[long chapter btw]
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[Volke's POV]
I outlined a fresh grave for the cemetery as bells rang from the isle's tower, signifying the start of the celebrations. The soil reeked of ammonia and rot, but the crisp morning breeze washed the scent away,dispersing it over the ocean.
I removed my shirt, allowing the wind to cool me while I worked.
Every ten years, the people on the Isle of Ruma gathered to watch the fledgling phoenixes bond with a few chosen mortals. Lamplighters did their duty despite the glorious sunshine, each lamp's fire representing the flames of phoenixes. Merchants cleared their horses and carts from the main road in anticipation of the crowds.This was my second Day of Phoenixes.
A decade ago, on my fifth birthday, I missed the bonding ceremony to attend my father's trial. He was convicted of murder, but because he hadn't been born on the island, he was taken to the mainland for final judgement. That was the last time I saw him.
Although the last Day of Phoenixes had been inauspicious, I intended to change that. Once I had finished digging a shallow grave, I would make my way into town.
I slammed the shovel's head into the dirt and scooped deep. The cemetery sat near the edge of the island, far from those gathering to observe the hopeful students trying to win the favor of the phoenixes.
Tradition stated that anyone who handled sewage, waste, and dead bodies wasn't allowed to attend the bonding ceremony, which was just my luck. After my father was sent away, I could've been given to any profession for apprenticeship. I could've gone to the carpenter and learned the craft of woodworking, or I could've gone to the silversmith and learned the art of fine metal work, but misfortune hounded me like a shadow. I was given to the gravekeeper, slated to dig corpse-holes until the end of time,forever exiled from the festivities. I still intended to go. Even if it meant ignoring the traditions of the isle —something unheard of on our tiny spit of land—no one could stop me from proving myself to a phoenix. No one. I scooped another mound of dirt and tossed it to the side.
"You look deep in thought, Volke," my fellow corpse-hole apprentice,Illia, said. "What're you planning?"
"I'm waiting for the trials to begin."
"And then what?"
"You'll see."
Illia sat in the shade of a cypress tree, her legs crossed and her chin in both hands. Most people hated the thought of sitting on graves, since it was supposed to bring bad luck, but Illia wasn't like most people. She leaned back on a headstone and exhaled as the ocean wind rushed by, catching her wavy brown hair and revealing the scars on the side of her face.She held a hand over the marks, like she always did. The moment the wind died down, she pulled some of her hair around to cover her scars,hiding the old knife wounds that had taken her right eye.I finished one half of the grave and huffed. Illia and I lived in a tiny cottage on the edge of the cemetery,apprenticed to Ruma's sole gravekeeper. We both held the glorious title of gravedigger. Like me, she had no family. Well, we had each other, and Gravekeeper William, but he hardly counted.
For ten years, Illia and I had considered ourselves brother and sister, and siblings always know each other's mood. Illia displayed all the telltale signs of irritation—narrowed eye, rarely blinking, her mouth turned down in as light frown. She hated the fact I was keeping secrets from her. If I didn't explain myself quick, she'd exact her revenge.
"I don't want to become the next gravekeeper," I said as I threw a mound of dirt off to the side.
With an eyebrow sarcastically raised, Illia asked, "So you're going to impress a phoenix and leave this place, is that it?"
"That's right."
"Only two phoenixes were born this year," she said, wagging her finger.
"And the schoolmaster has already picked his two favored disciples to win the right to bond. No one wants you to take a phoenix from either of those try-hards."
"I don't care." I scooped out another clump of dirt, my grip on the shovel so tight it hurt.
"Bonding with a phoenix is too important. Besides,no one on this isle likes me anyway. Why should I start caring about their opinions now?"
"Hmph. I should've known you'd say that."
Of course. Anyone who bonded with a mystical creature, like a phoenix, became an arcanist—a powerful wielder of sorcery, capable of great magic based on the creature they bonded to.
Arcanists were the pinnacle of society, the most influential people, and revered by everyone. Some arcanists could control the weather, or devastate armies, or make the land fertile. Even the weakest and laziest of arcanists were well-thought-of and important members of powerful guilds, shepherding humanity to greatness with a mere flick of their wrists.
What I wouldn't give to become an arcanist. They were things of legend.
More significant than a gravedigger, anyway.
"You're not the only one with plans today," Illia said. She waited a minute before adding, "Aren't you going to ask me what I'll be doing during the bonding ceremony?"
I shoveled another chunk of dirt, taking some weeds with it. "All right.Tell me. What will you be doing?"
"It's a secret."
She stood and brushed herself off with a few gentle pats to her dress.Then she crossed her arms and stared at me, no doubt waiting for me to pester her about the secret just so she could say, see how annoying it is when you do it?
