We entered the large arena of a room and were greeted by a lineup of people who stared at us as we took our place at the end of the line.
The room itself was circular in shape with a high ceiling and rows of marble benches overlooked the arena beyond the lineup of people who seemed to be today’s applicants.
“Tch, we’re not waiting in this damn line," Reiner scoffed but I grabbed his shoulder before he could move.
"it’s fine, there’s no reason to rush and I don’t need any unwanted problems,” I remarked which caused him to click his tongue as he flicked my hand away.
“Seriously? Whatever…” he sneered while Lilith seemed to stick her tongue out at him, and he returned a growl, but I didn't pay them any mind and simply followed the flow of the applicants.
It wasn’t long before I stood before a women behind a small pedestal, she seemed to be quite taken back by me and simply stared.
"U-uh… Name? And guild identification,” she asked me to which I showed her the still white plate around my neck.
“Oi, His name is Kazu and he’s my soon to be party member, Antoris is sorting this all out for him, just take his file already and get on with it," Reiner sneered from his spot behind me, to which she took Reiner at his words.
“I-is that so hound? well if you insist, proceed to a free spot until his name is called to the center of the arena," she said which left Reiner to scoff.
"Tch, about time,” he said leading pushing past her and into the stands with me and Lilith. Although Reiner was quite forceful in his actions, he certainly had results when it came to getting what he wanted.
Reiners reputation of what seemed to be a respect based around fear didn't go to waste, and the leniency he had with the guild gave him the leeway to get anything he wanted, within reason that is. Despite Theitus’s reluctancy about his help, Reiner was the perfect individual to get me into the guild.
We made our way to the stands, where we sat down at a bench in a spot that seemed to have plenty of space to ourselves. I could still feel eyes on us, which was expected but they didn’t matter.
“Are all these people benefactors?” I mused to which Reiner gave a scoff.
"Tch, some are Clans but for them this is more or less a competence test to see how well they do, most of the time they get a plate suiting their Rank and get to freely take on dungeon raids for their Monarchs,” he remarked like he didn't care one way or another.
Regardless I let out a breath of air and relaxed onto the bench as we waited for the Ranking exams to begin.
The stands were large enough for more than what was here but that wasn’t entirely a bad thing, I couldn’t say I wanted to wait for too many people, I’d only need to see a few of the people taking the exam to grasp their abilities.
It wasn’t long before Antoris took the center of the arena and began addressing all the applicants who sat among the murmurs of each other.
"I, Antoris Vosse, Apostle of the Monarch who rules Vectus, welcomes all clans and potential benefactors to the guilds Ranking exam today, where you will have the opportunity to undergo the test that will determine if you are able and competent to take guild requests and contracts,” He said causing the applicants to quiet down and look his way with their undivided attention.
“I’m quite sure many are familiar with how the guild ranks are determined, but if you are not, I will give an explanation before I leave you all to take your exams. Under the laws of Vectus, each rank is determined by your individual core and the strength you possess, in time you may obtain a higher rank but after today you’ll receive a plate that represents your current rank in this system of Vectus, as you may know there are only four individuals that can rank you, they are known as the Big Four of the guild, however only two of the four will be ranking all applicants today. The remaining two are absent. Regardless, I am sure you are all familiar with their names,” Antoris said as he gestured toward two figures who stepped out from the few who followed him into the center of the arena.
One of them was a man who stood with a certain arrogance as he stood tall in the arena, his spiked up brown hair probably added at least three more inches of height to him, but he still had some sort of chip on his shoulder that made him scowl at the crowd.
The other was much shorter in height but appeared to analyze each person in the stands as if already ranking them. Although this man with short light teal colored hair seemed to hold a beauty that would attract many eyes, but this was simply explained by him being an elf and their race was known for an exotic beauty.
However, the particular man didn’t have the ears of an elf that would usually show through their hair. Regardless, they took their place at Antoris’s side. Which left Reiner to scoff under his breath.
"Tch, must be a lousy crowd if, that old geezer only needed those two,”
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
I didn’t say anything in response as Antoris continued with the explanation.
"Xander Huxley and Cayto Aerith are the two that will be Ranking you today. Depending on your position and abilities one of them will go against you in a one on one duel, which will determine your rank. Although I don’t expect you to beat them, you are more than welcome to try," Antoris stated to which left Xander and Cayto to give a small smirk each unique to their individual personalities.
With the explanation of the rules now over, Antoris took a breath of finality before speaking.
"The Ranking Exam will now begin, proceed to the center of the arena when your name is called,” Antoris stated and stepped away from the center with Cayto, which left Xander to remain in the center of the arena with his hands stuffed in his pockets.
“… First to take the exam will be A patron Clan of Graced Clan, Aerith. Breille, make your way to the center of the arena.” A Guild member read from a paper on her clipboard which caused a girl with sharp ears in the stands to rise to her feet and head to the center of the arena. Although she certainly looked like she was after someone else, and I certainly didn’t miss her Graced Clan name.
