Jena was happy, it had been a long day today and she was tired. She could wait to go home. She was, like most of the people in this building, only a mortal. She was in charge of the recruitment section and she was looking at the new list of applicants for Infantry Division today.
As she was going through the files for spiritknight applicants, which was incredibly small, she saw an oddity that caught her attention.
"Darius Omen…Honour?"
Jena stood up from her desk as if she was running for her life. She had spotted an error that she had to rectify. If she did not rectify this her career could be at stake!
…
Meanwhile Darius and other spiritknight applicants were being sent to a testing center, led by beautiful spritualist rangers. The arrogance on the spiritknights was plain to see. These were clearly all nobility. Arrogance was in their bones.
Only spiritknights could enjoy the so called 'royal treatment'. Darius however was different. He was quite a humble person, selfish but humble. He was an oddity. Humility increased ones chance of survival, especially in a land were nobles could kill without cause.
Hence it was more accurate to say that Darius was both humble and feigned humility at the same time. This was the impression he wanted people to have of him. A humble, ordinary boy who was no threat at all to anyone. Alas things tend to not work out that way.
The procession moved on a sort of basic tour, similar to the one Darius had just received, but this one was much simpler. The reason was simple, they were not qualified to know more. Darius also liked it that way and it meant he could leave more room in his mind for more crucial matters. Then it happened.
They were sent into a control room that was overlooking a somewhat dilapidated training room. One of the beautiful guides said, "This is also one of the many training rooms rookies can use. As you can see, a battle recently occured here. Powerful spiritknights used the wrong training room, resulting in this damage.
"Even the surveillance systems are down." said Darius as he looked around. "Quite observant of you Sir Omen." replied one of the attendants. Except she was wrong, Darius couldn't see anything. It was all wires, panels and buttons for him. He was just saying rehearsed lines.
Once the Guide confirmed everyone's suspicions, he asked the guide a question. As a spiritknight he had to be served upon like a king so the guides were alert.
"My clan is reclusive and only focused on individual prowess. I have a few gaps in my knowledge and one is really bothering me. Can you tell me the roles and names of those roles inside one unit of spiritknights?"
The other nobles looked surprised for a moment then laughed uproariously. Even the guides had to stifle a giggle or two. This was basic knowledge for non mortals but the ladies were obliged to answer.
During the laughter Darius smoothly took out a cigarette and started smoking. In this world there was no such thing as a non smoking area unless it was a religious ground.
Darius pressed a tiny button on the side of the cigarette and he started smoking. Indeed, he was smoking. This was stage two of the plan. Roh had given him an antidote pill and this cigarette. Even a mortal would have no problem inhaling the smoke like gas produced by the cigarette.
"To answer Sir Darius, There are seven basic roles for spiritknights and spiritualists within a unit. The smallest units have at least 7 people, one for each role. In no particular order they are Boom, Echo,Tanker, Advocate, Maestro and Hunter.
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The Boom is the main damage dealer of the squad, and is usually the person most of the offense is based on.
The Echo is an agile speed type fighter who's main job is to assist on attacks and act as a stand in for other positions if possible.
The Tanker is focused on defense and has to be a defensive specialist. To put it simply, they must be the hardest person to beat.
The Advocate is a healing and support specialist who is regarded by most as the most important member after the Maestro. With a good enough advocate a teams output can double or even triple
The Maestro is in charge of communications and control. They are usually the smartest members with the most importance. Once the Maestro is gone, the unit is finished. Sir Darius, I hope you were satisfied with my explanation?"
Darius nodded as he huffed and puffed. He knew all of this and more, after all he had time to read in recovery. He was just stalling for time, and he had achieved one of his objectives. Now it was time for objective .
"Why the heck did you pathetic pieces of trash laugh for? I'm stronger than all of you combined." Murmured Darius. Although it sounded as if he was talking to himself the people here all had excellent hearing.
The laughing noblemen went from arrogant to embarrassed. The hubris behind this boy!
All the boys wanted to refute and what not but a single voice shut them up, "To think even monkeys can join the rangers, disappointing. Truly disappointing."
The speaker was undoubtedly the most arrogant of the group. Everyone was walking together, but he was naturally always at the front. It was obviously not by coincidence.
This was because of a tag on his chest. It read, "Ricardo Maldini."
The name Maldini was more than enough to earn his this right and more. The true nobles were the 12 families. They families under them were just riding on the coattails of their masters. Ranked 8th , the Maldini family was very powerful, even among the 12 it had some sway. All Maldini's had pink hair. This was an odd and rare hair colour. Only nobles had hair colours of all sorts, attributed to their powerful bloodlines.
Being the only member from the 12 here he had the highest status without a doubt, but Darius had a mission, one that required him to go against his usual code.
Darius gave Ricardo a side-wards glance and said, "Who the fuck are you? The human lollipop. This conversation is only for people who have gone through puberty."
Darius' words stunned everyone. Not only had he insulted Ricardo, but he had also touched upon his sore spot. Yes he had the highest status, but he was also the shortest person there. He wasn't short, he was just young, very young.
Ricardo took off one his gloves and threw it on the ground. The sound of the glove hitting the ground echoed in the control room. Everyone knew what this met. A duel challenge!
Darius nonchalantly picked up the glove and said, "Man look at this baby hands. Has your mother even weaned you?" This time, one of the guides could not hold her giggle in. Much to Ricardo's chagrin. She closed her mouth but the damage had already been done. The temperature of the room started increasing. Literally.
Darius raised his hands defensively and said, "I wont get arrested for child abuse right?" He laughed and jumped into the dilapidated room that was under reconstruction. Ricardo wanted a fight but not in such a dirty place. There were currently no workers to give Darius and the others face but it still looked bad. The guides would also prefer for them not to fight here because it would mean more paperwork for them.
"Sir Maldini, surely we can find a better venue? One more befitting of your stature?" Ricardo was about to agree when Darius snickered.
"Doing what the nanny says every time. That's right, lets go fight in the little boy room so you don't get hurt. Perfect for your little 'stature'. Now don't blame the young lady, she is just doing her job."
Each of Darius words were a smack to Ricardo's face. His face contorted so much it became ugly to behold. He couldn't believe a nobody could speak to him in such a way.
Darius yawned and started looking at his nails, "A baby and a pussy. What a combo."
The moment Darius finished speaking, His opponent had already landed. To nobles, especially of the higher echelons, being called a coward was enough to initiate a death-match.
The rooms temperature started to increase, till some of the metal around Ricardo started to melt. Flames appeared around his person as he stared at Darius venomously. If looks could kill, then Darius would have died a thousand times over.
Darius was just following instructions. But he was still uncomfortable with offending a Maldini. The Maldini were also known as the kings of purgatory due to their flames. Darius was not scared of the boy in front of him, after all he was nothing compared to a serpentis. No what worried Darius was the name Maldini.
To the previous him who was only an orphan this name alone would have been enough to blot out the sky. Now that his own status had risen, to the point that even the Orion where attempting to curry favour with him, he had nothing to worry about logically speaking. But old habits die hard.