Mazz stood right in front of the entrance to the worst mage company in all of Orion, Rigel. Out of the seven companies to join, joining this one meant that you were at the bottom of the barrel. He was too hesitant to actually enter the building. What was he going to encounter? He has heard many stories of Rigel and the type of people who are there. All sorts of thoughts popped in his head. Are they a group of thugs? Are they forbidden magic worshipers? Do they steal sacred scrolls or relics?! Mazz was beginning to freak out until the doors to the Rigel Mage Company opened.

Inside, a hand full of young faces stared at him, and behind them all was a lady with curly rose pink hair and round glasses in front of her rose pink eyes. She was nothing like how he expected.

She clapped her hands together, ‘You must be Mazz!’

‘Oh— uh, yeah I am.’ He scratched his head and walked awkwardly into the room. All eyes were on him. ‘Sorry for arriving late. I don’t live in the city,’ he laughed equally as awkward as he walked.

‘Oh, no need to apologize! You didn’t miss much. Actually, we waited for you to arrive to really start anything,’ she smiled.

That put Mazz in an even more awkward position. He felt the tension from the other newcomers as they stared at him.

‘Now since Mazz is here, I shall introduce myself! My name is Roslyn Roseanne and I’m an A-ranked mage here in Rigel.’

Almost all the newcomers, who all graduated from the mage academies spread across Orion, gasped.

‘No need to be shocked,’ she calmly said. ‘Once you all start taking on quests and missions, I’m sure—’

‘Oh please Rose, don’t get the kids false hope,’ a voice interrupted.

Everyone watched as a mage, well in his late-30s, waddled along to wrap his arms around Roslyn’s shoulders. By the way he moved, they could tell he’s been drinking. The man had his arms around Roslyn and she smiled at him.

‘You’re up awfully early Ellion.’

‘Well, I couldn’t sleep with all the noise. What’s going on here anyway?’

‘Oh my. Did you forget?’

‘Hm?’

‘You did, didn’t you? We got new recruits today and I’m here greeting them. We do this every year.’

‘HA! Every year?’ He lifted his arms and walked towards the nearest couch in the main hall. ‘You act like we get new recruits every year. We haven’t had fresh meat since—’ Ellion collapsed over the couch.

Most of the new recruits laughed at him as he tried to get back up. This didn’t impress Mazz. If anything, he was a prime example of what he though mages in Rigel were like.

‘Oh, be careful, Ellion.’

He waved his hand in response and stayed lying on the floorboard.

Roslyn looked back at the new recruits and apologized for Ellion’s actions. ‘As I was saying, as long as you do any quests or missions assigned on the board over there—’ she pointed to quest board which was unsurprisingly barren, ‘you can increase your mage rank. Not only will you help your standing as a mage, but you will also be earning dawn for yourself and the company as well!’

A hand rose from the group of new recruits. All eyes were on a mysterious boy with light dark blue hair. It was messy and yet well kept, a balance not everyone can maintain. His hair covered his right eye, and a part was pulled up back in a ponytail. He wore garments of cloth and a light but sturdy material underneath in a robe fashion. His eyes were closed as well, which for some reason, bothered Mazz.

‘Yes, Azure?’

‘Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t it practically impossible for our rank to increase due to the reputation of this mage company? Without a high company rank, jobs that will aid in increasing our personal mage rank will no doubt go to other companies that are best suited for the job.’

Roslyn thought about Azure’s question and agreed. This alarmed many of the recruits, but not Azure because he was well aware of Rigel’s reputation. However, he wasn’t the only one who wasn’t surprised by her agreement. Mazz knew that fact as well.

The commotion started an uproar amongst the new recruits. They were wondering if accepting Rigel’s invitation to join their company was a good idea. After all, Rigel had sent out invitations to almost every single graduate from the many Orion academies and only about six accepted, including Mazz and Azure.

‘But—’ Roslyn added, ‘Even small jobs can go long way.’

‘I suppose.’ Azure responded.

‘Alright!’ She shouted.

Everyone was taken back by how loud she got, even Ellion, who finally got to lay on the couch properly.

Roslyn continued, 'Normally, I would be the one to show you around the company, but I was tasked with another job today of all days, so I gathered a team of wonderful mages from Rigel that will take each of you on their own tour of the company building and how they operate here.’

A door opened from the top floor. Five mages walked out and lined up beside Roslyn. Mazz had looked at the other students wondering if they knew anyone from the company. It didn’t seem like anyone did.

‘Let me introduce to you all to the mages that will be your helping hand as you work for Rigel!’ Roslyn smiled.

