The letter's on the doors blurred, the sound of rain echoed but slowly mashed in with itself, creating a serene long crashing sound. All that could take Henry out of this was his breath, and his breath was what kept him in. A smile formed around the intrepid boy's lips, he was having fun.
In the corner of Henry's eye a slight light was seen, and he cheered out,
"Marlon!"
Quickly, Marlon charged Henry and covered his mouth.
"Dammit, dude, you can't just scream in the middle of the night."
Henry's parade had been left soaked, it seemed in his moment of bliss he forgot common sense.
The two slowed down making their way to a large open field in the middle of the field was a big umbrella, and a familiar face beneath it. Lumora raised her hand, beckoning her two friends over.
"Lumora!"
They yelled out for each other, drowned out by the crashing rain. Their smiles amplified in the moment of unison. They all hugged holding their heads together, the children, for the first time since being chosen, finally got to be children.
'Please don't go anywhere.'
Henry's mind echoed the sentiment, hoping they could stay in this moment forever, but even if this moment didn't last forever, the fact that it was happening now was enough for him.
The trio sat beneath the umbrella, Lumora had brought a bag of gummy worms, whereas Marlon, brought dried mangoes, which he said were for hisself only… of course.
"So tomorrow's probably it, huh."
Marlon's words broke the hidden ball of dread forming around the trio.
"I think so, it's been 49 days since the chosen were selected, counting today… it's fifty."
Lumora pitched in, she always seemed to have the facts down better than the other two.
"I guess that means it's going to happen, the trial I mean. Isn't that crazy?"
For Henry, it was crazy, and the others felt it at a similar level too. Just two months prior they were normal kids, well, Henry hoped he was a normal kid. The beautiful face of his mother flashed in his mind, her warmth even in a memory put a smile on his face.
"Well, if it's going to happen, we might as well be happy the night before!"
Marlon jumped up and tackled Henry, playfully wrestling him, the air filled with their laughter, and for a second time stopped. Henry felt the rain, but could not hear its echoing fall. In a split second Marlon fell over and began convulsing his eyes shining blasting out light, looking around more of this light was around them flashing through windows.
"Marlon!"
He slapped the side of his friend's face, desperate for anything.
"We need to get help!"
Henry turned to Lumora, but she began convulsing with the familiar shine in her eyes. Dread filled his mind, and before he could think a pain rushed to his head, he fell back convulsing in the pain of pure energy being poured throughout his veins entering each part of his body.
The voice of his mother echoed in his head. "Don't be scared, sweetie." Henry braced every bone in his body, the muscles all screaming at him in pain. The shining light in front of him began twisting, as if it were being drawn further from him.
Immediately, the pain stopped, and his head slammed to the back of the ground. Quickly he got up looking at his two friends, both were on the floor aching, but there was something else filling up his view. In the distance… yet close enough for him to touch, was a light shining bright, etched, no burned into his mind. He put his hand out to grab it, yet it shone through his hand. Even with his eyes tightly shut, the light protruded.
"The conduit."
The whisper barely escaped his mouth, and even during the crashing rain, the others beside him understood what their friend had said.
***
Chaos erupted in the academy, all the chosen were running around screaming for help from the staff, teachers groggily began procedure "Moonlight" and led the students to the large outdoor amphitheater. Henry was too in shock to realize what had happened. The conduit had connected, and the trial of the chosen, had begun.
Several familiar faces were crying next to him, Lumora sat next to a boy whose gray thinning hair had become etched in Henry's mind. "Julian" he was a cowardly crybaby who, just like the others, was late to joining the academy. All that Henry knew was that Lumora had a soft spot for him, and that his parents legally changed his name to Julius Caesar when he had been selected, which embarrassed him enough to say his name was Julian.
Henry looked down at his hands, which were shaking.
'Come on!'
He took multiple breaths trying to slow them down, but regardless of what he did, the shaking continued.
'You're ready for this, you've been preparing.'
Henry turned to Marlon, who seemed to be in much better shape than him, though he had a feeling that beneath his calm exterior was a building ball of anxiety and paranoia.
The students went silent as an unfamiliar face stepped up to the stage. It was a young woman, though older than the people around Henry, she didn't seem old enough to be a teacher. He blushed thinking about it, she was beautiful.
"Ahem!"
