In The Lower Level If The Secluded Building, The Ritual Begins!!!
The Halls Of The Underground Dimly Lit With Torches Igniting As Amaya Walks Down The Hall Holding Selene In Her Arms, Selene's Cries Sound Throughout The Hall…
Amaya's Footsteps Loud As She Finally Reaches The Big Room Filled With Sigil Magic All Around…
Sachiko(Uneasy): We're Ready To Begin.
Amaya(Curious): Something On Your Mind, Sachiko?
Sachiko Stay's Silent A Moment Before Responding, As The Tension Rises In The Room.
Sachiko(Shakily): I… Um. I Just Think That We Shouldn't Do This Ritual, Selene's Still A Newborn And Aaliyah Is Only Fourteen And You Alongside The Grand Elder Forced Her To Give Birth At Such A Young Age…
Sachiko(Shakily): Do You Even Care About Your D-
Amaya Slowly Walks Up To Sachiko, Her Footsteps Fill The Room With Even More Tension As Sweat Begins Racing Down Sachiko's Face.
Amaya(Ominously): It Would Do You Better To Just Mind You're Own Business And Not Question Me, Girl.
Amaya Places Selene Down On A Soft Cushion As Sachiko Reluctantly Walks Over To Grab A Sigil Magic Tag And Places It On Selene's Forehead…
As Amaya Begins The Ritual, The Fire From The Torches Around The Room Flicker As Amaya Recites The Incantations…
Amaya(Chanting): By The Blood Of Our Ancestors… By The Pact Forged From Hell, Grant This Child The Power Of Demons… Come Claim Your Vessel.
Amaya Then Cuts Her Hand As Blood Drips Out And Onto The Sigil Seal On Selene's Forehead, Which Causes The Sigil To Glow An Ominous Red Hue…
Selene Cries Out, In Both Fear And Pain…
for A Brief Moment, Selene Falls Silent, Her Tiny Body Going Still. Sachiko's Heart Skips A Beat.
Sachiko(Eyes Squinted,Thinking): "Selene…"
Then, With A Jarring Wail, Selene Jerks Awake… Her Eyes Glowing With A Faint Red Hue As The Demon Power Settles Within Her. The Ritual Then Completed…
The Sigil Fade, The Torches Steady, And The Room Falls Into Complete And Unsettling Silence.
Amaya Steps Back, Her Eyes Cold And Indifferent. She Looks Down At The Newborn, Her Task Finished.
Amaya(Calmly): It Is Done. The Power Of The Demons Now Flows Within Her Veins.
Sachiko Remains Frozen, Trembling As She Watches Selene. The Baby's Cries Have Subsided, But Her Eyes, Still Tinged With Red…
Seem To Stare Into Something Far Beyond This World.
Amaya Turns Around Walking Towards The Exit…
Amaya(Coldly, Without Looking Back): Take Her To The Clan's Main Household… I'll Be Meeting With The Elder Now.
Amaya Walks Out Of The Room… As Sachiko Approaches Selene And Picks Her Up…
Sachiko(Thinking): I Hope You're Right Aaliyah..
Sachiko Wraps Selene In Blankets As She Holds Her In Her Arms…
She Walks Out Of The Room And Closes The Door.
**Thirteen Years Later**
Many Years Later… Selene Now Thirteen Years Of Age, Living Under The Main Household Of Their Clan…
Today Is The First Day Of Her Enrollment Into The Sorcerer Academy.
Selene Now Donning A Black Scarf Around Her Neck With Her Black Hair Tied Up, And A Black Cape On Her Back Stands At The Entrance Of The Household Alongside Amaya And Sachiko.
Amaya(Stern): Selene… Today Marks The First Step In Your Destiny. The Academy Will Teach You Many Things, But Always Remember— You Are More Than Just A Student. You Are A Weapon, The Pride Of Our Clan.
Selene(Hesitant, Thinking): "A Weapon…?"
