Class 09J01 - Bell, Gwendolyn [Evaluation Day]
“So long as there have been humans there have been others, and with this co-existence has come unions between us. The offspring of these many possible unions are collectively called ‘demi-human’. Half Human; Half Something Else.”
-Benjamin Franklin, 1784, The First Sentence of “The First Edition of the Complete History of Demihumans.”
Evaluation Day
The sun had reached the midpoint of its rising over the mass of young freshmen gathered around the courtyard of West Progress High School. They chattered among themselves. Some boasting about their strength, power, and skills and why it made them the best there. Some didn’t mingle with the crowd but rather stood off in smaller cliques whispering their own gossip and telling jokes of the boasters. Further off still, hidden in the shadow of a tree trying to not be noticed was a small girl with a crown of plain flowers braided in her hair.
Gwendolyn Bell sat dreading the day. She didn’t want to be here, but she didn’t want to be anywhere. Gwen tried to remain unnoticed as other students tried to show themselves off. She saw them summoning power and conjuring forces. They tossed balls of fire between their hands, shot sparks of lightning around, and simply struck one another in the games of mercy. They were like beasts finally allowed out of their cage. Finally allowed to roam. Their games ended when a whistle cut through the chatter.
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“Alright, listen up.” An average-looking man called for silence from a platform. Looking over a clipboard he addressed the crowd, “My name is Simon Mirmen. You can call me Mr Mirmen, Mr Simon, or Sir. Anything else is detention. Now today we’ll be testing and gauging your physical and mental potential as well as assessing the nature of your demitypes. The test will start with physical traits, gauging speed and strength, followed by mental traits, your knowledge and intelligence, and then independent interviews for special traits. Any questions?”
Simon Mirmen was sharp, firm, and quick with his words. One young man towered over the others around him as he stepped forward and started to ask “Do we really have-”
“No, you don’t have to take our evaluation. You can leave and never return, Mr” Simon checked his clipboard, “Robert… Tartar. Like the fish sauce?” Simon raised an eyebrow.
“It is pronounced tar-tar. It’s a proud name from-” Robert started to boast but was cut off.
“Okay, Mr Tar-tar. No, you’re not forced to be here. You can leave whenever you want, but if you want to attend this school you’ll do the evaluation without complaint. Understood?”
Robert huffed but nodded quietly before taking a step back into the crowd.
“Now, we’ll begin with a simple foot race. Everyone will be lined up and set to make their way to the next test site.” Simon explained as he stepped down and headed around the school, “Come along everyone.”