Warrior of the Stars- Book one of the Jay Shang Chronicles

Chapter 9-Ranking Day

Chapter 9- Ranking Day

"Awaken fiereo!" shouted Lynwee, punctuating his command with a vicious kick to Jay's head.

He jumped up, groaning in pain and glaring at Lynwee's retreating form. After tenderly poking at the new bruise forming on the base of the skull, Jay dressed quickly and ran his fingers through his hair in an attempt to straighten out his sleep mussed hair. He sighed, all he had wanted was a little nap after his ruck.

A whole month had passed since he was drafted into the Kimanchaen army, and he was still being treated like dirt.

Jay left his tent and walked over to the breakfast line. All of the other novices were talking excitedly amongst themselves. He sleepily continued through the crowd not understanding what all the chattering was about.

Serena was passing out the meals this morning so he decided he could just ask her what all the hubbub was about.

"Why is everyone so excited this morning?" inquired Jay as he took his food.

"Today is novice ran-" She attempted to answer his question, but was abruptly cut off by an indignant Damon, startling Jay and causing him to almost drop his food.

"Are you serious?! You don't know what today is? It's one of the most important days of the year!" he exclaimed in exasperation.

"No Damon. I obviously don't. If I did, I wouldn't have asked!" snapped Jay.

Some of the boys surrounding the trio snickered. Damon huffed and rolled his eyes.

"It's ranking day, you idiot. Every six months all of the novices get evaluated so that the training masters can see if our skills are progressing, as well as who needs to be removed and sent to work the fields. We get ranked to see who's the best.

Jay furrowed his brow. "What's the point in that?"

Silence fell as around his as shocked astonishment quieted the excited voices. Damon quickly ushered Jay away from the crowd to a small seated area.

"Ok Reke-Min," Jay winced at the old nickname. "I'm going to explain this to you one time. So eat your breakfast and listen up."

Jay nodded his agreement to the older boy's terms.

"Ranking day is our only chance to move up in ranks and out of this trash pit. Every novice gets ranked in order of who's best and who's worst in each combat skill. They also rank us to see who's best overall. The masters have been keeping tabs on our progress, and we're all going to be tested. They're going to gather all this information, and then hold a council meeting to see which of us is up for promotion."

Jay's head was swimming. He had known that eventually all novices would be promoted or removed from the army but had never really thought about how the whole process worked.

"Is there anymore to it?" he asked.

"Well duh, of course there is," Damon snorted contemptuously. "Even if you don't get a full promotion, your skills individual ranking can increase. There's different skill levels, and if you rank high enough in one of them you get an ear piercing with the metal rank on it. Each combat skill has its own metal type; archery is silver, Brendu is gold, swords are malachite, and our Scitrem, our scythes, is copper. If you rank up to expert in one you get the piercing. If you rank up all the way to master, you get a diamond stud inserted into the metal."

Jay stared at Damon, wide eyed with concern.

"You don't have to worry though," assured Damon. "It's extremely rare for new novices to get ranked in anything. Plus, you're really young. And you suck. There's no way you'll get praised in anything. Also, everyone hates you. Even the teachers. You're for sure going to be last in everything. It wouldn't surprise me if they send you to the fields with the weak and the traitors."