Champions and their Houses

A new river of smartly-dressed Artens, a year above Elwin's own, began to march in earnest at the behest of the Master of Ceremonies. And as the first of them stepped through, Elwin's eye grew wide in elated recognition.

Leading the second-years – or Viatira as the Master of Ceremonies had said – was Sandora, her silver hair and complexion of deep clay like the headmaster's exactly as Elwin remembered; except this time, she was clad in a precisely-cut uniform of purple. Sandora was followed by a serious but gentle-looking young man dressed in rich navy, hair dark and black, standing tallest among them all. This must be Maximus, Elwin thought, since he was the only one Elwin didn't recognize from the crew.

Behind Maximus marched Leonardo with his trademark cool smile, dressed in his ceremonial uniform of luminescent bronze; and behind him glided Hina with her uniform in verdant turquoise. 

The rest of the Viatira followed behind them, but what set the leading four apart were exquisite gold trims on their uniforms. On their left wrists gleamed their Quans, the same ones that had helped rescue Elwin back at the tram stop last winter, the same one that helped The Marlin in the time of need. Sandora's crew being the first to walk through those gates for the House Ceremony meant that they had won the tournament, just as they said they would do that night!

"Who do you reckon they are?" whispered Isaac, poking Katherine.

"Those four? No idea. Let's wait and see," replied Katherine, spying a wide grin on Elwin's face. But Elwin said nothing, eager to witness the limelight for the upperclassmen he knew so fondly.

Professor Aionia began her declaration.

"Our esteemed Viatira, welcome back to Aeternitas. I take on the honor as the Master of Ceremonies to guide you in this important passage of your journey."

"When I call your names, you may come forward and declare your choice of House – the House that you will be a part of until you graduate, and whose name you will proudly bear for the rest of your life."

Elwin and the first-years noticed the Viatira at the far back fidget in anxious anticipation; most others were cool with calm, and others had their fists clenched in what seemed to be resolve. This'd be us one year from now... Elwin imagined to himself.

"The House you choose will be more than a family to you. They will be there for you in your darkest hour; they will come to your aid when you fall in battle. Together, you will come together to accomplish feats that bring glory and honor to yourselves and Aeternitas."

"Are you ready?"

The Viatira all gave a resolute nod.

"Torch Bearer Sandora Hamilton, please step forward."

"Yes, Professor."

"'Hamilton'?" whispered Katherine under her breath. She knew immediately who to go for advice, and would choose her House come next year depending on where this Hamilton went.

"As the leader of the champions in the tournament of your Franen at Aeternitas, you have the honor of making the very first declaration. Your choice, as with all the Viatira, will be final." 

"I understand."

"Now, may whichever House you choose light your way and elevate you to new heights."

Professor Aionia gave a short bow and stepped aside for professors to witness Sandora's choice. Several on the Masters' Table leaned forward in great anticipation; Headmaster Abraxas too, his wolfram staff that was floating beside him leaning forward on its own accord. The entire room was permeated by the utmost silence, punctuated only by the occasional cough.

There was some more silence, as the upperclassmen – the Tunir and Senatir – shifted ever so forward in their seats, then – 

"I choose the House of SUNNA. May my new family welcome me to greatness and light my way with glorious flames."

Even before she had finished speaking, the entire table of Tunir and Senatir in the House of SUNNA erupted with roaring acclaim.

"WE HAVE THE PRESIDENTIAL LINEAGE!"

"OUR HOUSE GOT THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS!"

"Wait, presidential lineage?" whispered a girl next to Katherine.

"Why, it must be President Andrew Hamilton, the first in 1648..." whispered Katherine.

Elwin took a good look at his upperclassman again – Sandora – Sandora Hamilton. While she did field the most authority out of her peers last winter, she now emanated an aura of power and poise like the headmaster himself.

"And so shall it be," said Professor Aionia with a radiant smile. "Professor Helen?"

