Shadowglade [On Hold]

Chapter 5

The musk that would come from a moist cave brought Osuin to his senses. He opened his eyes only to shut them immediately. Despite the lighting to be exceptionally dim, the sensation of staring at the sun was more than present.

"Where the hell am I?"

A deep voice with a thick Germanic accent broke the eerie silence, eventually.

"You're in the Sanctuary, New Blood!"

"Where?" Osuin managed despite the soreness in his throat.

No reply was given, and was instead was replaced with fading footsteps. Osuin didn't try to call out to the person. If he talked any louder, he might as well shred his vocal cords. Silence. Silence was all he wanted anyway. Everything was too loud. Even the footsteps─which should've faded─still sounded very close by.

"Please, forgive Siegfried, New Blood. He's not very patient with newcomers." A softer germanic tone pleaded.

Osuin finally managed to open his eyes. His eyes adjusted fairly easily. This allowed him to glare directly into the eyes of a young girl, no older than himself. She had the brightest hazel eyes he'd ever seen, and the softest countenance. He quickly fixed himself so he didn't look so weak, but it was too late. She giggled and watched him. Strange enough, however, even though she seemed innocent, her very aura screamed for him to run. Were all the members like this?

"You are...?" He groaned.

"Hildegard. It is nice to make your acquaintance, New Blood!"

"I have a name you know." He sighed.

"I know, Osuin!"

"How did you─"

Heavy footsteps approached swiftly, keeping Osuin from finishing his thought. A large male with messy shoulder length blonde hair approached with swagger. He had a large silver bowl cradled in his arms, and a sly grin on his face.

"Hildegard, it's your turn to scrub the floors! I'm not going to get caught picking up your slack, you know!"

"Oh hush, Siegfried! I was just keeping our new member company, I knew it was my turn!"

"Yeah, well you handle the mopping, I'll make our new member feel right at home!" Siegfried chuckled with a slight ominous tinge to it.

***

"It is almost time, Sarun. Enarus has chosen you! Today is your day to be reborn in light and wonder!"

Uraias stood before a large spherical structure, the symbol of Enarus. He pressed his palms together and lowered his head, uttering a silent prayer. Sarun stood anxiously behind him. He'd become antsy, eager to see what was going on as he noticed a light begin to pulsate from Uraias's hands. Uraias's prayer became louder, forced. The intensity of the light grew with each passing moment. Caught off guard, Sarun felt a wave of electricity pulse through his body. Uraias slammed his palms onto Sarun's forehead and right over his heart, pushing him backwards, pushing the light into his body. Sarun's body defied gravity. He'd been leaning back on his heels at a perfect forty-five degree angle. His eyes had glazed over white, and the sheer pain of the transfer didn't allow a scream to form.

"Enarus, our Holy Father, accept this child into your light! Save his soul from the way of the damned and use him to spread glorious teachings! Make him a Knight in your honor!"

Uraias took a few hasty steps backwards and allowed Sarun to sink to his knees. Tears rolled down his cheeks. The veins underneath his eyes spanned outwards to his cheeks, pumping blood more intensely to his eyes. The pain began to subside, followed by a wave of clarity, tranquility, a will to fight. Finally gaining his composure, Sarun wobbled to his feet, seeming to examine his surroundings. His eyes remained white, pure.