Chapter 1

Sigeance

Chapter 1

The words of the Village Elder did not quite register into her head. The small man stared at her kindly, awaiting her reaction. "I passed?" she whispered, more to herself than to the man. "Yes you did, Aria. You passed the Decennial Job Test. Now you don't have to wait another ten years like the other ruffians." he said, scoffing as he said 'ruffians'.

"I passed?" she whispered again, still not believing her report.

Aria had been dreading the Decennial report for the past few weeks. Having taken the test prior to Result Day, and knowing she had done poorly, she had thought she was a sure candidate for failing the test. She thought she was going to be destined to be a vagrant forever.

Every ten years, The Decennial committee offer a complex test for those that are capable. Every person that is of the age of fifteen and over is able to take it - granted they did not take the test before. The test is a brutal sequence of physical duties and difficult questions, often dangerous and challenging. It is a rarity for someone to die, but common for a few individuals to get extremely hurt.

Thankfully, Aria was no victim to the huge array of possible injuries that can result from the tasks. In fact, she did not get hurt one bit. However, she lagged far behind her colleagues when accomplishing the task, and was reported to had finished an hour behind the person before her, even though he was injured!

The questions were equally brutal, and at the time of the interview she knew she had suffered mental injury. The questions made no sense, and were often long questions that dealt with extreme situations: a mugging, a fire, an earthquake, and the worst: a masquerpet outbreak. She fumbled on those questions so horribly, the clergy actually had to skip questions because it was too hard for her. She only recalled answering one question in full.

But she passed?! She shook her head in confusion.

"But how? I did horribly on the exam. I could have sworn I was destined to be a vagrant." Aria said.
The Village Elder shook his head quickly. "Don't say that. Being a vagrant is important. We need our workers and merchants in order for the village, nay, the kingdom to be successful."
"Yes. I guess you're right." Aria mumbled. The Village Elder was just being nice for those that failed the exam, but she knew better. Those that fail the exam become vagrants - pit workers who were destined for domesticity. Hard labor, repetitive schedules, and low pay were the normalities of a vagrant. Even the highest position - a merchant, is not as prestigious as the newest first classers.

Aria sighed deeply. She figured she shouldn't question the matter anymore. She was confused, but not stupid. She knew that she would be miserable as a vagrant for the rest of her life, and pursuing her failure will only end up to no good. Naturally she was an adventurer and yearned for quests. Now all that remained was the matter of...

"My job!" she gasped. "If I'm not going to be a vagrant, then what will I be?"

At that moment an array of majestic visualizations surged through Aria's mind. She could be a magician, and wield sparkling wands or magical staves. She could cast spells of all colorful elements - from fire, water, earth, wind, or lightning, with a mere click or wave of her fingers. She could become an assist - wielding the power to heal and bless allies, and being able to utilize the art of the Rallaikum: the martial art fighting of the weapon-less. Or she could be a mercenary - meaty and brutal. Although she was as skimpy as a stick, she did marvel in the use of blades.

"You," the Village Elder began. "Will be an acrobat!"

She blushed in embarrassment. "An acrobat?" she said in disbelief. Acrobats were chaotic individuals; most hoodlums and ruffians become acrobats due to their anarchistic and rebellious nature. They wielded yoyos - used to bash the skulls of anyone unwary, or to restrain individuals with their devastating chains. It wasn't exactly her style, but she knew shecould live with it.

"I guess that's not bad." she smiled, trying to force a kind laugh. "Wielding yoyos might be fun to do, and the chains can be useful for accomplishing tasks."

"A yoyo?" the Village elder said, almost disgustingly. "No, dear girl. I dare not to destine you to a lifetime of nuisancy. Not a kind girl like you." He shook his head. "You will become something much better. Something more prestigious than the most magical magician, the strongest assist, the fastest mercenary."

Better than all that? Aria could not think of such a thing. It nevertheless excited her.

"You will become a Ranger!" the Village Elder said, a wide smile cracking his weatherworn face.

Aria could feel the blood draining from her head, leaving her mortified face in a sheet of deathly white. A Ranger? A Ranger?! That is possibly the lowest class she could ever be - perhaps even lower than being a common vagrant!

Rangers are the black sheep of Madrigal society. Barely anyone becomes a Ranger. Only the Nobodies of society become Rangers - it's like being spiritually and socially expelled from everyone else. Being a Ranger is like having the word "Stupid" or "Incapable" plastered on your forehead. Everyone knew Rangers were terrible warriors. All they had to assist them were skimpy arrows - arrows, for goddesses' sake!

Only a few people, including the Village Elder, knew about Rangers. Apart from flinging their toothpick-of-an-arrow, most don't even know what they do; the class isn't listed in books, described in classrooms, or even mentioned on the battle fields. All they know is that Rangers have only a bow - even your fists can cause more damage than what a bow can do.

"A Ranger?" Aria tried to put on a firm face, but her shaking eyes were incredulous. "Surely there must be a mistake..-"
"A mistake? No no. The clergy never makes mistakes. But why the long face? It is an honor to be a Ranger!"

People knew the Village Elder was becoming senile, but Aria did not know it had advanced to the point where he believed a Ranger would be honorable. A Ranger is anything but honorable. Aria cursed. She would be the laughing stock of the town! She was about to reject her position, but was stopped by a wrinkly finger on her lips. The Village Elder shook his head.

"I know you are excited. No need to be humble! You well deserve this. Now, go tell your loved ones the great news and report back at the Warrior's Hall in Flarine to receive your next instructions. Good bye now!"

She felt herself being turned and pushed toward the doorway. Outside, benches of boys and girls were waiting for their result. But from the looks of their humorous faces and suppressed snickers she knew they had heard.

Oh, she could only imagine what the crowd would do to her.

Oh my god. A ranger? Aria's a Ranger everyone! Let's throw rocks at her!