Initium Novum: Dracones #1

Test of Fate (1)

Ammun-Dai -the day- came as soon as Ammun-Ra -the night- left. The sky drifted away from its soundless dark state Liene, the ruler of the night, where the triple moons reigned, back to Daen, ruler of the day.

The dull yet beautiful darkness off Ra disapeared at the same time where Dai was now clear and Daen rose from the east only peaking above the mountains. Aves praised the ruler of day with their joyous toons awake and ready for the new day and so was Zarmeideus. His body also rose to greet the ruler not a blink of sleep in his eyes as he was already awake, sleep not greeting him as it would in his snowy home land the warm area too much a bother. And the thought of himself in a place where any one could attack kept him unnerved,vigilant and in other words staying awake for majority of Ra paranoia getting the best of him. The fact that he was sharing a room with other beings such as himself - the beings Zar disliked the most made him more aware of the dangers around him and his cublings.

Once more the boy took in the surroundings, looking at every other male figure present in the room all sleeping soundly not even caring of any possible danger like how Zar would. Already though Zar figured the immense dislike they shared towards him since his uncalled for entry yesterday in the cabin all shared together.

The black haired boy's mind drifted away thinking of his little grypheus, which was'nt his to begin with. He could already imagine how her tail lay flat and wings drooped at the prospect of him not being their with her. Unconsciously he rubbed the cublings and erupted a set of purrs from them while he thought.

Suddenly a shrill noise high pitched and extremely loud rang out causing the immediate action of Zar and many other previous sleepers to cover their ears it lasted a while never ending the more it prolonged it seemed to have become impossibly louder.

Zarmeideus was having trouble more than anyone else his ears more sensitive and useful than others. For the recruits surrounding him, the shrill noise only lasted a moment at the right pitch enough to only wake them up, but for Zarmeideus it was never ending the pitch that was manageable before increasingly became higher the ringer getting louder as if right next to his ears. The organ now pained him starting from a dull pink increasing to red he pressed down his palms with more force on his ears, the cublings whined up at him he hadn't even realized they woke.

The harsh sound dissipated slowly, feeling as if it was only his imagination to Zar. Either way he felt indifferent to what was happening around him and soon noticed that all recruits that were in the room before were gone. Leaving Zarmeideus and the bustling cublings.

Not even half heartedly caring Zar got dressed albeit slowly in a leather tunic provided to him by the institute. Pale long fingers ran through the hair that passed his mid back and he tied it in a man bun. However, with nothing to cover his face, it was troubling and uncomfortable having his face exposed as people often stared, both men and women alike. It was not like he wore blemishes across his face or had any sort of moles adorning his skin.

Only was others painfully aware of his attractiveness, that was beyond many across land they travelled, it was a well known fact that Zar did not know about, in fact the black haired boy believed he himself was very ordinary looking and could not tell if a person represented an Adonis or looked like a chipped away toenail.

Now the attractive boy decided he would care less about other people staring most likely thinking it was because he just came yesterday and was intruding on the odds that was already against them, plus he carried the little cublings everywhere he went, the recruits hearing how the little animals went rabid the day before and attacked several staff at the Academy it was only right they felt a little uneasy in his presence. Zar's indifferent and blank attitude did not help either, it was decided that it was better they stayed away from him, right. At least that was what he thought and he didn't mind solitude was best.

Zar was now outside spotting the large group of recruits, larger than those whom he shared the room with and he could only guess that they were alot more than he knew about. Zarmeideus figured he was late after seeing three, maybe they were intructors, people at the front of the lined up recruits their voices being projected loudly though they don't seem to put much effort into speaking.

The cublings trotted after him nipping on the sandals clad on his feet and jumping around and on each other. The black haired boy gave a sharp whistle making the cublings stop and walked calmly and sullenly.

The whistle seemed to drag the attention of all recruits that were about several metres in front. His face expressionless he walked to the back of the lined the burning of their stared on the back of his head and his face. The instuctors called attention back to themselves after partially staring at the late comer as well deeming him rude, since he showed no manners especially when he was tardy. Though they were still entranced by his slender face and pale unmarked skin it did not distract them much.

Even after getting most of the attention back to the intructors stares still penetrated Zar's forehead.

Zar realized long since that there were three instructors, one female and two males. The female wore a body fitted suit that sat snuggly on her her skin out lining her too straight figure and flat chest, her hair was a nice shade of chestnut but was wrapped in a messy bun. Her face was only a darker shade than everyone else's with round eyes and full lips and a broad nose, seeming to have spend much of her time bathing in Daen's light.

The two men both had blond hair, both looking identical to the other with their equally less tan skin than the woman, one sported boots and a tunic much like the recruits own but with better fabric and was more put together. The other wore sandals on his feet -not looking quite like the type to go out- and a white cloak on his back, if looked closely on one could spot a mole under his left eye.

