Then the door at the back opened up and two people walked through a man and a woman. The aura of the man felt like inescapable swamp ready to swallow everyone whole.
Right when he took his seat he said "Daughter Sarah of house Yami for your crime of disgracing the family. You will serve as a Darkwood assassin until you or your family has paid the necessary reparations in order to restore the damage you've caused. Do you understand your crimes and punishment?"
Amen looked at me only to the same confusion he felt.
"Yes, father, but what of my sons?" Mother asked.
"Hmm twins? Not bad." He turned to us with a great jolly smile on his face. For some reason I can't remove the picture of the great Kali dressed in a santa outfit sitting on the throne. "Indeed worthy to be called descendants of the great Yami. Since you are my grandsons you two will be sent to the Darkwood sect to learn, and grow. You will both receive the same resources as direct descendants which you are. Although, I must warn you this world is not for the weak hearted. Viciousness is power. That is our house motto. If I ever find that you have been kind hearted or weak willed you will be dealt accordingly. Understood?" He said.
"Yes, sir." Sensing the situation we felt like it was the right thing to say at the time.
"Good find your ways there immediately for your entrance exams." Mother turned around and left with us right behind her. No one saying a word further.
"So what do you think of the boys my lord?" Said grandma.
"Not bad, they better be able to handle themselves. We'll see if they have Darkwood blood."
...….. ...….. ...…..
"Mother, what are the Darkwood assassins and how is it a punishment?" I had to ask. The question has kinda been bothering me for a while.
Seeing my inquisitive look mother reluctantly says "The clan is made of 4 parts the Darkwood Sect, the Darkwood army, the Darkwood Resource department, and the Darkwood assassins. The Darkwood sect where you will be going is a sect dedicated to training the young prodigies of the clan. Although, kids from outside of the clan can study there, but only to learn to the top of Tier 0. If they wish to go further they have to be chosen as a dedicate to a descendant.--"
Not recognizing the word in that context Amen hurried to ask, "Wait what is a dedicate?"
"If an outsider catches the eye of a clan member they can dedicate themselves to the clan through forming a magic contract. It's the only way for outside kids to remain in the sect. Well aside for special circumstances. Then, there is the Darkwood Resources and the army. Once you graduate from the sect at the top of Tier 2 you can choose between joining the army or the resource department.
The resource department runs the lands, companies, and assets belonging to the clan. The army is pretty much self explanatory. As for the assassins your hands are the will of the clan. Father has always wanted to use me as an assassin and this gave him the chance. I'm sorry but this will probably be the last time I see you two for awhile. Like I said I want my castle and my army. I love you boys." With two pecks and a tear she vanished.
"Oi, so what should we do now?" Amen asked.
"Get strong, build a castle, and form an army."
"Hmm more than likely. I refuse to be mediocre in this life."
"So do I"
"So let's jump some shiitake off then."
"Indisputably."
...….
Hours later we arrive at the sect which is just a collection of spires and regular buildings sprawled over a hill. There are kids passing by everywhere we look. Most don't even spare us a first glance let alone a second. Then, I spotted an artistic looking young man sitting alone to himself. He had two braids of hair and a rattle the size of a club in his hands.
"Hello, my friend may you please point us in the direction of the testing grounds?" Amen asked. Amen has always had better charisma and luck than me so I usually let him lead when meeting new people.
"Oh, no problem. In fact I must thank you for reminding me as I need to head there as well. Sometimes I get lost in my imagination." Realizing that he may be a fellow student, I decided to take a better look at him. From the way he looks he seems like an outsider.
"Are you taking the exam as well?" Amen asked.
"Indeed, I am." he said.
"Well my name is Amenhotep and this is my brother Imhotep, but you can call us Amen and Tepp respectively. May we take care of each other in the times ahead. What is your name, friend?" Amen asked.
"My name? It's Ihy nice to meet you two hopefully we can be friends."
"While I do hope we can become friends, Ihy, I must ask what made you come to the Darkwood sect." I asked. Seeing as Ihy isn't a descendant of Darkwood he must have a purpose for coming here.
"I come with the good will of the Sarh clan, a subordinate clan of Yami clan, and I am here to get as strong as possible as quickly as possible." He said with relentless determination.
"But, why?" When I asked this his face turned dark as if re-living a painful memory of the past. "You don't have to say if you don't want but I am curious." I can see the pain in his eyes, heart wrenching. I like it. Those are the eyes of a protagonist. If he tells me the truth off bat then I will try to take him in. If not, I will have to continue to observe him.
He looks at me as if trying to discern something from my eyes. Then he says, "I grew up a poor farm boy on the outskirts of the city. My mother, Hathor, herds cows for a living and is darn good at it. So good that other cowherders pay her for her cooperation. Even the beastmaster clans come to her for advice and teaching on the raising of domesticated beast. So much so that we ended up under the protection of one of those clans.
They sent some of their young to our village to grow and learn with me to partake in my mother's tutelage. I even fell in love with their young princess. Then one day they made a plot to imprison my mother so that they may lock her up until she relinquishes all of her secrets, but me and some of my friends found out and tried to protect my mother, it did not end well. Skip to the aftermath only I survived. The Sarh clan found out and smuggled me here. I assume it is mostly to keep my mother's secrets from the hands of the beastmasters, which everyone assumes I have."
"Do you have your mother's secrets?" I asked testingly.
"No one knows." He says back comically with his hands in the air. I like this guy.
"Now why would you tell me all of that?" I asked.
"I don't really know, but I do know that you are just trying to test me." Ha, he is smart. Time to take in. No hesitation.
"Good once you successfully enter you shall be our first dedicate."
"Wait, you haven't even seen me fight yet."
"Eh, Tepp has a good eye and rarely missteps so if he chose you its with good reason." Amen said laughingly.
"But, I haven't even seen either of you fight. Why would I dedicate myself to you?" He said skeptically.
"Good, you will see soon. All will see soon." Amen said still laughing as we continue to walk to the test area.