It was the busiest time of the year. That was the nicest way Margaret Anex could describe what it was like working as a receptionist at the moment.
As an active worker for the World Guild Center (WGC), it was always bustling and crowded on normal days, the innards of the various branches constantly filled to the brim with adventurers, civilians, Rift Hunters, and a plethora of other individuals. However, come the 16th and final month of the calendar year, the number would, without fail, spike to unprecedented levels, to the point where lengthy lines would form and appointments had to be made weeks or even months in advance. Problems arose within separate branches, mistakes were made, and people with no common decency, patience, or manners would file complaints about things the workers could do nothing about. It would become almost impossible to manage, and the vast majority of new WGC staff would quit before the end of their first year.
All of this and more was, mostly, due to the Adventurer Exam, more commonly known as the Trials.
Those who aspired to be adventurers and earn the right to travel into the various worlds and explore the vast terrains and dungeons they held all needed to pass three major tests. If they succeeded, they would be registered with the WGC and be able to receive requests, earn money, create a guild, and be given the qualifications to venture into the 3000+ Rifts scattered throughout the world of Ornera. The benefits were so extensive that there was no end to the number of people who wanted to partake in the Exams, which is where the minimum requirements came into play.
In order to minimize the amount of people coming into the WGC specifically for the Trials, the WGC's core members instituted a policy.
In order to partake in the Trials, one must have been alive for a full thirteen years, fully able, and have no current diseases or illnesses. Those who were above the age of 140 and below the age of 13 were automatically excluded from the running unless they could prove their own worth, in which case they would be made an exception.
Another rule put into place in order to minimize crowding, and one that almost everyone admitted was ridiculous, was the Year-End Rule. It stated that even if one turned 13, they would have to wait for the last month of the calendar year in order to partake in any of the three Tests.
The 16th month of the year was the final one, which was the part Margaret found herself in—hence why she was currently beside herself with frustration and exhaustion. Wave after wave of rookies, both young and old, would come in and out of the #257 Branch, one after another, again and again, seemingly without end. On top of that, she still had to deal with other adventurers who needed help picking a quest, wanted to form a guild, or possessed a whole slew of other requests she had little to no patience for. Even now, despite the help of her co-workers Flora Symone and Junji Atwon, she was constantly shifting between running the Trials and being a "kind and upbeat" receptionist who looked like she had everything together. The work was draining—physically, mentally, magically—and she would have quit long ago had it not been for personal reasons.
"Ah, hello. How may I be of help today?" Margaret asked for the millionth time that day, a bright smile on her face. "I shall assist you as best I can."
The purple-haired woman glanced behind the one currently standing before her counter, violet hues drifting down the long line queued up to see her. Just beyond the controlled chaos, she could see Flora's blonde hair as she closed the large twin oak doors, shutting them tightly and preventing anyone else from entering. Having been awake for more than 28 hours, she almost let out a sigh of relief as her eyes turned back to her present visitor.
"Um yeah. My name is Gingy Koper," the black-haired teen smiled, revealing a set of slightly yellow teeth. "I registered for the Trials two months back. Today was the day I was supposed to come in."
(("At least this one will be easy to get out of the way,")) Margaret thought as she pulled out a small transparent orb from beneath the marble countertop. Rolling it to the front, she let it rest before Gingy. "It's a pleasure to have you. I'll get you situated right away. All you have to do to confirm is place your entire hand on this sphere and run your magic through it."
"Simple enough," Gingy said, reaching forward with an unusually large hand.
Placing his palm onto the orange-sized orb, Gingy narrowed his brown hues, channeling as much magic as he could into it. After a few seemingly long moments, the spherical object glowed dimly and a large, slightly see-through, light-blue rectangle appeared in the air above it.
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Name: Gingy Koper
Age: 14
Height: 5'6" (167 cm)
Weight: 140 lbs (63.5 kg)
Base Element: N/A
True Magic: N/A
Rank: N/A
Status: Alive
Information: Trial Examinee. Fee for current Exam has been paid. Qualifications met. Designated for Trial Group #34.
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"Alrighty. Seems that you're all set," Margaret said after glancing over everything quickly. "I assume you know the rules and regulations regarding the Trials. Though we'll be going over them at the start, it's generally best that you come in with the knowledge in mind."
"I do," Gingy answered immediately, clearly eager to move along. "May I join the group?"
"Please leave any outside items of any sort in the designated area before you depart," Margaret gestured to the far wall, where numerous steel crates were being guarded by two figures dressed similarly to the purple-haired receptionist. "We can guarantee their safety. Should we happen to find any items on you, you'll be disqualified immediately."
"It's not a problem," Gingy said as he walked away. "I made sure to come with nothing but my outstanding talent."
((Yeah. Whatever.)) The violet-hued worker shook her head as she prepared to focus on her next customer, the previous youth already fading from her mind. ((Barely even worth my time.))
During her three years working for the WGC, Margaret had watched so many teens and adults pass through the area that she had eventually stopped keeping track of the vast majority. Even the ones who would come to her branch often were mere smudges in her memory, let alone the ones like Gingy whom she would likely never see again after that day. The only ones who ever stuck out to her were the ones almost everyone was already aware of.
"May I help whoever is next?" Margaret heard Junji say from a few feet beside her. The purple-haired woman was quick to follow suit as she welcomed the newest people.