"-there will be three tests to go through the first I will be watching over as to avoid any causualities, remember all has to be in groups of four, if ever one person out of the group gets hurt really badly to the point where they have to forfeit or either left behind the whole group will immediately be disqualified and will be going home. Even so if any group fails to reach the finish line they will be sent home, fighting between different teams are allowed but nothing lethal or any permanent damage, if so disqualification, affinities are also banned from this tournament if used you know what will be the result. The surrounding area can be used be used to one's advantage but remember to always go along the path since there is no guarantee that one can get lost and those of you that reaches the finish line last will be sent home, oh and before I forget items were placed on the path to be used at your disposal. Any questions- no alright ready to proceed, you have five minutes to form your teams if not and the test starts left you, you get sent home, clear."

The woman did not even wait seconds after her question for anyone to answer there were no pauses or stops in the midst of her words her voice going in a monotonous way.

But the rules were clear, there was nothing wrong, except the fact that no one was willing to be in a team with him so he stood not even to paying attention to those in groups already. Probably friends from the past week he wasn't there.

I don't mind, maybe the supervisor's will allow me to go by myself. He thought, most likely hoping as he watched the cublings tangling themselves together at his feet, Kaima having the upper hand among the three of them, the alpha cub. Then a small person walked up to his back the person's footsteps were quiet but confident no staggering of any kind, the person was not one to make a ruckus, but Zar's ears picked up on the sound. And Zar turned around abruptly knowing she was there.

The person now in front of him jumped a few of paces back startled out of their little mind. Zarmeideus looked down on a small girl her frame petite and eyes immposibly wide in surprise. She looked up in his gorgeous face for what felt like hours but in reality only seconds, her breathing had stopped abruptly. He raised a brow his face indifferent to her presence and she flushed hard as she realized she was staring and looked down. The black haired boy continued to look down well more like glared down on the girl with the straight brown hair and his forehead formed creases when the frown on his face deepened as she said nothing.

The little cublings at Zar's feet growled annoyed by the girl's sudden shyness and the stealing of their father's attention. The abrupt noises caused the girl to jump more, beyond startled from the little creatures, who posed no harm...... probably.

"Uhmmm-" she began to speak, "w-we, m-my team members and I w-were wondering i-if you would like t-to join us." She said addressing to the person's behind her and stuttering over her words due to embarrassment, usually she talked with cofindence and was smooth at it no falling over her words but staring in the face of this boy caught her off guard, the girl's face got impossibly redder.

While Zar knowing it was not a choice for him whether yes or no if he wanted to join it was a must, he spared the two few feet away from the girl no glance already recognizing them from before, one of the two standing was female with much height most likely touching six feet her arms folded over the small molds of breast she had with legs apart and a scowl on her face. Beside her stood a much shorter boy, him looking everywhere except at Zar and wriggling with his hands together not social like the other two.

Zarmeideus wanted to say no to the offer if he did it'd spare him the trouble, but things didn't go as he planned cause as soon as he open his mouth to give the brief answer his royal painship arrived, flung his arm around Zar's shoulder and answered the smiling girl who was still staring up at them, expectantly.

"Why of course my girl he would be very appreciative of your kindness thank you very much for even considering him." The Lord of Csedea showed that bright smile of his white teeth getting all the limelight, and his face showing different expressions as he talked. The girl instantly perked up at his smile; the small one she had on her small lips previously getting as big as his. Zar glared at Nefèrro the intensity much times greater than normal and the golden blond man winced on the inside, but kept up the genuine smile.

"Oh, and Zar, lad I'll be taking these off of your hands seeing as they can't accompany you,-" Zarmeideus glared more when he realized the Lord was talking about the cublings who were now jumping around the older man's feet. "-hey don't look at me like that, it's the rules kiddo." Zarmeideus couldn't believe the Lord still wanted to have Havoc, Kaima and Brialle stay with him after what happened when Zar left and they woke without seeing him and attacked the closest thing, in other words the Lord and now he was sporting few bruises and scratches.

The difference between yesterday and this day was that they were fine now and seemed content with the Lord watching over them so the black haired boy agreed and nodded at the Lord, him taking the cublings away, though Zarmeideus didn't know where.

He turned to the group where the tall girl scowled at him, the small girl beamed brightly at him and the short boy avoided his eyes.

"Oiiiii!!!, kids the games shall now begin, the few without team members leave please." Seeing that no one budged the flat chest woman continued to speak.

"Now, all teams to the starting line."

The starting line being between two fig trees that was a little close to each other for all the the teams to fit but big enough if there was only a few persons.

"Ready!!."

All recruits twitched.

"Set."

Some bodies rocked with anticipation.

"GO!!!."

