Alaric and his friends followed the village elder to a set of stairs, which went up higher than Alaric had been expecting. Higher and higher they climbed until the ground began to look quite a distance away.
Along their way, Alaric found himself having to smile and endure the number of people who greeted him with respect, calling him ‘Lord Alaric’, spirits using the title with a lot more gusto than most.
The boy’s resolve to ignore the title was starting to waver when they finally reached a door that opened into a spacious booth, unlike the endless rows of seats they’d seen earlier.
Food was placed on a table along with drinks Alaric was almost sure were made from a different world. The very bottles that held the peculiar liquids were made of intricately curved glass that made one want the bottle more than what was inside it… and yet, Alaric had the feeling the drinks were a thousand times better than the bottle holding them.
Following the small section of bottles was a long table filled to the brim with fruits, confectionaries and food. Finn tapped Alaric’s shoulder aggressively, “Is this heaven?”
“No, Finn, it’s wealth,” Alaric replied with a light chuckle.
“Help yourself to the food. This booth will only be visited by former village elders and… loved ones. I’ll be seated with my wife. Call me if you need anything,” the old man spoke, his voice cracking at the end of his words.
Alaric’s eyes easily surveyed the few luxurious leather seats before falling upon a pale beautiful woman dressed in a jade gown. Her features were a sight to behold and yet, Alaric felt that her character was even more beautiful.
Her character? Alaric wondered why he’d imagined she was a nice person. He’d never met her… Perhaps it was because she bore the same enchanting gaze Master Jack had used when addressing him.
Finn rushed over to the large table, “You coming, Alaric?”
“Yes,” Alaric responded, walking over and grabbing a plate for himself.
As Finn filled his plate with almost everything in sight, Alaric browsed the more exotic items, many of which he’d never seen, “I can barely name half the things here.”
“I know, right,” Finn replied happily, “We should make lots of money and treat our siblings to such meals.”
“I’ll be sure to pack some of these for them,” Alaric chuckled.
“You better wait for me to have my fill, brother,” Finn warned, drawing more laughter from Alaric.
“It’s all yours, Finn.”
[Funny how he threw up just a few moments ago and now has space to stuff himself up again] Alia sighed deeply. Alaric laughed on, not sure whether that was good luck or bad luck.
The village elder stared at the children with a complicated expression. He’d taken his seat by his late beloved, his thoughts churning within his head.
“Everything alright, my love,” the woman’s angelic voice roused him from his thoughts.
“I fear getting scolded by the Great Ancestor but my stomach boils whenever I see Lord Alaric acting like a peasant,” the man groaned, sitting back in his chair and looking on with disdain.
The woman chuckled, “Have you already forgotten the kindness that dwells within him?”
“Hogwash!” the man scoffed.
The woman laughed instead, “What really troubles you?”
The man sighed, “The Great Ancestor scolded me.”
“As he should have. I could feel that boy’s loneliness from the Astral Plane,” the woman replied, “You’ve got a flaw that doesn’t let you see the bigger picture sometimes.
Pardon me for speaking freely, my love, but it’s a flaw you share with the Great Ancestor. When you see something you like, you lose yourselves. You forget the object of your affection is rooted in so many other ways.
Have you bothered to ask how his life has been up until this point? You’ve showered him in luxury and even made him a Lord without his permission. I’ve seen his expressions… He doesn’t like it. I reckon he doesn’t even know what he is.”
All through the woman’s speech, the man had looked to the side, feeling his stomach turn at her sugared words of care, cursing every second that care was not directed towards him… until the last sentence where his eyes snapped open.
His eyes snapped down at the boy enjoying mountainous plates of food with his gluttonous friend, oblivious to the swooning spirits that would give anything to sit beside him, perhaps even feed him.
“How can someone hold so much power… be loved by so many… and not know they are special? Is he stupid?” Jill asked.
His wife laughed at his remark, “I wouldn’t want to refer to such a person as ‘stupid.’”
Jill’s eyes widened and he looked around to make sure no one had heard him, “Apologies.”
His wife chuckled, “You’re alright.”
They watched the boy a little while longer before a loud gong called for their attention. It was time for the Coming of Age Ceremony.
Alaric allowed part of his attention to be drawn to the ceremony as the mood of everyone seated in the Colosseum shifted entirely. The spirits simmered down as well as the humans and everyone’s attention turned to the podium that had been set up for the Ceremony.
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In the still silence that followed, a man walked onto the podium, dressed in a gown much like the ones the village elders donned. His gown was nowhere near as opulent but the style and minimalist design fit the occasion perfectly.
A shimmer of aether floated around his neck briefly before he opened his mouth to speak.
“CITIZENS OF JACK’S FALL,” the man’s voice boomed, reaching every corner of the Colosseum.
Alaric’s eyes widened in shock at the amplification caused by the spell.
“Tonight is a night we wait for every year. A day that a select few among our cherished children finally step into adulthood. A day when they show us how determined they are to take on the world, in whatever realm of profession and mastery they so desire.
Today, they dance, so that we, their family might grant them blessings in the treacherous journey that lies ahead. We’ve seen them work hard in the years before this… Today, however, we’ll witness the fruits of their labour and grant them their reward. Tonight, we even have a special guest of the Great Ancestor himself,” the man announced.
With this announcement, a chorus of cheers erupted through the audience, shaking the very walls of the Colosseum only to simmer down when the man raised his hands.
“I won’t waste any more of your time. Let’s welcome a boy we’ve all come to know and love, trained by Master Jill himself: Aiden…”
Alaric’s heart sank.
‘He’s going first.’
Murmurs filled the bleachers as many of the spirits and humans talked amongst themselves.