A fierce-looking woman – with shoulder-length hair of vermillion that seemed to rise and wave about like tendrils from a flame, rose from her seat at the Masters' Table. Dressed in rich robes of garnet and a cape of crimson, it was not difficult to deduce that she must be the Master of Fire at Aeternitas.

She raised her goblet with her left hand and with her right, saluted to Sandora.

"Welcome, Sandora, to the House of SUNNA. It is our honor."

The entire table of the House of SUNNA roared with acclaim once again, with odes and chants.

"RALLY, RALLY, HOUSE OF SUNNA!

SALLY, SALLY WITH THE FLAG OF TANA!

IGNITE THE COURAGE OF THOSE ELEVEN MILLENNIA PAST,

MUSTER IN YOUR HEART THE LOVE OF ALL WHO WISH FREE,

FREE FROM THE TYRANNY OF THE WILD AND OF NIGHT!

UNLEASH, UNCHAIN, THE DANCE OF YOUR HEART,

ABLAZE, ENKINDLE, THE BLOOD OF YOUR VEINS,

TURN TO FIRE, TO FLAME, UNDYING FLAME,

REND THE JAWS OF THE WILD FROM OUR BEING,

CLEAVE ITS UNJUST DOMINION OVER THE LAND!

THUS DID SUNNA, SHE WHO BECAME THE SUN,

BANISH THE NIGHT, THE FOREVER-SNOW,

AND LIFTED US ALL, ALL MAHN AND FRHI,

FROM THE CRUELTY OF NATURE THAT KNEW NO REST.

DANCE, DANCE, THE DANCE OF THE SUN,

THE DANCE OF THE FLAME, HOLY IMMEMORIAL,

DANCE TO HONOR THE FIRST FOUNDER OF ALL,

RESOUND OUR VISION UPON THE TAPESTRY OF TIME,

AND SAY TO THOSE THAT WATCH: WE ARE FOREVER!

SANDORA, SANDORA, PROTECTOR OF MAHN,

CHAMPION THUS HEWN FROM THE RAY OF THAT FLAME,

MAY YOUR RISE BE A DAYBREAK TO US ALL,

A DAYBREAK OF A SUN THAT NEVER SETS."

Sandora kneeled with her left knee up on the carpet to receive the accolade. Professor Aionia took her golden staff and steadily placed it on her right shoulder and then on the left, taking a precise second each. Amongst the deafening roar of her House, Professor Helen granted a staff of crimson to Professor Aionia, and Professor Aionia to Sandora; she graciously received the staff of her House, given only to the first to choose. Tendrils of flame and sparks of firelight buzzed around the haft of the staff; it was Sandora's for life, one she could carry anywhere in the Republics, when helping people, and into battle.

The ceremony for Sandora was complete; she marched over to the open arms of the House that awaited her dignified presence. Elwin, along with all the first-years, looked on with wide-eyed wonder, hearts kindled by the victory roar of their upperclassmen.

"Do we get those? How do we get those?" someone from the first-year crowd murmured in earnest.

"Shh! We'll find out about it later."

"Next, Tide Controller Maximus Aurelius. The second-in-command of the champions who prevailed in the last tournament. You have the honor of choosing your House before the others. Do you accept this privilege?

"I do, professor," Maximus declared with elegant confidence.

It was at this moment that Elwin's eyes grew wide; because it was the same voice he'd so fondly remembered from the Astral Knight, the mysterious figure who aided Elwin that night of many months ago. Without him, Elwin would have lost Carl's package; FOUNDERS forbid what would have happened if his father's research and mission was lost.

Elwin leaned in ever so slightly closer. Yes, Maximus's stature was not out of step with what he remembered. He was one year older than Sandora and the rest, Elwin recalled, and seemed to have grown even taller since last winter. But the most striking evidence of all was that his hair was done in the style of a top-knot, reminiscent of the imperial aristocracies in the Empire of Jin. The aura of calm assurance combined, Maximus was unmistakably the Astral Knight.

