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Chapter 45
When the candidates made their way down to the base of the quarry, it became fairly evident that it had not been used as one for a long time. There was nothing left that distinguished itself from the solid rock that made up the entirety of the mine. Only the immense crystal at its center could boast a sense of uniqueness.
As Ezabel lingered among the crowd, she could not help but stand clear of the crystal. She could not even offer a genuine glance in its direction. It was her intention to avoid it altogether for the sake of remaining sane. Her first encounter with it had seen her nearly falling apart. If Ezabel wanted to continue on through the trials with a level head, she would need to make sure that ‘episode’ did not happen again. - She did not know what it was or why it happened. The image of the void and the screaming of unknown voices made her cringe in panic.
Above all, she did not want to experience the inability to control her own body ever again. It was a frightening sensation to exist in her own self as a spectator, forced to witness whatever it was that her body was subjected to. Never again, never again. - Her hair slipped from behind her ear and fell against her cheek, covering the right side of her view, just where the crystal loomed over them.
Ezabel despised the fact that she was avoiding an obstacle. But, in her own defense, it was something entirely foreign to her. The crystal and its influence were completely unknown to her, but it already made its mark on her. What else could she do but hope that it stayed out of her way? It felt as though it pierced through her, watching as she followed the crowd around the quarry. Its presence was like a weight that pulled down harshly on her shoulders.
In time, the town guard had herded the candidates into a small clearing beside the crystal. Laid through it were racks of equipment not at all dissimilar to those of the training yard in the Citadel. It was there that the crowd began to disperse. They walked slowly between the racks, eyeing their offerings and scratching at their heads. Each stand was about five feet tall and teen feet wide. A variety of equipment, courtesy of the Order, was displayed out in the open; free for anyone to inspect or wield.
Most abundant were the shining pieces of weapons and armor. Understably, they garnered most of the crowd’s attention as they wandered the spread. They glistened under the light of the crystal and absorbed its pale glow for their own. It would not be a mistake to assume that most everything here would be of a ridiculous value on the market. So, it was immediately clear to all that this was a spread placed by the Order as part of the ceremony.
Ezabel walked through a wide aisle where equipment stands were propped up on both sides. Be it an amalgamation of logs or a flat board, they came in various shapes. And, Ezabel raked her gaze through every single one. Was she supremely interested in the presence of such pristine tools? Of course she was. However, it was not the reason for which she dug her gaze into the stands. She used them as a distraction; they were another topic with which she could distract herself. Especially now that she stood so close at the base of the crystal.
Dani and Hubert were not far behind her. They paced in her wake and gave passing glances to all of the tools around. Their minds danced between the need to know the details of their circumstance, and the need to make sure the Ezabel did not wander off alone. It would not bode well for Ezabel if she were to collapse again outside of their watch. So, their heads flipped from rack to Ezabel until they finally caught up to her slightly quicker pace.
“I dont’ think I’ve ever seen something like this in my life. It’s like an army encampment.”, Dani commented aloud. Finally, she was able to slow her pace and allowed her eyes to wander.
“What do you think all this is for?”, Hubert replied. There was trepidation in his voice, passively trained at the weapons that hung from the stands. He knew that he was physically weak compared to most of the other present candidates. And, the presence of a weapon or two implied that combat was near. He could only think back to the earlier part of the day, where Gilford completely overpowered him in a duel. It was a sting in his chest. It could very well happen all over again, with anyone he fought. His hands trembled at the thought of picking something up off of the racks.
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“I’m not sure. - There’s so much here, even more than there are candidates.”. Dani scanned the scene. The racks spread out far from the crystal and among them was a sea of her peers that moved sporadically between. Many of them had picked up several pieces of equipment. They were far too enticing to be left alone. Some waved weapons around in the air, testing their balance and confirming their quality. Others made attempts at wearing certain armor plating, just to see if they fit. Or, how difficult it was to put on.
Barring their respective self-training, it was clear that the majority of the candidate class had little to no experience with equipment of this caliber. Then, there were the sponsored nobles who walked the aisles with high chins and low gazes. It was safer to assume that they were privy to a far more comprehensive understanding of the presented tools. Afterall, many of them were provided training by real Attendants. Fair or not, it was paramount for those with less experience to watch the sponsored candidates and absorb their reactions.
