Chapter 7

I took a deep breath as I walked down the halls of the academy, making my way towards the room where my interview would be held. I couldn't see it yet, but it was as if I could feel it glowing through the walls. It was the third day of the Temples Trials, and even with the help of my aura, I was starting to get tired. On the first day of the cycle they had us perform a series of physical tests, the Trial of the Flesh. Then on the second day, we did a written exam, the Trail of the Mind.

Now, it was time for the interview with the five commanders, the Trial of the Soul.

'It's just some questions. The physical tests were easy, the written exam was basic, all that's left is the interview.' I took another breath. 'Just a few questions…will decide my fate.'

A few minutes later I was stood before a large wooden door. I was so stressed that my claws refused to retract and I could feel my muscles twitching. I felt like I was in the middle of a fight, except for once I was nervous about the outcome.

"Enter," a voice said from within.

Grabbing the doorhandle with my sweaty palm, I opened to door.

I took one step inside and immediately I felt my stomach lurch, my claws retract, and my muscles stiffen. A moment ago I was so nervous that I was ready to fight.

Now my instincts were screaming at me to run.

"Xara?"

I was snapped out of my stupor by the sound of my name being called. "S-sorry."

Shutting the door, I entered the room and sat down on a lone stool in the center. A few feet away from me was a long table.

The table that they were sitting at.

High Commander Qog Karr from the Temple of Z'deac.

High Commander Zemi Vyqal from the Temple of Q'kaw.

High Commander Poeas Lyqsu from the Temple of Z'ayk.

High Commander Qarreta Qoak from the Temple of Q'komy.

And Commander Osgoqu Laqbeka, soon to be High Commander Osgoqu Laqbeka from the Temple of Z'kyd'qa.

These five people were individually so powerful that their unrestrained presence was making me feel in danger, and any one of them could probably tear down this whole building with their bare hands. In terms of influence, they were even more frightening, as each of them held the authority to mobilize dozens of paladins and hundreds of soldiers from their respective Temples.

It wouldn't be strange to say that these five people could wage war on any other country outside of the Empire itself.

'They aren't even doing anything,' I thought, feeling a mix of panic and awe. 'They just have to sit there and it feels like a threat.' As the top student of the graduating cohort, I had thought that I was strong, obviously not strong enough to beat a high commander, but I had thought that I could at least fight back. Now I understood that that would be impossible. I could tell that Commander Laqbeka was a bit closer to my level, but if any of these people wanted me dead, it would take all of my strength to have a chance at running away.

'Why would anyone become a mage if it meant making people like this their enemy.'

"So this is the one you were looking forward to Laqbeka?" High Commander Karr asked, his leathery face wrinkling as he squinted at me.

"Well, I suppose they have some talent," High Commander Qoak commented, disinterestedly scratching his stubble-covered chin.

"Oh be nice," High Commander Vyqal chided while reorganizing the papers in front of her. "Now where did I put her…ah!" She smiled as she pulled a small bundle of papers out from the pile. "Let's see…Xara Hitax, born to citizen Akay Hitax and Mythsmith Gammiz Hitax."

"A Qa'fiman mythsmith…" High Commander Qoak muttered while glancing at my horns.

"None of that now," Commander Laqbeka said. "He was one of my subordinates during the war. He was a fine soldier and more importantly, he's not the one we're judging today."

"So you know this girl personally?" High Commander Lyqsu asked skeptically.

"I only met her a few days ago. Just in case I intend to save my questions for the end. Let you all form your opinions first."

"Very well." High Commander Lyqsu picked up the paper before her. "Let's begin."

As the questioning started I was a little surprised by how easy it was to answer them, but over time it made a bit more sense. This wasn't a knowledge test, this was an interview to see if my personality was what the Temples wanted in a paladin.

Some were simple scenarios such as how High Commander Vyqal asked how I would protect a small village from a sudden stampede.

"Well, the first thing I would do is try to enlist the aid of any Paladins of Q'kaw if they're available, but assuming that only I and my allies are available, I would attack the stampede in an attempt to either redirect it or kill the beasts before they reach the village."

"You would have no qualms about killing them all?"

"A bit, but the lives of people come first. Sorry." I bowed my head slightly, apologizing to her since she belonged to the Temple of the Wilderness Goddess.

"No apology needed child," she chuckled. 

Other questions were about decisions I had made in the past.

"Most of your academic grades are well above average for your cohort, but I noticed that you did rather poorly in your fifth year," High Commander Lyqsu said. "Is there a reason for that?"

"Yes. I was working on a project for my Law class on the territorial dispute between the Temple of Q'kaw and the mining guild in 806. The project was to use the evidence ourselves to try and decide who had the rights to a certain plot of land." I sighed. "Apparently I was the only one who came to the conclusion that the Temple should have won."

"And what was your logic?"

"The territory was freshly claimed by the empire so there were no deeds or other documentation involved and normally that meant that public organizations like the guild would have to concede to the Temples. However, the Empire was at war at the time and the Temple of Z'kyd'qa had given blanket support to all relevant industries to support the war effort. That meant something like conservation efforts and land surveying held less priority than mining for ore."

"And you still sided with the Temple of Q'kaw?"

"The empire was already winning the war and had no shortage of ore." I shrugged. "I incorrectly assumed that the Temple of Z'kyd'qa would have retracted their support in this instance."

"I see…" The high commander marked something down on her paper before glancing at me. "For future reference, while your thought process was not technically illegal, it necessitates the Temple to use its power to overturn existing policy." She smirked. "Unless you are the one overseeing a case you should refrain from inserting your personal feelings about how the Temples should act and focus on the letter of the law."

