Rejoice, you have been made whole.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
During the presentation, Aurelius had unconsciously held in his breath without realizing it. Chills ran up and down his spine from the powerful music, leaving him in wonder. He was genuinely awed by the famous creation method that he had heard was unforgettable—it truly was.
Suddenly, Aurelius felt a powerful aura radiating from behind him. As he turned around, he saw the most beautiful female Angelous in existence walking toward the stage in the middle. It was his childhood sweetheart. He had known her since the age of six and seen her blossom into a musical genius and become the youngest Galactic Universe superstar. It had all happened too fast for him to understand at such an age. The next thing he had known, he'd seen her on billboards, holograms, and even children's lunchboxes. From then on, he had never seen her again; until now.
Long golden hair flowed naturally behind her like the river, and everything about her screamed perfection. Even her golden-white uniform gave her a shimmering, angelic look. Her clothes weren't revealing but seemed seductive in their own way. Brilliant sparkles of seven rare beautiful jewels decorated her neck, each one shimmering magically around her, amplifying her radiance. Her confident steps were soft and elegant; like nobility.
Even the wind danced around her in pleasure, welcoming her every step. No one uttered a word, and instead stood entranced by her beauty and power. She walked up toward the wooden steps and stopped at the podium. Brushing back her golden hair, she gave a gentle smile that could melt any heart. The light around her seems to dazzle around her, drawing everyone in.
"Hello, everyone." Dawn's voice rang out with purity, so much so that not one single person would dare to look away. "I'm Maestro Regis, or you can call me Dawn, the spokeswoman of today's initiation to adulthood and one of the eight overseers to your awakenings. I hope you enjoyed the memory of Creation." Dawn spoke with elegance. She paused for a moment as a sense of calmness enveloped the whole assembly.
Aurelius felt he was melting in his seat; growing more comfortable as the energy washed over him. He wondered if Dawn still remembered him, even though they hadn't met each other for six years now. The better question was if she still had feelings for him?
"With this, your baptism of awakening has started. I'm proud to say you have finally earned your wings to fly toward your new future. Your power has been in slumber for sixteen years, and now you have finally awoken to your full potential. You have all studied and trained hard to get to this point in life. With your final step unfolding before you, you are now able to grow and become who you are meant to be."
Dawn's voice became quiet as she drew in her breath. "New promising members will be added into our society to learn and grow. We will be dividing you into eight different groups, and each will go to their respective overseers who will help you with the process of awakening."
Aurelius squirmed in his seat, anxious to have his powers awakened. He had been looking forward to this day; to the day when he would finally be able to soar through the sky, flying with his pair of wings. Every day and night, he dreamt of flying freely without being tied down to the ground.
Dawn's voice cut clear in his mind, grabbing his attention. "The eight overseers are all highly-trained masters of the eight main elemental classes. Each master will teach you what you need to know throughout your training. By going to your respective overseer, you are considered a disciple of the element. You will train under that element for eight years of your life. By the time you graduate and want to learn other elements, you will be allowed to stay to master another. Our lives are long-lasting, and you'll find that these eight years will breeze through, and before you know it, you will be on to your next element."
The students seemed uncomfortable hearing of the long, arduous years of the task given to them. They didn't expect the training to be eight years for just the study of one element. Most of the students clearly expected to learn the elements quicker than that and didn't think much about it until now. When they heard the length and dedication, they all looked as if they felt a bit cheated.
Even Aurelius felt the amount of time spent on one elemental magic was quite excessive. It meant that to learn all eight elements involved spending sixty-four years in school. Not everyone could even learn that many in the first place because their natural affinity didn't allow them to, but that didn't stop the students from trying. They were considered immortal beings and time wasn't an issue. It was reasonable to stay at least eight years in school to learn basic magic. Everybody knew magic in some shape or form, but the length to master the magic was different for each individual.
"There is a total of eight main elements with eight Deviant elements that make up the world of Infinitas Infinitio, which protect us with its absolute barrier. The eight main elements are Neutral, Spirit, Void, Sound, Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. The Deviant magics, on the other hand, consist of Dark, Light, Electricity, Ice, Cloud, Wood, Soul, and Gravity. The world, as we know it, is one flower-like organism. It grows with the population that lives on the planet. We are fortunately gifted with new children every three hundred years."
