Chapter Four: Recruitment Center

Sleep took Lacy and morning came quickly. Without the thousands of distractions that her modern life on Earth provided her it was actually quite easy to sleep. She’d once thought she had insomnia but it had just been her young self being dumb and scrolling through social media for hours before finally putting the phone down and closing her eyes for long enough.

Just as promised a knock sounded on Lacy’s door and she exchanged morning greetings with Thenja. After completing her waking routine—this civilization similar to ancient China had primitive toothbrushes made from animal bristles on a stick!—Lacy followed Thenja outside where employees had set up an outdoor breakfast spread beneath beautiful, blossoming trees. The two ladies marveled at the luxury as they each showed their room keys to an attendant before grabbing plates.

“Lacy, how are you so calm?” Thenja giggled as she playfully shook Lacy’s shoulder. “Today’s the day! Soon you’ll be…” she lowered her voice to a whisper, “…vying to become a cultivator!”

After chewing up a vegetable Lacy politely covered her mouth and whispered back, “I’m not so calm, I’ll admit. I’m trying not to think about it because the thought makes my legs shake.”

Of course, she was exaggerating, but not by much. She understood the difficulties that lay ahead, not just in practicing warrior magic, but as a woman. Still, it wasn’t impossible—Uru confirmed that female cultivators existed—and she did have that cheat gifted by the Deity.

“That makes sense,” Thenja said after taking a bite from her own plate. “I know I’ve been very supportive, but…that’s only because of my Uru, honestly. Without his introduction and knowledge I wouldn’t recommend you put yourself through all of that. Uru is not allowed to tell me much but he…divulges little stories while imbibed. Wine makes him truthful.”

Lacy’s eyebrows raised as she considered what Thenja was offering. She looked around to make sure Uru hadn’t snuck up on them. It was considered quite disrespectful for a wife to share her man’s secrets with others.

“Are you sure about this?” Lacy whispered with eyes wide.

Thenja pursed her lips before also checking that Uru wasn’t nearby, then nodded.

“If it will help you survive, you need to know. I know you’d never deliver my misdoings to Uru.”

Lacy feigned taking offense as she replied, “Of course not!”

Thenja smiled sweetly before donning a serious expression.

“Lacy, sister, my Uru has admitted in his drunkenness that his instructors said no one needs a special talent to become a guard as he is. They were all ordinary men tested with strength training. Men weaker than him were allowed to become guards because they were determined, and that fact frustrates him.”

“No special talent??” Lacy whispered in confusion. “Just determination??”

Thenja gravely nodded.

“Yes, he declared in irritation that anyone could pass with enough determination, but there was one area talent was involved. The tall tales of the Mayor’s Elite cultivators? The ones who—” Thenja stopped suddenly and Lacy feared it was because she saw Uru, but Thenja laughed. “Silly me, of course you don’t know of the wizards. I sometimes forget about your amnesia, my apologies, Lacy.”

Lacy laughed nervously.

“You did no wrongs, Thenja.”

“Right, where was I? Yes, Uru said the wizards are real, the Elite cultivators who wield the powers of nature like demigods! Except that not just anyone can become one. Even cultivators like Uru have no chance, apparently. One needs a special talent to become a wizard, though Uru did not elaborate more on that.”

Lacy tried hard not to gulp upon hearing confirmation of literal “wizards”, which she’d only heard rumors about back in Pole. No doubt she had the talent, or else the Deity probably wouldn’t have chosen her. Would she be pulled aside to be trained differently? She sure hoped so. She needed to become a cultivator but she didn’t have to be the one that had less status.

It was then, as Lacy was about to beg for more info, when she noticed Uru approaching from over Thenja’s shoulder.

As Thenja stuffed her face with the fancy food that Lacy had never seen in Pole, Lacy raised an arm in greeting and beckoned Uru over. Thenja’s eyes widened as she realized who’d arrived, and she seemed to take a moment to calm herself.

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“A fine early sun, isn’t it, lovely ladies?” Uru greeted dryly, wearing different clothes under the same uniform armor and twirling his spear. “My Thenja, I was hoping to awaken to you beside me, but I’m content to see you having a meal with Lacy.” He turned to the woman in question. “Dare I hope you’ve changed your mind?”

Lacy gave an awkward laugh and Uru shook his head in turn.

“I dare not,” he said before grabbing a plate and sitting to eat with them.

……

Barely two hours past dawn Uru, Thenja, and Lacy were deep in Yellowvine, standing in front of the City Guard Management Office, which also served as the recruitment center every few months. Lacy gulped at the building’s size, then gaped more when she realized it had even more auxiliary buildings and facilities attached in a humongous complex.

“Remember,” Uru cautioned as they walked forward, “follow closely behind, don’t gawk like bumpkins, and only speak when spoken to.”

