Emry stepped out of the carriage after Marin, and I followed suit. It was the fateful day, Adonis's alignment ceremony. Dean told me that the ceremonies were held here, the Solaris Hall. A massive coliseum-style building made of quartz. Rows of archways stacked up to fourteen stories tall. The pathway we were on ran from the main road to the entrance, with carefully trimmed and maintained grass on either side, and water fountains placed in the center of the patches of lawn. The main entrance had four stigma above it. One represented the veritas path or path of truth.
"Right this way, my lady," A guard spoke, directing Marin. She grabbed Emry's hand, and we followed the crowd into the building. It was breathtaking, but eerie at the same time. In the center of the coliseum was a large square stage that almost looked like a boxing ring. Steps led to the mini stage on all four of its sides, and there was a podium in the middle with a semicircle of pillars behind it.
I could barely see through the crowd, it was pretty packed, as one would imagine for the prince's alignment ceremony. A mix of guards, academy staff, and clergy were placed at exits, directing people. Everyone was dressed pretty well, even I was in a button-down and waistcoat. I convinced Marin to let me bring my sword, I'm surprised no one stopped me. I guess I am a kid…but still.
"Are you excited, Cane? Your first alignment ceremony." Marin asked while we were making our way to the stairs. Cal's nickname for me seemed to be catching on. It was growing on me, though.
"I guess," I responded, still distracted by the building. There were busts of people I didn't recognize, some had names, and a few said Celtrea, so I assumed they were past kings. The walls and floors were unblemished and sparsely decorated. We came across an alcove with a statue of a beautiful woman placed in it. "Princess Aleara." Must be who the academy is named after. She was in a commanding pose with both hands placed on a sword like a cane. I'm curious what she has to do with magic.
"You have to be more excited than that. Aren't you and Adonis close? You should be happy for your friend. If you're feeling left out, don't worry, something special is coming for you too." She nudged my shoulder.
"N-no, it's not that, I'm not jealous or anything, just…this building. Do you know who Princess Aleara is?" I asked, we exited the corridor after a few flights of stairs, finally heading to our seats.
"She's from a time before Telenor, well… actually before the whole country of Raam, was established." She helped Emry to her seat and pet a few strands of her wheat hair behind her ears. "She's more myth than anything else, but they say she brought magic to the world."
I had a better view of the stage at the center now, stone paths stretched from the stairs of the stage to openings in the surrounding walls. Things must have been getting ready to start because two robed figures began heading towards the stage.
They stood on either side. The crowd slowly quieted down as people began to take notice. They lifted their arms in unison, revealing wands. The sleeves of their red robes sagged, and a light glinted at the tips of their wands. Then a wave of mana rippled outward from the stage, followed by a chattering sound. The ground quaked as another wave emanated from the mages. This pulse warmed my chest, causing me to flinch slightly. Then, like the rupturing of the surface tension of a bubble, waves of color radiated outward from their feet. In an instant, it was like we were transported to another dimension. The colors were warmer and more intense. The air was thicker, and it was humid. The once white quartz transformed into a worn sepia colored sandstone. Vines grew from the walls surrounding the stage, and small, softly glowing orbs of light started to appear all around the coliseum. Which also now began to have an aged quality about it, like we were in well kept ruins.
I turned to my side, and even Emry reacted to the sudden change. Her eyes were wide and filled with poorly suppressed curiosity. Everyone else seemed pretty calm, so this must be normal…enough. What kind of magic was that, even? A third man marched out of one of the openings, stopping in the center and pulling his hood down.
He was older, maybe mid to late thirties, his long ash blonde hair was pulled back and wrapped with a sort of ribbon, with the ends hanging. His features were stern, and I could see his crow's feet from here.
"Welcome, people of Alestrios." He started, his voice carrying through the coliseum like there was some sort of sound system. "We are glad you could be here with us to honor and celebrate Prince Adonis Celtrea's awakening." The crowd erupted with applause. He clasped his hands together. "Let the ceremony begin!" He announced, followed by the sounding of horns, the crowd continuing its applause. You could feel the excitement and anticipation in the air. "And please welcome the Prince and King!"
My mind drifted off for a few seconds, wondering when or if I would awaken. Could I even be any use in the hunt for the druid as just a swordsman? My hand began to tighten into a fist. Adonis is making good on the promise we made, and I feel like I'm spinning in circles reading books at a library, ending up with more questions than answers. Not too dissimilar to my life as a detective. Marin placed her hand on my mine, drawing my attention back to the ceremony.
Adonis was dressed in ceremonial robes that were also red, his had gold markings. He was followed by his father, who was dressed in a suit under a king's mantle. He also had a scepter. No sign of Rein, though.
There was another man trailing behind them, I didn't recognize, slicked back grey hair and ivory colored vestments, he looked like a priest. His eyes were also a strange shade of reddish-orange.
The priest-looking man went to the podium while Adonis stood in front of the pillar directly behind him. The King stood in front of the pillar next to the prince, and the three other men fell into place at the other pillars. The priest raised his hand, and the crowd's cheers and applause ceased.
"It's always good to see so many faces gathered for such a joyous occasion." His voice was slightly raspy, but had a warm, fatherly quality to it.