Suddenly, the holographic magic swooshed across the field, showing off an image. Millions of different stars were shown like speckled dust, while one world glowed the brightest. A light gold, translucent, crystal lotus flower floated encased in light, surrounded by beautiful lily pads. The floating flower roots tangled in intricate patterns, reaching outward into space as the end tapered off into translucent gold bridges fading away. Sixteen small flower buds, half-opened, circled and continuously moved around into intricate barriers of infinite geometric patterns.
"We are the citizens of Infinitas Infinitio. We all come from different planets to learn, cultivate, and grow in this school. We are given the privilege to watch, guide, and protect the different species around the universe that are being born. This gargantuan task can't be done by us, which is why you are here in exchange to awaken—and become ascended."
The hologram twirled around in a circle and zoomed into golden flowers. The image grew until the hologram rested on the numerous giant flower petals. Each petal had mesmerizing buildings, sculptures, and mystical environment that made up the so-called "City of Beginning." In the center of the city was a sizable crystallized flower bulb that stood majestically; towering over everything else.
"Our king resides in all three locations, the first: the holy Garden of Choir, guiding us, planning new creatures, and keeping the universe stable. Using the power of the elements, we must transcend into an enlightened master that will assist the King in protecting the new worlds." Dawn spoke passionately, invigorating the others around her.
The hologram world faded, bringing back light into the room.
"With this in mind, your name will be written on the board on the left-hand side over there," Dawn directed the students toward dozens of blackboards with names written in white. "It will tell you who your overseer is for your awakening. Once again, I am glad that you all have taken the step to adulthood. Welcome you to your second life." Dawn bowed gracefully before the students and walked off the stage. Everyone's gaze followed her, though the crowd remained silent for a long moment.
Then an explosion of voices echoed at the same time, sounding excited at the prospect of awakening. At the same time, they were amazed that a Maestro was to be teaching in this school.
There were only a few Maestros in the whole universe, but Dawn was the youngest and most brilliant Maestro in existence. Nobody could compare to her. She had won numerous plaudits for being known universally as the number one face that represented the Maestro of Angelous race. Even her concerts were expensive, and most sought out tickets for shows that were sold out years in advance.
"I can't believe that was Maestro Regis. I am so excited that she was here!" Some of the girls in the audience chatted with each other, bubbling with excitement at her entrance.
"Maestro Regis is going to be overseeing our awakening. I expected no less from the world star singer and scholar. She's so dreamy."
"Wasn't she recently given the privilege to be the personal singer of the King?"
"I wouldn't be surprised."
"I heard the King spoils her rotten."
The students nodded in agreement with that statement. They knew that she was the favorite to the King; her voice was enchanting and easy to listen to. Even the speech made everyone shudder with pleasure because Dawn's cadence and intonations formed a magical symphony that put their weary and tired souls at peace.
Aurelius couldn't help but agree as well. "You know, I didn't expect Dawn to come here, especially being an overseer," he said to Lucian, wondering when he could listen to her speak once again. Aurelius was a die-hard fan as were so many around him. He had been following her music ever since she left to go on stage.
Lucian shrugged it off. "Whatever, there's nothing so exciting about her being our overseer today. Let's get this over with." He stood up and began to walk toward the bulletin board, not caring that he offended a few who were listening in on their conversation.
Aurelius frowned at his response, but he knew that Lucian didn't care. Lucian wasn't easily moved by her songs. Aurelius got up and followed behind Lucian, trying not to get trampled over by the excited students. They all wanted to know who they had as overseers because the majority of the students were hoping that they would fall under Maestro Regis' tutelage.
Even Aurelius hoped that the overseer he got was someone he liked, secretly wishing it was Dawn as well. Quickly, tracing down the long list of names, he scanned through. In bold letters, his name was under the Neutral Element: Overseer Tina. His brow furrowed, not liking who he had gotten. He should've known life would throw him with the infamous Tina.
There were too many rumors and truths mixed around with her teaching. She was not highly regarded in the school. Many didn't want her as a teacher because students were known to be harmed in some way.
He then searched and found Lucian's name under the Void Element: Overseer Torren. His hand moved in a silent up and down motion as he clasped his hands together, giving Lucian a silent prayer for the bad luck he had landed with. He shuddered at the thought of Torren. Torren was another infamous Overseer known for his cold and rough attitude, but that wasn't the only thing that differentiated him from the rest. Torren was also known to kick out students without a second thought because he didn't like them.
