The City of Fire and Shadows

Chapter 7

The ceremonial chapel of Raven's Keep was beautiful. The interior resembled a church with rows of long wooden pews, and at the front was a raised marble platform. Behind the platform was the international emblem of the paladin order in stained glass art: a blue flaming sword flanked by three white doves on the left side, and a tree branch with different types of leaves on it. I remember my dad telling me about this emblem when I was younger. It was meant to represent the sole purpose of the paladins - to protect the earth and guarantee mankind peace from the vampires that would seek to harm them.

The pews were filled with various people from the keep. People like Lauren and her daughter, Nicole who sat near the front. People like Dr. James who sat near the back. People like Patel and his family who sat in one of the middle rows. And even the guard who showed me to my room on the first night at Raven's Keep was here. Today, I would be formally anointed as a paladin, and these people came to see me. I'm...not used to being the centre of attention.

I was wearing Rebecca's Order of the Bear jacket and her flint and revolver belt holster. I felt the weight of the person who wore it previously on my shoulders. When these items were given to me, I refused, as I felt that something as valuable as Rebecca's things should be archived and preserved. Cailey disagreed, stating that they didn't have any jackets or items left to give me, and that Rebecca would've wanted her possessions to be of use. But here I am, ready to be a paladin, with Brendan and Cailey standing in front of me to preside over the initiation ceremony.

"I've only seen this ceremony performed a couple of times, once when Rebecca and her peers were initiated and the other when Cailey and I became paladins," Brendan began. "But the importance is not the words or if we get this exactly right, but it's the act of recognition. That we paladins continue to exist, and that we'll keep fighting regardless of the odds. Now, draw your sword and kneel."

I dutifully drew my sword and knelt, striking the tip of the blade into the ground. Looking down, I saw numerous scratches and tiny holes in the marble, indicating the countless number of times this ceremony had been performed.

Brendan continued, "Audrey Beaumont, your skills and the paladin lineage you have inherited from your father have demonstrated that you are truly one of us. From tragedy, Raven's Keep has gained a new protector. A flaming sword to cut down the creatures of the shadows and defend mankind. I hereby bestow upon you the title of Paladin of the Order of the Bear." Applause broke out in the chapel. Applause for me. I felt humbled and honoured at the same time. "Audrey, open your palm. In it, I bestow upon you the artifacts of the paladin before you, First Paladin Rebecca Juhász. Her obsidian flint to light your sword aflame, and her palladium revolver. Use them well, for they are gifts from the many paladins who have come before you."

Cailey then placed the palladium revolver in my palm, to which I said, "thank you" in response, and slotted the revolver into the holster on my belt. She then followed by placing the obsidian flint in my palm. It was cold to the touch and I felt a pulse of energy within it. I closed my hand around it, feeling the potential contained in this small object.

"Rise!" commanded Brendan.

I rose and to turned to face the people in the crowd.

"Audrey Beaumont, daughter of Samuel Beaumont, show your power to defeat the evils of the Eternal Night!" shouted Brendan.

I struck the flint on my spatha, causing it to ignite in a bright blue flame, and raised it high above my head. I had done this before, in desperation at the school, not knowing what to expect, but here, in this very moment, seeing the sword burn in front of me, was truly something indescribable. Like I was witnessing the birth of a new me - specifically, a bright, new potential in me, personified as a flaming sword. The crowd bursted into an even stronger applause and cheers this time, and Cailey hugged me from behind. Brendan nodded and smiled at me.