“You can’t be late to the opening ceremony at your very first day! You have some unfinished documents to settle, and you were scheduled to be toured around facilities early morning” reprimanded Ms. Prisma, her homeroom teacher – a mature-looking woman in her 30s, wearing glasses and sporting a ponytail to tie of her smooth black hair.
“And I’m not in my 30s, I’m only 29” She sternly said while leaning forward.
Wah, what an overused joke. How did she even know I was thinking of that anyway? Lina thought, as she avoided her teacher’s reprimanding gaze.
“But Ms. Prisma, there was something interesting that happened in front of the arcade –“
“Hmmphh?! Arcade?”
Lina sweats as Ms. Prisma tries to interrogate her. “Some students were fighting, and they decided to settle it at the arcade via ‘Trial’. I was just so intrigued, ma’am!”
“Oh, so it was your first time seeing a Trial then?” Ms. Prisma leans back on her chair. “Well, you did come from the country. You do know about the Cursed Children?”
Lina nods her head vigorously.
“Well, in this city, to prevent the abuse of the Cursed Children, unreasonable violence is strictly punished – hurting or harassing someone could get you suspended to stay in the Correction department, or worse – jailed for months.” Ms. Prisma adjusts her glasses as Lina listens intensely. “This doesn’t stop discrimination against Cursed Children, so the Trial system was implemented.”
“What does the Trial system do?!” Lina asks, her excitement evident in her voice.
“The Trial system is a way to settle conflicts between two parties – where a contest of any form will be conducted, with the stakes to be discussed by the conflicting sides. The stakes can be anything –
“ - anything I want is quite the prize anyway” Lina remembers from the incident this morning.
“- as long as both parties agree on all terms and conditions. The Trial system is watched over by thousands of cameras planted over the city, and is monitored and recorded to a database.”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“So the Trial system provides a way for the Cursed Children to fight back?!” Lina inquires.
“ ‘Fight back’ is too aggressive of a term, but in a way, yes. The Trial system’s goal is to place common people and the Cursed Children on relatively even ground.” Ms. Prisma says matter-of-factly. “Bonds formed through settling conflicts will one day overcome the stigma against the Cursed Children. This the true aim of the Trial system.”
Ms. Prisma then lowers her voice in doubt. “Of course, this is only in theory – this city’s experiment is to put this into practice and see if it does good for those cursed. The other cities are trying their own methods as well.”
“Then can I just challenge just about anyone to a trial?” Lina leans forward, her nose almost touching her teacher’s.
“Well, if both sides agree – wait, we’re not done yet here! How about your tour around - ” Ms. Prisma tries to call Lina back as Lina dashes outside the office in a hurry.
“I’ll get my own tour guide ma’am, thank you!” Echoed Lina from the hallway.
Lina runs through the hallway, startling some other students. This was the kind of life she wanted to live – one of excitement and adventure, something she didn’t find at the countryside. She stops by for a moment to ask a fellow student –
“Excuse me! What’s the nearest way to the rooftop?” Lina hurriedly asks as she jogs in place.
“Um…just climb the stairs up to the 4th floor, then the door to the rooftop is the last few steps”
Lina sighed heavily. No – I won’t let this stop me. If I can’t get past this, how can I keep on going with my adventure?
“Um excuse me but… why are you looking at the stairs with such hate?” The random student asked, confused.
“No time to explain! Thanks for the help, I’ll be off!” Lina runs off – and slowly climbs the stairs, each step tiring her out, but without wearing the vigorous aura she’s letting off.
2nd Floor.
The Trial System. The right for everyone to be on even ground – where winner takes all and the loser loses everything.
3rd Floor.
The Cursed Children. Children who were born with supernatural disabilities – and can use it to afflict others they truly abhor with the same curse, albeit temporarily.
4th Floor.
And lastly – the Seeker. The legend of a cursed child who was born 20 years ago when the curses started to surface. He who was abhorred so much, discriminated against, and abused to the point of insanity. His pitch black eyes were said to be as if it was always looking for something – to the point where he held no regard for the lives of those blocking his path. Rumor has it he’s in this city.
The rooftop door.
I am Magileine Mountebank – and this life of adventure, of deeply veiled mysteries, of those cursed and those who seek answers from God – this is the life I want to live.
Lina smiled, put her hand on the door, and resolutely looked forward –
Pushing open the door, she exclaims:
“I challenge you to a Trial, Seeker!”