AUTHOR'S NOTE:
This is a work of fiction. All charcters and places are borrowed (with permission) or inspired by the work of the Frith Chronicles by Shami Stovall. THIS IS A FAN FICTION following a different main charcter than the Frith Chronicles, and set in the past of the main story-line. If you enjoy this story, PLEASE take the time to purchace the first book in the Frith Chronicles called Knightmare Arcanist. This story contains Supernatural/fantasy elements: Magic and mythical creatures. This story contains homosexual activity/themes between males. If this offends you, please do not read. If it is ILLEGAL where you are, please do not read. If you are looking for a quick "release" this is most likely not the story for you. It is slow building/progressing and not intended to be pornographic.
Also...Nifty is a great site, so if you are inclined, maybe consider a small donation. http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html
Bells rang from the Isle's tower, signifying the start of the celebrations. I could smell the aroma of freshly sliced fruit and baked bread, wafting up from the kitchen below. A crisp morning breeze of wind rattled against my window shutters, bringing with it hints of salt from the ocean.
I donned myself in the primed and prepped outfit laid out for me by one of my father's servants. Somehow in their tiringly perfect manner, they managed to find an outfit that suited today's events. Of course, it was a perfect fit, having been measured for many such special occasions many time's throughout my life. My constantly growing size was never a mystery to our servants or seamstress. I stretched in front of the mirror, and the outfit seemed to fold, twist and maneuver with me in ways that didn't seem entirely possible. After a few long moments of vigorous movement, I stood straight, only to find the outfit as fresh and perfectly in place as before. Not a thread out of place.
A magical item? Surely it must be. I wouldn't put it past my mother to acquire something so extravagant for my big day. Only an arcanist could make magical items, someone who'd bonded with a mythical creature and learned to permanently imbue their magics into items. Today would be the day that I would join their ranks. But my magic would be far too great to be vexed with mundane trinkets like fine clothing. I would bond with something powerful, something world-changing even. And I have just the creature in mind.
Today is the day of the Phoenixes. Every ten years, the people on the Isle of Ruma gathered to watch the fledgling phoenixes bond with a few chosen mortals. Lamplighters did their duty despite the glorious sunshine, each lamp's fire representing the flames of phoenixes. Merchants cleared their horses and carts from the main road in anticipation of the crowds. This was my second Day of Phoenixes.
Ten years ago I'd been 7 years old, far from 15 years the age of maturity, and too young to participate in these island festivities. When I'd turned 11 I started apprenticing under the island's young schoolmaster, Elias Tyms. Anyone could offer themselves to the phoenixes on the day of the trials, but those who'd apprenticed under the schoolmaster were far more successful and usually uncontested.
This is our tradition, and the Isle of Ruma knew the importance of picking the right people to become arcanists. We believe that the schoolmaster knows best, --for centuries the keepers of knowledge were deemed and trusted as the wisest and most capable of determining who would become the best arcanists. And for the last few years, Schoolmaster Tyms had prepared me for this very moment. Well... I and a few others, but that mattered little. I would not fail the trial of worth. I could not afford to. I was 17 now but by the time my next opportunity to bond came around, I'd likely be far too past the ideal age of bonding. This will happen now, it has to.
I took one final look in the mirror. I was tall for my age. Six-foot frame with a muscular build. The muscles throughout my arms and upper chest remained visible through the thin exorbitant fabric of my shirt. But my most notable feature was undoubtedly my flaming red head of hair, the ren family's trademark. My emerald eyes were in great contrast to my fiery locks, so I kept my hair short so they would not go unnoticed. I'd like to think that I am handsome. All the ladies on the isle sure seemed to think so, but I've been far too focused on my studies to be bothered with love. When I was an arcanist I would travel the world and leave all these silly girls and their fawning behind.
I smirked as turned to leave the bedroom. I did not bother to pack or take anything I could not carry. Once I have bonded our servants will ensure that I have all my essentials alongside any pleasantries I may have forgotten had I packed myself. An advantage of being a Ren meant, that I need not trouble myself with such trivial preparation, instead we can dedicate our minds and time to life's more meaningful pursuits.
Joanna, one of our prettier cooks, pushed a bowl filled with bread and fruits as I came down the stairs. Her oval face lit into a smile as she greeted me, "Good morning Master Ren. Please enjoy your breakfast before you go. "
I stuffed half a fresh roll into my mouth before handing the bowl back to her.
