Standing before the coloiseum that stood proudly at the center of the city, people queued at regular intervals, all of them signing up for the annual Adventure Examinations. Aspiring Adventurers as well those wishing to place at a higher ranking, as higher ranks meant better paying missions.

I figure cloaked in black stepped up to the counter, next to register.

“Name?” The man asked.

“Ave Astral.” The cloaked figure answered, her voice rang through the crowed like a bell.

“Here for the Entry Examination?”

“Yes as well as Ranking!” She declared with confidence.

“Sorry Miss, but Ranking Examinations for newly initiated Adventures are off limits!”

“There must be some exception?”

“She leaned in close to the man resting her elbows on his little desk and her head in her palms.

“Unless you wish to have the head of the Colosseum evaluate you and risk being banned from ever taking the Entry examination again…” The man gave her a wicked grin.

“Sure, I do that!” Ave chimed with glee.

Her enthusiasm having caught the interest of some of the higher ranked Adventurers around her.

“Fifty gold coins say she’s going to die today!” A man snickered from behind her who was there for his fifth Rank Examinations, as she glanced took notice of his stripes he boldly wore for all to see.

“I’ll wager to that. She’ll be killed within two moves, and I’ll even put in a bonus, for every 2 moves longer it takes for her death I surrender ten silver coins!” Another fourth ranker joined in on the bet.

Ave perked at the idea of ‘easy’ money. She dashed around a corner and lowered her cloak’s hood, revealing her copper Auburn tresses that lightened down to her hair’s tips. Her eyes shone a bright, reflecting the skies!

She scanned the crowed finding the betting Adventurers.

“She’ll live! Knocked out by the firth moves step she takes! Five Gold Coins” A third ranker chimed in, with someone noting down the bets, making it now all official.

“Who we betting on?” Ave chirped in.

“Some girl who’s taking the Entry Exam with the Colosseum head as her evaluator. The man’s ruthless, last three years ago, the last time he was called to be the evaluator he killed the Examinee!” Someone informed her.

“Oooohhh…” She beamed, mocking excitement for the death of weak and foolish Adventure Examinees.

“Well I’ll join in with a five hundred Gold coins!” She chimed, silencing them all.

“And who might you be to have that kind of money?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know!” She gave them an innocent smile.

“Show the coins!” Another man demanded.

“Sure, here it is!” She pulled a gem from her sack that was slung over her shoulder, it’s dull red shone a brilliant hue as she lifted it to the light.

“A red magic artificer!” The men gasped.

“Where’d you secure such a find?” The man who demanded to see her money asked.

“Again… Wouldn’t you like to know…” Her smug expression was on the verge of angering some of these men.

“So that for the girl’s death? Knock-out? How many moves?” The man taking down all the bets asked; his voice sticky with malice.

“For her victory.” Her smile never betraying the seriousness with which she answered.

“Victory? You must be some idiotic noble!”

“Perhaps, perhaps not, either way I like rooting for the underdogs!” She turned on her heels and walked away leaving them stunned and some seething at her mocking them, showing of her riches. As she left them she couldn’t help but let out small laugh.

“Me the idiot? Please, I’d thought it would be harder to fool them! So easy!” She took the gem back out it’s dullness was prove of its quality. Yes a red magic artificer it might be, but an impure one, meant only for practicing weak basic spells.