The Awakening

Chapter One

"I refuse to participate in this godforsaken ritual that the continents have created, Fallon!" Avelon yelled towards the lake that sat idly in front of her.

The lake remained unmoving, silent, as if stunned by her proclamation. She took note of the water sprites that continued their dancing far away from where she and her friend were seated. Her eyes remained on them as her friend spoke.

"Ave, you can't just not go through with it. Who knows what your mother and father would do." Her words trembled as thoughts consumed her. She cast her eyes sideways, noting the worry lines creasing on Fallon's forehead.

"The whole of Vexar will shun you!" Fallon's hands rose into the air in exasperation. "You know what they call Fae that refuse to follow through with the Awakening – what they do to them." Her friend's voice had grown silent as worry continued to swirl in her pale blue eyes. They reminded her of the ocean.

She silently studied her, watching as her black hair blew wildly in the wind. She wondered absentmindedly whether the wind was normal or originating from her friend's affinity. Slowly she steered her eyes back to the lake and anxiously nipped at the inside of her cheek as she considered the words hanging between them.

For thousands of years the Fae of Vexar have been forced to partake in a ritual known as the awakening, where all the Fae at the age of eighteen were obligated to fight to the death in order to 'awaken' their dormant affinities and also claim immortality. Immortality in the sense of VERY slow aging. A few hundred years at best. Nobody could live forever.

Lifting herself almost hesitantly, Avelon got up from lounging on the grass, blowing out a huff of irritation.

"I can't get how all of the continents agreed to this ritual. It's literally a fancy label for murder if you ask me." Crossing her arms, she looked down at Fallon who remained seated and still seemed eager to convince Avelon to fight.

"I'm very likely to die myself instead of my challenger." Avelon mumbled, hoping to convince her friend otherwise.

Maybe Brigh, the goddess of spirits, would take pity on her and make it swift. She shook her head at the thought.

"Ave, you can't avoid this. You'll be stripped from your royal line and cast out to be a slave."

"To hell with all that, I'd rather be a slave than a murderer Fal." A lump grew in her throat as she spoke. "You've already gone through the awakening, and you had it easier than I would have it. You know how horrible it can be." Her words tasted bitter on her tongue.

Fallon shifted uncomfortably, though she remained seated, refusing to meet Avelon's eyes. "Look, I get that you are upset. Somehow, I was fortunate enough to have a very clumsy challenger who sorted herself out before I could muster up enough courage to do anything." Her shoulders dropped as the memory resurfaced.

"I still feel bad, but it's a part of our lives. You have no option Ave. You're turning eighteen in two days!" Reminders of Fallon's' awakening ran through Avelon's mind.

Their crying and last goodbyes minutes before the ritual.

The roar of anger that went through the various continents at the easy win. The girl sent from the fire continent, Gaoth, managed to impale herself with her own sword before Fallon could make a move. Avelon frowned.

The piercing scream that made its way through the silent arena seconds after the girls death rang clear in her mind. Her mother's cries had echoed through the crowd as she mourned the loss of her daughter.

To that day nobody had even made an effort of remembering the girl who offered up her life to "claim her affinity". Nobody even lit a candle.

Fallon sighed in defeat, drawing Avelon's attention back to her. Fallon scanned her friend's face, noticing the content in her emerald eyes. She frowned and looked away, her hair lifting and moving in a manner to cover her face, confirming that Fallon was indeed using her affinity.