2 A Deal is Struck

I could feel something snake into me and encompass my entire being, I felt strong, powerful even. As I was rejoicing this newfound feeling of strength the sense of power disappeared as fast as it came. Now I feel like just before, like my awakening was a dream. Confused I opened my eyes.

When I opened my eyes the presence of peoples powers manifesting painted the scenes, bright flames, the falling of snow or the prowling if shadows for the mages. the warriors are less fleshy with their awakening as their bodies are being coated in a glow of their elemental leaning but nothing as extravagant as the mages in the room. Now I really wonder what happened around me when I awakened and why was it so short compared to everyone else. I know I'm a mage due to the lack of increased strength in my body but something feels off and I can't press my thumb on it.

When I looked to my left all of the thoughts about my awakening were kicked aside as Cassie literally just showed up everyone in this hall. Lightning tendrils were snaking about her body and clumps of shadows were orbiting around her. Not only that her body was giving off a yellow and black glow. I don't have any words, just what? Genuinely I have no words, not only did she awaken two rare elements she even awakened both mage and warrior. I don't know if I want to be happy for her or depressed that there are such unfairly gifted people in this world. Her ancestors must love her a lot because with new power her clan's grip on her became a lot looser since she has awakened potential that could rival people from higher-ranked kingdoms or other races.

After I caught a sufficient amount of flies in my open mouth I looked down at my arm to check on my markings. Markings show if a person has been awakened and their element. To my knowledge, there's no difference in markings between warriors and mages but hey that could be wrong due to my lack of schooling so I'll ask Cassie after she finishes showing off.

However, when I looked towards my arm there was nothing other than some inscriptions that I can't read and a small image of a black dagger? No colour, no image of an element, no nothing.

Am I retarded?

I'll need to consult Cassie about this before I fall too far into depravity, Eventually, the ongoing pandemonium ceased and the room was brimming with excitement because obviously everyone wants to try out their powers. The Tower Mistress couldn't be seen so I assume she skipped out.

With nothing left to do people began to stream out through the gates. Cassie and I walked out in silence as we wanted to talk in private, we walked a fair bit until we were mostly clear of the crowd I was about to ask her about my powers until a voice called to us,

"Lady Cassandra I found you finally" We turned around and what greeted us is one of Cassie's greasy clan elders, you know rat-faced, slimy, feels kinda off when you talk to them, he was that type.

"What is it Harald?" Cassie hid her annoyance behind a cold facade.

"Milady there is clan meeting regarding your future path since you've awakened, and you know how tantamount your presence is for the clan"

My god I just feel icky whenever he talks. But I also frowned when he said the last part, honestly, clans are always ready to pounce and marry off their heirs to claim the slightest increases in status, both males and females are subjected to this. I heard that in another clan had an heir that awakened a weak power so he just got married off as a concubine to a frightening woman with 8 other men and women as her husband and wives. It's honestly sickening but since she's a high-level mage no one really has a say in the matter. All I can do is pray for his safety and the safety of his rectum.

Cassie narrowed her eyes and spoke,

"Fine I'll be coming soon, c'mon Sam"

"If I may be so rude milady..."

"You may not" Cassie rebuked but the slimeball carried on as if he didn't hear her,

"I think it's time you separate yourself from those of lower standings, for your image of course." Cassie tried to hide her scowl but it was obvious she was unhappy, I, on the other hand, was trying to remain quiet as I know little people shouldn't speak when the big players are talking. As Cassie was about to argue I swiftly cut in,

"Hey Cass it's alright, go back to your clan as I still have business to sort in the orphanage, y'know how I'm being evicted due me awakening and all that nonsense."

Harald the Cuck was obviously unhappy with how casual I was with his 'milady' but he didn't speak up as the faster he gets the young mistress back to the clan the better for his bacon. Whereas Cassie harrumphed and glared in my direction,

"Fine, but I better see you tomorrow. If you dare pull a disappearing act, may the ancestors have mercy on your soul should I ever catch." My back was slightly soaked with sweat after she said that because I believe without a doubt she would wrap me up and deliver to death's door herself.

"Don't sweat it, Cass, see you tomorrow at the fountain-like usual" I quickly stated before walking away from certain death.

