It was almost night when Francis was able to return to his dorm room. He had met and mingled with countless noble heirs with a vast majority of them surprised to hear he was from Marshheath. The rest of the evening eventually became cheerful as he slowly explained the customs and traditions of Marshheath. To his surprise, most were cordial to him not repelled by his identity of a countryside noble. Soon, he realised that as he had joined the knights order, he was already promoted as a knight of the imperial order far surpassing his old status.
The dorm room was empty and majestic. The room was painted in white with the walls as smooth as porcelain with golden trimmed designs and exorbitant furnishing. He approached the fluffy bed and leaned his back against it thanking the gods for giving him the opportunity. As he was resting, planning his future course of actions, his communication amulet glowed. It was his father.
"Son, how are you doing?" There was worry in his voice.
"Good evening father. I'm great. Joined the light faction. Sadly the same cannot be said for May."
"I heard. A few dark knights arrived after sundown along to see all the blood kin of the maid girl. They took her mother away. What affinity did she awaken?"
"Affinity? No father. She didn't gain any affinity. I was there as well. Quite disappointing."
"Unawakened? Son, be careful. If she truly was unawakened, would the dark faction care so much for her? Well, she is no longer a member of our household. Just forget about her. So, did you meet with any other families?"
The conversation between the two slowly diverted to politics and soon Francis said his nightly wishes before returning back to his bed. Slowly he whispered the golden words as a small blue box appeared before him, cementing his new reality.
"Status."
Francis Anorhill
Male, 16, Human
Apprentice Knight
Affinity: Fire, Snow
Faction: Light
Skills: None
The small screen gave him the deepest confidence as he drifted into his sleep.
While Francis was celebrating himself joining the light faction, May who had just been dropped back outside the east wing slowly regained consciousness. She slowly sat up as she found herself being stared down by none other than Ashley, the dorm head girl.
"So, did you gain any affinity? You were gone for quite a while. It would be truly disappointing if you didn't." She had a beautiful chain choker stretched out towards May as if expecting her to say no.
"I think so, yes. I was allowed to drink from a goblet and it knocked me out instantly."
"Such a shame. You would have made a great pet. Alright then, you should return to your den and let me handle the remaining formalities. As an awoken of the dark faction you will be entitled to a noble post with a monthly allowance, a place to stay for you and your kin and any past sins will receive a royal pardon. It's a good deal." Ashley extended her hands pulling May from the floor. "Your clothes are dirty. Change to something nice since I have to take you to the dean." She suddenly turned with an expectant gaze, "You didn't lie about being awoken, did you?"
"No, I didn't. Is there no way for me to check myself?" May could already feel the change in her body but not knowing was causing her to get jumpy.
"If you think 'status', it usually gives you a few details about yourself. Nothing impressive but it will show you a bit of your own basics, the ones that are common which can be generally shared."
"Status."
May Blackwing
Female, 18, Elemental
Mage
Affinity: Blood
Faction: Dark
Skills:
Blood Drain
Blood Puppet
Blood Field (Aura)
"So, which affinity did you gain?" Ashley and curiously.
"Blood?"
"Welcome to the dark side, sister. It's been a long time since anyone had a proper dark affinity." Ashley suddenly hugged May. She was almost giggling.
"Thanks, I guess?"
"Don't be shy to ask for help. Dark affinities are tremendously powerful and most definitely require guidance. I don't think anyone with blood affinity exists among the available tutors. Maybe the dean will arrange a special coach for you. Alright, we are here."
May started at the similar door and wondered if she would be sucked in again.
"Although they look similar, the affinity pool has a portal within to help you reach your ideal affinity source. This is just a regular door." As if to prove a point, Ashley grabbed the door knob and pushed the door open. "Father, I brought the new girl. She awoke with blood affinity."
"Blood affinity? Haven't had one since the blood king. How long has it been?" An ancient wise voice reached May. As she searched for the source, her eyes caught a young man, in his twenties rummaging through some scrolls. "Come closer. I need to inspect you."
As soon as May stepped close enough the guy stretched his hands. "Deep Learn."
"Yes, blood affinity. An elemental spirit with blood affinity? How are you an elemental spirit? What's wrong with you?" The guy kept asking questions mostly to himself. "You were hiding in that noble family as a maid, yes?"
"I don't know what you are talking about."
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"Interesting, an elemental that was hidden among the mortals. They must have had their reasons. No wonder the light couldn't gain you. Your wards must have blocked their insight ritual. Ash, keep this information to yourself. You too. Don't spread it around. A blood elemental is something that we have never heard of till now. And regarding your tutor, I'll be in charge of you. Let me know what you need. For today, go back to the dorm and take some rest. Give her a good room, Ashley."
Francis Anorhill was on his way to his first training. The leader of the training yard, Sir Garias Worncoal was planning to start with a small exhibition to make the kids aware how difficult the duties of a knight are. He had already prepared two apartheid shades, both half souls which cannot be killed, chained to the middle of the yard. The class had already surrounded the shade with the creature clawing at the kids poking fun at it.
"I assume everyone here knows what to expect. A knight is a creature of habit. Toned in the art of the sword though his routine. You will learn to trust your weapon the same way you trust the order." Sir Garias started with small sword swings as he started his class. "Tell me, who are the most powerful elites of the kingdom?"
""The imperial knights, sir.""
"Who are the most powerful?"
""THE IMPERIAL KNIGHTS, SIR.""
"You bunch of idiots. If the imperial knights are the most powerful, then why does the kingdom need the magi order?" Sir Garias started walking around the file of young apprentice knights. "Thinking that you are the most powerful is the best way to get yourself killed. A well placed magi could easily slaughter an army of knights. The job of the imperial knights is to ensure the law and order of the dynasty is maintained. The powerful, the greatest… These titles are for the vain."
