Hidden Before Their Eyes

Chapter 28: The Recruitment Festival

Throwing on the outfit I had already laid out for the opening ceremony and grabbing Erphi take a bit more time than I had allotted myself. Thus I am running in order to make it in time. There is nothing quiet like showing up late to make things run smoothly, so rush I must.

With much relief I manage to show up just as it is my turn to go in with a few others. We move in unison to spiral into the arena where thousands of civilians are watching from. Once every student taking part is in, leaving a sizable opening in the middle the show begins. To my luck I am what they called one of the sentries so my job is to stand very still at the edge of the arena. Slowly the crowd of students dwindles as the two chosen for the highlight.

The begin this strange dance where they are raising their hands to each other but never come into contact. I believe the story that is being portrayed is a tragedy as they both dramatically fall to the ground. That is the cue for the sentries to march forward. There are thirty-two of us. We stop when we are each about three meters away from the center of the arena, making a semi-close circle around the two.

The other students start filing in once more, all dressed in a black cloak. The light that the mages are shining down slowly dim and fade away until just the sentries and the middle two are alight. They start rising and act out as though they are meeting once more, maintaining a distance such that they never are touching.

In the darkness half the cloaked students slip out and small mock battles begin to break out, dancing and weaving between the remaining lines of cloaked students. These mock battles have lights cast upon them, following them around and showing off the clashes to the audience.

A loud clap, not unlike that of a clap of thunder, singles the lights all off and we all leave the arena. Now representatives of each floor will go out and in unison explain about the upcoming events within the arena as well as what will be available in the town square where by now many stalls have been set up and are ready to sell wares to the stream of people that are soon to descend on the town once more. 

This whole deal was superficial and a waste of you ask me, but clearly no one had come to ask of my opinion. Taking the opportunity to head out into town I head to the stalls that have opened up and look around.

Around the well in the middle, which has been covered over and a statue replacing it, is a sitting area where the people can stop and eat the more snack like foods they may be buying. For me however it is just a nice break to sit down next to the statue and breathe in the outside air. The statue appears to be of a dragon defending a humanoid of some type and the longer I stare at it the more entrenched in it I become.

I snap out of my trance when I feel a tap on my shoulder and a soft female voice says, "Excuse me where might I be able to find my son Dracix."

I freeze. Ever so slowly I turn to the woman and sure enough before me is none other than Queen Lilinlyss, with a few of the royal guards standing just behind him. "My queen," I say, bowing to her. "I have not seen Dracix in some time. May I assist you in finding him?"

"Prince Dracix," one of the guards corrects me.

I glare at him menacingly and it is a little fun to see a moment of fear cross over him. "Excuse me, Prince Dracix does not like us referring to him by his title within the Academy."

"What is going on here?" Dracix asks from behind me.

"Speak of the devil," I mutter under my breath.

"Mother, you wanted to speak with me?" He asks, coming up to just in front of beside me.

"Ah yes, I know all you want is Esklan but two of your potential brides are here in town to meet you for the first time," she says.