"I'm sure you'll have fun doing whatever it is you have planned," I said with a shrug.
"You're not the only one who wants to become an arcanist,Volke," she replied, saying my name as though it were venom.
"But there might be easier ways than embarrassing yourself in front of everyone."
I finished carving the outline of the grave, determined not to be sucked into asking her what she meant. I had too many things on my mind to get into an argument. Besides, I knew she was right. It was irksome being excluded from secrets, especially by family. But I didn't want to run the risk of her trying to dissuade me.
Another round of bells sounded in the distance. I threw my shovel to the side and turned toward the cemetery cottage. "I have to go. Whatever you do, don't get into trouble."
Illia replied with a smile.
"Never."
Something about her sarcastic tone told me she had trouble planned, but there wasn't any time to go into it. I jogged into the cottage, ran up the rickety stairs, and then dashed straight into my room. It was technically a storage closet that Gravekeeper William had converted into a sleeping space so that Illia and I wouldn't have to share the second bedroom.The cramped room fit my cot, a chair, and a trunk for my clothes. That was it.
I squeezed myself in, ripped off my dirty trousers, and then dressed in a clean white shirt and black pants. Although I owned nothing fancy— everything in my trunk had been Gravekeeper William's at some point—I still wanted to make an effort. The phoenixes bonded with individuals they liked the most after the Trials of Worth were over. I needed to impress them, and I couldn't do that with grave dirt on my clothes.
Once dressed, I combed my disheveled hair, even though it never cooperated. For some reason, it always puffed out and tangled at the ends,defying gravity just to make me look foolish. And the blackness of it—an inky hue taken straight from the midnight hour—wasn't common on the isles. Everyone else had red or blond hair, so other kids made fun of me.
Coal head. Ink brush. They weren't clever kids—any dumber and you'd have to water them twice a week—they were just mean. No one harassed me after I grew tall, however. Six feet meant I stood out in the group, and not in a wimpy way.When I finished the last of my brushing, my hair puffed back out.Satisfied I had made myself halfway presentable, I laced up my boots and headed downstairs to the kitchen. I grabbed a small canteen of water and the cleanest rag we owned before rushing out the front door.
The vast ocean sparkled in the distance, so blue it put the sky to shame.The winds brought waves, but nothing strong enough to reach far inland— just the melody of water lapping across the white sand beaches.With the breeze in my face, I ran down the dirt road until I came to the cobblestone streets of the city. I pushed my way through the crowds of people swarming toward the town square.
Our small island didn't have much flatland, so the one city—creatively named Ruma, like the island—was the only place to live. The two-story houses were smooshed together, most with stores downstairs and homes above. Despite the congested living arrangements, people went out of their way to keep the place lively. Potted flowers, colored cobblestone for the roads, wrought-iron fences in the shape of fish for the balconies—Ruma had a special beauty waiting in every nook and cranny.
The crowds made their way to the Pillar to watch the bonding trials begin.
The Pillar—nothing more than a sheer column of pointed rock jutting straight up into the sky—was well over one hundred and twenty feet tall. It could be seen from anywhere on the island, the reddish stone shimmering in the sunlight. A single tree grew at the top, its branches forever swaying in the ocean winds, its roots laced over the rock, its fruit rare and delicious.
That sole charberry tree was what had attracted the first phoenixes to our island centuries ago. The spicy fruit tasted like a chili pepper, but sweeter and juicier. Phoenixes loved them.
The base of the Pillar was the starting location for the Trials of Worth— the tasks given to the wide-eyed hopefuls wanting to prove their value to the phoenixes. I continued through the crowd, my head tilted back, my gaze locked on the Pillar. A staircase wrapped around the column of rock, all the way to the top.
"Hey," someone yelled as I shoved my way deeper into the excited masses. "Isn't that one of the gravedigger kids?"
I ignored the remark, sidestepped the slow-moving families, and nimbly maneuvered through a group of schoolchildren. If I bonded with a phoenix,I wouldn't have to stay here anymore and listen to their whispers. All new arcanists traveled to the mainland to join a guild for training.
A third round of bells chimed, and my pulse quickened with each step. I didn't want to be late for the trials.
The whole population of Ruma packed the streets, shoulder to shoulder.No one missed the Day of Phoenixes unless they were specifically excluded, like the garbage men. Everyone wore their best attire, children tossed red flower petals, and the theater troupe wore costumes made of bird feathers while they pranced around pretending to be phoenixes. It took all of my willpower not to crane my head to get a better look as I ran by.
"—and today is a day of glory," the schoolmaster's voice boomed across the town square.
Schoolmaster Tyms was a naturally loud individual—Gravekeeper William described him as a regular blowhard in love with his own voice.
