It was finally Clio’s testing day, and it was as miserable as everyone had described. Hours of intensive training had left her physically and emotionally exhausted by the time a kindly older man, a National Hunters Association (NHA) official, finally opened the doors of the testing center. There had been a particularly annoying test that had required Clio to run laps around a track while answering random questions the proctor posed and well, let’s just say that running was not Clio’s strong suit. “Thank you for your cooperation today, Ms. Nowak. Your school will receive a copy of your results in a couple of days,” The official said with a reassuring smile. Clio gave him a weary nod as she descended the stairs to her car. It was unlikely she would be awakened. Only 1% of people became hunters and most of those were E rank. Trying not to let the uncertainty of her future control she drove the hour and a half it took to get home.

A few days later, she found herself shifting her weight nervously from foot to foot, trying to stop herself from pacing in front of the principal’s office. The walk there had been a blur, her mind preoccupied with the upcoming news. “Clio, come in,” called a gravelly woman’s voice from inside. Ms. Red, never one to waste time, got straight to business as soon as Clio entered. “I’m sure I do not need to explain why you are here,” she said, her tone leaving no room for small talk. “Your results came in from the NHA. You are an awakened. I’m sure you are aware that this means that you have been drafted as a hunter.”

Clio’s world froze. Ms. Red had delivered the life-shaking words so matter-of-factly that she had almost missed their significance. Clio was a hunter— like a stabbing-shit-with-a-sword hunter.

“That can’t be right. My cross-country times were literally did not finish, how can I be an awakened!” Clio protested, her voice shaking with panic. All her life, she had dreamed of being a historian, and now that dream was shattered like glass dropped from the top of a tower. Ms. Red gave her a rare, sympathetic smile. “I’m truly sorry, Clio,” her voice significantly softer than it had been. “I know this is not what you wanted, but you’re brilliant—you’ll find a way. And who knows, maybe you’ll be able to uncover the history of the ruins on the third floor.”

Clio couldn’t stop a small laugh from escaping. The idea of studying the history of tower ruins was as nonsensical as a lethal dose of neutrinos. “Yeah, maybe.”

“Take your time collecting your thoughts. When you ready step outside the office. A NHA official will be waiting to discuss the next steps with you.” Ms. Red rounded the table and enveloped Clio in a tight hug, whispering in her ear. “You’ll always have a home here. I can always use another competent volunteer history teacher”. With a wink, Ms. Red left the office leaving Clio alone. Closing her eyes, she counted to ten and exhaled deeply. She then stood up, slung her beaten-up backpack over one shoulder, and opened the door.

“Ms. Nowak,” greeted a man clad in a leather suit with metal plates at the neck, shoulders, chest, knees, and elbows. A gleaming sword peeked out from under his suit jacket. “I am Hunter Harmon. I will be your guide through the registration process. Before I escort you to the NHA office to discuss the next steps, do you need to grab anything?” With a shake of Clio’s head, they were off.

While she had passed the NHA’s building almost every day on her way to school she, like every regular, had never set a foot inside. It was far less exciting than she hoped it would be. The lobby looked straight out of any number of stock photos, that is to say very corporate. With only a pause to nod to the receptionist Hunter Harmon led her into the bowels of the office building to a clinical room. Gesturing to a black chair he took the seat on the opposite side of the desk.

“Before we begin, I want you to know that feeling angry, frustrated, and nervous are very common when you find out you’re a hunter. I remember when had my registration meeting I wanted to fling the chair across the room, I had just been signed to my top university on a baseball scholarship.” He said with a reminiscent chuckle, “Just know we are here to support you through our journey as a hunter. Here I am rambling when I’m sure you must be anxious to begin.” Hunter Harmon produced a velvet-covered box from the desk drawers. “This will be your guide,” Inside the box was a pair of gold earcuffs. “Place it over the hexil and anti-hexil”. Holding out the box; he gestured where his guides rested on his ears. After a few tries, Clio positioned the ear cuffs correctly. They immediately began to shrink, sending an icy pain through her ears that ceased as quickly as it started. She took the offered mirror and admired her new guides. They fit perfectly to the point where she couldn’t feel them. “I will be starting the setup process, just follow the prompts…” Hunter Harmon’s words faded away as Clio’s guide sprang to life.

Welcome User Clio Josephine Nowak:

Age: 18

Gender: Female

Race: Human

Friends: 0

Would you like an audio or visual-based guide?

The 0 friends stat seemed kinda out of pocket. Not letting the insult get to her, Clio thought for a minute before selecting audio. A voice entered her head, it felt like she was thinking to herself only it wasn’t her.

An audio guide has been selected. The majority of this guide’s communications will be entered as auditory messages into the user’s mind. Status, Inventory, and notifications icons will still be visual unless the user explicitly states otherwise. Proceeding to [Status Screen].

