The next day we were all summoned to the large courtyard of honor. A place that was the witness of exploits and graduated who had trodden Aurora, hundreds of weapons of all kinds were planted in the gardens around us.
Behind the higher platform was placed on platforms, with a view to the Patriarch of the great families who had come for the event, draped in their coats adorned with coats of arms and their overpriced costumes. The Montclair, the Draxion, the Veyrel, the Vongold and others. All fixed the central scene like gods on their thrones.
In the center of the platform, stood the mentors. I recognized Helena, motionless and straight like a marble statue. At his side, other severe figures, armed with looks that measured our souls.
A total silence.
Then a voice rose, clear, sharp. That of the Rector of Aurora. A dry man, dressed in immaculate white suits where no imperfection could fit.
— Welcome, Heirs and Heiresses. You have taken the first step. Among the hundreds of families that populate Kalion, the Resonance has separated you from the weak. Your first duels testified to the potential that drives you. But this was only a prelude.
He marked a pause.
— Now that you are in this place, I hope you understand the gravity of the task that awaits you as a future leader of this world. Our organization 'Guidence' has long worked so that access to 'the spine' is no longer a notion acquired by all men, the progress of the conflicts of our barbaric civilization proved to our ancestors that the human being did not sufficiently realize the responsibility that accompanied these incredible gifts.
— That is why for centuries they worked to such an extent that only a few privileged families of great influence remain in the confidence of the power granted by 'the Thorn'. Time passed and men forgot the power that inhabited them, becoming 'Guidence' became in the eyes of the world a huge multinational operating from near or far in all known fields and sectors. Only the leaders of the world are approximately at our disposal, they will obey us as long as we hold the role of saving and merciful gods, bathing them in our knowledge and sharing our advanced scientific and technological resources.
A whisper ran through the stands. Some heirs stood up, excited. Others paled. They had just explained to us why it was up to us, to them, to rule. I had goose bumps, I felt like I was dreaming, which yesterday again was just a corpse having given up on life. I understood at that moment that they were well adjusted, our blinders.
The Rector raised his hand solemnly.
— You will perform in the coming months three tests to be applied in the real world.
Each of them will judge your worth not as students... but as potential successors to your families.
He made a gesture. Holograms unfolded, showing ravaged holographic landscapes: a muddy swamp, a desert that seemed hellish and a metropolitan city.
— The First mission will consist in eliminating certain abominations born from the Thorn. They ravage small towns and roads causing panic and testimonies of supernatural monsters. You will have to track them down. And kill them before they reach their next destinations.
The images showed monstrous, misshapen silhouettes emerging from the marshes. A roar echoed through the room, ripped from the illusion itself.
Some heirs looked away. Others smiled.
— Second mission: The Onyx Desert. Its sands contain an ancient archaeological site coveted by looters. You will need to secure it. But know it: the desert devours the weak.
The images changed. Infinite dunes, a hellish sky, silhouettes collapsed under the heat.
— Then to finish your third mission: The butcher of Arcadia City. A renegade bearer member of the criminal organization 'Xilon' was reported there; he allegedly founded his own criminal network there. Its power is considerable and dangerous, it disrupts our influence within this city. You will have to determine its location and report it to us as soon as possible. They forbid you from launching any assault.
This time, a shiver ran through the room. Even the surest of them paled. Because facing a bearer, who moreover is a member of the criminal organization of Izac Drakthorne "XILON" was not facing a mere human. It was to face a potential monster of power.
The Rector continued, his voice even harsher.
— Know this: death will be possible. Failure will be definitive. But the glory of your House... will be eternal.
The families in the stands remained unmoved. For them, it was not cruelty. It was obvious.
I felt my chest tighten. My mind vacillated between fear and excitement. Facing a world I didn't know... It was no longer a game...
I turned my head.
Cassian, on the other hand, seemed bored to death. He even let a yawn escape him as if to testify to the uselessness of this entire ceremony.