I slipped between two elderly men and stayed off to the side, making sure to remain in the shadows cast by the morning sun. Hundreds of people crowded the center of town, but their gazes never turned in my direction.They all kept their attention on a wooden stage near the Pillar—a platform only a few feet off the ground—where Schoolmaster Tyms stood squarely in the middle, his arms raised.
Whenever he glanced in my direction, I ducked. Schoolmaster Tyms didn't care for anyone except those who attended his lectures, and he especially hated those with "unsavory" professions.
"I've mentored two extraordinary people," Tyms said. "Both are talented beyond their years and worthy of a phoenix."
He walked to the edge of the stage, lifting his arms even higher, his wrinkled face pulled back in an unnatural smile. I had seen corpses do a better job at conveying emotion.But I didn't stare at him for long because on either side of him, perched on ornate bird stands, were two phoenixes.
I stood transfixed, taking in their lustrous scarlet feathers and golden eyes. They had the build of herons, delicate and sleek, but every time they moved, soot fell from them and drifted to the ground. Fire flashed underneath their wings as though their whole bodies were made of flame.Their tails hung down two feet and twisted a bit at the end, like a peacock.They were young, not even a year old, but that was old enough for them to leave the island. Mystical creatures didn't reach maturity unless they were bonded to a person—I was certain they were giddy for the ceremony as well.
"We're honored to be here today," one phoenix said, her voice sing-song and brilliant.
The other added, "We can't wait to see our potential partners." He lifted his head as he spoke, his voice soft but distinct.
I wanted to hold one in my arms and feel the warmth of their magic coursing through my body, but touching a phoenix was forbidden. Only once they bonded with a person were they allowed to be handled.
The phoenixes tilted their heads as two individuals walked forward. The two were around my age, fifteen, the age of adulthood. They wore robes of glistening white, tied at the waist with silver ropes made of silk. Fancy outfits made on the mainland, betraying their wealth. Tyms motioned to the rich newcomers. "On this Day of the Phoenixes I've selected Zaxis Ren and Atty Trixibelle to take part in the trials.
"Of course they would be picked. Ever since we were kids, they were always favored by the schoolmaster.
I cursed under my breath as Zaxis walked to the base of the Pillar.
He stopped under the metal archway, a century-old artifact which hadbeen shaped into a phoenix and gilded. The arch signified the start of thetrial. Anyone who passed beneath it would become a participant.
Zaxis smiled at the crowd with the smuggest expression a human could muster. His red hair shimmered in the sunlight and fluttered about with the wind. It wasn't long enough to tie back, and I took a small amount of pleasure in watching him clumsily pat it down every few seconds, only for a stray hair to poke him in the eye again. Zaxis's family, the Ren House, stood at the front of the crowd, their personal soldiers keeping the "riffraff" a couple feet back. They cheered for Zaxis and threw flower petals. I had never been cheered for anything, yet all he did was show up. Life wasn't fair sometimes.
"Thank you," Zaxis said as he flashed a toothy smile. "Thank you. Once I'm bonded with a phoenix, I'll make all of Ruma proud with my many accomplishments. I'll become the world's most renowned arcanist, loved by all."
I balled my hands into fists and gritted my teeth. He already assumed a phoenix would choose him and that he would make one of the world's greatest arcanists? Of course he did—he wasn't expecting any competition.
Then Atty stepped forward, and the crowds hushed. Unlike Zaxis, whose insufferable attitude knew no bounds, Atty held herself with regal sophistication. Her long blonde hair, tied in a neat braid, didn't twirl in the winds. She held her head high, her slender neck adorned with a silver necklace depicting a charberry tree. I had always admired her poise and grace, like a pauper admires a member of royalty, even when I was young.
If things had been different—if I wasn't a gravedigger—maybe I could've courted Atty. No doubt she would be disgusted to have someone like me approach her now. But once I bonded with a phoenix, perhaps I'd have the courage.
"Thank you, Schoolmaster Tyms," Atty said, her voice a sweet relief after a long day's work. "It's a privilege to prove myself worthy of a phoenix. If I become an arcanist, I swear to dedicate myself to becoming a helpful ruler, one all of Ruma can be proud of."
Atty's family, the Trixibelle House, owned most of the buildings on the island. They sat on nearby balconies, each of them poised on chairs and cushions, cheering for Atty, along with everyone else on the island.
Although I wanted a phoenix for myself, I almost joined in on the clapping. Her answer was perfect, and when the phoenixes exchanged glances, I knew they thought the same.
No one else stepped forward.
While other people could offer themselves to the phoenixes, it was frowned upon. The schoolmaster knew best, or so they said—for centuries the keepers of knowledge were deemed the wisest and most capable of determining who would become the best arcanists. It was a tradition. And for the last few decades, the schoolmaster hadn't even made it a competition.He simply chose the exact number of students equal to phoenixes, ensuring his recommendation carried more weight than gold.