Aurelius had been hoping he would land a spot in one of the rare top elements like Void, Sound, Earth, Water, Fire, and Air, where not a lot of people were placed in. Neutral and Spirit were filled with Outsiders. They were a group of species that were completely different from Angelous and Daemons as they didn't go through the same awakening process. One could state that they paled in comparison with either Angelous and Daemons and were often seen as a lower intelligent species.
"I'm glad it's Torren!" said Lucian. Aurelius jumped from the voice that thundered behind him. He gaped at Lucian, wondering if his friend had hit his head a little too hard. Nobody liked Torren. His personality was considered to be even worse than Tina's.
"Why?" Aurelius asked, looking over at Lucian, his arms crossed in front of him. Torren was a difficult overseer to please. His teaching style was known to be extremely rough, while some called him inhumane in his methods.
Was Lucian a masochist? Aurelius thought. No, that can't be right.
"I heard he's not too rough when helping in an awakening, while Dorian is," Lucian said.
"You're saying that Dorian is better? Seriously, Dorian is considered a kitten compared to Torren." Aurelius was wondering where his friend had heard such strange rumors. He wondered if Lucian knew something that he didn't.
"Yes." Lucian shook his head, thinking over the choices that he was given. A calm, pleased smile spread across his face, dazzling the unsuspecting people around him. It wasn't often that Lucian smiled, which made Aurelius worried about his friend's mental health.
"I'm surprised that you landed in a Neutral Element," Lucian said, turning toward Aurelius as Lucian's smile slipped away. He looked at his friend quizzically, waiting for an answer. When Aurelius didn't give him a yes or a no, Lucian spoke again. "Are you sure you're an Angelous?"
A nagging feeling had been in the back of Aurelius' mind for a long time. There were times when he felt different, almost as if he wasn't at all similar to his Angelous foster parents, but such feelings were quickly stifled away back into his heart.
Even in elementary school, his life had been difficult, and it had resulted in Aurelius becoming a loner throughout his sixteen years of life. Making friends had never come easily, especially when he had a difficult time understanding their languages and cultures. There weren't many cliques that he could bond with, as his mind didn't sync well with others.
Aurelius took an unconscious step back, taking a good look around him. He felt small and alone. Already, he was feeling uncomfortable being there and started to walk away from the board. Lucian grabbed his shoulder, yanking him backward.
"Did I say something wrong?" Lucian asked with a concerned voice. He took a good look at Aurelius, searching for an answer in Aurelius' eyes. So far, a distant gaze was the only response, making Lucian even more worried.
"I don't think I'm an Angelous," Aurelius whispered. He ripped his gaze away from Lucian's as he looked down at the ground. It was a battle not to look up because the shame of what he had told Lucian was the truth that he had kept hidden in his heart.
"You're not?" Lucian spoke a bit too loudly as his voice boomed. People turned around to see what was going on as they gazed upon the two. Whispers filled the air, as others looked over questioningly at the two.
Aurelius felt uncomfortable with the heated looks that the people were giving him. He couldn't tolerate standing in the crowd any longer. With a snap of his arm, Aurelius pulled Lucian out of the group a bit roughly. Lucian tripped a few times, but his nimble footwork allowed him to stay balanced without falling.
Eventually, they made it out of the crowd and rushed toward a quieter sheltered area behind building walls, away from prying eyes.
"Shh," Aurelius motioned, raising one hand to his lips as he kept his other clenched on Lucian's shoulder. Aurelius wasn't too pleased at the attention that Lucian had brought. Having all those eyes staring made him uncomfortable, as if they were staring into his very soul, demanding answers from him.
Lucian shrugged off Aurelius, annoyed that he had been dragged away so roughly. Lucian straightened up and kept silent.
Aurelius let him go with a sigh. "Look. I just didn't want to tell anyone yet. I'm not an Angelous, Daemon, or a Djinn." He said it so softly that Lucian was having a hard time hearing his voice. Lucian just shook his head, as if not understanding, so Aurelius spoke one more time. "I'm not an Angelous, Daemon, or a Djinn."
"How is that possible? You have been profiled as an Angelous," Lucian said with a weary tone of voice. He searched Aurelius' gaze, as if trying to figure out why his best friend was saying this. Lucian didn't seem to believe it.