I bowed my head. "Thank you, ma'am."

However, not all of their questions were about simple tactics or explaining my grades.

"I'll offer another kind of scenario," High Commander Qoak said. "Imagine that you are in a city on the border with Alfmep when their forces attack. Chaos ensues as the city burns and you are separated from your team. You see a human civilian on your right and an elven child on your left. You can tell that both of them are in danger, and saving one will doom the other." His voice deepened. "Who do you save?"

I opened my mouth to answer but paused as I fully processed the question. Do I save a fellow citizen of the empire or an innocent child?

'I almost responded reflexively, but if it's a kid…no, that doesn't matter.'

I pondered the question, thinking and thinking until I started to worry I was taking too long, but I still had no answer. No matter who I chose I was leaving an innocent person to die.

I couldn't accept it.

"...I'll save them both."

High Commander Qoak raised an eyebrow at me, and the other commanders reacted similarly. "That wasn't one of the choices I gave you."

"Maybe, but that's what I would do in that situation."

"You're aware that Alfmep has used child soldiers in the past?" Commander Laqbeka added.

"I'm aware of the possibility, but it's also possible that they are just a child, and I'm not willing to risk that."

"But you're willing to endanger both their lives by not choosing one," High Commander Qoak said, a hint of scorn in his voice.

I smiled. "I want to become a paladin, sir. It's my job to take risks to ensure the best possible outcome for everyone."

The high commander stared at me for a few more seconds, before sighing and leaning back in his chair. "That…is an acceptable answer."

I bowed my head. "Thank you, sir."

More questions were asked, although, after High Commander Qoak's question, the whole situation felt a bit lighter. Eventually, the four high commanders had exhausted their questions and let Commander Laqbeka take his turn.

"I'd like to go back to High Commander Qoak's question. Once again, there are two people in danger. Who do you save."

"My answer hasn't cha-"

"No."

I froze. With that one word Commander Laqbeka began deliberately flooding the room with his aura. This pressure was noting like before. When I had entered the room, the unrestrained aura of these five paladins made me feel like a little rabbit trying to sneak past a tiger.

Now, I felt like it's jaws were tightening around my neck.

"I'm not going to let you get away with that hopeful naivete," he said plainly. His eyes were perfectly calm as if I was looking into a stagnant puddle of water.

The pressure of Commander Laqbeka's aura was overwhelming, but more than that, what made me hesitate was…

'...it's so cold…'

A person's aura is an extension of their soul as well as their body, that's something that students are taught on their first day of training. For most, this didn't mean much, but in the higher caliber of warriors and paladins, it meant that their auras reflected their personalities. A person prone to anger would feel hot and volatile, while someone kinder would feel warm and gentle.

Laqbeka's aura was devoid of any warmth or kindness. There was no anger, no joy, no pleasure, there was nothing but a cold chill that made me think of metal chains, or perhaps the blade of an executioner's ax.

I remembered what my father had said about him.

'Brutal efficiency...'

This man looked at me like he was looking at a mathematics equation. There was no consideration for the fact that I was his friend's daughter or even a living person. Even if I were his own flesh and blood he would probably be willing to kill me if the need arose.

"Laqbeka, you should restrain yourself," High Commander Vyqal said.

"No," he turned his head. I felt the pressure lessen slightly. "She needs to make a choice." He turned back to me. "Xara, you are trying to be a paladin, that means you are going to be faced with many dangerous situations and many more difficult choices. There will be times where saving the most lives will mean intentionally sacrificing others, and trying to do otherwise will have even more disastrous consequences." He leaned forward. "I'll ask you again. You are faced with two people in danger, and one of them must die. Who do you save?"

I turned the question over in my mind, but I couldn't do it. I understood what the commander wanted from me, but no matter how I looked at the situation it just didn't feel like a choice. Even if it was just a hypothetical question it was a matter of innocent lives, their qualities or origins just didn't mean anything when neither deserved to die.

'I may as well toss a coin,' I thought bitterly. 'I get what he's saying, but I just can't choose…'

'...'

'...'

'...'

'Choose?'

"Well Xara?" Commander Laqbeka asked. They didn't sound impatient. It's as if they were just mildly curious.

"...I'll save them both-"

"Xar-"

"-and sacrifice myself."

The commander paused and looked at me again. The pressure was still cold and ruthless, but I could see a bit of curiosity in his eyes. "...Do you think that's enough for me?"

"Maybe not, but I don't care," I told him, steeling my gaze despite the crushing pressure surrounding me. "Perhaps you can make the choice between them sir, but for me, there is nothing that could make me treat one as more important than the other. So if a sacrifice needs to be made, I'll make it. They didn't ask to be in danger, but I chose to be the one to save them."

I continued to stare at him, watching that inscrutable gaze of his as he analyzed me. Once again it felt like he didn't see me as a person, but as a problem to be solved. He was searching for a flaw in my argument like looking for an opening in an opponent's defense in battle.

"Very well."

I gasped as the pressure suddenly disappeared. A smile returned to the commander's face, as if he hadn't just been threatening me.

"I can't say I like that answer, but it's certainly an improvement."

"Thank you, sir," I said, my voice a little strained after seeing this new side of him.

"Well, now that we're done with that unpleasantness, is there anything else?" High Commander Vyqal asked.

"I do have one more question," Commander Laqbeka said, taking a smaller paper out of his pocket. "It's about something you said the other day Xara."

My brow furrowed. "Something I said?"

"Let's see… your exact words were… 'Don't you think the punishment for mages is a little intense?' right?" He set down the paper. "Would you care to explain?"