there are always twelve valkyries. it has been that way since the inseption, and creation of the test. two years ago, three of them passed away in sessecion. leaving only nine. a year ago, three more passed, with no new ones being born yet. leaving six. and this year, again, three more in freak accedents, and the people have begun to worry, as every birth is put under the test. their blood, and will are tested, and the test gives a mark on the side of their hip as to what occupation will suit them best as an adult. it hasn't been wrong yet.

Just because you bear a mark, doesnt mean you have to follow that occupational route. if it says you would be a good soldier, but you want to do accounting, you may. the only exception, is of course: the Valkyrie. once given this sacred task, one must walk through the doors. and become one of the spiritual warriors, no exceptions. and with only three living valkyries right now, even more so.

in a small town, where the test isnt given at birth, but rather a doctor comes around to administer it once every five years, six children sit and wait for the person to come into the room, and tell them what the fates have brought them.

each one, in turn, gets a small device placed on their arm, a glass tube is placed in each device with a liquid inside that looks silver. the nurse stands in front of the group of six, the only ones below the age of six in the town.

"Alright, the glass tubes are little machines that will sample different things in your body, and say what you are most suited for." the children having all heard this before, except for the two infant girls, knew about the test already and nodded; and well the infants wouldnt get it. so the nurse pressed a button on a nearby console, and the glass tubes turned red.

one by one, symbols began appearing on the children. the two oldest, both boys, recived the marks of soldiers, one green, one black. the black one would be best suited for a foot soldier, where the green would one day grow to be a battle-mage. the two youngest both recieved the symbol for nobles. leaders, innovators. again, one was black, and the other green. where the green one may one day become a high-noble, neither would be able to use magic.

the two middle ones a boy, and a girl, both recieved the same emblem as well. Gold in color, denoting the symbol meant a firm control of energies within their bodies, both spiritual, and arcane. but the form the emblem took on startled the nurse even more. it was a golden hawk, with spread wings. on the girls's 4 year old hip, it was small, one could even call it a beauty mark, but on the three year old boy, it was large, the head rested on his waist, the tail feathers went down the length of his leg, to just above the knee, and the wings seemed to wrap around his hips, not quite touching on the opposing side.

Two Valkyries had been discoverd, worse, the girl was born before the death of the first valkyrie three years ago; something was going astray, there should only ever be twelve. And never before has a male child recived this emblem. but as things were, the children chosen as the conductors of the dead, were now wards of the state. their parents would be able to visit them, and would even be encouraged to do so until they were twelve years old, but the government, in dire need of those with this emblem, would raise them now.

they were taken from their parents, without warning, in that moment. even the nurse became weary from the wails of the two children in his care, as he made his way back to the capitol, a three days journey away. unaware of the consequences of these two children entering the holy city.