Aurelius wondered about his parents, who had passed away. Aurelius felt a chill from trying to explain everything.
"I was adopted into an Angelous family, but even then, I didn't feel like I completely belonged with them." Aurelius had never felt a true connection with his adoptive parents. He knew they weren't the same, but he still loved them. "I'm now even more sure I am an Outsider from the bulletin board."
"Family is family." Lucian cut him off. "Even if you are an Outsider, I don't think your past family would have seen you any other way."
"They said the same thing before they died." A soft smile of love spread on Aurelius' lips. He loved his parents and their acceptance.
"Just because these days support for Outsiders isn't too high…" Lucian sighed. "That doesn't mean much when going to school. Plus, do you think I care what you are? You're Aurelius, my best friend." Lucian elbowed him; the usual smug smile appearing on his lips.
Aurelius nodded, understanding what Lucian had meant. He was grateful for his friend and his support. As if on cue, a group of voices was heard from the corner of the building, disrupting their conversation. They glanced over, wondering what was going on. Aurelius walked over, peeking over the side.
"Scum." A small group of Djinns shoved a humanoid creature with bunny ears to the ground. Its fluffy tail and ears were pulled harshly by the Djinn.
With a yelp of pain, the humanoid bunny, an Outsider, curled up tightly into a ball. The humanoid bunny held up his hands to cover from the attack, while he was being pounded into the ground. The bunny was cowering on the ground, trying to hold off the beating from both the Djinn students.
Aurelius was appalled at what he had seen. He had heard about this distasteful act called "bullying" in the books but had never seen it until now. His stomach twisted into knots at this disgusting act; he felt a small fire burn in his heart.
Bullying was something that rarely happened and was quickly put out with strict discipline. The only reason such an act was even seen was that the new world residents brought this act from the outside world; taking their old habits along with them.
Aurelius stepped forward. His fist was curled up, ready to attack. He wasn't going to stand for this heinous act. But before he could run ahead, Lucian stopped him from moving any closer. He gave Aurelius a warning glare and shook his head, telling him not to stop it. With a forceful yank, Aurelius pulled away.
"What are you doing?"
Aurelius was angry at Lucian's actions. Lucian rarely ever stopped him from doing certain things, although this was one of those rare few cases. It wasn't that he didn't want to listen—but he couldn't stand what he was seeing before him.
"Don't," Lucian replied. "You know that they are a part of the factions that don't like the Outsiders. Making an enemy with them will just make your life difficult, especially when that group is Djinns. You know they have the worst tempers and the biggest supporter for banning the Outsiders from this world entirely."
Lucian tried to steer his friend away from trouble.
"You are a student council member; I thought you were against this kind of thing," Aurelius hissed.
"I am," Lucian replied, trying to calm his friend down, but Aurelius wasn't listening.
"This is unjust. We are all equal in this kingdom," Aurelius angrily replied. "The King has deemed it so!"
Lucian sighed, shaking his head. "No, the King had not stated that yet. You should know from history that the Angelous and Daemons were the first beings to be created side by side. One made from purely light and the other from the darkness. Then, it was the Djinns made from fire, and following that, there were many more. Recently some laws allowed Outsiders to reside in the city walls. There have been cases where the sinners fell out of favor because of crimes that were committed. Nowhere has there been a law, at the moment, that states that we are all equals."
Aurelius was shocked at the news that he had just learned, for he had thought that wasn't the case. He was usually oblivious to the political workings of the world for he didn't keep too close of an eye on it. He would hear bits and pieces through rumors or sometimes from Lucian's rants—if Aurelius wasn't tuning him out. But Aurelius knew that Lucian would have gotten the updated information first.
"But I heard that the King would eventually put such a law in effect this year," Aurelius countered. "These types of meaningless quarrels would stop then."
"You should know better than that. Even an event such as this won't change the minds of the people in one day. It took Angelous and Daemons almost a thousand years to finally resolve their differences. Who knows how long it will take for peace between all the races? This is history we are talking about. When such things happen, it takes time."
Aurelius pulled his hands back sharply. "Even still, we need to start somewhere. One change could make a difference."
Lucian went silent for a moment, breathing in deeply as he closed his eyes.
