Scouters

A swarm of eager faces, notepads and cameras in hand, descended upon me the moment I stepped out of the registration center. “How did the test go?” “Which superpower do you have?”, “Are you open to joining a guild?” Their questions came fast and rapid, as if they were vying to outdo each other.

Raising my hand, I silenced the commotion. “I'm probably around rank D,” I announced, meeting their expectant eyes. Disappointment replaced excitement in a matter of seconds. Curses and sighs filled the air as the crowd started to thin out.

“Good riddance,” I murmured to myself. Ahe's voice whispered in my head, a tint of curiosity evident in his tone. “Why are you pleased about them leaving?”

Leaning in, I murmured my response. “If working at a 7/11 taught me anything, it's that I need a break from being a small cog in a big corporate wheel.”

That left five scouters, their determination unwavering. Each representing either a new or small, lesser-known guild, they greeted me with hopes of enticing a new recruit.

The first scouter, a young woman with fiery hair and freckles, handed me a pamphlet. “We're Ember Squad. We offer a community that supports each other and training sessions with experienced heroes.”

Next, a burly man with a firm handshake introduced himself. “Ironclad is our name. We're small but built tough. We focus on physical conditioning and tactical preparation.”

Finally, a woman in a business suit with an air of quiet confidence held out an impressive looking leaflet. “Vanguard Union. We are new but we have an array of resources and promise potential growth.”

With a nod, I accepted each pamphlet, promising to give each a fair consideration. I started walking as they started to leave, it was late afternoon, and I was already hungry. “I also thought about what you said,” I said to myself when no one was, no one around. “If I were to use your abilities to the fullest, then I can't make myself standout, a small guild would do, that being said, I'm not sure any of those really fit me”

“That's my boy!” Ahe said, following a laugh that your uncle would have after 5 beers, “Where are we going?”

“I'm gonna feed myself, I'm a hero now, so we eatin' good tonight!”