"A phoenix won't bond with someone who's late," I mumbled around the bread, before rushing out the front door.
"ZACHARY!!!" I yelled for our grounds manager.
"Yes, Master Ren." He answered stepping into sight. Never seemingly far from our needs.
"Prepare my horse, immediately, I am needed at today's festivities."
"He's already prepared and waiting, Sir. We know how important today is for the family, and we anticipated you'd want to depart for the festivities before the crowd forms. "Zachary's old face wrinkled as he whistled loudly enough to be heard across the grounds.
Lady came trotting into view. Fully adorned with her harness and saddle. daughter of my father's prized horse Willow, she looked befittingly majestic. From a distance, she could have been mistaken for a pegasus or unicorn, but despite her beautiful metallic silver coat, she was just as mortal as anything else on our grounds.
I swung my leg over her side and sat tall atop her back. With perfect posture and a confident grasp of her reins I jostled her into a brisk pace towards the isle pillars.
Lady gave a small neigh and looked back as if to say, what's he in a rush for? "I'm sorry girl, we are in a bit of a hurry. The faster we get there, the sooner you can return home."
As if she understood, Lady trained her eyes forward and her brisk pace broke into a light run. At this rate, we'd be there long before the public gathered. Perfect, so I can calm my mind before the phoenix trials.
The Pillar--nothing more than a sheer column of pointed rock jutting straight up into the sky--was well over one hundred and twenty feet tall. It could be seen from anywhere on the island, the reddish stone shimmering in the sunlight. A single tree grew at the top, its branches forever swaying in the ocean winds, its roots laced over the rock, its fruit rare and delicious.
That sole charberry tree was what had attracted the first phoenixes to our island centuries ago. The fiery fruit tasted like a pepper, but spicier sweeter, and juicier. Phoenixes loved them. The base of the Pillar was the starting location for the Trials of Worth--the tasks given to the wide-eyed hopefuls wanting to prove their value to the phoenixes.
The base of the Pillar was the starting location for the Trials of Worth--the tasks given to the wide-eyed hopefuls wanting to prove their value to the phoenixes. My hair coiled in the wind, as I rode to the bottom of the pillar's staircase. The stairs wrapped around the column of rock, all the way to the top.
I dismounted Lady, in a state of minor shock to see that I was not the first, but simply among the few earliest people to arrive. A light slap to Lady's rear, and she happily trotted away back towards home. No doubt in anticipation to have her mount and harness removed by the stableboy. She never seemed to like these things.
Among the people who'd arrived before me, I recognized Emilia Bell and Luca Darville. Both had apprenticed alongside me with schoolmaster Tyms. There were five of us, students, in total but only we three were of proper bonding age.
I walked over to where Emilia and Luca were standing. They both greeted me with smiles, and I nodded my head towards them in response. I was usually more friendly toward them because they both came from decent families. But today they were my competition, and I wouldn't let sympathy or charity cloud my judgment.
With each passing moment, more and more people began to arrive. And as the crowd grew, I became more anxious and filled with worry. How many phoenixes would there be this year? I'd learned in my studies that while phoenixes are legendary creatures with powerful magics capable of healing and controlling flames, their chicks are fragile creatures with a high mortality rate.
My father's connections had informed us that there were five eggs that were due to hatch this year. Which would mean there was a very likely chance that only two phoenix chicks would have survived to participate in the ceremony. Loud shouts from the crowd commanded my attention, and I turned to see servants from my house clearing a path to the front for my family. Among them, my mother, beautiful and graceful, glided behind the forceful help whispering sweet apologies only to those who she deemed worthy. Garnering more attention as they moved forward, most people upon recognition freely choose to jump out of her way.
"MAKE ROOM FOR LADY REN!" someone shouted.
I forced myself to put on a face of confidence. I was a member of the great Ren family. Even if there were only one phoenix this year, I would become an arcanist. I was as prepared today as I would ever be in life, and who was more deserving than the Ren family? Surely a phoenix would recognize quality, I just had to remain calm.
I glanced at the pillar, and thought to myself, "Bravery. Without it, we cannot act in the face of fear." The stonework of the pillar's steps had writing etched into them. They were the virtues of the arcanist--the traits arcanists should display to lead humanity into an age of greatness. And I'd known them all by heart for nearly two years, how could I not be great?
I am the best this town has to offer, and today I am going to prove it!