~~

Following the path set out for them, Zar and the other three trudged slowly. Even after everyone else sped down the path pushing at each others teams, Zar had raised his hand for them to pause seeing as these 'teammates' of his would have charged after the crowd and choose to hurt themselves while doing so.

Now the four walked, sometimes jogging as to not stay too far behind.

On top of the situation the walk was aggravating as Daen rays pelted their bodies and it was only early morn, but the intensity of the light was concentrated on that one path, and the unfamiliarity of the sun irked Zarmeideus to no end, his skin seeming to ache at the mere thought of the ultraviolet rays. Otherwise from that the four walked awkardly along side each other in a terse silence, often while the two girls and short boy muttered behind of him, lowly to not be heard but Zarmeideus heard anyway.

Zar led the way, telling them what to and what not, not like there was any thing to do, though not a big threat or deal, the small breast girl got angrier the more they walked and got tired of how the black haired boy was ordering them around. By heart she was competitive, her nature clouding her eyes and reason flew out the window, already she did not like the black haired boy.

She stepped up in front of the team protesting, not a necessarily wise decision on her part flailing around her arms as she voiced her protests.

"This is bullcrap, why is he ordering us around like that, he just joined this god forsaken group, can't ye all see that we are getting left behind by the other groups because of his leading, this is foolishness, I say we speed up and catch up to the others." The small breast girl, whose name Zar did not remeber, face got red as she ranted and huffed.

The short girl standing the left went to say something but Zar stopped her before she could.

"Small breast girl, it's seems you didn't notice that our supervisor said nothing about what lies ahead of on our path, and we will most definitely need our energy, running after imbeciles will not get us any where except wasting our energy and not everyone can handle the strenuous activity, just stopping to talk right here because your insolence is wasting our time, and please keep your mouth quiet and think before you speak." Zarmeideus replied coldly to the ignorant girl and walked passed her as her face got even redder from her anger. Matching the shade of her freckles.

The two behind him continued to walk their heads hung low, knowing that their friend was in the wrong and knew not how to comfort her. The girl too started to trudge after them. The walked only lasted few minutes till the group of four sped up after passing groups who looked to have taken serious blows. Shortly, they came upon a cliff the first part of this test.

Zarmeideus observed the cliff's dark structure, it's width and height, seeing that there was no obvious way around. The texture itself look hard to get across for those not skilled in the art of climbing. He also noticed on the far left side how all groups scrambled upwards the slope that side looking easy for even those at beginners level, but with the mass numbers that side it would be dangerous knowing that alot of pushing will be involved. In fact they could already see the casualties of recruits lying on the ground on moving but chest rising.

"Which of you can climb?" Zar asked.

The tall girl raised her hand slowly -figured she looked athletic after all- and the black haired boy realized that now they were in a predicament, seeing as neither the short boy nor the small girl could climb. Zar needed to figure it out as some of the groups were already at the middle of the cliff almost ready to reach the top. He looked around remembering that the instructor said items were there  to help them on their path. Zar hoped that what she spoke was of truth as he was sure they did not want their recruits to go and climb a cliff with no sort of security that would end their lives.

Then Zar spotted it amongst trees, a rope. Suddenly an idea popped in his head. He went for it picking up the lengthy instrument testing its firmness and walked back to the group tying the rope around his waist making sure it's tight and wouldn't pull out. He then surprised the short boy, not knowing his name as yet, by conjoining the two by tying it around his thin waist. The short boy blushed.

It continued on like that all while explaining to the group how he planned that he will take the lead of climbing using his body strength to uplift the short boy behind him, and seeing as the small breasted girl could climb she could carry some weight of the small girl, the two small persons would be aiding in climbing with pushing up the group with their legs and have a steady grip on the stones as to not let them all fall to their deaths.

The group was mentally appalled at the bluntness and cold tone of the boy in front of them as if he had already done it. But the non-climbers shook in fear, already imagining themselves falling and taking everyone with them.

To make it worse the group was taking the harder path. Realizing that all other groups of four bam rushed the easiest one it was definitely dangerous territory when they saw students falling left and right due to the pushing and fighting. They began their ascent, Zarmeideus making sure to go into areas where most of the rocks stuck out, gripping them with his palm. He felt the weight tugging down his body, but he wasn't bothered by it in fact he thought of it as great exercise to his lacking body as of late, not putting in much effort to pull the group up.

They pushed on for what felt like an eternity, but they were moving alarmingly fast and for newbies.

Not even yet half way of the cliff Zar felt a presence to his left side and turned to look at the body next to him and he glared when he saw who.