‘Aiden’s going first. I thought they were going to save the best for the last. Isn’t he the one that got the highest appraisal? I think he asked to go first. I’m excited to see what he has for us. Do you think he’ll rise above his appraised rank? We can never know until we watch.’
Alaric’s ears heard a lot more from the rumours than he would have liked. As it turned out, Aiden was a bit of a celebrity and many had come with high hopes for him. Alaric himself had expected a lot from the boy… though he hadn’t realised just how much everyone else did.
“Exciting, isn’t it?” a deep voice at Alaric’s right suddenly piped up, startling him.
The dark-haired boy managed to grab a hold of himself before he spilt the plate of food on the table in front of him. Seeing the handsome spirit seated to his right, he rubbed his temples, “You startled me.”
“Well, I mean I’ve always been a charmer but it means so much coming from you,” Master Jack puffed out his chest which was the slightest bit exposed, revealing a creamy skin that almost appeared artificial.
“If you say so,” Alaric responded with a warm smile.
Despite the man’s odd approach to making friends, Alaric failed to keep his guard up around him. This feeling had become recurrent since entering Jack’s Fall and Alaric was starting to lean into it.
The boy turned his attention to the stage where a young man was finally coming onto the podium. A palpable silence took over the Colosseum as the figure of a boy in a sleeveless ceremonial outfit walked onto the podium.
Unlike the range of kimonos Alaric had seen though, Aiden was dressed in loose pants and a sleeveless shirt, his face decorated with odd paints that made him look like a seasoned warrior. Alaric could see his toned arms under the ambient light of the moon and magic lights around the podium.
“Is that Aiden?” Alaric asked absentmindedly.
The boy’s friends had their eyes pinned on the boy as well…
“That’s not what I expected for a dancing outfit,” Finn laughed lightly.
Coming to this ceremony, Alaric had expected a calm and light atmosphere where everyone watched aspirants dance in celebration… but Aiden looked like he was going to war. His face was expressionless, decorated with streaks of white substance at his cheeks.
A jewelled band went around his forehead, adding an air of nobility to his determined face. His shirt was sleeveless but unlike anything Alaric had ever seen. Unconsciously, he enhanced his sight and got a closer look at his friend.
Aiden’s sleeveless shirt was made of fur while his trousers were made of leather. He approached the podium barefoot with a determined expression until he stood right before the announcer.
Aiden introduced himself to the silent crowd and turned to the announcer, “What path do you choose, Aiden of Jack’s Fall?”
“I choose the path of a warrior,” Aiden replied firmly.
“And you’re sure this is the path you choose for you shall never stray from it? Should the time ever come, you’ll use your power to protect your home?” the announcer asked.
“I will,” Aiden responded.
“Very well… Do you have a weapon of choice?” the man asked.
“Sword,” Aiden responded.
The announcer raised his hand in the air allowing an elegant sword to materialise from thin air. Alaric couldn’t tell whether it was a prop or some special manifestation of aether. Creating something from thin air, even with the help of magic required special conditions. And it bothered Alaric to think the man had that ability.
Wouldn’t it be too convenient? He thought to himself.
“The sword is made of spirit energy. A test awarded to the aspirant to prove his might and resolve,” Master Jack explained.
“Oh… Thanks,” Alaric replied, his curiosity piqued.
Aiden took the sword and turned to face the audience, still as a grave. A deep silence took over the colosseum as everything faded, leaving only Aiden as the sole centre of attention.
The boy raised his sword into the air and struck the space in front of him before starting what looked to be like a one-man choreography of katas Alaric was familiar with.
From the very first movement to the rhythm of breathing the boy utilized, Alaric’s eyes had gone wide with shock as shivers ran down his spine… ‘This… is the Dance of the Sword.’
Each movement was engineered to perfectly mirror a fight between a human and a powerful monster. However, with each move, the monster’s movements got faster and consequently, so did the human’s.
The dance had variations targeted at dealing with different kinds of monsters… but each and every one of the basic variations had been drilled into Alaric’s body for four arduous years. Finn and Darla as well.
Who had done this? Alia.
Alaric and his friends had endured training from the guardian, learning the forms the arduous dance entailed and growing stronger with each passing day. Alaric had practised this fighting style tirelessly with the hopes of growing powerful enough to wield the power that was rightfully his. The power Alia held…
Don’t get me wrong, he’d learnt a lot of the dance. He’d learnt so much in fact that it made him an excellent swordsman. One that would put most of the contenders in the village of the Five Hills to shame.
Only Darla and Finn remained close behind Alaric in skill.
Aiden continued the Dance of the Sword. He leapt into the air, pirouetted, slashed, pivoted, weaved, parried and sidestepped in a dizzying frenzy of movements that placed him all over the place in a mesmerizing dance, leaving after-images in his wake.
Alaric watched in awe as Aiden continued to weave through the air, going faster… and faster… and faster still. His skill alone was crazy… and yet, shaky.
A faint whisper in the crowd gave Alaric the reason behind this… ‘Has Aiden always been this good?’
As it so happened, Aiden was doing better than he usually did. His movements were a lot more skilful than they normally were. As Alaric watched on, his eyes grasped a deeper image of the dance he was performing… and the creature he was battling.
“The Dance of the Snake and the Mongoose,” he breathed.
Out there on the podium, Aiden dashed from one end of the podium to the other, snapping with the ferocity and agility of a mongoose, effectively evading the attacks of an increasingly dangerous python.
And with one shattering swing of his sword, the python snapped into existence with a flourish of spirit energy. The Ceremony was only getting started… From here on out, it would only get harder for the boy.
The snake hissed menacingly before shooting straight for Aiden, the one playing the mongoose in this deadly dance of the Sword.