Reaper's Purgatory-Chapter 45: Welcome New recruits!

Lilith and Fallock looked over all the crystal balls. The last tests were completed with only three-hundred or so people remaining.

"It looks like all the testing is completed..." Lilith said.

Fallock gazed into the crystal ball that held the image of Liang's exam. He watched as Liang picked himself up and handed yellow headbands to both Megumi and Dino.

"You don't seem to be pleased." Lilith noted. "You watched the whole thing yourself. Clearly Liang didn't go easy on them."

"That's not the issue..." Fallock said. "For a moment, I could've sworn I saw a shadow looming over that woman... and that control over her powers. That would take the newest of people years to control and master and here she is doing it in a month of being here no less..."

Fallock gazed more harshly at Megumi as she left along with Liang through the green door. "And here I thought that scythe came from someone else...Just who is this woman?"

"Lilith..."

"Yes?" Lilith caught a glimpse of Fallock's pensive expression. She could tell that his curiosity is peaking.

"Do you know who this girl is?"

"I have an idea... But I can't give a definitive answer... But if K's hunch is correct, she will become vital for what's to come..."

Fallock narrowed his eyes. "I see..."

********

The halls flooded with men and women of different shapes and sizes. Most carry to look of defeat as they proceed out of the academy. Others carried themselves with Pride as they converse and awaited the busy halls to clear up.

Megumi who was awaiting the busy halls to clear up too, gazed back at the other people that passed like her.

The black-haired fellow sat on the floor and leaned back on the wall carelessly. The two brown haired kids seemed to be getting along together much better than she expected. The wimpy guy with his dark brown hair seemed to be glancing around nervously as if expecting to be beaten up.

Dino himself leaned on the door frame watching the passer bys. Liang was nowhere to be seen. He simply told them to wait until the halls cleared and just left them.

"Typical." Megumi thought.

After about ten minutes of waiting patiently, the halls finally seemed to clear out. It was as if the entire auditorium of people failed the test with how long it took.

"I think it's clear." Dino said. "Let's go."

Everyone got up at once and journeyed back to the auditorium. Hums were sung and conversations were nonexistent. Everyone was dead set on what was to come next as opposed to the trial and tribulations they just underwent.

But considering they were fighting a grimm it seemed to make sense that they were lucky to have passed in the first place.

"It's probably the same with those other tests. There's probably only three or four people that actually passed those tests the grimms gave..." 

As they reached the door to the auditorium, they found two people waiting outside, managing a plethora of black robes.

As Megumi approached with everyone behind her, a robe was suddenly handed straight to her. "Please wear this," a woman said with a cheerful expression. "It's the academy's uniform for all the new recruits."

"O-okay?"" Megumi took the robe in hand, just as that happened...

"And don't worry about size either, it should automatically fit you-"

PFFF

"Huh?" Megumi gazed to her right. To her surprise Sayko was trying to enter too. "Sayko?"

Sayko heard her, and with a wide smile waved back at Megumi, "Oh, Hey Megumi! I didn't notice you!"

There was a guy next to Sayko that looked at her more skeptically. He handed a robe to her too. "H-here. Let's try this again." He spoke.

"Okay!" Sayko took the robe, putting it on. In an instant, it exploded into dust. Everyone that witnessed this bore a bewildered and puzzled expression. They were unsure what to make of the situation.

Sayko simply smiled as beads of sweat fell from the side of her face. "U-uhhhh... let's try that one more time..."

She grabbed a new pair and like before, her robe exploded into a puff of dust.

"M-maybe I can-"

"Just... go..." The guy said in defeat.

"O-okay..." Sayko turned to Megumi. "I'll see you inside."

Megumi raised her hand. "H-hey w... Wait..." Sayko had already entered.

"That was weird, Megumi noted. She put her own robe on, only for it to explode into a puff of dust too. "Eh?"

The woman who gave her the robe laughed nervously. "D-don't worry about it."

"I-is this normal?" Megumi asked.

"N-not really but you're fine. Just head on in."

Without another word Megumi entered, but upon looking upon the rows of seats, her jaw dropped.

The auditorium had so many more people than expected. There were hundreds of people grouped together conversing light-heartedly.

"That last test sure was easy, wasn't it?" Megumi was brought into ahead lock by Sayko to her surprise. "So, when's the rest of your group coming?"

Megumi stared back at Sayko's smiling face in a stunned silence.

