Re-evaluation Day

        "I heard that when two S-rank Mythics battle each other-" began the Boardman who watched Cyrus' evaluation- "Everything around them could be destroyed. Seems like it's true, huh?" The Boardman asked, watching the training facility they used to house Billy's duel with Cyrus collapse more. "I suppose it's a miracle that this is the only thing damaged," he added. "Right. Though, it wouldn't be fair to call a battle. Billy Bob was no match for Cyrus," The Boardman shivered at the sight of Billy lumped over amongst the rubble. "He lost even before real damage was done," he added. Among the rubble, a man stepped through the falling dust, "Who the hell are you? You're not supposed to be here!" Cyrus yelled, "Where is he?" The man asked, wearing a tattered brown cloak over a ragged white undershirt, white bandages on both hands, baggy black pants, and a pair of black boots. His face was covered in a messy beard, "Who?" Cyrus asked with an annoyed tone. "Are you not the son of Dabris? Jesus, did she already make half-monkeys?" They ask, "Who the fuck are you calling monkey, and how do you know her name?!" He asks with a furious expression, "Where is your youngest brother, half monkey?" "Enough of calling me monkey bastard! How do you know her name?!" He asked again, stepping closer to the stranger, "How do you know?!" He roared, "She's an old fling, boy," the man explained.

        Back home for a stop for resupplies, Winter was ushered off to get re-evaluated by Mari, who determined that his recent growth was quantifiable in some other way. On the news, the events of Cyrus' evaluation were everywhere, including the mess it made with the fight with a mysterious stranger. "Sheesh, what a hot mess. I swear, all we hear about Cyrus is the chaos he brings with him," Mr. Calvin watched the TV from his desk. "Mr. Calvin, someone's here to see you," whispered a younger assistant. Calvin leaned over to see who was at the desk. He sighed and leaned in closer to the young assistant. "This happens every so often. Delusional, low-ranking Mythics who are unhappy with their life and rank come here hoping for another chance," he explained in a cupped whisper. "Is this man one of them?" She asks, "Doesn't matter, just tell him the expenses and send him off to the evaluation room," Calvin replies, still in a whisper. "Got it," she typed away at the computer. "Huh, his name's Winter Greats. Why does that sound familiar?" he thought, not quite recognizing the name.

        Erik sat in his office, going through pile of paperwork after pile of paperwork. "Yes, this is Erik speaking," He spoke into the phone, his eyes on the paper in his hand. "Sir, I'm calling from the Evaluation Center," Calvin explained into the phone, in the break room. "The man you were talking about the other day, he came," He added. "Winter Greats' there?" Erik asks, dropping the paperwork in his hand. "Yes, he just applied for a re-evaluation of his rank," he responded. "Why does Winter want a re-evaluation?!" Erik asked, standing up so quickly that the papers flew off his desk. "Please, this way, sir," Another associate of Calvin led Winter to a waiting room. "Very well," he had hands in his pockets.

        Sat in an evaluation waiting room, Winter was silently going through his phone. "Next, please!" Yelled a young evaluation worker and a young man stood up and walked toward the door. "Hasn't gone through a lot of change since I've been here last," Winter thought, "Don't be so nervous! Some people turn their lives around after getting a new rank, but not everyone does," The guy who sat next to the one who went in explained. "All the Mythics who get placed in D-rank are scouted by those agents over there." He explained, "Hm?" Winter asked softly, "Agents?" The guy sitting next to Winter asked, "Yeah, they're gathering recruits for their guilds, they don't get a lot of applications otherwise," the first guy continued. "You're better off staying away from those guys, though. I heard they experience more mortality rates than in the more notable guilds," he added. "Probably because smaller guilds aren't dandy with low-ranking dungeons, but they don't have the skills to raid higher-ranking dungeons either," Winter thought. "They're stuck between a rock and a hard place," the first guy to go in walks out mortified, slouched over as he was on his way out. "Next please!" The young lady yelled, holding the door open, "Again, no need to be nervous." The guy explained, sitting up, "As long as you don't get placed in E-rank, you can make a basic living." The man beside Winter mumbled off to himself, trembling with nervousness. "Many people's lives change due to their rank," Ultima began. "A Mythic's rank determines their power," it quietly watches from the depths of Winter's mind. "Someone who could spend years practicing swordsmanship and building their body up would pale in comparison to a higher rank, so these gaps cannot be easily overcome."

        "There's even a huge difference in a person's income as well. David is an experienced swordsman, but those skills were no match for Kang," it added in thought, "Only until recently, the same would've gone for Winter." The cheerful man came out horrified, just like the first man, "No way, I'm E-rank!" He stumbled out the door, "Next, please!" The evaluation worker yelled. "Is something wrong, sir? Are you feeling sick?" She asks, seeing the man trembling beside Winter, "No, but I'm too nervous to go in right now," He explains, looking over at Winter. "Hey, why don't you go in first?" He asks, "Sure." Winter placed his hands on his knees and stood himself up. "Hope you feel better," he commented before walking in.