A light blue box appeared in her field of vision. It looked as real as the chair she was sitting on, but when she reached her hand out to try to interact with the screen it passed right through it.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

[Status Screen]

Rank: D

Unused Stat Points: 0

Mean Stat: 15

NOTE: The average person has a stat mean of 10.

Ranks are based on mean stat

F < 10

E ~ 10-15

D ~ 16 - 25

C ~ 26 - 50

B ~ 51 - 100

A ~ 101 - 150

S > 151

Agility: 9

Charisma: 20

Constitution: 10

Strength: 7

Intelligence: 37

Perception: 10

Ability to use mana: Locked🔒

NOTE: All Mana-related perks are blocked until Ability is unlocked

Skills: None

“Ms. Nowak, If you don't mind please share your Status sheet with me so I can mark down your official ranking.” Hunter Harmon’s voice cut through Clio’s concentration. A voice popped into her mind following the official’s statement.

NEW REQUEST: Christopher Rye Harmon asks you to share your [status screen]. Do you wish to share? YES or NO

With a moment’s hesitation, Clio thought Yes

Clio Josephine Nowak’s [Status Screen] has been shared with Christopher Rye Harmon.

Hunter Harmon’s eyes flicked over an invisible screen before him. After a few minutes of taking notes, his eyes refocused on Clio. She shifts awkwardly under his gaze. “Is everything alright?” She asked with trepidation in her voice.

“Yes,” Hunter Harmon answered with a sign, “Starting at D-rank is a great start, Congratulations! And with your intelligence stat, you could prove a formidable mage, that is if your ability to use mana unlocks. At the moment, the rest of your stats are barely higher than the average person’s, with your strength severely lacking. I do not mean to be rude, but I’m not sure where you should be placed. I’m going to have to talk with my superiors. If you won’t mind coming back tomorrow morning to continue the process once I have had the opportunity to get some second opinions.”

Clio wanted to scream, not only was her dream snatched from her, but it seemed she was destined to be useless in her unchosen path. Instead of venting her frustration at the official before her she simply excused herself. The sun was clearly past its zenith, but the streets were too quiet for school to be out yet.

When she arrived in front of her family’s two-story grey colonial home, her mom’s car was already parked in the driveway. She probably came home early when she found out that Clio’s results were out. On to face the torrent of questions that was inevitably coming her way.

As soon as she was through the door her twin sister, Calliope (Everyone called her Cali), called out, “Everyone, Clio’s home!” A stamp of footsteps followed as her parents raced to the kitchen. “So what are the results?!” Cali asked bursting with anticipation. Cali’s life goal was to be an awakened. She had yet to take her test, it was scheduled for a little under a week.

“Calliope, let Clio get through the door. It must have been a taxing day.” Their dad chided as he put a bowl of peeled and pitted lychees in front of Clio.

“Thank you. I’m a hunter…” Clio admitted moving her long brown hair behind her ear revealing the guide cuff.

“OMG!!!” Cali squealed with joy, “Congrats! What’s your rank? What division were you assigned? I can’t believe my nerd sister is a hunter!”

“That’s great, little otter!” Her mom, using her childhood nickname, gave her a big hug. Her dad didn’t say anything he only placed his hand on her shoulder. He knew how hard she had worked to get into University Alpha’s History Department.

“Thanks,” Clio responded half-heartedly.

“I know it’s all chance, but I can’t help feeling that this is a promising sign for me also awakening!” Cali cheered. “Just think about it Clio, we could be part of the same division and go on hunts together! Maybe I’ll even awaken as a C-rank!”

“Don’t get your hopes up,” Mom reminded, “And back to the person of the hour, Clio what rank and division did you get? What am I saying, I’m sure you had to have gotten into the active division. You know I had a friend back in high school who awakened as an E rank hunter and joined the active division. I think he’s up to D rank by now. He climbed a whole rank imagine that!”

“I’m D-rank and I don’t have a division yet. I have to go back tomorrow.” Clio said softly.

“D-RANK!” Cali’s mouth hung open. “That’s fantastic! There’s only like what a 15% chance of awakening as a D and my sister is one of them! But what do you mean you don’t have a division yet? Surely a freshly awakened D would have been placed in the active division immediately!”

“Yeah well, my stats are a little weird..” Clio mentally called up her [Status Screen], “I have an intelligence stat of 37, but my ability to use mana is locked. My second highest is Charisma at 20, but my strength is only 7.”

“It just wanted to reflect your weirdness,” Cali geered.

Before they continue to bicker Mom cut in. “This still calls for a celebration! What do you want for dinner?”

“Indian Food!” Clio’s mouth started salivating at the thought of butter chicken and naan. The rest of the night was spent eating amazing food and avoiding thinking about the division placement that came with the morning.