Jasen entered the elevator, and scanned the badge on the crystal reader. The elevator moved in a soft hum and I ended back in the lobby. Saris saw me as I exited the elevator and walked back in front of the lobby desk. Her face was already giving me a dead I stare. "I told you to not leave Investigator Vaelwyn side." She said with clear distain in her tone.
I put my hands up in a surrendering gesture. "I have a pass and a letter from the Head Inspector. Can you please look at it before you try and kill me?" I said nervously.
I approached the reception desk slowly carefully. Saris sat but looked like she was ready to jump in a heart beat. She looked at the badge pass I was given. Then opened the letter by the head inspector. In that brief moment I saw her eyes look at the letter in shock then towards me twice. The she took a calming breathe, her face and toned changed to a warm smile in a very soft tone.
"So it's official then. You shall be joining our ranks. Then let me formally introduce myself."
As she said that she stood up. She wore a dark gray blouse the hugged her chest, and a black kimono like skirt. She then put on a black mid drift coat. . "My name is Saris Sunkiss. I am the receiving and training coordinator of the order. Follow me I will take you to start your paperwork and training process."
I nodded. "I'm Jasen it's nice to meet you." I said as I extended my hand. But she looked at it and at me. Then just smiled, and I realized her smile was one of force practice. She put on her smile to me for her job and nothing more. Which is fine I understand why. She is wary of other worlder's from what Vaelwyn told me.
Saris led me down the hallway. After she scanned her badge to a crystal, a door opened. Inside I saw books, potions, vials, and scrolls. A windowless room containing a long table, several chairs, and shelves stacked with ledgers. On the wall hung a city map of Velduros marked with colored pins and a bulletin board pinned with procedural notices.
Saris shut the door behind us ."You can sit here." She said gesturing to a table.
"Yes, yhank you."
As I sat down, she retrieved a box along with scrolls and vials from the shelve. She then placed them one by one on the table and remained standing. "So I'll be frank." She said with a cold stare and even a colder tone in her voice. "I don't know what odd strings of fate dropped you into our laps, but around here, you pull your weight or you're gone. The Sixth Eye doesn't need deadweight."
Jasen was surprised and somewhat relaxed with this version of Saris. Well this is less off putting then her forced smile and fake pleasantries. At least this version of her I can appreciate the candid and straightforwardness.
I better hold my tongue until I I get used to this place. Jasen then met Saris gaze. "Understood. I intend to pull my weight, and not be a burden to anyone." Jasen said sincerely.
Saris stared at Jasen for a moment before she spoke. "We'll see. Now, down to business." She picked up a clipboard from the shelf and scanned it. She placed a clear parchment Infront of Jasen on the table. Then symbols and words appeared. It was the structure of the Order of the Sixth Eye's.
"First, the Sixth Eye's rank structure and what your role is. You're coming in at the bottom rung, obviously a Probationary Trainee, then a Probationary Investigator. The probationary means you have to complete a probationary time as a trainee. It's a minimum of 8 months, and when your time is complete. You will test to be promoted to Probationary Investigator. That will take up to a year at most. Or depending when your Investigator who is training you, believes you are ready. Considering you will be under Investigator Vaelwyn, there's no telling how long that will be."
I pause in hearing that statement. "What do you mean?" I asked.
"Don't worry about it, you will find out one way or another."
Oh great vagueness. She really doesn't want to help me more then she has to.
"Next are the full Investigators. Regular Investigator's who do the assigned tasked of cases. Senior Investigators who often lead small teams. They mostly oversee more serious cases. Sometimes handling them by themselves depending on their experience and their path ranks."
"Rank's?" I asked.
Saris nodded. "Yes ranks. Each path has a sequence of ranks and just as well so do our cases." The parchment then appeared to add more details. F to S.
"Their is a special type of investigator above Senior Investigator." She said pointed at the rank structure. "They are called the Special Investigators. In order to qualify as one you must have three achievements."
She pulled out a deck of black shiny cards with gold inscriptions from the box. "First F is the lowest rank of missions from a simple missing person or finding a lost item. These are are mostly for our probationary trainees and investigators. E to D ranks are more investigations for the cheating spouse or corrupt officials. These are some of the similar cases regular investigators take along with their trainees."
I see so they do regular investigational work to. I thought it would be all about the supernatural, and the occult. But that means the higher ranks must be more dangerous.
