The view I saw when I've returned to my seat was nothing but a chaos.
Wonded people with fresh bloods on there skins (although there is no big wonds to see), Many carried by others. The majority were likely seemed as if they went through hell and came alive.
Comparing to them, Our group was in a good state, even Drew waken up minutes after we finished. No wonds, No blood, No mental damage... wasn't that a success?
Maybe yes, but that was my own definition of that, because others seemed to be possessed with the gems we got not the fact that we survived it in the first place.
Three gems for me when everyone else got five. Why and how and depends on what? I didn't know. I for sure didn't see it more than pretty stones.
As long as I didn't know what to do with it, three seemed good.
Plus, asking about it after that early conversation made me uncomfortable. If somehow I knew, nice. If I didn't? Still nice. I'm having enough things to stress about and adding one more is seriously a big deal.
"So you all came out alive!" The stylish man said as he stepped on the stage again. "No costs! What a wonderful newcomers we have!"
A tiny small voice came out after that, like he is talking to himself. "though there is loss of some limbs but we've returned it— khm"
He cleared his throat after that dark joke, then with a snap of his fingers returned to the joyful energetic sound—
Started to tell a story.
"So, my lovely new kids... you've survived a long journey until now. Discovering the reality of this world, picking a nobel aim, finding out your specialization, going to academics that dried up both your pockets and mental health, then finally— you are here, after many exams that ended with this last one!"
Silence filled the air afterwards.
I had no idea about any single thing he said,but acted cool like it was a touching speech.
"Congratulations! You've finally became a part of this prestigious establishment!" The thunderous applause made me shiver. "Now take your systems with you, my beloved ones, it'll guide you through the rest!"
Someone handed me a tipical smart watch, only black, nothing seemed special. Therefore... that man said something about 'system' and 'guidance' so I didn't put it.
I needed a second thought, and Silas was the only one available.
"What is this?" I turned to ask him. "What's that system he talked about?"
His dark blue eyes said alot about how crazy and unreasonable my questions was, but at least he replied.
"It's more like a work card, and somehow like a self-control system."
"Self-control?"
"It records when do you enter a Vessel, or stops you from talking about all these things to normal civilians. It's main job though is to help you to upgrade your specialization and to connect to the company main network"
"So it's more like a surveillance and privacy violation device"
"No...?" He himself seemed convinced but continued. "it's for our safety, this job isn't something we can be comfortable at."
Aha–
This made no sense...
"And all I have to do is to wear it?"
"Yes."
I returned again and set straight, never put that watch on my hand. I did pick it up, gave it another look, then put it in my pocket.
They've never told us to wear it, have they?
"Did you all done your part?!" The loud voice of that same man took my full attention again. "Now lets go to your favorite one! Picking the teams!"
Cheers erupted from everywhere after he said that.
"And, as always, there are some great wonderful people among you. Those who'd have the Special Treatment!"
Nice—
"I can hear you asks 'but what is the Special Treatment this time?'. It's, for sure, something we've never done before!"
The commotion that ensued in the hall was more than enough to show how excited everyone was.
Of course, except me, who has no glimpse of hope to understand them anymore...
"The list we have this time has five categories: The Record-breakers, The Greatest-Helpers, The Shrewd- Strategists, The Out-of-the-box thinkers, and lastly, The perfectionists!" He clapped once, a black box appeared in front of him. "We've chosen three for each category. Those fifteen whome got chosen will have the right to decide their teams! We won't make the teams' leader chose from them, they'll choose for themselves!"
Nice.
They'll put us (the rest) randomly on teams now. How beautiful...
"Now, the screen will do the rest! When you see your name on it, come forward to choose and to take your gift!"
A countdown started flashing on the main screen, five, four, three, two— one! Then a list of fifteen names appeared divided by categories.
And there was mine.
Taking place on three of them, THREE.
'What the—!'
I barely managed to keep myself from ripping my hair out and cursing loudly.
Three? Three.
What in the world was that?
Record-breaker?
Out-of-the-box thinker?
The perfectionist?
Noway, they're neither crazy nor choosing randomly. Nothing will convince me other way.
"Won't you go, Our great Record-breaker?" Dean asked, absolutely making the statement because he saw how bad it is for me. Then his twin countiued "even if you hate it, at least you can choose you team! Pick the one you feel good about!"
"I don't think their is such thing."
"Just go, we all have names there though, lets go together"
Really?
I looked at the screen again and saw all of their names their.
Dean in the Greatest-Helpers list,
Drew in the Record-breakers',
Silas in the Shrewd strategist'.
And the woman— I didn't know her name to begin with, and she seemed to notice that "I'm Adiline Thomson."
She was in the perfectionists list... felt like her, somehow.
It was strange for all of us to be part of that, but I let it go, just like hundreds of other things.
On the stage, that stylish man stood in front of us, then take out a piece of paper from the black box.
"First among the elite! The Record Breaker of the Record breaking log itself! Come here my dear Nathan, you're the first to choose your team!"
Under hundreds of eyes, he handed me that piece of paper. What written on it was simply a list, two columns, seven rows.
'How thoughtful of them.'
Somehow I managed to stop myself before clicking my tongue.
Each team with it's description.
['A' team: out- case missions, high class Vessels, high gems rewards.
'B' team: out-case missions, back up team, resque missions, high gems rewards.
'C' team: low-key out-case missions, medium gems rewards.
'D' team: reports, after-clearing-Vessels-check up. Low gems rewards.
'E' team: Coordinating tasks between teams when necessary and selecting the appropriate members for missions.
'F' team: Secure Vessel entrance whenever other members inside.
Security team: regular security in the company.]
Did I feel comfortable with any of these?
No.
Therefore, choosing for myself felt more secure than making them drop me in some random one of these crazy so-called teams.
"So, which one will be honored by you joining it... Our legendary newcomer?"
That title was embarrassing—
"I decided," I picked up the pen to circle what I thought was the best for my mental health. "You're not about to announce it out loud, right?"
"You don't want me to do that?"
"No."
"Mysterious to the end? Seems cool for me!" he accepted that, folded my paper without looking at it, then drop it back in that box.
That's when the ceremony seemed to get to the end for me. I've got a bag with a laptop and tablet on it, they added keys for my room too and some kind of strange map.
What happened after? I didn't give much attention.
After what felt like an eternity, I ended up in front of the apartment (in a neighboring building), only to realize that it wasn't a solo after all—
That Alex was there.
And beside him Silas.
Two of them looked one to the other with a burning spark of electricity passing between them.
"So it's you? The pathetic entitled rich kid who gets whatever he desires!" Alex shouted on my face in the second he acknowledged me. "How it feels to became the center of attention?"
"Who's that entitled rich kid you talk about?" I asked, ignoring him to open the door. "As much as I remember, I'm no such thing."
"It's different when all of the facts say otherwise!"
"As if your opinion matters," I got inside with my bag, wanting to ignore him by all means, but then an idea made me turn to face him again with a wide smile.
"Plus, you better be careful. This pathetic entitled rich kid can easly call someone to make your life miserable, can't he? One simple text will be enough, actually."
Both Alex and Silas gave me strange looks, which I ignored before finding my room and throwing myself onto the bed.
'Great. That was Great'
'How could one day possibly be this terrible?'
What I didn't know then was a simple cute fact: Bad days seem to come one after another.
And that one was the first of many...