The day of the F-rank exam dawned bright and clear, contrasting the tumultuous emotions James felt as he made his way to the Awakeners’ Association Headquarters. The past few days had been spent in a haze of experimenting and research before he had finally decided to set his dreams of revenge to the side.
He knew he'd get there in time, but to do so, he first needed to pass the rank up exam, which meant studying his notes and preparing for the possible questions coming his way.
Thinking ahead, Miss Walker had sent each member of Team 0 a file containing the last five exams' transcripts. They all had different questions, but the pattern was evident even at first glance. It would be an oral examination consisting of questions about the law, de-escalation, conflict resolution, and power limitations.
Entering the HQ, James easily located his teammates amidst the relatively sparse crowd. He noted the significant difference from the G-rank test, where the atmosphere had been charged with the energy of hundreds of aspirants. Today, the mood was more focused with only a few dozen people; everyone present had gone through a much more demanding journey.
"Notice how many fewer people there are?" James remarked as he joined his team.
Daniel nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, fewer people reach F-rank. Many are content with the power they gain at G-rank. It's enough to give them an edge in everyday life without the risk and commitment that comes with going higher."
James considered this, understanding the rationale but feeling a personal drive that went beyond mere contentment. "I suppose for most people, it's enough excitement for a lifetime to get to G-rank. Being powerful is alluring, but not enough for them to risk their lives as a full-time job."
"Exactly." Daniel agreed. "But we're built different. We're aiming for the top."
Their conversation was interrupted by a group of Awakeners wearing the insignia of the Crimson Blades Guild. They had evidently overheard James and Daniel and seemed amused by their discussion.
"Look at these nerds, talking about ranks like it's some kind of video game." One of the Crimson Blades members sneered, his posture aggressive and demeaning. He appeared to be the leader of the lot, if the way the others deferentially looked at him was anything to go by. He was balding and wore a red leather jacket, probably made from a monster and very expensive, and projected an arrogant bravado that didn't necessarily match his internal feelings.
Having sensed the thugs’ attention being focused on them from the beginning and thus having known about the man's calculating gaze, James appraised them, his enhanced senses quickly evaluating their strength. They felt weaker than he had expected, their bluster not matched by their actual power. Amused, he replied. "It's more than just a game for us. But I guess everyone is entitled to their own perspective, it’s a free country.”
His dismissive tone only served to infuriate the Crimson Blades members further. They stepped closer, trying to use their physical presence to intimidate.
James, confident of his new abilities and in the presence of his teammates, had no problem matching them, meeting the leader's gaze evenly. When it became clear that the man was specifically looking for a fight, he decided to kick things up a notch.
Channeling his psychic prowess, he projected an aura of intimidating strength. It was subtle but effective; the Crimson Blades suddenly faced what felt like an insurmountable force.
This specific application of his power was something James was finding to be surprisingly useful. Projecting indifference meant that people who would usually bother him *cough cough* the neighbor* cough cough* left him alone. And it appeared to be working just as well with intimidation, given the way the would-be bullies started having doubts about the whole confrontation.
James wouldn't do anything beyond that, not want to risk being accused of tampering with anyone's mind - not that he could do much more than what he was currently doing, but rumors had a life of their own.
What I'm doing is already a bit iffy. No laws against it, nothing like the ones against brainwashing or nonconsensual telepathy, but it's close enough to the line that anyone could get away with accusing me. And I don't want to get the fame of someone who mind-rapes people, no matter how useful it is to be able to project my emotions like this.
The group leader faltered, his confidence wavering under James's intense gaze. Sensing the shift, the others quickly backed off, their earlier aggression dissolving into unease. They had come trying to set the mood, no doubt knowing that the practical portion of the exam could consist of a 1v1 fight between the test takers. If they had managed to claim their spot as top dogs, they likely wouldn't have faced much opposition, but unfortunately for them, they had chosen the wrong target.
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With a final look that left no doubt about his dominance, James watched as they retreated, their tails metaphorically tucked between their legs. It was a small but satisfying victory, a testament to his growth.
Turning back to his team, James saw amusement in their eyes. "Guess they weren't ready for an actual challenge." Lauren commented with a smirk.
Soon after, everyone's attention was called to the center of the lobby, where two Agents materialized out of nowhere. "May I have some silence, please." The shorter of the two called, a woman in her early thirties who wore a black sundress and sunglasses. Despite her lack of makeup, her dark hair and pale skin gave her a goth look.
"Wonderful, thank you." She said once the lobby was entirely silent.
"We'll be taking you to the second floor shortly." The suited man next to her added. "The exam will consist of an oral and practical examination, after which the examiners will decide if you have gathered enough points to pass. There are no re-dos. If you have any complaint, the legal office hours are posted at the front desk, where you can get an appointment if you feel the need to." His tone of voice made it clear that he expected no one to have such problems, or else.
