Chapter 3: Desire and Destiny
Capital City, Camelot
Palace of the Grand Duke
Dome-shape roofs stood beyond the polished marble curtain-walls. The clear glass tops were like observatories of the renown ‘men of knowledge’ or astrologers who always gazes up to the stars. Fionn have seen the building many times but he was still fascinated by the timeless and creativity of its architectural structure.
And now, it was his first time to enter the famous palace. He was astonished that it was huge enough for each of the qualifiers to be accommodated with their own quarters.
Fionn watches from his window the other batches that arrived as night befall.
He still could not believe he passed. After everything that had happened. What had let him be qualified? 'Was it pity from Alaric?' But Ajax had made it clear to him that he had manage to land a blow— a kick that was also counted, which was also before he went on some crazy berserk mode.
So many have failed against the general. With the massive number of squires from their batch, only eighty will be advancing to the commemoration of weapons.
Fionn absently puts a hand in his bare chest. There was still some slight sting tingling in the skin around his scar. He wondered why.
He jumps in surprised as the door creaks open.
Artemia entered without saying a word until she closes it behind her. “So, are you fine now?”.
Fionn was unexpectedly awed by how lovely she looks, now well-rested and all-cleaned. In an old-rose colored one-piece dress. Her long hair looks silky smooth which flowed on her left shoulder down to her chest. Her cheeks were blushing pink under the candlelight, and the long lashes of her eyes magnified her hazel eyes.
He must have stood agape as the lady speaks.
“Hey stop staring like that” she pouts.
“Sorry”, it was somewhat new to him to see her like that. Fionn is use to seeing her in a battle armor, all muddy from their training, dedicated to practicing the sword.
“Your scar” she said as if to change the subject, “Why does it look like it expanded?”.
He trailed his fingers on his skin, a wound that have haunted him in his dreams. “I-“ he turns his back on her as he felt the stripes of scar did extended, “don’t know”.
He heard Artemia stride towards him.
“Fionn” her voice sounded concerned as she held his arm.
His face burn with awkwardness as he slightly turns to look at her.
Silence fell like a curtain as they stared for a brief moment. Before any of them could say something the door abruptly opens.
“Hey the ceremony is about to-“, Ajax barges in the room midway before he spotted them in the corner.
Fionn immediately backs from the proximity he shared with Artemia, he saw the lady did the same.
“Uhmm, did I disturb you or something?”.
“No!” Ludhulain blurted defensively as she shakes her head. “Not at all, I was just-“
The tall man raises both hands, “Sure, I was just asking Lady Artemia” he teased with a grin which made her face even redder.
“So, what were you saying again?” Fionn asked, hoping his color didn’t reflect the same as hers.
“The ‘Caeremonia’ will commence within an hour, so you better prepare and finished whatever you two are doing” he laughs loudly as he exits and closes the door behind him.
Fionn looked in embarrassment at Artemia as they were left alone in the room again.
She self-consciously pointed at the door, walking clumsily to its direction. “I’ll be seeing you later then”.
She did not wait for any reply as she left.
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All squires that qualified from each League have already gathered into the Great Blue Hall before the ceremony even officially begins. Fionn greeted and smiled endlessly at everyone he passed.
As he joins the line of the Ninth League of Ashera, the terrified looks of his colleagues’ faces still bore a disgust look on him.
Don’t mind them…
Fionn ignored them all as headed to his two friends. Before he could speak, three men with long robes of maroon and gold appeared on the doorway of the hall, and started a procession to the dais at the middle of the enormous room. Their faces were wrinkled, and appeared dry and dull. They each carried a black cube, about the size of normal man’s head.
He could not see anything special in its appearance, but it was pulsating with power. Fionn was sure it has something to do with the ceremony.
As the triune priest reached the podium, they all stared in different directions. “Welcome young ones”.
Fionn noticed that everyone seemed also as startled as him, seeing the mouth of the three men open in unison at the same time speak the same words. He wondered how long they have rehearsed to perfect the harmony, but he also doubted they did.