She pointed to the first person standing next to her. He had long blue and silver hair. It fell straight from his head and against his back. He also had midnight black eyes and a katana sheafed on his hip. ‘This here is Lenshou Shi. He is a B-rank mage and will be assigned to you, Azure Night.’

Azure lifted his hand in a stopping position. ‘A— what did you call it? “Helping hand” is not needed. I know everything about this place and would much rather head to your study if that’s alright with you?’

The other five new recruits stared at him with shock. Even Roslyn was surprised by his request. She looked at Lenshou who’s facial expression didn’t change. He was not amused.

Lenshou walked up to Azure and stared at him. It was silent in the room, but tension filled the air. Azure’s eyes were still closed. Lenshou went for the handle of his katana and pulled it out with incredible speed. The tip of his blade was inches away from Azure’s nose. The other five students’ eyes widened, but Azure didn’t move an inch.

‘Come with me. I’ll show you to the study.’ Lenshou told him.

He had put away his katana away and took Azure away from the rest of the group. The rest of the five looked back at Roslyn waiting for her to speak up, but she waited until Lenshou and Azure were out of the room. As soon as they entered the study and shut the door behind them, a giant slash marked one of the walls. All the recruits were startled, but Mazz had put together that Lenshou must’ve done that when he released his katana.

‘That’ll have to get cleaned up,’ Roslyn laughed. She was the only one.

She cleared her throat, ‘Next up is Zack Avis, a C-rank mage who had returned from his mission to assist us today.’ She pointed to a guy with a top hat, white shirt, navy blue blazer and suit pants. He was smiling next to her and his eyes were closed.

He stepped forward and lifted his hat off his head, revealing his aqua colored hair. He bowed as he greeted himself. ‘Hello everyone.’

‘Not only is Zack here the only person who joined Rigel from his graduation year, but he’s also the latest person to join Rigel before you lot,’ Roslyn added.

Zack stood back up and had put his hat back on his head.

‘Zack, you’ll be assisting Clara Silphero over there.’

Mazz turned and looked at the girl on the other end of the line. She had green hair raised in two ponytails with white tips on the end. Her blue eyes looked fragile and her posture seemed uneasy.

Zack opened his eyes and the emerald color of his pupils felt mysterious and yet welcoming. He smiled at Clara and nodded towards her as he stepped back in line.

‘Next down the line is Violet Corvus.’

Violet walked forward to introduce herself. ‘My name is Violet Corvus. I am a B-rank mage and I joined Rigel in the party before Zack’s. I specialize in Sword Summoning magic and if there’s anything any of you need, don’t hesitate to ask.’

After hearing her introduction, Mazz hoped to have her as his helping hand. She seemed so welcoming and kind. Her dark blue hair with crimson red highlights complimented her scarlet red eyes. The same red eyes that stared directly at him as he admired her beauty. Mazz’s face turned red and he looked away. His eyes met with Clara’s and they both turned away from each other with embarrassment.

‘Violet will be partnered with Adrian Maxwell.’ Roslyn stated.

‘Huh?!’ He shouted.

‘I will be your partner for the next few days. I hope that’s alright with you.’ Violet responded.

‘Oh um—’ He nodded.

To Mazz, Adrian looked younger than the rest of the new recruits. He wondered how old he was and how he got into Rigel.

‘Alright, next up is—’

‘Sorry to interrupt again Rose, but I have to cut in.’ Ellion said as he forced himself to sit upwards.

He got up from the couch and walked over to the Roslyn and the other four mages that stood beside her. ‘I was given a mission to do in the south part of town. Mind if I get assigned my partner?’

“PARTNER?” The word echoed in Mazz’s mind. He couldn’t believe that someone like him was going to be trusted a new recruit. Then again, he does recall only seeing only five mages come from the doorway upstairs and there were six new recruits. Either way, he was sure that there was another mage that could’ve took this no-life’s spot. Rigel didn’t start to go downhill until five years ago. Before then, the Rigel Company would compete for the top spot against the Betelgeuse Company.

After a minute or two in his own thoughts, Mazz realized that Roslyn was pointing at him. He looked at Ellion and saw him walk towards him. Mazz’s eyes widened.

Ellion placed his hand on Mazz’s shoulder, the weight almost made him collapse, and said, ‘Looks like you’re sticking with me kid. Come on, I’ll show you what a true Rigel mage is capable of.’ He laughed abruptly and Mazz sworn that he never felt more awkward in his whole life.

TO BE CONTINUED