Upon the deepest mountain in the capital city of Lyses, you could see lights from torches and the sound of celebration. If someone just arrived in Lyses they would be confused by the closed-down shops and empty roads. This was an uncommon sight for the largest city in the foundation, yet down in the city, you could hear the celebration up the mountain, a party.
In the west wing of the Von Angelus chateau two young teens could be seen wearing white linen full-sleeved shirts.
One was a slightly taller teen whose cuffs were puffed out, he adorned two rings on his two middle left fingers, both silver. His eyes were almost cloud grey his black curly hair contrasted against his light brown skin.
The older teen, Alexander was helping the younger teen Cyrus pin two emblems onto his right breast. The first emblem was five circles interconnected making a circle, while the other was a buck.
“ Why isn’t there a snake on the emblem” Cyrus asked.
Alexander grinned, “ I’m glad you haven’t wasted the month you were given since you opened your valves.
The younger teen shrugged, “ There is only so much running, sparring, and hunting someone can take before you would find anything interesting. It also doesn’t help that your family's emblem is everywhere” he said gesturing around the room.
“ I never really noticed,” Alexander said, looking around at multiple deer, with a snake around its antlers engraved on the walls, and corners of the ceilings.
“ Do you remember why I had you training?” asked Alexander looking back at Cyrus.
“ I tried not to think about it too much, but I’ve heard you and the commander talking about some tournament”
Alexander cut him off raising his hand, “ So you knew and didn’t ask” he said looking at Cyrus like he sprouted three heads.
Cyrus shrunk as he felt a chill in the air, “ I didn’t think I had a choice in the matter, and you’re the only one I know who can teach me how to cultivate and keep this artifact from going off” he said grabbing onto the star necklace.
Alexander understood as he turned to grab a purple cloak from his closet. As he put on the cloak he asked, “ Don’t you want to know what I’m getting you into”
Cyrus shook his head, “ No, I trust you”
Alexander stopped in his tracks as he began laughing. Cyrus almost seemed scared as he took a step back, not sure what was funny. Alexander finally spoke through his laughter, “ Razier told you, didn’t he? About the tournament, and the school”
Cyrus nodded, looking down ashamed. Alexander shook his head,
“ Of course, he would,” said Alexander.
When Cyrus looked up he saw that Alexander was smiling, though it was quickly gone as he asked, “ Did he tell you about the party?”
Cyrus shook his head, “ No, he only said it happens before every Templar tournament I think he called”
Alex laughed though he tried to cover it, “Of course, he didn’t, and that is what it called”
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A knock was heard from the door, which was quickly opened as Ultred walked in, “ Is Razier not with you” he asked.
“ No, I told him to show around the senator's envoy”
Ultred cracked a grin, “ I’m sure he enjoyed that”
Cyrus looked between the two searching for an answer that nether gave him. He was about to ask but the sound of music was heard.
Ultred clapped as he heard it, Alexander watched him, “ I’m guessing that is why you came in here” he asked.
“ Yes, your father is already in the viewing room and the celebration is about to begin.” Said Ultred, he then looked at Cyrus, “ and the chosen representatives of each family need to be present”
Cyrus looked at Alexander who said, “ Isn’t my cousin there?”
Ultred nodded, “ he is, but he doesn’t have to compete, didn’t your father tell you,” he said as Alexander looked in confusion.
“ No he didn’t tell me, is it because Razier is also competing for me?” Alexander asked.
“ Yes”
Cyrus watched as for the first time Alexander seemed bothered by something as he gritted his teeth. He didn’t say anything to anyone but nodded as Ultred opened the door for them to leave.
The ballroom was magnificent, Cyrus couldn’t close his mouth in astonishment. The hard stone floor was covered in a velvet rug. The large windows on each side were opened and you could hear the plucking of a harp.
The room was full of people of different sorts, and colors. Cyrus saw many teens his age in similar garments as himself. They had the same white linen long-sleeve shirts, the only difference was each teen had different emblems.
Alexander watched him, “ They are also contestants, anyone in white is a part of the foundation”
Cyrus looked down at his shirt, then back at Alexander, “ Why does everyone have on different cloaks” he asked.
“ They represent the family you are from, orange is house Godtom, Red is house Lucifan, Blue is Hofenhesen, yellow reflux, and purple is Angelus”
Cyrus’s sight returned to the dance floor where three young women were dancing in the middle.
“ Why do some of them have the symbol of circles in white”
Alexander hummed as he said, “ Those are from the branch families, they have the foundation symbol on their cloak”
Cyrus looked at Alexander waiting for him to continue, as they reached a circle table near the middle, just a couple feet from the dancers. When they reached the table Razier was sitting, he was wearing the same white long-sleeve linen shirt, though he sported light chainmail armor underneath poking out of his collar.
Sitting next to Razier was a lanky man, very frail and pale. He sported large almost squad-framed glasses. He had the air of a scholar, almost calculating without the air danger. He looked at Cyrus like one was trying to solve a puzzle.
“ Edward, this is Alexander Von Angelus, and his chosen Cyrus” Razier introduced them before they sat.
The old scholar bowed towards Alexander, then looked at Cyrus.
“ I wish you good luck at the tournament, I look forward to introducing you”
The emissary bowed one last time, as he left towards the front door, Cyrus watched in surprise as he turned in the opposite direction from the door.
“ He is going to the viewing room, that is where the Senator and family heads stay during the celebration”
Cyrus looked back at Alexander, “ What does an Emissary do? He said he would introduce me” Cyrus asked.
Razier answered before Alexander, “Emissaries are chosen similarly as the Templar tournament, though they are testing to become Senators”
“ There is only one chosen Emissary every ear, unlike the Templar tournament ” Alexander added.
Cyrus opened his mouth to respond but sounded out the loud aggressive strikes on the harp.
Thump thump thump
Silence followed as steps were heads from the stairs. The first person who came down was an older, round faced old mad. He wore an all-white robe that seemed to trail behind him, as it was dragging down the steps.
The old man was bold and looked almost feverish with sweat. As the rest of the robe came down, another person came into view. It was Edward, as he came into view he was holding the end of the old man's robe off the ground.
Everyone seemed to stop, as they watched the round old man. As he reached the middle of the room, near the Angelus table he stopped.
Edward walked behind him, as he placed the long robe-like tail he was holding on the floor. As he placed it down he stood up rigidly straight and spoke in a commanding voice.
“ Senator Lyco III will now begin the commencement of the 494th Templar celebration”