They climbed wide stairs of white stone, kind of like marble, and entered the massive building. Inside was just as decorated of an interior, but with a different style. Instead of luxury, the main lobby exuded authority with its stone statues, regal portraits of seemingly important figures, and the massive skeleton of some kind of snake that hung from the ceiling facing the entrance. Of course, light crystals dotted the walls, ceiling, and even floors.

Suddenly Lacy understood the idiom of “getting cold feet” because it was as though her nerves turned to ice, and her steps became mechanical as she forced herself to follow Uru, who revealed nothing but utmost confidence to the world.

Surprisingly, just like Yobi’s Inn, the place was near empty. A few people in light armor just like Uru’s stood here and there, a few people sat on benches against one wall, but only one guy was being attended to by one of the three receptionist desks. Uru led the ladies toward one of the empty reception desks, on top of which sat a bell. Uru lifted it and flicked his wrist once, creating a single, clear ding.

Soon enough an old man appeared from deeper in the building and impatiently asked, “What’s your business?”

Uru puffed out his chest as if he was going to bellow his next words, but they came out a bit softer than his indoor voice.

“Guard recruitment,” he said simply.

The old man behind the counter looked Uru up and down with an unamused frown.

“You already seem to be one.”

Uru took in a deep breath and gestured toward Lacy.

“Not me. I’m vouching for my wife’s good friend, Mathews Lacy. I’ve taken her here myself because she has no documentation that we’re aware of. She was found unconscious in a vegetable field forty-one days ago with no memories except her name and age. She also cannot read or write.”

This time the old man’s jaw dropped some as he furrowed his brows at Lacy.

“You jest,” he finally said.

“I do not,” Uru insisted, almost growling the words.

“Surely, you do,” the old man sighed, before massaging the bridge of his nose. “A woman with no memories or background appeared in a field and wishes to take the guard exams?”

He sounded incredulous, and though Lacy couldn’t fault him his disbelief, she didn’t welcome his attitude.

“Exactly. She is signing up for the guard exams and needs assistance with official documentation. You understand,” Uru replied through clenched teeth.

Uru and the old man had a little stand off before the old man gave in and left to grab the necessary papers. Or rather, vellums? Lacy would continue to think of documents as “papers” even if it wasn’t the same material. She didn’t mind using misnomers in her head.

“He is the same man who processed me when I took the guard exams all those years ago,” Uru turned around to whisper. “His body withers but his bad attitude lives on, strong as a stinky donkey.”

Lacy and Thenja knew better than to laugh out loud.

The old man returned with papers in hand and guided Lacy through the process while Uru and Thenja watched. Lacy had the official documentation explained to her by Uru beforehand and had her answers prepared. The reason they didn’t go to a different official whose job was more aligned with the task was because undocumented men coming from families who never had their existences recorded for whatever reason sometimes left their homes to chase the money and status that came with becoming a cultivator, so when the city recruited for the guard exams they also had relevant papers ready just in case.

Lacy had her name, physical description, and story recorded in mere minutes. Though it would take a few days to make copies and share them with relevant offices in the city, for all intents and purposes she was now a citizen. After that, the old man filled out even shorter paperwork for the guard exams, then took out a small, flat, stone hexagon, carved some characters into it, and handed it to Lacy. It was that easy.

“You can drop out of the exams any time within the first week,” the old man reminded sardonically. “Walk down that hallway and show the attendant your exam token.”

Then he left.

Thenja wrapped Lacy in a tight hug as Uru whispered, “Though he wasn’t very agreeable, heed the advice. Most do not pass the guard exams. They are tribulations even for the toughest men, more so for women. Please, give up before my Thenja and I return to Pole after 2 more nights so that you may join us. But if you must, leave before the week’s end. You can still quit or be kicked out after, but it is not as convenient.”

Lacy tried not to be irritated with Uru. As little as he believed in her, Uru was still giving sound advice. If the misogynistic culture had taught her anything, the odds of a regular woman becoming a cultivator this way were severely low.

“Thank you, Uru,” Lacy managed to reply as she returned Thenja’s bear hug.

Lacy expected Thenja to have more words for her, but instead the woman stared into her eyes meaningfully, probably silently urging not to forget what they’d talked about away from Uru.

“I believe in you, Lacy,” she finally said aloud. Then Uru pulled her away, and Lacy watched them depart.

As Lacy turned to look at the hall the old man had pointed her toward, she sighed, feeling lonelier than ever. Despite making friends with Thenja to use her husband, she still deeply valued the bond they’d grown.

Fighting back the urge to tear up, Lacy recalled Thenja’s crucial counsel.

‘He declared in irritation that anyone could pass with enough determination, Thenja told me. I just need to be determined. Never give up.’

Lacy swallowed her fear and took her first steps toward greatness.