And the Isle of Ruma knew the importance of picking the right people to become arcanists. If the competition was open to everyone, someone with ill intents could gain vast magical power. The schoolmaster was supposed to weed them out and put forward only the best, most deserving people. That was why no one else entered the competitions.
Following traditions is the way of the isles!
Our island's motto.
But even if I was noble of spirit, Atty and Zaxis studied and trained eight hours a day under the care of Schoolmaster Tyms. Everyone else, myself included, had work and chores. Atty and Zaxis were lucky. I wasn't.
How could I ever hope to match their knowledge and skills?
That didn't matter, though. I wouldn't make excuses. The phoenixes could, in theory, bond with anyone they found worthy. And I would show them just how worthy I was by passing each of the three trials.
"Once our hopefuls walk through the archway," Tyms said, gesturing to the gold phoenix arch, "they will officially become participants in the trials. For the first task, each hopeful must walk up all one hundred and twelve steps of the Pillar to the charberry tree. Then they will pick a fruit to present to the phoenixes and return down the stairs."
Every Day of Phoenixes had the same three trials. The charberry tree was the first. Only one stairway led to the tree—the spiral stairway made of stone steps that wrapped around the Pillar. The steps were hundreds of years old and worn smooth from use. Oh, and no railing, which was why I never felt safe standing on them, as falling from anything past the tenth step meant serious injury, possibly death.
"And with that, you may begin," Tyms shouted.
Both Atty and Zaxis bowed to the crowd before turning and walkingthrough the archway.
This was it.
My moment.I ran through the crowd, pushing people out of the way when I needed to, even knocking over a few men of the Ren Family as I dashed toward the arch. My heart beat so hard I almost didn't hear people screaming for me to stop.
"Hey!" a woman barked.
"What's he doing?" someone else shouted.
"Stop him!"
But before anyone could grab me, I raced through the archway, dashing past Atty and Zaxis.
"What do you think you're doing, Volke?" Zaxis growled. "Good-for-nothing gravediggers can't enter the trials!"
I had my foot on the first step of the Pillar when I glanced over my shoulder. "I already passed under the archway. That makes me a participant."
"What? That's not allowed!" Zaxis glanced over his shoulder. "Right, Master Tyms?"
Tyms blubbered and flailed his arms. "How dare you, Volke! You walk back through that archway this instant. You're disgracing all of Ruma with your disrespect!"
I ran up the steps, taking them two at a time despite the lack of railing.
Today I would prove myself to a phoenix. I would prove myself to all of Ruma.
I was more than just a gravedigger.
I wouldn't stop. Not now, not ever.
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[My POV]
[wonder what I'm doing now? me too.]
I am currently doing something I've only seen people in bleach do.
I am standing on thin air.
Not only that I am also using my 6 eyes to watch Volke do the shit I only read about him doing.
I sigh and think aloud, "this is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO boring.... OH, I KNOW!!! I will MAKE a plot twist and train Volke. I mean I already have a few ideas and theories about magic in this world. So let's teach him that, along with how to handle your power, and how to be creative with your magic's manipulation."
I smirk and say, "yeah....that's perfect....I will mentor Volke like Gojo mentors Yuji, just without dying to Sukuna cus sukuna doesn't exist here!"
I grin wildly and say, "IT'S UTTERLY PERFECT!!!!!!!!"
I start laughing like a psychopath who just found a new victim.
"HAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAAH"
[yeah.....back to Volke's POV, aka the 'Victim's' POV]
"Volke!" Zaxis shouted. "Damn you, get down here!"
Gasps from the townsfolk got caught in the ocean breeze as Zaxis lifted his white robes and ran up the stairs after me. I didn't glance back. Zaxis had been one of those not-so-clever kids who used to make my life difficult, including chasing me around. If I didn't focus, he would catch up to me. So I took the steps three at a time, muttering don't fall, don't fall as I climbed higher and higher above the crowd.
The stonework of the steps had writing etched into them, and I glanced at the words as I went.
They were the virtues of the arcanist—the traits arcanists should display to lead humanity into an age of greatness. Arcanists were role models, after all. Paragons of mankind. Anyone who hoped to bond with a phoenix needed to memorize the steps backward and forward, so every day after I finished working for Gravekeeper William, I went to the steps and practiced. Evening after evening. No day skipped, not even during the worst of weather, for ten whole years.
The first stone step read: Integrity. Without it, we cannot have trust.The second stone step read: Passion. Without it, we grow complacent.
The third stone step read: Discipline. Without it, we are not the masters of our destiny.
It went on for all one hundred and twelve steps.
