Registering as a Tamer pt. 2
I woke up early again today and followed Hector to HQ. He waved me goodbye but this time he handed me the ring before he left to go back home. It would only fit on my middle finger without sliding off or being to tight but it shined when it was firmly in place as a stone as red as a ruby sat in place on a black ring. It looked cool and I always though red and black as a color scheme always looked cool so I wasn't complaining. What was even better was the slight energy that ran through my body as the shine went away and I felt a sense of luckiness wash over me for a moment.
I was giddy about what this could mean and was excited to get into a portal and look for an awesome monster to tame. I took some time yesterday and studied a little about Tamers and come to find out that Tamers when they get to higher skill levels can actually use the powers of their tames and some rumors say that the top tamers of the world can even merge with their tamed monsters and become super powerful! After reading about that combined with getting the ring there was no way I wasn't excited to get today started!
'Umm, What?'
"My name is Allison Page, I am a Rank B Hunter and at the request of the Guild Master I am now in charge of this group and will be teaching you how to survive when it is your turn to take on the monsters and creatures that live beyond this portal. I heard that a few of you were accepted into the first test group but due to some... Complications... The few of you that were originally apart of that group have been assigned to this one instead. From now one we will be classified as group B. Where as the other group will be group A. We will begin first with introductions, you there at the end." She pointed towards a girl with blonde hair and a family crest on her coat.
"H-Hello, M-my name is Mary F-Forester. I'm R-rank C and can control Nature, Pleasure to m-make your aquaintance." Mary spoke up but she stuttered some of her words, I couldn't tell if that was a issue of hers or maybe if she was just nervous. Either way I didn't mind and was shocked that she was Rank C.
"My name is Johnathan Laney, I am a Rank D Earth user I have trained to use swords and axes and will serve as the frontline!" He pounded his chest and yelled with confidence.... That was until the girl with similar hair that stood next to him smacked his head.
"Hello, my name is Penny and like my idiot brother here, I too have trained with a sword. But I prefer to use my magic aswell. Think of me as a magic swordswoman hehe." She raised her hands up in the air and flashed a V sign while giggling. "OH I also am a Rank C and can control Water." She quickly added.
"And you? What is your name boy?" Allison turned and asked me. I looked at the others but they looked down to avoid my gaze but I felt pity coming off of them in waves.
"Names James... Rank E Tamer."
"Ah, your the boy I heard about from the Guild Master. I expect great things from you James. Just because you are Ranked lower than the rest does not mean you are any less of a warrior. It just means you have to put in more effort and work. Now I have gotten permission to take you into the portal and show you around the beginning area that we have secured. Make no mistake, the other side is dangerous no matter where you are or where you go so always be alert and ready. Just because it is called the beginning area does not mean it is safe, it only means that it is at a level where you can gain some experience fighting for your lives with the least amount of actually dying as possible.... But if you mess around and make a mistake, the cost could very well be your life."
With a resounding gulp from how serious the mood changed we all were given a backpack that had a few days worth rations and water just in case something happened. We walked up to the portal and 2 guards were in front of it checking badges before we walked up.
"Allison Page, leading Group B to safety Zone Alpha." She then flashed a badge and the guards waved us through. I closed my eyes as I stepped up to the portal that was as wide as 10 people side by side, It was glowing a blue color that reminded me of a clear pond, It even rippled with each person that entered. Taking that final step was like a huge shift, my body felt weightless for a moment and I felt nauseous as my brain was trying to comprehend what was going on but before it had time I felt solid ground under me and the hustling sound of a market place all around me. It was all so sudden and too much all at once that my body just shut down and I felt whatever I had eaten lurch up into my throat and out onto the ground.
"HAHAHAHAHA" The sound of laughter erupted as everyone watched the newbies experience their first jump into a portal.
"Ah Alice, I see you were put in charge of some new hatchlings, I thought you said you wouldn't do something so boring? Hmm oh! You must have been ordered to by the guildmaster because my darling baby girl is in your group right? That must be it!" An older man with blonde hair and beard said as he walked up to Alice with a smile as he ran up to Mary and started hugging her. He had a group of hunters behind him that were hauling a huge beast that was banging against a metal cage. Whatever that cage was made of was amazing since not even a small dent could be seen but it would still bend at the monsters weight but would revert back to normal almost instantly. Wiping my mouth from the vomit I was awestruck not only at the huge beast but also at how strong that metal is.
"Ahem, ma'am? What is that metal made of?" I asked after finally getting on my feet albeit I was still a little shaky and grabbed onto the nearby wall to keep me steady. I wanted to find out about this metal and if it's easily obtainable. I know it might sound stupid but if I am a tamer than capturing monsters using those metal cages could help me out.
