15 Selection
Leaving the alley, they went deeper into the town. They stopped when they saw participants lining going to the gate.
There, they learned that only the participants are allowed to enter the town square. Leaving with no other choice. Master Will was about to leave the three of them to go to the town healer, Granny Lola when Ned asked him.
"Master," Ned said, standing nice and tall. "Can I use your last name for the official registration?"
"You kid, of course, of course, you can, don't be silly." Eyes wide open and cheekbones lifted high. Master Will smiled. "You'll always be a Strat."
"Thank you, Master."
"It's time for me to leave, remember once inside, you two are on your own." After saying their goodbyes, Master Will strode along.
Both raised their hands and patted their chest. Ned and Toni bowed.
At the gate, they were stopped by a lady that appears to be an attendant for documentation. Wearing a full Mage's robe, without the pointy hat, smooth lemon hair, and a well-fitted spectacle. She smiled when she saw Ned and Toni, with Coco, approaching.
"Good day, participants, I'm Mwatamu'Le, a mage from the capital," she had been smiling and greeting participants all day. But her spirit never wavered. "Please fill out your name and desired profession." She handed a piece of old paper where edges are slightly ripped.
Ned wrote his name, which reads, 'Ned Strat'. Next, without second thoughts, he wrote his desired profession as 'Knight', and passed the quill to Toni whose contemplating what she should write. He saw her touching her hair before she wrote her name. With her left hand clutching Coco, Toni scribbled something. 'Toni of O'rriadt'. She wrote. And handed the quill on top of the parchment back to the attendant.
Eyeballs moved left to right, the attendant knitted her brow. "Sorry, but, young lady." She looked like two to three years older than Toni, but she stressed the word 'young' to show respect. Confused, she asked. "You did not write your desired profession?"
"Uhmm... yes... "
"If you don't mind," the attendant eyed Toni's twin dagger strapped at her waist. "Since you're using a dagger?, I'll assume you're a Rouge."
"Uhmm...yes..."
"Okay...then, I'll quill here that you're a Rouge, okay?" The attendant scribbled Toni's record. She smiled and kept the parchment back to the table. "Good luck, Toni of O'rriadt, and good luck to you too Ned. Hoped to see you two back at the capital."
Ned and Toni left the gate with a radiance on their faces. "Such an accommodating lady," Ned murmured. "What was her name, again?"
"Mwatamu'Le, why...do you like her?"
"What, no," Ned said lightly flicking Toni's forehead. "Anyway, why Toni of O'rriadt, you don't have a family name?"
"Uhmm...no, I mean, yes...but, it was long forgotten, our family..." Biting her lips she brushed Coco with deep thoughts. "My family...they... it's only me and my little brother."
Ned and Toni walked straight a stone path, bushes could be seen, trimmed to roundness. Houses were built with bricks, stacked with stones, and finished with woods. Soft leaves and wet grasses, the color of green unveiling life. Flowers caught the attention of girls, be it pirates or noblewomen. Houses carefully lined straight going to the town square. Participants paced the stone path, some excited, and some are lost.
"I don't know what happened if you feel uncomfortable telling me, please don't," Ned issued a comforting smile. So unlike him. I've been smiling a lot when I'm with Toni. I wonder why. Ned thought. "Bright side, without your complete name, witches can't figure a suitable curse for you. Well, if there are any witches left."
As they walked, the pathway was getting narrower. Not because of how it was made but because the crowd is getting thicker. Some grazed Ned, others bumped Toni.
As the crowd is getting thicker, so as the onlookers ogling Toni. Ladies engraving their eyes on Coco while males beaming Toni's rare end.
"Witches ain't that bad," Toni opposed.
"How'd you know? Also, awhile back, you knew that the man we met at the alley, Maker only knows what's his name. Fred? No, I think it's... "
"George," Toni stopped Ned.
"Yes, George," Ned paused. "You knew about his magic rank." The two lined up again for the final checking before entering the main square. Iron armors clanging not far from where Ned and Toni stood. Knights and squires could be seen maintaining the line.
"I read books. History, Magics, and general knowledge. Those are the books given to the orphanage. Nothing much but some knowledge was there." She added. "Also, Mama used to be a hunter, so she taught me too."
"Taught you daggers too?"
"Yes, but, just the fundamentals," Toni shrugged.
Meow?
Lucky cat. Ned thought.
"Next!" From head to toes, a knight wearing full plated armor ordered. It was Ned's turn. Won't you feel hot with those armors? Ned wanted to ask the Knight but he soon dismissed the thought.
