Beginnings (Part 1)
Dec 29, 2020 17:40:21 GMT -5
Post by therunawaygirl on Dec 29, 2020 17:40:21 GMT -5
(This is a "short" story, and I plan on sharing more of these to help build my characters. So please, enjoy!)
The alarm rang loudly, but no matter how long it rang, Tori wouldn’t move out from the bed. She kept trying to cover the sun with her pillow, and fall asleep again, but that desire wasn’t allowed for too long. Slamming the door open, someone walked inside with little care, and grabbed onto Tori’s bedsheets to then toss them aside. Tori shouted her lungs out, trying to grab the bedsheets again, but she only heard a chuckle as reply, and couldn’t help but groan back.
“Wake up, or you’ll be late” a mature, female voice spoke, “You ought to thank me for even waking you up. I thought you put the alarm for today’s test?”
“Huh…?” Tori groaned, “…Oh, shoot!” she jumped immediately out of bed, “I totally forgot!”
“Took you long enough… Go on, then, hurry up —you’ve still got time.”
Tori looked at whoever was speaking —her classroom teacher, Aomi Sakura. It was odd enough to see her in the bedrooms of the academy, less waking a student up. Not for Tori, however, since Sakura had decided to take her under her wing for a while —for 7 years, to be precise. The two of them never spoke of the matter, yet were both aware of what had happened for them to be that close. Therefore, Sakura would often act as a mother to Tori, even though they had only started as acquaintances.
Tori smiled, and jumped immediately down from her bed, while Sakura began to leave her room so that she could get ready to go out and attend class. After a few minutes, Tori was already out, backpack on her back, her uniform impeccable and a rubber band on her mouth as she began to tie her hair in a clean bun. Like usual, she dashed out of the room hall, leaving Sakura behind, hurrying to her classroom. After seeing Tori dash out, Sakura sighed, uneasy —that was the same Tori she’d met 11 years ago, and hadn’t changed one bit since.
Dashing through the roads leading to the school hall, Tori didn’t even bother to look around —it was a tad late to be looking around for anything else. Had it been any other day, it might’ve been different, but not that day —no sir. That day would determine each student’s aptitudes, strengths and weaknesses, in order for them to properly enroll in the classes they chased after —the Hunter’s Test. Although Tori was more than capable of passing any of the tests available, she was more interested in her companions’ results, particularly Mei, one of her two best friends. For a span of 2 months, she had done nothing more than help her at least meet the requirements to pass one of the tests —the test that best suited Mei. In the end of the 2 months, Mei had become quite a good support and aid for the group, and was more than happy with her role. And that day was the day where they’d finally be recognized by their strength.
Once she got to the classroom, Tori calmed down. There had yet to be assistance call, so she still had some time to review the basics on her own. The other students that were there were chatting with either joy or unease, but it was no surprise. In the end, the Hunter’s Test was similar to a life-or-death situation, but without the extremes —if you didn’t pass, you’d have to take another year learning all of the basics that regarded Hunters and Tacticians, and it was no easy task, because, since it was obvious that you’d already have that knowledge, you’d have to do extra work in learning in-depth about the subject. And from others’ experience, it wasn’t easy at all. But that was the way of life in Sakura Island, where monsters were a daily threat, and survival was an everyday situation.
“…Morning, Tori” a soft voice called Tori’s attention, “I didn’t think you’d be coming early today…”
“Oh…” Tori looked up from her notebook, “Well, today’s basically our last day of school, and our only chance to actually prove ourselves as people in society, right?” she replied with a touch of sass, “Either way… I didn’t want to miss it. Say, speaking of… How are you feeling, Mei? Nervous?”
“Actually, no… I think 'excited' is a better word” Mei smiled, “To think I have a chance of passing this… It really makes me happy!”
“I hope it’s the same for the others, then. If Neku passes, he’ll actually be able to join the Mercenary class. And same goes for Ashe, Vaan and Penelo in their respective aspired jobs.”
“And we’ll be graduated while being excluded from all regarding our aspired job as well, right?”
“Yup. Should be like that.”
“I wish my parents were here to see…” Mei’s eyes irradiated a nostalgic glow, “I think they’d be proud of what I’ve been able to achieve.”
“I think so, too” Tori smiled, “But, in the end, the test’s what really counts. So let’s give our best! Remember, I won’t be with you in your test, but if I’ve got time, I’ll go cheer you up with the others, okay?”
“It’s not necessary —I think I’m able to pass. But I’d appreciate it nonetheless.”
“Okay, class, I’ll be taking attendance now” Sakura’s voice was firm and loud, echoing throughout the entire room, “Sit down so that we can get this done with quickly.”
