The office was a three-storey building that resembled a clock tower with a hotel entrance. An automated glass door, air conditioning, and two security guards with shotguns. I wonder why this place needs security like a bank.
They both entered the building and were greeted by servants who offered cookies and drinks. "No time, she is already late," and Ms.Tortoise rejected every single one of them.
Lady, what the heck? I can't even help myself to a glass of water?
They both went through the lobby, which was a regular long hallway with a reception table at one end and an entrance to another hallway, which led to the elevator room. Ms.Tortoise clicked the elevator button. "Remember this location if you ever face any threats in the future." "Alright," Aefia replied despite knowing the fact already.
***
Upon entering the second floor, Aefia noticed that the interior was the same as the one she had seen in Ms.Tortoise's house on Earth. The walls shared the same pattern and so did the structure of the lobby. The only difference was that there was a long table with chairs on either side and a single chair at the end of the table. The chair was silver in-laid with gold edges and a leather seat.
"You must be the last participant. What took you so long?" A middle-aged man with silver hair and green eyes asked.
"Please don't mind, but this competitor here just came from school when I met her." Ms.Tortoise answered on behalf of Aefia. I think I like this lady.
"She missed the briefing. Will she be able to study it all by herself?"
"I explained everything to her on our way here. It shouldn't be a problem."
"That's good then. She is just in time for the main meeting. Does she know about elemental magic?"
"No I haven't explained it to her."
"Perfect then. Have a seat, your place is the empty chair there." The man pointed to the chair next to a familiar face, Nada. WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?
Aefia hesitated at first, but realizing that the other participants were watching her, she walked forward to her chair. "May I ask what your name is?" The man asked. "Aefia," she replied while taking a seat.
"Aefia, you may address me as Mr. Elephant." The man answered. Ihave only heard of three out of six mentors and all three have animalistic names. I guess the people from outer worlds like naming themselves after animals.
"Yes Mr.Elephant," Aefia replied while trying her best not to laugh.
"Then we shall start now." Mr. Elephant started explaining.
"First of all, this competition is a complete secret and anyone outside of this cooperation can't hear about it. If there is news about information being spread about this competition, the suspected participant will receive a penalty from the Guardian of Silence, the true founder of this competition.
"The penalty may vary from having a limb being chopped down, or eternal torture through poverty."Poverty as a punishment is on another level. They couldn't think of a better option? Aefia chuckled while trying not to make it obvious." Also, take into account that there are 9 Guardians. The Guardian of Time and the Guardian of Space are the most powerful and for anyone who dares to step out and confront them, they will suffer through life and death."
"Now let's talk about elemental magic. You all probably grew up learning about the four elements of life: air, water, fire, and earth. In our world, the true revelation states that the elements are given by animals which we know as elemantal animals.
"Each animal carries a different type of element. They may not be the elements of life but they are the elements of the universe.
"The elements are obtained by a person through the interaction of the human body and a certain type of mineral in the shape of a rock. Once the person comes into contact with the rock, he or she absorbs the power in it, becoming the elemental animal themselves. That's how we get the code names."
Does that mean my classmates have elemental magic?
"My elemental animal, let's say, is the Elephant and the elemental magic it gives is the control over a living creature's gravitational force. I may increase it or decrease it through my elemental ability. I may as well use it on myself." Mr.Elephant's eyes glowed a very deep grey colour while Mr.Elephant floated for a few seconds and dropped back on the ground.
"Mr.Elephant, what if the person dies after they absorb the power of a certain stone?" A participant asked.
"In that case, the power gets stored in the person unless someone with a special skill absorbs it. That special skill is only found in one unknown element, so I believe the magic stays stored on the dead body, which later turns into a beast of the person's current Phase."
So there are levels of power as I imagined. I believe Phase one must be the starting level.
"Now let's talk about the level of growth in elemental magic. Each person, after absorbing the power of the elements, will start with Phase one. They will grow their power until they reach Phase seven, the level at which the person will have power equivalent to a King or a Queen.
"Now there are differences between Kings and Queens. Unlike on Earth, Kings are people who obtain the throne through dual-Guardianship; by killing two Guardians, bringing an advantage in doing so.
"While a Queen is given the throne by a King as an inheritance. You might find it funny but this isn't Earth!" Mr.Elephant laughed. I don't know why he would laugh about that. Inheritances are common enemies.
"Now let's talk about the skills. There are three types of skills. Special Skill, Ability, and Elemental Ability.
"A Special skill is a skill that the person possesses which can be leveled up or used in combat and everyday use.
"An Ability is a skill that is learnt for combat and used only as combat skill.
"Finally, the Elemental Ability is a skill that allows a person to use the element in combat and is rather described as magic on Earth.
"So you have the elemental magic now, how do you know which skills you have? You all are probably thinking that right now. Don't worry, we have a device that can tell you your skills and their levels." Please don't make it seem like an advertisement!
Mr.Elephant brought out a black circular device with a projecting camera in the center which was the size of a thumb. "You will each have one of these and remember that each device can only activate when it hears its right owner's voice." So it's voice-comment operated?
"Ms.Tortoise will distribute the devices after the element selection. And of course, you will all be given weapons according to your element, and you will also each be given a pistol for self-defense, in case you spot a paranormal creature who is attacking someone, or if you face any threats but can't reach out to us mentors currently." Pistol! Handy indeed! Although I would prefer a revolver.
