A New Power

Disclaimer: read the first part coz I'm too lazy to re-write it...

Part 9

Scelar ran into the lounge room "Ma where's my clothes? I can't go to my choosing butt naked you know!?!"

Felins came out of her sewing room, though she was a warrior it didn't mean she couldn't sew. All females learnt such skills at school and now she was proud to show her son what she had made for him to wear to his choosing. "Here" She tossed the clothes at him "Go change, I want to see you in the clothes I made for you."

Scelar caught the clothes and ran into his room, he was nervous...very nervous. For a start today was his choosing! The day he chose which guild he wanted to belong to. To a Scyterrain the day of choosing was almost as important as choosing a new monarch....but choosing a new monarch was only ever held every couple centuries depending on whether the reigning King or Queen actually wanted to step down. The other reason he was nervous was that he knew his mum would insist he wear what she had made him to the choosing....and he really didn't want to turn up and look absolutely horrible or turn up dressed in rags.

He trusted his mum when she trained him but he wasn't quite so sure about her abilities in sewing. He held the shirt up first of all and was shocked. It was pure white with silver embroidery down the front. He put it on then picked up the pants, which were a deep blue almost black with more silver embroidery on the top of his right leg. It was writing.

`As the new moon rises the old sun sets. Beware the dark of night.'

It was written in the old language Scelar briefly wondered when his mother had learnt the old language but brushed it away the thought and got dressed. He put on his new boots then picked up his sash. It had also been made by his mother, it was crimson silk with more silver embroidery. A moon and the symbol of infinity were on the front and on the back was a weird symbol he decided to ask his mother what it all meant but that was quickly forgotten as he looked in the mirror. All his fears were washed away, he looked great. He looked older and more mature. A scene flashed across his vision, a man and woman with child, a flash of light and a hall of mirrors. He shook his head. What was that? He shook his head once more and tied his sash a bit tighter and walked out of his room. His parents were standing in the kitchenette, his mother had tears running down her face and he'd never seen his dad look so happy. He smiled and went and hugged his mother thanking her for the
beautiful clothes.

"Now my son have you chosen?" his father addressed him. "No" he whispered his smile fading "I still cannot decide." His mother hugged him tighter saying "Take all the time you need, do not rush into a decision. Use the time of silence wisely and if you still do not have an answer the council will decide which guild is the best for you." She wiped her eyes "But do not worry my child, it will turn out right." Scelar nodded and fingered his sash "Ma thank you for the wonderful clothes. But what does the symbols and the writing mean?" Hoidre shifted nervously then the morning bell rang "Come it is time." His mother looked relieved, then holding onto her son's arm led him out the door.

In the big hall nearly the entire population of Scyte were gathered. Most in seats but others were standing outside the hall in the outside viewing area. Scelar was nervous under the watchful eyes of his people, he wasn't the only one either. All the other students in his class at school were also with him, each dressed in their best and all silent as the head councilwoman approached them. "Come children, it is the time of silence, use it wisely. But note anyone who speaks during this time will not participate in his or her choosing."

She took the children into a well-lighted room that was divided into sections. Each child choose a section and sat on the provided cushion in silence. Another bell rang and each child picked up their tea and drank it. The tea was a mixture of herbs and an infusion of a rare root used to bring on visions or dream quests. Scelar drank his tea and made himself comfortable. A person materialised in front of him, he recognised it as his great-grandfather. He was shocked, his great-grandfather had disappeared many years ago in space on a mission to a distant planet. His grandpa reached out a hand and hauled Scelar out of his seat....or to me more precise...out of his body.

Scelar turned back and looked at his body, it felt weird looking at himself like that. His body was so still it didn't even look like he was breathing, he turned back to his grandpa and ferociously hugged him. "Grandpa! What happened? How?" His grandpa returned his hug equally as fierce. "I'm so sorry I couldn't be there at home to help you. I had a bit of trouble on Vegita-sei." "Trouble Grandpa?" His grandpa nodded "Yeah just a bit, the planet was blown up."

He watched his grandson's face as it went white in shock and horror. "How did it blow up?" He laughed, his grandson was just like him as curious as a cat. "Well some villain called Freiza decided he didn't want the planets inhabitants to cause a problem so he eliminated them. Though I must admit they all were exceptional fighters, especially one of them I met.... Bardock. A bit crude but rather ok." Scelar nodded then asked "Well, if you're dead, what are you doing here?" Scelars grandfather shifted uncomfortably "Well, this is part of what I have to do... to get you ready...." "Ready for what Grandpa?" "Well...ready for today of course! It is a most important day today isn't it?" Scelar smiled "Of course! I almost forgot at seeing you!" He hugged his Grandpa again. His grandpa hugged him then unlatched his grandson's arms from around him. "Now I have some important things to show you and to tell you about.... Come on!" With that Scelar followed his Grandpa to where ever he was leading him.

