There were no halls, no crowds. It was a quiet and pristine white hall, with a simple goblet made of gold filled to the brim with a dark gooey liquid slowly oozing out onto the podium below.
"Welcome to the hall of mana. This is the most sacred place in the empire and as such you will never be able to return here again. What you see oozing out from the cup, is the wild mana that surrounds us which was absorbed by the elementals surrounding the podium. You could think of it as honey but it tastes really bad. Now, who wants to go first? It's safe to drink." Deia walked to the podium and grabbed the cup bringing it towards the kids.
“Do not worry. Mana is the source of all things supernatural in this world. Whether it be humans, elves, demons, fairies, angels, everything in this world possesses a few drops of mana in their blood which enables them to control the elementals around them. Which is something that will be explained to you in another time. For now, it is necessary to know what your affinity is for. Knowing your mana affinity is the key to raising your potential to the limit. Now come, drink.” Deia extended the cup to francis who eagerly toolkit with both hands.
The taste must have been gross as he immediately tried to vomit it but somehow, the sticky goo refused to leave his throat. Unable to vomit it out, Francis eventually swallowed the goo in one go fighting through his gag reflex. Once the mana entered his body, he suddenly started emitting a radiant light that reflects his mana affinity. Bright red with a tint of blue.
“How precious! Dual affinity to both fire and snow. I always wondered what the elemental spirits saw when they offered a non-existent clan a precious invitation. So, you are the reason. From the looks of things, it looks like you possess the favour of both the elemental flame and the elemental ice, but not sufficient mana retention to become a mage. You would make a splendid imperial guard one day." Deia took the cup back from Francis and turned to look at may. “You are next, young woman. I wonder what your affinity will be like?” Deia stretched the cup towards May inviting her to drink the remaining goo. Seeing as she had no choice, May took the cup and immediately emptied it. Considering the gruel she used to drink back in the castle, it didn't feel as bad.
“No reaction? Such a pity. I was hoping to gain another member to the order of mages today. May can stay at your room and help you after she goes through the servant initiation. Such a waste of an invitation.” May looked equally disappointed as she followed behind the two with her head held low.
Soon, the two were welcomed into the school main ground where countless youngsters lined up to welcome the two new additions to their numbers. Francis and May found themselves standing atop the central podium with Mistress Deia ready to read out the verdict.
“We welcome Francis Anorhill from Marshheath to the ranks of apprentice knight. Francis possesses the blessing of elemental fire and snow. He is a powerful conduit and I hope that everyone will treat him as your own brother.” She took a pause and looked at the young man. “Francis, it's time for you to choose your side. The light or the dark. The light follows strict rules and a hierarchy while the dark is void of rules where the rule of the strong prevails. Think deeply as to what you need and pick an orb from the pouch. The orb will consider your desire but what it truly reflects is the nature of your soul.” Deia extended the pouch towards Francis which he extended his hands to pick an orb from. What came out was white with a taint of red and blue signifying his affinities.
“Francis Anorhill of the Light!” Deia’s voice was followed with the thundering applause from the light faction. Returning the orb into the pouch, Francis left the stage to join his piers.
“Now, let's welcome May to our home. She does not possess any affinity and has entered as a companion to Francis. Now girl, if you could please pick an orb as well, we can conclude the ceremony.” May immediately grab the orb from the pouch and lift it out. The familiar white orb was once again visible with no shades.
“May Anorhill of the Li…” as Deia was about to announce the outcome, the orb slowly manifested a tint of dark and slowly covered itself with the shadow. There was silence in the crowd as no one dared to speak. A shifting of alliance between the master and servant was never heard of. And no one has ever seen the orb turn colour after it is picked.
“May of the Dark” Deia’s whisper was quiet but it still was carried across the yard clear to everyone present. The light as well as the dark kept staring at the orb which May released back into the pouch. “That was unprecedented. It looks like you will have harsh days ahead of you dear.” The Dark faction was one ruled by power. To someone with no affinity as may entering the dark faction, she was bound to get abused as she no longer held the protection of her master. “We all have our own path to walk. With you entering the opposing faction to your family, I'm afraid your future will become needlessly harsh. Follow your heart, May. Let it guide you to your destiny.”
The imperial school was divided into two factions. The light and the dark. Most noble families preferred to join the order of the light due to the heritage and the established laws and protection from the empire. While the dark had some of the most powerful elites amongst the human race, it was almost impossible for an absolute nobody to survive in the dark faction. Oftentimes, new recruits, even those apprenticing under powerful magi, would be used as guinea pig or cannon fodder. May, being a commoner maid, was no longer able to receive the protection from her master as he was from the other faction.
The dark faction was always frowned upon by the humans as they constantly undermined the laws established by the council of the light. Hunting humans and using them for rituals and sacrifices have always been forbidden by the empire which were some of the practices most dark cults practiced. Even with the animosity, it was almost impossible for the light to wipe out the dark faction as the elders of the human race were overwhelmingly from the dark side. It had always been these elders that stood as a deterrent force which constantly repelled any advances from the demon or dragon kin.
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May and Francis soon separated as demanded by the rules of the school. Francis wasn't worried about the consequences but was a little saddened to learn that he was about to lose his maid. But his future prospects were too bright for him to be bothered about such inconveniences.
