I didn’t get much sleep and was tossing and turning all night until at around 8 AM the alarm clock near my bed started blaring and I jumped like an alley cat! If I had claws I’m sure I would’ve stuck to the ceiling. Soon after there was a knocking on my door and an attendant came in and handed me a uniform. I was a little shocked that a woman just walked straight in after knocking…. I am a young man after all.
She just smirked as I told her this. “Mr. Frough, I have worked in this department for a few years now, there isn’t anything I haven’t walked in on.”
“Then don’t you think you should stop just walking in?”
“Nope, Not my problem. Now hurry up and get dressed.” Thankfully she walked out of the room to let me get dressed in private.
The uniform was a black button down with a red stripe down both sides and a pair of black cargo pants. Not a bad look and I always enjoyed the black and red color scheme.
I opened the door to the hallway and the attendant was still there but now she was standing with her hip cocked and a hand on it while tapping her foot.
“About time, Mr. Frough, We are going to be late for your first Avatar training if we keep dawdling like this.” She scolded me but turned and started to fast walk down the hallway, I had to jog a little to keep up which I did not understand, I had to be at least a head taller than her… Meh, the view was nice so I wasn’t complaining to bad.
Ahem, walking for a few minutes while taking a couple turns we ended up in a large auditorium and upon entering I was immediately subjected to 49 other pairs of eyes glaring straight at me.
“Is that the new guy?” Some whispered while a couple others just glanced at me before turning back to the front.
“AH, Mr. Frough, how nice of you to join us this morning!” Rob said as he stood at the front of the crowd behind a lectern. “Now that we are all here, let’s go ahead and do a little review class. Who can tell me what it means to be an Avatar.” He asked and a few hands shot up but he pointed towards a woman with medium blonde hair with light blue streaks.
“To be an Avatar means that you are becoming one with your guardian deity. To embody their power and use it for the betterment of humanity.”
“Thank you, Stacy you can sit down.”
She sat back down, and everyone gave her a round of applause, sounded like she read it straight from a textbook… But that didn’t make sense to me.
“Mr. Frough, you have something to add?” Rob said with a smirk, and I just mean mugged him for calling me out.
“The betterment of humanity part doesn’t make sense to me. We have been surviving and rebuilding this whole time, we have even advanced as a society. What would need to be improved that isn’t already being done by the humans that aren’t Avatars? I don’t know what it means to be an Avatar but for that purpose to solely be for Humanity? Something about that doesn’t click.” I stood up and said but I got nothing but whispers as a result.
“Is this guy an idiot? Why would we go through all this if not for humanity.” Some whispered while others just scoffed at me.
“Are you stupid!” A guy with a scowl on his face and a head of brown hair in a faux mohawk shouted at me.
“We were chosen to be the protectors of humanity! We suffered because of the damn portals but now with this power we have been given, we will use them for ourselves to become even better and conquer these damn things! Who are you to think otherwise?”
“Now, now, let’s just calm down everyone. Mr. Frough is free to think whatever he pleases just as you all are. But now that we got this out of the way, the next question. Who can tell me about the way in which our Deities speak to us and give us quests?”
The asshole spoke up this time.
“Through our status screens and abilities. It will mostly appear as an ability that can grow after meeting certain requirements.”
“An example if you would.”
“An example would be my ability to gain strength temporarily from defeated foes. After I defeat a certain number of them and of different varieties, that ability will grow stronger.”
Hehehe, thanks Rob, it’s always good to hear your opponent’s strengths.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Thank you Kyle, Great example, but in the future never reveal your abilities to people you do not trust with your life.”
Kyle’s face paled a little as he looked around and then stared at me, I just smirked back at him.
“James.” Rob said sternly, I stood up straight.
“Yes sir?”
“Care to return the favor and explain your abilities?”
“Nope.” And I sat back down.
“What! He disrespected the boss! How could he do that!?” The murmuring and whispers were getting more fervent now but stopped as Rob spoke up.
“Maybe not so disrespectful next time, but good that’s smart. Now ofcourse I know what all of you’re abilities are, as well as what your Avatar abilities are so it’s fine not to explain them. But we will be going on a trip today to check out a nearby farm that was devastated recently.” He looked down at me and nodded. So we are going to see Kelly… I’ve been meaning to check up on her.
“Everyone go get prepared and meet back up here in 30 minutes.” Rob said and dismissed us. I ran out the door and back to my room and pulled out my cube, thanks to its storage function I was able to just pull out the axe and knife that I had put in it. I was tempted to go to the farm and check up on Rhonda and Shadow, but I knew they had plenty of food and I didn’t want to get stuck for 2 hours. I hope that when my ability upgrades, the timer will decrease.
