Procedures

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"Jak....Yanda?" Akino asked, struggling to regain her composure. She hurriedly picked up her clipboard and began rifling through the numerous pages pinned beneath the metallic clamp. Her dark green eyes constantly flicked from the papers to the small youth, still thrown off by how suddenly he had appeared. "How old are you exactly?"

"Recently turned ten," Jak answered without missing a beat. "A few weeks ago."

"Uh huh," Akino said as she finally located the name near the back of the stack. She gave it a thorough read, scanning over the boys filled in information before finally looking back at the youth. "I see you've already payed the registration fee so there isn't any problem. However I'm legally obligated to remind you, someone whose younger than the set age, of the guidelines before you join the others."

"Sure." Jak replied happily. As someone who hadn't even been sure on whether or not he had made it on time, this was a welcome event as he leaned against the marble countertop. This would give him time to relax and get fully immersed into the atmosphere of the impending challenge before him.

Akino cleared her throat, readjusting her glasses as she flipped to another page on the clipboard.

If there was one thing that the older woman handled poorly, it was surprises. The appearance of the red haired youth had thrown her for a entire loop, leaving her scrambling to reclaim her previously professional demeanor. As someone who heavily relied on her ability to see the aura of others and utilized it to keep tabs on those around her, she hadn't been prepared for a sudden anomaly, especially when said anomaly was a mere child with no aura.

"By signing this form and paying the designated fees, you have agreed to the following terms and conditions." Akino paused and looked over at Jak, of whom was still paying the utmost attention. "The WGC will not be held accountable for any injury, loss of life, or crushed hopes and dreams the recipient may receive during the proceeding exams. Support type mages will be situated throughout the Exam areas should serious and perhaps fatal injuries befall the recipient, however loss of life HAS happened and should be taken into consideration before participating in the exam."

(("Crushed dreams?")) Jak mentally questioned as Akino continued reciting everything aloud. (("Guess the WGC has a sense of humor."))

"The WGC holds the right to fail the examinee if there is plausible cause to do so which will result in immediate expulsion from the Guild hall (i.e Cheating, murder, disorderly conduct, etc). Use of items or anything not provided by the WGC will be counted as cheating and a breach of the signed agreement which will result in immediate expulsion. Tampering with any of the equipment handed by the guild will fall into the same category and will have the same result."

Akino continued in the same manner for the next five or so minutes, listing various legal guidelines and conditions that Jak needed to hear. Many of the things explained to him were things he had already read or overheard from other adventurers such as Hadok, a close family friend of Jaks, and Jugo, a retired Rift Hunter who worked at a local pub. Very little was new to him and the things that did happen to be new for him didn't really come as a surprise as the Elven woman continued to spew various pieces of information from the clipboard clutched in her hands.

"Lastly, we have to go over the three main components within the Trials...but that can be explained in conjunction with the other examinees." Akino set down the stack of papers onto the countertop before gently nudging Flora, of whom still had her head buried in the crook of her elbow. "You can go and stand over with the rest of the newcomers. I'll be over there shortly."

Jak gave a small smile and a quick nod. "Can do."

After standing the same spot for what felt like forever, listening to the long speech about the legalities of the trials, Jak was excited as he spun around on his heels, taking a quick survey of the WGC's enormous front room. Due to the surrounding circumstances, him having been almost late, time had been of the essence and had prevented the redhead from getting an adequate portrayal of the Guild Halls interior. Now that the obligatory meeting with the WGC receptionists had been fulfilled, he could freely take everything in as he wandered towards the large group of newbies, most of whom had been staring daggers at him from the moment they had noticed him appear before the countertop.

The WGC buildings all had pretty much the same layout, or at least that's what Jak had been told from Hadok and the other adventurers who followed the older gentleman around. It was said that the WGC aimed to keep things simple and to not put too much stock in designs, anything that was too fancy, or anything that was deemed unnecessary. Clean and simple was their whole schtick.

