- I don't own the characters (except Rea) etc.

The Art of Magic

Chapter 1

Her first attempt didn't go too well. She hadn't been bothered to think things through much. Then again, what fun would it be, if everything happened according to plan? It was Rea's incredible luck—or unluckiness—that got her tangled up in the whole situation.

"Good morning, how may I help you?" The woman behind the desk asked politely and smiled, just as her job required.

"I would like to join SOLDIER," replied Rea, as if it were the simplest of things.

"Shouldn't you be discussing this with your director?" The smile remained.

"Oh... I'm not a member of the infantry. In fact I've never worked for Shinra before. I just want to join SOLDIER. If I can't be directly recruited as 2nd, I will even settle for 3rd class."

The secretary raised her eyebrows and tried to hold back a laugh. "Well it isn't my place to discuss such matters; you should go to the 8th floor: SOLDIER administration and recruitment. They should be able to... assist you."

"Thanks..." muttered Rea as she turned away and scanned the area for the elevator. She spotted it just as it was about to leave and dashed towards it, hoping to catch it before the doors closed. "Hold it!" She yelled at the man who stood inside, getting strange looks from the people around her. The man quickly put his arm in front of the doors to prevent them from closing.

"There you go!" He smiled as Rea made it in. The woman returned the smile and nodded as thanks. "So which floor?"

"8th floor," she announced and pushed the button herself.

"SOLDIER recruitment?" The man raised an eyebrow—the woman standing before him was barely 1.55 meters tall (5'1'') and looked as if she would break if he were to poke her. "Aren't you a bit... well I mean... you don't look like someone who'd join SOLDIER..."

"How would you know?" Rea snapped at him. The nerve of some people! How she hated it when they judged her by her looks!

"I didn't mean to offend you. It's just that I am in SOLDIER so I would know..."

"You're in—" but before Rea could finish her sentence the beeping indicating that the elevator had reached the 8th flood sounded and the doors opened.

"SOLDIER 2nd class, Kunsel," and he gave her the official SOLDIER greeting. "A pleasure meeting you Miss..."

"Rea... Rea Ampere." With that she walked out of the elevator and turned to see Kunsel press the button to floor 49. "I'll get to go to that floor soon enough," she mumbled stubbornly.