Horror

The interview

As war broke out worldwide, each city became an independent stronghold. Reconstruction was complex, and only a few jobs were available. As a result, society surrendered the citizens' rights to guilds. Entering a guild meant securing a job, a house and a life. For instance, the admission was literally a matter of life and death.

Each year youths entered "The Trial". They were confined in a facility during summer and trained until the examination. Barely half of the applicants were accepted into guilds, while the others were expelled from the city immediately. The rate would be even lower if the guild had too many applicants.

The applicants were tested physically and mentally. The authorities claimed that only the best would approve, and those with no talent should resettle elsewhere. However, a year ago, everything changed. Two scandals turned the population against the system.

First, it was discovered that some rich kids paid their way out of the trial to join a guild. Second, it came to light that on several occasions, the students preyed on each other, making them quit before the training ended. By the time of the trial, at least 30% of the applicants had already dropped out due to peer pressure. After failing, some lads killed themselves due to shame, others died during the harsh winter outside, and others became bandits. Only a few made it successfully into another city.

As a member of the renewal movement, I was tasked to interview an examiner of the healer's guild. The man was waiting for me in his confinement room, a small apartment with bars on the windows.  

A handsome man greeted me. "Miss Muller, it is nice to meet you. Would you like some tea?" I nodded. "Yes, thank you, Mr Roberts; nice to meet you too."

He signalled me a place in a chair and sat in front of me. He served me a cup, and I drank it. Then, I started, "I will be direct; I would like to know more about the examination."

He drank his tea and sighed. "Although the tasks were simple, a strong mind was needed to go through the process. I was the third generation that passed the trial. Back then, leaving the city and starting over wasn't as dangerous as it is now. Most of us weren't callous or corrupt, but failing kids was heartbreaking, so we became cold. It was a mistake. We failed to detect unhealthy competition. Students targeted both shy and bright peers. They hid books, gave them fake guidelines, put them against each other or tormented them. A broken system shouldn't stay, so I am glad it is over, but I am not sure if the new one will be better."

The conversation continued for two hours. When the time was up, we said goodbye. The government thinks the data on peer pressure and conformity is essential to run mob behaviour models and avoid future uprisings in the new order.