Chapter 3: Rose Cruce Order

“Oh, it is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Edmund Jaeger!”

Tamie shook the boy’s hand he had stretched out. She caught a glimpse of his golden-chained Libra amulet.

*No way, this guy’s a Libra too?!*

A Libra and he had managed to become an overlord of such a powerful order?

*If this Libra has accomplished such great things, maybe I too can indeed achieve my dream...*

“Well, we shall hold your Joining Ceremony later today. Meanwhile, you can take your time to get to know the rules of this order and also, choose a Class you’re going to pursue,” Edmund gave her a polite smile, as it was a custom for all Libra. Then he looked at her brother: “Lord Nick, I think you remember we’ve got a council in a few hours”.

“I don’t forget anything, Ed,” Nick answered. He turned to Tamie: “Well, I guess I’ll leave you for now. I think you can take care of things here on your own, right? If anything, our receptionist, Erisa, can help you,” he pointed on the fair white-haired maiden cleaning the counter nearby. Once heard her name, Erisa raised her head and glanced at them with her big blue eyes. Nick smiled at her: “Erisa, you can help my little sister with the beginner guide, right?”

“Sure, Lord Nick, I would be glad!”

“Okay. I’ll leave you to it, then”.

Nick followed Edmund to the second floor. When they were gone, Tamie heard Erisa’s voice:

“Hello, I’m Erisa Glendale”.

“Tamie Wingfield. It’s a pleasure to meet you!”

“Same here! Well, what are your sign and spirit?” Erisa opened a notebook, apparently to write Tamie’s data down.

“I am a Libra, born on October 6. As for the spirit – I’m in the year of a Tiger, so I guess a Tiger should awaken, right?”

“Correct. Okay then, so Tamie Wingfield – a Libra of a Tiger spirit. Hmm, quite an unusual combination... I’m not sure which Class would be better for you_”

They heard a loud scream of excitement. When Tamie looked back, her eyes widened in fright – a short redhead girl dressed in a tiger costume was running towards her at an immense speed, accompanied by an energetic white dog and two cats. She dashed at Tamie and squeezed her in her arms:

“A Tiger spirit! Another Tiger spirit! Awesome!!!”

“Ah! I… can’t breathe…” Tamie gasped for air.

“Whoops, sorry!” the tiger-costumed girl let go of her. “I just love Tigers so much!”

“Ah, n… nice…” Tamie scratched the back of her head. “So, you’re a Tiger spirit too?”

“No, she’s a cow,” a sarcastic boyish voice sounded.

“It is called an Ox,” the redhead gnashed the teeth and clenched her fists in rage.

“Ah, sorry, I thought as ‘Bulls’ are for boys, for girls like you it should be ‘Cows’”.

Tamie frowned when spotted the black-haired arrogant guy whom the voice belonged to, sit on a stool at the counter, next to them.

“I said it is an Ox!” the tiger-costumed girl looked down at her white dog: “Blizzard, get him!”

The dog barked and wagged his tail. The arrogant boy burst out laughing, holding his stomach:

“Haha! He doesn’t even listen to you! Your pets are just as dumb as their owner, Tiger!”

Tiger – the redhead girl – flared up and punched him in the face. The boy shrilled in pain and fell off his chair, banging right onto the floor. Now the whole crowd roared with laughs:

“She's got ya, Rick?”

“What a weakling, brought down by a girl!”

Rick flushed up with embarrassment and sprang up on his feet. He prepared hand signs to call his powers out:

“You will get it now, you cow lass!”

Tiger didn’t back down but prepared her fists as well, ready to accept Both Tamie and Erisa got worried – a fight was to break out, and here, near them, of all places?!

“Guys, please, calm down!”

Erisa got worked up – if a fight broke out now, they would seriously damage the surroundings, and she would be blamed as it was near her counter! But the pumped-up children didn’t seem to be willing to give up now. They were waiting for each other to make the first move.

“Take this, you cow!”

Rick swung his water fist at Tiger. A fire rope grabbed his arm and landed a burn. He roared in pain. The water around his fist vaporized. He looked aside, to see a short-haired girl of average height glare at him. He snarled:

“Riza…”

“No fighting inside the Order building. Jaeger’s policy. Or you want to get found out by the Magister, Rick?”

“Ugh, you rat will never be stronger than me, a snake!” Rick rubbed his burnt arm.

“Well, you can test it out, if you ever make it to the second floor of Zodiac Grandmasters,” Riza chuckled.

“Haha, she beat ya there!” some boys burst into laughter.

Rick gnashed his teeth. He turned around and left the place. Riza turned to Tiger:

“You okay, sis?”

“I’m fine…”

Tiger called out her three pets and left the hall, walking down into the basement. Riza followed her. The crowd stopped watching them and got back to their business – drinking and chatting. Tamie turned back to Erisa:

“Is it always like this in here?”

“Mostly…” Erisa rolled eyes, “I’m glad Riza cut into the conflict, or else there would’ve been a disaster… Well, forget about that. Which Class do you want to join?”

She put a paper before her, with the names of six Classes – the Battler, the Defender, the Keeper, the Sneaker, the Tamer, and the Artist.

*So many to choose from! Once I make a choice, there shall be no way back…*

Tamie’s grand adventures were about to start, from that very moment when she put her finger first on the Artist Class, and then its sub-branch – the Writer Class. Her name was written down.

“Congratulations, Tamie Wingfield, you are now a member of the Rose Cruce Order!” Erisa announced.

Her path towards glory began.