Shortly after that, the teams were directed to a waiting room on the second floor. The room was utilitarian in design, furnished with plain chairs and a table with pamphlets about possible careers with the AA.
One by one, candidates were called for the oral exam. The atmosphere in the waiting room was tense, each person absorbed in their thoughts and preparations. Some muttered legal codes to themselves, while others, like Maria, stared off into space, seemingly lost in their own little world, though James knew the redhead well enough by now to understand that this was her way of dealing with stress.
When James's name was called, he took a deep breath and entered the examination room. It was a mostly bare space with a large table at the center. Four examiners sat behind the table, their expressions neutral.
Two of the faces were familiar to James. Marcus Bethany, Leila's massive mentor, sat with his characteristic composed demeanor, though his large figure made the others seem quite small in comparison. His presence reassured James, as he knew the man to be just, fair and positively inclined toward him. The other familiar face was one of the Director's assistants, a woman with sharp features and an unreadable expression.
The examiners greeted him formally, and James provided his documentation, which was swiftly approved. The exam began with each examiner posing a question.
The first examiner asked about an F-rank Awakener's responsibilities in case of an emergency. James replied confidently. "An F-rank Awakener is required to lend aid in emergencies, on pain of penal consequences, as they are not considered Civilians. Their role is to protect and assist, ensuring the safety of civilians and supporting higher-ranked Awakeners in evacuation procedures. Differently from a G-rank, an F-rank can take command of lower-level Awakeners and direct them in the absence of a clear superior."
The second question, posed by the Director's assistant, was about handling belligerent Awakeners. James answered confidently, thinking back to his own experiences. "The goal is always to de-escalate the situation. If that's not possible, one must neutralize the threat with the least amount of collateral damage possible. There has to be a balance between assertiveness and restraint, of course, and any solution will require a situation-specific assessment.”
The third examiner's question concerned the laws governing Awakeners within dungeons. James silently thanked Miss Walker for sending him the information packet. "US Code 1212 C states that Awakeners are allowed to collect monster materials as spoils, but they must sell the mana stones to authorized shops or directly to the AA; failing to do so results in penal consequences. This ensures a level of control and fairness in the distribution of resources, as well as preventing possible mishaps.”
Finally, it was Mr. Bethany's turn. His question was scenario-based. "What would you do if faced with a monster too strong for you that emerged from a dungeon in an urban area?" The man rumbled.
James paused, considering his response carefully. "First, I'd assess whether the monster is really beyond my capabilities. If it is, my priority would be to evacuate nearby civilians and call for backup, all the while trying to divert the monster's attention away from the public. I’d try to minimize risk and harm while waiting for additional support." Marcus nodded, seemingly satisfied with James's answer.
"What if the monster deliberately aims for a civilian while you are in the process of evacuating another group?" The Director's assistant interjected, her eyes cold and calculating.
James took a moment to consider the question. He was annoyed that the woman would ambush him with ethical questions anyone would struggle to answer, but he didn't show it. "If the monster targets a civilian while I'm in the middle of evacuating others, I would have to quickly make a snap judgement.” James began, his tone measured. "Saving someone at the risk of putting others in danger is a tough decision. However, leaving someone to die when I have the skills to intervene would be immoral."
Scratching his chin, he continued. "Given my abilities, particularly my enhanced senses, I should be able to know if the monster is the only threat present. In that given scenario, I would do my best to protect the targeted civilian without compromising the safety of the others I'm evacuating. I would try to make the best decision in a split second, minimizing harm and maximizing the number of people saved. And while for others this might mean leaving one behind because they cannot be sure of the surrounding dangers, I would take the risk, trusting in my sensory abilities."
The examiners listened intently, their expressions giving nothing away. The Director's assistant nodded slightly, her expression still unreadable, but her eyes showed a hint of respect.
After James's response, the examiners conferred quietly among themselves. The tension in the room was palpable as James waited for their verdict. Finally, they turned back to him.
"You've passed the oral part of the exam." Marcus Bethany announced, his voice carrying a note of approval. "Your understanding of an Awakener's responsibilities and the ethical implications of your powers is commendable." This last part was seemingly directed not at James but at the woman sitting next to the hulking man.
Her expression briefly tightened, but she didn't add anything, taking the light rebuke for what it was and not making a fuss.
James felt a surge of relief and pride. He thanked the examiners and stood up to leave. As he did, Mr. Bethany gave him a small, encouraging smile - a gesture that meant a lot to James, coming from someone he had come to respect.
Exiting the room, James mentally thanked his teacher again for having the foresight to send the information package. The whole test couldn't have lasted longer than a few minutes, but he was sure that had he not studied in the last few days, it would have felt much longer.
He rejoined his teammates, who were already done with their oral, and exchanged words of encouragement as they waited for the practical to begin.