Mianite: Rise of the Heroes

Chapter 3

The principle once again took centre stage as the council left it to set up the machine that everyone has been waiting to see. When they took off the cloth that was draped over the machine Jordan was a bit disappointed, but he still admired it.

He expected something extravagant, like a chair made of gold, or a jewel encrusted helmet, but no, it was two therapy couches laying side-by-side with a small table in between them. The couches were lined in a rich red fabric that somehow looked softer than a cloud. Underneath the seat, dark wood containing the most elegant of designs swirling around the base and each of the four legs looking like wooden vines erupted from the ground.

This started a small murmur through the students, that became loud whispers. The Principle tried to quiet them down but this was to exciting for everyone to contain. Some stood to get a better look at the machine that was something completely throwing off the look of elegance that the couches projected.

It was a half arch hovering over the couch headspace, where the students head will lay. The smooth exterior of the arch was made of a shiny, chrome steel, with lights along the side of the arch behind a frosted glass, looking simple, but would definitely catch a lot of attention.

Jordan noticed something at the top of the arch on both sides, a black screen. He was wondering what it could be, confused, but was knocked from his thoughts by a loud voice.

"QUIET", Principle Russet commanded, his voice projecting and ringing through the hall, all conversations faltered, some even jumped at his voice.

"We MUST remain collected and quiet! Or you will leave this room with no future, got it?!"

After a lot of nodding and a few 'yes sirs' he gave a nod of approval and left the stage to speak to Declan, the leader of the Council of Mianite, and for the next few minutes, everyone could only hear the Council working to get the machine started and the hushed whispers of the principle and Declan. As everyone watched the scene unfold, a loud click resonated the hall followed by low vibration coming from the arch machine.

Declan moves his head from Principle Russet- who seemed to disagree on something Declan said- and faced the students with mischief in his eyes which made quite a few people uneasy, some shifting uncomfortably in their seats nervous about what Declan had planned for them, and why the principle seemed to not like this idea.

"Students, while you do the test, keep in mind what you have to gain" he started.

"But, there's a twist, something that will give you a... push to get to your group of choice."

Jordan looked as people began to look a big worried and panicked, but something felt wrong to him, and he wasn't sure why.

"It has always been that everyone who took this test you were guaranteed a spot to have either Mianite or Dianite as your patron" Declan clarified, "but from this year forth that's about to change. If you fail to be compatible with either of the two Gods, then you shall become a Sylicate (Si-Li-ket)."

"Most of you wouldn't know who or what they are, so I shall explain. A sylicate is someone who betrays their god, defies them, or no longer wishes to follow them, becoming isolated and are not welcomed or frowned upon by those who follow Mianite or Dianite."

Jordan just about fainted, and he was pretty sure that everyone else did as well. Not only were his fears of going to Dianite's side prominent, but now the fear of not being accepted anywhere was consuming him.

"Oh Mianite", Sonja whispered. She knew that Jordan was freaking out, but now she doesn't even know how he must be feeling during this, Jordan doesn't even know how he's feeling anymore, his brain and body have gone rigid and numb.