The Choosing

Chapter Four: The Choosing (Part 2)

Rising up almost a thousand feet, the stadium towered over the candidates as they filed in through the entrance, followed by their parents and family members. City officials directed candidates to their seating area, and family members to theirs. Lyra and Alcie parted ways with their parents and headed to two empty seats in the front row. Lyra looked out at the crowd as she sat down. Certain people stood out to her: a girl with shockingly blonde hair, a tall boy with intense, dark eyes, another boy at the very top row, sitting on the very edge, his dark hair shielding his face.

Taking her seat, Lyra looked at the main stage. The Honorable Twelve hadn't arrived yet. She figured that they would make some sort of grand entrance. Scanning the area around her, Lyra wished that Alcie had chosen a seat closer to the  edge. She didn't like having to walk past all the people to get onto the stage, and she wanted to minimize her time spent being stared at.

"Hey! I didn't think I'd see you guys here." Felicity sat down next to Lyra. She had worn her robes too, except she had added in a golden necklace, golden earrings,  and a silver bracelet. Lyra rolled her eyes but gave Felicity a grudging smile.

"All candidates are required to attend the opening ceremony," Lyra replied.

"Yeah, but there's like, almost two thousand students here. Odds were against us meeting."

    "Point taken."

    Felicity nudge Lyra. "So, excited for the Choosing Ceremony?"

    Lyra tried to suppress a smile. "Nervous, obviously."

    She didn't want to act too confident, especially around Felicity. Truth to be told, she wasn't so much nervous about being chosen but about having to go on stage in front of everybody.

    The stadium slowly filled up, the nominees filing in, looking nervous and frightened. Lyra only had eyes for the stage in front of her. Twelve simple wooden podiums, all in a row, one for each horoscope.

    Suddenly, the horns sounded, and a door off to Lyra left opened. Aries stepped through, his face strong and proud, his red cloak leaving a cloud of dust behind him. Following him was Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.

    Lyra paid especially close attention to Libra. She could see herself standing next to Libra, tall and proud, ready to take her place next to her sister. Speaking of which - there! Paige had just come out of the door and was now standing beside Libra, along with the other eleven favored apprentices. Paige gave her a subtle smile and an encouraging nod.

    Lyra returned the favor.

    Somewhere up in the stadium, the horns sounded and Aries cleared his throat. The stadium was dead silent. Aries cast an imperius gaze around the stadium, resting for a few seconds on the potential apprentices.

    Lyra waited, on the edge of her seat. From what she could see, Alcie and Felicity were too.

    Then -  "Arlo Rothschild, of Andale, Stelletoile."

    The tall boy that Lyra had seen earlier stood up, He didn't look scared at all. He made his way down the center stage and took his place next to Aries, looking rather small against Aries's height. A red-cloaked family across from Lyra nodded approvingly. She guessed that they were Arlo's family.

    Next was Taurus. He stepped forward, and -

    "Everett Robertson, of Greencrest, Stelletoile,"

A short, slouched, blond boy moved towards the stage. He seemed to be trembling. Lyra hoped she wouldn't be the same when she was called up.

    Libra was the seventh horoscope in the Zodiac Order, which meant Lyra would be on stage after four names. She could hardly wait, and had trouble focusing as the other names were called.

    Gemini was next after Taurus. "Isaac Criston, of Brinshine, Stelletoile." A lanky boy with a head of brown curls rose.

    Three to go.

    Cancer: "Adira Lysin, of Conningway, Stelletoile."  A brunette leaning towards the small side of the size spectrum.

    Lyra's  anticipation prevented her from following the girl as she reached Cancer's side. Two to go.

    Leo raised his hands dramatically. "Aurelia Kingston of  Arnaya, Octantis." A girl with fiery red curls practically lept up from the right of the stage.

    Felicity leaned in. "A foreigner," she whispered. "From the south."

Lyra barely registered her words. One more to go,

    Virgo swept forward gracefully.  Beside her, Lyra felt Felicity sit up straight, energy humming off of her.

    "Anna Sorenson of Myreshaw, Polaris."

    Felicity slumped in her seat as a blonde girl made her way to the stage.

    "I'm sorry, Felicity," Lyra murmured half-heartedly.

    Felicity sighed before narrowing her eyes at the girl. "Her hair's way too blonde, especially for someone from the north. Probably bleached."

    Lyra said nothing. Libra was next.

    Time seemed to slow as Libra stepped forward. She smiled, and Lyra could have sworn that the smile was directed at her. She could already hear Libra announcing "Lyra Arocuge of Ilya, Stelletoile."

    Libra opened her mouth. She spoke.

. . .

Author's note: And she said? Whose name do you think Libra said? Lyra's? Or someone else's?

Comment you thoughts and don't forget to vote!

P.S. And poor Felicity. Anna's hair isn't bleached though, it's naturally blond.