Her voice echoed, shutting all the remaining whisperer's and gossiper's up.
"As some of you may, or may not, know, I am Headmaster Aurelia of the Gilded Clan."
The crowd gasped, and Henry's mind immediately went to an old interaction he had with Marlon a month prior.
The two were sat at dinner, eating calmly.
"So I was wondering something."
Henry squeamishly asked, he doubted Marlon would like his question.
"Yeah what's up."
Marlon replied with food in his mouth.
"I've been curious, what clan are you from… I just don't really know anything about clans and was wonder-"
Marlon slammed his fist on the table, and let out a deep sigh.
"Dammit dude. You know I hate this."
He swallowed his food.
"Alright, listen, I'm only saying it once. My family, the Aurelius family, run a clan named Gilded. That's what my last name means. Gilded."
Marlon visibly shivered when saying the name.
'Interesting.'
The memory ceased and Henry was back in the large amphitheater staring at who must be… a relative to Marlon.
Slowly, Henry faced Marlon, who already had his head in his hands.
"I don't want to talk about it."
It sounded like his confident friend was on the verge of tears, so Henry let him be.
"Starting tonight, you have all linked with the prime conduit. Which means that the trial is ready to begin. Soon we will have multiple helicopters here for pickup. You will all be transported to the prime conduit, and then…"
Henry didn't need to hear the next words, neither did any of the chosen. They knew very well what would happen next. The dread waiting for it had been building since the day they arrived.
"Of course there will be food, on the aircraft's, and we will give you time to rest. However, as some of you may know, the more chosen near the prime conduit, the more you will be pushed to enter and begin the trial."
She looked down then faced the crowd of terrified students.
"You all have been trained by the best, and brightest, Timidus has to offer. I am confident, that you will all not just survive, but will thrive within the trial!"
The crowd began cheering, Henry could tell that she was lying, and he was sure the other students knew as well. But they needed all the confidence they could get.
"Now please follow the staff to where the helicopters will be landing, and… don't cause a ruckus."
She seemed to be staring right at Henry, but it was more likely she was staring at Marlon. Henry turned looking at him, his face was now pale, and his eyes were wide.
"I hate when she does that."
Marlon said as he stood up while holding his head down and begun walking alongside the others.
'I guess I shouldn't pry.'
Lumora joined Henry, and Marlon, with Julian silently behind her, while they walked to an open field by the academy.
The once rowdy and loud trio had been muzzled with fear. Henry didn't know what to say to bring up the other's moods, and Lumora was occupied keeping Julian from a panic attack. So instead they sat, in silence, the only sound being their wet footsteps on the grass.
***
The helicopters shortly arrived, and with them came screams of terror from students breaking down. Even the giant Arden seemed shook. Some chosen had to be restrained by staff, and even held on the ground.
Headmaster Aurelia stepped in front of the helicopters and faced the terrified group of students.
"Please in orderly fashion make four lines, and begin boarding the aircraft's. I will be riding alongside administrator Kairn, and we will be the ones to escort you all to the prime conduit."
Slowly four lines were made, and then… the chosen began boarding. Marlon was in front of Henry and hadn't looked at him since they met in the amphitheater, that stayed the same as the group began boarding, but it was interrupted by screams in the distance.
"Wait! Stop, I need to return something!"
The familiar voice immediately caught Henrys attention.
"Joshin?"
He turned around to see his teacher, and mentor in the same clothes as the day before, eyes deep and sunk. Running straight for him.
"Henry! I told you to trust me!"
The teacher made a goofy smile, which took Henry out of the fear filled hole he had been in.
His mentor ran up, clasping Henry's hand.
"Remember what I taught you, and I have no doubt you will be just fine. Also,"
Joshin leaned in close.
"Trust no one, tell no one. This is for you, and you alone."
His teacher let go and stepped back, getting weird looks from the people around.
Henry looked down in his hand, and saw his "onyx square" as the teacher had once labeled it, but now it was split down the middle, with the marble white of the teacher's identical artifact forming the second half.
'How did he…'
Henry looked at his Mentor, who was being ushered away from the students.
"Thank you for teaching me!"
Henry screamed at the top of his lungs, and though he didn't hear a response, the smile on his teacher's face was more than enough.
The final students boarded the helicopter.
And they began their flight.