Author's Note: When you think of Shamans... Think of those who can connect with their inner spiritual powers... whether it be to interact with otherworldly creatures... or for other uses.
Disclaimer: NOT MINE JEEZ
Chapter 1
"Sir, Sir. You have to wake up, sir." A brown-haired man was shaking another vigorously. The sleeping man was buried in a pile of papers, some of which were haphazardly slipping off the messy desk onto an even messier floor. Patches of the faded quilt-work rug could be seen among hills of seemingly random books. "Komui, sir!"
"No luck Reever?"
"None. Lenalee, your brother's like a log. A very lazy, irresponsible log at that."
Lenalee giggled. "I'm here to pick up a few scrolls on the transmorgue of souls. I'm sure nii-san has a couple of copies laying around... somewhere." She began picking up random documents and tidying up the office.
"Didn't we already send you a few scrolls yesterday?"
Lenalee shrugged, "My class was experimenting on strengthening their fire application abilities yesterday. A couple of fireballs may or may not have hit the bookshelf. Besides, Allen's class needed extra ink. I might as well get that for him while I'm here."
"No need." A white haired young man, with a pentagram scar that marred his otherwise pale skin, stood leaning at the doorway with a bread roll in his hands. "Jerry's kitchen was on the way here." Allen looked at Komui, still dozing obliviously on his desk.
"Oh good! then you can help me search for my scrolls then!"
"I guess. Is Komui dead?"
"Not yet. Though if he did die, then maybe I'd have a chance to finally date a cute guy or have a one-night stand with a movie star." Allen gave Lenalee a stare. "Kidding, Kidding. I wouldn't really want my brother to die... well... for the most part."
The two traipsed through the room, trying hard not to slip on some errant debris. Suddenly dust flew into the air as a box full of letters crashed down on Lenalee.
"Lenalee are you alright!" Both Allen and Reever bounded over to her. "Are you hurt?"
"WHAT? Has my beloved sister gotten injured?" Komui, who had been sleeping and snoring moments before, pushed both Allen and Reever out of the way in his frenzy to reach Lenalee. "Lenalee... Answer me! Are you alive? Do you still have your innocence intact?"
"God you're... you're... you're absolutely EMBARRASSING! Yes I'm fine!"
Allen gave her a sympathetic look. Lenalee smiled then turned back to her brother. "What's with all this stuff anyway?"
"Various applications."
"Applications?"
"Applications to apply for a job here. Anita left on maternity leave... and god knows where Cross is," He tipped his head towards Allen, " So we're searching for people to fill in the vacancies. Many of the classes are crowded, so we really need the help now."
"Applications... from where? I never knew that there were this many capable shamans in the community. And..." And we can't possibly accept a normal human in this school.
Shamans were few since humans lost touch with their spiritual powers long ago. Capable and official adult shamans were even fewer. Shamans were often employed in dangerous missions that no other than the supernaturally gifted would be able to complete. Many die on these missions.
And to the demonic community, shamans were a delicious delicacy. Eating them would provide a burst of spiritual energy. Though demons often didn't need the luxury of eating, they preyed on Shaman flesh nonetheless.
So Komui, after learning that his dear sister was gifted with shamanic ability, sought to establish an academy where they would search for prospective young shamans and nurture their abilities. Fewer lives would be lost... and Lenalee would be safer, surrounded by more comrades. Although Komui had no spiritual power himself, he would protect his sister who did.
"There aren't," Komui replied, "But I'm taking a risk right now. I've put an secret question at the bottom of the application. Those with power should be able to see the question and answer it. At this point, I'm willing to those with an inkling of power."
The group was quiet for a moment. They knew the responsibilities that burdened their shoulders.
Reever clapped Komui's back, "That's right. Let's take a look at these letters."
Lenalee reached inside the box and gave everyone a handful of envelopes. Each wetted their fingers and ripped the seal off. Allen gingerly opened the crisp the paper and began to scan it.
"I've got someone really arrogant here. Oh god, whose signature is ever this fancy these days." Lenalee whispered. " His name is Ty..ty... I can't even read this."