        "May I have your name, sir?" the Evaluation worker asks, "Winter Legendary Greats, ma'am," he replied. Standing in front of a large orb on an elevated platform with a plugged-in technological, ritual circle underneath it. "Weird, he's already evaluated as an E-rank," She thought, typing away at the computer in front of her. "Sir, are you here for a re-evaluation?" She asks, looking up at Winter from the computer. "Yes, I am here for re-evaluation," he replied. "Geez, everyone coming here for re-evaluation are E-ranks these days," she thought to herself, "all you have to do is place your hand on the black orb and wait." She explained, "Mm," Winter reached out and placed his hand on the orb. A soft, deep hum came from the machine, as the aura around it began to be warped. "What the-" She thought- "is this an error?" She thought while typing away at the computer in front of her. "Please, wait just a moment. Let me restart the process," she began as the machine's aura rose from the objects. Warping again, the evaluation worker found herself deeply confused, "This has never happened before. I'm so sorry, but I'll have to try one more time," she explained. Winter just nodded, waiting for the results. Silently frustrated, the evaluation worker typed away at the computer in front of her, unable to make it cooperate.

        "Why are you operating the mana meter by yourself, I thought Chain was supposed to be here?" Calvin asked, walking into the room, "He went off to the restroom," she replied. Calvin sighed, "That punk, he should be here. He's quite the ass for leaving you stranded at your post," he commented. "I guess I'm doing the same thing, but the newbie is more than capable for the time being," Calvin thought. "There's something wrong with the mana meter," the evaluation worker explained, "what's the matter?" He asks, leaning in to see the screen. "I only came here to keep this guy from leaving the building, I don't get why Erik is making a big deal about this guy. It's not like he's special, right?" He thought to himself, "People who can grow stronger aren't that common." The evaluation worker pointed at the screen, where there was an error pop-up, "See? I keep getting an error!" She sighed with frustration. His expression expanded as shock rooted itself onto his face, "How long have you been working here?" Calvin asks, "About six months now, did I press the wrong button?" She asks in return, "No wonder, it's been six years since Macey Mears was evaluated, so of course she doesn't know!" He thought, "No, just go get Chain," he replied. "What-" she tilted her head- "but he's in the men's bathroom!" She replied, suddenly grossed out. "Just go get help and bring him here!" Calvin replied, "This is why I don't get promoted!" He thought, sweating bullets. "This isn't just an error, the mana meter isn't able to determine his strength!" Calvin explained, "This meter mustn't be powerful enough to measure this guy's energy levels!" Shock took root in the evaluation worker's expression as well, "Does that mean-" She asked, interrupted by Calvin- "That's right, He's an S-rank," he explained.

        "Agent River, doesn't Billy Bob's sudden visit to Klato have anything to do with the Collapsing Dungeon incident?" Aaron Whitfield asked, a lanky young man with wavy red hair in a curtain style that parted over his right eye and wore a pink with small, vertical white stripes and a red undershirt. "Mr. Bob is not the one who helped the survivors," River sighed, "I can assure you, sir, only because I was there that day." Aaron Whitfield turned, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, "That must mean you know who helped then," he had a smile, taking a puff from his cigarette. "Not exactly, I wasn't there for the very end," River replied, "I do have a suspicion though-" he cut himself off- "No, the results were conclusive. It couldn't be him, so why do I suspect him?" Aaron Whitfield sighed, blowing the smoke from his mouth, "I see you choose to share your thoughts until the very end," he began. "When every fact is gathered. I understand, Agent River." He paused and took another breath in with the cigarette, "I'm more interested in the winged ant that washed up in Wedo," Aaron Whitfield explained, "It's just one corpse so far, but every Mythic is being drafted in case there are more that could survive the journey," River explained. "The Hunter's guild will cooperate, you have my word," Aaron Whitfield replied, pulling his cigarette from his face and holding his hand up at the height of his chest. Rings with powerful aura littered his fingers, "Hm-" Aaron Whitfield looked over at the building nearby- "There's a bit of noise coming from building B today." River looked over, "I can't hear personally, sir," he replied. "Sensitive as always," Aaron Whitfield joked about his powerful senses, "Perhaps it's a Mythic making a scene?" River asked, "I'll go check and-" Before he could finish, Aaron Whitfield snuffed out his lit cigarette -" I'd like to see for myself as well," he explained. "He must be picking up on something that I'm not," River thought, looking back at him. "I nearly forgot who he was for a moment," he added, watching Aaron Whitfield catch up to him, "Allow me to join you." River decided.