Then Saris' expression got a tad bit more serious. "Now the C to B ranks are for the more experienced investigators and above. You will be part of a team and handling cases that have a supernatural element to them. But that is not all. Some will be about a magical beast or creatures that have begun attacking the civilians."
Okay so that's where things get more difficult. Lord knows the type of things I will see on those missions.
"Now A ranked missions are in their own category. They require a group of senior investigators. These can range from path way users or otherworldly entities. Ranging from sacrificial killings for a summoning ritual. Or fighting a dark occult organization."
"I thought the organization handles only investigative work. Why does it sound like we will be fighting on the front lines of some wars?" Jasen asked.
Saris nodded understandingly. "Good question. That's because, the investigators do not always have the luxury of having the city guards by our side. Since we are able to mobilize more quicker we are trained in martial arts of many kind. From CQC (Close Quarters Combat) to handling weapons like the standard issued knife, baton or pistol. That is why it is recommended that When given permission to take a pathway you should. The quicker you do the better your odds for survival are."
Then she gestured to the letter I gave her earlier. "But I will explain the pathways in a moment since the head Inspector has cleared you to take a pathway oath."
I wonder what she means by oath? Considering their are many tarot arcane paths, do they each have a path?
"Finally is the S ranked. These are for high ranked special investigators. Only special investigators and senior investigators who are path way users can take these assignments. They handle three types of cases. Other-worlder's becoming a calamity. Meaning a other-worlder's like you taking a path way and failing a high ascension rank up. The next one, is the descension of a higher being known as a fallen one."
"What is the fallen one?" I asked.
"They are classified as a fallen angel of the Primordial. When I say they it is because it has multiple incarnations. Such as, otherworldly being that the moment use gaze upon it you will die or go mad. Or it could possess a corpse or magical creature and mutate it and spread its corruption throughout the world."
They never sounds good. So zombie virus meets Cthulhu. Great another nightmare I don't want to have. I gulped and asked nervously.
"And the final one?"
"The final one is actually normal, and more common but still rare. You will be sent to find sacred artifacts from pathway users or lost ruins from different Epoch's. They can range from their items and weapons that they used or even organs."
"Organs?" I said abruptly sounding surprised.
"Yes organs. Like eyes, hearts and other parts. It means when they died their power solidified into that part of the body or item. But don't confuse them as useful body parts, or items anyone can use. These items are dangerous. Some contain resentment and corruption of their dead user. While others require a lot of power of other higher Pathway users to use.
"Are there any none dangerous ones? Jasen asked.
"Yes there are, but these items have egos and are known to be very picky. The pickier the item the stronger the abilities are." Sari then brought a book and placed it down at me on the table infront of me. "Here is the order's regulation's. Study it on your own time, and make sure to memorize it. It has everything you will need to know, and it will be a shame if it killed you." The look she had, gave said that she wouldn't be ad if that happened.
I glanced over the book. It didn't look to difficult. Their were beautiful pictures with brief descriptions.
Saris continued her explanation. "Now do you understand everything I told you so far?"
Jasen nodded. He felt overwhelmed in a sense but nothing to big he couldn't understand with time. "Yes, I understand. I will familiarize myself with the rank structure and the rules and code of conduct."
Saris nodded. "Good. Now it's time for me to explain the pathways to you. But first sign these papers." She then proceeded to pull out a large stack of papers. Jasen's eyes widened. What the holy hell is this?"Um what are these?"
Saris face made cold stoic expression gesturing to the stack of papers. "These are the standard conduct for the order of secrecy and supernatural contracts. Each form is to ensure you will not divulge our secrets of the organization or the pathways. They are magical contracts, so we will know if you break them." She said handing Jasen a ink pen. "Now read carefully and sign on the dotted line."
15 minutes later. Jasen read and signed every parchment in front of him. While Saris sat there sipping on some tea. Jasen hated every second of it, and didn't want to see another document for the rest of the day.
"Is this all?" he asked.
Then Saris placed a single sheet of parchment in front of him. "This is your employment sheet. Sign it and you will be done."
Jasen inwardly sighed, but felt relief. Thank god I'm done. Jasen signed the form and the ink glowed a faint gold color. Then it returned to a black color. That's interesting I wonder what this means?
"Okay now you are a official employee of the order. Trainee to be exact, now you must pick your pathway."