THE KORA CHRONICLES: Her Chosen Fate

Initiation ceremony

Well.....just like the way every student graduates at the end of her studies... That's what I was preparing for
I don't know why I felt jumpy... And nervous...overwhelmed and excited....well....feeling's mutual....
Today I was out of tank top and baggy trousers....Lucretia had prepared my outfit which was not a ball gown to start with....it was more like cat woman's suit to be precise....well....just a replica...but a bit pretty in a way....the leather bodice fit perfectly and I had to hold my breathe for it to get laced at the back...the leather pants fit just fine...and I was surprised to find them even comfortable....my outfit did not end there....on top of the long sleeve bodice came the long black silk soft Watteau trailing behind me.....
This was going to be my uniform apart from armor...which I was not ready to wear....this was perfecto....I didn't want to ruin the image....just then I heard a knock on my door....Lucretia went to get it as I marvelled at my perfection in the body length mirror....Madam scar...what's her name again??....Rivera....yeah .....right...Rivera...walked in and gave me a curt nod

"It's time" she said

I gave Lucretia a nod and she fixed my Watteau train for the last time before I followed Rivera to the court room...where I guessed my graduation was taking place...no...initiation ceremony I mean

The doors were wide open and I could see warriors lined up in both sides wearing combat almost like mine
though I think mine had special features....

Up ahead at the very front stood Selestine,Meredith and Amora.....looking extravagant in their black court dresses....Amora definitely did not forget to add a little bit of jewelry.... This woman....
And at the beginning of the line of the warriors who stood to my right was Jay....in gear....he looked smashingly handsome....like a Prince who jumped out of a story book.... He smiled at me and I clenched my fists as I started walking down the aisle....

Cheers!!...I'm getting married to me...
At that moment....I felt a lot of things...and pride was one of them...like that feeling when you solve a maths question on the board and walk back to your seat feeling like you threw a grenade back there and walk out of the flames unharmed....that was definitely me....and a lot more feelings...

I finally stood before Selestine and I did what Fiona told me...she was the one who gave me the tips on initiation ceremonies....she told me every warrior had her kind of initiation ceremony....so I knew what to do when I got there.....kneel before the master....
I went down on one knee which ....trust me.... I never imagined because the only person who will be kneeling on one knee is my college boyfriend asking for my hand in marriage
But that won't happen will it.....

"We are here today to witness the birth of a new warrior....being a warrior comes with responsibility and commitment.... Do not allow emotions to cloud your judgement.... Anger to be an asset....
Your weapon is your closest friend.... Your mind...is your only treasure....
Respect...
Loyalty...
Honesty...
Are what make a warrior a true warrior....without those as guidance....then you're not a warrior but just a skilled nobody with no value.....we don't fight to survive...we fight to win....a warrior's path is clear.....live to fight....die fighting
Mercy is for the weak....all of us have embraced that path...."

Listening to Selestine's speech I seriously felt like I was getting shipped off that moment to go and fight the dark Lord alone....

"Zara....are you willing to walk down that path like the rest of us and the ones before us" Selestine asked

Well I don't know about the ones before you because you're all as old as  Iron age ....just messing around....but

"Yes...I do" I said confidently

Meredith handed Selestine a sword and she pulled it out of its sheath....

"May any burden be easy to carry, May every battle be a victory,
You shall strike a foe not a friend,
You shall be a beginning.. Not an end,
You shall never feel guilt,
Nor shall you feel pain,
As long as you're true to yourself,
Your soul shall be in Peace in the end"

If I do have a soul....that is....
After saying that Selestine gave me the sword and I held it in both hands....it was Sahalia's sword....the very one that I had chosen

"Rise warrior"

Please call me Zara

I stood straight before Selestine and saw her small beautiful calm smile playing at her lips....Meredith took it from there and came forward with a goblet at hand.... She was the high priestess ....I doubt she was giving me wine....probably something I wouldn't wanna drink ever again..

.I took the goblet either way which was as shiny as MY sword.... I didn't want to take a peek or anything...I brought the goblet to my lips and in the first and second gulp ....I had finished whatever it was since it tasted like a magic potion... I tried not to stick my tongue out but an opportunity did not present itself....

"You're now a Jaibríl warrior Zara" Selestine said brightly

Nice to know thank you

I turned around with a bright smile as I raised my sword....the room echoed with claps and Awes...I didn't know if it was surprise or what... I could see maids chattering stealthily as they looked at me.....I looked down at the goblet and that's when I saw it....my eyes had changed....from greyish blue to a colour I could not define....

For a moment... They'll just be some rusty gold...with only a tiny black dot for a pupil....then that gold darkens to brown then that greyish blue normal colour of my eyes comes back .....only with a little mixture of Gold
I guess that was my human self bonding with my Koran self.....and the feast started....finally it felt like family dinner
We were all there..

Meredith, Selestine, Amora... All the warriors.... Even some like Green ,Lilya,Dandy, and Rosalind who always miss dinner.... The table was more lively this time and time to time Morena will play her flute and we just listen as we ate....Jay was already used to being around girls who were not even girls....but it's not like they were not worth the chocolate and flowers..... They were worth everything....they were all so beautiful I sometimes imagined them as Princesses.....well...some...like Lucifera...are already princesses.....but behind all that armor....there was beauty beyond imagination