Charity. Strategy. Sacrifice. Bravery. Loyalty. Respect. Perseverance. Humility. Wisdom.
I knew them all. Each step, each phrase.
Well, that wasn't entirely true. I knew all of them but the last two—the last two steps had been destroyed long ago, leaving nothing more than jagged rocks. Anytime I asked the people in town what they were, no one ever answered. Either they didn't know or they didn't want to speak with me. I suspected it had more to do with the latter.
Halfway up the steps, the cheering of the crowds grew distant. I could still hear a mix of boos and shouts, but I pushed them from my mind. My legs grew stiff, and I gulped down air. Zaxis gained on me, his huffing and puffing loud enough for me to easily keep track of his location. The spiral stairway wrapped around the column-like mountain, giving me a great view of Ruma from one shore to the other. The green water, clear down to its sandy bottom, almost took my breath away.When I reached the top, I inhaled deep, but my lungs still felt shredded and unable to inflate. I had never run to the top of the Pillar before, and I knew I would never do it again. My body couldn't handle it. I hated that fact. I forced myself to continue to the charberry tree. Zaxis was close on my heels, his steps heavy, betraying his exhaustion. Maybe he said something, I wasn't sure. He sounded like a ravenous dog about to sink its teeth into a fresh kill, though.The charberries hung from the branches, swollen with juice and ready to fall. Each one shone in the sunlight, their glossy crimson skin a thing of beauty. I reached up and plucked one from the tree, the delicate outside almost bruising from the pressure of my touch. In one swift motion, I wrapped the charberry in my cloth and tied it to my belt."What—" Zaxis inhaled and then wheezed, "—do you think you'redoing?" He stopped and placed his hands on his knees, his head hung."I'm competing," I replied, breathless.
"You can't… do that."
"Who's gonna stop me?"
"You won't take a phoenix from me." He huffed. "I've worked mywhole life to get one. I deserve it."
"We'll see, won't we," I said.
Zaxis snapped his gaze to mine, the dark green of his eyes alight with rage. "I'll throw you off this damn cliff myself."
He lunged, and I stepped around the massive trunk of the charberry tree,dodging his grasp. The roots grew over the rock of the Pillar, creating an awkward terrain of limbs that threatened to trip me no matter where I stepped. Zaxis leapt over the roots and came at me again, but I already had what I came for.
I jumped off the edge of the Pillar and landed eight steps down on the stairway, my knees flaring in pain when I didn't brace myself correctly.Then I staggered on, a slight smile on my face despite the weakness in my legs. Nothing would stop me. I would make it. I would.
While I wanted nothing more than to fly down the steps and make it back to the town square as fast as possible, I slowed to allow for my stamina to recover. Halfway back, I nearly collided with Atty.She glanced up at me, stopped, and then stepped to the side, her back to the wall of rock. She kept her hands clasped together in front of her and stood with perfect posture. I even straightened a bit when I stepped by,trying to imitate her regal confidence. After I passed, Atty resumed her walking, taking one step at a time, no haste or frustration to her gait, conducting herself as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
On the last ten steps I walked with my shoulders back and my head high. While the denizens of Ruma stared with wide eyes, some wore scowls and others had small smiles. As far as I knew, no one had ever barged their way into the Trials of Worth before. At least I was unique. Always a silver-lining. A table had been placed in the middle of the wooden stage. I sauntered over, stepped up onto the stage, and went straight to the table. Before I placed my charberry on top, I pulled out my canteen of water and washed off the berry until it glistened. Once finished, I placed it on the table and took a step back, proud of the fist-sized berry I managed to pluck before I ran back down the steps.
Both the phoenixes stared at my offering, their gold eyes flitting from me, to the charberry, and then back to me.
"Delicious," the girl phoenix murmured.
The boy nodded. "Yes. Delectable."
Zaxis jogged down the last of the steps and ran straight for the stage. He hopped up and shot me a heated glare as he placed his charberry next to mine. In his haste he forgot to wash it, so it appeared dirty, but his berry was obviously bigger.
"You won't win," Zaxis muttered under his breath as he stepped back to wait for the phoenix's judgment. "The phoenixes can probably smell the corpse dirt on you."
I replied with a smile.
He ground his teeth in response.
Tyms stood at the opposite end of the stage, his face red and his lips nothing more than a thin line of anger. He glowered at me the entire time, never saying a word. According to tradition, I was officially in the running to bond with a phoenix, and there was little anyone could do about it.
The crowd cheered and pointed to the top of the Pillar. Zaxis and I craned our heads back to catch a glimpse of Atty descending the steps with a charberry in hand. Since there was nothing to do but wait, I kept my gaze on her the entire way, impressed by her patience and grace. When she finally reached the bottom, she brought her fruit up onto the stage and placed it on the table next to mine.She had washed hers as well, and it was even larger than Zaxis's. If anything, it looked too perfect—like a fantastical painting given life. I wondered how long she had searched through the branches of the tree to find exactly what she was looking for.