"Pthooh foul thing, milady you must quickly dump such trash, his presence is not fit for someone of your noble bearing."

"You're treading on dangerous ground Harald" Cassie glowered at him. He wormed under her gaze.

"Of course milady let's make haste back to the family grounds. We don't want to keep the clan mistress waiting for too long." Cassie merely nodded before following behind the human equivalent of belly button lint.

Meanwhile back at my location, I was making way to my secret base, the bush. Truth be told there's nothing left for me at the orphanage as everything I've owned was probably either thrown away or stolen. People get petty over the smallest things but hey at least I don't have to go back there anymore. Everything of importance is on my body which is the clothes on my back, my starving coin purse and a dagger that stole from a guard from a while back.

As I sat down I reached for my dagger to play with it as I usually before I go to bed but I can't seem to find it. Fuck where is it? Did I get brain retardation for my awakening or something, where is it? Did I really lose it? As I was about to begin mourning for the loss of my ill-gotten goods I remembered something. My markings!

As I looked towards my are there it was, the black dagger image. Now that I observed it closely it really is a mirror image of my dagger. What the shit am I supposed to do now? As I brainstormed I decided to first summon my magic to see what happens. I clenched my cheeks and stared at my hands and willed for magics to occur and whatnot. After a couple of seconds of concentration and nearly shitting my pants I felt something slip out of me.

Blue sparks manifested in front of me, which split into blue circuits which were drawn into the outline of my dagger. After a second or two there my dagger was as if it wasn't just zapped out of thin air a second ago.

I stared at the dagger hard for a couple moments before thinking to myself. What the shit.

Meanwhile, in the Stormcloak clan, there was rampant discussion going on.

"Our Cassandra has been immensely gifted, she needs to be sent to a higher tier kingdom to realise her full potential."

"No she should be kept within the clan, we can easily raise her into a powerhouse."

"Are you dumb, do you want to turn her into a sheltered brat?"

"Our first priority is to find her a suitable partner, I heard there's a young master from a neighbouring county who awakened a strong earth constitution or the young mistress of a city lord who awakened fire and ice elements."

"Our lady just has awakened and you want to sell her off already?"

"SILENCE" All discussions died simultaneously as the matriarch spoke.

"Cassandra will be sent off to the Central Kingdom to try for the Great Hazing. Once she's accepted into an academy only then will her partner will be decided."

There was silence in the whole room as everyone knew what the gravity of the matriarch's words meant. The Great Hazing is an extremely brutal competition where the brightest of the young generation strut their stuff to gain the attention of the academies. As silence ensued through the hall the young woman in question spoke up,

"I have a request" All eyes looked at her at this moment anticipating what she's about to say.

"If I were to follow through with your plan I ask for Samuel Hayden to be my partner."

Shouts of protest broke out throughout, everyone knew of Cassandra's little orphan friend that she associates with much to the clan's chagrin. But the very notion of her marrying such pond scum infuriated basically everyone in the hall. The matriarch raised her hand which commanded silence from everyone.

"Cassandra I will humour your request, however for this to happen you must become a disciple of one of the four Great Academies." Everyone gasped when she said that, if getting into one of the normal academies is considered a massively hard accomplishment then getting into one of the four Great Academies could be considered nothing short of a Herculean task of monumental proportions, you might as well ask the gods for a third hand as there's more of a chance of that happening than a person from basically boonies getting into the Great Academies. One has to know that a person with 'high potential' in those academies is considered as common as wildflowers. Despite the clan's confidence in their young lady even they have to admit that there's a limit to her ability.

"I'll do whatever it takes." The conviction in her voice was hard and firm.

"Fine, if you do complete what I set out for you, you may marry whomever you want. You already know what'll happen if you fail. You'll depart tonight, understood." Cassie nodded at the matriarch and departed from the hall to prepare for the journey ahead.

After the matriarch confirmed that Cassie was out of earshot she called Harald over,

"Harald I want you to find this Samuel and warn him to never come in contact with Cassandra ever again, such trash has no place in by her side. Once she realises she's on a fool's errand she'll come to her senses and forget about him."

"Understood Matriarch" Harald let out one of his signature slimy smiles as he'll finally get rid of the orphan trash that leeches of the young mistress once and for all.