Meeting back up in the auditorium, I was greeted by the sight of multiple people in suits of armor both metal and leather. I saw as some carried swords and shields, some bows, and others had what looked like different magical focuses like orbs, books, and wands. I saw the blondie, Stacy, and the brown-haired guy, Kyle, were together and she had a huge staff with a blue gem cradled at the top while Kyle was outfitted with metal knight armor and carrying a huge tower shield.
How would that work with his ability to get strength from defeated foes? Wouldn’t just being a defender kinda defeat the purpose? Meh, whatever. I just stood at the back against a wall and waited for Rob to show up.
“Hi, I’m Hailee.” A woman with purplish hair appeared out of nowhere next to me and startled me. I jumped and screamed a little which only made her and everyone else laugh as well.
I shook my head to get rid of the embarrassment and held out my hand. “Names James, nice to meet ya.” I smiled as I took in the sight before me. She was a beauty, her hair was long and slightly curly, her body wasn’t overly chubby but instead had a nice figure with ample curves to not be called a stick.
“Have you checked me out enough James?” She giggled.
“AH, my bad sorry.” I scratched my cheek as my face got red again.
“It’s fine don’t worry about it. So have you been a Gifted for long?”
“Not really, I think it’s actually been about a couple months? Kinda lost track of time due to some issues.”
“Wow, you must have really gotten lucky then. I know a few of the others here were adventuring for a couple years before they were chosen, speaking of, how did you get chosen? I was handed a relic from my parents.” She smiled and said like that was a normal thing.
“Ah um… I got mine from a Rank C Cutter wolf as a drop?”
“WHAT!” She yelled, which made everyone turned to look at us.
“You fought and killed a Rank C Cutter wolf after being Gifted for only a couple months!” There go the whispers about me again, the hell was this the start of a protag story? I should have just waited out in the hall if I knew this was going to happen.
“Well I mean it was a life or death situation. Haven’t you guys been through the same stuff since you’ve all been Avatars for longer? You even said some have been Gifted for years before being chosen. They must have fought way tougher things in that time.” I looked around as I spoke. But by the amount of heads looking down in shame as I looked at them I was getting more confused.
“You are the oddity here James.” Rob said as he laid his hand on my shoulder.
“Most Avatars are actually chosen from bloodlines, like your adopted family, there has only been maybe a few that have been spontaneously chosen.”
“Wait I’m so confused Rob, Are you saying this whole time they have been on this side of the portal they haven’t fought anything as strong as a C rank?”
“Ehhhh, I mean yes and no… I’ve taken them on many expeditions but the most dangerous thing on those were maybe some rabbits.”
“Oh, you mean like unicorn rabbits that can dash at the speed of light right?”
“Ahem, no, I mean like the kind of rabbits that were brought over to this side and let loose in a controlled environment…”
“That doesn’t make sense Rob. This whole thing is a fucking scam isn’t it?” I got a little angry because if I was made to join this farce of a department when these so called Avatars are nothing more than pampered toddlers!
“It’s not a scam you low born fuck!” Kyle yelled at me.
“Ohhhh, I get it now. These guys are all so called nobles aren’t they?” Rob just nodded as I scoffed and just shook my head as I started walking out the door. He made this department sound like it was an elite squad that trained Avatars.
“I’m done, See ya later Rob.” I waved as I stepped out the door but crashed into a barrier of some kind. I pulled back and felt pain on my face and a warmth trickle down my face.
“Did I say you could leave James. Just because THESE Avatars don’t have the experience that others do. Does not mean that there are not others out there with the power to decimate the entirety of your whole world, then rebuild it, then raze it to nothingness over and over again. So I suggest you sit down boy.” Rob grabbed my should again but this time the pressure he exerted soon made my shoulder creak and soon a loud pop was heard as I yelped in pain. He pushed me down to the ground and held me there with his overwhelming pressure. Ok, so maybe I did take it a bit far…
“We will be going to where a recent migration resulted in a Kweh farm being attacked. You will be grouped up into a squad of 4 and will maintain that group until we return got it.”
“Yes sir!” The room of people shouted like scared children.
“And you, You will be respectful towards me from now on. You had a pass since we met in unexpected circumstances, but that was ripped apart just now. You will call me Master from now on, I will rethink that little Inhaler proposal we discussed and will give you an answer when you get back.”