In the night, he was tossing and turning, wrecked with guilt for the harm his friend had suffered, for the harsh treatment from his father, from the advice that his uncle had given him.
Just as his thoughts began to wander, he had fallen deep into sleep, letting the day’s fatigue claim him.
Morning came quickly for our young prince.
The door was being knocked.
A servant entered and with the usual greeting of “Good Morning, Your Highness”, Prince Kenius stirred from his sleep.
“Good Morning, Eve.” as he rose and sat up on his bed.
“School does not begin until dusk, where the ceremony is taking place.
Breakfast is ready down in the dining hall.
Shall I assist you for your morning preparations?” Eve spoke, waiting to be ordered.
“Its ok, you are dismissed.
I will dress up and head down for breakfast.
Get the food ready.
After that, get the carriage ready.
Tell the coachman that we are going to pick up my friends and head to school.” “At once, Your Highness.” Eve shut the door and went on to prepare.
The prince stood up and washed up.
He put on his school uniform and then, he saw the sword on the table.
He picked it up and attached it on his hip.
Once preparations are in order, Prince Kenius left the room and head down for breakfast.
At the dining hall, only Prince Kenius was eating.
Prince John had eaten way earlier and went for council meetings.
As he ate alone, the prince looked around and see only servants standing with absolute posture and waiting to see if the prince had any orders.
As he consumed his eggs and bacon, he washed it down with some tea and stood up.
“Is the carriage ready?” “Yes, Your Highness.” Prince Kenius took his items and walked towards the courtyard.
While walking towards the door, Headmaster Mensarius headed down from his room and saw the young prince.
“Your Highness, such an early morning?
You know the ceremony is only at dusk?” “Uncle, I am heading to the hospital wing, to visit Leo.
I am going to pick up the rest as usual first.” “I see, do give my regards to Student Leo.” Prince Kenius left and boarded his carriage.
He told the coachman to pick up Reginald and Jayzee.
Off the carriage goes.
One by one, his friends boarded the carriage.
However, no one was speaking.
The mood was gloomy.
They knew their friend got hurt.
Guilt and regret wrecked their hearts.
As the carriage pull up at the school, they left the carriage and headed straight to the hospital wing.
Upon arriving, they saw Leo’s parents, Lord Tigris and Madam Civerse.
Both greeted the Prince.
Leo, came from a noble family, as do the rest of them.
The families were close, hence, they knew one another.
“Your Highness, we heard about the incident.
Leo is -” “As the Prince, allow me to formally give you my apology for your son.
It was due to my idea that resulted in this.” Prince Kenius spoke as he bowed his head lightly.
As Leo’s Father tried to ask the Prince to lift his head, Leo woke up and spoke: “Its ok, its not as though I am dead.
I can still walk, talk, eat…
I will go for the ceremony today.
The doctors told me that they will bandaged up the burnt area.” His mother, Madam Civerse, then chide in: “You almost died, you fool.
And now my son has been disfigured!?
I hope you at least kill this fire nation being.” “Please be assured, Madam.” Reginald spoke.
“Headmaster Menarius beat it in a duel and has taken custody of it.
I think they are going to interrogate it today.” As they continued chatting away, in another part of the school, Mal’za’keeth remains binded in many magic circles and seals.
It began shouting and taunting.
“Release me and fight” “Who do you think you are?!” “When the great flame one knows about this, he will destroy this place!” “Dark heretics, there are no 7 elements, only 5!” Two teachers, acting as guards, could only suffer through this verbal abuse.
As the taunting continue, it began grating on one of the teacher’s nerves.
As the teacher began charging his magic, he raised his hand and took aim.
“Take this, you devil” and releases a bolt of magical energies at it.
As it flies, it was about to hit the flame devil straight in the head.
Suddenly, a black shadow hand came in between the bolt and the devil.
It absorbed the magical energies of the bolt as it dissipates into the air.
From behind, Headmaster Mensarius entered.
