Straight Through The Heart ((ON HOLD))

Chapter Seven

According to Chey, the journey to the Parish would take them the entire day, arriving at the capital city well after sunset. They would stay at the Rousseau family estate for the night and be presented to the Council the next morning. From there Bren would reside with the Clerics for the remainder of his training while Chey and Alisa stayed at the estate. Alisa would begin her own training, but as Venandi were expected to have a legacy to uphold they would be allowed to stay with their families during that time. Imerai, who were generally sent to the Parish alone, would remain in the barracks until their Initiation.

"From there, the choice will be yours," Chey said through a bite of bread as they rested their horses and ate their small packed lunch. "Whether you remain at the Parish for further training, or begin your own adventures elsewhere on the continent, with or without an Imerman at your side, you'll be a Venandi and free to do as you wish."

"What about me?" Bren asked as he bit into his apple.

"You will remain," Chey informed him. "Your magic is far more valuable than the Venandi and Imerai combined, for without you, there would be none of them."

"So I'm just expected to stay behind while Alisa can do whatever she wants?" Despite his thirteen years, Bren actually pouted.

"You'll be able to travel as well. Eventually," Chey assured him. "The training for Clerics is far more extensive, and includes more study and testing. But once that is complete, you'll be able to travel. In fact, it's expected for Clerics to journey throughout the continent once they've passed their tests, to practice their magic and eventually decide to remain where their help is needed the most."

"How does that work?" Alisa asked, picking at the cheese between her hands. "The Clerics... they can be anyone?"

Chey nodded. "It's still unknown what brings the Clerical magic to the surface though some want to speculate it's the combined bloodlines of both the Venandi and Imerai coming together in perfect union. Whatever you want to believe, they exist with a gift rare enough to be cherished and sacred enough to be protected."

"But what do they do?" Alisa pressed.

"Other than heal?" Chey nodded to the scar on her arm from the night before, the same one her brother had healed himself. "It's said they have the power to channel the magic of the angels themselves, and through it they are able to ward the blades used by the Venandi to destroy the denizens of Hell. They are also the ones who shield the city and Venandi homesteads, as well as conduct the Venandi Initiation and Dedication ceremonies."

"Dedication?" Bren asked.

Chey gave him a knowing smirk. "How else do you think a Venandi and an Imerman become an official pairing?"

Alisa felt her cheeks flush as Bren's attention turned to her. "Are you going to find an Imerman?"

"I... uh..." Of course, she knew it was part of fulfilling the Venandi legacy. Training, being Initiated, finding an Imerai to consider her equal and life partner. It was just everything that came beyond that that she tried, and failed, to forget.

Yes, Venandi relied on the Imerai as much as the Imerai needed the Venandi. They were companions who looked out for one another because when fighting against the demons of Hell, someone you trusted needed to have your back. But in that choice, it was also expected of a Venandi to copulate with her Imerai and continue on the family line. Just as her mother and Rahn had done, and as Alara Rousseau and Chey had done before them.

"She'll have plenty of time to figure it out," Chey interjected, and she felt like a drowning pressure had been lifted. "But remember— you are a Rousseau. Which means people will be expecting more of you once you're there."