Registering In The Organisation As A New Student [1]

Asher mumbled under his breath as he rubbed his stomach, leaning against a bench by the road.

After he had paid for the items he bought from the mall, he received an email from the headmaster with details of a driver he had paid to take them to the organization building.

Every detail was included—the driver's description, the type of car, and its color.

"Soft pastries... warm bread... cookies... No, maybe something with meat. Naan bread and chicken," his lips pressed into a thin line as he thought.

"A stew wouldn't be bad either... thick broth and tender chunks of delicious meat..."

Sinnett glanced at him with a blank expression, though there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"You're listing a feast. You do realize that, right?"

Asher sighed and stretched his arms over his head. "Hunger does things to a man. I didn't even eat much before the ceremony."

"Whose fault is that?" Sinnett asked, leaning against a pole.

Before Asher could respond, the purr of an engine form an approaching carr drew their attention. A sleek black car rolled to a stop in front of them, its tinted windows hiding the inside.

"The headmaster sure knows how to make things official," Asher uttered when the driver stepped out, dressed in a formal uniform similar to that of the school's security guards.

Without a word, the man opened the back door.

Sinnett got in first, followed by Asher, who sank into the surprisingly comfortable seat. As the car drove away from the mall, he turned to Sinnett.

"Think they'll serve food at the organization?"

Sinnett gave him a flat look. "Probably not."

Asher groaned. "Figures."

The drive to the organization, deep in the city, was quite short but quiet.

Sinnett kept his gaze on the road ahead, while Asher had his eyes on his phone, going through the information Tay had sent him a while ago... months, to be precise.

He had to go through most of it, and he couldn't help but be amused at how detailed every bit of information Tay gathered and sent to him was.

Starting from the academy's rules to the events that took place, the class they would likely be admitted to—and he was right about that—then the goals of the academy in relation to that of the organization.

The car pulled to a stop in a parking lot, not far from the main headquarters but still on the same land. The tower alone made Asher's brows rise when he stepped out of the car.

Occupying around 410 feet of land and standing 800 meters tall, it was freestanding.

'Why would a sane human being build this?' Asher asked no one in particular.

He stared at the tower for a long time, until his neck hurt.

But he didn't care. He just watched the blinking blue light at the top, which he had no idea how he managed to see, and wondered what a drop from such a height would be like.

It was quite the sight, but it was still strange why they would build such a thing if no one was using it.

Not to mention the large amount of land the organization had used for the structures, not counting the massive gate they had to go through to get there.

The entire area was even situated at what Asher assumed was close to the edge of the city, if not the end. And there were also people living within the land.

All eyes shifted to the main building. It was also a tall structure, but not as tall as the tower, built with white stone.

There was a black and white flag at the top, the city's flag, as well as the organisation's symbol.

A blue sun.

As Asher and Sinnett marveled at the sight around them, a woman approached.

She was dressed in a fitted, elegant gown—pink with black lace around her abdomen, extending upward.

Her long blue hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and her beautiful pink eyes glowed faintly under the sunlight.

"Welcome," she said. "I am Yumiko, the organization's Head Secretary and your guide for today."

She didn't waste time with pleasantries. She simply turned and lead them into the building. Her tone remained low when she spoke, while leading them through the halls with various statues and halls leading deeper inside.

"The organization operates under a strict hierarchy, divided into specialized divisions," she explained as they made their way through a grand hall lined with marble pillars. "Our goal is very simple."

"Protect the city from anything considered a threat, beasts, rogue Awakeners, talent users, and the like."

She gestured at the statue at the center of the massive room. "That's the first Beast Tamer, the city's founder, as well as one of our organization's founders."

"General Arkanos."

Asher nodded, his gaze settling on the white, yet spotless, statue of a man in a military suit, holding the head of a Hellhound in one hand and a sword in the other.

"There are three divisions here. The main organization, the Academy's organization, and the one we simply do not speak of."

"You will be tested by the Academy's organization guilds, and they will decide if they want to recruit you."

Asher and Sinnett nodded in approval.

They stopped before a grand staircase leading up to a set of doors. Above it, carved into the arch, was a phrase in bold lettering:

The light purges the unworthy.

"Saint Liora Guild," Yumiko uttered before leading them to an elevator. She pressed a button, and it took them to the first floor.

The doors opened to reveal a massive hall adorned with banners bearing the sigil of Saint Liora, a golden sun with a sword piercing through it.

Asher found it irritating. There was a chance they would be tied to religious people.

"They monitor magic users, investigate cursed artifacts, and eliminate those who threaten the balance between good and evil."

"This is where you will be interviewed by the Order of Saint Liora," Yumiko announced. "They are the Holy Dominion's militant arm. Their purpose is to purge unholy magic..Necromancy, curses, corruption." She glanced at Asher. "Their views may be… strict."

Asher listened, only half-interested. He already knew what this place was about. What mattered was how they'd treat him.

With his Necromancer Class, a good example of darkness.

He, however, caught the warning, but innett, on the other hand, remained unaffected.

He still asked anyway, "They don't consider Arcane magic a threat?"

Yumiko shook her head. "Arcane magic is neutral. It depends on the wielder. But Necromancy…" Her gaze flickered toward Asher briefly before looking away. "It has never proven to be anything but dangerous."

Asher exhaled. Of course, he would be seen as dangerous. A class perceived as useless and weak but remembered by citizens as harmful… could actually have potential.

Yumiko continued, "Their warriors are Paladins and Exorcists, they dedicate their lives to fighting dark magic users and beasts. Simply put, they are like warrior nuns and priests." She concluded and stepped back.

"The one who will evaluate you today is High Inquisitor Alden Graves."