Zodiac Circle

Chapter 3: Rose Cruce Order

"Oh, it is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Edmund Jaeger!" Tamie courteously smiled and shook the boy's hand he had stretched out. She also caught a glimpse of his golden-chained Libra amulet. No way, this guy's a Libra too?! She was astonished - a Libra and he had managed to become the Magister of such a powerful order? Her hopes rekindled. If this Libra accomplished such great things, maybe I too can achieve my dream! She thought.

"Well, we shall hold your Joining Ceremony later today. Meanwhile, you can take your time to get to know the rules of this order and also, choose a Class you're going to pursue." Edmund gave her a polite smile back, as it was a custom for all the Libra. He looked at Nick and gained a serious expression again. "Lord Nick, I think you remember we've got a council in a few hours!"

"I don't forget anything, Ed," Nick answered. He turned to Tamie with a smile: "Well, I guess I'll leave you now. I think you can take care of things here on your own, right? If anything, our receptionist, Erisa, can help you!" He pointed to the fair white-haired girl cleaning the counter. When she heard her name, Erisa raised her head and smiled at them with her big blue eyes. Nick asked her: "Erisa, you can help my little sister with the beginner guide, right?"

"Sure, Lord Nick, I would be glad!" Erisa said.

"Okay," Nick said. "I'll leave it to you, then!"

He followed Edmund to the second floor.

"Hello!" Erisa greeted Tamie. "I'm Erisa Glendale".

"Tamie Wingfield. It's a pleasure to meet you!" Tamie smiled and shook her hand.

"Same here! Well, what are your sign and spirit?" Erisa opened up a notebook to write Tamie's data in.

"I am a Libra, born on October 6. As for the spirit, I'm in the year of a Tiger, so I guess a Tiger should awaken, right?" Tamie asked.

"Correct! Erisa smiled. "Okay then, so Tamie Wingfield - a Libra of a Tiger spirit. Hmm, quite an unusual combination... I'm not sure which Class would be better for you_"

A scream of excitement reverberated in the hall. Tamie looked back and widened her eyes in fright - a short redhead girl dressed in a tiger costume was running towards her at an immense speed, accompanied by an energetic white dog and two cats!

"A Tiger spirit! Another Tiger spirit! Awesome!!!" she yelled and dashed at Tamie, squeezing her in her arms.

"Ah! I... can't breathe..." Tamie gasped for air.

"Whoops, sorry!" The tiger-costumed girl blushed and let go of her. "I just love Tigers so much!"

"Ah, n-nice..." Tamie awkwardly grinned, scratching the back of her head. "So, you're a Tiger spirit too?"

"No, she's a cow," a sarcastic boyish voice sounded. It came from the black-haired arrogant guy sitting near them at the counter.

"It is called an Ox!" The redhead gnashed her teeth and clenched her fists.

"Ah, sorry, I thought as 'Bulls' are for boys, for girls like you it should be 'Cows'!" the guy grinned. Tamie eyed him with knitted eyebrows.

"I said it is an Ox!" The redhead girl yelled. She turned to her white dog: "Blizzard, get him!"

Blizzard the dog barked playfully and wagged his tail. The boy burst out laughing, holding his stomach.

"He doesn't even listen to you!" he cried, "Your pets are just as dumb as their owner, Tiger!"

Tiger, the redhead, snarled and punched him in the face. The boy cried in pain and fell off his chair, banging onto the floor. Now the whole crowd roared with laughs.

"She got ya, Rick?" they shouted.

"What a weakling, brought down by a girl!" others chimed.

Rick turned red with embarrassment and sprang up on his feet again.

"You will get it now, you cow lass!" He prepared hand signs to call his powers out.

Tiger didn't back down but prepared her fists, ready to accept his challenge. Tamie and Erisa got worried - a fight was to break out?!

"Guys, please calm down!" Erisa said. If a fight broke out now, they would damage the surroundings and she would be blamed as the receptionist!

Rick and Tiger didn't seem to be willing to give up. They were waiting for each other to make the first move.

"Take this, you cow!" Rick swung his water fist at Tiger, but a fire rope grabbed his arm from by his side. He roared in pain and the water around his fist vaporized. He looked aside, spotting a short-haired girl of middle size glaring at him. He snarled. "Riza..."

"No fighting inside the Order building!" Riza said, "It's the Jaeger's policy. Or do you want me to tell the Magister, Rick?"

"Ugh, you rat will never be stronger than me, a snake!" Rick rubbed his burnt arm.

"You can test that out if you ever make it to the second floor of Zodiac Grandmasters!" Riza chuckled.

"Haha, she beat ya there!" some boys laughed at Rick from the tables.

Rick gnashed his teeth, turned around and left the place in silence.

"You okay, sis?" Riza turned to Tiger.

"I'm fine." Tiger sniffed. She called her three pets and left the hall, walking into the basement.

Riza sighed and followed her. The crowd got back to their business - drinking and chatting.

"Is it always like this in here?" Tamie turned to Erisa, astonished.

"Mostly..." Erisa rolled her eyes. "I'm glad Riza cut into the conflict, or else there would've been a disaster." She swung her hand. "Forget about that! So, which Class do you want to join?"

She put a paper before Tamie, where the names of all six Classes were displayed: the Battler, the Defender, the Keeper, the Sneaker, the Tamer, and the Artist.

So many to choose from! Tamie thought. And once I make a choice, there shall be no way back.

Her grand adventures were about to start, from the very moment when she put her finger on the Artist Class and its sub-branch, the Writer Class. Her name was written down.

"Congratulations, Tamie Wingfield, you are now a member of the Rose Cruce Order!" Erisa smiled.

Tamie's path towards the glory began.