Zodiac Circle

Chapter 5: The Joining Ceremony

After receiving the scroll and the brush from Erisa, Tamie decided to walk down into the basement where casual members had bedrooms, and see her one. Erisa gave her the key for her new chamber – room Number 6. She descended the stairs and walked into her new room. It was bright and clear, with a tiny window at the top that showed the pavement outside in the street. The room had a single bed, a writing-table with a chair, a bedside table, a wardrobe, and a little private bathroom behind the white door. It was perfect for casual life.

*Hmm, of course, it could’ve been more comfortable… But I guess, when I make more money by taking jobs, I’ll afford that one too.*

As most of the Libra, Tamie was keen on comfort and luxury, and being forced to live in such a little room was not really acceptable for her, but reassuring herself that it was only temporary, she felt less uneasy.

She brought in her backpack and began unpacking things when she heard voices from the neighbouring room – Number 7:

“I hate it… I hate when such fools as him mock my spirit!” the familiar voice of that redhead girl from before – Tiger – sounded.

“Relax, sis. He’s just a fool, as you said, so why pay attention to the likes of him?” Riza’s voice spoke up.

“But for how long is he going to tease me like that? I’ve had enough of it! It is not funny anymore! It is insulting!”

The barks and meows of Tiger’s dog and cats accompanied her angry cries as if the pets tried to comfort their owner.

“Hey… He’s not going to do it anymore, or he’s going to get beat up hard… by all six of us, your sisters! You’ll see!”

Tiger laughed.

“All nine of us… Don’t forget Blizzard, Christo, and Astra”.

“Oh, of course, they will take part too, for sure!”

Tamie grew surprised – Tiger was still upset about that pinhead’s mocking her earlier?

She walked out of her room and knocked on the door Number 7.

“Who’s there?” Tiger called out.

“It’s the newbie! I’m your new neighbour! Tamie Wingfield!”

No one replied this time. Instead, the door opened, and Riza appeared before her.

“She’s not in the mood of receiving guests,” she announced somewhat strictly and gave her a faint, courteous smile, apparently not wanting to sound too bad to the sister of the Elder of the Order.

“I’m not a guest. I’m a fellow member,” Tamie smiled back, insulted by Riza’s such hostility.

“I don’t want to sound rude, but you’re not a member yet. You will be when the Joining Ceremony is held and you get a ring,” Riza showed her own ring of a rose-and-cross emblem she wore on the middle finger of her right hand.

Tamie flared up – how she dared talk like that?! There was no doubt she would be accepted, so of course, she was a member!

“The Joining Ceremony is just for formality. I’ve already long been accepted when the invitation was sent to me”.

“The Joining Ceremony is a ritual held since this order’s foundation centuries ago. Don’t get cocky only because your brother is a respectful Lord in the Order”.

Riza shut the door before her nose.

“Ugh, fine, cry alone if you love that so much!”

Tamie banged on the door in anger. She returned to her room and slammed the door behind. She fell onto her bed.

*I thought Rosenweld was different from the gloomy people back in Mandragore… It seems I was mistaken. People are all the same in all countries.*

***In the evening, Tamie was called to the hall, and the Joining Ceremony began. The members gathered around her and Edmund, and raised their hands where they wore the rings. Edmund raised his ringed hand too and spoke:

“Tamie Wingfield, Libra of a Tiger spirit, Artist Class, Writer Sub-class, Rankless. Do you swear upon the gathering of all of us, brothers and sisters, that when joining our sacred order, you shall remain loyal to it and devoted, never to betray any of your brethren?”

“I swear!” Tamie spoke, but with less excitement than she had in the afternoon.

“Do you swear to accept all of the Order members as your brethren, and protect them with all of your powers, even if it risks your life? And are you willing to accept the same devotion of theirs in return?”

“I swear and I accept”.

“Then, I, the current Magister of Rose Cruce Order, Edmund Jaeger, Libra of a Rooster spirit, Keeper Class, Judge rank, bestow upon you this ring in form of my trust and my acceptance, which by itself gives you the trust and acceptance of all the members gathered here, and those who are not present but belong to this order”.