Aurelius watched Lucian; he could tell that Lucian was contemplating what Aurelius had just said. He knew that he had pushed Lucian's button, and he could feel he just needed one more push to show that staying hidden behind cover wasn't going to solve anything.
"Even when your adopted family passed away, their orders still stand to keep you safe from harm," Lucian said sternly. His counterargument threw Aurelius off. "Not to see you get hurt."
"Well, throw that obligation away. They're dead." Aurelius grumbled. He knew how difficult it was to sway Lucian's mind. He could see Lucian's distaste at the bullying that was happening before them, but he didn't act as quickly as Aurelius wanted him too. He clenched his fists tightly, getting frustrated.
Lucian became silent, frowning with sadness at what Aurelius had said. There was a hint of nostalgia and pain, gripping through out his body. He tightened up, scowling his lips into a thin line.
"Your mother and father adopted you and took care of you. They even saved your life by exchanging it with theirs when you were kidnapped at a young age." Lucian voice was low and threatening.
Aurelius cringed. He felt his heart twist and knot. He could never forget that night as it was like no other night. Blind folded, stuffed into a tiny wooden box, and carted away to who knows where. The stale air and animal piss lined against the inside were nauseating, while the crate walls felt as if they were closing in on all sides, getting smaller and smaller every time he was jostled around. At one point, he thought he would become a cube. Even the kidnappers' voices were low and rough, spewing out gibberish of some foreign language he could not understand. To him, their whispers were close to grunts and growls.
Eventually, the crate was thrown against the ground, and he tumbled inside, banging his head. Spots of colored lights decorated his eyes, making everything a blur. A loud crash, screams, shouts and anger, and even metal against metal was heard all around him, until finally he had heard his parents' voices. The crate had been pried open as the sweet smell of flowers drifted in the air, telling him that his parents were here.
Lucian gaze had locked onto Aurelius' bringing a wind of relief and excitement as Lucian helped him out. But as if a bolt of lightning strike down from the very sky, everything happened to fast. His parents had shrieked, and magic was cast in such cacophony that he couldn't tell from right to left as his eyes was still a blur from exiting out of darkness inside the crate.
Eventually, he heard his mother screaming to Lucian, telling him to protect him with his life. They ran. They ran until they could no more.
Why he was kidnapped, he didn't know. This question had always nagged at the back of his mind, but the only answer that he had gotten from.
"Do not disrespect their lives with such petty thoughts." Lucian hissed. "I was there when they said to protect you with my life. It is an honor and a privilege to be given such a task by someone of their caliber. We Daemons never go back on our words."
A distraught cry brought both of them back.
Lucian grabbed Aurelius' wrist and shook his head.
"Let go."
"No, this is not your problem."
"Just because you've been my bodyguard and friend doesn't mean I can't go stop bullying that's happening right in front of me. You don't like to see such things too!" He said, raising his voice.
Aurelius knew that Lucian would deal with this problem in his way, but he wanted it to stop now. The yell of the rabbit Outsider riled his very soul, ushering him forward. Aurelius started to rock back and forth, looking at Lucian and back toward the scream, which told him that the Djinns weren't going to stop anytime soon.
"You don't know that, and you are my priority. Not the Outsiders, but you." Lucian repeated, poking Aurelius in the chest.
"I can take care of myself. Plus, I am an Outsider." Aurelius stressed the last word, pushing Lucian's hand aside.
"That is still to be confirmed," Lucian snapped back; he was getting angry at Aurelius' words. He folded his arms across his chest with a sound of displeasure in his voice. "Your fighting ability is below average, and you expect to win against one of the elites? Didn't you see their emblems on their shoulders?"
Aurelius wasn't sure what he was talking about. He turned toward the group, squinting toward where Lucian was pointing. He glanced at the group, realizing what Lucian had meant. "You don't mean the black flower patch?"
"Yes. The House of Black. The highest apprentices to the Order of Knights that serve directly under the council member Black. Pick a fight with them, and you're picking a fight with the council himself."
Aurelius' eyes turned wide. He wasn't sure if he should be afraid or angry at hearing that the apprentices were using the Knights' name to condone such atrocious behavior. Instead, this fueled his rage even more as he clenched up his fist harder into a ball.
