Blood of Gods: Scout Trials

Making an honest living is hard, it's easy to fall victim to the fast way up, I mean if there was a shortcut to making a million dollars anyone with a brain would take it, for centuries there is.

The Scout Trials, a place for anyone to try their luck at making it to the 5 main branches of the Angel's Association, an elite force of people who defend the heavenly gates, the ones who carry out the missions of the big three gods.

The Scout Dome is a rather scary place, the price someone pays most often are life altering injuries or even death, but the pay? Everything you want, you can get.

I only know this because every few months the recordings of the scout trial are displayed for everyone to see at their schools. The scout trial usually lasts for a year and a half, from the starting number of 1000 people to the ending number of 5.

For the first time in 16 years I placed a bet on a winner, a famous scout with the ability to manipulate air, Tyler. He got eliminated last Trial from a broken ankle but experts say he could've been top 3. 

To be honest, betting was never my strong suit, but like I said I would be an idiot if I didn't bet on this guy. 

Sometimes I wonder to myself if I should enter, I mean anyone could enter theoretically, if they had powers, but for someone like me,.. Way past my awakening age, it's impossible to become a Angel Associate.

Although there was this one incident I remember learning about, I just can't recall.

But enough talk of the scouts, Now I must focus on this! My homework…

Oh my god, it's so hard to focus now that I started rambling on about the trails, by the way did I mention that I bet my entire student savings on this Tyler guy?! I'm surviving off air and water.

Oh well, time to go out and look for food.

Lucky for me it was easy finding free food, my dorm was next to a farmers market, and mostly because I befriended the local crows, lets just say we made a deal for them to give me money in exchange, I give them these, glowing seeds, I made them myself, sunflower seeds glazed in blue honey. 

It was rather a dry day in the market, not that many people for it being a Friday afternoon. 

Strange, there seems to be more crows than usual. Oh well some of you are going to have to starve. 

For some reason these crows always preferred my glowing seeds, more than the infinite options they have at the market.

If I was a bird I'd steal everything but these glowing seeds.

One by one they flew down to me, each with a little coin, some with a big dollar, on a good day I'd probably make 20 dollars from this. 

Eventually I run out of seedlings but often not before I run out of birds to feed. I guess there's always a first time.

I felt kind of bad, there were still 4 crows left, unfed and hungry.

"I don't have any more guys, you're going to have to take something else, easy for you right?"

"We want your SEEDS!"

I looked at them in shock, I was surprised a crow could speak to me, apparently they can speak sometimes, I was just surprised it happened now.

"Look, I'm sorry… Mr. and Ms. crows, I'll make sure you have some next time, just, you know, be first in line or something"

"That's not fair!" one of them said, "We heard from all over the world how tasty and juicy your seeds are, now give them to us"

I chuckled little, "uh… no, anyways I'm running late see you guys"

As soon as I turned around I felt a sharp pain, like I was stabbed by many needles, without a second thought, the 4 crows lifted me quickly in the air.

"Woah! Woah! Listen guys I seriously don't have anymore, okay! I will go make you guys some, just let me go!"

" Too late for that kid, us crows don't take kindly to liars."

" Oh come on guys, it's just seeds, you're going to kill me over seeds?"

" No. We're just going to teach you a lesson you'll never forget."

They flew me across various mountains and plains and rivers, "where are you guys taking me?!, guys come on, I can literally give you extra glowing seeds, how about that? No payment, just take me back to my dorm!"

In the distance I began to see something familiar, a purple tinted dome, just like the one in the recordings, "oh you got to be kidding me, guys seriously let me go!" 

" win the scouts game," they snickered.

And they dropped me.

I fell into the dome, and suddenly I woke up to a room of smelly, musty, people!

I screamed as I woke up, and everyone looked at me crazy, stared at me in confusion and disgust.

"Shut the fuck up kid" a middle aged man said as he threw his sweat filled towel at me.

"No-no no no, you guys don't understand I was kidnapped here, I'm not supposed to be here!" 

Everyone in the room looked at each other in silence and confusion again. 

" Listen, does anyone know How I can quit? You know where the exit is. I don't want to be here."

Everyone returned to their conversations completely ignoring me. Then I felt a tap on my shoulders.

"You okay?" it was a young kid, probably the same age as me, he had a white mark on his chin. "I'm Tyler, what's your name."