Mei sat down in the desk right beside Tori, while a silver-haired boy sat right in front of Tori —Luneth, the group’s Stalker apprentice. He quickly looked back, and Tori winked at him with a mischievous smile, to which he replied back smiling. They were all there for each other, and they’d practiced just to pass that test, even if barely.
Attendance was quickly finished thanks to the entire class’ disposition, and they were all soon readying themselves to be called to their respective tests. Between the trio of class 20-C, Tori would take the “Hunter” test, Mei would take the “Red Mage” support test, and Luneth would take the “Stalker” test. The others, that were all in class 21-B, also had chosen a path to follow —Neku would take the “Mercenary” test; Ashe, the “White Mage” test; Vaan, the “Thief” test; and Penelo, the “Green Mage” test. All of them together made a great, balanced team, as evidenced by their trademark Guild’s rather large recognition —the Hunter’s Gang. And because of it, they were sure that they wouldn’t regret their decision —not when they’re practiced so much of it on field work.
Miss Sakura soon called the students that were going to take both the White and Black Mage test, meaning that Ashe would be the first one of the group to start. Luneth suggested seeing how this year’s test would perform, seeing as they called in both White and Black Mage aspirants. Tori and Mei both agreed, and Miss Sakura didn’t hold back any students that were going to watch the first test take place.
Everyone was unconsciously going to the school grounds to see the first test take place. The seats were all over the small arena where the mages would begin. Tori, Luneth and Mei managed to get first-line seats, and made sure to save for the others before the seats were all taken. Neku, Vaan and Penelo didn’t take long in catching up, and soon they were all talking about how Ashe would do, and what the test would be like.
“I heard they’re making pairs —one White Mage and one Black mage” Vaan pointed out, “I don’t know who Ashe is with, but let’s hope it’s someone she knows…”
“I think that I doesn’t matter as long as she focus!” Penelo smiled, “Ashe is more than capable of getting pass this test, I just know it!”
“Let’s hope that perception of yours's right…” Neku smiled bitterly.
“…Tori?” Luneth soon called Tori, who was watching down to the arena.
“Hmm…” Tori hummed, looking down vividly, “Looks like they’re not going limited by class.”
“Huh?”
“The partner Ashe is with is one of our classmates” Tori turned back, “Therefore, it’s not limited to only your class, but rather random in the category you pick.”
“What?!” Mei rushed to the edge, and looked down, “It’s true… Ashe is with someone from our class.”
“So that means that we could team up if our tests are going to be one” Vaan said, “Does anyone know which jobs are gonna be with which?”
“I do” Luneth replied.
“Not to be missed from our Stalker” Tori praised.
“I think we can discard every other once we get them clear” he smiled back, “I know that the next test is the Red and Green mages, so you two” he looked at Penelo and Mei, “are going next, no doubt.”
“Oh, boy…” Penelo sighed, and then looked at Mei, “Let’s hope we can be partners in this one.”
“Mm-hmm” Mei nodded.
“I’ll assume that Thief and Stalker apprentices are together, as well as Hunter and Mercenaries. Blue Mages and Salve-makers should be, therefore, together.”
“Huh…” Neku whistled, “So we’ve all got a shot of partnerin’ with each other, right? Neat. It’s like they rigged it for us.”
“It’s not guaranteed” Tori snickered, “We might as well just fight each other, y’know.”
“Still… It’s nice to know we’ve got a shot.”
“Soo, we have a chance of both being partnered with, or compete against each other” Penelo shrugged her shoulders, “Regardless, it doesn't matter if one wins loses, because that doesn't guarantee that they won’t pass. They’ll be judging the competitions to see whether or not they took to heart what they learnt.”
“If that’s the case, I already know of someone who’ll fail” Vaan grinned as he looked at Tori, “It’s not certain, but it could be.”
“Heck if I don’t pass this” Tori smirked back, “You’ll see —I’ll pass with flying colors!”
The group kept teasing at each other, but it wasn’t to lower the morale. In fact, it was for the opposite —to give their all. Throughout her hangouts with the Hunter’s Gang, Mei had learnt their way of trusting and encouraging the other, and that would vary depending on the situation. In a situation of stress, they would usually tease each other to make sure they would give their all, and not pay attention to other’s understatements. Thanks to that, she’d changed for the better. And, because of that change, she was now more confident of herself than before, leading her to feel more capable in various areas she felt useless in before.
Soon, everything seemed to calm down, and the group turned their attention at the arena. Ashe and her partner were talking, and there were other two magician apprentices on the other side. Tori looked to the judges’ table, smiling once she spotted Miss Sakura sitting on one of the seats there. The other two judges were another teacher at school and the leader of the Black Roses, one of the island’s most known guilds. To think a real Hunter would be spectating the test was nerve-wracking, but Tori had thought of that chance before. However, she was expecting someone else to show up, so her disappointment was quite large, but she didn’t lose hope. If she had at least one chance…
“Tori, come on!” Mei called, “It’s about to start!”
