There is Power in Death

Chapter 4

Talan hands me a hooded cape, like the ones that Grim Reapers have in all the tales, and tells me to put it on. I don't know why he didn't tell me that we had to wear uniforms, though I should have been able to figure that out. I slip on the cape and put the hood on.

"You're going to have to change your magic item into a scythe. I assume you know what one looks like."

"Of course I do! I did quite a lot of research on mythical creatures. I was fascinated with them, and could probably talk for days about them!" I start to change my phone into a scythe, and notice that it's taking longer than when I changed it into a phone.

"Let's go, If we're late then I'll never hear the end of it." Talan says, getting up and grabbing his bag while changing his magic item into a scythe as well.

I follow him out the door as he leads me to the downstairs lobby. When we get there, there are other Phanters waiting, all sitting down and facing a stage that wasn't there before. Someone with a suit on walks onto the stage and starts speaking. I notice several people falling asleep.

"Only 200 here? That's unfortunate," I hear Talan mumble beside me.

The speaker clears his throat to regain everyone's attention. The one that were asleep snap awake.

"There are two new apprentices this week, and several that will be promoted. I will be calling them to the stage so please pay attention,"he sounds strict, but definitely doesn't look it. He has darker skin and a haircut that one would only have if they were in the military. His eyes are kind, but I know that most people haven't realized. 

He begins calling names as Talan leans over to me.

"When your name is called, walk up there with confidence and shake his hand. He will be giving you a certificate to prove that you're an apprentice. Take it when he hands it to you then walk back here."

"Got it."

Time seems to go by slower as all the names are called. Mine is the last one. I do as Talan said and walk as confidently as I can to the stage. When I get there I'm close enough to see his name tag. Mr. Celester Silvia. He puts his hand out and I shake it. 

"Alex Seles, I would like to present you with this apprentice certificate. With this, you will be able to venture through certain places in the Underworld that would otherwise be closed to the dead. Take this badge and wear it proudly with your uniform."

Celester hands me a plastic card with my name on it. They somehow managed to get a good picture of me from when I was living. He also hands me a pin for me to put on my uniform.

I give him a slight nod and head back to my seat.

"That concludes this month's promotions. Please have a good night."

Everyone starts standing up. I see about 50 head back to there rooms as the others make there way to the exit. Talan grabs my wrist and shoves through the crowd, though most of them just get out of his way with scared looks on their faces. I wonder what that was about. Once we get outside he lets go of my wrist.

"What was that about?"

"What do you mean?" He sounds oblivious to how many people were scared of him.

"The crowd? Why was everyone scared of you? And why did you grab my wrist?"

"I grabbed your wrist because you would've gotten stuck inside otherwise. They were scared of my because of something that happened fifteen years ago. You can find out why later, but now we have to go to the living world."

"So not only is he hot, but he's mysterious too."

Talan looks at me with a surprised face, "What did you say?"

Oh shit. I said that out loud. I always mess things up sooner or later.

"Nothing! It was nothing I swear!" I feel like I'm digging myself deeper, but there's no turning back now.

Talan thankfully shakes it off, but I can tell that he heard it. We continue walking without a word for about ten minutes until I think of something.

"How long have you been working as a Phanter?"

"I've been dead for two hundred years human time. I was a wandering spirit for a decade and then I was recruited and became a Phanter. Phanters don't age and time works differently here. One week has gone by in the day that you've been here."

I've been dead a week? That means that in around fifty days I would have been dead about a year. This is amazing.

We finally stop at a portal looking thing. Talan pulls me in as we land in a park.

"Where are we?" I ask.

"We are at a place called Shibo Park. It is in Minato City in Japan. This is where all apprentices are trained. If you look around you'll see how many spirits there are."

I see about one hundred spirits roaming around, some of which are looking at us.

"So how do I do this?"

"Take your scythe, and try hitting one with the sharp part. It won't hurt them, but it will send them to the Underworld where they will be judged. Watch what I do and try mimicking it."

He swipes his scythe through an approaching spirit and it disappears. I watch him do it several times and analyze his movements. Right foot forward, scythe out, and swipe. I hit a spirit as it wails and disappears. 

"I thought you said it didn't hurt them!"

"I did! I was told the same thing by my mentor. This has never happened before. Spirits do wail sometimes, but they are always silenced by the presence of us. One has never wailed after being hit. I have to inform Mr. Silvia of this. Come with me."

That was the fastest training I have ever witnessed. It was also quite obscure. I follow Talan back through the portal as we make our way back to the Headquarters.

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