"Now we shall see who brought back the most appealing fruit," Tyms said with a sweeping motion of his arm. He pointed to Atty's. "Will it be the succulent berry, picked with care?" He pointed to Zaxis's. "Will it be this juicy berry, perfectly ripe in all regards?" Then he gestured to mine with a flick of his wrist. "Or will it be the merely adequate offering?" Ha! Merely adequate offering. How blatantly biased could he get?
Both phoenixes stretched their wings and took flight, a burst of fire whooshing with each flap as they sailed overhead. The festival goers clapped and pointed, some even swaying together in a semi-dance as the birds circled around. Soot rained onto the streets, but no one in Ruma minded. They all knew phoenix soot wouldn't harm them.Whichever berry the phoenixes chose would determine which participant of the trials gained favor.
The girl phoenix swooped down and snatched up Atty's fruit in one beautiful streak of flame. The city burst into instant celebration, the cheers so loud they shook the cobblestone under the stage. Atty smiled and waved, never breaking her calm demeanor.
Then the masses hushed themselves and waited.The second phoenix circled around, and I held my breath. Whose would he pick? Even if he didn't pick mine, there were still two trials left for me to prove myself. I could recover. Nothing to worry about. I had just waited ten years for this moment.
No pressure. No. Pressure.
Sweat dappled my skin with each passing moment.
Damn. There was a lot of pressure.
What if the phoenix hated my rude gesture? What if he thought I was arrogant and unworthy? What if both the phoenixes were secretly laughing at me for even trying? I was probably making a fool of myself, and I didn't even realize it.
I balled my hands into fists and forced my thoughts to come to a halt.
I couldn't worry now. I had already made my choice. Then the phoenix descended. It grabbed my charberry with its talons and flew back into the air on a breeze of heat and flame. Every last piece of me wanted to leap into the air but I contained my delight.Yes! Finally! I took in breath, unable to control my smile.The citizens of Ruma didn't share my enthusiasm, however.
A wave of murmuring spread through the crowd like a ripple on the water. Words of discontent floated up one at a time, the onlookers growing bolder with each statement.
"Is it even fair that he's here?" a woman asked.
A man replied, "I can't believe the phoenixes were impressed by someone like him."
"Isn't he the son of that murderer?"
"Oh, you're right. Dreadful. Someone like him should never become an arcanist."
I hated it when people commented on my father, but I held my breath and didn't acknowledge their words. Tyms marched across the wooden stage, his face so red it shifted into a shade of purple. No doubt he would pass out at any second.The phoenixes landed back on their perch and slurped down their charberries. I wanted to ask them which charberry was tastier, in an attempt to beat Atty at something, but I kept my question to myself. Tradition stated that none of the participants were to speak with the phoenixes until the final trial, and while I had broken a lot of traditions today, I didn't want to make myself completely unlikable.
"The second trial is of knowledge," Tyms said, spittle sprinkling out with each forced word. He looked his age when he shouted—I could practically see the last of his brown hair turning white. "The first question will go to Volke."
No cheering. No applause. Children sat on the roofs of houses, deep frowns on their faces. The people on the streets continued whispering, their stares more intense than ever.I stepped forward, prepared for any examination. In the past, the schoolmaster would ask questions about the history of Ruma, the history of arcanists, or the meaning of the steps leading up to the charberry tree. I studied the steps by looking at them, and Gravekeeper William had books on the subjects of history and arcanists. Although I had doubts, I lifted my head.
"I'm ready."
"Who was our island's sixth keeper of the coin, and how many years did he serve us?" Tyms demanded.
What an obscure and specific question. Although I had reviewed many of the past questions, nothing had been this difficult. Tyms had it out for me, I already knew, but I didn't think he would be so blatant about it.
Still, I had studied our island's leaders in preparation. Illia even helped with the process. She created a mnemonic for remembering all the rulers of the island—a poem, so to speak, that mostly rhymed, but not all the time. Ruma didn't have many positions of office, so there were less than fifty people to memorize, even when counting all the keepers of coin.Under my breath I whispered our poem, "We swam to the island with Mr. Mayor Lamb, who kept his coin beyond his height with a lady named Freda White." While I continued until I reached the sixth set of rulers, Tyms grew more impatient, his jaw clenching tight.
"Have you suffered a stroke, boy?" he yelled."And the herd kept Mr. Mayor Bird away from the shovel and loyal coin keeper—" I took a breath and spoke louder, "—Brisby Hovel. That was the sixth keeper of the coin and he served for six years."
