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Rising Skies

Introduction:

On a clear bright night sometime long, long ago, when the world was still young, a messenger speeds towards the lonely woods before him, on a horse he was fortunate to obtain for this purpose from the royal stables, to deliver a most important message to his prince as he waits with his wife at a midwifes house found in this dark and mysterious forest. The princes' wife had been in labor for almost two days and nights and the prince had been pacing anxiously waiting for the birth of his son. The tall tiger like man paced in the front room of the hovel a worried frown on his striped face, his violet robes and hair moving about him as he moved swiftly from each side of the room. He is becoming increasingly worried as to the state of health of his pregnant wife. She had been in labor for far too long and fears the birth will take her away from him.

In the back room the midwife prepares the princess for the birthing. The ancient tigress scuffles along the floor, her dirty clothes rippling about her as she dabs at the sweat soaked fur of the princess's head. "Breathe my lady, the time is almost near. " She speaks soothingly in an attempt to quell any thoughts of fear from her mind. Yet the princess's emerald colored hair and fur remains saturated in sweat as she pushes thru the spasms of her body, her eyes shut tight and her hands gripping the sheets and furs on the bed she laid.

"The pain is too great Eleira," hisses the queen between short breathes as the midwife bustles about taking the warm water from the fire and setting up another table to clean the newborn. "It feels as if the child is going to burst from my womb this very minute!" The princess gasps and arches her back as best she is able the spasms getting worse and beginning to travel down towards her opening. "Oh holy gods! The child is coming!"

· * * *

In the other room the prince hears his wife cry out about the baby and he stops his pacing to turn and look at the door fighting the urge to enter and be with his wife. Thankfully for him the messenger entered the hovel out of breath and holding a rather large satchel. "Your majesty, I'm sorry to disturb you during this hour whilst the queen gives birth, but I have an important message from the court."

The prince turns and nods at the messenger giving him permission to sit and rest. "It is fine son; tell me what is of what importance this message has." The prince moves closer to the young feline noting his green hair, and hands him a goblet of water.

The messenger smiles awkwardly at being treated so by his prince and takes the drink gratefully. "The court was visited today by a Vael hermit who was claiming that the gods have given him a warning." He pauses a moment to take a drink from the goblet while the prince waits patiently for him to continue. "They claimed that there will be a fall for our empire. Our people will be hunted down and forced into hiding as our enemies grow strong against one another." The prince ponders this a moment.

"That is a foreboding message. Is there any credence for our belief in him?" he asks of the messenger. At first the messenger seems about to reply but then lowers the goblet and sets in on the table before him.

"Your majesty it was Beiler who spoke up to the court."

The prince's eyes widen and he too sits down. "The seyrsooth...so then the warning is real." He runs a hand along his face, his hair beginning to change. What is usually a bright purple head of hair now began to bleed into a dark blue. "Did the seyrsooth say anything else? Is there a way to protect our people and our country?" the young messenger nodded slowly but stayed silent for a moment taking a drink from the goblet.

"He spoke of something sire. But none understand it. He told us 'the night in spring when the moon is highest, lightning will strike a clear sky, and a life will be exchanged. This life will sway the fate of this kingdom either to destruction or salvation.' " The lad stared at the goblet in his hand as he recited what he had heard. The prince was confused._ _ While he had heard the seyrsooths messages many times in his father's rule each one was increasingly more cryptic. one thing he had learned is the more cryptic it was the more important it was. He could only imagine how important it is for the seyrsooth to be this cryptic. But he did not know what he could do. Was he to keep constant watch for a lightning bolt to strike a clear sky? And for how long would he have to wait?

When he goes to speak again his heart freezes and his hair turns white at the roots hearing his wife scream in the back room as she began to give birth to his son while the seyrsooths words echoed in his head.

· * * *

The midwife however was a bustle of movement as she got warm rags set upon the princess head and cloths to wrap the newborn in before positioning herself at the end of the makeshift mattress. "Push m-lady. The child is crowning." The midwife coos to the princess, pulling close a bucket for the after birth. The princess takes a few deep breaths and begins to push; groaning from the effort as the child slowly makes its way out. This goes on for what seems like hours to the princess before she collapses feeling the child gone from her womb. The mid wife stands wrapping the newborn in rags and cutting the umbilical cord, a concerned look on her face that even the exhausted princess noticed.

