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Chapter 37
The festivities had yet to even begin and Zo was already on the brink of a nervous breakdown. Group Eight had been assembled but was held together by the thinnest of margins. Apart from the relationship between Ezabel and Dani, there was not a single friendly connection among them. Understandably, Zo was entirely overwhelmed and could see no other outcome from his predicament other than the total failure of Group Eight.
“P-please, let’s settle down.”, he stuttered with his paws held high. “You’ll have plenty of time to compete with everyone else, let’s not make it harder for ourselves now.”
“The spirit is right.”, Kieran replied. “Try not to get too worked up. You wouldn’t want to look like fools in front of the whole city.”
Even Ezabel, who watched as Gilford stood from his seat, took a step forward. Kieran was out of line and was a sore for the entire group. This circus was going to make it incredibly difficult to keep a sane mind throughout the trials. A drove of insults, perhaps even threats, climbed towards the tip of her tongue. Kieran was nothing but rude and despicable ever since she met him. If she wanted to make Group Eight function well, she would have to start by squashing Kieran’s pompous attitude. So, her lips parted, ready to fling as many sharp words as necessary.
“Group Eight.”, without warning, a keeper emerged from the crowd. Her eyes were stuck against a sheet of paper in her hands. “Are all members present?”
“Y-yes, yes! Everyone is here!”, Zo blurted out. It was his foremost hope to cut off any further exchange between Gilford and Kieran. Or, Ezabel and Kieran. It was clear that none of them were going to do any good if they continued.
“Very well, please proceed to the main gate.”
There was not much else for the Keeper to establish. He was clear and concise with his words to the point which he stepped immediately away after delivering them. The evening was busy and his role was to ensure that each group had been moved accordingly. Even if they were being a bit rowdy.
For some strange reason, the tension among the members of Group Eight had been diluted by the keeper’s watchful gaze. As if, it was a stark reminder of the fact that the Order was supposedly watching their every move. - Ezabel took a step back and recalled whatever face she made. Her chest rose and fell, a quick breath in hopes of soothing her irritation.
Even if the grumbles of dislike remained, they were significantly less harsh than their previous words. Kieran departed first, without a second glance at the rest of the group. Gilford followed, but only after a long distance had separated them. His fists loosened up and his head shook with disapproval.
“Okay then. S-shall we go?”, Zo turned his head. His beady eyes fell right atop Ezabel, Dani, and Hubert, all of whom looked back with equally hesitant faces. It was clear that the echo spirit was unsure of himself. Group Eight’s first meeting had gone completely awry. So much so that Zo looked to be getting dizzy.
“Sorry about that, Zo.”, Ezabel pulled her eyes away, embarrassed by her earlier outburst. She could not help herself. Even if she had only met Kieran several hours earlier, he already developed the ability to irk Ezabel without much effort. Even Gilford, who she literally traded blows with, could not anger her in the same way. It may have been a foolish thought, but she never would have guessed that there were going to be obstacles outside of the trials.
“There’s no need for that, Ezabel!”, Zo stated aloud, though still with a nervous tick. “Let’s all just cool down outside.”
°°
Ezabel had not realized it then, but the Grand Hall had grown far warmer than it actually felt. It was not until she stepped out into adjoining the ward that she noticed the heat rise off of her shoulders and into the evening air. A brisk touch of cold immediately sauntered across her neck and wove between her uniform. It genuinely felt delightful, more so than she thought the cold ever could feel.
It may have been due to the fact that it lifted her anger and supplanted it with the notion of exploration. She had not come to this side of the Grand Hall yet. And, she most certainly had not seen the Citadel’s main gate. Leland had taken her and Dani through another, far off route that was more akin to a backyard path than an official road. Excitement had finally returned, and it was most welcome after her encounter with certain members of her group.
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The main gate was several wards over. She could see its brightness in the distance that crested over the many rows of castle walls; an orange glow flickered and was hard to ignore. From it, her gaze lowered to the small flow of foot traffic that came from the Grand Hall and went through the stone walkways that led from it. They were early, comparatively. Ezabel could still hear the dense sounds of the crowd that waited in the hall behind them.
She followed the path, flanked by tall street lanterns that shone a wave of dim light against it. Kieran and Gilford had already disappeared ahead, which only served to pull at Ezabel’s curiosities. Were they supposed to remain together? Or were they going to be separated at the gate? It dawned on her then that she knew little of just exactly how their parade down the Windroad was supposed to go.
“Cold, isn’t it?”, Dani muttered beside her. She was shivering slightly and hugged her own arms.
“It is, but I’m supposed I’m used to it.”, Ezabel smiled. Alm was notorious for being subject to harsh winters. Luckily, she had grown accustomed to the sharp taste of a spot of cold. Ezabel kept walking, unbothered.