Tyms sneered. The crowd remained silent, but the few who knew the answer nodded and pointed. I had gotten it correct, which meant Tyms had to move on to the next participant.
"Hmph." Tyms turned away.
"Next will be Atty."
"I'm ready," she said.
Cheers. Applause. General worship that lasted a good ten seconds before everyone tired themselves out.
Tyms asked, "Who was our island's founder?"
I almost laughed.
Who was our island's founder? His name was Gregory Ruma—his name was where we got our island's name. A small child would know the answer without a second's thought. I almost wanted to call Tyms out on his favoritism, but again, I kept quiet.
"Our island's founder was none other than Master Arcanist Gregory Ruma," Atty responded.
"Very good." Tyms smiled and then turned to Zaxis. "Are you prepared for your question?"
"I've been ready my whole life," Zaxis replied.
More cheering, but less than with Atty. No doubt the citizens of Ruma were disappointed Zaxis hadn't beaten me outright.
"Which mystical creature did Gregory Ruma bond to?"
"A leviathan," Zaxis said without a second's hesitation.
Again Tyms had given another ridiculously easy question. Everyone knew the wondrous tales of Ruma and his leviathan. The two sailed from island to island, establishing ports and discovering all sorts of strange lands never before documented. Ruma fought pirates, raided ruins, and even fell in love, all while on the high seas. He was an arcanist beyond compare.I adored the stories about Gregory Ruma. Maybe one day I would be just like him.
"That's correct," Tyms said. Then he turned his glower back to me."Young arcanists must know our island's oath. It is a requirement for bonding."
"I'm aware," I said. "Can you recite every step up the Pillar? Without paper or prompt?"
"I can."
My statement got the crowd murmuring again. Would I beat Zaxis a second time? If I did, it was all over. The phoenixes tended to bond with the person who had won their favor twice in a row, and if Tyms kept giving me the most difficult questions, he would unwittingly make me look the most impressive. Well, as long as I answered them correctly.
"Then recite the thirty-seventh step," Tyms said.
I forced a smile, still aware of the scrutiny, not only from the town, but the phoenixes as well.
"Compassion. Without it, we make the world a crueler place."
The hushed response from the people of Ruma clawed at my confidence. I knew I got the correct answer, yet they still glowered as though I was somehow cheating. A few pointed and others whispered about the need for a blindfold.
Really though—a blindfold? What did they think I was reading off? Tyms's face?
"And the eightieth step?"
Typically the schoolmaster went between the participants, asking them one question at a time, but Tyms hadn't turned away from me. He continued staring, his glare a permanent fixture to his expression.
"Bravery," I replied. "Without it, we cannot act in the face of fear."
"What about the one hundred and twelfth step?"I caught my breath and waited. Then I narrowed my eyes and said, "It's been destroyed. It's been gone for over a decade."
"That's no excuse," Tyms snapped. "You said you could recite every step, so let's hear it."
Unable to breathe, I mulled over his request a thousand times in a matter of seconds. I didn't know. I never knew. There was nothing to recall. Nothing for my mind to latch onto. What did he want from me? How could he get away with asking an impossible question?"
There is no answer," I said, more defiant than I wanted. "The step doesn't exist."
Tyms's wrinkled face finally twisted from a frown into a genuine smile.The red drained from his cheeks as he lifted his bushy white eyebrows straight toward his receding hairline. "Zaxis, can you recite the one hundred and twelfth step?"
"Justice," Zaxis replied, his voice as smug as the expression on his face."Without it, we cannot differentiate from revenge."
Tyms turned to me. "Do you know the hundred and eleventh step?"Again, of course I didn't. It was just as destroyed as the last. "I don'tknow," I said through clenched teeth.
"Atty." Tyms snapped his fingers.
"Mercy," Atty replied. "Without it, we cannot help others find redemption."
Tyms held his arms up. "Well, there you have it. Volke, you misspoke about your talents, you're clearly not as educated as your peers, and you attempted to hide your shortcomings through arrogance. For shame."
"Wait a minute," I said as I took a step forward. Then I stopped myself, the pounding of my heart deafening me to the agitated crowd. "How do Atty and Zaxis know about the last two steps? How would anyone know that? I asked around town—no one knew what those steps said!"
"Atty and Zaxis attended my lectures," Tyms said.
"So, you're the only one who knows of those missing steps? Then ofcourse I couldn't—"
"If you were serious about proving yourself worthy, you would've found the time, and coin, to attend, wouldn't you? Excuses are not becoming of an arcanist, young man. Clearly you have a long way to go."
Tyms tossed the edge of his robes to the side in a dramatic swirl as he turned on his heel and walked back across the stage.But I wouldn't be stopped by such weak games. Despite the collective gasp from the citizens of Ruma and the angry growls of Zaxis, I stepped forward, right into the center of the stage. who attended Tyms's lectures could be arcanists? No. That shouldn't be how it worked.
