The king of beasts

1

His heart beat was the only thing he could hear as he pulled back the string of his steel bow. With one last breath of air as he closed his, trying to concentrate. When he was ready he looked up at his target. His eyes were zoned in on the red circle in front of him, the ruby paint in the center mocking him. This was a one shot opportunity for him.
"Hey William!"
William jolted as he gripped his bow tight, accidentally releasing his arrow and setting it free. With a tad bit of hope within him he wishfully watched as the arrow flew past the target and drilled into the ground. The target left untouched and looking smooth as always. Snarling in disappointment he begrudgingly turned to face his friend.
"What is it Harly." William sighed, placing his bow over his arm carefully. Looking to his face William was a tad taken back by the excited expression Harly wore.
"Scores came in, on whether-!"
"On whether we can become norms, tamers, warriors, slayers, or conquerors?" Will droned, cutting Harly off. He forgot they came in today. Groaning William rested his head in his hands, he could feel a head ache coming on.
He had heard these titles way too much as a child, and frankly the names weren't as effective as they were back than. They used to be names akin to that of a hero, it was important and amazing. Now he wanted to shoot himself with his arrow every-time he heard them. They were quite annoying when they are repeated hundreds of times over.
"Yeah o-freaking-kay. Cut me off than ya bastard." Harly huffed, glaring at him. Soon however the anger was wiped off his face as his earlier excitement kicked in again. "You need to hear this! I heard zack got level tamer, and his twin jack got level slayer! Unbelievable right? A slayer?! You would think a wimp like him would get a norm! But level Slayer?! I always knew Jack was hiding something" Harly boasted in shock, ignoring his friends eye roll. William looked up at Harly in boredom, his neck aching since he loomed over him with his height.
Once he realized Harly was talking William began to nod along, a show for his friend to make it seem as if he were listening. In reality he had droned out of the conversation after he heard Jack was a slayer. Which, while the topic annoys him, took him by surprise. Slayers where rare these days- the genetics of strong and brave warring thin. This decrease was Causing the population of rapid creatures to reproduce at a faster rate, the soldiers could only handle so much with their gifts after all.
William closed his eyes in thought as he tried to remember the roles of each title. He was almost shocked he had to put effort into remembering with how much it was drilled into his head in his youth.
Norms where people without any abilities or incredibly heightened senses, the tamers were those who had the ability to calm creatures-depending on their strength they could calm stronger animals-, soldiers where those who both watched over the people and controlled rouge creatures with their strength and speed. Slayers where people with all heightened senses, speed, strength, and the wits. Conquerors where those who rumored could shake mountains, break the sound barrier, out smart anyone, and could see peoples-or creatures auras. Meaning they could practically see your emotions, feelings, your morals, it was almost as if they could read your thoughts.
But there hasn't been a conqueror in years to confirm these rumors.
"Hey, Will. Are you listening?.... Hello? Hey douche bag, come back down to earth"
William blinked out of his daze only to see a rather agitated Harly impatiently waiting for him. William sighed as he scratched his head, deciding to be honest with his childhood friend.
"No, quite frankly I wasnt even trying to listen." William smirked as he shifted his stance, resting his hands into his pockets. "You know that i dont care for the classes we get put into."
"Well have i Ever! So rude." Harly mock gasped, placing his hand delicately presumably over where his heart would be. "But seriously you A-hole, i'll cut to the chase. We need to go back to the academy-you need to see your score."
William paused blinking, a feeling of anxiety suddenly washing over him.
"My scores?" He repeated as he stared at his friends stoic face.
"You need to see them." Harly repeated as he ushered him to follow. "Me and Ester couldn't believe it."
The lack of a smile and the sudden change of atmosphere left William feeling ill. He didnt show it though.
"Let me guess, i got a unbelievably horrendous score?" William joked with a mock concern, in reality he was trying to fight of the feeling of dread blooming in his stomach.
To his trouble Harly responded with silence as they walked, only adding to his bad feeling. He was annoyed on how much this effected him- it was just a title after all. However, there was that still child like wonder inside of him who wanted nothing more than to be a slayer, if not that than a conqueror.
Though, he knew very well he wouldnt get those ranks. After all, he has showed no signs of any abilities thus far. He would be one of the few in the world who where born a norm.
Instinctively clenching his hand William gritted his teeth as they walked back into the school from the archery yard. Many happy and satisfied students passed by them, all of them leaving the score room.
"You wont believe this" Harly restated as they stood in front of the score board.
William nervously looked up as he tightened his fists.
"You have to be freaking kidding me..."William muttered in shock, not knowing whether to be satisfied or depressed. Surely this was a joke?