บท 11: Chapter 11

"Hello everyone, my name is Sjorn Frostfang and I will be your instructor for the foreseeable future should you choose to join the ranks of the warriors.

While you are diving deeper into the profession of the warrior you will learn to use a variety of weapons, the knowledge on how to wage small-and great scale war along with an in depth guide on how to harness your inborn mana and strengthen yourself and your weapons with it, forming you into a weapon yourself." The tall man spoke while his short beard shook from side to side at his strong articulation.

At his words Alvar wondered what he meant by mana manipulation. Didn't only professions like the elementalist for example teach such a skill? How would you even apply something like that on a mace for example? It confused him and he made sure to not forget to ask later when they could.

After Sjorn was finished speaking he stepped backwards with his hands folded behind his back and was replaced by a stoic looking woman with slightly greying hair. As her eyes wandered over the children Alvar saw briefly how the corner of her mouth twitched upwards for just a second.

"Hello children, my name is Miria Ebonwing and I am representing the profession of the guardians. We are the safekeepers of our people and mostly focus on upholding and protecting everything that supports our folks survival. Under our instructions you will learn how to wield various weapons and magics to support and defend while also receiving an introduction into the mists and how to guard them as that is a task you may receive some times at higher levels of our profession. Just as it is for the warriors you will receive guidance on strategical warfare but in our case it focuses mostly on defence of Hoelbrak or other strongholds." Stepping back with a slight smile towards the children she as well was replaced by a woman who was looking a little out of place. Not because of her clothes and armor. No, she simply seemed to be somewhere else half the time.

"Greetings everyone. My name is of no importance. Just know that I am a member of mist guard. We are a small order that has made it its duty to watch over and support the sacred patron spirits while they patrol the mists. Furthermore we are mostly responsible for the safety of our Havroune as their safety guarantees a direct connection to the patron spirits. In our order you will learn how to fight with various weapons, mostly used to guarantee the survival of our subject and should the situation demand it sacrifice yourself for their wellbeing. If you are not prepared to do so do not even think about joining our order as you will not reach far." She spoke with a no nonsense voice while her words caused many eyes to widen. Alvar wondered if they ever received members as it seemed to require a certain combination of values before you could even think about joining them.

Next the second division stepped forwards, beginning with the hunter who grunted a bit as he stepped forwards, about what Alvar was not sure.

"I'm Tirion Eirsson representing the hunters. As I know that most of you have already had at least an introductory lesson on what the hunters do I'll make this short. We are the ones providing most of the food that is not harvested. Though what most of you may not know we are also a profession that has a specialisation for the healing arts, though not many fulfil the requirements that are needed to begin learning said specialisation. Though if you are you will be regarded highly as healers are always sought." After finishing his speech he stepped back and was replaced by the thinnest Norn Alvar had ever seen.

The man was clothed mostly in black and grey clothes while his skin had a very light tone, telling Alvar that the man did not often step into the sunlight.

"I will not tell you my name but that is secondary after all. I am a member of the infiltration and intel gathering profession. My job is a hard one, requires a firm mind, strong stomach and most of all endurance as you will often be required to sneak through unpleasant places or even deny yourself food and drinks for days on end. Under me you will learn how to go unnoticed, fight from the shadows and manipulate from behind the curtains." The man spoke in a soft tone after which he seemingly faded into the background bringing a shiver to Alvars back. The man gave him the creeps.

Thus it came as a pleasant surprise when the next candidate stepped forwards with a smile while a warm atmosphere surrounded him. He had a short beard and brown hair.

"Ahhhh, long has it been since I was chosen to be an instructor and I'm looking forward to teaching such young and bright minds once again. You can call me Sludi and I am one of the foremost professionals on the subject of Engineering. We are those that build constructs for defence, offence or just to make our every day life just a little bit easier. We fight with gadgets and arms. For our division it is a core requirement that you are a bright mind, creative with a little bit of madness and like to tinker with objects more then you like to interact with people. Hehehe, I'm just kidding. Though a certain love for objects and their intricacies should be a given. I hope to see some of you in my division." The relatively short man said after which he turned around and walked back into the row of the second division.

Next came the third division and judging but the straightening of many children the one that would probably receive the most applications this year.

The first one to step forwards was a woman with a slim build and red-nearly orange hair. She wore a blue robe, completely in contrast to her hair which caused Alvar a slight headache while watching her.

"I am an instructor that teaches you how to influence the elements, thus the name elementalist that we carry. The study of the elements is an art many seek to study but few actually succeed at. Thus I advice you to listen to the advice given by the raven as many regret choosing our profession grown out of a dream or fantasy.

We will teach you how to transform, channel and incarnate your mana into four elements: Earth, Water, Fire and Lightning. Besides those core studies you will be introduced into politics of the other nations as you may be required to work as a political representative of our people some time in the future." After she finished speaking she turned around while Alvar observed many children with a determined expression on their face to which he slightly shook his head already guessing that many of them would regret their choices in the future.

The following candidate was a man with a dangerous aura surrounding him while the light of the morning never truly seemed to reach him. He had a hunched back and was clothed in dark green clothes while a black coat went down his back. His black hair hang simply from his head. While his whole body seemed to scream of the mans age his eyes spoke of a knowledge and dangerous power Alvar had never seen before and he couldn't help the sweat drops that rolled down his back while all the hair on his arms began to stand up in the man's presence.

"Should you choose to study under me young ones then I will introduce you to the dangerous arts of necromancy. Necromancy utilizes and channels the mana of the practitioner to commune with the dead or even call forth undead creatures to do your bidding. The further along you come in your studies the more you will learn about the worlds rules concerning life and how to work its energy to suit your needs. Though beware as the arts of necromancy should not be studied lightly as many have been consumed by the lust for power until they ended up snuffing out their own light in their madness." The mans silky yet cold voice spoke and it was possible to hear a pin drop in the silence that followed the man's words.

Alvar released a breath he didn't realise he was holding when the man stepped back and gave the floor to a man who wore a calm smile to the children.

"I apologize for my colleague as he has always been a bit hard to socialize with. Now! For the last profession, mine to be exact, you will be introduced to the Mesmer, masters of illusions and manipulation of the senses and perception. In higher grades it is even possible to influence time in small instances. Under our guidance you will learn about the human psychology and along with it politics as nothing else teaches you more about the human mind then politics. Well, life does but that is besides the point." The man spoke with a grin after which he transformed before the group from a man into a woman in an instant as if a veil was ripped away from his/her face causing gasps to echo out from amongst the children to which the adults couldn't help but snort in amusement. The woman though only grinned back and winked cheekily at the children.

'What a minx. I gotta look out for those Mesmers in the future if all of them are such tricksters…' Alvar thought to himself with a smile on his face as his gaze returned to the rest of the instructors before him. The time for the questioning had finally arrived!