Raiden turned the page and all of them continued to read what was written.
The Schatten Gardien- Keepers of the Gate to the Schatten
By Januda Husak
Having formed by the Androas Schatten, newly crowned king of the Schatten world, the first job of this council was to seal the gates of their world from the human world.
This consisted of nine people-
The head Gardien
Two initiators of the Sangre or Blood Ceremony
The other six who always protected the gates- three from the side of the human world and three from the Schatten world.
Let us go deeper into the Sangre or the famous Blood Ceremony of the Gardien. Having been forced to seal the gates for good, only to be opened for emergency purposes, the Gardien prepared a special type of ceremony called the Blood Ceremony. Like Huikoj Licht, there were many others who had magic in their blood but were unable to wield it. Such people were named as the "Sang Real" or "Royal Blood" or just Sangre.
The blood of the Sangre was used to break the seal on either side of the gate, in order to prove that the person wishing to cross the gate into the magical world was solely one of their own people and not the humans.
Since Sangre were people who could not wield magic, there was another part to the ceremony too. Another person who could wield magic had to sacrifice his blood as well so that the pact from the other side was made and the gate would allow the passage of people from both the world. Exact details of this sacrosanct ceremony can be found in Loak Danores' book "The History behind Schatten and Licht- Two opposite Worlds".
______
'I'll say that was really short; compared to that huge essay we had earlier.' Aaron commented.
'This is getting weirder by the minute. I do not understand a single thing in here.' Jayden remarked still examining the passage.
'Me neither, it seems pretty fishy to me.' Jennifer pointed out.
'I know right?'
Raiden skimmed over the passage again in the hopes of making something out of it. She had already become used to double meaning in things at the Schatten Academy and she looked at, perhaps something would come out of it.
'I still think this is some prank by Zane.' Jayden suggested, 'You're aware he was kicked out of six schools for such things right?'
Raiden threw a threatening glare at Jayden's comment. She absolutely hated it when people always made assumptions about troublemakers. Sure, they loved to prank everyone, but they were never like that.
'Excuse me?' she raised her voice angrily; making sure it was not loud enough to distract other people, 'What do you have against him?'
'He's a troublemaker.' Jayden shrugged, 'They are the only ones who can pull this off. And he's been kicked out of six schools; I wouldn't put it past him to not do this.'
'Excuse me,' Raiden countered, trying her best to keep her anger in check, 'but you may have forgotten that I am a troublemaker too. I've been kicked out of five schools but we troublemakers would never do a prank like that. Do you think we wanna be expelled? No goddamn high school will take us in if Schatten expels us.'
'Geez I just suggested something, don't have to flare up like this.' Jayden winced.
'Well then, I suggest you keep your pointless suggestions to yourself!' Raiden spat.
'Guys,' Jennifer decided to intervene, knowing it wouldn't be long before Raiden and Jayden started a third world war in the library itself, 'I think we should try to read more, don't you think? Maybe we can figure out something from it.'
'I agree with Jennie, we really don't have all day and I crave a milkshake now. So the sooner we finish this, then I can go back to the house and actually make that milkshake. And if we finish this fast, I may actually be generous and make you one of my killer milkshakes. Everyone wants them.' Aaron winked.
'They are good I must add.' Jennifer agreed.
Raiden sighed. The sooner they would finish this business the sooner she would go back to the house and actually get some sleep.
Raiden turned the page again. The next page bore a new title with the same cursive handwriting.
The Schatten Gardien- since the beginning of time.
'Looks like we got a book of records now.'
Indeed we do. Raiden thought back as she lazily turned around the pages of the book.
The next lot of pages didn't bear much interest in any of the four people. Aaron and Jennifer just paused Raiden here and there to look at the various pictures of the people. She was about to turn the page when,
'STOP!' Jayden's sudden voice in the silence made her flinch.
'What the hell is wrong with you?' Raiden asked irritated with him startling her all the time.
'Look!' Jayden pointed to a picture. The picture seemed old and faded away but it seemed pretty familiar. - A man just in his thirties perhaps, with hazel brown hair and matching violet eyes. His skin was alabaster white and was dressed in a black three-piece suit. His eyes seemed aged as if he'd held this position for quite some time.
'Wait, isn't that...' Jennifer trailed off.
'Our principal.' Aaron completed.
'Holy crap.'
'That's nearly impossible; he looks exactly the same as he was this morning.' Raiden gasped.
'Look there's a newspaper article below it,' Jennifer pointed below the picture.
'Let's read what it says,' Jayden urge, 'maybe we can get something.
Sebastian Fred Gardien, son of Gregory Gardien, was newly appointed as the head of the Schatten Gardien after the death of his father; who, was tragically murdered by a rogue Sangre while trying to return from the human world.
The Gardien family is famous for its age-old service to the kingdom of Schatten by acting as the head of the Schatten Gardien for generations. Sebastian Gardien who recently graduated from the Schatten Academy is famous for his excellent academic record and various other services to the school. Kaelan Saisur commander of the Vampire Imperial Army, says,
'Sebastian has always been a favorite of the teachers here at Schatten Academy. Humble, modest, sincere, not to add his excellent ability in magic. I am very happy that he is appointed as the head of the Schatten Gardien now, I or the king would have imagined any other person in that place.'
As newly appointed Headmaster of the Schatten Academy, Sebastian Guardian says,
'Schatten Academy has always worked for the excellence and protection of our own people, allowing them to grow in an environment that will help them grow and that too among our own people. I may not be as great as my father once was, but I'll try to follow his footsteps.'
'Mr. Gardien,' one of our reporters asked, 'appointment of a new head of the Schatten Gardien includes the selection of a new council. Do you have anybody in mind?'
With a soft but hiding smile, he replies, 'Indeed I do.'
_________
'That's about it,' Raiden said as she looked up after finishing.
'Look at the date,' Jayden suggested, 'Let's see how old it is.'
'Yeah,' the others agreed.
Raiden looked at the top of the newspaper report.
5th July 1820.
'That's two hundred years back!! How the hell is the dude still alive?' Aaron gasped.
'Beats me, mate. Let's see if the book has any more surprises to offer.'
Raiden gingerly turned the page, not wanting to know what else the book had to offer.
To say that the four of them were surprised would definitely be a surprise.
'Holy crap!'
'What the fuck!'
'The hell is wrong with this book?'
'Are you kidding me?'