The next two arrivals were weird, and apparently plenty of others in the building thought so as well, the mutterings and gossip traveling all the way to the front counter. Despite what she thought, however, the young woman greeted the two newcomers with a smile on her face.
The one on the left was fully cloaked, covered from head to toe in a black material, and it was impossible to make out anything except the long white battle staff attached to the figure's back.
The individual on the right was also cloaked, except his body was a lot more visible in comparison. Apart from hiding his own face and shoulders, he made no further attempt to hide anything else. Tufts of bright red hair peeked out from beneath the hood, his clothes were on full display—a white t-shirt and black pants that tightened around the calves and ankles—and the hilt of what looked like a katana peeked out from beneath the black cloak he was wearing. He definitely had the look of a warrior down pat, but Margaret had seen tons of wannabe figures just like the two before her, so she was barely fazed as the duo reached the counter.
"Hello there," the cloaked figure said, a slightly boyish voice emanating from beneath the cloak. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I do hope your day hasn't been too stressful."
(("Oh?")) Margaret asked internally, pleasantly surprised. (("That's a rarity."))
"Let's just say that it's been a long day. Hasn't exactly been the best one of my life," Margaret tilted her head slightly, eyes locked onto the cloaked individual's hood, as if staring at it longer would give her some sort of x-ray vision. "How about yourself?"
"Ehhhh, I'm gonna have to agree with you," the figure said, a small but pleasant laugh escaping the hood. "I've been so busy with myself that I haven't had time to catch a break. I'm a bit exhausted."
"Right?!" Margaret exclaimed in a hushed tone. "I haven't even gotten a break yet. I would kill for a honey bun right now. I'm so damn hungr—"
"AHEM!!"
The purple-haired receptionist immediately stiffened upon hearing Flora's overly loud throat clearing. Quickly shifting gears, Margaret stood up straight and attempted to redirect the conversation. She normally never strayed from her professionalism, but for some reason, the stranger had been able to strike up a conversation with her as fluidly as breathing.
"So, what brings you here today?" the young receptionist asked, her smile returning.
"Oh. I'd like to have my friend reinstated as an adventurer, if it's not too much trouble," the figure said, sounding slightly amused. "My apologies if I caused you any problems."
"You're fine. It isn't a big deal at all," Margaret waved her hand and rolled the orb forward once again. "Before anything else, though, I'd like you to state your name, rank, and element."
"Ummm… do I personally have to do that?" the figure asked, nervousness seeping into his tone. "I'd prefer not to if I can help it."
"I'm sorry," Margaret said, one of the few times she was actually sincere. "But I really do need you to do this one small thing for me in order to move forward."
"Oi! Hurry the hell up!!" someone near the back of Margaret's line yelled. "Some of us got things to do!!"
WHACK!!
The sound of someone getting punched, followed by a thud, echoed throughout the room, causing everyone in the vicinity to go quiet.
"If you don't have the patience and don't wish to wait, then maybe you'd be better off sleeping till it's over," Flora said aloud, her blonde hair bobbing as she dragged an unconscious body through a small door next to the large ones. "If anyone else has a problem, speak up."
No one else said a word as the woman disappeared.
"Alright," the figure said, unfazed by the scene behind him. "Then here. This should be enough."
Pulling the hood back, the figure revealed his face.
It took a few seconds for everything to register. Once it did, Margaret understood why he had been wearing a hood in the first place as everyone began talking at once, excitement rippling through the branch.
Shaggy, bright blue hair that reached just above the shoulders, a fair complexion, sky-blue eyes, and a bright set of pearly whites. Even from far away, one could easily pick out Mako Kunzite from a crowd. Famously known for his colorful locks and kind disposition, Mako was recognized as the leader of the Water Wolves guild and a powerful water magic user. He held the title of Elemental Rookie—the 11th of the current generation—and was a descendant of the Elemental Hero Nereus Mapel. There wasn't a person within the Intok Kingdom who didn't know his name, having made his debut some three years prior.
"Well… I guess we don't really need to do that after all," Margaret stammered, rolling the orb back toward herself. "My apologies, Mr. Kunzite."
Mako merely shook his head, smiling. "Think nothing of it. I'm just glad we managed to clear everything up."
"Anyways—on to the matter at hand," Margaret said, glancing at the cloaked figure beside Mako. "You wanted me to reinstate your friend? Does he have an appointment?"
"Oh. No, he doesn't, but I do have this," Mako placed a small golden card on the counter. "I heard the payment was a single gold coin. There's a thousand on that card."
(("A thousand?!")) Margaret thought, her hand trembling. (("That's more than I make in a decade."))
"Is it not enough?" Mako asked. "I can give mo—"
"It's fine," Margaret cut him off quickly. "We'll take him. Have him step forward and place his hand on the orb."
"Jak. It's on you, man," Mako said, patting the cloaked figure's back.
The redhead nodded and stepped forward, placing his hand on the orb. It glowed dimly as the rectangle appeared.
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Name: Jak Yanda
Age: 14
Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Base Element: N/A
True Magic: N/A
Rank: N/A
Status: Unknown
Information: Known as the 12th Elemental Rookie. Jak Yanda passed the Trials at the age of 10, becoming one of only twelve individuals to do so before the age of 13. He later joined the Flaming Sparrows Guild and rose quickly through the ranks.
Following the events of the Bird Massacre, he disappeared from Ornera and the 3000+ worlds. Presumed dead.
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