Chapter Three *REVISED*

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えりえた Hiragana for Arietta
エリエタ Katakana for Arietta
Please correct it if you speak Japanese or are learning as well! ^ ^

REVISED VERSION

Arietta
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"From here you have to take the straight path until you reach the first intersection. Turn right and follow that road." The short and fat man explained as he stood on his car seat.

"Got it!" I exclaimed, smiling at the little man. He was so tiny, just like a baby boar. I've only heard about them from mother, though.

"Oh! And by the way, answer aloud the questions on the signs." He gave me an untrustworthy smile and sent me off.

Did he not think I could do it? Don't children go into the Hunter's Exam too? Mom said she completed the Hunter's Exam with dad as a child. It was one of the few things that she ever mentioned dad while talking, and actually I guess that's one of my reasons for coming here.

"Mmkay! Bye Mr. Boar!" I waved and shouted as he drove off in his tiny car.

"I'm not a boar!" Those were his farewell words to me as I walked along the path.

Straight, straight, straight. What's that? Smells like pork... Boar meat... Yummy... NO! Get yourself together Arietta! I just ate lunch!

Keeping up the pace, I heard people talking in the woods on either side of the path, "I hear the Hunter's Exam is to the left, and that the examiners are lying to the examinees."

Fear crept up my spine, but I kept my wits about me. Finally reaching the first intersection, I hesitantly turned right. There my first sign awaited me.

"Why did you turn right?" I read the sign aloud.

"Because the examiner said so, duh!" I exclaimed without much thought to the critical question.

Walking further, I saw lights and heard people screaming and crying out for help. Thinking they were in desperate need, I ran over within ten seconds and looked around, where no one was to be seen. Concern filled my thoughts, and a fear of underhanded plotting involved scared me. Why would someone pretend they were in trouble? Maybe I did go the wrong way... What did the examiner say again? Oh, whatever. It's of no use now.

Another sign blocked my path as I went past the area I had heard the people in. 'Why didn't you look behind you?' it read. Looking behind, I saw nothing, but when I turned my head back, I also saw nothing.

"I didn't see anything aside from lights, nor feel anything behind me. It was probably a hallucination." I concluded with an open mind.

Walking onward, I noticed a mine ahead of the path, which had another sign in front of it. 'What is your name? First and last names are required.' Confusion filled my eyes and I just blanked out in front of the sign. Realization flickered into my eyes as my brain began to work again. The Japonese language was so difficult to learn, why do I have to read it everyday anyway?

"Arietta Hill." I answered simply. Suddenly, the mine shifted, and another two passageways appeared in the mine, along with another sign.

"Follow the left passageway. State why you want to be a Hunter." I repeated the words a few times.

"I don't have a reason, but I guess it could be that I want to explore this Japon land I'm in."

My mouth was beginning to feel dry. I had to talk and walked for a while, I'm a little tired too. How much longer would this be? I thought annoyedly.

Following the left passageway, I reached the end and it showed me the cavern the Hunter's Exam was being held in. It's a wonder that I was the only one who came from the mine. Was it too easy or too hard for these people?

Ignoring everything else, I found a green bean in front of me, "Number 170." He stated and fixed his business tie, but not after handing me a tag that had the number 170 on it.

"WHAT ARE YOU?!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, obviously tired and hungry, "YOU'RE MY FAVORITE TYPE OF FOOD!"

Many people glared at me, and now I took the time to check out my surroundings while Mr. Jelly Bean told me not to shout or say something so rude. Silver hair caught my attention, and I dragged myself away from the living food to the silver fluffy marshmallow-ness. Tripping over a skateboard I scowled, who leaves a skateboard just laying around?

Idiots.

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