"What is it? What is wrong?" She asks the midwife, who in response takes the child to a smaller table, un-wrapping the child and examining it. "The child shows no signs of life my lady. I must act quickly if I am to save him." She begins taking temperature and checks for unformed bones or birthing injuries, all perfectly fine yet the child's heart wouldn't beat. So she shocked him. An ability all Alvyn possess but few can use. The response was thus. The child's heart began to beat at the shock, waking the child into life and as it cried the midwife trembled for the child's eyes shown with such power and anger from being shocked that she stared frozen in fear.

The princess hearing her child relaxed thinking the worst was over she calls to hold her child. When the midwife doesn't respond she struggles to sit up. "What is wrong now mid-wife, is my child ok?" Moments after she spoke, there was a blast of power so immense that it blew a hole thru the thatched roof and arced into the sky. The queen, shocked, could only marvel at the sight, thinking what a beautiful sapphire blue.

· * *

Chapter One

What if? Have you ever found yourself wondering that? What if? What if Christianity never rose to power? What if Columbus had never made his trip? What if world war one had never happened? What if we knew what had really happened throughout history? What if it went like this.......

'Ugh. It's too sunny today, even in the shade of this large tree.' The young Alvyn complains to himself under the shade a large tree found in his front courtyard. His tail was lazily waving about in the grass as he listened to the birds chirping above. 'I just don't get it. Why does every kid treat me like I'm going to hurt them? All I want to do is play games.' The young Alvyn continues on like this until he hears a familiar scuffle of paw pads on the cobble stone by the entrance to his home.

"Seflar!" It was his younger brother Rujin. With a smile Seflar sits up brushing his deep blue hair out of his face in time to see an orange and black striped bundle of fur, his clothes a bit too big for him making him stumble, coming out the main hall. "I'm coming rujin! " Standing up he brushes off the grass and leaves that stuck to his robes, pausing a moment to look at his all white fur with black stripes and sighs. 'Of all the kids to be born why did I have to be one of the different ones?'

"Seflar come on! Father is waiting!" his energetic and impatient little brother urged him on. With a small smile he shakes his head of his thoughts. "Alright Ruj! I'm coming!" He takes a moment to thank the tree for sharing its shade just like his mother had taught him and hurried to join his brother. Today was a big day for him. His father had taken up the throne a full season ago and today was seflar's coming of age ceremony. A day in all vael's lives where they celebrate the years he had as a child before beginning his studies to one day take the throne.

Honestly he didn't see why he had to take classes to become king. He already knew a lot. Like that every vael is born with a thing called a core inside them. He was told that a few people could use their cores to exhibit powers but he hasn't been able to do anything with his. He didn't even know where it was inside him. He tried to find it once. His father had said he passed out once while trying to locate it. Of course he was being stupid at the time. Thought it was in his shoulder and tried to use a knife to see it. He woke up two days later in the healers' quarters with his shoulder stitched shut. He swore he wouldn't be doing that again.

Now he was in the man hall, he looked around at the decorations that had been put up for his ceremony. The vines and garlands the servants had made were beautiful, flowers were everywhere, and they had replaced the drapes with the special coat of arms drapes his father had for big occasions. He could even smell his favorite foods coming from the hall leading to the kitchen. That put a big smile on his face. The feast after the ceremony is what he was excited for the most. He loved their cooks food. Sometimes he would sneak in and watch him cook the food.

Of course it's the cooks bread he liked the most. Always so warm and fresh, that it just melts in your mouth. And you didn't even need cream for it! But he didn't have time to sneak down now. Father was waiting for him. So he scrambled up the stone steps to the living wing and made his way to his father's rooms. He pushes the heavy wooden door open and finds his father behind the big ornate desk of wood and gold, curved and shaped to imitate the likeness of the world tree, the largest tree known in the world. Rumor has it that its roots reach out to all corners of the world supplying it with the magic we use in our daily lives.

His father, king Rujix, smiles as he runs up. "Seflar! How are you my son? It is an important day today. Have you finished your preparations?" Putting on an annoyed look he nods his head. "Yes father. I've learned the process of the rights and the trial of choice."