"Don't worry bout that shrimp, you couldn't afford it and only master level smiths working with an enchanter and a alchemist can produce this kind of alloy." The man said with a arrogant attitude after he let go of Mary and resumed his arrogant attitude that he started with.
"Jasper, this is James Frough Rank E tamer and adopted son of Hector Galderez."
"Ha, that guy again? well atleast his son is a useless trash. But for now I have to go so please take care of my baby... Mary if they give you any trouble just come find me ok? Love you honey."
"Bye Dad! See you at home!" Mary said as she waved to him.
As he was walking away I heard as Jasper clicked his tongue when he heard who my adopted father was and I heard him mumble something about how every turn he has to deal with Hectors bullshit. I didn't know what the deal was but I got a vibe that was telling me to stay away from this dude. He left in a hurry after ordering his men to hurry up and Alice turned to us and sighed.
"Ok, is everyone done puking their breakfast? It's going to be hard training on an empty stomach so let's go refill it. I'll buy your first otherworld meal but after that your on your own." We looked at eachother and everyone was still green with sickness but we followed her nonetheless and after a short walk through a maze of people that chuckled at us as they walked by, we eventually came upon a storefront that read 'Bertha's Butchery and Eatery'.
Walking in alerted everyone as a doorbell rang out and the mood shifted from happy and rambuctious to silent and heavy.
"Um, Teacher? Why is everyone looking at us like that?" Mary said as she started to cower behind Alice. Alice only sighed and continued to walk towards a door that said 'First timers eat in here.'
"Hey Alice you bring in some newbies I hear? Give me a minute to set it up and I'll get started. Do you have any C's or above today?" A woman built like a worlds strongest competitor walked out from a backroom with a cleaver in one hand and blood splattered all over a black apron that was covering up a red shirt and..... skirt? Bulging muscles rippled as she walked and my masculinity shrank deeper and deeper into my soul as she got closer.
"Hey Bertha, yea I've got 2 but I have a D and an E aswell. Just give them all the same and I will deal with the aftermath."
A round of gasps went through the place as she said this and even Bertha was shocked and a look of pity was cast towards my group. For what reason I still didn't know but I had a feeling I wasn't going to be enjoying a free meal. Bertha went back into the backroom and Alice led us through the door and into a room that was made up of many metal cages with a seat and a table inside. The metal was the same as the one from the cage from earlier and that was sounding off warning bells in my head as Alice opened up 4 of the cells and had us enter 1 each.
"This is a precaution for if something happens."
"Exactly what is supposed to happen ma'am? This is starting to feel a little shady to me." I spoke up and said but she just nodded at my question without saying anything else and she walked back to a control panel that was at the back of the room. She hit a button and a light show of blues, reds, and yellows lit up around each occupied cell as a circle of symbols formed and snapped into place around us.
"These are to help you absorb as much as you can." She then tapped another button and from the ceiling a plate covered up started to be lowered and settled onto the table. The cover was removed and on it was an amazing spread of food! Bacon, sausage, even some egss that were cooked an all different styles. But the main thing that stood out was a slab of ham that covered the bottom of the plate. It smelt so delicious that something inside me was screaming out to devour it all, even the sickness from earlier was a distant thought compared to the wonderful smells now.
"Go ahead and dig in, but I should warn you now. Whatever your goal for becoming a hunter, cement that goal in your mind and bear through this."
"Huh? What did you say Ma'am?" I asked after swallowing a huge bite of the ham covered in eggs but after that I felt like a shockwave ran through my entire body and it was followed by an endless gnawing at each and every nerve like something was trying to devour me from the inside out. Everything was dark and quiet but I still felt the pain as it washed over me. Something started to happen first at my feet but then slowly it crept up my body until I was taken over entirely by the a new pain, it felt like my bones were breaking and healing only to rebreak again in a never ending cycle of torment.
"....ENDURE! YOU .... .. ENDURE IT! FOCUS .. YOUR ....!"
Words were becoming clearer now but I couldn't understand everything, only a couple words here and there but the voice was familiar.... Jasmine? I tried to force an eye open but all I saw was darkness and felt like someone tried to stab my brain directly.
"Don't try and move or open your eyes! It will only make it worse!"
It is! It's Jasmine, but why is she hear? Wasn't I in the Eatery? Wasn't I eating that delicious ham and eggs? AGGHHH THIS PAIN IS GETTING SO DAMN UNBEARABLE IT'S ALL I CAN FEEL DAMMIT! SOMEONE HELP ME!
I felt more of that bone breaking torment for a second time but this time a sudden wave of nothingness overtook everything. No pain. No sounds. Nothing.