Atenyos wakes up to the sound of cheers from the people of the capital of Orsus, "Catem." The streets are filled with people from all seven territories, gathered to celebrate Selection Day and their new protectors. The Emperors sent out wagons to gather all men and women who have reached the age of 17 and bring them to the capital, as the Essence has deemed it Selection Day. Atenyos rises with his black hair mussed and uneven, feeling confused and disgusted, thinking:
"All these people gathering just to celebrate weakness, how foolish. I pity them."
"We live in hiding and always on the defense, waiting for the next attack, only to send out forces to be killed and slaughtered."
Atenyos knew that being a ring bearer isn't exactly a blessing but a curse, a role forced upon you. He pondered a day when this endless war would end and thought about Trise’s revelation:
"Maybe that prophet she spoke of will bring change, although I doubt it."
His mother was against him going, and it left a bad taste in his mouth, as she always cared for him and loved him fully. He bore the burden of her worries with him, as she seemed to know something was going to happen. Freya, Atenyos's mother, was a ring bearer herself, and oh, how much she had lost because of it.
As the wagon Atenyos was in started nearing Catem’s main palace, he began tidying up his all-black shirt and oversized, loose pants.
"Aye, why the grumpy look, man? We're going to meet the Emperors—get excited and don't ruin our mood," said a person on the other side of the wagon, sitting in Atenyos's line of sight.
"You're excited to get chosen and die in battle, huh? Funny," Atenyos said with a smirk.
The wagon was big enough to hold up to 12 people, and they all looked at Atenyos—some in anger and some in complete awe.
"Shut up, huh?! We're almost at the palace," said one of the guards riding the horses and in charge of their transportation.
Everyone went silent, but they kept an eye on Atenyos, making sure to remember the man who mocked their heroes and their dreams. Minutes passed as they entered the castle and began leaving the wagon. One of the people slightly pushed Atenyos as they passed through the palace door, trying to spark any type of reaction from him. However, Atenyos dismissed it as if it had never occurred and kept on, wanting to see the so-called Emperors up close. He wanted to see the people who claimed they ruled and protected him.
"Are you good, Atenyos?" one of the guards asked as we entered the palace. He had noticed the gazes on my back from the rest of the people I rode with. I let him know I was alright and it was nothing. As I walked into the palace, I was amazed by how elegant and beautiful the colors and drawings on the wall were, the glass windows etched with images of the Emperors in battle, and the marble floor that gave off a cool air around my feet. I had never seen such a life back in my home, all crumbled up with broken wood eaten away by bugs. As the cursed child, it’s no wonder I would get the lesser, while the so-called protectors live in luxury. They rarely even fight themselves. But again, "Atenyos, son of the Bright Dark" was what I was called, born from the clashing energies of the Essence and the Bright Dark
when a gate opened right above our home. As soon as it happened, my mom went into labor. As I heard from the maids, I was born with lightning-like marks on my arms, all black, and they slowly vanished as I got older. So as the freak I am, it’s good they even let me live. The guards took us to a waiting room and told us to wait as the Emperors were gathering for the speech before the selection.
About 30 minutes passed as we waited around. The door opened, and some of the guards led us to the main palace hall. We were about 300 or so people from around all eight territories. I felt a strange itching in my right arm as I entered the palace hall, but I dismissed it. As I walked in, I was met with eight large thrones, with seven people sitting on them. The biggest of them all was placed in the middle and was empty. I’m sure it was Enyos's throne. I can’t believe they still have it—17 years and it still looks cared for. As I was checking out the hall and its breathtaking magnificence, Setis, the 2nd strongest of the Emperors, stood up.
"Today marks a new age of protectors, a new age of ring bearers blessed by the Light, given enough power to move mass like no other, run so fast as no other, and slash an enemy like no other. Some of you might even have a power within you that resembles that of an Emperor candidate. The six Emperors and I are excited to see you all today—youth ready to fight for this land, with loyalty running through their veins. We get angry and see all black when someone tries to take this from us—this life we live, blessed by the Essence. We do not anger out of a feeling of duty, but out of a feeling of loyalty born from love for this land, love for the people, and love for the families and the borders we protect. Whether you are selected today or not, we know you are loyal and ready to serve this land, giving your all to it, and we respect you for it. In return, we will lay down our lives for you as well. HEADS UP, YOUTH, FOR THIS DAY MARKS A NEW AGE, A NEW AGE OF POWER, A NEW AGE OF PROTECTORS!"
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
I could see the light in Setis's eyes. He wasn’t talking from some script—he meant every word. And how I pity him for that. I couldn’t help but smirk as everyone raged in excitement, clapping their hands, jumping with thrill, and shivering with anticipation. All I did was smirk, and that was enough for Claruvis, Setis’s candidate, to take notice. He doesn’t have a power, so his output of 54% all goes to enhanced physical prowess, which includes hearing and sight.
"What are you smirking for, kid?" Claruvis asked angrily, with an offended look in his eyes.
The room went entirely silent. Even the Emperors were surprised. Everyone was on high alert, watching, trying to understand what was going on.
I replied, "Why am I smirking? Heh, why are they celebrating? And why is our Emperor lying? You think this is an honor? What an amazing honor it is to get powerful enough to stand up, yet cower behind the walls and only defend. Our soldiers die every day, and you call it honor? I call it cowardice. You are a coward, Claruvis, and all of you are cowards. I pity you all. I shall not live a life where I sleep at night not knowing if I'll wake up to the blade of the enemy. So don’t ask me why I’m smirking, my pitiful cousin." I wasn't really thinking about the consequences of my words.