His father nodded and smiled. The ceremony for coming of age is something every young alvyn went through. The rights ceremony is to represent the child declaring that they are ready for adulthood. The trials of choice were to show what your strengths were and to suggest the best ways you would help the community. Of course being the young prince his trials would not be like the others. he would have to prove himself worthy of his choice with far more certainty. Fear of others thinking his son a choice of favoritism is what drove the king to set up a far greater trial. It is also why he could not tell his son of the change.

"Good. And where is your brother? I believe I sent for you both."

Seflar just shrugged. "He was right behind me after calling me in from the front lawn." His younger brother tended to be a bit slow for his age, and their father considered having a servant look for his son when rujin came running looking disheveled. Their father smiled seeing the young sylvan. "Good to see you could join us son."

Rujin gives his father a look of indignation as he straightens up and smooth's out his robes. "Sorry father. I had to catch my breath once I got up the main hall steps." Rujix chuckles and stands up walking around the desk. "Well now that I have you both here there is something of which I must urgently discuss with you in regards to who will take the throne when I pass." Rujix looks his two sons in the eye. "As you're aware from your studies, when the first born son of the royal family comes of age it is customary to announce the rights to become heir to the throne during the oral rights ceremony. Once declared you must then pass your trials without having to repeat them. It becomes invalid to you of you must repeat the trials and the chance to be heir will be passed to another sibling." Their father takes a moment to pause and make sure his sons were listening.

Seflar nodded to his father. "The lessons master has made sure we are to know what we are to say during the oral ceremony father." Rujin only nodded in agreement of his brother.

"Good. Now Seflar, the coming of age trials are important not just for the future of this kingdom but for you as well. The trials indicate that you are ready to be treated like a man and begin a journey that leaves childhood behind. I hope you are prepared."

Seflar nods and puffs out his chest in a slightly childish attempt to look brave. "Yes father. I'm prepared."

"Is it done?"

"Yes sir. It's finished."

In a small dark room on the other side of the palace, far from prying eyes, there are two Alvyn conversing in hushed tones. One with a deep yellow hair looks back and forth down the hall as he stands in the doorway. He speaks to a man whose hood and cloak keep him hidden. "I do not like this though my lord. I have heard the rumors about the eldest prince. "

"Oh Allym. That is the very reason why we mustn't allow him or his brother to make it to the throne. My cousin and his family are too soft to run this kingdom. I would see our people rise to supremacy and rule over all the lands of this world." He runs his hand along a small ornate box, his thumb running over the latch, as it sits on a plain wood table in a dark room that can only be assumed to be servants closet that was being unused.

"Yes my lord, but would it not do better to wait? Surely we would be found out. The king's fury at seeing his son die might not be something we can hide from." The Alvyn guarding the door turns to look at his companion. "I do not wish to put you in harm's way my lord."

The cloaked figure laughs softly and opens the small chest retrieving the vial kept inside. He slowly turns and holds up the vial, pinching the top so the contents are easily seen. "This will help us. A gift from a certain witch, whose life I kept from execution."

"W-what is that my lord?" Allym moves a step closer to examine the liquid in the vial.

The cloaked man pulls back the vial before allym could get a good look. "This will ensure we can't be harmed by my cousin." He slowly puts the vial back into the chest and closes the lid, re-latching the front. "Now that everything is set, there is nothing that stands in my way to becoming ruler." The cloaked man laughs softly to himself, his companion Allym watching on with uncertainty.

"Eleira! Eleira! "

The prince bursts through the door as the lightning fades from the room. Moving his hand away from his eyes he looks at the spot the bolt had appeared at and that was when he registered a newborns cry. Inside the smoke cloud that was slowly dissipating was the princes' son, swaddled up and crying his lungs out. The child had deep blue hair and had a pattern of stripes that seemed almost unnatural running down his body, lightning cackling the air around him as if forming a shield around the infant.

Holding the child was what he could only describe as a pile of coal ash. "Rujix! How is the baby? Is he safe?" Jumping slightly as he had been enthralled at the sight before he remembers his wife and quickly rushes to her side.

"Eleira my dearest are you ok?"

"Yes my love, but the baby. The mid wife, she was holding the baby when the lightning struck." She grips her husband fearful.