The alarm rang loudly, but no matter how long it rang, Tori wouldn’t move out from the bed. She kept trying to cover the sun with her pillow, and fall asleep again, but that desire wasn’t allowed for too long. Slamming the door open, someone walked inside with little care, and grabbed onto Tori’s bedsheets to then toss them aside. Tori shouted her lungs out, trying to grab the bedsheets again, but she only heard a chuckle as reply, and couldn’t help but groan back.
“Wake up, or you’ll be late” a mature, female voice spoke, “You ought to thank me for even waking you up. I thought you put the alarm for today’s test?”
“Huh…?” Tori groaned, “…Oh, shoot!” she jumped immediately out of bed, “I totally forgot!”
“Took you long enough… Go on, then, hurry up —you’ve still got time.”
Tori looked at whoever was speaking —her classroom teacher, Aomi Sakura. It was odd enough to see her in the bedrooms of the academy, less waking a student up. Not for Tori, however, since Sakura had decided to take her under her wing for a while —for 7 years, to be precise. The two of them never spoke of the matter, yet were both aware of what had happened for them to be that close. Therefore, Sakura would often act as a mother to Tori, even though they had only started as acquaintances.
Tori smiled, and jumped immediately down from her bed, while Sakura began to leave her room so that she could get ready to go out and attend class. After a few minutes, Tori was already out, backpack on her back, her uniform impeccable and a rubber band on her mouth as she began to tie her hair in a clean bun. Like usual, she dashed out of the room hall, leaving Sakura behind, hurrying to her classroom. After seeing Tori dash out, Sakura sighed, uneasy —that was the same Tori she’d met 11 years ago, and hadn’t changed one bit since.
Dashing through the roads leading to the school hall, Tori didn’t even bother to look around —it was a tad late to be looking around for anything else. Had it been any other day, it might’ve been different, but not that day —no sir. That day would determine each student’s aptitudes, strengths and weaknesses, in order for them to properly enroll in the classes they chased after —the Hunter’s Test. Although Tori was more than capable of passing any of the tests available, she was more interested in her companions’ results, particularly Mei, one of her two best friends. For a span of 2 months, she had done nothing more than help her at least meet the requirements to pass one of the tests —the test that best suited Mei. In the end of the 2 months, Mei had become quite a good support and aid for the group, and was more than happy with her role. And that day was the day where they’d finally be recognized by their strength.
Once she got to the classroom, Tori calmed down. There had yet to be assistance call, so she still had some time to review the basics on her own. The other students that were there were chatting with either joy or unease, but it was no surprise. In the end, the Hunter’s Test was similar to a life-or-death situation, but without the extremes —if you didn’t pass, you’d have to take another year learning all of the basics that regarded Hunters and Tacticians, and it was no easy task, because, since it was obvious that you’d already have that knowledge, you’d have to do extra work in learning in-depth about the subject. And from others’ experience, it wasn’t easy at all. But that was the way of life in Sakura Island, where monsters were a daily threat, and survival was an everyday situation.
“…Morning, Tori” a soft voice called Tori’s attention, “I didn’t think you’d be coming early today…”
“Oh…” Tori looked up from her notebook, “Well, today’s basically our last day of school, and our only chance to actually prove ourselves as people in society, right?” she replied with a touch of sass, “Either way… I didn’t want to miss it. Say, speaking of… How are you feeling, Mei? Nervous?”
“Actually, no… I think 'excited' is a better word” Mei smiled, “To think I have a chance of passing this… It really makes me happy!”
“I hope it’s the same for the others, then. If Neku passes, he’ll actually be able to join the Mercenary class. And same goes for Ashe, Vaan and Penelo in their respective aspired jobs.”
“And we’ll be graduated while being excluded from all regarding our aspired job as well, right?”
“Yup. Should be like that.”
“I wish my parents were here to see…” Mei’s eyes irradiated a nostalgic glow, “I think they’d be proud of what I’ve been able to achieve.”
“I think so, too” Tori smiled, “But, in the end, the test’s what really counts. So let’s give our best! Remember, I won’t be with you in your test, but if I’ve got time, I’ll go cheer you up with the others, okay?”
“It’s not necessary —I think I’m able to pass. But I’d appreciate it nonetheless.”
“Okay, class, I’ll be taking attendance now” Sakura’s voice was firm and loud, echoing throughout the entire room, “Sit down so that we can get this done with quickly.”
Mei sat down in the desk right beside Tori, while a silver-haired boy sat right in front of Tori —Luneth, the group’s Stalker apprentice. He quickly looked back, and Tori winked at him with a mischievous smile, to which he replied back smiling. They were all there for each other, and they’d practiced just to pass that test, even if barely.
