The group of rangers that arrived was like a force Simon had never seen before. Each one wielding two or three espers at a time as the forces of powers beyond his reach clashed like nobody’s business. The ground shook as the area was cleared, the wild espers culled, and more freshly attuned duelists began to return either at the call or after gaining their espers.
In time, it was over.
As the fires rest of the fires were cleared, Simon’s wound was dealt with thanks to the magic of a life esper, but the wounds were deep, and the scars would remain. Eventually, he would get full use of his hand back too, so that was a bonus. June happily told him that it made him look much more mature. If scars were what made him mature, Simon would have rather been a child the rest of his life than go through with that again.
His blood still felt cold as he gathered around the controlled fires of a campfire as the new ranger, Ranger John, ran down the results of the incursion that had overrun the camp.
“As many of you have assumed, the incursion has been dealt with in the only way it could. Twenty-seven lesser espers have been culled, the greater energy esper seen with them has seemingly vanished, and we are missing quite a few from our ranks including Ranger Gabs who have been radio silent since early last night. Though she sounded the alarm, nobody, esper, or fragment has been found. It is assumed she is hunting the esper but its natural signature is interfering with the tech she’s carrying.”
Though the ranger tried to sound hopeful, even June could tell what he really meant. Still, Simon didn’t want to think Gabs had gotten herself killed. She was a silver ranger on the brink of gold for god’s sake, she knew not to do something so stupid.
Then again, she’d also contacted him long after the supposed radio silence began.
Powder took him from his thoughts as she rubbed her head against his cheek, projecting a desire for attention. Simon raised his hand, stroked her fur, and turned back to Ranger John.
“I know that you still have a few days left on your trip. Normally, you would spend this gathering essence, hunting wisps, practicing with your esper sparring with the others, or whatever else it is that you do now as a rite of passage, but this trip has ended for those of you that are here.”
Murmurs rose across the assembled few, knowing that over half of their number was still missing. No one seemed to like the idea, they liked it even less that they were being forced to now that they had their espers. For many, this would be their last chance to test their powers before they were given their assignment to train for. It would be the last time they could test themselves any way they saw fit and see if they made the right choice.
But, that was just the way of the world sometimes, wasn’t it?
Ranger John continued unconcerned with their murmurings.
“In the absence of Ranger Gabriella, I will be your evaluator when we get back to town. Every one of you has found your esper and gotten it to align itself with your efforts. From here, you will be asked for your preferred profession, your esper will be evaluated, and your new tech will be issued based on what position you end up in. Once it’s been confirmed, Trade workers will be given the tuning tool, Duelists will be given the analyze attachment, rangers will be given the coverage tool, and those involved in the raising of espers will be given the husbandry tool. If your score is high enough, you will then be allowed to do as you see fit within that professional caste. Low enough, and you will be put into an apprenticeship until your master sees fit to release you into the trade.”
Simon knew this was coming, but he kept shifting his eyes over to June. Taking out his phone, he pinged her.
Simon: You okay?
June looked at him as she looked up from her screen. He smiled at her, and she shrugged as she replied, typing in a storm of clicks.
June: Sort of? Yes? It’s just weird is all. I expected to have a chance, you know? Ranger John has a strict reputation from what I’ve been hearing and doesn’t allow anyone without an 80 or higher to choose duelist. He’s got stupid high standards for those that want to fight, and I just don’t have what he wants. I’m going to be stuck sewing clothes for the rest of my life or doing acupuncture or something else with Phantom until I can get my score up. It sucks. -_-
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Simon paused, reading the text for a second time before he looked back at June. She was smiling, but there was a sadness in her eyes that hadn't been there when they’d been fighting not so long ago. He didn’t know what to say to that. He didn’t want to patronize her, but at the same time, it wasn’t fair. She’d saved his ass more than once over the past few days. Sure, she could be irritating, annoying, a bit absurd, slightly demented…
He sighed, unable to finish the thought as he was next in line.
“Simon Tripps, your esper is…”
The frost marten looked up from his hood and chittered at the ranger in annoyance. Her bright blue eyes and nose twitched as she finished making her annoyance known and cuddled back into his hood. Holding up his phone, there was a bit of light and a ping of data updated on Ranger John’s device.
