eight hundred ninety seven
that was how many years had passed, that's how many years had passed since the descent of the arcana. following these god like beings came the beginning of the new age, and the end of the old one.
It is not know how or what what caused it. but soon after the discovery of magic, the world itself was reset. all forms of technology was erased, as was those who tried to reform it. it didn't take long until all knowledge of the past had been erased. humanity had been dragged back to the start of civilisation. this event was known as the great absence!
Now in this world of blades and sorcery, a young boy, no older than 15 winters, was preparing for the selection. a grand ceremony where all humans would discover what class they would take, and following that what pathway they should follow.
classes are ways of showing your talents, warriors would be those heralded for their strength and alchemists would be those revered for there mind.
pathways are more tailored for each individual, with five pathways for each class, there are many more options such as a warrior taking the pathway of the berserker, or an alchemist choosing to be a witch doctor.
Back to the point, Liam is being ushered out of his small room by the caretaker, Minerva.
"come along lad, you'll be late for the ceremony at this rate!" chimed the old grey haired woman
merely yawning in response, Liam made a half assed effort to sling on a tie,
once again tutting at Liam, the woman began knotting it around his neck for him
"I've let you live here rent free for the past decade and a half, if you don't get accepted into an arcana then that makes you my responsibility, and im to old to parent you for three more weeks, let alone the next nine years! At least try and be excited for the greatest day of your life! "
grumbling some kind of response, Liam was dragged outside and ushered into the public carriage without any signs of enthusiasm for "the greatest day of his life".
tutting for what Liam hoped was the final time, she began straightening out his crisp shirt and combing his electric yellow hair with her decrepit fingers. stepping back to admire her work, Minerva nodded in approval.
"its not much, but you don't look bad, now get out their and make the past fifteen years worth the trouble!"
"sure thing gran... but just in case I don't get accepted by a confidant, I can stay with you, yeah?"
A silence covered the overgrown courtyard...
"Of course not! you're goanna be funding my retirement! I can't have you living with me!"
"just making sure..."
------------
reaching the local conduit, Liam stepped of the carriage with his small suitcase. a large crowd had gathered with all the local 15 year olds and their various forms of transport, rich and poor, tall and small, it was quite a diverse sight.
Liam looked up to see a black spiked lizard fly down with its scaly wings, a basilisk, the noble beast of the local viscount family, strutting off of the menacing beast was a red haired boy. presumably fifteen as well.
coming from inside the church, a group of blindfolded monks entered surrounding three children, all orphans from the monastery here for the selection.
many other groups travelled for this moment, be it prisoners or nobles. everyone was permitted to have a class. for it was the most basic human right.
the bustling crowd quickly descended into silence as an older monk climbed up to a stone alter.
"hello new generation, I am sure you all understand why we have been gathered here. but i must still speak to you anyway.
what happens here decides everything... your future... the kingdoms future, perhaps even the world! your life, your families lives, the worlds lives all depend on what happens here, I am not here to guide you, or to tell you how to use your power, all i am doing is presenting you with an opportunity!"
as the speech ended, the old mans face quickly switched back to a tired expression. "so without further ado, let the selection begin,"
with a clap of his hands the ground itself started shaking.
erupting from between two cube like columns burst a ball of white light, enshrouding the area completely.
Liam was knocked over, landing sluggishly on the floor,
Opening his eyes, Liam looked around to see the previous temple of marble and glass gone. replacing it was a white void, ceremonial drawings of solar systems and human biology littered the deep black floor.
standing up, Liam's eyes met with a simple noose tied around the tree
"Trial of the hanged man," muttered Liam, "guess that makes me a hunter,"
the trial of the hanged man is what the chosen would have to complete to become a hunter.
Due to Minerva's teachings, Liam understood what to do, climbing the dark mahogoly tree, and reaching the base of the noose, Liam tied and fastened the rope around his neck around his neck,
"oh come on, whys it gotta be so difficult," liam sighed
ignoring his survival instincts Liam took one last breath before he jumped...
Before the noose could tighten a flash of light once again covered his sight. Before fading out of consciousness, he heard a voice.
Trial of the hanged man:
Complete.
Class selected: the hunter
Pathway: error
Retrying...
Class selected: the hunter
Pathway: error
Retrying...
Class selected: the hunter
Pathway: error
Recalculating...
