I allow myself to drink in the sights for a few heartbeats more before encouraging my feet to get moving. There was a test that I had to get to after all. Now the question was, where was this test taking place? I didn't study, am I going to fail, am I going to be sent home before my adventure could even begin?

Before I get too lost in the fog of my self-doubt, I catch sight of something long, white, and fuzzy. I see it rapidly moving through the crowd, then it accidentally clips me on the shoulder as it passes. I manage to keep my balance and not fall.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I just have to get there fast! I don't want to be late for the test! Are you okay? Are you here for the test too?" the bouncing being asks.

It was a pretty demi-human, slightly shorter than me with long dirty-blond hair tied back and slate grey eyes. On top of their head was a pair of long, white rabbit ears.

I have never seen a bunny demi-human before. Supposedly they are very rare to spot, as they are incredibly shy and stay in their burrows. Some people even believe that it is lucky to meet one. Maybe this will help bring me luck on my test?

"Yes, I am here for the test too. Do you mind if I follow you?"

"Not at all! This way, this way. You will have to keep up though." they say, bouncing from one foot to the other.

I say they because their gender wasn't obvious. Not that gender mattered to me at all. I should just ask their name and call them that.

"What's your name?" I ask.

"Kay" they say cheerfully.

"Hi Kay, it is very nice to meet you. Do you think that you will be taking an adventurer name?" I ask them as I start jogging to keep pace.

"Hmm, I don't know yet. There are a lot of things that I would need to know before that. Am I going to make it into a guild? What class are they going to say that I am the most suited for. I hope that it is a magic user of some kind, then I can get a cool name like Fire Burst, or Thunder Punch. I mean, how fun would that be. Greeting someone new and they ask me my name and I get to say a crazy name like that!

“I would also love to go boom boom and kerpow! Exploding fireball right into the enemies faces! Think me defenseless, jokes on you, Fireball! See, now those silly seeming names don’t seem so silly seeming".

Kay makes hand gestures along with the sound effects. What a fun person. I would like to get to know this Kay person better. Maybe they will be my first friend here? I could really use a friend to help me get my footing and help keep me from getting too homesick.

"Goodness I don't usually talk this much or this fast. I guess the speed spell I used was super effective."

"Speed spell?" I inquire.

"Yup! It’s called Bunny feet." They say in a chipper way. Are they always this chipper?

"There is a spell called bunny feet? And you can already cast it?"

"I might have studied quite a bit already. And by quite a bit I mean that I have lost count of how many books I have read! That's what happens when you read a lot.”

I nod. That made sense actually. I suppose a lot of people that want to become adventurers would know things beforehand, or do some studying, or have more of a reason for doing it than that they have a voice in their head. I wonder if that is normal? I shake my head. Who knew?

"So?" Kay says, "What about you. What's your name, where did you come from, why do you smell so good, and what do you want your class to be? Haha... Please don't answer all of those, why did I ask you such weird questions. Wow, this is an effective spell." Kay says, and looks down, shyly.

How cute. It’s fun to see this chipper, bouncing being suddenly being shy. "I'm Amaya." I say, enjoying the feeling of saying my new adventurer's name. This was a gift from my family, and I shall wear it with pride and honor.

"That's a really pretty name, mine is just a letter. You don't talk much do you? I mean, I talk a lot. I often find myself thinking, self you talk a lot. Is there anyone there to listen to you talk? Not really, so the next person you see you must talk to them about anything and everything.” He pauses talking to laugh.

“You must be a bit shy right? Right?" he asks while he goes bounce, bounce. His ears quiver a bit and I am unable to tell if it is from the bouncing or if he is aquiver with energy.

"I guess I might be a little shy." I suppose I was. I haven’t had any exposure to the outside world. The pleasure gardens were a world all its own. A world of music, art, performances, beauty and fun with Nila. I almost whimper, missing home badly. My tail droops and my ears press down against my head.

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"Hmmm, alright! Is that the reason that you wear that cloak?" he says, eyeing my cloak.

In a moment of silliness I twirl around, giving him a better view of the whole cloak. I then so back to walking as if I hadn’t done anything strange. "Yes."

That was easier than the truth. To give the truth was dangerous and complicated. I need to hide myself, hide until I am strong enough to protect myself from anyone or anything.

"I want to be a class that uses dual blades." I tell Kay.

"You must be really fast and cunning to be good at a class like that. It does mean that you would be getting really close to the enemy. That sounds terrifying, I won't be able to get close to the enemy. Hey! I have an idea. You don't have to agree, I know that we just met each other, but how about we become friends?!"

"Okay, I think that is a good idea." I say and offer Kay my hand. They take it and give it a shake. What a slender hand. Maybe Kay is a girl? I shrug my shoulders. A bit curious, but to be honest, I am just curious about Kay. This bouncy, magic wielding sweetheart.

"Yay! I have a friend! Now we must seal our pact in blood! Or not, but it does make it sound official."

Bounce, bounce, bounce. Hey look, there is a cute cotton tail that goes along with those bunny ears. I wonder if it is as soft as it looks? I am partially tempted to reach out and touch it and find out, but of course I wouldn’t do such a thing. It would be a violation as well as improper!

"Well, here we are. This is where we are going to be tested, judged and found to be awesome! I hope."

I look up at the building and drink it in. It is astoundingly huge! I don't even know how to describe it. It was like a very long hall made of different shades of gray stonework. There are banners of all different colors hanging up on it.

"What are those?" I ask, pointing up at the banners.

"Oh, those are representing different guilds. They like to have representatives here to greet people that they feel will be a good fit for them. Often, it is for preemptive scouting. They note people they think are worth keeping track of, and they watch their progress. If they grow well, the guilds snatch them up!"

