Beginnings (7)

"Good evening. My name is Evelin Johnson, I will need some sort of identification, birth certificate, hundred-dollar fee, then you will have to answer a few questions. Is that fine?"

She barely spoke, and the place seemed ten degrease colder. Cold beauty will be the wrong term, she is the blizzard queen.

"Yes…"

"Sit down then."

"Dominque Blake. Male. Age 19. Born in Ottawa. Why do you want to register?" she said without looking at me. Her fingers kept dancing on the keyboard, filling in boxes on the screen.

"I want to earn money."

"That's fine. Are you a student at any Artist University?"

"No."

"Then are you a regular or an Artist?"

"I'm an Artist."

"Martial or Arcane?"

"…" 'What I'm I supposed to say? Master… you didn't say anything about keeping it a secret.'

"Is there a problem? If you are a regular, you should know that there is a test later to make sure you are an Artist." She stopped typing and looked at me. Her eyes piercing my skull, like if it was made out of glass.

"NoNoNo. There is no problem. It's just that I'm not neither of the two."

"Then what are you? Mutant, natural, remember that all the information is kept confidential."

"It would be Mutant." The only one that fits….

"Ok. There are a few papers that you need to sign. First is this one… it states that you are acknowledging that the association is not responsible for any injury or death that may happen in the Hunting Grounds. Sign at the bottom, with today's date. You can buy insurance if you wish so, later just ask an attendee at the entrance they will bring you the right department. Next is this one, it states that you agree to follow all rules and regulation of the association when inside the hunting grounds. Again, sign at the bottom. And here is the rule book, read it."

"Done. What's next."

"You need to show me proof that you are an Artist. If you need a room tell me now."

"It's fine." I extended my hand and manifested the soul on it. "Is that enough?"

"Yes. Now, look here."

She took a camera out of nowhere and snapped a picture before I realized what is happening.

"I will go print your MCA ID, wait here." She said and left.

Sigh… at last, I had a second to relax. But it didn't last long, Blizzard Queen came back in less than five minutes.

"Here is your ID, don't lose it, you will need it when entering and exiting the Hunting ground. It can be used as a credit card as well, and if you wish, so any rewards can be automatically stored in it."

"Yes please."

"Now, if you have any issues, questions or requests you contact me. If you want to accept missions, ask an attended and they will bring you to the right department. If there is anything you want to ask, do it now."

"Ummm…"

"Since there is nothing you only need to pay and go."

"… Yes."

After doing paying, I left the building. For today there was nothing I had to do, I found a small restaurant and ordered something to eat. I took the rule book and started to read it before the food arrived. It was long, longer then you would think.

"Hey, are you a newbie?" while I wasn't paying attention, someone approached me. He looked a few years older than me, wearing leather armor, and a sword on his hip.

"Yes. How did you…?"

"It's the rule book, no one other than newbies read them. You also don't have any armor or weapon, even Arcane artists have them just in case something happens. Plus, you didn't notice me closing in on you."

"…" He is right in 2 out 3 cases here. "Who are you?"

"Jackson. I'm the team leader of Red Hawks."

"Dominique. Newbie."

"Nice to meet you. If you are eating alone, maybe you want to join us? We are sitting at the back."

"You are trying to recruit me?" It was obvious.

"Well… we are down one person, they had some family business to take care off. But there is no pressure if you want you can come you will meet everyone and if you are interested…"

"Sure if you don't mind me dragging you guys down a little."

"Good. This way. So, are you Arcane or Martial artist?"

"Mutant."

"No way! I never met one in person before. So, what is it? I heard that azure flame is powerful."

"I wish. Did you see the fight between the Sky Magician and the Earth Dragon?"

"I did! I watched it five times it was that good. Either way… we are here. Everyone this is Dom. Dom this is Marcus, Lily, and Havier."

When we arrived, everyone eyes were on me. Marcus had black skin and short hair, he was wearing heavy armor, a mix of Kevlar and Steal. If it were new, it would look good, but with its tattered appearance, it only seemed durable. He was most likely a Martial Artist.

Lily was wearing leather armor and a small knife on her hip. She looked nice but wasn't a beauty of Emily or Evelin level. There was no damage to her armor, so most likely she is an Arcane Artist.

Havier. He was unusual. He was wearing very little armor, and his weapon of choice appeared to be a bow. It means he is a Martial Artist bowman. Very rare in these times. With the emergence of firearms, most bowmen died out.

As for Jackson, he was the most stereotypical Martial artist with a bastard sword.

This will be interesting.