The proctor threw a pointed gaze at Vir, but then cleared his throat and continued. “No matter. With this, I hereby declare the exam concluded.”
“What about my rank?” Vir asked.
“That’s not how it works, Initiate,” the helmed soldier replied. “Balarian Proctors bestow ranks, yes, but to keep the system as standardized and as impartial as possible, your rank must be reviewed by the Balarian Council in Kin’jal. Only after they approve of the proctor’s assessment will your ranking be finalized.
“There have been cases in the past where a proctor has failed to appreciate some aspects of a warrior’s performance, or overemphasized the value of a particular trait. The Balarian Council helps protect against such issues.”
“So, I’m not going to know my rank for a while, then?” Vir said. He’d been so excited to find out how powerful he was. “You can’t tell me now?”
“To gain my title as Balarian Proctor, I have gone through much training and rigor. Our system does not suffer those who betray it. However, considering your performance, I am willing to share your provisional rank now.”
“T-thanks,” Vir replied. It sounded like the proctor was putting his reputation at risk by divulging this information.
“But before I do, tell me, do you understand how the Balar Scale operates?”
“I know it represents the strength of a Kin’jal Balarian Warrior. Balar 10 means I’d be equal to the rank of ten warriors, right?”
“Yes, and no. Balar 1 is a standard baseline of Kin’jal Balarian Warriors of old. These days, most Balarian Warriors boast a rank greater than one. Nevertheless, there is value in a standard unit of measure, as measuring nuanced traits such as combat potential is difficult, to say the least. The Balar Scale serves to give an approximation of someone’s strength, but there have been many situations when a lower Balar warrior bests someone higher than them on the scale. Keep this in mind.”
“I will.”
The proctor nodded. “I rank you at…”
Vir gulped. Would he break the Balar 30 Riyan had mentioned? Or… Yuma save me. What if it’s less than thirty?
“Balar 60. Owing to your Talents, mobility, knowledge of tactics, and your special Talent, you possess the capacity to defeat sixty Kin’jal Balarian Warriors ranked Balar 1.”
The helmed warrior whistled.
Vir’s eyes shot open. Sixty! That was practically double what Riyan had said. Then again, Riyan never knew of the full extent of Dance of the Shadow Demon. Vir wondered whether it might actually be greater than sixty, since the proctor had no knowledge of Prana Vision.
“Yesss!” he roared, pumping his arms. Take that, Maiya!
Vir strode out of the arena, his official iron Initiate badge in hand, with a spring in his step. There really was nothing quite like external validation of his combat prowess. Balar 60 was likely far higher than even the knights who’d attacked Brij.
If he ever came across them again, he wouldn’t have to run or hide any longer. He could stand his ground. Neither knights, nor pirates, nor slavers would threaten him as they had in the past.
With excitement and haste, Vir returned to the Executor to accept his first mission.
“You want me to kill sewer rats…” Vir said blankly, staring at the veiled Executor woman. Not the woman from his first visit—someone else. Like all the other Executors, she treated him as if she knew him already.
“Prana rats. They have been spilling out of the sewers and terrorizing local neighborhoods. While they are of no threat to someone of your capabilities, prana rats maim civilians regularly. You will be doing a public good,” said the Executor with a sigh. “Look, this is your first contract, Initiate. What did you expect?”
“I… I dunno? Something a bit more dangerous?”
“Your Balar Rank is precisely why we have given you this contract. Most Initiates begin by running errands for civilians or acting as couriers. Now, do you accept or do you decline?”
“I accept. How many do you need killed?”
“A thousand should suffice.”
“A thousand!”
Vir walked out of the Brotherhood Sanctum into the cool night, deflated and a little annoyed. The pay wasn’t great, and he’d honestly expected to be granted a more befitting contract after his exemplary performance.
But he supposed it was better than being an errand boy.
“Why so glum, chum?” a familiar voice said as Vir entered the Market Plaza.
“Wasn’t expecting to see you so soon,” Vir replied, turning to Amin, who stood with his hands clasped behind his head.
“Yeaaah, well, I wanted to check in on my new friend. See how things are going, y’know?”
“Oh? Are we friends now?”
Amin grinned, showing his yellowed and blackened teeth. “Sure are! C’mon, why don’t we head to a nicer spot?”
Vir wanted some fresh air, so he didn’t mind. It’d be a good opportunity to get some information from the urchin. Or pretend urchin—whatever he was.
He’d expected Amin to take him to a bar, or perhaps one of his hideouts. Instead, the boy led him to a building and up a flight of stairs to a flat, third-story rooftop.
“Pretty great, isn’t it?” Amin said, gesturing to the countless Magic Lamps that glowed before them. The view, while not breathtaking, was magical in its own right.
“It’s beautiful,” Vir replied. “Is this your hangout spot?”
“One of them, yeah. Come here to get away from it all, y’know?”
“Not really. What do you do, usually?”
“Honestly? Just try to make enough to eat, man,” the urchin replied, sitting down and crossing his legs.
Vir took a seat beside him.
“You’re still going with that excuse? Even untrained mejai don’t have trouble finding food. And especially not secret agents. So what’s your relationship to Riyan, anyway?”
“Oh, General Savar? Me and him go way back.”
Vir somehow doubted it, given the boy’s age. Then again, there was something about Amin’s appearance that made it hard to place exactly how old he was. He could’ve been four years Vir’s junior, or possibly even a year or two older.
“Used to be pretty close, y’know? But we’ve… drifted apart lately. He hasn’t really been active in Daha all that much. I miss him.”
Now Vir really wanted to know what their relationship was like. Riyan had never once mentioned the boy, nor had he conveyed any affection while speaking of his contact. Then again, it was just like Riyan to hide his true feelings.
“So anyway, what’s your Balar Rank? You just turned in that Jatu and got tested, didn’t you?”
“How’d you know?”
“I mean, what else would you be doing in the Sanctum at this hour? So c’mon, tell me!”
“What’s your rank?” Vir asked.
“Thirty-five,” Amin said immediately, surprising Vir.
“You sure? Lightning and Water Affinities? I think you’d be stronger than that.”
“Yeah, well. Couldn’t really afford too many orbs for the test. Had to rent them, in fact. And besides, I only have Lesser Affinities. Nothing to write home about.” It was true that the boy only had Lesser Water and Lightning Affinities. If he was as poor as he kept claiming, then Vir could see how he might end up with such a rank.
“Forty-five,” Vir lied.
“Impressive, man! And you’re a Talent wielder, too. Not bad at all!”