"Here let me try," Allen put down the letter he was reading. It wasn't very interesting... the applicant was simply boasting about his capabilities. "Ty...Tyki Mikk. That's strange, I think I've heard that before. Tyki isn't exactly a common name."
Lenalee shrugged. "Anyway, he can see the secret question," she pointed at the bottom of the page, "So he's got some power at least."
Reever began shuffling through the masses of letters, quickly sorting them into piles. (Although one pile was vastly larger than the other two. It was comprised of mostly incompetent or thoughtless applications.)
After a few hours, the group sat on the floor, exhausted. None other than Tyki managed to answer the secret question.
"Hey," Reever began, "Doesn't Tiedoll have a few disciples he can spare?"
"That's right, he does..."
"But they're all busy with their work. Tiedoll's been commissioned in Asia for a long time. And his disciples are all crucial to its objective." Komui interjected.
"Yeah, But didn't he pick up an orphan over there? As far as I know, he doesn't have any spiritual power."
"How does THAT hel-"
"Just listen, nii-san" Lenalee help her hand up against Komui's mouth. "Continue please."
Reever nodded. "Tiedoll sent word that he's currently looking after an orphan boy he found in Japan. He said that the boy has a rough exterior... but he's got a good heart. He can't help much with Shamanic classes... but if he took over teaching basic physical and rudimentary core classes, that'd free some of us up to teach those Shamanic classes that are currently instructor-less."
Komui sat quietly, and hesitated before answering, "I'll have to run this by the higher-ups in the government... But I think that might work."
"Alright then!" Reever brightened. " Let's clean this up... and just WHERE are YOU going?" He ran and grabbed the back of Komui's collar before he could slip out the door and into the hallway. "You still have paper to finish!"
"But.. But..."
"No Buts, I completed half of YOUR work last night. Today, you are going to sit down and actually get some WORK done."
"But.. But... Lenalee... Allen..." Komui turned pleading eyes onto the two teachers that were sliding away with sorry looks on their faces. They didn't want to be a part of this argument.
"Don't leave me here...!"
"Are you going home, early?"
"Yeah, I've got to feed Timcampy." Allen stood by to open the door for lenalee as they walked out of the academy and into the stone encased entrance way of the Black Order (the shamanic school).
"Aww, Thanks. You're always so nice." Lenalee smiled. "I'm going to visit the library now. Nii-san reserved some records that I'm going to pick up. I guess we part ways here."
Allen waved his goodbye and started trudging down the bleak street led to his small apartment. It was muddy, as it rained the night before, and the puddles were wide but shallow. The throngs of people clamouring to pass in the streets all bustled and knocked against each other in their eagerness to cross the puddle-ridden walkway.
"AH!" A small boy, no older than eight, was jostled into a particularly large puddle; water splashed onto his pants and more than likely soiled his shoes. Everyone paid no attention to the boy and continued on with their busy life.
"Are you okay?"
The boy looked confused, darting his eyes left and right before his spotted a gloved hand. And then an arm... a pale arm. And then a young man with shocking white hair. The boy's eyes grew wide, either from fear or surprise.
Allen smiled, "Take my hand, I might have a handkerchief here... somewhere..." He checked the many pockets on his cloak, "Not... here... where is it? I know I have a few spare... hmm... Ha! Here it is!" Allen pulled out a sky-blue square of cloth that had little clouds embroidered into the corners. He held it out for the little boy.
The boy hesitantly held out his hand to take the handkerchief... but then saw Allen's scar. He squeaked and ran off, pushing others out of the way in his haste.
It was a common reaction, Allen couldn't really blame him. Of course it would be scary; who on earth would have this type of scar naturally. There was nothing else to do but to shake it off. And with that, he began walking towards home, like that incident hadn't happened... and never realized someone saw the whole encounter with raptured interest.
The dark man from the shadows within the alley chuckled. That boy, the one with white hair, was interesting... he stood out from the rest of faceless crowd that littered this country...
He turned sharply, heading deeper into the shadows, leaving behind a messy scene filled with blood, still steaming with heat, and a barely discernible body.
The dark man chuckled again, and walked until only the gold irises, which reflected off of whatever existing light there was, could be seen... like a deadly jaguar stalking it prey.