“We are the Tribunal of Avilyon. The three Sages who built the foundation of this kingdom with the first king. From rocks and dust, we have seen and share the history of our motherland”.
These guy’s are immortals? Fionn suddenly thought.
“We are blessed with longevity but the same time curse with aging by what was once a mighty god” the priests said as if to answer him. “Now children there is no time to waste, the obsidian blocks in our hands are known as the ‘Ore of the Black Sun’. A Celestial Atlas. By touching this, you yourself who are deemed to be qualified shall meet the great-blind goddess, the patron of our kingdom”.
Ashera…
“It seems the way you explained it, we are not even sure if we are getting a weapon or not”, someone from the crowd said.
All three heads crookedly turn to the voice’s direction. “If one is not capable of handling the power, the Mistress of Black Sun shall incinerate one to the infernal abyss”.
The silence was deafening after their words.
-----
Fionn was terrified deep in his bones as he neared his turn for the cube. The priests phrases did not contain any humor, he saw almost twelve people have already been reduced to ashes.
'What kind of ceremony is this?'
The one holding the cube will turn into a trance state and a weapon will suddenly materialize in their hand which indicated they pass. ‘If they are judged to be among the chosen’. If not, he did not even want to think of the consequences.
He wondered what would be his fate between the two.
He could still turn his back. The Sages told that anyone is free to back-out without any consequences.
A hand held his from behind.
He looks back seeing Artemia gripping his and the one behind her, Ajax’s hand tightly. “It was really nice to get to know both of you” she said as she looks at each of them almost emotionally.
“Silly, of course we are going to pass!” his tall friend commented.
Fionn squeeze her hand back and let go, for it is his turn.
He tried to no avail to control the shaking of his hands, which also sweat with the anticipation and edginess. The surface of the box greeted his palm with a biting coldness.
But nothing happened. No black fire devouring him alive.
Then in his next blink, he was suddenly in a field of burning grass, all flowers became devoid of color as fire spread, the skies were gray. A colossal statue of a woman loomed in front of him. It carried a massive scythe that can decapitate anything, its eyes were blindfolded but two orbs of gold glowed beyond the veil.
Ashera, the light of Avilyon.
‘Child of wonders’, a woman’s voice spoke within Fionn’s head.
‘The Fates have played against you. You are one that is abandoned by the ‘Red Threads’ which cut any bright path ahead. But fear not, with this, you shall be able to create your own destiny that even the Higher Ones shall not see for they have forsaken you’
He continued to gaze up to the sacred sculpture, standing still as a stone. He cannot believed a deity stood before him. One of the ancient beings. Ashera, the light of Avilyon.
‘What is your soul’s desire… Not even I could see… what it is you seek… even I can’t find… Your purpose that only you yourself is aware’
Fionn suddenly glimpse of a world burning. Oceans turn to bloody-red as dead bodies floated. Corpses decayed everywhere, as vultures the size of men lurk on the branched of the bald dark trees, choosing their next course. Lightning streak the now red skies in violent flashes of white.
And there, he stood in the midst of it all…
A figure materializes in front of him. A little girl, wearing a plain white-silk dress which was as pallid as her silver hair. But he could not discern her face, as it was faceless.
Why couldn’t he see it? it was from his memory, but one that is broken like a piece of puzzle he could not find.
She raises and open a hand towards him. He tentatively steps towards her. 'What is this feeling'…
Before he could make another step, he was back at the grayscale expanse, with Ashera’s statue in front of him again.
‘To destroy or save the world’
Then Fionn’s lids fluttered open, and he was back at the podium, abruptly stupefied by the milky-white eyes of the old sage staring at him.
His right hand was enclosed in something solid. A black spear was what he saw as he raises it to his face. It glinted with the glossiness of a velvety night turning to absolute darkness.
As he saw his face’s reflection on the blade, he remembered. Order or Chaos. It is up to him now.