Selene Clenches Her Hands Nervously At Her Sides. Though She Has Heard These Words Countless Times, They Always Seem To Carry A Weight That Suffocates Her. Her Chest Tightens As Amaya's Sharp Eyes Glance Down At Her…
Filled With Expectations Selene Isn't Sure She Can Meet.
Sachiko(Softly, Stepping Forward): Selene, The Academy Will Be Challenging. But You Are Strong. Never Forget That.
Sachiko Places A Gentle Hand On Selene's Shoulder, Her Eyes Filled With An Unspoken Worry. Selene Feel's A Brief Sense Of Comfort…
But It Quickly Fades Under The Intensity Of Amaya's Gaze.
Amaya(Interrupting, Coldly): Enough Coddling Her Sachiko. Strength Isn't Given. It's Earned. And You…
Amaya's Gaze Directed Toward Selene.
Amaya(Coldly): You'll Have To Prove Your Worth Just Like Everyone Else.
Selene(Internally, Nervous): "Worth…? What If I Can't…?!
Selene's Heart Pounds As The Words Sink In… Deep Down She Knows Her Grandmother Has Never Seen Her As Anything More Than A Tool For The Clan's Ambitions— A Vessel For The Demon Power That Was Forced Into Her Veins.
Amaya(Turning To Leave): "You Know What's Expected Of You. Don't Disappoint Me."
Without Another Glance, Amaya Turns Away… Her Cold, Detached Figure Vanishing Into The Household. Sachiko Stay's Behind, Watching Her Leave.
Then Her Expression Softens When She Turns Back To Selene.
Sachiko(Gently): Selene, No Matter What Happens Today… Remember That You Don't Have To Be The Person They Nor Anyone Else Wants You To Be.
Sachiko(Softly): You Are More Than The Power They Have Placed Inside You!
Selene(Nervous, But Nodding): I'll Try…
As A Tear Drops Out Of Selene's Eye, Sachiko Wraps Her Arms Around Selene Pulling Her In For A Warm Embrace…
Sachiko(Smiling): You're Mother Loves You Selene… Don't Ever Forget That.
Sachiko(Smiling): And…
Sachiko Holds Selene Tighter As She Tells Selene Words She's Never Once Heard Before, Not Even From Her Own Grandmother.
Sachiko(Whispering): I Love You Selene.
Selene's Eyes Widen… As The World Around Her Seem's To Disappear.
Selene(Sobbing): I… I Love You Too Auntie!
Sachiko Slowly Pulls Away Slightly, Brushing The Tears From Selene's Face.
Sachiko(Smiling): Look Up In The Sky Selene…
Selene Looks Up Into The Sky As The Moonlight Reflects Upon Her Face…
Sachiko(Smiling): There Are An Infinite Number Of Stars In The Sky… And Out Of All Of Them. You Are The Biggest And Brightest One, The Moon.
Sachiko(Smiling): Whenever Things Get Too Hard For You… Think Of Me, You're Mother And Look Up At The Moon.
Selene's Smiles As A Newfound Sense Of Determination Makes Its Way Into Her Heart And Soul.
Selene(Nodding): I Will!
Sachiko(Smiling, Holding Back Tears): Now Go… Face Today With Courage. Never Lose Sight Of Who You Are.
Selene Nods, Wiping Away The Last Of Her Tears… But The Nervousness Still Lingers. She Adjusts Her Scarf, Taking A Deep Breath As She Walks Forward. Hours Later She Arrives…
The Academy Gates Stand Tall And Imposing Before Her, Representing Not Just A New Chapter But The Weight Of Her Family's Expectations.
As Selene Begins Walking Through The Gates, Her Footsteps Feel Heavy, Each Of Them carrying The Uncertainty That Churns Inside Of Her.
With A Deep Breath, She Steps Forward… Uncertain But Ready To Face Anything That Comes Her Way.
To Be Continued In Part III…