(Amaia Zhāng)
Sentinels guarding the thick gate held spears in their hands. Their blue and gold uniforms seem crisp and sit snuggly along their tall muscular bodies.
Alnilam spurs his horse forward and approaches the guards. Seeing him, they instantly bent forward, their straight spines bowing to him.
"Welcome back, My Lord," they greet and he offers a curt nod.
"Open the gates," he orders smoothly, not even having to raise his voice. They instantly obey.
The heavy gates are pushed open by the two guards, and they swing inside, making no noise, and I wonder about the mechanism that makes them operate so smoothly.
The cartman uses clicking sounds to make the horses move. The cart jiggles forward as we enter the city behind Alnilam.
The high walls and sentinels plus the magic must keep the State of Orion safe from the attacks.
I notice the clean wide paved road, constructed from cobblestones. It gives off a historic vibe. Lush green trees flank both sides as if we have entered a fairytale setting.
The cart moves along and I watch mesmerised. The scenery changes to a bazaar soon where people from all walks of life seem busy shopping from carts, stalls, jute baskets and shops.
Their skin colour ranges from a chocolate shade to ivory white. People from all kinds of regions which used to exist before the world stopped existing as countries have come together in this State of Orion.
Were they inclusive to everyone? My mother had roots in what used to be Chinya while I have no clue about my father's origin. Not that I ever met him.
The hassle and bargaining of shoppers and sellers divert my attention back as people sidestep, seeing Alnilam's horse slowly trot forward. His blue cape flies behind him.
People respectfully bow to him as if he were the king himself.
I know Enforcers hold a lot of power, I am just witnessing it. They really sit on the top of the popularity chain. A few curious glances are cast my way.
We pass through the bazaar and soon arrive outside another set of heavy metallic black gates.
The insignia of a spear overlapping a crescent moon has been embossed in the middle of these gates in silver shade. The half-blue and black flag of the Academy waves proudly on a tall pole as I look up, observing it.
Behind it lies the Great Academy of Orion itself. The building is a marvel of architecture, with its spiralling five towers, each a different shape and length, which adds to its uniqueness and beauty.
Black marble and bricks have been used to construct it. I am nothing but in awe of this masterpiece, forgetting my own worries and predicament for a while.
The sentinels guarding these gates, just like in the beginning, bow at the silver-haired man and throw them open. They screech, and make way for us to pass.
For a place this grand, it seems empty or maybe it's too early in the morning. Alnilam halts his horse, pulling the reins. Effortlessly he jumps down from it and saunters over to me.
His mouth-watering scent makes my head dizzy the closer he gets, and I try not to breathe through my nose.
He grabs my arm and drags me down from the cart. Even with the fabric, the tingles spread all over my body except that mark on my thigh, which begins to hurt.
"Head to the kitchen, they will be expecting these supplies," he tells the cartman and the cart moves away on the paved road. Alnilam turns his attention towards me.
"Tomorrow, with the sunrise, you will have your test along with other candidates. If you survive, you will be sorted into one of the three guilds here."
He watches me, no he scrutinises me. I cannot read his expression as the bond painfully thumps in my chest, dying for his affection.
I bury it, bury it deep down because I can't speak of what has been done to me.
"Alright."
Maybe, once I settle I can look into it.
Alnilam begins to walk, taking me along with him and I wonder where?
He is so much taller than me that I barely come near his broad chest.
"Where are you taking me?" I ask, trying not to stare at him and instead observe my surroundings.
Well-kept gardens with fountains, flowering beds and trees cover the front of the Academy. I seem to have stepped inside a very different world. Clean with fragrances and flowers.
"You need to eat and replenish your energy for tomorrow." The only information he shares while we walk past the gardens and into a tower which is spiralling towards heaven as if looking to pierce the clouds.
He takes me inside a corridor and turns towards a vestibule. The walls are lit with mounted burning torches. I wonder if they use electricity or only the old ways now.
Alnilam walks fast and I have to remain on my toes to catch up. A few people walk past us, seeming like workers. They cast curious glances at me.
We reach outside a wooden door. Opening it using a silver key from a group of keys, hanging around his belt, Alnilam takes me inside.
It's a small room with a single window built high up. A single bed which seemed to have seen better days. Worn-out-looking chair and a rusty table in the corner.
"You will stay here until tomorrow," he says with disinterest and swirls me around so I can face him.
My hair flips brushing past his face as the air dislodges from my lungs.
That contrasting scent, which he possesses of ancient books and freshly cut pine, overwhelms me, almost smothers me.
I want to cry and laugh at the same time from how painful the experience is. My chest burns with a splitting pain that almost makes my knees buckle.
Oblivious to my suffering, he releases my hands. The swirling ropes turn into silver hair and return to his head, slithering along my skin like snakes.
I have never seen such a view before.
"Behave, concentrate and adjust. Watch your back, if you want to survive this place." His cold eyes dip to make the next point. "Instead of spreading your legs."
His words hit like small icicles being shot right into my already wounded chest. Anger surges through me, making my body burn.
"I don't sleep around if that's what you are trying to say," I counter, trying to put confidence in my voice but that fucking bond. It comes out so weak.
He stares at me for a fraction of a second before turning on his heels. His hair and cape flow behind him as he moves away.
"Someone will bring you food and clothes for tomorrow." He says from the door and slams it behind him. I hear him turning the key and then he is gone, leaving me with just his scent and lingering thoughts.
I move forward and flop myself on the bed. The mattress is lumpy but at least I have a mattress to sleep on.
Just as he has promised, a woman brings me food. She has a black and red uniform which indicates she is a worker.
She doesn't speak; she just leaves the small tray on the table along with an old metal jug and a glass. Along with a simple black attire.
"Thanks!" I mumble as she closes the door behind her.
There is a small area alongside the room to be used as the washing area. I make my way inside and freshen up. Removing my shirt, I inspect the wound on my shoulder.
"Doesn't look so bad," I reassure myself, although it has spread to my whole shoulder.
Soaking a small piece of cloth in water, I clean it as best as I can and leave it to that, hoping it won't get infected.
Leaving the wash area, I approach the table and inspect the food. There is a candle there to be burnt at night, resting in a small metallic dish.
Two loaves of bread, a bowl of soup and an apple. Not so bad.
I devour everything and flop back on the bed.
Sleep consumes me and I only wake up when the door is opened.
The same woman appears, carrying another tray.
"Get ready, your trial is about to start," she informs me. Placing the tray, she removes the previous one and leaves.
The thought unsettles my stomach, and I have no idea what horrors await me outside.
Collecting myself up, I throw cold water on my face and grab the attire. It is constructed from tight nylon. Comfortable and created to keep movements fluid.
The door soon opens and in walks two sentinels, carrying spears and wearing blue and gold uniforms.
"Recruit, follow us," one of them speaks in a heavy voice and I find myself obeying.
They take me through multiple corridors until we emerge outside. The first rays of the sun are just spreading across the sky, inking it in hues of red and pink.
We arrive on a huge ground, surrounded by raised platforms to be served as seats. They are mostly empty, apart from a section where I see a few people sitting.
They guide me to the middle of the ground where three other recruits stand in the same uniforms as mine.
And then I see the same golden halos and a variety of scents bombard me, almost knocking me off my feet.
My heart lurches and my brain screams.
'Mates,' as in plural…