Without a second thought, Aurelius yanked his hand out of Lucian's grip. He bolted around and sprinted toward the bullies. Lucian's hands missed grabbing onto Aurelius' shirt, and in a flash, Aurelius was onto them. A flying fist soared toward a male Djinn and hit him squarely in the face. In that moment of surprise, Aurelius used the opportunity to do a spinning kick to the other male—his foot connecting on their chin and body as both crumpled onto the ground in pain.
The third Djinn quickly stepped back and was on guard in a matter of seconds. Flames burst from his hands, causing Aurelius to momentarily hesitate. The Djinn anticipated his next punch and he was ready to counter. Another Djinn came from the right, a fist flying toward Aurelius' face. He saw the incoming hit, but his body wouldn't listen. He couldn't dodge the imminent attack and braced for impact, knowing full well that it was going to hurt.
Lucian's hand appeared out of nowhere, catching Djinn's fist. He disabled the other two in two strikes. They crumpled onto the ground, unconscious. He stared down at the remaining Djinn with a glare on his face.
"You idiot! You knew I would jump in!" Lucian roared. He pulled Aurelius away from the scene, leaving the bodies behind in a hurry. "You need to get out of here. Now!" Aurelius could hear a pitter-patter of feet, heading toward their direction. He knew that the others were coming.
They ran fast and hard, mingling back into the crowd of students. Slowing down, so as not to be caught, they walked at a steady pace past many buildings. Aurelius tried to act natural, and he attempted to control his heavy breathing as much as possible. He placed his hands on a nearby wall to brace himself.
Even Lucian was bent over, trying to catch his breath. They hid against the wall as they heard the pitter-patter of footsteps pass by them in a hurry.
Aurelius held his breath, pinning himself firmly against the back of the trash bin. He could feel his lungs quiver, trying to get a breath. Silence followed, keeping them both on edge, until finally the footsteps disappeared. A heavy sigh escaped his lips, allowing him to breathe. Slipping down onto the ground, he looked up at Lucian.
Lucian started to loosen up. He chuckled despite himself, eventually bursting out laughing, startling Aurelius. Curiously, glimpsing over at Lucian, Aurelius wondered why his friend was laughing so hard.
"Are you okay?" Aurelius peeked over at Lucian, worried that something was wrong with him. Aurelius shifted around nervously. He hadn't heard Lucian laugh so heartily in a very long time, so hearing it made it feel him a bit uncomfortable.
Lucian wiped his tears and turned toward Aurelius. "You truly are one of a kind."
Aurelius wasn't sure how he should take that comment, mostly because he indeed felt as if he was truly the only one of his kind.
"This is why I can never get bored of you." Lucian cleared his throat and straightened himself up. "Don't ever do that again. You are not some kind of superhero, so leave it to someone more capable of handling that kind of situation without resorting to fighting. You'll only get hurt, and the consequences would get worse. Use your mind instead." Lucian tapped Aurelius' forehead.
Aurelius was about to say something out loud but was caught off guard by Lucian's words.
"There are hundreds of different ways to make people like them pay for their crimes without shedding a single drop of blood." Lucian spoke sharply, almost growling under his breath.
Aurelius couldn't help but agree with him silently. He was brash, but he believed he had done the right thing. He might be lucky enough that they might not remember him.
"It was the only option at the moment," Aurelius quickly replied. He wasn't fond of being scolded like a child. This brought back sad memories that he didn't want to remember.
The only reason he was able to stay in the small cottage was because of Lucian's help and influence. Without his foster parents' tight connections to Lucian's family, Aurelius probably would've gone back to the orphanage and lived his life there until his initiation day.
Lucian sighed and poked Aurelius harder in the head a couple more times. "Think smarter. What is this brain for? What have you been doing these past years? You've been letting it rot, haven't you?"
Aurelius whacked Lucian's hand away from his head, annoyed at Lucian's persistent poking. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't do that."
Lucian smiled, "You know this better than anyone else. Well then, let's get this initiation over with. I'll see you when the process is over."
Aurelius nodded. "The usual spot next to the fountain?"
"You got it. You better pass. I'll be sad if you don't." Lucian snapped his finger. They walked toward their destination.
Aurelius followed behind, thinking about how the rabbit Outsider was doing, but his thoughts were quickly swallowed up with the trials ahead. The test for the initiation was held in one of the eight small buildings around the campus ground, and they didn't want to be late. When both finally came to the middle of the campus, they split ways.