On one side of the room sat giant oak doors that served as the entrance, thick doors designed to tank a full powered magic attack and emerge unscathed. Positioned directly across from the fortified double doors was the reception desk, a large semi oval sectioned off from the rest of the room in order to protect the receptionists from possible harm. On the other side of the rectangular shaped space, a lounge area sat in the top corner complete with a long circular table and multiple chairs. Situated perpendicular to that was another set of oak doors and it was in front of these doors that the newbies were currently crowded around, impatiently roaming back and forth with few words exchanged between themselves.

Crowd of newbies aside, Jak actually quite liked the WGC's straightforward design and their desire to keep things as simple as possible. It was neither too overwhelming nor was it too shabby, instead possessing the perfect balance between the two.

Jak kept on soaking in the surroundings as he walked into the midst of the pack of newcomers, making his way through crowd with relative ease whilst, at the same time, avoiding the more unsavory lot who attempted to confront him. Mako had already gave him fair warning about the other examinees long before he was scheduled to come in to take the trials. Those that took the test always felt threatened by those younger then them due to how immature and idiotic most of them were. All of them wanted to be at the top and those that worked the hardest generally couldn't accept that someone younger then them was looking to become an adventurer at the same time as they were. To the majority, it was as if the redhead was shitting on all the effort they put in in order to become a future adventurer.

To be quite honest, Jak wasnt even supposed to be heading into the innards of the crowd, Mako having adamantly explained this to him a few hours prior, before they had started their sparring session. Within the confines of the tightly knit group, others would take the opportunity to harass and bully him as much as possible while everyone stood around, offering little to no help.

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"Like moths to a flame, they'll come for you. Their only goal will be to provoke you enough to get you to retaliate and, the moment you do, everyone will jump on the bandwagon in order to get you thrown out of the WGC." Mako explained it all calmly as he took a stance with his metal staff. "I'm not saying this for their sake, but rather for yours. Don't do anything. Have patience and, if you truly are hell bent on beating their asses, then fight them after everything is finished."

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Just like the blue haired youth had predicted, multiple figures began moving through the crowd, heading straight for Jak like roaches drawn to food that had been left out overnight.

The first person to reach Jak was a bulky fellow with short brown hair, a rather small nose, and dull green eyes. Adorned in a crisp white shirt and wrinkle free black shorts, the guy looked as if he was ready for a night out rather then someone who was looking to become and adventurer. Though the youth ran the habit of respecting everyone he met, something his parents had drilled into him since birth, he found it immensely hard to find ANYTHING respectable about the person in front of him. Jak could smell the cockiness coming off him in waves, a stench that almost caused him to plug his nose as the brown haired teenager made his way forward.

The crowd surrounding Jak opened up, revealing around four more guys looking to join in on the impending harassment, but the redhead maintained his gaze on the cocky, small nosed adolescent in front of him.

"Name?" the bulky character asked, keeping it short.

"Jak Yanda," Was the redheads only response as he stared up at the taller figure. "Yours?"

"Eriz. Eriz Nako." The brown haired teen tilted his head as he crossed his arms. "Reason for joining?"

"To build the worlds greatest Guild and stand at the very top!" Jak answered firmly without hesitation, puffing out his chest. "I'll become the pinnacle of this generation and have my name etched into history of the world!!"

Eriz stared while Jak stood there, radiating confidence and joy, something that always happened when the redhead talked about his dream. No one else around them spoke, not even those that had come together to give him trouble, everyone just watching the two of them with bated breath.

"Very well," Eriz finally said as he held out a hand. "You have earned my respect. Those that can freely talk about their dreams without fear of discrimination....I too am like you. I will be the greatest Rift Hunter and everyone will know my-"

"Attention everyone. If you'll direct your attention over here, we'll begin explaining the procedures upon which we'll conduct the trials."

Eriz looked as if he wanted to say something else, opening his mouth a few times before eventually closing it. Without so much as another word, the brown haired teen turned around and disappeared back into the crowd, taking the others along with him. He had seemed so cocky but hadn't made any sort of gesture of malice, it was definitely a new feeling for the redheaded youth.