"It's not fair," I said. "I did everything I could on my own. Ask me any other question—about the island, about magic, about mystical creatures—I can still prove myself!"
Tyms glared. "If you're this upset, perhaps you aren't mature enough to participate in the competition. Go home, boy."
"What about the lesson on the sixth step? Tenacity. Without it, we fail at life's most important tasks. I refuse to quit."
A sea of eyes watched our confrontation, especially the golden eyes ofthe phoenixes.
"Fine," Tyms spat. "I didn't want to embarrass you, but you've left me no choice."
Embarrass me? I readied myself for a difficult question, my mind raking through every story I had ever heard—every whisper of famous arcanists— preparing for an answer to leave Tyms, and the phoenixes, with no doubts about my worth.
"You will never become an arcanist," Tyms said. "It doesn't matter how many stairs you stare at, or how fast you can pluck a fruit from a tree branch, or how much of Ruma's history you know. You're the son of two criminals. Both your mother and your father were blackhearts. Fiends!"
Silence fell over the island. Even the wind stopped, as though the world held its breath after the declaration. I swear my heart seized for a moment.
When people bonded with mystical creatures, they became arcanists, whereas when mystical creatures bonded with people, they became eldrin. Eldrin drew energy from the soul of their bonded person—that was how creatures aged and matured. The stronger and more capable the person, the more magical and powerful the eldrin became. Which meant the arcanist could wield stronger and more potent magic. Together they formed a unique bond that strengthened both participants.
But drawing power from a person's soul meant the eldrin became more like the person they were bonded to. If a stubborn man with an anger issue bonded with a phoenix, the phoenix would slowly become a stubborn and angry bird. If a woman with a gentle disposition bonded with a phoenix, the bird of flame would become gentle in turn.
It was another reason to have a Trial of Worth. The creatures would get a feel for the personality of their human before deciding—before becoming more like them.No one wanted to become more criminal in behavior and thought. No mystical creature wanted to bond to someone with a soul that would corrupt them. They wanted pure souls of innocence, optimism, good work ethic,and hope. Criminals were dishonest, selfish, and wicked.
"I'm not a criminal," I said in a small voice.
"Everyone knows it runs in the blood," Tyms said matter-of-factly. "Do you want proof? Look at how you conducted yourself today. No respect for the traditions of the island. No respect for your schoolmaster or your peers.All of your actions are evidence of your true nature. Do we want your flippant attitudes infesting our phoenixes and giving all of Ruma a bad name?"
The citizens of Ruma voiced loud opinions. Boos added to the mix, becoming a cacophony of disgust all aimed in my direction. Even the phoenixes huffed and held a quiet conversation between themselves, no longer giving me any of their attention.
"Your worthless mother was a thief who abandoned her family," Tyms continued. "And your heinous father a murderer." He threw a hand up into the air. "After they were sentenced, no one would take you but the gravekeeper, and even now you run wild through the streets, doing whatever you please!"
Every word cut deep. I scooted back to the edge of the stage, my chest tight, my vision tunneling. I hated when people brought up my mother and father. I wasn't them! Why did I carry their shadow? Why couldn't I escape it? Even when I thought people had forgotten me entirely, someone always brought it up again. And then they all looked at me as though I were a seed of evil ready to blossom into malevolence at any second.
Was breaking the traditions of the island just the first stepping stone to a life of crime? I wanted to prove myself. No one would give me a chance otherwise. What else should I have done?
But everyone always made the same argument. Good kids came from proper households and families. Pickpockets and thugs were the product of terrible parenting or no parents whatsoever.
"I…" It took me a moment to gather my courage. "But I want to be a noble arcanist. Someone righteous and—"
"If that's what you wanted, you should have done the right thing," Tyms interjected. "You should have done your duty to the island and stayed with the gravekeeper. Actions speak louder than words, boy! And your words about being noble are a terrible lie, trying to conceal who you really are."
People in the crowd threw stones. I shielded my head and stumbled back. Tyms continued speaking, but I no longer heard the words. Then the phoenixes returned their attention to me, their glowering and ruffled feathers a clear sign.
They had made their decision. My soul was tainted. They didn't need any more trials to know I was unworthy.
Neither of them would bond with me now. Go home, boy, that was what Tyms said. The words haunted me.
I jumped down from the stage, and the citizens of Ruma parted, creating a path, their boos eating at the last shreds of my resolve. Unable to look anyone in the eye, I kept my head down and ran back to the cottage on the edge of the cemetery.
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[That's all for now, next chapter will also be long and the 2 main characters will meet for the first time. HOPE YOU ENJOYED!!!!!]