Further, Selene met my gaze. She smiled.
And behind me, Elias whispered to me in a low voice:
— Here we are Iron... This is where many will fall. And some... will shine.
The Rector concludes:
— Get ready. In three days you will train your teams and the trials will start.
A silence. Then the gongs echoed, closing the ceremony.
We were still students. But in three days... we would become prey, or hunters.
Three days. That was the time the Academy gave us before throwing ourselves to carry out our first mission outside the walls.
Three days to choose our weapons, to sharpen our bodies, to decide if we were glorified survivors... or corpses that no one will remember.
Later we were led into the armory rooms. Entire rows of weapons stretched out under the arches: steel blades, thin spears, shields adorned with runes, strange arcs that vibrated like living machines. An arsenal of past and future wars.
Elias passed slowly between the racks, his hand brushing each weapon with respect.
— Monsters huh... he said frowning. It will take something practical. Solid. Heavy.
He finally chose a wide sword, almost a swordfish, which he lifted as if it were just an extension of his arm; it was impressive, he didn't have a body as solid as Bruno but his strength was to be taken into account.
Dorian, on the other hand, threw himself onto a pair of curved daggers. He made them turn between his fingers, an insolent smile clinging to his lips.
— No need to think. I'll take them.
Asha took her time. She ended up choosing a brutal halberd, covered in incrustations that pulsated weakly. When she wielded it, sparks sputtered on the metal.
— She is perfect, she said simply.
Lyra stayed longer than the others. Her thin hands trembled as she brushed against a small copper alloy scepter. She finally took him, hugged him against her.
— I am not a fighter, she said in a low voice. But if I can keep the others standing thanks to my power... it will be enough, my house has been hoisted thanks to these remarkable care capabilities.
All finally turned to me.
— Don't you like any weapon here? asked Elias.
Honestly, a weapon would not have bothered me, Helena having taught me the basics of sword handling. But if I wanted to continue making progress, a weapon would undoubtedly hinder my development.
— No need for weapons.
A fracture opened near me and a blade of fire burst into my hand, roaring.
— I already have what I need.
Silence settled, then Dorian burst out laughing.
— Skulker...
In the afternoon, we were sent to a training camp. Not only to fight but to discuss strategy.
Elias placed his sword against the wall, sat down, and took out a holographic map of the Foul Lands. The mentors had given us some indications: a swamp, deformed creatures, cities attacked. No more.
— We don't know what we're going to get, he says. But one thing is certain: the ground will be against us. Mud, water, dense vegetation. We will have to stay together.
Asha crossed her arms.
— I'll take the front. I might break a path with my halbert.
— And I cover the back, added Dorian with a smile. I like to surprise those who think they're taking us from behind.
Lyra nodded.
— I will stay in the center. I don't have the strength to follow you, but I can keep your wounds closed until you hit.
Elias turned his eyes towards me.
— And you, Iron?
I remained silent for a moment.
— I don't yet know my limits well. My blades sometimes react as they want and flying is not a skill that I master perfectly.
They stared at me, surprised. Dorian burst out laughing.
— That's something...
But Elias nodded.
— you will be on the front line during the clashes with me.
Asha sighed.
— Try to be as good as in your last fight Vongold.
I shrugged.
In the evening, we met in my room. Not to talk about strategy. To talk about ourselves.
Lyra admitted that she had never left her House, that she was afraid of the outside world.
Elias confided that his family, rank twelve, had a lot of expectations towards him, they expected him to raise their name, that he could not fail.
Dorian laughingly recounted that he had already bet a significant amount against other students who would live and die.
Asha remained silent she was modest about her life and spoke very little, but her eyes said everything: she did not fear death, but humiliation.
I was listening to them. I wasn't saying anything. I didn't particularly want to confide in them.
Three days passed quickly.
Too fast.
And on the morning of departure, when we crossed the gates of Aurora I had no idea what would await us during these trials.