(("Well...that was anticlimactic,")) Jak muttered internally as he shifted his attention towards the front, standing on the tips of his toes in order to get a good look at Akino. (("Guess they just weren't fast enough. The trials are already starting."))

"Once again, please listen up. This will only be explained once so make sure that you're able to hear us. If you can't hear us or aren't paying attention, you'll have to gather the necessary information from those closest to you when it's over. Failure to do so will end with you being summarily kicked from the Guild Hall."

Looking back and forth between the crowd of newbies, Akino took in every single face she could, dark green hues flicking around rapidly. Once Akino was confident that she had managed to gather everyone's undivided attention, she began flipping through the pages on her clipboard, looking for the required form. Flora, of whom had managed to finally gather herself together, stood to the side, blonde hair now a mess as she interrupted Akino before she could even pinpoint the paper she so needed.

"The Exam will be divided into three sections, of which are more commonly known as trials. In order to pass these trials, you'll need to meet the requirements that have been set by the WGC." Flora's voice carried an authority that Akino lacked, an unwavering and commanding tone of voice that no doubt came from years of experience. It was one filled with authority, one that left no room for debate nor space for compromises. "The three trials are as follows. First is the magical assessment, where we'll be using a Mangre crystal to measure the strength of your magic and then number it 1 to 3,000."

"The passing score for this test is 1,500," the Elven receptionist chimed in, having finally located the necessary paper. "For those under 13 however, you'll need 1,800."

Flora didn't look particularly put off by Akino's sudden intrusion as she continued with the instructions. "The second trial is the physical assessment where we enact multiple tests in order to pinpoint your exact speed and strength, seeing where it stands and how it measures up to the weakest monsters within the Rifts. If you cant even defeat the weakest link, you'll be utterly useless, even as support. Just like the test before, this will also be given a numerical value."

"For this test, it'll be out of 1000," Akino continued. This time, Flora seemed to purposely pause midway in order to let the Elven woman shine a little. "In order to pass, you'll need to score at least 500 points. For those below 13, you'll need to score 700. If you're able to channel magic to reinforce your strength, speed, and/or defense then you'll be given bonus points and it'll be added to your overall total."

Most of what Jak was hearing was data he had already been aware of, having had each and every detail drilled into his head by Mako and Hadok. Even so, the young redhead made sure to listen to every single word, treating it as if they were words spoken from royalty.

"The last trial is a combat assessment. For most adventurers, combat is essential and knowing how to hold your own and support your fellow Rift Hunters is vital." Flora scanned the group with analytical brown eyes, as if looking for weakness within the newbie ranks. "For this test, you'll spar against a pro Rift Hunter and he'll be the one to decide if you pass that particular trial. If you pass 2 of 3 trials then you'll be registered as an adventurer and have your name written in the books of every WGC around the world. In this way, you can use any WGC building at your discretion."

"If you don't pass then you'll have the chance to try again after rescheduling," Akino continued, clealry aiming to wrap everything up. "If your below 13 however, you won't have the opportunity to try again until you reach the designated age. This will be your only chance."

"That concludes the opening introductory," Akino said as she lowered her clipboard. "We will now begin the trials. If you'll follow us, we'll begin the magic assessment portion of the exam."

As the Elven woman finished up her sentence, the large oak doors behind her began to open, drifting apart as the room behind them slowly became visible. The group of newbies were completely silent as they made their way forward, quietly following Akino and Flora as they lead the way into the adjoining space. The atmosphere got heavier with each step, the nervous looks and serious vibes coming off everyone only serving to add to the already thick ambience the proceeding trials provided.

Jak was no exception as he fell in line with everyone else, keeping his mouth shut as everyone filed inside without the slightest hesitation. Once the examinees were all inside, the doors drifted close, locking everyone inside, preventing them from leaving.

"Now that you're all here, the only way to leave is by passing or failing the upcoming tests." Flora once again captured everyone's attention, the majority having looked around in moderate confusion. "For those of you who have done this for the first time, you'll understand why that is in a second. First however, I would like all of you to look around and get a good look at the room your in."