"The child is safe my dearest. Do you know where the lightning came from?" He asks her.

She nods and takes his hand. "The midwife had taken the child to be cleaned when she noticed something was wrong. The child's heart wasn't beating. She attempted to resuscitate and that's when the lightning hit." She tells this to him with a blank look as she stared out the hole the bolt had made. The stress of childbirth and then that sudden strike has probably put her into a sort of shock.

He goes over to the child and slowly reaches for him. There was a moment where it seemed that the barrier around the child was going to lash out but as his hand came into contact it fizzled and disappeared. Slowly he lifted his child up and brought him to his wife. She was still looking out the hole in the room when he placed the child in her arms as they lay on her lap.

Once he had placed the child in her arms would she look away. Her eyes shined in the moonlight showing through the hole in the room as she held and caressed her child, running her hand through her first born's fur. "Seflar" She whispers. Looking to her husband she smiles. "Let's name him Seflar."

The prince blinked and looked again to his son, not sure what had happened, but something told him that the name was right. "I agree my dearest. Seflar, of House Xertian."

Seflar walks into his quarters after his father's talk with him and his brother. Removing his shirt he walks over to his window and leans against the wood bordering the hole that held the shutters to the wall and stares at the backdrop of the city. Sighing heavily, he wonders to himself about a great many things. Foremost would be that not one of the other Alvyn children likes him. As much as he would try to be friends with them they treat him like he was going to hurt them. Why? What has he done to cause them to become so scared of him?

He knew he had to get ready for the ceremony but he just sat on the sill and stared out. "Shouldn't you be more excited about today Seflar?" The three tailed kitsune that has no problem showing up in his friend's room out of nowhere asks him. Sometimes Seflar finds it irritating at how easily he can just go where he wants. Often he wished he had such freedom.

"I don't know Reth. I want to be but I can't help but feel like something is going to happen." He sighs and stands up walking to his wardrobe. "I've been having this dream lately. It's dark, I can't move. Then there's a shock, and the world lights up with lightning and just keeps building until I was afraid it would kill me. And that's when I scream. I scream in fear and anger. Such hatred for being put in such fear. Then all goes black again and the sudden silence and darkness causes me to wake." He tells this to Reth as he changes behind the wardrobe screen. Reth himself seemed to be contemplating the dream as he sat midair with his legs crossed and hand to his chin.

"That sounds like quite the dream Seflar. Maybe the fates are trying to tell you something. Perhaps it's a warning to keep watch out for something or someone?" Reth ponders. Seflar emerges from the changing screen dressed in his brilliant blue and gold ceremonial robes. Reth actually had to keep himself from staring. He had to admit Seflar looked good in those robes.

"Perhaps Reth. I just hope it doesn't interfere with the trials. They are supposed to be hard enough as it is." He sighs and adjusts the collar of his robes. "Ugh, these things are always so itchy. How does dad do it?" Frustrated he just looks at Reth, who was standing there smirking at seflar's antics with the collar. "And don't you start either. Come on. Let's get down to the main hall for starting ceremony." Seflar huffs and heads out his door into the hall. An amused Reth following close behind.

Reth was an interesting creature. A being that only Seflar could see or hear, had the ability to go humanoid to feral and always had three tails. Seflar of course knows that Reth isn't an imaginary friend that he had created to play with. He had done his homework and looked through his father's library for any mention of a being like Reth and had discovered after some years, with help of a small clue Reth had accidently let slip, that Reth was known as a fox spirit. To some of the humans on the far eastern borders of their territory called them kitsu. Apparently their tails represent the strength of their power and age. He looked for more information but his father's library was limited on far eastern legends and animals of magic.

So far however Seflar hasn't been able to convince anyone else that Reth isn't an imaginary thing. And that annoyed him quite often. He had asked Reth to show himself to the others but he is extremely stubborn. Often at the expense of my humiliation.

But despite all that Reth had been a constant and loyal friend who always looked after my wellbeing. "Hey Reth?"

The Kitsu stops gazing at the palace walls and ramparts surrounding the yards and looks at Seflar. "Hmm?" Seflar stops and looks at Reth for a moment, then lays a hand on the Kitsu's shoulder.