Dividing between them was a table, a smell of a black tea, and a small stone—placed in the middle. A Truth stone. Ned speculated.
"Place your finger on top of the stone," he ordered. "And state your name."
Ned raised his hands and placed his index finger. Just what the Knight told him to. ICE, analyze. Ned directed his system. "Ned."
[Affirmative.]
[Analyzing complete.]
[A stone. But carbon-based. Filled with impure Mana. Must be made from a magical creature's scale. It emits non- harmful radiation. Judging from its size and edges. It was cut to smaller pieces.]
[Do you want to absorb it.]
No. Ned knitted his eyebrows. I can't just absorb anything I touch.
[Noted.]
"Ned?" The Knight asked in a serious tone.
"Strat, Ned Strat of O'rriadt."
The stone lit and a white hue dimmed. The Knight showed a satisfied look.
"Age."
"Thirteen."
"Birth year."
"20 of Lower Frost Month. 0313 Year of the King."
The stone flashed a faint red.
"Again."
"20 of Lower Frost Month. 0313 Year of the King." That's the day my Pod crashed into this planet. Ned thought. This time the stone lit faint white.
"Desired profession?"
"Knight."
Satisfied, the Knight let Ned pass and asked Toni next.
Ned learned that Toni was older than him by only four months. She was born 22 Middle Water Month. But, the stone lit red between Mage and Rouge Profession when Toni was asked. Eventually, it shone to white with the Rouge Profession. Seems like the stone can be fooled. Ned thought, examining the stone.
[Noted. Creating the desired folder for subject Toni. Marked. Important.]
Wait. What? Ned was surprised to hear ICE prompted. I didn't allow that.
[But your emotions show interest in the subject. Toni.]
[Age. 13. Birthday. August 22 Earth date.]
[My system ensures your survival. Ned. This also includes your offsprings.]
Enough with that. Ned commanded ICE. But... you can keep the folder.
The two were then sent to the next tent. Where they were grouped with other participants. Inside, knights inspected weapons and armors.
"During the Selection, only Grades D and E weapons and armors are allowed," a knight shouted. "Now, move!"
The tent was enough for twenty people to fit. Two tables were placed at the front. The group then started to move one by one.
"Kid, let me see that," an old knight ordered Ned to give his sword. But when the Knight tried to unsheathed the Butterfly. It won't draw. The Knight chuckled. "This is lower than grade E. It won't even draw," the Knights that were stationed laughed. "Okay you pass, make sure to slice them all!" They all laughed. Again.
Next was Toni. The Knight was surprised to see the dagger Toni had.
"Ahh, a dagger made from the claws of Kikido'rra. Balanced, light, but old," he said lifting the dagger midair. He was indeed surprised but had to hold back because of the state of the dagger. "If you had it ten years ago, its Grade would be D maybe B. But its durability was worn out. It's lowered to E."
He wasn't stupid from the way he looked. Ned thought.
"Okay, you pass." He waved his hand, indicating Ned and Toni to move to the town square. "Next—"
"Wait!" The Knight stared at Toni. "That cat, was it tamed? Or pact?"
"Uhmm...no... he was a pet."
Meow!
"A pet, bringing a pet to the Selection, well, hoped you two pass."
"T...thank you... " Toni said bowing.
Exiting the tent, the sun was staring right above them. It was already noon when they arrived at the town square. It was a complete opposite of the outside. Clean roads, the market sells genuine products, and less crowded.
When they arrived at the square, participants looked at Ned and Toni like a pawnbroker's eye. Serious, suspicious, and curious.
The square was enough to hold around four hundred people all at once. Judging by the crowd. The participants count for only around two to three hundred.
The cast of orange stone filled the ground. The square was surrounded by houses made of bricks. Inn, taverns, shops, filled the town.
But during the Selection. No merchants, nobles, infamous pirates, and old priests with young male boys, hiding from the law, parades the square. Instead, Magic creatures walked and crawled the square. Swords, bows, staves, shines under the beam of the sun. The square was bustling. Crowds of expectation, fear, and adventure, surround the town.
"Welcome! Participants!"
A man, in his sixties, appeared in front of the square. Inclined at the top. Together with knights and respected elders are seated.
"I am your Town Lord, and hosts for these years Inter-Island Selection." He raised his hands like he was about to embrace someone. "Lord Rastik McGreedy!"
"Let the Selection begin!"