As instructed to do, the wannabe adventurers began to inspect their surroundings, glancing in every direction before looking back at Flora. Jak followed their example, his crimson hues flicking in every direction, mapping out the area before committing it to memory. The rocky terrain, the flowing river in the far left corner, and even the bright blue sky with white tufts of cotton. He was already aware that it was a landscape made with magic, but he didn't really care as he took it all in. If he focused, he could see the real room, of which was just an extremely enormous metallic box with the only entrance being the wooden oak doors he had just walked through.

"Now, those who can't see anything please raise your hand," Flora instructed after sole time had passed.

After a brief wait, through which not a single person raised their hand, she gave a small nod. "If you had failed to see the illusion then you would have failed the test before it even got under way. This room shows the illusion to those with enough magical power and shows nothing to those below it, meaning you would already be outed as someone with inferior magical abilities. I'm pleased to know that you've all reached the requirements to proceed to the actual trial. All that being said, let's proceed to the real assessment."

Flora waved her hand, and the entire illusion disappeared, leaving only the metallic box like room. However, this time a small stage stood at the very front of it, complete with a set of stairs off to the side that allowed one to climb onto the top of it. Placed directly in the middle, fixated against the wall, was a full length mirror with a multitude of blue crystals embroidered along the edges of it. The crystals glowed softly, emitting soft waves of magic that Jak could feel even from across the room. This was the object that was going to measure their magical capacity, a mangre mirror. It was something that Jak had only heard of but never seen, something that was quite rare and exclusively owned by the WGC.

"For those of you that arent aware, this is a mangre mirror," Akino explained, confirming what Jak already knew. "This type of object is made by the dwarves using the rare crystal known as Mangre and can accurately pinpoint the level of your magic every single time. The WGC holds the right to each and every one that is made, distributing them to upper class families and kingdoms around the world."

"Ahem," Flora coughed, interrupting the Elven woman.

"Uh....yeah. Anyways, we will now move on to the testing portion. We will be using your surnames to go in alphabetical order." Akino quickly recovered from her embarrassing rambles, making up for it by rapidly changing the subject. "Please come up when called and place a hand on the center of the mirror."

"Acklen, Dante."

A young man with pitch black hair and brown eyes began making his way through the crowd, pushing past everyone until he was out. All eyes were on him as he made his way up the stairs, confidence in each step as he reached the top of the stage. Jak had no real interest in the individual, as he probably wouldn't even remember the guys name after today, rather the interest was on the object itself and he couldn't help but stare as the youth named Dante placed his hand in the middle of the mirror and began to channel his magic. The mirror reacted almost instantly, releasing a massive, brown light that filled the entire room, causing everyone to squint as it became more and more intense. Eventually, after a few seconds, the light died back down and everything returned to normal, the mirror no longer responding to the youths touch. However, a number appeared above the youths head after he removed his hand, one scrawled in the same color as the light the mirror had emitted.

"As you can see, this mirror analyzes ones magic and then quantifies it from 1 to 10000. However we'll only be using up to 3,000." Flora explained everything nice and clearly as Dante walked down from the stage, of whom looked quite pleased with himself. "The most any of you could ever hope for is 2,000 at most. A prime example of an already great score is Dante, an earth attribute who achieved 1608."

The black haired youth appeared even more smug as he moved to stand to the side, indicating that not only finished the trial, but also passed it as well.

"Remember, you only need 1,500 in order to pass. Anything over is fine but fall below by even a single point and it's a fail." Akino repeated what she had said in the beginning as she looked over who to call next.

Following that, one by one, everyone was called up to partake in the magical assessment, crossing their fingers as they went up. For many, they would finally be aware of just how far they had come, to know if all the work that had put in was worth it and if it had amounted to something in the end. Though failing this test wasn't a make or break moment, it would still show them how much they had to improve and if they even had what it took to truly roam the Rifts as an adventurer.

The number of people within the crowd slowly decreased as many split off, either heading to the larger group of those that had managed to pass or to the smaller group of those that had failed by just a few points. Little by little, it was whittled down, until on Jak and three others remained.

"Yanda, Jak."

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