Angered, Claruvis unsheathed his sword and charged at me. In less than a second, his sword was at my neck. The people who stood next to me all fell and stood afar. I looked him dead in the eyes as he looked down at me with anger—so much anger in his eyes, as if I had just killed a loved one of his. I felt the pressure of the beautifully crafted sword against my neck as a small drop of blood began to flow. Setis raised his hand, signaling for Claruvis to stop. He didn’t even bother to ask him to; I seemed to irritate him as well, so he just raised his arm. Claruvis took a step back, removing the sword from my neck as I breathed heavily, trying to catch my lost breath. He put his sword back at his waist and walked back to Setis, who gently tapped him on the shoulder, trying to calm him down.
"A lot of people lost their lives, yes, indeed a lot did. But we stand here today to protect what they stood for. Their death was not in vain, as we are continuing their objective and message through our actions. You say you pity us? But we pity you—someone so blind to the sacrifice that was made, unaware of the burden we carry," Setis said gently, as it seemed my words had sparked unwanted memories.
Bullshit. It’s all bullshit. Sacrifice, my ass. So my father sacrificed himself? No, he didn’t. All this death could’ve been avoided if we had just ended the bastards. We don’t fight to protect—we sleep and await death. I looked at Setis after all the messed up nonsense he said and bowed my head slightly, as if I was agreeing with him. I didn’t want any more attention. It seemed the entire room despised me after that.
"Okay, now after this ruckus, let’s begin the selection process. The guards will call your name. All you need to do is walk up and go with them through this guarded
room. As soon as you enter, just walk to the Light. You’ll know everything from there," Setis said.
As soon as he said that, he went back and sat down on his throne with Claruvis standing next to him. He whispered something in his ear that I couldn't understand, not even by reading his lips. It seemed like he gave the guards a few orders, and right away, the guards started calling names.
He called a few names, and they all came out with no rings and no powers, until Morol was called out. He had a tall build, not filled with muscle, but he looked like an efficient fighter. There was an aura around him, and it seemed like the Emperors took notice of it too. He was guided to the room with big, strong walls that looked impenetrable and immovable, yet they opened on their own as he neared. He entered and stayed there for about three minutes. When he walked out, he was shining brightly with a grey ring that was almost white but not quite. The Emperors all stood, and Setis asked him what his power was. He simply said, "Speed." He had gained the power of speed and lightning-fast reflexes, and on the side of his ring was the percentage "13.4%," which was amazing, as the normal ring bearer would have about 10% or less and spend their entire life training to try to increase it. Some of them are only able to raise it by 2-3%.
He was a citizen of Leritas, the land governed by Peritas, the Emperor with the power to control velocity itself. So, he joined the guild of his Emperor and was guided to one of the palace rooms, awaiting the transportation that would lead him to the guild the next day.
The guards continued calling names. They skimmed through upwards of 139 names, all of which were disappointing failures, unable to gain the light’s blessings. The Emperors had mixed feelings—some were disappointed, some in awe, and others worried. It was strange; it seemed like the Essence was afraid to appoint new bearers, as if it was trying to protect itself from someone.
The guards kept going, and for some odd reason, it seemed like my name was being kept for last. I’m sure it's Claruvis’s doing—that petty asshole. They kept calling until they reached the name right before mine: Lurianne, a girl whose skin was white as snow and who seemed elegant, with features of royalty. She wasn’t tall and appeared quite feminine. She was walked up to the gates, entered, and came out after about two minutes, shining brightly with her eyes glowing white. Her grey ring almost resembled the color of clouds—grey yet light to the eye. When asked about her powers, she answered, "It seems like I'm able to shine a light bright enough to blind an enemy." She seemed confident, and her output was 9.83%. She was a citizen of Lland, the territory governed by Lutens, an Emperor with the power to control magnetism and electricity. She was also appointed a room and waited.
I was the last person to be called out, and it seemed like everyone was waiting for it. Claruvis gave me a look with eyes filled with pride, like he was looking down on me. I didn't care at all; it's not like I wanted to join their pathetic corps to keep defending this place that had given me nothing but pain and estrangement. I was called up and walked to the door, which, for some reason, took time to open, as if I was unwelcome, which wasn't an unfamiliar feeling. My right hand ached as I entered the room. It was empty and vast, with nothing but a bright light at the end. I kept walking toward it, and the closer I got, the more my hand ached, and the ache slowly turned into pain. I grabbed my right hand with my left, trying to calm down, but I saw the black marks I had borne when I was young reappear. The closer I went to the light, the worse the pain became, until it felt like the light engulfed me. I screamed in agony as my back and spine felt like they were being torn apart. The next moment, I passed out.
An explosion-like occurrence followed, as Atenyos was thrown out of the room where the Essence resides. It looked like he had been pushed hard and smashed into the palace wall, cracking it where he landed. Some Emperors rushed to him while others went to check if the room’s gates were still intact. Setis looked at Atenyos and noticed that his hand bore a white ring—a pure white ring on his left hand. He was speechless. Then Lutens looked at him in shock, holding his right hand, where he had a bright, dark ring that seemed like a void, not reflecting any color.