He was willing to put a rose-and-cross emblem ring on her finger on the right hand when Tamie asked:

“Um… Magister, may I wear my ring on my left hand?”

The people grew astounded – left hand? It was against the customs! The left hand was the symbol of betrayers!

“Why?” Edmund blinked in sincere surprise, “It is a tradition to wear your ring on your right hand, as a truthful member of the Order”.

“Well, the thing is… I’m actually a lefty”.

The people grew even more shocked – a lefty? Such a rare occurrence for a Zodiac Master!

“Oh… Still, as a tradition…”

“The thing is I feel my right hand is sort of… empty…” Tamie glanced at her right hand. “I’ve always used my left hand for everything, since my deep childhood… even for writing. It is my loyal companion, so when people talk of loyalty, and the right hand comes to their minds, my mind goes with the left hand instead… I hope it doesn’t pose a problem. You can ask Nick. He knows me well since I was born”.

Edmund was in dismay – he had never heard of a Zodiac Master who was willing to wear their order ring on their left hand since… the legends of him.

“Zodiac Masters once knew such a person, who was a lefty and was willing to wear the ring on his left hand, and the Magister consented. However, that person, after six years of loyalty to his order, massacred the whole order and fled”.

Everyone covered their mouths with their hands – such a gruesome story! Tamie was no less dreaded – was there truly such a guy who had massacred his whole order, his very own brethren?! He must’ve been a monster!

As Edmund was again willing to put the ring on her right hand, Nick’s arm grabbed him.

“What is it?”

“My sister is truly a lefty. I know you’ve spoken of the Blood Dragon just now, but because you make such vile comparisons, Ed, you haven’t yet achieved the Sage level,” Nick said. “Tamie is a girl of the purest heart. She is my sister, my blood kin, and a genius like me. Don’t you dare lump her in with the guys like the Blood Dragon! Please do as she asks. It will be a burden for her if she wears a sacred ring on her right hand, which she perceives as disloyal as we do our left hands”.

Edmund was surprised just like the whole crowd. Nevertheless, he shrugged:

“I trust in your words with closed eyes, Lord Nick. Fine then, if you too, consent, I shall not object,” he put the ring on the middle finger of Tamie’s left hand. “Tamie Wingfield, you are hereby an official member of the Rose Cruce Order. We accept you as one of our brethren, and will rely on your strength and share our own with you”.

The crowd whooped. The ceremony was over. Tamie was happy – finally, she was an official member of the order.

“Now, let’s hold a welcoming party for our new member!” Edmund announced.

The crowd whooped anew. However, Tamie recalled her earlier clash with Tiger and Riza, and grew gloomy.

“I am sorry, Magister, but I feel very tired from today’s long journey… I think I’ll just go and rest. Thank you very much for your hospitality, though!”

She left the hall and descended into the basement.

“What’s with her?” Edmund raised an eyebrow, “The Libra would never turn down a party, in general. I know from my experience. That’s why I offered it. I’m not always so generous”.

“She’s upset,” Nick chuckled, “My sister is petty over little things, like comfort, luxury, and how people greet her. Apparently, one, or all of those things didn’t work as she had imagined”.

“Hmm, too weird… I understand all that but, dang, girls take it so hard!”

Edmund adjusted his glasses and went upstairs. Nick followed him, with a faint smile on his face:

*I’ll talk with her later. Now she won’t be in the mood anyway.*

Tamie accessed her room and fell onto her bed. The earlier insult of Riza and those annoying sobs of Tiger still poisoned her mind.

“I thought this order was more fun… I guess I’ll just ring up my mom to get better”.

She touched her gadget-bracelet with the desire to ring for her mom’s signal, but accidentally touched Erik’s one.

*Ugh, no! Turn off!*

She wanted to quickly turn off the call when a deep, playful voice called out:

“Yo, Tamie Wingfield!”