"Tch, it’s always the best when those pathetic elven Clans only bother entering to have their aim on that weakling Cayto,” Reiner scoffed, who watched as Breille take her place opposite of Xander with an anger evident on her face like she was upset about her bout.
Despite Xander standing before her she seemed to pierce her eyes onto the particular member of the big four.
“I should be against you! You trash! You should be before our Clan Aerith’s Monarch facing judgement for what you did!" She shouted toward Cayto as Xander idly cleaned his ear in front of her.
However, the guild member announcing the exam quickly resolved her anger by raising a hand to silence her. "With all due respect, during the Ranking exam unnecessary outbursts will not be tolerated. if you press the issue, you will receive a suspension before you can take another exam and the Guild will send an official report of your actions to your respective clan. Now, if there is no further protest. Begin!" The Guild member stated leaving Xander to stare Breille down.
“You should be paying more attention to me, you worthless rat,” He sneered with a rather rabid grin as he cracked his knuckles.
Regardless of the declaration Breille gave, she seemed to accept that her opponent was going to be Xander, as she fell into her stance not exactly happy with her opponent.
Regardless her exam began with her releasing several needles of water consisting of Physical energy from her palm while she shouted out “Water spike!”
Her spell slammed against Xander in his stance, which caused her attack to be swept aside by a blast of wind that left his palm and collided with her spell causing an explosion that knocked Breille back into the wall of the arena with a thud.
At this point I already had a few questions of not only why she called out Cayto who had the same surname as Graced Clan Aerith, but also why exactly Brielle chose to announce her attack. Although even if it consisted of Physical energy, she was still quite capable in her own regard.
After all she was able to perform a dual spell with wind to form the spiraling needle of water.
“…hmm? Why did she say her spell? As far as I know spells are inert chants, simply to form an image of understanding,” I remarked to Reiner who still sat beside me with a sneer.
"… it’s pretty common for people to say the name of their spells during casting, It’s pretty absurd right? I simply just summon flame at will, heh” He sneered with his own cocky grin.
“Huh? The only reason I can see is because unlike this Brielle and Xander? You possess Magical Energy,” I remarked which only made him snort in reply.
"Tch, screw the reasoning. These black flames are unique to me alone, and with them I’m unbeatable,” he sneered which was rather amusing considering I possessed a flame similar to his and its destructive power was much stronger in comparison.
“Is that so?” I said while Xander made his next move on Breille who had recovered and now attempted to trade a few blows with a blade and magic alike, but she seemed to be overwhelmed by the difference in their status.
Still, despite this disadvantage, Breille kept her focus and did everything in her power to defend and counter against the heavy blows from Xander’s large blade while he continued to send spells her way.
“… You could be a lot stronger… just like everyone here, it’s honestly disappointing,” I remarked which only caused him to sneer some more.
Meanwhile, Breille was practically out of breath as she desperately tried to keep up with Xander, who despite his arrogance was proving to reveal to me that even with Physical Energy he was capable of handling himself, even if it was leagues below me.
However, the battle came to an end when Xander delivered a swift strike against Breille and left her to slam into the wall with a thud.
Xander stood before her as she struggled to stand which left the guild member announcing the exam to speak.
"Brielle Aerith, upon analyzing your skills and abilities, it was determined that you will be placed in The Gold Rank, the Artifact within the arena will heal any damage done to you, then please return to your seat for further instruction,” The guild member said causing Breille to let out a heavy breath before a faint light traced the area around her, clearly healing her to what seemed to be a full state.
Which left me to conclude not many on the mainland have the ability to heal themselves without an Artifact containing Magical Energy.
"Tch, I would have made that look much easier. Clans always think their so much better than everyone, Trash,” Reiner sneered before his attention was drawn back to the arena.
“The next Applicant please, come to the arena when your name is called,” the guild member announced once again. “Ah, a long awaited individual and a patron clan to Graced Clan Naria. Grayson, make your way to the arena please." she stated, and a man stood from his bench, he was fairly tall and looked as if his clan was rather well off as a robe of red and white adorned his body along with blonde hair that was neatly swept to the side.
“About time, watching you commoners makes me sick," He remarked to the crowd with an arrogance that caused them to murmur amongst each other.
“Grayson? The same one who Graced Clan Naria was going to take on last year?" One of the people in the stands said to their friend to which they both replied with a nod.
“That’s right, they said he potentially was an S-Ranked candidate," he replied while Grayson stepped into the arena without so much as a second glance toward his opponent.
However, Reiner wasn’t so interested in the details and simply scoffed from his spot.
"Tch, Clan Naria Garbage. Religious idiots who think they own everything." He sneered under his breath before turning his attention back to the ranking exam where Cayto now took Xander’s role in the center of the arena.
Regardless I kept my attention on the arena and my thoughts on this ranking exam as the battle was about to start between the two.