"I am Elder Rolus, and I'm just as shocked as you that I'm up here." He paused to let the laughter die down. "But I am truly honored to be part of this centuries-old tradition for such a special young man." He turned and smiled at the young prince, who returned the gesture with a stiff nod. Determination was burning in Adonis's eyes. The few times I'd seen him since the council meeting, he was a little different. Not anything too noticeable, but his more childish qualities were waning, replaced by a drive for retribution.
"Before we begin, I would like to share an old novean tale, is that all right?" He grabbed the ends of the podium and leaned in. "It's important the prince learn about restraint and humility when faced with awesome power and responsibility over others, wouldn't you say?" There was an edge to Rolus's voice now. The King's eyes flicked towards the priest, showing the smallest hint of disapproval.
"Have you ever wondered why the tide moves the way it does? Well, centuries upon centuries ago, there was a man named Zeal. He was a normal man until he was blessed by one of the nine pillars with a sacred power and tasked to watch over our world." He paused and looked out into the crowd. "But like so many other men granted power, it wasn't enough. At first, he spread his influence as much as he could, performing miracles, trying to do what the pillars had done for him. Give them purpose. However, it wasn't his place to take those lives into his hands and direct them." He cleared his throat and cast a subtle glance in the King's direction.
"So the pillars punished his misguided attempt to play god and cursed him. He was made to push and pull the waters of this world, eternally keeping watch over the tide. This tale is where we get the word zealous from." He made a half turn and met the prince's gaze. "Young prince, I tell you this tale as a reminder. A gifting is just that, it's not something that comes from you, but through you. Let that keep you humble, and do not become overzealous."
It's interesting, he talks about this Zeal performing miracles, is that different from magic? Or is the interpretation different, just like with the nine deities and nine pillars? Either way, I guess neither party has heard of gravity. I chuckled to myself.
"Now come forth," Elder Rolus extended his arm towards Adonis. The two other robed men stood on either side of the podium facing the prince, who was now next to Rolus. The third robed figure, the one who welcomed everyone, now stepped forward.
"Professor Valance, would you do the honors?" Elder Rolus asked. The King stood in the back, watching intently. He seemed a little on edge.
So that's the big shot pyromancer professor from Aleara? He was imposing, I'll give him that. He freed his wand from his robe, a short, jagged, red stick was all the detail I could make from out here. Then traced a stigma over the front of Adonis's robe with it. It glowed a reddish orange and then faded to gold.
"This is the marking of the sun pillar Ra Ignis as a fire mage, you will be drawing on his blessing. So I say to you, child, may the path of ignis order your steps." Elder Rolus said as he raised his hand over the stigma. He mouthed a few inaudible words then it started to feel a bit warm. In fact, the temperature increased to the point where I experienced a heat mirage. The waves of heat rippled through the air.
Mana pooled and swelled around the stage, crashing against it like an angry typhoon. Adonis was standing in the eye of this mana storm, calm and unmoving with his eyes closed. Professor Valance waved his wand upwards in a crescent, and from Adonis a blaze of fire roared into existence. Extending outward, twisting and swallowing the stage in a tornado of flames, the color shifted as the heat intensified from red, yellow, then to a beautiful azure blue.
The heat was so great, the sweat dried from my skin as quickly as it appeared. My mouth dried up, and the waves of heat were so intense I had to watch the spectacle through a squint.
The torrent of fire convulsed and started to condense, growing smaller and smaller until a wheel-sized ball of flame hovered five feet above Adonis's head on the stage. The shape began to change, and suddenly, flame-wreathed wings stretched forth from the ball. Transforming into a phoenix, the bird beat its wings, sending out a pulse of mana. The blue faded, giving way to its safron and orange colored scales, its tail a mix of feather and flame.
The crowd was silent, dumbstruck by the brilliant spectacle. Can't say it was any different for me.
Adonis had his hands stretched outwards, the sides of his palms pressed together like he was trying to catch water. The Phoenix descended slowly, and as the distance closed, it began to transform into a kind of wisp before reaching Adonis's hand. The light crystallized into a ruby colored gem. At the same time, two tendrils of wood appeared from under the gem and whipped and spun around it like a claw, then extended outwards into a wand shape.
My jaw went slack while I took in everything that was happening. The books never mentioned anything like this when it came to wands.
"A wand is born from a mage's mana," Marin said with an amused smile, taking note of my amazement.
"Do you have one? And I thought you can't manipulate the mana in your body," I asked, still curious about her powerful bloodline. She stifled a laugh.
"No, I'm not a mage. And that is why they have an Elder or officiant from the church to commune with the gods on the mage's behalf, allowing the wand to be born of their mana. If you believe in that sort of stuff."
So I guess this ceremony is more religious than I thought. I was starting to wonder why I didn't see more faculty from Aleara. This at least gives some level of validity to Anders' prodding about looking into the Novean religion and its connection to magic.
"Come forth, Prince, and name your wand," Rolus said, gesturing towards the podium, pulling my attention back to the ceremony. The wand still seemed to be…growing if that's the right word in Adonis's hand. He stepped forward.
"I, Adonis of path ignis, bestow the name Nessa to my wand. In honor of my late mother!" He said, raising the wand like a trophy.