“We do not grant mercy to captives.
Death is such a reprieve.
It holds so much things to be desired.
Knowledge, power…
” As the headmaster walked in, the two teachers stood aside and greeted him.
Mensarius went up in front of the flame devil and looked at it before finishing his sentence.
“…
and a soul.” “What do you mean a soul?
Why is that of interest to you” Mal’za’keeth rambled on.
“As you know, the dark faction was more of a small cult in your time.
The first age.
Now, we are at the second age and the light host and dark faction has grown immensely and recognized as 2 more elements of the world.
This brings to 7 elements, all required to let the world remain balance, in other words, pillars.
The first human king of darkness created this flying fortress, Obsidian spire, that we are on right now.
However, he needed a catalyst.
The light has their faith, the 5 elements has their own, like fire can be created by burning wood.
What about the dark faction?
Then the first human king found it, the soul.
All the slain enemies, the dead, they all contribute back to the dark faction by the soul.
Its like fuel for us.
To power our floating city.
souls are harvested and kept.
However, we have dedicated teams to research on the properties of the soul.
It is the most interesting that one can experiment on.
Like a soul of light, being corrupted by darkness.
How much energy is converted, what is the output, can we combine it with things like weapons?” “BLASPHEMY!
The soul is given to us by the creators of this world.
It predates the elements.
Even the creator has a soul.
Yet you are taking it to power cities and weapons?!” The flame devil retort as it tries to summon his flames in anger, but the magic circle seals are working, preventing it from doing so.
“While we are using the soul, we understand frighteningly little of it.
Also, we do not have much samples.
A soul is something that can host the 7 elements.
Like what you said, the creator or maybe the planet, may even have a soul.
That soul could have manifested as the great dragon that ended the first conflict.
Does it mean that even the planet has 7 elements as well?
Imagine if this truth is proven and set upon the world.
Or what about an 8th element?
Imagine the possibilities.” As Mensarius spoke, his tone increased.
His face flushed, genuine excitement radiates from him.
The two teachers saw him and gave him a cough.
“Ahem” “Opps, I got a little carried away there.” Now, questions for you.
They began their inquiry.
Surprisingly, Mal’za’keeth was quite forthcoming and told them whatever they want.
It did not lie, or rather, it did not need to lie.
It is beneath a devil to lie.
Such prideful creatures would rather speak the truth, but tell it in a very convoluted way.
It not only frustrates the questioners, but the devil takes pride in their torment.
As time goes by, it was nearly time for the ceremony.
“I think its time to wrap things up.” Mensarius summons out his shadow demon.
“My last gift to you.
The time we shared today was quite interesting.
I look forward to learning more from you.” “Are you going to kill me now?
HAH, a devil never truly dies.
Kill me and I shall be re spawned in the great burning abyss.
I will let the Great flame one know about this place and we will destroy it!” “Two things.
Firstly, the great flame one of which you speak is the first firelord, but he is gone now.
Each of the 5 elements has a new sovereign now, courtesy of the great dragon.
Secondly, I am not going to kill you.” “I am merely granting you, Reprieve.” The shadow demon behind Mensarius lunged into Mal’za’keeth.
It is not like its tearing the flesh off it, but rather, the shadows are consuming the devil.
As the light of the world fade from its eyes, the flame devil is removed from the magic circle seals.
Then, Mensarius command the shadow demon to extract its soul.
As the shadow demon put its hands together, it began the process.
Mal’za’keeth was inside the shadow demon.
Its surroundings are pure darkness.
This is the end eh?
Nothingness.
Suddenly, a jolt.
Something is happening.
A pull.
Then, immense pain.
What is going on!?
The flame devil started burning and bleeding from its orifices.
As it writhes in pain, a small blueish substance seem to float out of the body.
As more of it came out, Mal’za’keeth felt pain right in its core.
Its existence is being called into question.
As it let out a final scream, a massive amount of blueish substance burst out and floated around.