“I suppose that makes enough sense." I nod. It does make good sense. I would be surprised if guilds take people this early in their adventuring. "Hey, so... What happens after we test?"

"Oh! After that we get divided up. There will be classes to enroll in after your stats have been gauged."

"Stats?"

"Yup! Strength, dexterity, wisdom, intelligence, cunning, stamina, endurance, agility, health, mana and charisma! Oh! They also let you know what your talents and traits are."

"How did you memorize all of that? It seems like there is so much to know. And how do they let you know what they are?"

"Well, after the test they give you a printout of how you scored in all of the different categories. Different stat skills show what classes you would be the most suited to and they help give you guidance from there."

"You really know a lot about this."

"Of course! That is just brochure level stuff. I have read countless books about it, I practically know everything there is to know about this dungeon. Afterall, I grew up here in the adventurer capital. I only live just ten minutes away from the dungeon."

"Oh! So you grew up here then?" I ask and cannot help but wonder what it would have been like to grow up in such a bustling area. Clearly there is an advantage if one wishes to be an adventurer, but aside from that I cannot help but think it would be rather overwhelming.

"I did. I grew up at the Shinoa Library. I help out there in exchange for a room. I’ve been there so long I like to joke that I was hatched out of one of the books."

"That is really smart. I need to find a job and a place to live after we are done with the test."

"Do you want any help?" he asks, and seems as though he truly would not mind helping me.

"No, that's okay. I think I want to do some solo exploring. But after I find somewhere we can celebrate with some food?" I ask.

I hope that I wasn't being offensive. I just wanted some quiet time to explore. Also, what if I can't trust Kay completely? I mean, we did just meet. But they seem so friendly and earnest. I wish I could take them up on their offer and use it as a chance for further bonding, but I do have to keep safety in mind.

"Okay. I will be at the library after the test. This is how you get there." Kay says, and whips out a map, and runs their finger along a path.

I watch carefully and memorize the route as though my life depends on it.

"Now then, let's go sign up!"

I nod and follow along. Hmm, I wonder if it is obvious when I nod my head through the cloak. I might have to practice making gesture in the mirror so I can learn how to communicate through the use of my body. In the dungeon I won't always be able to talk.

We write our names down in the logbook and stand back and wait for our names to be called.

"Do you have any idea about what stats you are wanting to get to excel as a magic user?" I ask. I believe that knowing what stats he wants to improve may help me to understand stats a smidgeon better.

"Well I would want high Intelligence and Wisdom. Oh oh oh and I want mana, lots of it! Overflowing. Hahahaha! The more mana, the stronger spells I could use. So much fun! And, well, it wouldn't hurt to have good agility."

"Agility?" I ask, wondering how that would help a magician. Should it be obvious to me?

"Yeah, mages are poor fragile creatures, I have to be able to run away if needed. Like, really fast."

I nod and let that sink in. Need to be able to run away if needed. I look at the ground. I know that this would be part of the reality of my new life, but it was still sinking in. I was going to be fighting monsters, in the dungeon, to follow the voice in my head.

I touch my hand to my head. This is going to be an adjustment. He is able to say new things now? And how could he tell that I was closer by? Maybe I really am just crazy and there was no reason for me to leave the Pleasure Garden's after all.

"You okay? Does your head hurt? I hope it doesn't hurt. That won't be good. We are headed into the test after all. Get it, headed…"

I laugh a little at his terrible joke.

"Kay, is there a way to fail this test?"

"Fail the test? No, there really is no way to fail it. I mean, the worst that could happen is they tell you that you are weak and would suck as an adventurer. But they won't turn anyone away. They will really encourage them to train or swiftly meet their end. They will, however, say it repeatedly. And loudly if needed. It is often needed."

"Oh. I see. Thanks." That sounds just the slightest bit intimidating. I believe I would not like that at all! I must do well!

"Are you worried about failing? Don't worry! If for any reason you get turned away I will help you train. But I don't think that you will be turned away."

"How do you know?" I inquire, feeling full of curiosity.

"Hmm.... Well, I have always been able to sense when a person is an adventurer."

"But I am not one yet."

"Yes, that's true. But you feel like one. I can tell."

I wanted to argue against them, but it feels like it would be futile.

"Kay, come up here please. Kay Bookins!"

Bookins? Did Kay make up that last name? That would be quite the coincidence. It is none of my business, but I do like that as a last name. My mouth almost opens to ask, but I shake my head. No, they are being called up to go do their test.

"Good luck Kay!" I say and give them a smile and a wave. I see some color go into their cheeks, and I couldn't help but think about how sweet that is.

I wait nervously for Kay to finish their test, wishing them well. Thinking about them doing well took some of the anxiety off of me doing my test. It feels like forever and no time at all when I see Kay making their way back over to me.

"That wasn't too bad, not too bad at all!" they say, although they are saying it while wheezing.

Not too bad huh? Then why are they so out of breath? What are they having us do for this test?

"What do they have you..."

"Amaya Moonflower, come up here please."

"Well Kay, wish me luck. Where should I meet you when I am done?" I ask, feeling nervous.

"Meet me at the library. And do try to remember the path that I showed you on the map. It is easy to get lost, and you make a good target moving around with all your belongings like that. Sorry, I'm distracting you. Go kick butt. Go kick all the butt!" they say encouragingly while kicking high in the air.

"I will, thanks. Okay, I'll meet you there then." I say, and flash Kay the brightest smile I was able to give them.

And with that smile I confidently make my way to where I was being called, having no idea what is waiting for me.