Bloody Moon

Chapter 5: The Celesis Trials

  Maki, Carlos, and Athena followed Raiden to a private room, a medium sized table in the middle of it with eight chairs crammed next to it. On the table was a plate of assorted cookies, from chocolate chips to jam cookies. Only Raiden took a sugar cookie from the plate, taking one bite out of it and holding it in her hand as everyone else barely even touched it. The atmosphere was too grim for them to enjoy cookies, now that Raiden was back, ready to explain what horrors lay in front of them.

"The Celesis Trials-" Raiden started.

"Can I get another juice box?" Carlos squeaked. Athena kicked him under the table.

"Don't miss this important information," Athena hissed under her breath to both of them as Carlos gritted his teeth to keep from screaming in pain. Raiden watched them calmly until they ended their silent conversation, and continued.

"The Celesis Trials happen every century at the time of the Dark Fatenus. It is a dangerous obstacle one must face to be chosen for the Class of Fatenus." Raiden took a breath and kept going. "Dangerous games are written on slips of paper, put into a hat where Professor Alabaster performs the drawing. Only one child in every six children survive, a way to locate the best of the best, the ones who will maintain peace in this world for at least another century."

Carlos gulped, sweat beading his forehead. Athena sat there, staring at the wall as if she were a statue. Maki couldn't imagine that their fear was nothing compared to his, but he knew that they experienced things harder than losing family and dying. He had to suck it in, like them.

Rob came in the doorway.

"Sorry to interrupt you, but we have arrived."

They walked into the lobby, the dreadful atmosphere following them until Maki saw what was outside the open door, and his mouth dropped open.

A grand school, four stories high, stood there, the sunlight casting a glow over the lovely park near it. The outer walls were painted a starry night sky, a sun painted on one side of the school, a moon painted on the other side. A cobblestone path led to it as he saw students crowded outside the doors, waiting to be let in.

"Woah," he breathed softly. Athena gave him a small smirk as she led them toward the school.

Kids of all nationalities were there, some joyful, some worried, and some overconfident.

"Lydia!" Athena yelled, running off towards a girl with caramel hair tied into a ponytail. Carlos sulked off towards a buffet table, clearly not enthusiastic about having to be here. Maki decided to walk towards an area where a group of people were crowded around a girl.

"Omg! Is she really an elf?" a girl asked her friend excitedly.

"Hmph," said another. "I don't know why they're interested in a peasant like her."

"You'd think she'd date me?" a boy wondered, while his friend swatted his arm.

"Stop invading my personal space!" the girl in the center hissed.

Her eyes, gold with slit pupils, glared at them all, completely furious. Her hair, cropped just above her shoulder, cut into a bob, was jet black and midnight blue at the bangs and highlights. Her ears, long and pointy, stuck out behind her bangs, decorated with elaborate chain earrings, gems hanging from it. Underneath a white shawl, she wore a cloudy blue tunic, white leggings, and black combat winter boots, the bottoms spiked.

"I think she wants us to notice her amazing hair!" a girl whispered. "Where'd you get it dyed?"

"It's natural! Now leave me alone! I don't like being bombarded with questions before something important, like the Celesis Trials!"