[ wp ] Career day is here ! Where an ancient artifact determines the job best suited for ye ! To your complete horror yours read [ Evil-Overlord ]

It was n't easy hiding the disillusionment from my voice as I told my childhood friend Ben the result, even if what I told him was a complete lie. `` A dentist? ``, Ben asked incredulously, failing miserably in hiding his disregard for the profession, `` I guess that's not too different from being a doctor like you wanted, but still...'' 
 
 The ancient artifact had been filling my thoughts for weeks, from the day the school had announced that they'd be using it for the first time. An ancient civilization, we were still finding the ruins, had been torn apart ten millennium before, and its artifacts were barely becoming available for public use. What could cause such a mighty civilization to fall? What was the flaw in their system? Little research has ever been done on the artifacts though, after many years before researchers had been killed by their internal tampering mechanisms. 
 
 `` The artifact is n't foolproof, I've heard of people being mis-sorted before. My dad has a friend that got `` Secret Agent'', and now he's just a travelling hot-dog salesman. Screw it, I'm not letting that piece of junk determine my fut...'' 
 
 My vow was cut short by the door slamming open as Jordan burst into the spotlight. `` A superhero! ``, he bellowed, making sure that not only the inhabitants of this room heard him, but the neighboring as well, `` Ca n't say I'm surprised, really!'' Jordan represented everything that was wrong with society: self-important, greedy, and noisy are but three of the adjectives that spring to mind every time I see him. Ca n't he see that everyone would be happier if he'd just shut his trap and follow like everyone else? He blathered on at my group of friends as my annoyance simmered silently beneath the surface. If Jason were a seed, then the poverty, the pain, and the problems of the world were the plant that would spring from him. 
 
 `` Wow! So you'll be making the world a better place? That's so cool! ``, said Sally in awe, barely stopping for air, `` The artifact said that I'd do best in agriculture, it's not fair...'' The shift in tone was dramatic, just a moment ago Sally was telling us about how much she loved growing plants at home. I marveled at how her excitement had dissipated the moment Jordan entered. The pain in her eyes was evident, and I reminded myself that most healing is n't physical at all. 
 
 `` Oh, I'm sure it will be just as amazing as being a super hero, we all do our part!'' Grace said comfortingly. It was typical of her, she always had the mind of an engineer, seeing how things fit together rather than the individual parts. A perfect system distributes stress to prevent any part from overloading and breaking. Everything working in unison, I imagine the pieces of a machine happily handling their tasks, unhindered by pieces that do n't fit or do n't work. When something is out of place, it simply must be removed so that everything else can run in peace and order. Some people must be removed, so that society can heal... 
 
 `` I've heard that the artifact can be opened, if you try. I wonder how its ancient technology differs from our modern inventions? ``, I wondered out loud. It was just enough of a spark. 
 
 `` That would be so cool to see, can you imagine?'' Grace spluttered excitedly, `` It must be hard to open though, it would take... a hero!''. It took no time at all for Jordan to volunteer, seeing his damsel in distress. 
 
 A few hours later, when the students had dispersed and the teachers were distracted, he went for it. I'll always remember the bright white flash of light that incinerated Jordan and the worthless artifact. The others were traumatized of course, at least for a while, and eventually it was written off as childhood ignorance. Things went better than expected, in the end; after all, what was really lost? The world would be happier without Jordan's self-righteous meddling. Manipulation is easy, I find, especially now as I become more practiced at it, and my friends only see how much easier I make their lives. 
 
 The artifact was certainly faulty in the end, I'm obviously not an Evil Overlord. I'm just a healer, at a societal level.