But what was he doing in Ascension all alone? In the middle of the night? How was he already so powerful, despite only being in his second-year? He had his Quan with him back then. Was Maximus fighting something? What was Maximus fighting? Sandora and the others said Maximus had some personal matters to attend the night that he rescued Elwin, and the day after. Why did he come upon Elwin? Was it by chance? Was it by an order? This was all so curious.

Elwin thought all of this in the fraction of a second; he was so engrossed in the hypotheticals that he nearly missed the happenstance at the Masters' Table.

"Which House shall you choose?" Professor Aionia asked.

The silence gave way to hushed murmurs.

"What's up with the whispers?" asked Isaac.

"They say he's one of the greatest waterwielders that Aeternitas has ever seen in the past century. Rumor has it that before he graduates, he'll be at the level of Professor Thales himself," a boy seated next to him replied.

"What? You're kidding."

"No, I'm not. There's a reason to believe the rumors may be true. His grandfather is from the Empire of Jin, apparently. From one of their Imperial Houses. I heard they were accused of treason and fled, taking refuge here in Mythrise."

"But if he's from Jin, then why's his last name 'Aurelius'?"

"Dunno, maybe he chose it himself to blend in."

"Or re-invent himself," added Elwin.

Professor Thales leaned forward ever so slightly, expectant of Maximus's decision. The whispers transpired to silence once more. There was some more silence, then finally –

"I choose the House of MANASURA. May my new family welcome me to greatness and guide my way through the great tides, wherever they may be."

The entire table for the House of MANASURA roared with unprecedented delight that nearly shook the roof off its foundations.

"WE'VE GOT MAXIMUS THE DRAGON!"

"WE'VE GOT THE DRAGON OF WATER!"

Those in the House of ARTAIA under their green banner banged their tables in disappointment.

"What's up with them?"

"He's supposedly really good with air, too. They would've loved to have had him."

"Ouch."

"Quite."

The first-years wanted to continue further, but their voices were soon drowned by the mighty tide of chants that rolled from the table of House MANASURA.

"HURRAH! HURRAH! HOUSE MANASURA!

HURRAH IN THE MIGHT OF THE MOON

HURRAH IN THE MIGHT OF ITS FOREVER TIDE!

RISE, RISE, RISE AS DEEP OCEAN,

LADEN WITH MEMORIES OLDER THAN ALL LAND,

SWELL, SWELL, SWELL LIKE THE WAVES,

A FORCE NOT EVEN THE EARTH CAN ENDURE.

PIERCE, PIERCE, THE VEIL OF UNTRUTH,

CLEAVE, HEW, FROM THAT MOUNTAIN OF LIES,

THE GRAIN OF TRUTH THAT SHALL UPLIFT US ALL.

DISCOVER, UNCOVER, THE RHYTHM OF THE DEEP,

THE SECRET OF ETERNITY IN THE BREATH OF THE WORLD,

ASSAIL, ENDEAVOR AGAINST THAT DEVOURING TIME,

BANISH FAMINE FROM THE MEMORY OF ALL!

O' FOUNDER MANASURA, HE WHO BECAME THE MOON,

LEND US YOUR TRIUMPH OVER THE CONQUEST OF DROUGHT,

GRANT US THE SPIRIT OF YOUR DARING SO,

DARING TO UNSEAT THE TYRANNY OF HUNGER.

ENPOUND, ENPOUND, THE RHYTHM OF THE MOON,

THE RHYTHM OF THE SEA, THE RHYTHM OF THE TIDES,

THE RHYTHMS TO GROW OUR DAILY GRAIN,

TO TRANSCEND CHANCE, BRING TO REALITY,

THE VISION OF FLOURISHING HUMANITY.

