Rank Assessment Exam (I)

It has been a week since they've started training. After days of grueling training they have finally reached a point where they don't fumble. "My entire body hurts... I wanna go to sleep." Trish groaned as she picked-up her dropped spear. "No whining! If you want to live, stand up and pick up that spear!" Rhistel said on the background as she leisurely sat on the bench under the shade of her parasol. She sat there lazily eating snacks and drinking rum.

Marco sighed as he stared at Rhistel, "A little more guidance could help." Rhistel narrowed her eyes towards him. He had cold sweat forming on his back as he ran towards the nearest training dummy. "If you want your awakening to be dogshit, then by all means be sloppy." SHe then looked towards Jacob who was doing basic swordsmanship. He swung the blade with great fervor even as his arms bled.

Haruki was staring at Jacob and sighed, "This kid's too rigid." He said as he practiced his bow. As time went on his handling of the bow has gotten better. Still a step below Rhistel, but he's getting there.

<Why don't you teach him?>

Magus chimed on the side making Haruki laugh his ass off. "Nah, My lessons are not fit for kids like him. He should stay as the same hopeful kid I met days ago. I cannot, not on my remaining conscience, teach a kid how to take another man's life. Besides the basics of swordsmanship is enough to let him survive the dangers of weak monsters." He said as he watched his new teammates practice their heart out.

<Are you truly sure of that choice? They could prove to be useful allies once they've awakened.>

Haruki shook his head, "Believe me when I say this Magus. I don't want to teach another kid how to take someone else's life. I've seen it first hand. How it consumed them. How it shaped them to become sharp blades instead of living and enjoying the time of being a kid." He said as he glared at the training dummy. His arrows true as it struck the head of the dummy accurately in the head multiple times.

"Damn Kaz! Those headshots are frightening!" Marco said as he leaned on the fence near Haruki's shooting ground. Haruki smiled softly, "I guess I have a knack for it." Rhistel heard his words and rolled her eyes.

"As a destined samurai. It should be a katana! A Katana!" He said while grinning. Trish shook her head and sighed, "You damn weeb. Is that the reason you've been practicing till late night?" Rhistel heard hear and threw a peanut aimed at Jacobs head. "You dolt! What's the point of practicing yourself to exhaustion! That won't help you improve at all! You need a true swordsman to teach you! This is only basic training to get your stamina up!" She said as she drank the rum on her glass.

Marco nodde at her words, "Trust me when I say this kid. Working hard ain't bad, but not at the cost of losing yourself in the process. Try to live a little. This town is filled with surprises. Ask Kaz. He's been roaming around the place constantly." He said while smirking at Haruki's direction. Haruki smiled sheepishly, "uhh...Y-yeah... what Marco said."

Jacob nodded his head and smiled, "It's not that I don't wan't to relax. It's just that I've finally found a reason to strive for something." Haruki narrowed his eyes as Jacob moved further away from them. He sighed, "He's distracting himself. How 'bout you kid? How you holding up?" He said as he stared at Trish. She looked away and pouted, "I'm not a kid. I can handle myself perfectly fine." She said as she picked up her spear and trotted towards the wooden training dummy. "Can't blame these kids. What about you Marco? You doing alright?" Marco chuckled, "I'd be damned if a young man like you worries about me. I've been transferred to another department faraway from home. Just like this. Except this transfer is just a little more than permanent." He said as he lit up a cigarette. He offered one towards Haruki. However Haruki shook his head, "Nah, I'm good. I quit."

Marco smiled at his words and nodded. He watched Haruki fire off a few more shots as he finished smoking. "Well, I guess... I can't let the young'uns out shine this old man." He wore his gloves and started pacing around a wooden training dummy.

<These people used to live normal lives. I don't understand their drive to fight even though they could just choose a more safer profession. It's not as if the adventurer guild lacks manpower.>

Magus said making Haruki chuckle, "I wonder why Magus... I wonder why indeed."

<Based on my observation, most of those summoned that are not from a warring period chose the option with little to zero mortality rate. The exceptions are people like these. It baffles me.>

"Are you really the same Ars Magus who has been clamoring in my ear about taking blood?" Haruki mused as he entered the range and plucked the arrows from the training dummy once more.

<I devour the blood of those who are willing to fight with their lives on the line.>

"And they don't? I mean, sure they probably haven't thought much about this. They haven't seen lady death face to face after all. But to insult their resolve to better themselves is beneath you man."

<Heh, to be lectured by you is a fresh experience. Very well I shall watch them grow until they draw their last breath. Their blood will nourish me when the time comes.>

"Do you have to be that ominous!? What the hell man!" Haruki scolded Magus, earning him a chuckle from him.

As all of them trained till they were exhausted. Minerva appeared beyond the large arena's gates. She stared at all of the people training inside it and grinned. Beside her was Bellona smiling nicely. "It's your lucky day maggots! It's time for you to step inside the real world! With this person beside me, your time to awaken has come!"

She said in a booming voice earning her the attention of the entire arena. The newbies clamored and the veterans who were just there to watch cheered from the sidelines. She then turned her head and glared at Rhistel who was relaxing on the side, "A little prudence Miss Rhistel. You are in the prescence of our esteemed guest. A special Handler sent by the Lucius Theocracy to help awaken this batch of newbies." She said making rhistel raise her eyebrows. "Huh? they sent a different one after the last time?" She muttered under her breath. Nevertheless she straightened up her act and donned a serious expression as she walked towards them.