May was dragged away by sometime from the dark side, quite roughly, into another portion of the school. The air felt gloomy and the sky cloudy. The soil was black with most of the trees withering or dead. Her hopes slowly reached rock bottom as she was introduced to her new dorm room. A small cell with no windows, with a thin bed and a small flickering lamb right above the minute ventilation gap on the side wall. There were no tables, no chairs or a closet. The floor was cold to the touch not to mention wet. The ceiling made the room look ancient. May slowly realised that she was in a dungeon, one worse than the one Anorhills used to detain their prisoners. At least, the doors weren't locked.
"You next t be May." A sharp shrill entered the room as a girl adorning a precious robe walked into her cell. There was disgust in her eyes as she looked at May. "I'm in-charge of the dorms discipline. You are new so expect some leniency for the next couple of days but I expect you to fall in line by the weekend." She looked at the storage ring on May's fingers. "Are you sure you want to keep wearing that ring? Most people in the dark faction are crooks. They wouldn't hesitate to cut your throat for a couple of pennies."
"What do I do with it then? Miss."
"Ashley. I can keep it safely until you pick a tutor. Tutors are guides that can help guide you in your studies."
May removed her ring and took out a pair of clothes and some snake before handing the ring over to Ashley.
"I do not have any affinities. Mistress Deia said I would have to spend my time serving young master Francis."
"If you were a member of the light faction, then yes. That would be pretty much the only thing you would be qualified to do. You now belong to the dark faction. Our methods are slightly different. You could still serve a master if that is your choice. I too am personally looking for a helping hand in my portion brewing. Are you interested?"
"If you would have me then I'll take the offer."
"Don't jump in without knowing the consequences. Besides, even if I wanted to you are protected by the old law till the first weekend from being claimed. Besides, you don't necessarily have to become someone's maid. The are fields that a non magi of the dark faction could pursue which would be anything from disgusting to illegal had you been one of those hypocrites. Besides, you are already of age. So you could simply sell yourself to a powerful magi if you so wished."
May sat quiet as Ashley played with the ring.
"Ah, yes. I forgot. Should pick a course as soon as you can. If you have no magic affinity, I would recommend picking witchcraft and alchemy. That's the best help I can offer you. The complete list of courses is available at the novice club house. You can also check the club house to try to reawaken a new affinity. As you know mistress Deia being from the light faction can only check your affinity towards light and nature elements."
Ashley's words instantly perked May up.
"Where can I find the club house?" May was already on her feet ready to rush out.
"East wing, ground floor. Last room. There will be someone there to guide you. I got to run. Bye. I must warn you. It's very rare for humans to gain affinity for non natural elements. Good luck! By the way, Nice cat." Ashley walked out in a rush as May too left the room. There was no lock on the door and she didn't see a need to lock up as everything inside was worthless to any other student in the dorm outside of maybe playing a prank on her. It was more important to awaken a new affinity anyway.
The east wing was void of anyone. As May walked along empty corridors, she could hear some creepy laughter and whining noises which she passed off as some ghosts or undead. There were even a few poking out the doors and windows, some playing with the dust and rubbish. The entire building was of putting but it did not bother May. On the contrary, May started to feel at home. Her soul was calming down, face turning peaceful. Soon she started humming a melody, one she had long forgotten.
The last door looked like something that was part of an ancient castle. It was run down and hadn't been opened in a very long time. May extended her hands and grabbed the doorknob. The entire door jerked to her touch and she was pulled in by the door knob inside. Any mark that someone was outside was corrected by a slow blowing wind.
May's vision slowly recovered as she found herself staring at a massive blood soaked altar. As May's vision finally focused, she found herself staring at a woman. One with bloody eyes and features that could rival any beauty that she had ever seen. The two minute black wing on her hips enhanced her features contrasting to her fair and smooth skin. Her robes, too delicate and thin, barely shielding against any inquisitory eyes.
As May regained control over her motion, she slowly sized up the hall she was in. The ceilings were too high up for her to see the roof, there were no walls as the space extended to the dark void. The entity sitting on the throne slowly moved her head looking at the small human with curiosity.
"Are you my sacrifice?" The sweetest sound she had ever heard in her life slowly tickled May's eardrums as she kept staring at the beauty jaw dropped.
'Ashley.' May's thoughts were anything but innocent as she struggled to look away from the woman in her high throne.
"Speak." As if some sort of charm wore off, May suddenly regained her ability to speak.
"I was looking for a hall to awaken." May's words were filled with caution.
"I have never had a human enter my domain to awaken before. Do you know where you are?" The woman got up and slowly descended the two stairs approaching May. "This is my lair. A succubus lair and you are here to awaken? Are you sure this is what you want?" A slender finger slowly extended caressing May's lips.
"I don't know. I know I want power. Power to ensure my safety."
"A human possessing the powers of a succubus. How novel! If you truly want my power then you shall possess it." The succubus extended her fingers into the void and summoned a similar cup to that used by Deia. Only, the content within appeared to be blood red in colour. "Drink, let blood guide your path."
May received the cup with both hands and immediately gulped the entire liquid down.
"Splendid! Now leave." Within moments, May's sight was obscured by a dark mist as she collapsed on the floor. The last thing she remembered as she lost her consciousness was the taste of blood on her lips. It was delicious.