"Don't worry. I'll pass with flying colors." Aurelius tried his best not to show that he was worried. His mind was in turmoil. Every step was heavy, and he scraped his toes on the floor as he trudged forward toward his destination.
He faked his confidence to not show to anyone near him. It was hard but doable.
What if I don't get wings?
No Outsider would receive a pair of wings; something like that was limited to the Esequi Nuntis race. Aurelius stewed and ruminated. If he really was an Outsider, the dream of flying was impossible. He felt a wave of depression and nausea wash over him; the thought of getting tested was now something that he dreaded.
Even so, Aurelius headed toward a small secluded area where the initiation would begin. There were large plants that cradled the environment creating a small cove—magical blue lantern plants dangled from the ceiling wall in intricate spiderweb designs.
It was a beautiful serene place where large groups of students relaxed around the circle. They waited patiently as their names were called one by one. He slunk in between two students, waiting for his turn to be called up.
Every one of them was Outsiders. Not a single Angelous, Djinn, or Daemon were present.
They looked over when Aurelius entered, making him freeze for a moment. For a second, he felt a sense of connection with the other students that were all anxiously waiting.
Eventually, they got disinterested and turned back toward the previous Outsider that was being tested as they waited for their name to be called up. They didn't know what to expect or what would happen when their turn came up. Each of the student's reactions to the magic circle was different; some screamed out in pain, others had a look of bliss, and some didn't even make a peep and merely sat still throughout their whole process.
Will I pass? I don't know if I'll have a similar awakening like a Daemon, Angelous, or a Djinn. Maybe I'll go through a spiritual awakening instead?
Aurelius couldn't stop thinking about what could happen throughout the process and the possibility of not getting wings. He wanted to continually fit in with whatever past that he had left. This initiation shook his very world as the cliques were more apparent compared to when he was just a kid. Not only that, he hoped that he didn't have one of the painful ordeals like three-fourths of the other students that he had seen so far had faced.
Time was ticking.
Aurelius started to shift uncomfortably, looking for any proof of time passing. He found nothing, making him return back to rocking back and forth.
The other Outsiders' screaming didn't help his situation at all. He bit his lower lips, and lightly sucked on it. It only made him feel even more anxious than before. It was like he was hearing some kind of torture device that made all of them go through a horrible, painful experience.
What if I don't even awaken? What next?
Another jolt of dark thoughts crossed his mind, making him even more worried. Those with no magical energy were considered the lowest of the low in the universe and were seen as defective. It was rare for someone to be a defect, and it didn't happen often. It was thought that only one in a trillion people were without magic.
"Aurelius. Please come forward," Tina called out toward him. She was reading off the names of the next students on her paper without looking up. She was too busy scribbling some information down on the paper itself. With a click, she called him again when she didn't hear him moving.
Too engrossed in his thoughts, Aurelius didn't know that his name had eventually been called out. He had missed the rapid shrinking of the group's size and how he was one of the last individuals left.
"Aurelius. Please come forward," Tina repeated; a bit impatient that Aurelius wasn't moving.
Aurelius jolted up, looking over to see Tina's frown.
Tina was a tall, young Angelous with blonde hair that was worn tightly in a bun over her head. Her blue eyes were shockingly icy, staring into his very soul. Her long uniform covered most of her figure, but when she moved, one could tell that she had a fit figure.
He froze. His heart was beating so fast that he thought it would burst out of his chest or maybe even crawl up his throat. Not only that, his feet felt heavy, making him sluggish and sick. Even trying to lift up his feet was a struggle. He just couldn't move forward.
What was laid before him was a large magic circle that he had never seen before. If he weren't so engrossed in his thoughts, he would've paid more attention to what the other students were doing. As it was, Aurelius had no clue about what he was supposed to do.
"Y-yes?"
"Please move forward," Tina said again, clicking her pen a few times.
Reluctantly taking small steps, Aurelius began to move forward toward the direction of the circle. It was a stifling walk. He knew where he needed to go, but his body fought against his mind as if it was telling him to run away. There was a constant warfare between his mind and his body that he knew he had to win. This was what he had been waiting for his whole life; he just needed to take that one step to get to where he needed to be.
But what if I don't get what I wished for; what if I'm just another defect?
