The gentle tapping of raindrops, the dancing of lights in the night sky. It was mesmerizing, but the concentration was lost with a scream outside. Guttural and violent, the sound of a man shouting. A race to the door to observe the happenings. The steps were as fast as the little legs could go.

A crying small girl clutched in the firm arms of a soldier.

A man hanging from the ceiling by a chain of ice in another room.

The rain ceases. It’s replaced by something more powerful, more horrifying. Blood. Pouring from the sky, puddles on the floor, to a tidal wave that would drown everything and everyone. All that was left was a man, standing on top. But the man was no longer a man. His face distorted, mixing with the features of human and a white bear as he stood at the top of a pile of bodies, clutching the head of a man by the hair, his face hidden by a shadow. An old man sitting on a rock floating on top of the newly formed lake of blood gives a knowing smile.

“Tell me now boy, was your path truly worth it?”

Oden woke up with a jolt, crashing his head into a rock.

Wait a rock in midair?

A strong, hearty laugh could be heard from across the house. Above was none other than Bjorn, the third seat of the council, and head of the Marauders. He was also his uncle.

Bjorn: “Just as jumpy as ever boy! You must sleep earlier if you’re this groggy in the late morning!”

Oden groaned to himself, looking out into the sky through his window.

Oden: “It's the first light uncle.”

Bjorn: “That’s not acceptable! You must be up earlier to train and hone yourself to be the very greatest! Isn’t that right my dear Serene?”

Serene, his cousin, was almost as big as her father. Naturally, she was next in line to become the head Marauders, and a spot on the council was all but guaranteed for her. Despite this, she was far more reserved. Being a woman destined for the highest position was looked down upon by the elders of their subclan, who valued physical strength over all else. As such, she had to work twice as hard than all the males to earn her place. And while the elders remained steadfast in their beliefs, the Marauders their age had long since learned to respect her. Though it took a couple of ass whoopings for some of them to do so. Oden felt for her. Constantly being critiqued and shunned by her environment, most would be as distant as her.

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Serene: “Yes, of course father.”

She gave Oden a knowing look, seeing him downtrodden.

Serene: “The dream again?”

Oden nodded solemnly, and Bjorn’s expression soured. Something rare for him to do.

Bjorn: “Twelve years, and we still haven’t caught the rats that did it to them.”

This conversation had been done too many times to count. Oden found it more productive to change the subject rather than unnecessarily dwelling on what was past.

Oden: “So what caused you to wake me up this early?”

Bjorn’s smile came back as though it had never left.

Bjorn: “You won’t believe this Oden, but that brat from the Dancing Blade brought an outsider. That comet we saw before? The rumors are that it was not a rock, but a boy, and the soothsayers have been losing their marbles!”

Oden was having trouble processing this. An outsider? On this land? No one without hair in the shade of light blue had been seen or recorded since the creation of the fortress one thousand years ago. And now, out of nowhere he was expected to believe that a boy fell out of the sky?

Serene decided to fill the gaps her father had left.

Serene: “The council has been summoned immediately to decide the fate of the outsider boy. Father wanted me to accompany him as his heir and I want you to accompany me as my future second in command. Will you come?”

She reached out towards him to offer her hand, and he accepted letting her pull him up. He wouldn’t miss something this eventful for the life of him. Bjorn held his head back and let out his biggest laugh of the day.

Bjorn: “A boy from a comet! What a story this will be to tell your kids, eh? I reckon he’ll die but I do want to see him for myself first.”

Oden agreed with this sentiment, and they left the house to make their way to the Dome.

Since the Spear Subclan took leadership of the council and all matters after the recent emperor resigned, council meetings had moved from the Royal Palace to the Dome. He was too old at this point anyways, nearing 180 years when most Elementals live to 150. Being a direct descendant of the first Ice Elemental, the Champion Aelon, his skills couldn’t be denied. However, a skilled man who lacks the skill to walk properly was difficult to take seriously.

He laughed to himself at the thought of the frivolous girl, Crystal being the first female Emperor. Not only would the elders of his own Subclan be infuriated upon serving under a girl (especially one as shrimpy as her), but he was confident in an internal conflict if she tried to reclaim power from the Spear Subclan. It was well known how much she was disliked by their officials. From what he knew of that girl, she would undeniably attempt to take what was rightfully hers. And he already knew what side he would be picking.

But knowing what he knew about that family-

His thoughts were cut short as they had arrived at the Dome. It was a large structure in the shape of a goblet that towered over the surroundings. It was one of the oldest buildings alongside the Royal Palace itself, since the Spear Subclan had been serving Emperors since the creation of the Fortress. Now that they were given leadership, they preferred to have everything important happen in their vicinity. If there was one thing he respected the Dragon for, it was going for the route guarded by the Spears during his team's escape. Their Subclan’s fighters had been reduced by 90% and if it weren’t for their Clan head, they would have completely lost all relevancy by now.

The three of them were led into the Council Room by a guard, and he was immediately faced with a boy of black hair. He curiously donned the Academy outfit, although it had a giant rip in the middle, with a disgusting gash that looked as though it had recently been treated. Another scar was across his left eye, and Oden couldn’t help but feel disappointed that he wasn’t a foreign Elemental. He seemed worried and confused, which was understandable. A bell was then rung, and the trial was to begin.

End.