"We're the only ones that pass." Dino said, entering along with the others. Somehow, they were able to maintain the plain black robes.

"Wow! Only six of you passed!?"

One of the people serving robes popped their head in. "You're not supposed to be here." she said. The woman grabbed the girl that was still lingering with her friend, dragging her out.

"Hey, wait! Let me stay a little longer!" The girl yelled.

The boy waved. "See you Chacha..."

"Traitor~~!!"

"Oh... Five..." Sayko corrected herself.

Megumi released herself from Sayko's grasp. "How many passed your test?"

Sayko brought her hand to her chin, pondering the question. "Oh, I think it was a hundred, no. Maybe a little more than that...Hmmm... I don't know. But a lot of people."

"You must've gotten it easy..."

Just then a plethora of additional people entered. It was like a battalion of people, who entered and quickly seated themselves.

Megumi didn't know what to say.

"Gee! You guys must've gotten the rough end of the stick then! Hahaha."

Megumi sighed.

"C'mon we should find somewhere to sit too." Dino said.

Megumi glanced back, finding that everyone had already found a seat. Looking at Dino he seemed to become more nervous looking behind Megumi. He cringed a little as if something was happening behind her. Glancing back, Sayko was still smiling like her usual self.

Just then Axen Passed by Megumi. "Heya Beautiful, don't worry I made sure to pass just for you." Axen swerved around and pointed his two hands playfully posing them as finger pistols shooting.

Megumi cringed hard. "HOW DID HE PASS!!??"

Axen continued to his own seat, not overstaying his welcome. A person quickly came to Megumi's mind. "Kailey... Is she here?"

Megumi quickly glanced around, peaking both Dino's and Sayko's curiosity. "Who are you looking for?" Sayko asked.

"Did you see a person named Kailey by chance? She has long wavy hair."

"You mean that girl from earlier when busted up the school?" Sayko asked.

A nervous sweat rolled down Megumi's face, just remembering it. "Y...Yes."

"I think I saw her over there." Sayko pointed to the far right of that auditorium.

Megumi quickly turned back to Dino. "I'm just gonna check on her real quick then I'll be back, promise."

"O-okay but try to be fast I'm sure they'll start their lecture soon."

Megumi ran off, waving. "That's what I said I'll do!"

Dino, now left behind by Sayko.

"So, your friends, right? So, since she's my friend that makes you my friend by extensions, right?" Sayko got uncomfortably close to Dino who could only afford to give himself a small bit of space.

"What's with you? Argh. If I agree, will you leave me alone?"

"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm????" Sayko stared intensely at Dino and slowly came closer as smiled.

"F-fine I'll be friends. Are you happy now!?"

"Woohoo!!" Sayko jumped up in joy and did a little jig as she sang to herself. "♪I got a frie~nd~. I got a frie~nd~. I got my first boy friend~. Hm, hm hmm~~. ♪"

Dino sighed exhaustively. "Why is it always the crazy ones?"

********

Megumi continued moving, searching and scanning around for Kailey. not long after she reached the corner of the auditorium. but still no sign of her. She approached the empty seats, and after taking some time to looking around, she finally found her.

She sat way up front alone looking at something in her hand.

Just before Megumi to move to Kailey she heard her name called old. She turned and was met with the scowl of Fallock.

She stepped back, surprised by his sudden presence.

"Please seat yourself next to yourself to your fellow examinees." Fallock gestured her to return to her group. It seemed that many of the grimms had arrived and were urging everyone that still stood to get seated.

"No fair..."

Not wanting a repeat of what happened last time, she listened and rejoined Dino and the others.

It wasn't long until all the grimms reconvened onto the stage along with Fallock how stood in the center. He overlooked the smaller crowd of people, that were separated by their tester. Most had a little over a hundred people left, while a few others carried less than fifty.

Megumi's group in particular were the odd balls among the entire group of people. Some people started eyeing their group, some surprised while others seemed to be exchanging stink eyes.

Seeing there no reason to delay, Fallock finally spoke.

"As your new headmaster of the Reaper corp. Academy, The RCA... I would like to congratulate each and every one of you for passing your tests. I am happy to welcome you all into our fold as our newest recruits to become reapers. These following years will become some of the most important of your lives. And as you all attend this academia to further hone skills, you will also be made to learn new thing not taught outside these walls."