He couldn't help but continue to think of these negative thoughts; it took a good three seconds to control the rampant spiral that he was going through. With a deep breath, Aurelius took the last step and arrived on top of the magical circle.
See, it wasn't bad.
Aurelius chastised himself. He felt stupid for even thinking such depressing thoughts and grinned in satisfaction as he waited.
Tina walked over. She clicked her pen one more time, before she stashed it away in her pocket.
"Aurelius. Let the light of the world guide you and let the darkness cloak you from enemies' eyes throughout your life. Let destiny bring out who you are meant to be. May the Great Spirit protect you." Tina finished her speech. She stood back and knelt before the magic circle on the north side. She then bowed her head and clapped her hands into a prayer.
Aurelius stood frozen in place, his body started to tense, anticipating for whatever was going to happen next. His hands lightly ruffled the edge of his clothes; waiting impatiently for whatever to come. The seconds stretched into hours as the ritual began.
A soft humming sound could be heard all around him, and the wind began to lightly blow across his face. The trees and plants rustled, while a sweet smell of honey drifted up from the ground, stinging his nose. A ray of light beamed downwards overhead, tingling his olive skin bringing warmth.
The magical sigil on the ground glowed light blue, and the wind around Aurelius intensified. A high-pitched sound entered into his head, and it began to grow louder and louder. His vision blurred, making him dizzy. With a few stumbling steps, he tried to catch his balance.
What is going on? Is this normal?
Aurelius didn't know. All he could do was stand, trying not to fall even further onto the ground. The ground started to sway as if he was on ship in a thunderstorm. He could almost hear the bashing of waves on the ship itself.
An explosion of sharp, throbbing pain in his forehead came next, drumming in a steady beat. His back burned. It was as if someone had poured scalding water down his back, burning every inch of his skin until it healed, leaving behind a flaky skin that made him itch. Even his fingers raked against his back, trying to reach, leaving behind a trail of blood, but to no avail—there was no relief. Large beads of sweat began to drip down his face and onto the floor. Breathing heavily, his chest tightened, making it difficult to breathe.
Static electricity appeared around him, creating an array of chaotic energy. Tina's aura of energy appeared around her in a blazing inferno, trying to tame the chaos. It was a battle between might, mind, and spirit—and only one side could win. Aurelius could see that she wasn't winning, as the power was overcoming her rapidly. He was almost devouring her; pushing her onto the ground in a kneeling position.
"Ma'am! Something is wrong!" One of the concerned students yelled out. They shuffled around nervously with fear in their eyes at the flickering chaos.
"We got to help him!"
"Move back!" Tina yelled out, though her eyes were still closed, and a substantial amount of sweat began to bead on her face. "If any of you gets too close, you're going to get the backlash!" She couldn't stand up nor move, and she could only just keep the power in check.
The chaotic electricity turned black, each arc forming into a dagger that whipped around her. Hundreds of small cuts appeared on her body as she tried her best to stabilize the situation, but the chaos was quickly becoming too much to bear.
Aurelius felt a tingling feeling gripping his throat, forcing him to breathe hard. He screamed at the top of his lungs as he fell face forward and crumpled into a ball. The searing hot pain on his back was mind-numbingly painful. Even over that agony, Aurelius thought he felt thousands of small bugs running and squirming under his skin, trying to burst forth. A shocking pain pulsated all over his body; creating a wide array of black electricity to whip around the crowds and hammering the people nearby.
"Someone, help him!" a woman's voice called out in desperation.
Aurelius' heartbeat began to stammer erratically, intensifying the pain in his back. The pain started to grow, almost to an overwhelming point, as his hands trembled and his vision faded in and out, making it impossible to see through the blur.
Each time he opened his eyes, a new scenario played out before him.
Sixteen beings descended from the sky: eight with pure white and eight with dark brownish-black. Each glowed with their respective power, surrounding them ominously as the energy flared to life.
After a final burst of pain, he felt relief. The irritation in his back disappeared, and a numbing pain washed over him as a wave of calm came over him. He couldn't do anything but lay still on the floor covered in sweat. His muscles wouldn't listen, his mind was exhausted, and the only thing he could do was blink a couple of times before the exhaustion overtook him.
"Aurelius. Aurelius. Aurelius!" a young man's voice called out as the voice faded.
Aurelius couldn't open his eyes to see who it was. Darkness swept across his vision, and he blacked out.