Beneath Dark Skies

Codex

"Welcome, brave initiates, to the sacred Trial of the Choosing. This codex contains the words and oaths that bind you to our ancient traditions and guide you on your path. Recite these words with honor and conviction, for they mark the beginning of your journey,,
      
-Codex Arcanum Scientia, year unknown

Each name called out felt like a strike of lightning, jolting me as if it were my own. The floor beneath me seemed to tremble with every step the others took toward the platform, like it was holding its breath, waiting for something. My heart? That was already in overdrive. It was a slow crawl toward the inevitable, each second making my stomach twist a little tighter.

I watched a girl ahead of me—short, curvy, with that kind of confidence I could never quite pull off—step into the circle. No hesitation, no second-guessing. I should be more like that. But instead, the weight of the moment pressed down on me like a hundred invisible hands, pushing me toward something I wasn’t sure I was ready for.

The arcane platform, with its intricate design and glowing symbols, was supposed to be awe-inspiring, right? A thing of beauty, power, and all that. But all I felt was this creeping dread, like stepping into a room full of people staring at you, waiting for you to screw up.

Another name. A boy this time, his breath quickening as he stepped up, shoulders tight, jaw clenched. He was shaking like a leaf, like a puppet on the verge of being yanked out of his own control.

Great. Just great. Nothing to do but think about how wonderful this all was...not.

Kai and his merry band of senior students stood off to the side, chatting quietly. Probably making bets on how many of us would screw this up. They didn’t even look up. And why would they? We were just fresh meat to them.

I forced myself to exhale, trying to drown out the buzzing of my own thoughts. But it wasn’t working.

You know that feeling when you desperately don't want something to happen and time seems to speed up just to torture you? In the blink of an eye, you're suddenly questioning all your life choices, and then just as quickly, you find yourself standing in front of a crowd.

A silence I hadn’t realized had settled around me lifted, and it was my name called.

“Skyleen Winters.” the announcer's voice boomed through the grand hall, reverberating off the high, vaulted ceilings.

Oh, that was me. Fantastic. I almost felt like I should bow to the audience and make my grand exit—except, well, the audience wasn’t really paying attention. And I had no exit.

I stepped forward, trying my best to remain composed despite the immense importance of this moment in my life. My gaze drifted upwards towards the magnificent altar where the master of the ceremonies stood. Despite his youthful appearance, I could sense an ancient wisdom radiating from him. It was just his vibe,very intimidating. My eyes caught a small spider web design on his hand, crafted from a cool, shimmering metal that produced beams of light. It was known as a Wakasa Noroi web - an enchanted gear of youth that had undoubtedly cost many lives to obtain. The delicate threads of the web glowed softly, casting intricate patterns of light and shadow.

I couldn't help but wonder how much he'd sacrificed for it—and if it was even worth it. Sure, most people, human and non-human alike, wanted to live forever and look fabulous while doing it, but wouldn't that get boring? What if he fell in love? He’d have to watch them grow old and die while he stayed perfectly preserved, like a museum exhibit. And that gear? Yeah, no way he could take it off, even if he wanted to—it was practically fused to him. You’d need to chop off a hand to remove it. But hey, who am I to question his life choices? In his eyes, I’m probably just a clueless child. And to think I actually found him appealing earlier—despite knowing he could be centuries old. Wait... does that mean I like older men? Nooo, it just means there's something mysterious about him, that’s all. Yes, he's not what he seems, but who cares? Oh my days, I need help. And therapy. Then probably more therapy. There’s no other way to explain this mess. My thoughts were all over the place.

The elaborate white embroidery on my black ceremonial dress sparkled under the floating orbs, doing a great job of turning me into a human furnace. As if the situation wasn't stressful enough, sweat started trickling down my back, sticking the lovely fabric to my skin. With every step, my heart pounded louder as I bravely dragged myself toward the master of ceremonies

"Hello," I somehow managed to say, forcing a smile that probably looked more like a grimace. What was I even supposed to say in this situation? "Lead me towards my destiny, oh wise one"? Yeah, that sounded painfully cliché. I couldn't even remember the rehearsed lines my father had drilled into me. Was this Kay’s doing? Did he somehow again sabotaged me just to watch me fail? Pff... of course he did. That’s his thing. I took a deep breath, hoping to calm the chaos swirling in my mind.

The Master’s sharp eyes flicked over me, raising an eyebrow with a slight smirk. "Nervous, are we?" he asked, his voice annoyingly smooth and calm, as if he wasn’t the least bit concerned.

I forced out a laugh, feeling my cheeks betray me with an obvious flush. "Just a bit," I admitted, desperately trying to keep my voice from cracking. "But I’m ready."

He nodded, his expression softening, though I couldn’t tell if it was approval or pity. "Good. Bravery is the first step."

Great, only a thousand more to go.

With another deep breath, I brushed my fingers against the cool fabric of my dress. "I, Skyleen Winters, offer my mind and soul for questioning and accept judgement from you and others as my fate is decided by the blood of my kin," I finally cited the oath from the Codex out loud, my voice trembling slightly.

The host's eyes flickered with approval. "Very well, Skyleen. Let us begin."