Calisa remained hidden within the shadows, as her comrades did when their four Masters entered the room. The Masters claimed their places at the front of the room, footsteps barely making a sound as they marched with authority on the marble floors. Immediately, the prospective initiates noticed and ceased chattering about the what-ifs and the nothings, steeled their spines, and looked straight ahead.
"You have all worked hard, my children," Master Silas drawled. Master Silas had a slender frame and an alluring timbre when he spoke. If one saw him at a glance, they would think him effeminate, but it was more of an asset than a flaw since he could easily transform his appearance and seduce a target. He was a bloodthirsty wolf dressed in sheep's clothing. "But we have yet to be impressed."
Those words penetrated through the heavy silence.
Calisa glanced at Birdy in question, but her sister only raised her eyebrows in response. Their master had never said this before, even though his words held truth to it. Yura, the newest member to the Flame Lilys, had trouble climbing the ranks because of her limited abilities. She rarely completed her missions without injuries, which meant that she would not survive long in the association. Yet these prospective initiates only mastered about half of Yura's skills. They would struggle even more than Yura had, which meant assigning them tasks would be giving them suicide missions-- bad for the association because they would become liabilities, and also for them since they would be dead.
Birdy twirled a finger twice in the air and tapped her ear with her thumb. She signaled to observe the events unfolding and Calisa nodded in response to the message, not that she would have acted any differently. They both thought similarly and asked the same questions: What happens now? Who would light the torch for the festival? And what would become of these twelve prospects?
Master Darius did not let them wonder for long. "None of you have been chosen," said Master Darius, his voice booming like thunderclaps echoing in the silent night. He stood at a staggering height of six and a half feet, with boulders for arms and tree trunks for legs. His dominant presence seemed to make the room shrink in size. His build clearly distinguished him from the other Masters, especially when he stood by Master Silas, but it was difficult to ascertain that he was the strongest since the Masters each had their own strengths and styles for combat. "You have thoroughly disappointed us and none of you have passed your trials. You're a disgrace to us. Weak."
"Yes, what a shame," Master Silas chuckled in amusement.
Master Ara, Silas's older sister, cackled as well. Calisa couldn't see Master Igor, who always kept to himself and the demons in the darkness, and wondered when he had slipped out of the room without her noticing. He had the presence of a ghost, invisible to those who sought him out and appearing only whenever he chose.
Master Ara leaped down to where the prospects huddled, circling the 12 prospects with a jagged smirk. Where Master Silas was all graceful, polished, and enticing, Master Ara was lanky, razor-sharp, and chilling. She had a permanent smirk plastered on her face which, when she concentrated on a single person, widened almost cruelly and made them freeze like a deer in the headlights. The staccato clicks of her pointed shoes sounded more pronounced with her limped gait, and with each step as she dug her heel to the marble tiles with a wry passion. Click, clack, click, clack. Until she suddenly pivoted on her heel. "Kalis."
Calisa sprung forward from the comfort of the shadows, unaware that she had moved until her skin prickled from the stares of a hundred pairs of eyes. She temporarily held the attention of the new prospects and the ranking members. Immediately, she knelt in reverence. "Masters."
Master Ara reached a hand forward, beckoning Calisa to approach. Calisa was at her Master's side within a second, even though her stomach churned in malaise. Calisa made sure to conceal her sour expression.
"You'll show them how it's done."