Fighting Odds

1

This world. For most a sanctuary, a place to live life to the fullest. Nothing holding them back, or anyone telling them what to do.

For me. Hell.

This whole world is hell four the four percent of us.

Here in Ethorean, one factor divides the population. Whether or not you can see the Pneumas. Ninety-six percent of the entire population can see these spectral beings. The other four percent, well let's just say they're not as lucky.

In a world without war and borders, you would expect life to be tranquil and peaceful. But for every great good, there must be an equally great evil. The Pneumas.

Now don't get me wrong, about thirty-eight of all Pneumas are perfectly fine. They live among us humans as our brothers and sisters. That being said, the other sixty-two percent are just plain evil. They have the nickname of an Esprit

It's not so much a war that we fight against them, as they are like a bloodhound sniffing their prey. If you stay out of their scent or behind the barriers, you are perfectly fine.

That's why it's a bit surprising that the career of choice is to be an Ethuma. Meaning Spirit of Ethorean in the ancient language.

My name is Ashlyn Rae, and for as long as I can remember I have wanted to be an Ethuma. The only problem being, I'm a normal. I can't see the Pneumas. You can see how that would be an issue.

In this world, if you can't see them, you have no hope of fighting them. You can't even work at a coffee shop. How are you supposed to serve Pneumas or fight them if you can't see them? The normals are left working service jobs on the phone, or cubicle jobs. The ones without much interacting. You're looked down upon, as though you are nothing but an Esprit yourself.

Normally, you would be able to tell if you can see them by the time you're twelve. So to give time for you to develop your sight, you complete all schooling related to regular subjects, like math and English, from the age of five to fourteen. Giving two extra years to fully develop your sight.

At fourteen everyone takes a standard test called the Ethorean Pneumas Sight Test, or EPST for short. It's simple enough. All the schools as part of the graduation ceremony, test the students one at a time, in the presence of any and all masters in the district, on whether or not you can see Pneumas. If you pass, the masters bid upon you, all depending on your personality and how much you impress them. You really can't impress them that much a fourteen without much training, but leave it to the master's to expect you to.
Once you have been selected by a master, you are given a rod. A device coated with Unamium, a crystal able to injure an Esprit. 

The master's train you. You learn to fight, to administer first aid, and even how to create your own rod. 

All I've ever wanted was to be part of that world. 

but I cant.

Until I could.

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Thank you so much for reading! This will be my first original story I am publishing and would love feedback! That's all for now, sayonara!! :3