New pathway selected
Class selected: the hunter
Pathway: inquisitor
---------------------------------
Snapping out of the trance Liam found himself lying on the stone floor of the conduit.
apparently he was one of the first to awaken from the trial, judging from the numerous bodies on the ground. Rubbing his sore head, Liam scanned the area for An Arcana.
arcana's are groups that come together to complete a specific purpose, the death march for example, is a group of information gatherers typically made up from rouges, of course, arcana's are rarely limited to one class for its workers although it is rarer to have an arcana made up of to many classes.
Liam, who became a hunter, was looking for an apt arcana official , what he didn't, expect was for the official to approach him.
"hello Liam, " hushed a serious voice
startled Liam turned around to see this new figure
"and who might you be...?" responded Liam questioningly.
inspecting the new arrival, Liam's Blue eyes watched a cool pale man, with his neatly combed black hair pressed against his pale white skin, dressed in a formal dark suit which matched the dark onyx eyes, he looked as if he was a phantom.
"Arthur Ludgear, at your service, like you I am an inquisitor, and like you, I too was approached like this," responded the gentleman as he adjusted his tie. "I am an official of the garden of Babylon, and I have come to recruit inquisitors,"
"righttt..., no offense but you seem like the kind of guy Gran would warn me not to talk to..." responded Liam sheepishly
raising his eye brow in response, Arthur's eyes hardened, "a warning as your superior.... Watch your tongue,"
turning around and walking off, Arthur gestured for Liam to follow, "you wont be finding any other arcanas, I've already laid claim to all inquisitors who awaken in this ceremony,"
not sure what to do Liam, place his hands in his pockets began navigating through the sleeping youths and followed after Arthur.
"so, what exactly does the garden of Babylon do then?" questioned Liam
"...we gather information, our network covers the entire country, then we sell information to the highest bidder," responded Arthur, his black eyes concentrated ahead.
stopping suddenly, Arthur held his hand for Liam to do the same. looking down at an unconscious girl
Arthur waited patiently, slightly curious as to what Arthur was doing, Liam prodded the girl with his foot, hoping for a reaction.
"don't," snapped Arthur
---
after around three minutes, the girl began standing up with tears rolling down her face,clearly distressed from whatever trial she went through,
grabbing her shoulder Arthur shook her
"Arthur Ludgear, at your service, unlike you I am an inquisitor, but like you, I too was approached like this,"
sniffing the girl responded, basic etiquette overpowering her current state of disarray "I-i am Kaino," before bursting into tears again
nodding Arthur continued, "I am an official of the garden of Babylon and i have come to recruit inquisitors, although you are a martial artist, i have chosen to recruit you as well"
Kaino, who appeared to have a moment of revelation, quickly responded, "o-oh, thank you for the offer, b-but I plan on joining a different arcana,"
"yes you wanted to join the "path of the dragon" Arcana, well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that wont be possible," calmly stated Arthur
"p-pardon me, but my entire family is a part of that arcana, so I-"
"i've spoken with your family, Kaino, they have agreed to cut ties with you in exchange for a couple thousand Crowns,"
"eh..?"
-----------------
inside the carriage, Kaino was sniffling in the corner, after an awkward display of family bonds Liam doing his best to avoid eye contact with her.
Not sparing either of them a glance, Arthur was reading the morning paper.
sighing Arthur settled the paper on the bench next to him before leaning and shaking Kaino on the shoulder.
"Kaino, yes, I know you're devastated but could you turn your head to the left side for me, yes, just like that, thank you,"
with a sudden crack Arthur twisted Kainos neck at an awkward angle, silently, her body slumped over
suddenly on guard, Liam turned to Arthur,
"did you... kill her?!"
"no, of course not, I just needed a couple seconds alone with you, Liam," responded Arthur.
"you see Liam, once pushed to a certain limit, the soul will desperately try to save itself by evolving at a frightening rate,"
sweat trickled down Liam's face as Arthur's cold black eyes bore into him.
"it only has enough energy to do this once but it can cause individuals to awaken special abilities...
we call them Mantras,"
as Arthur picked up his cane, he twisted the handle to click it open, revealing a sharp black spike hidden inside like a sheath.
"my mantra was dubbed, ""status"" because I can use it to monitor people and see, well, their status,"
pressing the unsheathed spike against Liam's dress shirt Arthur continued.
"it's how I picked you out from the crowd, since inquisitors are highly valued at the garden... but when I mentioned "inquisitor" your heart rate spiked, the same way it does when you tell a lie..
so, Liam, what exactly happened in your trial. and more importantly..."
jabbing Liam's chest with the spike he continued,
"What. Are. You?"