"Anyone here know what the creature is?"
"It's a shade sir." One at the front answered immediately.
"A shade, yes. How many of you have seen shades before?" A few hands rose immediately. "Anyone has fought one before?" The ones that were risen immediately dropped. L
"Of course you wouldn't. If you did then we wouldn't be doing our job right. Shades are creatures of the dusk, said to be ritually created by magi to slaughter. They are born with an obsession and they fall to die until they achieve their obsession. Anyone want to guess the obsession of this particular shade?"
"Newborn blood." A familiar voice rose from the back as Deia walked in on the lecture. "You know anyone with an 'identify skill' can find that out, right?
"Yes, Mistress Deia. Everyone take a break." Sir Garias approached the lady and bowed. "What can I do for you?"
"The dark had asked for a challenge. It appears they found a new green they would like to polish. New students, end of the month."
"Would be a good idea. Some of these brats aren't yet ready for the commitment. We should use this opportunity for a faction challenge."
"I'm concerned. They have never issued a challenge in years. Jerome must have a trump card."
"It doesn't matter. The challenge is a numbers game. How many Trump cards can he use? Even if it's a mage, how much can one learn in a month's time?"
"Do not underestimate the dark, Garias. No, I think there might be someone truly remarkable this time. Or else, he wouldn't be bothered. Get the kids ready. This is going to be their first fight."
"They will be ready."
Dean Jerome, the head of the dark faction walked across the main hall looking through the scroll he just received. "Order of Challenge." He couldn't fathom what the principal intended him to do with it. It looked like there were many higher powers at play this year and Jerome wasn't even on the sidelines. The only trigger would be the presence of a more powerful student that can suppress their peers. Dark has never bothered to fight for supremacy. They were supreme on their own.
Sadly, all Jerome could do was follow orders and act according to his principals will. The rule of the dark was absolute. The words of the strong are the law.
"This is going to be a spectacle. Is May really that powerful?" Jerome's skill came from his master, the current principal of the imperial school, one of the leading scholars of the dark order. Not to mention being reclusive, he was a straight up paranoid being who never appears in public and always acts through his servants. So paranoid that he refused to even give away his real name. It had always been a mystery as to what his master looked and sounded like as Jerome had never met him. And now, he had just received an order to enter his office. The only variable that came into play was May. She didn't exist yesterday and everything was perfect.
The principal's man den was a place of horror. For those that couldn't stand the stench of the dead and the foul under that roamed the plane, this was a nightmare realm. It had been preserved and protected from the outside by the two guardian undead knights that slaughtered anyone that entered without their masters permission. And now, Jerome was asked to enter this land of death to visit his master, a place that brought back painful memories.
Jerome stood outside the decaying wooden door that looked like it opened to a janitor's closet. There was never a need to knock. The undead had their instructions. The door opened within a minute and inside waiting was a being that can only be seen in the Underdark. The demon looked civilized as he gestured to him to follow. After a few slow and silent minutes they stood before a hut that appeared pitch black from the outside.
"Come." An ancient voice entered Jerome's mind which forced him to open the thatch door which opens to a simple northerners hut. In a chair at the corner facing a window was the master that he hadn't seen in decades. His body, the same as the last time he saw it.
"The challenge, you should issue it."
"Yes master."
The atmosphere was quiet again. The demon was waiting outside without making a noise.
"The girl. You must have questions."
"I dare not ask."
"You are here master, are you not? You should ask. I would have picked her as mine but she is too young."
Jerome inadvertently eyed the hut. "I'm pretty sure she wouldn't mind. She used to be a slave."
"You are right. This is no place to raise a child. We know what happened to the last one." Jerome saw his master slowly rise from his chair. "She is not just an elemental spirit. She entered the Underdark as a park of her awakening. You are looking at a potential queen of the dark. The challenge will give her some much needed courage. She needs to learn her potential."
"I sent the challenge as soon as I received the word."
"I'm aware. But that won't be enough. Spread word that a mage has surfaced. Make sure the light is well prepared. Only then would it be a fair game."
"It will be done."
"Two more pantheons would be present at the game. I notified the monarch. The school must be ready for the feast. Also, ask Ashley to help her. I perceive her destiny is intertwined with the girl."
"But Ashley is." Jerome was suddenly interrupted by his master.
"The girl doesn't need a huge to help her learn her abilities. What she needs now is someone who can help support her. As you said, she was a former slave. It would be difficult to break out of that complex."
"I will ask her."
"You have things to do. Here, this scroll contains the invitations for the pantheons. Make sure they are delivered appropriately. And keep an eye on the girl. Blood affinity can trigger calamities when enraged."
May's new room was much better than the dungeon cell that she was allotted to. Being awakened had its perks. The Dean gave her one of the best rooms in the dark dorm. Ashley was right beside her. Although none of the other girls were ever interested in towing with her, she chunked it up to being a quirk of joining the dark faction. Most kids she met were self-centered and obsessed with raising their own power.
On her bed, May lay down looking through her skills. From what Ashley said, it was very rare to gain skills or start off as a mage. Most had to spend years as an apprentice mage to gain a single skill and here she had three starting out.
"Status"
Blood Drain
You may absorb a part of the enemies vitality to heal your injuries.
Can backfire against powerful opponents.
Blood Puppet
Control any soul who consumes your blood.
Puppets can be released only by their master.
Blood Field (Aura)
Create a aura field around you that can absorb the vitality and slowdown opponents who have blood flowing through them.
None of the abilities May gained gave her any direct combat strength. She looked at Ashley's room which was right across the wall. May knew Ashley was a powerful curse witch which she conceded to her. To gain strength, she had to improve her abilities and maybe look for a few skill tomes.