"Now let's talk about your weekly payment." Mr.Elephant held out four different notes and placed them on the table."When I hand you the notes, take a good look at them and pass them to the next person until the last person has seen them."
"This is a angcle. And I believe I don't have to explain the denominations again." Mr.Elephant said while holding a silver note. When the note came to Aefia, she saw that it was a regular yellowish coloured paper with silver designs around the corner and the drawings.
"This here is a salar." It was the same paper used for the angcle with gold patterns. Then Mr.Elephant showed the vetor, which was a black paper with silver patterns and the gadien, which was a copper coin with '10' written on it.
"Now your weekly salary for researching will be two angcles and five salar. For mission subsidy, you will be given the amount you earned with the level of fighting you had to do. Additionally, your contribution to the research will be calculated at the end of every month, and so will your weekly salary. Do note that if we find evidence that any of you are using the money to commit a crime, we will instantly deduct a huge amount from it for the rest of the competition."
I will need to learn the laws of Nikoan any chance I get.
"Alright, that's all for the main meeting. I will now head out with the other mentors to prepare for the elemental selection. Meanwhile, you may talk to other participants whom, from now on, you will call colleagues." That being said, Mr.Elephant headed out with Ms.Tortoise and four other mentors whom Aefia hadn't paid attention to.
Aefia looked around and saw that the other participants were also around her age; some were older, while others were one or two years younger. I don't know if this is a teenager-only competition, but would you fetch babies from cribs next to participate?
"Hey, Aefia," Nada spoke from beside Aefia.
Aefia gave Nada a stern gaze. She wasn't mad about it but she did feel lonely while walking back home without her phone. "Are you going to explain the 'my parents are picking me up' part? And don't even try saying that your mom got you into it. I know how your mom is."
"It wasn't my mom, I chose to join. I just wanted the reward. It was ten thousand dollars for first place!"
"Wow! I didn't know my best friend would be 'jealous' of my financial state!"
"How do you even read people's minds?"
"Are you seriously asking me the question while not knowing the answer?"
"Ok, stop, we are both in this together, and if we are going to be 'colleagues', then why fight? We seriously need to focus on surviving first."
She is right. It's not like only she is in trouble for joining.
"I heard there are three people from five different countries in this competition. Who is the third from our country?" Aefia asked calmly.
"Ms.Encyclopedia's younger sister."
Why does the situation keep getting worse? "Wow, truly unlucky today."
"If we are going to have to survive in this world, don't you think we should at least form a team?"
"Forming a team this early could cause problems. We don't even know where each one of us will stay in which one of the three cities. I am sure that I will be taken in by a mentor for my lack of survival skills."
"But I have the survival skills required. What if we both shared the same house?"
"We both are minors and minors need guardians until they can be guardians themselves."
"Which 'guardian' do you mean?" Nada laughed.
"I will be honest, my vocabulary list has corrupted after coming to this world." Aefia laughed back when someone tapped her shoulder.
"Hi, I am Afanasiy from Russia. May I know who you both are?" A straight black haired girl asked.
"Aefia, you may know me from earlier," Aefia replied uncomfortably. Aefia was an introvert which explains why she would always stay indoors during family gatherings and also, she didn't like physical touch.
"Nada, I am Aefia's best friend." Nada, on the other hand, was an extrovert.
"You both seem to be fortunate to join this competition together," Afanasiy replied. "How old are you both?"
"We are both fifteen. You?" Nada replied.
"Sixteen. Mind if I join your friend group?" All that was for this?!
"First of all, can we call you by another name? Afanasiy is a bit hard to remember." Nada replied. True, I can't go around saying A-fa-na-siy. That's four syllables!
"Sure, my friends call me Anasiy."
"Alright, Anasiy. You are officially a member of the Nada-Aefia friend group."
Nada! You're such an embarrassment! Aefia covered her forehead and eyes with her hand. I have never been embarrassed publicly in my entire life until I met you!
"Alright! What about me? Shouldn't it be Nada-Aefia-Anasiy friend group then?" Anasiy laughed.
It keeps getting worse! I want to run out of this place! "You know what, let's just leave it as it is, we will see each other's faces and remember that we are friends anyway." Aefia removed her hand from her face.
While they were talking about their life on Earth, a person entered the room. "Participants, we request you to follow us to the next room for the selection." An old man with white hair and blue eyes spoke. "You may address me as Mr.Sparrow."
Everyone stood up and went to the next room which was a storeroom with a single bulb pointing to a wooden table with a forest engraved into it. On the table were rocks with symbols that were glowing with different colours. Are these the elemental minerals?
"I am Mr.Grizzly Bear, and I am in charge of the selection, so please line up and cooperate." A man with the same brown hair and brown eyes as Ms.Tortoise, who spoke as he was holding a list of names. I believe he is Ms.Tortoise's brother.
"The rules are simple. Take any rocks that you see streaks of colour erupting from and absorb it. Absorbing it is simple, just hold the rock while you try to sip on the magic with your fingers. And remember not to lose focus. If you do, it will result in death."
This could either go worse or go good. We are all playing a game of life and death here.
Aefia felt a chill go down her limbs as she thought to herself.
"The selection ceremony will now begin."