Few days later. Families, clans, tribes of the Humanes but not all, quietly stood in a lofty, artistically room one could see four great, glamour ancestral post in form of a armour figure supporting the construction of the large rectangular hall with watchful attention in respect to the ritual happening at the center of it amidst all these were the praetorian guards positioned in their dashing red suit of armor at every corner.
At the center, a elevated platform was seen as Great-grandmother standing with her face up in a light beige gown under a long chlamys around the shoulders down. Her black eyes reflects the new moon above the only opening central hole on the decorated roof as she chanted raising her old hands up high as her grey hair and wrinkled face slightly shook.
"The heavens declare this day, the earth witness this hour. Memories unto Memories, life unto life. Who knows the strongest force? Who has seen it? Who has feel it? Let today by the mixing of blood: by the fusing of two souls be as one as the previous owners of the Red-blooded armour in strength and in unity… "
"Sounds like we are getting married." Flavius whispered as he kneel with one knee and his upper body slightly lowered.
"Shh. Don't make a sound during the ritual." She whispered also in the same posture as Flavius in front of them was a large semblance armor in red not glowing stripes doubtlessly it was the Red-bloodes armor.
She's getting more bolder for a small girl like her. Ugh! having the gut to tell me what to do, what a girl! When this rite is over I promise, you will have a piece of me. He clenched his fist as his lips tightened a bit more while Great-grandmother walked up to him.
"Stretch forth your Palm." Great-grandmother said.
With no response, Flavius was fixedly deep in his thoughts of hostile towards his Cohort.
"Flavius… " the young girl whispered to him.
Huh! She dares called my name with that mouth of—
"Flavius!" Someone yelled from behind just as the Humanes in the hall were slightly startled by the deep voice.
Flavius turned, awakened by the deep voice, soon after his eyes widened. His father came and his mother near him in their fancy outfit as she happily waved at him with the most delightful smile a mother could ever give her son.
"Stretch. Forth. Your. Palm." Great-grandmother repeated calmly.
He blinked then glanced at the young girl kneeling near him, stretching her right palm while giving him the eyes to do so. Flavius swallowed then looked at his Great-grandmother. He immediately stretched his palm with his hand and the young girl's above the semblance armour.
Great-grandmother nodded with a quick smirk, brought out a blue-fire opal knife out of nowhere. A smooth slant cut on their palm which both the young girl and Flavius slightly grunted then the blood from the cut slowly dripped onto the Red-blooded armour laying under them after a deafening silence took over the large hall as the Humanes there were waiting for an outcome from the Red-blooded armor then suddenly the red stripes on it glowed for a brief moment enough for everyone to see.
Most Humanes in the room were relieved. Knowing Flavius was not a bastard for if he was it won't glow.
"Great! We have a new wielders of the EXTERMINATOR!" Great-grandmother cried in joy.
Flavius smirked.
Many celebrating moments later.
"Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!" Flavius said as he ran to his parents across many Humanes, standing at the left corner of the hall holding what looked like a lycurgus cup filled with drink in their hand.
"Quiet boy. You are not the only one in the hall." Timilehin said then he took a sip, suddenly his wife thrust her drink against his chest as he unconsciously held it almost spilling his own. She jokingly folded her fist then extended it at a distance between Flavius's mouth as though she was a reporter holding a imaginary microphone.
"How does it feel to be the new wielder of the EXTERMINATOR, Sir Flavius?!"
Flavius also jokingly answered as he cleared his throat, slightly sweating with the rush of happiness in his heart.
"Well… I feel just great… uhm… things like this call for celebration… uhm… I don't know what to say anymore. But I know this, the EXTERMINATOR will be the greatest in my hand… "
"Oh, come here my boy." His mother laughed as she grabbed him in-between her arms then playfully ran her hands through his darkened blue hair.
"Stop Mum, you would ruin my perfect curl hair." Flavius laughed while his Father groaned at the scenery then took a sip from his wife's drink. He rolled his tongue within his mouth and nodded with satisfaction at the drink about taking another sip.