That was the common piece of sense. Yet, Ezabel did not even consider doing any of it. She merely walked the equipment spread for the sake of walking it. If everyone else did so, then so would she. Especially if it was getting her further away from the crystal at her back. Her head was downturned and her hair cascaded below her chin. Despite her lowered gaze, she spotted a wide, wooden dais on the far end of the spread.
It was quite clearly made of wooden boards and fashioned together much in the same way as a common town center’s public platform. Standing on top of it were a pair of Attendant Knights that watched the crowd with care. They stood on each flank and were covered in their signature white cloak. It hid away their garb and most of their entire silhouette. It was their faces that could be seen as they were the only pieces of them that stood out of the cloak.
Even so, they were still a little too far away for Ezabel to see clearly. Only their white, tall shapes could be seen. Though, it was never in doubt that they were Attendants. - After the candidates had spent some time dispersed among the stands, a third figure stood atop the wooden platform. Ezael watched with careful enthusiasm. Something was about to happen. There was gravity around his man; a sense of power that established itself with his first step onto the boards.
At once, Ezabel made the effort to step between the racks in order to get closer to the platform. She took a path straight through the makeshift aisles, shifting her body every which way in order to fit. Was she in a rush? Not quite, but it would be fair to say that she could quite possibly stumble into someone else if she was not careful. Her decision had thrown Dani and Hubert off balance. It was hard enough to keep up with her frantic pace, and it was even more annoying now that she walked straight though the equipment.
Soon, the man at the center of the platform had made himself known. Not by any announcement or sound, but by the mere presence of his aura. At a glance, he was an old fellow who pressed an iron cane into the wooden boards below him. He used it to balance his broad shape, which itself was also covered by the cloak of the Order. Only his was far thicker and detailed. On his face were a pair of round, rimless glasses, through which he scanned the entirety of the year’s candidate class.
Soon, everyone amidst the spread had stopped in their tracks and gave their attention towards the platform. Among them was a balanced mixture of precaution and excitement. It really depended on the level of confidence a candidate had. A sponsored noble would often find things exciting, or simple. Whereas candidates from a far more modest background whole be trepidation with everything that came their way. Things were mostly unfamiliar to them, after all.
“Good evening..”, the man’s voice boomed across the quarry. Immediately, all could tell that it was not his usual voice that sounded. No, at some point, he had casted a spell that amplified the volume of his words. That much was evident in the subtle glow of his eyes, which was focused through his glasses. “..and congratulations. You are an excellent group of individuals and I very much look forward to seeing your potential in the coming week. My name is Priam Volitis and I stand before you with a gift!”
He spread his arms wide through his cloak, which revealed a garb of dark crimson. Ezabel’s vision narrowed onto Priam in surprise. That was not the attire of an Attendant. At least, not of any Attendant that she had seen. Then again, he had to be. How else could he have casted the spell which allowed her to hear him at a distance? Even the glow of his eyes, it all spoke of his association with the Order. So, why then, did Ezabel feel as though Priam did not fulfill her image of an Attendant Knight?
Was she being superficial? He was on the older side, after all. There was a mane of lone, white hair that flowed down to his chin. It was straight and well kept, which was a stark contrast against the wrinkles of his skin and the moles across his face. The thought then halted as he continued.
“The selection trials will be long and arduous. So, for the sake of your well being. And, for the sake of what you could possibly become, the Order has provided this extensive selection of equipment for you to employ throughout your journey.”, Priam smiled wide with a generous nod. His voice boomed across the quarry. “Take what you need and be careful with what you leave. From this point on, these will be the only tools the Order will allow you to use during the trials. Choose wisely as it may very well determine your fate here.”
Ezabel felt a sudden jolt of anxiety. It was not only heavy on her chest, it flooded the entire quarry. Every candidate around began to consider their options with great care. She could see immediately on their faces a jumbled mess of emotions. Their eyes lifted, only to glance over the spread in the hopes of identifying every little object. It was close to a panic. Though, not quite. They began to inspect the closest rack, then the next. Until, the entire scene became a bustling market of people.
There was an uproar of conversation; it became a wall of incoherent noise. Many groups walked the spread together, holding spirited conversations concerning the type of equipment each member should have. There were arguments, there was laughter, and there was quiet. Each candidate poured over the selection in their own respective way. But, no matter what, all were consumed with the need to get this task done right.
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