MAXIMUS, MAXIMUS, THE DRAGON OF WATER,

MAY YOU TRANSCEND THIS WORLD AS FOUNDER MANASURA,

MAY YOU IMPRESS UPON THE WORLD THE DREAM OF YOUR BEING,

AND LEAVE YOUR MARK UPON THE WORLD OF THE LIVING,

AS TIDES TO ALL THE SAND ON THE SHORES OF THE EARTH."

Professor Aionia once again accoladed the champion with her staff. He too received his House staff; this one surrounded by a rushing rivulet of water and the rhythm of ocean-waves. Elwin watched starry-eyed in admiration.

"Next, the brilliant architect of crafts and wielder of metal among the champions –"

"Artillery Guardian Leonardo Vincent Lavoisier, you have the honor of being the third among the Viatira to choose your House." 

The young Leonardo gave a cool smile to the audience. A side of his hair came past his left shoulder like a lovelock, and whatever was kept behind flowed out in a cool, sharp ponytail out the back like a river of gold. His hair was much shorter last winter. Impeccable sharpness and intelligence graced Leonardo – but there was also the boldness of a creative artiste in his presentation. He raised his fingers to rest upon his chin in deep ponderance, and spoke at last.

"I take to believe that all the Arts brim with potential. If I could choose all the Houses, I would gladly choose to be in all of them indeed, for I wish to learn everything there is." His words entranced the audience before him.

"But... that's not how the world turns. And provided that I have to be with just one –"

"I will gladly choose the House of TERA, for I believe no challenge is too great for mankind to overcome."

"We shall lift the world with our creations, House of TERA, Professor William!"

At once, the entire Dining Hall erupted with thunderous applause and acclaim, far louder than any two of the last. Though the Tunir and Senatir of House TERA were cheering for him, everyone in the other Houses were cheering for him too. He was most certainly a more universally popular figure than the two before him.

"He looks like you," said Katherine, punching Elwin in the shoulder in jest.

"What? Nah," said Elwin, looking at Leonardo. "He's much taller than I am."

"Ever considered growing your hair out?"

"Eh, isn't that inconvenient?"

"It is, for the most part. But this puff –" Katherine continued, retying her hurricane ponytail at the back – "is in itself a statement, you know."

"Hmm? What kind of statement?"

"A statement that you can't be messed with. Hair's easy to get caught up in combat. Having long hair tells your opponents that you don't take them as a threat, because you can obliterate them with such overwhelming disparity that there can be no retaliation to hurt your hair. Consul Astinel had his hair long, too."

"Wow, that's uh... never thought about it that way. Does that mean that every professor here whose hair is long –"

"Probably."

Elwin gulped.

A slow drumming beat filled the entire Dining Hall. The Tunir and Senatir in the House of TERA drummed their fingers upon the tables and their feet on the floor, producing an earthquake of melodies.

"REJOICE, REJOICE, HOUSE OF TERA!

REJOICE IN YOUR GLORIOUS DOMINION OF THE EARTH!

FOR ALL OF THE WORLD IS OURS TO RESHAPE,

NO HILL OR MOUNTAIN TOO TALL TO CLIMB.

FROM STRAW AND WOOD, TO MUD AND CLAY,

FROM BRICK AND STONE, TO STEEL AND SPIRE,

FROM HANDS AND CHISEL, TO WITS AND QUAN,

LIFT US, LIFT US, WE MAHN AND FRHI,

FROM THE WORLD THAT WAS, TO THE WORLD THAT MUST BE.

WITH THE MELODY OF THE MOUNTAINS, THE MELODY OF METAL,

AND THE MELODY OF THE TWO EARTHS THAT MADE US WHOLE,

TAKE YOUR HEART TO THE PAINTING OF YOUR VISION,

CARVE INTO ROCK, THE MONUMENTS TO ETERNITY.

LEONARDO VINCENT LAVOISIER,

SHARP IN WIT AND BRILLIANT IN MIND,

TERA, WHO BECAME THE EARTH, AND SERA, WHO BECAME ITS BRIDGE,

AWAIT YOUR ARRIVAL MORE THAN IN NAME!"