Regulus pov:
As I walked along the road, I couldn't help but praise my luck for skipping a boring test. When I reached the forges, I saw a large area full of potential recruits. After waiting about an hour and talking with the candidates, they showed up. It was a tan-skinned woman with long dark hair and an eye patch. She wore a loose kimono that showed an ample chest that was wrapped. Yes, the proctor was Tsubaki Collbrand.
Tsubaki: "Ok, people, listen up. All of you here want to join the Hephaestus Famillia; there will be three tests in two groups." When she said that, an assistant came out from behind her. "The people without the blacksmith developmental ability follow Cadence here. Those with the Blacksmith developmental ability come with me."
As the groups started to split, I walked up to Tsubaki and said, "Excuse me, Miss Collbrand, before coming here, I received a letter from the teller on the 8th floor to give to the recruitment proctor." She took the letter I was holding and started to read it. "Just call me Tsubaki, or should I say Caprain? So Jack says you're pretty good for someone without a falna. I trust him, so I'll take his word for it. Just wait here till the tests are done; it should only take a few hours. I hope you brought a book." Then she led the second group away.
(7 hours later)
It was about 8 p.m., and I was sitting on a bench in the shop as people started coming in. There were about 12 left of the 40 or 50 prospects that were originally here. Some looked at me strongly but kept to themselves. Shortly after, Tsubaki came back holding a stack of papers. "Ok, people, those of you in this room have been accepted to join the Hephaestus Famillia. Follow me" as we reach Lady Hephaestus-sama's building form into a line.
While we were walking towards the goddess's office, thankfully I was already at the back; hopefully any commotion my status makes won't disrupt anything with me going last. When we reached the lady Hephaestus office, Tsubaki knocked, then let her in. She gave her the stack of papers, then one by one they went in, and in about 5 minutes they went out. After everyone else went, I was last in line, waiting for my turn. Tsubaki turned to me and said, "Hey kid, it looks like we are almost done; have you exited?" I replied, "Yes, ma'am, I've wanted to be an adventurer since I was five and started learning to forge when I was about 4 years old. Joining the Hephaestus Famillia was my first choice."Tsubaki looked at me for a second and smiled. "Then congratulations, kid."
As the person before me walked out, it was my turn. I walked into the office and was captivated by the weapons and armor lining the walls, but the real attraction was the redhead beauty with the eyepatch in the middle of the room. (He met his first goddess.) Lady Hephaestus looked me over and said, "Please come over here; take off your shirt with your back facing me." I nodded, then removed my shirt. Her eyes widened a bit, but she said nothing. I sat down with my back facing her. "Just a little warning, this might pinch." I nodded in response, almost shaking in excitement at getting to my angeloids. The next moment, I felt a cool sensation flowing through my body and heard a loud yell and the door to the office slamming open.
"WHAT!!!!" *BOOM!!*
Hephaestus pov:
Today was another day of recruitment. I hoped to find some talented children to join my family. While finishing up with my paperwork for the day, I stood up to open my forge when *knock, knock* "come in," knowing the only one who was disturbing me at this time was Tsubaki. My family's captain walked in and informed me, "We have 16 new recruits. 9 of them have blacksmith developmental ability from smaller or rural families; 6 passed the test for those without; and 1 got a letter from Jack vouching his skill. It seems he sold a bunch of items on the 8th floor, and they were decent newbie weapons." "Is he from another Famillia?" She responded,No, it seems he doesn't have a falna yet." That surprised me a little because it's not often you get a talented blacksmith without a falna yet.
While I was going through the conversion process, the occasional new member's status was nothing special, but being a creator doesn't require fancy magic or powerful combat abilities; most of the family's members are level 2, and that's just fine for a blacksmith. As I was reaching towards the end, Tsubaki informed me the talented boy would be last. Maybe he already has a blacksmith, just not fully awakened. It has happened before in rare cases. When he walked in, he looked about 15–16, so pretty young. He looked around the room at the items decorating the walls. 'He's kind of cute with that look of wonder. As he saw me, his eyes widened and an almost imperceptible blush appeared on his face. 'So innocent!' I thought forcing my face to keep stoic. "Please come over here; take off your shirt with your back facing me." He nodded, then removed his shirt. 'Those are the muscles of a warrior, not a smith.' My eyes widened a bit. I was surprised that he walked over and sat in front of me. "Just a little warning, this might pinch, I said, and he nodded, shaking a bit, 'probably excited'. I pricked my finger and started the ritual as his falna appeared. I was about to ask him why he joined this family when I froze as I saw his status. "WHAT!!!! *BOOM!!* He jumped, and Tsubaki kicked the door in.
Tsubaki pov:Today is recruitment day, which means I get to test the newbies. 'Making them squirm is always fun.' I walked out to the square and saw about 50 potentials. "Ok, people, all of you here want to join the Hephaestus Famillia. There will be three tests in two groups." Cadence stepped out from behind me. "The people without the blacksmith developmental ability follow Cadence here. Those with the Blacksmith developmental ability come with me."
While the people were splitting up, a handsome young man walked up holding a letter. He said, Excuse me, Miss Collbrand, before coming here, I received a letter from the teller on the 8th floor to give to the recruitment proctor." I took the letter and gave it a quick read. 'So the kid sold a book of newbie gear'." Just call me Tsubaki, or should I say Caprain? So Jack says you're pretty good for someone without a falna. I trust him, so I'll take his word for it. Just wait here till the tests are done; it should only take a few hours. I hope you brought a book." The tests, as always, were pretty simple for anyone with Blacksmith developmental ability; sadly, at the end of the tests, both groups were reduced to just 16. "Ok, people, those of you in this room have been accepted to join the Hephaestus Famillia. Follow me," I said. Once we reached Lady Hephaestus's office, I let her know about the test, and then everyone started going in to get a falna. One of the last boys was up. "Hey kid, it looks like we are almost done. You exited?" He replied, "Yes, ma'am, I've wanted to be an adventurer since I was five and started learning to forge when I was about 4 years old." Joining the Hephaestus Famillia was my first choice."I looked at me for a second and smiled. "Then congratulations, kid." Shortly after he went, I heard Hephaestus shout, "WHAT!" Then I kicked open the door, *BOOM!!* to see the kid startled and my goddess staring at his back in shock.