Still, it was surprising to see Dani in such a state. The uniform they had been given was highly coveted for many reasons. However, one of the least known or cared about aspects of their design was the certainty of weather protection. Rain or shine, cold or heat; the uniform was a bulwark against their stresses. So then, was Dani just overly sensitive to the cold?
“You’re lucky, I hope the walk helps me warm up! I think I’m going to die.”, Dani’s eyes were practically shut tight.
“Don’t die on me yet, Dani!”, Zo soared straight over her shoulder. “As your guide, I can’t let you go until you fail out of the trials!”
“I-I think she’s just exaggerating, Zo. No need to freak out”, Ezabel interrupted with a shaky smile.
“Oh. - Don’t scare me like that!”, he waved his paw at Dani, who could only nod. “This is the first time I’ve ever been chosen as a guide and I will not mess it up!”
“Your first time?”, Ezabel tilted her head his way as they continued down the walkway. “Congratulations, Zo. I’m glad that it was you in the end.”, she offered a genuine smile.
“Thank you, Ezabel. But, I need to make sure I do my job correctly before I accept any kind of gratitude. - I don’t deserve it yet!”
“So, what is your job, exactly?”
“I am the medium between Group Eight and the Citadel! I am here to relay any and all instructions on the trials. I’m also responsible for keeping everyone in this group ready and waiting as we go on!”, Zo quickly scratched his ear and folded it downward against his cheek. “Which reminds me.. There was something I was supposed to do before we reached the gate..”
“Does it have something to do with getting us blankets?”, Dani muttered, halfway close to a sneeze.
“It does not.”, Zo replied absolutely, unaware of the sarcasm shared. He was a little too preoccupied with making sure he did not do poorly on his first time on the job. “Oh! Your ranks! I need to know what rank each of you have been assigned.”
Ezabel’s eyes stretched wide. She had forgotten about her little insecurity concerning her rank. Was it genuinely something to be embarrassed over? She was not entirely sure. But, it was clear that she disagreed with her rank as a whole. For a moment, she hoped not to respond. But, Dani went first.
“I’m a 3rd Line Candidate. Whatever that means.”, Dani answered quickly, as if it helped her retreat back into the warmth between her dainty arms.
A sinking feeling took hold of Ezabel’s chest. Her legs moved forward, but she could not feel them in the slightest. Her gaze remained still and did not dare to look in their direction. Dani was ranked higher than she was? - Ezabel had never once thought herself above Dani since Angoulet. In fact, she believed that their capacities were quite similar. Dani was far more knowledgeable about spellcraft, but Ezabel was better trained thanks to Bastion and her brothers.
They each had their respective strengths. So then, why was she placed at the bottom of the Order? And, how was Dani determined to be a 3rd Line candidate? None of it made sense to her anymore.
“3rd Line, okay!”, Zo replied. In quick fashion, he floated over to Dani and pulled at her hand.
“What are you doing, Zo?”, Dani lifted it in response and leaned her head back some.
“I have to give you this!”, in an instant, the golden aura that seemed to always follow Zo, dimmed. It’s presence shifted off of his silhouette and passed onto Dani’s hand. Within seconds, a small mark was emblazoned onto the backside of her palm. It was, quite clearly, the crowned sigil of the Order. It shone with the pale light of the echo until it slowly dissipated from view.
“What was that?”, Ezabel looked on with a worried face. Even Dani pulled her hand back as if it was suddenly dirtied.
“It is a spell that will allow me to come to your side whenever I am needed! I am your guide afterall and I must be able to answer all of the questions that come.”
“Oh. - Well that’s useful. Why didn’t you say so earlier?”, Dani looked deep into her hand, right where sigil had been placed. But, not a single speck of flawed skin could be seen. It was entirely gone.
“Keep in mind that I can only do so on Citadel grounds! It won’t be of much use anywhere else.”
“Why did you have to know my rank?”
“I was asked to prioritize the help of those with more potential. - It’s what Miss Atalanta has ordered..”, Zo answered. His wide ears drooped and he hovered a little lower than usual. “ I have no choice but to listen. So, what about you, Ezabel? What is your rank?”
“U-um..”, she nearly tripped. The walkway was entirely even and expertly laid out. So, the only explanation was that Zo’s question threw her off balance. She had expected it. But, when it truly came, there was no part of her being that wanted to answer. It was embarrassing to say the least. For someone who spent the majority of her life obsessed with stories of the Order; someone who had two talented Attendant brothers, it was humiliating to admit her abysmal rank.
Was it, in truth, a bad rank? Ezabel could not say for certain. For all she knew, being a 4th Line candidate could simply suggest that she was a newcomer instead of the absence of skill. It could still change and she most certainly would do her best to see it rise. But in that moment, with Zo and Dani’s collective attention waiting for her answer, she could do nothing but walk away.
“E-Ezabel? Wait!”, Zo shouted as he floated after her.
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