The devil is dead.
Its soul in pieces, all around him.
Then the blueish substance began to fly off.
Back in the real world, from the palm of the shadow demon, the blueish substance, bits and pieces of it start to permeate out into existence.
It began reforming.
As it formed, it took the shape of an orb.
A blue flame burning orb.
Mensarius inspected the orb.
“What a beautiful soul.
I hope death came peacefully for you.” He stored the orb and passed it to one of the teachers.
“We are done here.
Lets go prepare the ceremony to awaken the talents of our students.
Clean this place up.” As the teachers clean up the place, Mensarius left and thought to himself.
“I wonder why a fire nation’s denizen is here.
Its ok, I suppose I will get all my answers in due time.
Shadow demon, begin absorbing the flame devil and adapt.” The corpse of Mal’za’keeth, in the bottomless pit of shadow in the shadow demon, was slowly consumed by shadow tentacles.
The shadow demon then sprouted two wings, and three horns at the top of its head.
Its skeletal frame seemed to have gain some mass.
Meanwhile, in Marshgrave school’s great hall, students have gathered.
This is a private ceremony where even the student’s parents are not allowed in.
It seems many years ago, when a student got a bad talent, the family was shamed and eventually driven mad.
They ended their own lives over the backlash.
Now, guardrails are in place.
Students attend the ceremony, but are bound by a contract seal.
They are not allowed to share the full name of their talent, unless to their families.
As student wait outside for their turn, they are guided into the room where 4 teachers will supervise.
At the center, a Soulstone, modified to grant talents, sit on a pedestal.
It was about an hour more to the timing of the ceremony.
Students have gathered.
The entire cohort of 18 year old, about 500 students for this session.
The prince is there, along with Reginald and Jayzee.
Leo will be joining later.
As they sat, others around them were discussing, hoping to get what talents.
Known and powerful, or rare and mysterious?
There were others cursing their friends on getting a lousy talent as well.
Then, a beast humanoid walked in with an entourage.
The group went forward and noticed the Prince.
Their leader went up and put his foot on the bench.
“Well well, if it is not Prince Kenius.
I heard a lot of things about recent events.
Like one of your friends getting scarred for life?” His entourage sniggered and laugh at his statement.
“Why, if it is not the Prince Jyggawulf.
The lowly dog of the werebeasts.
Do you still need a talent?
Aren’t you more than capable of transforming into a little puppy?!” Prince Kenius replied.
The Rivalry between the race of Human and Werebeast were on full display.
Two sons of the prominent races of the dark faction begun their clash.
Students murmur at the long rivalry between these two scions of their family.
“Maybe with you having a talent, you could have prevented the tragedy after all.
Alas, who knew that the Prince of Humans could show such stupidity?” Prince Jyggawulf taunted.
“Why those of the werebeasts, having an ability before having a talent, but cowers when there is real danger?
Your father, Prince Ryggatigris, famously ran from the battle no?
The runaway tiger.” Prince Kenius retorted.
“How dare you?!” As Jyggawulf raised his arm, a partial transformation seemed to have taken shape.
Fur grew out and claws as sharp as knives wants to draw some blood.
“Do not regret this!” Prince Kenius, pulled out the sword on his hip, preparing to block the blow and slash into its arm.
At the moment of impact, before the two clash, the bell rung.
It is time for the ceremony.
A teacher entered through the gate and told all students to take their seats.
“You got lucky, Punk” As Prince Jyggawulf reformed his arm back into a beast humanoid version.
Prince Kenius also sheathed his sword.
“Come, lets take our seat.” As the students settled down, teachers all started entering and taking their place.
Some stood around to watch the students.
Some proceeded to the soulstone to assist.
A couple of assistants brought out a lectern and placed it in the front of the hall.
“The Ceremony is about to begin, sit down and keep quiet.
Presenting, the headmaster, Menarius.” The doors opened, and the headmaster in full regalia walked in.
The Ceremony has started.