“A frost marten, rare in these parts. Where did you find it?”
“Her,” Simon corrected, a detail tugging at his mind. He’d already confirmed this with Gabs, hadn’t he? “She found me though. I can’t take all the credit.”
Ranger John gave him an approving nod. “Some of our greatest allies find us, not the other way around. Frost is a good all-around element. It also lends itself as well to the trades as it does to combat. Have you decided which way you want to go?”
Simon had been thinking long and hard on that, and the decision wasn’t actually that hard when it came down to it. “I think I’m going to take a dual path.”
He could practically hear June’s neck snap towards him. Her eyes practically burned through his skull as Powder sent him a warning. He knew what he wanted though, and watched as John nodded.
“Which two paths?”
Simon smiled. “Husbandry and duelist.”
The ranger seemed to consider this and looked hard at the screen of his phone. “Your scores are phenomenal, Simon. I don’t think that will be a problem. It’ll be a lot of work though, and the funding…”
He took a breath, praying to whatever power above cared about him as he interrupted the ranger.
“Since you brought that up,” Simon said. “I know my scores allow requesting an apprentice to assist me, right?”
John gave him a look and nodded. “That is correct. You’ll have a list of potential apprentices sent to you as soon as we return.”
Simon shook his head. This was it…
“I already know who I want. I formally request June Travis as my assistant in dueling and rearing espers.”
He could hear the ticking of fingers on the screen, but he ignored them, especially when he felt his pocket beginning to buzz like a swarm of angry pyroclastic bees.
He watched as John brought up her scores, knowing full well that Simon probably already knew the results. “We will discuss this later, but—“ he turned his attention to June. “It is ultimately your decision. I will talk to you both later if you do not object.”
June shook her head. “I don’t object.”
John nodded and continued down the line. Despite her moving next to Simon, June said nothing. Her phone was away, and he didn’t dare check his own for fear of what horrors he’d unleashed upon himself. In the end, it didn’t matter to him. If June wanted to be a duelist, and he had the power to make that happen… well… that was just what he was going to do.
The next ten minutes were spent in awkward silence as Ranger John continued to evaluate and assign the fates of the other six members that had returned to the camp. As he did, Simon noticed Peter had not been one of those that returned the call.
Before he could think any more of it, Ranger John returned to them and waved them back toward the burnt-out remains of their old van.
There, away from the group, he sighed.
“Simon, you realize her compatibility with that and her shadowquill are not exactly suited for the life of a duelist or a rancher. Shadowquill are defensive creatures and better suited for sewing or medicine than true combat.”
Simon shook his head. “I don’t believe that.”
“Believe it or not, that’s the truth.”
Simon considered that for only a moment before June interrupted. “Isn’t that my choice to make if he accepts me?”
John nodded. “That it is, but you realize that there are stipulations to apprenticeships. Ones that I am allowed to set as I see fit and have approved by the Esper League and Governing Board?”
He wasn’t, but he nodded. June followed suit.
“Good. Here are my terms for your apprenticeship, June. In one year’s time, you will compete in the Harvest Festival back in Comet’s Reach. You will finish in the top three, or you will be reassigned. Your esper will also be reevaluated at that time. If you cannot compete in the field with your shadowquill at that time, you will be reassigned to a job more fitting your skills. Do you understand and accept this requirement?”
June didn’t hesitate.
“I accept.”
“Good,” he said, turning to Simon. “If you fail to produce a winning esper in the next year with your apprentice, you will also be deemed unfit and be reassigned to a more fitting position.”
Simon did his best not to show his surprise as he replied. “My scores—“
“Are good enough to do whatever you see fit, but as a master, you must be tested as well. So, your role as a master is now being put to the test. Knowing this, do you still offer June Travis a formal apprenticeship as a duelist under your care?”
“Simon…”
“I do,” he said, ignoring June’s plea. “In for a penny, in for a pound, right?”
“What?” Ranger John asked.
“Something my parents say.”
Ranger John nodded. “Very well. I will see you in just over a year. Keep yourselves out of trouble until then.” He said, making a few clicks on his screen. “I’ve forwarded your request to the Governing Board, and you should be getting your assigned plot and equipment sets soon. Good luck, and enjoy the ride back.”