"thank you. There would be no worthier friend than you Reth. As annoying as your refusal to show yourself can be, you've always been there to help me when I needed it. And I thank you."

Reth blinks a bit somewhat surprised and taken aback by this but quickly recovered and smiles a bit. "Seflar my friend you are one of the most interesting things I've come across and have grown rather fond of you, watching you as you've grown. You needn't worry Sef. You can always count on me to be here when you need me." Seflar smiles and nods turning and continuing his way to the main hall.

By the way Reth, I've always been curious. But if I scratched behind your ears would you react like a fox would?" Seflar asks with a big grin. The only reaction he got was a twitch of the ear.

"Only if you don't mind losing a hand sef." Reth responds with just as big a grin.

'Alright I've lived here my entire life and I have never seen the main hall so decorated or ro crowded.' Seflar remarks to himself. There were thirteen other youths here to pass the trials standing off to the side of his father's throne next to him. All of them unable to look Seflar in the eye. 'as always they can't look at me.' Sighing heavily he tries to distract himself with his studies while he waits for his father to show and start the ceremony.

The oral rights only need to be given once but it's a difficult thing to learn and remember. And as prince he would have more to remember since his will involve becoming the heir to the throne. The citizens piled in one by one and slowly filled the room, which was large enough to host almost 500 people. Seflar recognized some of them. The Cook, and the scholar that leads him and his brother through their studies. And a few others he met when his mother took them out to the city.

After what seemed to Seflar like an eternity his father is announced o the audience who unanimously bows as he walks to the throne from a side entrance. Before he sits he raises his hands and motions them all to stand. "my citizens please, this is not a day for your king. This is a day for our youth! On this day when those of our lands reach the age of maturity they are put thru the trials of change. These trials will show our youths what it is that they can do to contribute to the community. Each trial will test their skills, knowledge, and adaptability. Every choice they make will affect how their trial goes. Once thru, the youth will become an adult, and will be able to choose what next to do to support those around them." Once he was sure they had all stood he sat down.

The court Herald walks forward to address the citizens. "My fellow Alfin citizens! Thank you all for gathering here. Today marks the occasion for this years coming of age ceremonies. There are fourteen strapping young lads here before you to start the right of passage handed down for generations among our people." The herald motions to the line of youths standing next to the throne. Seflar watches the crowd, that sinking feeling still rolling around in his gut. "these lads will one by one bow to the king and turn to the audience to begin reciting their oral rights. After which they will face the trials of change where they will learn more about themselves and how they decide to benefit the people." The herald droned on like this for a few more minutes but Seflar had stopped paying attention. His eyes had caught something in the crowd that had sent feeling of dread into high gear.

It was just a shadow, yet the shape and size of it didn't seem right to Seflar. He couldn't explain why but that shadow had really put him off. Quietly so as to not disturb the ceremony he leans over to Reth, who was floating just behind the boy on the right, and nods in the direction he had glimpsed the shadow. "Reth, I need eyes over there. Saw a shadow that didn't seem right to me."

Reth paused a moment, about to deny the request when he noticed what Seflar had said. A shadow didn't seem right to Seflar. That struck his interest because Seflar had sensed something in a shadow. So he nods to Seflar and pops himself instantly on the other side of the hall where Seflar had pointed out. Almost instantly he could tell something was off in the area. But it was so faint that determining what it was and its location would be difficult. So Reth decides to play the waiting game, sitting in the air with his arms and legs crossed a small interested smirk forming on his face.

Seflar just rolls his eyes at seeing Reth's smirk across the hall. 'at least one of us is having fun' he thought to himself. Returning his attention to the herald he waits patiently as he watches the herald and his two wards set up the pedestal that will hold the book of rights that each new young man must sign after reciting their orals. This will be the youths chance to set down what coat of arms will uniquely identify them for the rest of their lives. They are told it's a very important moment. Though he can't quite see why to be honest. It's just a picture that they use to show its really you.

At this time the herald starts back up on his speech to the people. "and now I will call the first young lad to the book of rights to begin their orals. First to the call is Rherim son of Therim!" The boy at the farthest end of the line quickly shuffles along the line, his roots of his hair starting to turn shades from the attention and quite possibly the butterflies in his stomach.

