if you please..."
"Ok, but you will miss an opportunity to meet the rest of the crew and prove yourself better in your first ever quest..."
"Ok. I'm in..."