Ch 45 - The Arrival Of The Divine Protector (Part1)

At this moment there were loud screeching noises booming from the outside of this building. I could hear the loud flapping of the wings and the agitated screeching sounds created by the phoenix familiar flying outside.

It seemed to be hovering over the premises of the ceremony hall for some time as if it was scouting the area.

At this moment, the mages were busy fiddling with the barrier surrounding the central stage.

Meanwhile, the other candidates and I are still on our knees with our heads bowed looking down at the floor. The room temperature has been rising for a while and I am just kneeling watching the sweat trickling from my brow onto my nose and then falling down on the floor.

There's literally a pool of sweat forming down under the candidates.

We were instructed to carry a water bottle but for some reason were restrained from drinking any until they allowed us to.

After waiting for some more time, the sound of the fluttering of the wings became even clearer like it was just above. I couldn't help but take a peek above the central stage.

From the circular roof opening, tiny particles of flames entered the amphitheater. It almost felt like the little sparks of flames were alive like little bugs. As seconds passed by, the tiny flickers of flame became bigger as the sound of the fluttering wings got louder and louder.

The tiny bright flicker of flames after entering the amphitheater would then fly towards the barrier where they were somehow stopped and disappeared within the barrier surface. If it weren't for the barrier, the flames would have already started a big fire inside here.

It wasn't only me who had long stopped bowing their head. Everyone, despite kneeling, was looking up to catch the glimpse of the divine phoenix familiar.

"Children, one word of advice" suddenly the old mage spoke, "When the divine protector descends to that stage, his brilliance is not something that everyone could see."

The old mage again turned back his focus on the barrier.

To be honest, that was quite weird.

A mage giving advice and not an order, which was surprising. But to be honest, I wonder what he really meant.

"It is here." shouted one of the mages.

As I glanced up, the first thing I saw was the razor-sharp talons slowly descending from the central sky and entering the amphitheater. The talons were massive, almost the size of a wagon.

As the phoenix slowly descended, the winds became quite turbulent.

Soon its wings came into view. As the wings flapped, creating numerous little sparks of fireballs. After all, the wings of the phoenix were made of pure bright flames themselves. If it weren't for the barrier surrounding the stage, the amphitheater and the candidates would all be burned down to ashes.

Finally, the phoenix talons touch down on the marble ground landing gracefully. Although the razor-sharp talon cut through the marble flooring like butter almost submerging within.

There was a dead silence after its arrival, even the mages were sweating profusely.

The amphitheater that was dimly lit now was now illuminated red thanks to phoenix flames.

Along with the light came the soaring temperature that was rising rapidly.

The phoenix despite being just a familiar was a huge bird.

It had a long slender neck allowing the beast's head to be a bit taller, almost reaching the height of the second balcony of the amphitheater. Meanwhile, its beak was long and menacing, the top beak was longer and curvy while the under beak was shorter but wider. Its wings were made of pure flame covering its body like a beautiful coat of flames. The talons of the beast were long and curvy that it had penetrated the very floor as it stood.

The candidate's eyes and mouth were wide open seeing the majestic beast. All their worries, nervousness, and exhaustion left their body.

The divine phoenix familiar was now standing right in front of us in the flesh.

Even the all-know mages were dumbstruck and standing still just gawking at the creature. It was as if they had forgotten what to do next. The only people that were doing something were the mages who were managing the barrier. If not for them, the entire people would be burned to cinders while still admiring the creature's beauty.

As we were staring at the phoenix, the phoenix was also glancing back at us with its majestic beast eyes. There was a heavy pressure in the air as it laid its eye on us. It was as if the beast was judging us from the stage.

To be honest the creature looked quite proud and felt like it was looking at us like nothing but mere bugs.

The phoenix then started walking around the stage flaunting its wings and scanning the crowd as if shopping for meat from the bazaar. It maintained its proud appearance as it walked with its sharp talons cutting the very stage and leaving a shattered floor.

This went on for some time and the candidates and the mages didn't even move.

"How long are we to stay in this bowing position? My knees are hurting," suddenly complained Tracker.

"Shut up. The mages might hear you." scowled a fellow candidate in front of Tracker.

"Well it's about time the divine protector does something or I might just melt from all this heat." complained another fellow candidate next to Tracker.

"I know right. I thought I was the only one going crazy and feeling the heat," said Tracker smilingly.

"Maybe the divine protector likes his food to be tenderly roasted crisp, hence the waiting." joked another fellow candidate.

"You idiot, if the divine protector hears it you will be executed."

"That is if it can understand us, right."

"Hehe."

Suddenly every candidate who stood silent and nervous was now chuckling.

"Well it seems it will be turned into the protector's lunch, it was nice MEAT-ing you, everyone," replied Tracker snickering.

*Puh*

Every nearby candidate broke into a half-suppressed giggle listening to Tracker's pun.

Even Tracker had a bright smile knowing that his pun did hit his mark.

Tracker's social skills are commendable. It hasn't been that long and he already started bonding with his fellow candidates here.

"You know I got more meat puns to pass the time," added Tracker.

"It's been kind of boring sitting on my knee, so I am all ears." answered one of the candidates.

"Lay it on me."

"I got some too if you don't mind."

The candidates were acting like little kids in the classroom gossiping behind the back of the teacher during the lecture.

I can't believe how the atmosphere took a sudden change.

Not long ago everyone was nervous and complaining about the heat. Now, look at them.

There's a divine mystical phoenix beast in front of these kids. A legendary beast that not anyone gets to see so close in person. But here these candidates were more excited for Tracker's pun jokes.

Tracker is a social monster prodigy.

"Guys! Can you shut up and take this seriously." suddenly a candidate who was saner than the rest of us.

It was the same girl standing behind Tracker who told him to die when he was gawking at the balcony girls. Guess she can't take any more of the Tracker's shit.

But to our surprise, the girl said it so loud that even the mages turned around.

Thankfully the candidates remained still and silent like statues. The mages turned back focusing their attention on the phoenix and again stared at it like creeps.

"Partypooper." muttered an upset Tracker.

We again continued to sit kneeling waiting for something to happen. The phoenix was just walking around and the mages gawked at it.

When finally-

"It's about time. Bring forth the holy dye." shouted the old mage, Sigurd.