Standing before the crowd of people the boy known as rherim swallows softly as he stares out at all the eyes looking back at him. "I am Rherim. Son of Therim Paneras and Seitra Milocy......" this went on one by one as each youth gave their orals and was asked to stand in line on the other side of the throne. "and now we are down to our last and most prominent of those here before you. Seflar son of Rujix! "

Seflar seemed to feel the eyes of every person in the hall move to him waiting for him to move. With a quick glance to the other side of the hall to see a still smiling Reth he makes his was to the pedestal and places his hands on either side of the book. To the crowd it seems as though Seflar was getting nervous as he stands before the crowd and the book in silence for a moment. To be honest he was feeling the pressure. His head was getting light and his stomach had butterflies. So he did what his father had always told him when he got this way. He closed his eyes and took a slow deep breath.

When he opened them the crowd had gone, and only Reth and those he cared for remained. Then he began. "my name is Seflar. Son of High King Rujix and High Queen Eleira. I stand before you now as a boy about to pass through into the stages of adulthood." Seflar pauses and takes another deep breath, grateful he placed his hands flat on the dais they were shaking so much.

"in our world, we are given only a certain span of time in which to grow and live. If one is careful they can lead a fulfilling life. If one is careless they will end up living a life filled with endings and darkness. I hereby state that as I become a man and mature, I will attempt to live the life worth living. That I will be there when those I love need me. To help those near me when they struggle. And to do my best to ensure the continuation of our kingdom, in service and in spirit. It is also here where I now state my claim of heir to the throne. I vow to do my best to learn about the people and the lands, to protect the people of this country, to make sure they are safe and content within this realm. And even now as I take the first step into manhood and stake my claim to the throne I shall endeavor to always keep the benefit of the kingdom in the weighing of all future decisions."

He then lifts the stamp set on the dais, and dabbing it into the powdered charcoal before placing his personal crest onto the page before him in the book marking his end to his orals and starting the journey to adulthood.(describe the stamp and crest in final draft

It was time. They had just finished the start of the ceremony and soon will begin the second stage. His cousin will soon be sending the boys into the trial rooms to face themselves. Now he had to get things ready.

He turns into a darkened room with very little light to find Allym standing against the far wall, a large trellis like gate that he had had secretly made for this one reason on Allym's right hand side. The beast they were going to unleash was in the cage next to the trellis. He was glad Allym had kept it covered for it made him uneasy to gaze upon the creature. "Allym, good. Are we ready to begin?"

"Yes lord Quarl. I have everything set up and the ones who built the gate have been taken care of. No one knows what we are up to." Allym stands and walks to show Quarl the gate and lever. "when the prince starts his trial this will open and enable our little beast to enter the trial rooms. Its already got his scent to track him down so it shouldn't take too long to do the job."

Quarl smiles. "good. Soon my cousin will be weakened to his core. Then I will remove my cousin from the picture and take the throne.. prepare the beast! They are about to start sending the boys through their trials. Our timing must be perfect...."

To be honest Seflar wasn't expecting much. The hollow thunk of the stamp hitting the page on the dais was one he did expect. The sudden outburst from the crowd, that broke his self-revere and startled him quite well, was one he did not expect. Every person in the crowd was either clapping or cheering. Seflar couldn't understand it. Were they just being nice cause he was the kings son? Its only later that he discovers that they had reacted to him because of how he spoke. To many it had seemed as though an ancient and kind king had taken hold of Seflar's fears and filled his confidence.

As the noise from the crowd slowly died off his father walks forward with a smile to stand next to Seflar. "With this the orals are finished.. We thank you all however customs have always held the second part of these trials without a viewing crowd for the safety of those taking the tests. So please I hope you've enjoyed your visit here and I hope you all best of wishes on returning home." Seflar and the other boys with him are then ushered into an antechamber where the door to face the trials is placed.

Seflar had never been in this room. It was completely different from the rest of the palace. It was old. Really old. Carvings on the walls depicted stories he was unable to translate other than it being a history of something. Probably the start of the coming of age traditions he surmised. There were relics of the nation's past showing the development of its culture, the change and scope of the weapons and magic our nation had developed, even the shape and change of its faith.