Fallock gazed around more deeply into the crowd. "You will learn of our creed, our enemies, and more of this world that average citizens are not aware of. And while I can go on, and list the some of the things that people view as beneficial, the reality is that we are the last line of defense..."

"You will see unspeakable horrors, and twisted people and demons alike. The road ahead will be long for all of you. But by the time we're finished with you all, you will be ready to serve the natural order of the world along with me and your fellow man and women by your side." Fallock then gestured to the grimms behind him.

"From this day on, these men and women will be your instructors and educators for becoming a Reaper. Furthermore, those that had received head bands from your instructor, will be studying directly underneath them as your master."

Megumi's eyes widened hearing Fallock. She dug in her pocket, bringing up the yellow headband that everyone else receive. Meanwhile the people in the other crowd, glanced around confused by what Fallock meant.

"Of, course many of you did not receive this. please keep in mind that does not affect your education and recruitment status here. After all, diligent work breed excellence. your first days will be one week from now so I would prepare while you can."

Megumi stared straight at Liang who seemed to be smiling more widely as if content with himself. she squeezed the headband, frustrated by this fact.

"Also, If there are any questions or concerns, I will be taking them now."

Megumi quickly raised her hands garnering everyone immediate attention.

Fallock sighed seeing, this. "Yes?"

"U-uhh... W-what if we don't want to be the student of the instructor that gave us the headband, we can just say no right?"

"That is an option. But for your case you'd have to retake the entire recruitment exam fifty years from now to do that.

Megumi was thunderstruck. "Wh-what!? But why???"

"Because. As a newborn here, you'll need someone to tutor you of this world." Fallock scoffed. "So naïve, what did she expect."

Murmurs picked up from all around along with even more curious glances at Megumi.

"Wait, she just came to purgatory?"

"Why is a newborn being accepted as a reaper."

"What a joke."

The statements seemed to slowly get louder, forcing Fallock to clear his throat much more loudly, interrupting the crowd.

"Is there any other questions?" Fallock said aloud.

Another person raised their hands.

"Why is a newborn being accepted as a recruit for the reaper corp.?"

"Because. She has already proven her worth. just as everyone in this room...."

"But tha-"

"are there any other questions not pertaining to another recruit?" Fallock interrupted.

There was silence among the crowd. with silent contemplation ongoing. After a while another person raised heir hands and asked a much more normal question.

An unease burdened Megumi as she fell back to her chair.

"Hey, Megumi. Are you okay?" Dino asked. he saw Megumi's increasingly depressed expression.

"How did I become that mans student? I want a refund..."

Dino gave a soft pat on the back. "Well... We're in this together now." Somehow, this didn't help her mood. in fact it seemed to make it worse.

Glancing back up, Dino noticed the many eyes were strangely glued on them as some whispered amongst each other. He paid no mind to them, instead turning his attention back to Fallock who was giving answers to each person asking specific questions related to their situation.

After the a while of answering several question, Fallock finally ceased, finding that everyone's questions have been answered.

"Since there are no more questions, I will step aside and let our leader say a few words."

Lilith, who sat in the front row without anyone noticing, stood up, a walked up stage. She stood with her chest puffed up in her casual clothes and smiled like a content mother.

"Welcome new recruits to the reapers corp. I have high expectations from each and one of you in this room. Work hard and don't give up! That is all."

Unexpectedly, the Lilith slowly turned to from the feet up. "Until next time." Lilith said.

people stood up from their seats shocked by what they were seeing. "Did she...?"

The stone Lilith disintegrated into a flurry of multiple orbs and light the dispersed at once. everyone watched in awe. Even Megumi was surprised by this turn of events.

"So that's the leader of the reapers corp., huh?" Dino said. Megumi couldn't understand why Dino was so serious and what happened to the women, Lilith.

Fallock spoke back up. "That will conclude this years recruitment exams. I'll be seeing you all one week from now."

With those final few word spoken, people got up immediately, leaving in newly formed groups people. even people from Megumi's group stood up.

The cool head, black haired man spoke. "Welp, I guess I'll be seeing you all around."

The boy left as well, waving goodbye along with the wimpy guy that hung around Megumi and Dino. "S-see you guy next week." he waved.

Megumi somehow found herself glued to her seat, pondering to her self. she looked in Kailey's general direction, and saw that she was getting up with a folded set of robes tucked just under her arms.

"Are you ready?" Dino asked.

Megumi's gaze became more intense. "There's something I want to do first."