A Field of Stars

Doomed from the Start

Finally, the big double doors at the end of the waiting room swung open, and we were let inside the meeting room. Just like everywhere else in the castle, the thing was huge and covered in marble and gold (the Hyanciths own a private gold mine). At the center of the room, there was a ginormous table with a million cushioned chairs. Some of them were already taken up by the Hyanciths (who were even more over the top than their surroundings) and some other royals I couldn't recognize. We were escorted to our seats....and I was placed right next to Christina. I might end up quitting after the initiation is over.

"Greetings new hires. I am Rebecca Love, the head of the Royal Expeditions Board of Crystia, where the top adventurers carry out the most treacherous of challenges." Knights used to do that, but they were phased out in favor of trained security guards....and us. Full metal suits are impractical anyway.

Rebecca kept talking. "We have selected you all for your exceptional resumes, and today you will be getting your very first missions." Wait, I thought this was just an initiation?!

She mentioned a couple of people and their assigned quests, all of which seemed strangely simple for this prestigious of a job. Slow day in the quest market, I guess. And then...

"Khali Hemsworth?"

"Oh, uh, here!"

"The Emerald of Aaen has been stolen. You must safely retrieve it and bring it back to Aaen. We will send you off tomorrow."

"Yes, ma'am." Alright, this didn't sound too hard, though definitely more important than everyone else's jobs. Pretty boring, but still.

"And you'll be paired with...Christina Jones." Offfff course.

Christina smiled at me. I gave her the dirtiest look I could muster. This didn't make her stop.

That pay raise better be worth it.