"Congratulations young ones. You are on your journey to adulthood. Let me be the first to say welcome." Seflar's father tells them all when they are all in the room. "there is only one other door in this room. And that's the one behind me. Through that door is the trial chamber. In there you will face a podium carved from the same stone that made the floor. This podium will determine what your current attributes and ideas and will open up to three of the eight doors provided for you choose from. You need only complete one and each test will be set up to a different one of each of your strongest traits. Only one is needed to pass the trial however there have been a few who have taken these trials and have taken the wrong meaning from them and fell off the path they were intended for to become rogues." Rujix let that sink in a bit before calling the first boy to pass through the door. One by one each of the young lads in the room began to enter into the mysterious door to take their trials.

Seflar had not even realized he was the only one left in the room until his father had walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. He had caught his eye on a mural that seemed a bit odd compared to the rest of the murals carved onto the wall. It was an oddly spherical sort of pyramid, hollow with a cage like design. The image depicts a type of energy supplied in the center. "Ahh the core of nature. Its said it was a gift from mother gaia herself. Graced to our people for the care and love we impart upon the lands of our country." Seflar jumped a bit his father surprising him. He looked around and noticed they were alone. Turning back to look at the mural he listens as his father continues. "the only recorded use of the core was by a man born with it in his chest opposite his heart several hundred years ago. At that time the land had come under attack by the forces of darkness, monsters and demons invading the lands however they could. If it hadn't been for him, our country would not have lived as long as it has."

Rujix then took his hand and placed it on seflar's head. "But come now it's time for your trial son." Seflar nodded and looked to the door. The door itself seemed to inspire a stroke of awe from Seflar. Almost seeming like it would grow larger if he approached it.

Walking forward slowly he reaches a hand out to push the latch and swing the door open. Beyond the door was a simple but large room with eight doors on all sides and a pedestal with a imprint of a hand in the center. Seflar paused before the pedestal jumping when the door behind him closed with a loud thud. He shakes his head a bit to clear his mind. 'Can't be jumping at every little thing. I'll need to focus if I'm to pass.'

He slowly places his hand on the pedestal inside the indention. For a moment nothing seemed to happen. But a glow started under his hand, and began to grow to fill the imprint his hand rested on. As he watched he could follow the energy as it trailed out and down the side of the pedestal and weave its way thru the floor to the doors in the room. The energy hovered and moved between the doors as if looking for something. Seflar stood like this, Waiting until his doors were opened. It took several minutes of waiting and then the energy withdrew back to his hand and a single door clicked open revealing an inky blackness. 'only one? Where are the other two?'

Expecting to see three doors open and only seeing the one he approached the door cautiously. All he could see was an inky blackness beyond the door frame. He looked around but the room itself hadn't changed and none of the other doors had opened. So he took a slow deep breath and stepped into the room. If he was expecting something to happen it didn't. as he stood in the doorway he contemplated what was going on when he hears a passing thought. 'Seflar. It's coming.' That sounded like Reth. Seflar quickly glances over his shoulder to see behind him, just in time to see the door close. And then he was falling in darkness....

"He's in. Allym. Get the beast ready. I will start the ritual that will send it to the trial room." Quarl orders and moves to the trellis gate they had installed and opened it. Of course right now the room is empty, it will be up to Quarl to send it to the Dimension Seflar is in so that it can kill him. And no one suspects a thing. Quarl had to smile darkly at this thought.

Allym began wrangling the beast from the cage and forcefully guide it to the open gate. it took a few moments of wrangling to get it through the open gate but they eventually got it in and the gate closed. Once that was done, Quarl began chanting the words that would send the creature to its target. There was a loud snarl from the creature and then the room was silent. Quarl smiled. Soon now....

There's really nothing quite like the sensation of falling in total blackness. It was enough to send any grown man into a crazed frenzy. Seflar however strangely felt calm. It's as if the Fall was familiar to him. Almost Comforting.

'Welcome young one.'

Seflar was startled by the sudden feminine like voice. He tried vainly to look around for the owner of the voice. He also had begun to notice he was beginning to slow down. There even seemed to be a soft glow beginning to form under him, gradually growing below him. Though it held no illumination. It was an eerie dim greyish blue glow that had a warm welcoming feel to it.

