As dawn breaks, the doors open. I walk to the reception desk with long strides.
"Good morning," I say to the receptionist.
"Good morning, my name is Valentine, how may I assist you?" she says.
"I'm requesting an identification card," I tell her.
"Alright, have you had one before?" Valentine questions.
"No, but it's a change of career–my predicament. I need money, you see."
A lie? Yes. But it is a necessary one.
"Sure, it's a common occurrence, may I have your name?" she says, smiling.
"Asphodel," I say with pride.
We proceed onto the next process—power scaling. She tells me to wait in the lobby while they ready the arena where my power will be scaled. Then follows the photo ID process.
After a few minutes, Valentine calls me back,
"We are ready for you," she guides me to the arena.
The administrator is standing next to a crystal ball half his size. He introduces himself and how the test is conducted.
"Place your hand on the crystal, and feel your power surge through your core."
I place my left hand on the ball.
It's cold.
I exhale and close my eyes, trying to feel my core.
I feel something, it's warm…no… it's getting warmer…
"Hot!—" I pull my hand away quickly.
I open my eyes to see the crystal ball. It's a small glow of darkness, but looking closer, there is something in the middle. A hazy red and a flickering white swirling about. I turn to look at the administrator, he seems pleased.
"You have a dark attribute, and it's a low grade," he shakes my hand.
Huh? They don't see the other colors?
They guide me to have my photo taken, and the administrator leaves. I remove my hood. The receptionist's expression shows the same strange look from my previous life. A slight blush, a little flustered, but professional still.
"Please look this way," Valentine says, as she casts a spell.
A flash of light brightens the room for a second.
I'll never get used to this– my eyes…
I receive my card and head out to Orphnaeus stumbling over things like I had done before.
The Duke's guards heading this way, from the town entrance. I get ready to leave, wearing my cloak. keeping myself inconspicuous, I buy breakfast at Clover Inn, and sit in the corner of the room. Unseen. Unheard. Like a breath not noticed in the summer wind.
I return my tray just as I did before, but this time, I choose to stay. In the back corner, I wait for the Duke's men to arrive. I reminisce for a moment, about the beautiful screams, their useless efforts. A faint smile spreads across my face.
Ah, how wonderful.
They barge in, the officiant, yelling at the top of his lungs. Everyone is looking around, murmuring amongst each other. A news grand enough to shake the empire, is being told in a small town, like an item that's misplaced.
I sit patiently in my corner, watching them, blather like the fools they are.
Were these the people I'd been scared of. Watching them from my room? What a mess I must've been.
Some are surprised, I can hear them mumbling.
"The Duke's daughter is missing and this is all they send?"
Nothing like a rumor, something that spreads across the empire in an instant. Like an untamed wind, it soars beyond, without grasp.
"Yeah, but isn't it weird that they didn't post it at the Hunters Association?"
The officiant glares at them, to make them stop talking.
"Anyone who catches— ahem!— finds the princess will be rewarded a lump sum," the officiant gestures toward a small treasure chest of gold.
The eyes of many light up, seeing the prize money, I can hear the bells of death. Dead or alive I must be caught.
Hmm…
Many gather and leave with the Duke's men. They go from gathering to gathering, drawing out crowds, like goblins chasing gold. Of course, I follow in pursuit, in a distance. We finally arrive at the gate to leave town. The excitement is building, I feel joyous. They rest by the gate to gather supplies and water. I, on the other hand, plan to leave ahead of them.
I mount on Orphnaeus, and ride up to the gate. Just as I arrive, the commotion takes place.
Ah, the drunk– that's right, just like before.
I patiently wait for the guards to rush to contain the drunk and his fire spells.
As soon as they started running, I happily trot away, without a moment to pause.
I take off my hood, feeling the breeze, I begin to laugh hysterically.
"I just might have become insane, like that couple said," I laugh till my stomach hurt.
We come to stop at the same rest area. Now we wait until evening arrives, then the game begins