When Scelar woke up from the effects of the tea he was stiff from sitting in one place for so long. He got up and noticed others were doing the same. He did some stretches in his small space then waited for someone to come and let them out. It was only 10 minutes or so later that a councilman came and let them out of the room. Still not allowed to speak Scelar silently counted the amount of heads he saw, he noticed there were 2 missing. He frowned and sympathised with the 2 who had somehow broken the rules. He didn't notice when they reached the great hall and was surprised when he was pushed into a seat at the end of the row. He eagerly looked around, his sadness forgotten. All the walls were covered in marble with gold trims, a large bench was situated in front of him. The bench was high above the crowds so the council member who sat there could see everyone and so that everyone could see them. `Bang bang!' The middle council man stood "Welcome all who have come to watch this years choosing. Please be quiet as we hear our children's choices. Anyone who causes trouble or disturbs this sitting of the council will be removed from the building." He sat and the first child on the seat stood, Scelar watched as she was questioned and asked which guild she wished to belong to. The teacher who taught her was also questioned as to what he thought she should do then the council passed their judgement. She was admitted to the Artisans Guild. This process went on until he was the last person sitting on the bench.

"Scelar of Felins and Hoidre please stand and address the bench." Scelar rose shakily to his feet, he felt like his legs were going to give out. He stood before the bench in front of the middle councilman and bowed his respects the council. A soft voice of to the side asked "My child. Have you chosen which guild you wish to join?" Scelar shook his head "Ladies and Gentlemen of the esteemed council" he started just as he had been told to do by his Grandpa "I have thought long and hard on the choice of guild and have come up with 2 choices. The Warriors guild or the Scholars guild, I have not been able to decide which I wish to join. I am skilled as both a warrior and as a scholar, so I would ask that I be permitted to join both of them."

A large roar went through the crowds but Scelar continued on "Or be allowed to train with both of these guild until a day when I can choose which guild will be in my best interests." Scelar took a deep breath and waited. Now it was up to how the council reacted. The members conferred between each other and the crowd began to get restless "Quiet! Quiet in the hall!" A small councilman stood up "We would like to hear from the teacher of this child." Scelar didn't move but rather felt as his teacher walked up beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. The small councilman continued "And what say you?"

Scelars teacher Grefrn stepped forward "I have taught Scelar from the time he entered into his learning years. All the time I've known him he has excelled in both academic and war skills. He has never gotten lower than 90% in any of his tests and often topped his class. In the war skills we teach at the school he has not excelled as much as in his academic areas but he is a formidable opponent who uses his brains as well as he brawn to win a fight. I have also had occasion to see him fight against members of the warrior guild and beat them. So I would agree with Scelar his academic brilliance should not be lost in the warriors guild, yet his other skills should not be lost due to his academic pursuits." Grefrn bowed and stepped back to beside Scelar, who gave him a weak smile.

Elean of the Warriors Guild then stood up and walked to the front. The head of the Warriors guild stood up and asked "Elean of the warriors guild why do you approach the bench?" She bowed and stepped forward through the guards who had stopped her "My lord and ladies, I wish to stand as a witness to Scelars `Warriorly' aptitude." The head of the warrior's guild sat then said "Proceed." Elean bowed once more "Thank you my lords and ladies. I have known Scelar only a few years if that. As you know I am the best warrior with my scythe. No offence my lord" she bowed towards the head of the warrior guild "But even one such esteemed as yourself cannot win over me with a scythe. But yet this young boy here has beaten me not once but twice or more. He is a most skilled warrior and with proper training we will go far....but he is also gifted academically and I do not wish to deprive him of an expanded education so I believe he should be allowed a duel guild membership. That is all I have to contribute."

With that she bowed and stood on Scelars other side. The head of the warriors guild stood again "Is this true Elean? This young boy has beaten you with the weapon of your choice?" Elean nodded affirmation so the head of the warriors guild turned his sights to Scelar "You are trained in what weapons?" Scelar took a deep breath, if he said too much he could get his parents in trouble here "Sir, I am trained in nothing. My weapon of choice is the sword but as I am a part of no guild I was not allowed training. So what I know is what I have taught myself. But I can also use daggers, scythes and axe. The only other weapons I have had the chance to use is the one provided by the school, at which I am proficient if not capable in." The man nodded "But yet with no proper training and not even using a weapon of your choice you can beat our best Scythe wielding warrior who was using the weapon of her choice." Scelar nodded and the warrior lead continued on "For this to be believed I have to see it." Several other members of the council agreed. "Someone fetch 2 Scythe please. We will do this now". A space was cleared in the middle of the hall and a white chalk circle was drawn. A tall woman stood behind the bench "The rules are as normal. No fatalities, person who moves out of the circle loses and once your weapon is out of the circle you cannot touch it again. Fight!"

The two opponent circled each other ignoring the whispers of "She might go easy on him to help him prove a point." And " he might have arranged this and she might be going to throw the match!" Elean and Scelar and fought each other many times, neither would give in but after a match their enmity would be forgotten and they would be friends. But a match was serious, there would be no such thing as throwing the match otherwise the others respect would be lost and that would be worse than losing one match.

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