Seflar wasn't sure what to think about this as he slowed down and softly landed on the glowing surface. It didn't appear to be too big, maybe a few yards at most. He couldn't see beyond the edge either. Just where was he?

'Welcome young one.' Another Voice. This time a males. Soft and kind sounding.

"who are you?" Seflar calls out to the voice. "What is this place?"

'Why are you bothering with this one. You know he must have got in here by mistake like the others.' Now there was a second voice. Harsh and with more Anger.

Seflar wasn't sure what was going on. At least until he saw two men slowly appear in front of him arguing with each other.

'But we have an obligation to all those who find their way here.' This one looked like a traditional Alvyn. With greyed out orange hair and wore robes that hid his stature from outside view.

'There you go again with that nonsense. I say we just send him on his way.' The other however was Humanoid. Too tall to be a true human but too short to be atlantian. He wore armor and a cloak, all in a greyed black.

Seflar was at a loss. All he could do was stare at the two apparitions with his mouth agape. A fact quickly noticed by the more sour one of the two, who wasted no time in trying to exploit it to his advantage.

'You see? Even he isn't aware of what's happening. If he really was one of the chosen he would have been told about this before taking the ritual.'

The Alvyn just shakes his head at this and looks Seflar up and down with a smile. 'Never the less we will test him. We may yet be surprised.'

The human just scoffs at this and crosses his arms. 'Fine but don't blame me if you get disappointed again.'

Seflar himself was very confused. He was in a place he had no description for and there were two men arguing about what to do with him. "umm...what is going on here?" he anxiously asks the two men.

The Alvyn responds as he and his companion both pull out a bottle of wine and a cup to drink it from. 'this is the realm in-between. Here there is no existence just being. You are here because there is a test you must take.' He then slowly pours a shimmering white liquid from the bottle into the cup.

His companion picks up the thread of conversation as he pours his. 'before you can leave there is a choice you have to make. We each have a bottle of wine and a cup. You must choose which of us is truth and which one is lies.'

The Alvyn interjects. 'you may ask us each one question. When you've made your choice you will receive a cup. Pour the wine from your choice and drink it. That is all you have to do.'

Seflar thought about this. Out of everything he had studied for this was not something he expected to face in the trials. What should he do? Try and find another way out? Or play the game these two want him to? If he played along what question should he ask? And how would he know which one is lying?

'shhhh. Keep calm young one. Remember everything needs its balance.' It was that feminine voice from the fall. Selar eyes widen a bit at hearing it and looks around. 'What are you?' was it the same as the two men in front of him?

Seflar stopped at this. What if they were the same? He looks at the Alvyn. "What are you?"

The Alvyn smiles at this question and crosses his arms. "I am sweet, kind, and an ease to the heart." Seflar listened closely. Those sure sounded like things that would be truth. But he still had to ask the human.

Before he could even ask however the human responded. " I am harsh, sometimes cruel, and can cause the heart sorrow." That confused Seflar. From what he knew of truth, both these men have named off things that resemble it. So which one is lying? Seflar stands there contemplating his choice. The two ghost like men just sat waiting patiently. They knew this wasn't going to be an easy choice.

Seflar didn't have long to think however because at that moment the world began to shift violently throwing the glowing platform into a shifting mass of light. "Whats happening!" He calls out to the two. They seemed just as shocked as Seflar did. So much so that they faded from view. Strangely though the wine and cups remained. So his choice must still be made. Seflar didn't know how he was going to get to the wine however. The ground was shifting too much for him to get over there without fear of falling into the darkness.

Then Seflar noticed something. A low growl could be heard circling around him just out of sight of the glow. 'a Beast? Here? What is going on?' Seflar had to think fast. From the growl he guessed it was a large predator. That means he has to get out of this place before the beast can get to him. But how?

The wine. He has to make his choice. And that means he has to get to the wine across the shifting glow. He had to jump to it. There was no other way. Walking or running was out of the question. Both from the shifting mass and the beast most likely being faster than he can run.

The growling was getting louder. Seflar had to act now or it'd be too late. He readied himself for the jump, listening closely for the beast. The moment he heard it go quiet, a split second from pouncing on its prey, he jumped and the Beast jumped after him...