Attendance was quickly finished thanks to the entire class’ disposition, and they were all soon readying themselves to be called to their respective tests. Between the trio of class 20-C, Tori would take the “Hunter” test, Mei would take the “Red Mage” support test, and Luneth would take the “Stalker” test. The others, that were all in class 21-B, also had chosen a path to follow —Neku would take the “Mercenary” test; Ashe, the “White Mage” test; Vaan, the “Thief” test; and Penelo, the “Green Mage” test. All of them together made a great, balanced team, as evidenced by their trademark Guild’s rather large recognition —the Hunter’s Gang. And because of it, they were sure that they wouldn’t regret their decision —not when they’re practiced so much of it on field work.
Miss Sakura soon called the students that were going to take both the White and Black Mage test, meaning that Ashe would be the first one of the group to start. Luneth suggested seeing how this year’s test would perform, seeing as they called in both White and Black Mage aspirants. Tori and Mei both agreed, and Miss Sakura didn’t hold back any students that were going to watch the first test take place.
Everyone was unconsciously going to the school grounds to see the first test take place. The seats were all over the small arena where the mages would begin. Tori, Luneth and Mei managed to get first-line seats, and made sure to save for the others before the seats were all taken. Neku, Vaan and Penelo didn’t take long in catching up, and soon they were all talking about how Ashe would do, and what the test would be like.
“I heard they’re making pairs —one White Mage and one Black mage” Vaan pointed out, “I don’t know who Ashe is with, but let’s hope it’s someone she knows…”
“I think that I doesn’t matter as long as she focus!” Penelo smiled, “Ashe is more than capable of getting pass this test, I just know it!”
“Let’s hope that perception of yours's right…” Neku smiled bitterly.
“…Tori?” Luneth soon called Tori, who was watching down to the arena.
“Hmm…” Tori hummed, looking down vividly, “Looks like they’re not going limited by class.”
“Huh?”
“The partner Ashe is with is one of our classmates” Tori turned back, “Therefore, it’s not limited to only your class, but rather random in the category you pick.”
“What?!” Mei rushed to the edge, and looked down, “It’s true… Ashe is with someone from our class.”
“So that means that we could team up if our tests are going to be one” Vaan said, “Does anyone know which jobs are gonna be with which?”
“I do” Luneth replied.
“Not to be missed from our Stalker” Tori praised.
“I think we can discard every other once we get them clear” he smiled back, “I know that the next test is the Red and Green mages, so you two” he looked at Penelo and Mei, “are going next, no doubt.”
“Oh, boy…” Penelo sighed, and then looked at Mei, “Let’s hope we can be partners in this one.”
“Mm-hmm” Mei nodded.
“I’ll assume that Thief and Stalker apprentices are together, as well as Hunter and Mercenaries. Blue Mages and Salve-makers should be, therefore, together.”
“Huh…” Neku whistled, “So we’ve all got a shot of partnerin’ with each other, right? Neat. It’s like they rigged it for us.”
“It’s not guaranteed” Tori snickered, “We might as well just fight each other, y’know.”
“Still… It’s nice to know we’ve got a shot.”
“Soo, we have a chance of both being partnered with, or compete against each other” Penelo shrugged her shoulders, “Regardless, it doesn't matter if one wins loses, because that doesn't guarantee that they won’t pass. They’ll be judging the competitions to see whether or not they took to heart what they learnt.”
“If that’s the case, I already know of someone who’ll fail” Vaan grinned as he looked at Tori, “It’s not certain, but it could be.”
“Heck if I don’t pass this” Tori smirked back, “You’ll see —I’ll pass with flying colors!”
The group kept teasing at each other, but it wasn’t to lower the morale. In fact, it was for the opposite —to give their all. Throughout her hangouts with the Hunter’s Gang, Mei had learnt their way of trusting and encouraging the other, and that would vary depending on the situation. In a situation of stress, they would usually tease each other to make sure they would give their all, and not pay attention to other’s understatements. Thanks to that, she’d changed for the better. And, because of that change, she was now more confident of herself than before, leading her to feel more capable in various areas she felt useless in before.
Soon, everything seemed to calm down, and the group turned their attention at the arena. Ashe and her partner were talking, and there were other two magician apprentices on the other side. Tori looked to the judges’ table, smiling once she spotted Miss Sakura sitting on one of the seats there. The other two judges were another teacher at school and the leader of the Black Roses, one of the island’s most known guilds. To think a real Hunter would be spectating the test was nerve-wracking, but Tori had thought of that chance before. However, she was expecting someone else to show up, so her disappointment was quite large, but she didn’t lose hope. If she had at least one chance…
“Tori, come on!” Mei called, “It’s about to start!”