Chapter Twenty-Six: Selection

Upon arrival at the barracks, we all make a simple plan. Since nothing on this floor is clear, we have decided that regardless of what exactly our training entails, we will cooperate without complaint. This was a fairly easy plan to devise, as the very fact that none of us are high enough level to go against Garf or even a normal civilian on this floor makes the decision pretty clear.

A couple hours of us waiting in anticipation is interrupted as an intercom echoes through the barracks telling us to meet at the mess hall immediately. I can’t tell where it comes from, but I don’t bother spending the time checking as I follow Vince and the rest of the group back toward the main building where it feels like our impending doom awaits.

When we arrive, there are five people standing in wait alongside Garf who holds a weird azure rock in his hand.

“Approach and form a line.”

We do so without any complaints and I quickly find myself standing at the end behind Angus.

“Put your hand on the stone and then wait for a trainer to pick you. After they pick, you are to do what they say without complaint. Is this clear?”

We all nod and Garf gestures at the first person in line to come forward. Vince steps forward and puts his palm on the rock while I attempt to crane around everyone else to watch. His hand sits there for a few seconds before Garf waves him off while tapping his fingers on the stone like a keyboard.

“Level 7. BDY focus. Skills lean toward bruiser tank.”

The severe man reads off the results like a lab technician and almost immediately, one of the five standing next to them raises their hand. Although I am interested in what the results reveal, I watch absently as Vince hurries to stand behind a large man with short hair and a smushed nose that looks like he got punched one to many times.

< Ruler’s Hound – Level ??? >

The line moves forward as the next person up is Sandra. Following suit with Vince, she puts her hand on the stone while Garf plays around with its surface.

“Level 6. BDY and AGI split. Skills portray a variety of options. Potential for PWR upheaval for conversion to spell blade.”

I listen to the comparatively lengthy explanation and watch as two hands come up. One is a pretty woman with youthful features and ruby red hair that contrasts well with her bright eyes. The other is a slender older woman with severe features and cold gaze. When they see each other’s hands, the younger woman puts her hand down with a playful pout that the other woman doesn’t even acknowledge. Sandra silently falls into position behind the older one who doesn’t even glance at her.

< Ruin-Blade Sorceress – Level ??? >

Up next is Henry, who hastily places his palm on the stone while staring at the ground.

“Level 3. BDY centered with AGI support. Skills oppose stat allocations and need PWR overhaul. Potential for mobile tank or vanguard support.”

No one raises a hand for multiple seconds until eventually the man who picked Vince waves a finger while looking somewhat disinterested. Henry scurries over to stand next to Vince while Sara steps up to the stone.

“Level 6, AGI centered with MND support. Skills lean toward jack-of-all-trades build.”

This time, only the red-haired lady raises her hand, and Sara wordlessly finds her place behind her while the woman claps her hands excitedly.

< Freeform Illusionist – Level ??? >

The process continues without fault as Kathryn, Nikki, Benny, and Wade are sorted one after the other.

“Level 5. PWR focus with BDY support. Skills portray affinity for a general magician class.”

“Level 4. AGI focus. Skills suggest scout or rogue class.”

“Level 1. Even split of stats. Skills could result in a variety of classes.”

“Level 4. Even split of stats. Skills have potential but points at no particular build.”

Kathryn and Benny find themselves being chosen by the stern looking trainer that picked Sandra. Nikki and Wade both go to one of the two trainers who hadn’t picked anyone yet. He is a jolly looking man clad in loose robes and has a particular habit of stroking his thick ginger beard.

< Harmonic Shaper- Level ??? >

Just as the rest have done, Angus steps forward and places a sweaty hand on the stone while rubbing his leg nervously with the other. Unlike the previous rounds, Garf’s eyebrows raise slightly and he doesn’t bother reading out the results.

“You are with me, boy.”

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This causes some surprise in the room, as Nikki and Wade’s trainer chuckles loudly while the man in charge of Vince and Henry scowls at Garf. The youthful woman who chose Sara puts a dramatic hand over her mouth while her eyes glitter.

“Being a bit selfish, are we Garfield?”

Garf declines to respond to the woman’s provocation and instead turns his attention back to me.