It was that small annoying breast girl her freckles stuck out to him at the almost close proximity she was next to him. The side of her thin lips slightly rised to form a smug smirk. He regarded her not even bothering to blink in her direction the boasting she was outputting not triggering anything and Zar found it less in himself to care and turned from her less than pretty face and continued up the cliff. The smirk she was wearing worn fell into her signature scowl as she looked unto his back. And she continued climb with the short girl, Thailia, who weighed down her mid section but powered through it as she saw that the boy had not even shown a sign of sweat as he brought up, Demisus the heavier boy.

She had started to travel fast again, couldn't take the indifferent look in the alarming attractive boy's icy blues. Her mind would not allow her to be this unnoticed, yes she was not at all a stunning beauty with her blond hair thin and so were her lips with a broad nose and narrow eyes.

All in all her features were unevenly matched she getting the short end of the stick out of her noble family. She moved, knowing what she was doing but not expertly, going way too fast for the person she had to lift with her body. The girl, Thailia had called out to her, heart struck with fear as the girl moved faster than the smaller one could manage.

The bond between the two felt it and transferred the feeling of fear and what had deeply aggravated the blond to each other and the boy above them, he started to quiver, not liking the fear and he pictured the feeling of falling exactly what Thailia felt in that moment  and he stopped the fear paralyzing. Thailia's body swung from left to right her not getting a good grip on the sharp rocks in front of her the few times she managed to actually get a hold on one rhe rocks reared through the skin of her palms.

In that momrnt her body spun around like top, unexpectadly her head hit a sharp portruded piece, she winced for a moment. Only a short moment before her eyes blurred and her mind left the current world. Her body layed in the air unmoving.

The suddenly dead weight added pressure to the stomach and back that held the weight it was enough to bring down the girl and those above her the three slid down along with the girl that passed out.

Zarmeideus to say the least had been surprised as he did not expect the sudden pull of force on his flesh tho he was told himself to expect the unexpected with this group of amateurs so that had not count, but even so he slid down the steep slope with the other three until he by regained his bearings holding unto the nearest rock steeling his body to withstand the weight of the three persons. He reinforced his grip on the rock, pulling at his lower region to stop their down spiral.

The boy below him shaked his eyes casting way to the ground the rope tied around them trembled under his jerky movements, starting to give out. Zar realized he had to do something fast when he saw the boy clutching at the rope and his friend below him could not do anything as she focused on getting herself back on the steep surface.

He directed his steel gaze to the boy who trembled more at the sight of how far the ground was. Zar held on and spoke in his sharp tone.

"Hey you- short boy....... Oiiiii you boy with that dark hair, Ughh!!." What's his name again? Zarmeideus wondered remembering distinctly them mentioning his name somewhere.

The stone Zar held on began to break off of its mother     - the much larger stone - , and the black haired boy just noticed that he was still hoisting up three people by the waist, before the rock could break though he thought of the boy's name and quick.

Dis, Das. Nahh it was a DE word. Del, Der, Den.... Dem. Yes Demi, that was it. Zarmeideus thoughts ran rampant.

"DEMI!! Calm down!!." It was loud enough for the boy to hear, maybe for the other groups as well.

The short boy froze at his name being called so sharply. He was still looking down, looking down was always not a good idea

"Demi, Demi. Are you listening to me?"

"Yes."

The boy's voice was soft.

"Listen to me, I need you to calm dowwnn. Look at me, eyes up here- yh thats right." Finally the other boy looked up. "This place is not where your mind should run on its fear, instead you should over come it yaah." Zar nodded and encouraged the smaller boy looking in his eyes.

"This may be a lot of pressure for you but, the life of these people and yourself may or may not be resting in those small hands of yours- don't panic. Look all this can be resolved if you pay heed to my spewed words."

The small boy nodded.

"Okay Demi, I want you to loosen your grip on the rope both hands and legs-" Demisus shooked his head from left to right rapidly causing more tremors up and down the rope "- No you won't fall I guarantee that you won't, now slowly let go- yes just like that, and now hold onto that large rock to the left of yourself- no hesistation Demi, swing and hold on tight your lives depend on it." The boy nodded anxiety coming through to his face.

He sobbed loudly and swung on the ripping rope as ordered, but it back fired and his body came back to its origin, the sobs getting louder. His arms scrambled about wanting to grab the closest thing but the rope had other plans and he swung back out to the large rock this time he did mange to grab on, his sobs getting softer as he breathed a sigh of relief.

Zar was also relieved when the boy reached the rock and not let the others fall to their doom.

The girl with small breast steadied her self with the still unconscious girl swinging under her.

With lots of effort the blond climbed with a bruised body with the two boys in front of her to reach the top of the cliff their bodies except Zar's aching. They rested on the ground not yet quite ready to be on the move especially with the still unconscious girl there.

But they had already gained some in front of groups that had not yet finished scaling the cliff, so again they were on the move, with Thailia on Zar's back her body flinging in the air with every step he took.