"Is good to see you happy, Flavius." Someone said, approaching them.
Flavius and his mother stopped what they were doing.
"What's the problem, Naois Holland?" Timilehin spoke as he went to Naois's front still holding his wife's drink and his.
Naois Holland with a set of long curls over his forehead. He touched his jaw line under his mustache-squared bread, his potbelly slightly shown in his grand family attire then he bowed his head, lightly to greet Timilehin's wife then he responded.
"Nothing much, I came here to congratulate Flavius on behalf of the house of Holland." He waved his hand to Flavius filled with rotund piece of precious metals worn around each fingers—The house of Holland, the family who made the first contract as a Cohort to the EXTERMINATOR. However Naois was out to ridicule their failure having his son participating many of which failed to the young girl during the competition to be a Cohort but to his surprise the ritual was successful.
"At first when we didn't see the EXTERMINATOR glowing, we thought Flavius was a bastard— sorry I meant the girl—"
"What?!" Timilehin fumed as he wanted to make a move, then his wife stopped him. Looking around, most Humanes in the hall were staring to their way wondering what was going on.
"If you have nothing than that to say, please leave us as you can see we are in the middle of celebrating Flavius and his Cohort before you interrupted us." Flavius mother spoke as every precious metals worn on Naois fingers cracked. He'd knew it was a threat from a bristled mother to leave her family alone.
"Alright, Alright. I see." He smirked covering the fear of her potency—She has the ability to break any thing in her sight with just a look alone no matter how large or rigid the thing was.
"Talking about your Cohort, where is she? Have we forgotten the past when using a female Cohort. I know Flavius here agree with me. Ha. This year Cohort sets of competitors were such a joke except my son. Bye for now and congrats." He went the other way as his family followed.
*Sigh* Why do we still have this douchebag of a family in our meetings. Flavius mother thought.
She looked at his husband, she could see muscles flicking angrily at his jaw.
Geez, I forced him only to come down from the mountains and enjoy his son's induction and now this.
About touching her husband's shoulder.
Timilehin turned immediately, he stared into Flavius blue eyes.
"SON! Promise your father. That YOU will be the greatest wielder of the EXTERMINATOR no matter what!"
Flavius blinked, "but father it is what I've being saying—"
Timilehin put his hands on his son's shoulders.
"There is more. Promise me no matter what don't allow the past to repeat itself."
"The… past?" Flavius was confused.
"Yes, Flavius the past," his mother said, "The systems of female is far different from a male."
"System?"
"Yes, Flavius. There are big differences to the way your body works to that of the girl. Soon you will understand."
His mother continued. "So, you have just six years here to train. Let's hope the Humanes won't need the power of the EXTERMINATOR still then."
As she spoke distinct voices were heard from some of the family chattering.
"I heard we Humanes are at war with the Nymphs."
"Really? However we ain't united yet, so...?
"Yeah, I also heard, you know the one that called himself the King, his son caused it."
"You also heard?"
"Sadly the man with his wife died during the mayhem."
"Shut that mouth of yours. Don't you know the Caneloveft family declared him as their King with few other Humanes families within those forts they are constructing and also are you the only one that has ears in hearing bad news. They are all rumors.Tsk. The drink in your hand might have caused this."
"Six… years?!" Flavius said, not minding the words coming out from other Humanes' mouth within the hall.
"You don't know." Flavius mother asked as she collected her drink back from her husband.
Flavius blinked then he looked down.
"I was actually dozing off during the orientation." He muttered.
"Enough talking go look for the girl, try everything you can to support her." Timilehin advised.
Flavius swallowed, "Alright Dad, Mum. Bye."
"Bye. Fortunately your Father and I'll be here still next morning. Don't worry." Flavius mother assured as she watched her son happily running through the Humanes as they all congratulates him. Then she looked into her lycurgus cup. To her amazement it was empty.
Timilehin looked away as he whistled then he fully gulped down his own.