Ceremony

Chapter 1

Lysaria stood in front of her guardians Two story house, Her guardians were not there however they had already bid their farewell minutes ago. She paced in front of her home's wooden gate, she glanced from her home to the bustling street, She finally made up her mind and turned, It was finally time to attend her ceremony.

Lysaria jogged towards the sky elevator, her essence pumped quickly in her chest and she nearly bumped into several distressed passers-by. She didn't know what to expect with this cycles ' ceremony, She was told that only the arbitrator could tell one's true path in life, pretty cryptic if she was being honest. Lysaria wished that all new Essences were not required to attend the ceremony after their 5th Cycle of life, she would have much preferred to stay in her home and become a scholar.

Lysaria waited in the line for the elevator, The grand platform was the size of a single-story house. She was left in awe every time the flat platform rose from the ground and shot into the air. Lysaria shifted from foot to foot she had been waiting for her day to finally become one of the holy clerics of the arbitrator. She had dreamed of becoming one of the seekers of knowledge and truth ever since her guardian had first told her of them. Or even if she did well she might be able to join the arc angles.

Lysaria could see many of her generation waiting on the floating platform, She hadn't had time to get to know any of the others as knowledge came first. Each of the other essences waiting in line was slightly glowing, their skin reflecting the light of the day. She smiled, at least she wouldn't be alone on this journey, Her guardian had told her that the ceremony could be difficult and she should be ready for anything.

Lysaria held her eyes closed taking deep breaths, She finally got her wits about her and stepped forward trying not to meet the eyes of the waiting people. Lysaria took a seat on a chair that formed underneath her, she gasped, the chair was formed of solid light. Lysaria couldn't help but stare mouth agape at the woman who was gesturing in her direction, Lytheria couldn't wait to meet the arbitrator, as surely she too would be chosen to wield such power.

Lysaria gazed into the cloudy sky, She wondered what the realm of the ascended was like, She refocused, she couldn't let down her guardians. Lysaria, felt her body being pushed against her seat as the platform rose from the ground. She was left to stare back at her home wondering how long she would need to be gone before she could return to her guardians with the news of her success.

The platform formed a shimmering dome around itself before it rose higher and higher, the platform passed through the clouds and burst into the vast emptiness of space, she soon came in sight of land very similar to her old home. She had the opportunity to see the entire world floating amongst the stars, the Orb seemed small at first, As the platform approached, the orb grew bigger and bigger before she felt like the small one.

Standing on the platform the chosen of the light said," Welcome newcomers to Antuar, We are the followers of the light, may all who enter be blessed of the arbitrator. Lysaria quickly said," Blessed be the light," the chosen smiled and said," So we can push back the darkness."

The platform started to approach one of the smallest masses of land that could be seen, Lysairia thought it looked strangely like a crescent moon. The platform approached the mass of land on the world, the land was surrounded by water as far as she could see in every direction. She could no longer see the other masses of land that were far larger. The chosen of the light said, "Many of you have heard stories, all of you desire a path to join the light. I must warn you that this will not be easy, you will be tested."

The chosen of the light spoke," You can forfeit this chance at any time, Keep in mind that any of you that decide not to go into the unknown will not be allowed to take the tests of the arbitrator for another cycle." The large platform touched down on the ground in a grassy meadow cutting off the murmuring of the others, the barrier of the platform easily blocked the dust and debris from their landing.

Lysaria took in deep breaths, it's okay she thought if you fail you only need to wait another year then you can try again. Lsaria kept chanting over and over in her head that it was okay, she didn't need to absorb all of the energy to ascend this time she could come back next year until she finally reached the first rank of the angels.

The Chosen of the light passed each of the hopeful (essences) a bell, The bell was on a necklace and wouldn't make a sound unless she channelled her essence into it. The chosen of the light said," Each of you will be returned to the safe zone when you ring the bell or die. After you ring the bell or die three times your trials are over. I would strongly suggest ringing the bell when you are in trouble after all it's much less painful."

The chosen of the light said," the arbitrator will choose how much essence you gain based on what you do here. The safe zone is this platform, nothing can enter besides you, May the light protect you." She said," Time is running out In two weeks All of your bells will bring you here whether you want to or not." The chosen of the light sat down on a chair created of light, She pulled a book from her satchel and started to read.

Lysaria clutched her bell, The cool metal was light around her neck, She walked towards the boundary of the safe zone. Taking a deep breath Lysaria took the step, she crossed the barrier and took her first steps in the long grass of the meadow. She looked back and could see the others leaving the barrier, Lysaria wanted to join them but had been told by her guardian that the rewards for being alone were much greater.

She took in a deep breath, she looked down and frowned at her brown silk cloths, her skin no longer shone with the reflecting rays of the sun much to her disappointment. Lysaria started her journey into the forest, she was excited, She hadn't been allowed to bring anything other than her simple clothing so she would need to make her own weapons and tools if she wanted to get some essence from the monsters here.

Lysaria walked through the tall trees looking for bushes that might have a good branch to break off, A makeshift spear should work perfectly for the time being. She finally found a small branch that should suit her perfectly, she twisted the branch a few times before breaking it from the ground. She wanted to save her very limited essence in case of emergency but she decided using essence to make a point on the long slightly curved stick was necessary.

Lysaria thought her guardian would laugh, here she was in a forest, with only a carved wooden stick and some thin clothing to protect her. She smiled, her guardians were always so carrying, they had gone out of their way to teach her as best they could how to survive in the wilds, by giving her every book they could think of and shower her with some basic fighting. She was finding it much more difficult to survive than from what she had read in books.

Lysaria held her wooden stick in one hand using it for walking while she continued towards a small mountain she could see in the distance. The mountain was more of a tall hill, she decided it was a good objective, she had visions of dragons guarding treasure in their caves, and her swooping in and taking said treasure. She wondered how much essence that would give her.

Lysaria whistled softly trying to match the birds that were singing, they really did sound beautiful, each bird's singing was matched by the next. She was starting to get a little tired and was beginning to realize that the hill was much farther away than she had first thought. She decided to try hunting, the essence would make her feel much better.

Lysaria stopped and listened, she could hear the occasional chitter of a chipmunk, her books had said, in the mortal realm these creatures were commonly used for eating, she couldn't believe that there were beings who devoured the flesh like those cursed demons.

She stepped around a tree and examined everything looking for the chipmunk, she felt a stinging pain on her head and yelped. Lysaria lept back, She grasped her throbbing head, so this was what pain felt like she thought, she felt a bump on her head and winced.

She looked down at the prickly object, the pine cone that was the size of both her hands put together in fists, no wonder That hurt so much she thought, she looked up and noticed the large chipmunk sitting on a swaying branch. The chipmunk chittered down at her, Lysaria threw her wooden stick at the gloating rodent.

She missed the animal entirely, the squirrel hadn't even moved, the wooden stick had flown so badly that she hadn't even hit the branch it was on. The squirrel was much bigger than the book had suggested, maybe here on Antuar, they grew bigger than the mortal realm.

She felt a new pain as another of the pine cones fell on her shoulder. She jogged out of the tall trees towards her stick. She pulled at her makeshift weapon and kept a lookout for more rabid squirrels. She calmed down after some deep breathing, getting her nerves under control she caught sight of a twisting dip in the ground and jogged towards what could only be a river or stream. I won't be conquering dragon nests any time soon she thought, especially if I cant even get the essence from a squirrel, maybe I will have better luck with some fish.