The White Mark

2. Puddle of Crimson

"And this is the ignis grando sword. It was created about two hundred years ago by the world's best smelters as a present from the former Queen Penelope to her son," the raven haired tour guide explained, her purple glasses perked on her nose, "the hilt is embedded with real diamonds. It is, of course, invaluable."

The middle aged women stared at the sword with such awe of her own she didn't even notice the yawns and loud sighs coming from the teenagers stood in front of her.

"Isn't that simply amazing guys?" Exclaimed Ms. Penny her phone clutched tightly in her hand as she snapped what seemed like an entire gallery of pictures.

"I can't believe we're looking at ancient swords instead of visiting The Arabella already," Camilla groaned, glaring at the shiny, metal object laid securely in a box of glass with steel edges.

"If they really insist we see this, I really don't understand why we can't hold it," complained James crossing his arms tightly.

"I wouldn't even trust you with a kitchen knife, " Thea scoffed, "but if you really want to try it you might just have to join the Royal Army."

This earned a childish giggle from both Paulina and Camilla as James's frown just deepened.

"Come on Thea don't be a fool James would never get in," Chris mocked his friend with a short laugh, "Besides most people get in around sixteen or seventeen and the training is brutal."

The conversation ceased quickly as their increasing volume gained them the attention of narrow eyed Ms. Penny who was giving them a warning look. The group quickly quietened and forced themselves to listen to the history lesson happening before them.

They had soon finished walking through the artefacts section and the class found themselves in a dim room with a large screen situated on the wall at the end of the narrow area. A number of long wooden benches were located in numerous rows, facing the screen. A young woman with kind blue eyes stood at the top of the room next to a small desk, scanning the crowd with a smile.

"Everyone please find a seat," requested the tour guide gesturing towards the benches. The students lazily filled the seats. "This is Elizabeth, she is a new member of our team and will speak to you about one very important to you, especially now, topic."

Elizabeth's smile widened as the tour guide introduced her. Thea couldn't help but wonder if everyone who worked here was ranked on their smile during the job interview. Not one employee in the museum, or in fact, in any of the other attractions wore any other expression. That's not including the guards who had faces of stone. The City of Glory was surely a place raising delight. Living and working here on a daily basis must have created the ethereal atmosphere drifting through the warm air.

Elizabeth swept her dark blonde braid off her shoulder sending it to her back, lifted a small grey remote of the desk and turned on the screen at the top of the room. The blank canvas quickly lit up, proudly presenting one singular word, Soulmates.

"Hello everyone. As you were just told by my colleague, my name is Elizabeth. Today I'm going to speak about one very popular amongst young people and, quite complex, topic. Soulmates. We are aware that the basics of this subject are taught to you by your health teachers but we have found that young people still tend to struggle with the whole process of it. That's why we decided to set up this exact, completely new to our schedule, program to inform you about everything you need to know and to give you a chance to ask any more detailed questions. I have just finished a long course on this subject and know just about everything there is, so let's get started."

Chris and Thea who sat side by side on a bench gave each other a questioning glance. Thea's eyebrow raised involuntarily as she thought of the so common yet still so far off topic they were about to speak of. Many of her classmates already reached their eighteenth birthday and received the mark although only two had found their other half. Thea glanced at the couple sat two benches with zero free space between them. They were extremely lucky to be in the same class. It is a rare occurrence.