The Unreached Duchy

Chapter 11

“We go from here into the hallway that Namtao brought you down, everyone else will be in the hallway as well. Everyone has their own escorts so no one gets lost, I make it a point to come in and personally meet with whomever I’m escorting so they know who I am before going out into the hallway. Once there we wait for the gongs to ring out signaling the offerings to Avesta have been given. Then everyone that is assembled in the hallway proceeds to the Great Hall in the Temple and reassemble before the Great Hearth, Namtao took you past it yesterday on your way in after you arrived. The humans that have chosen to be transformed into Merfolk will then be instructed to enter into the waterway. The humans, which is only you for this Alaiceaus, that are becoming Kabouters are instructed to stand on the platform. The humans that are being transformed into Jentils, Fir Bolgs, Basajauns, Antero Vipunen, and Yilbegans are all instructed to go to specific areas around the Great Hall. Understand so far?” Senara asked, Derketo nodded yes so she continued.

“The actual transformation part takes only a few moments for each race depending on how many transformations there are. The King starts with the Fir Bolg and Basajaun since those are ancestral races; after that he proceeds by size of the race, starting with Kabouters and ending with the Yilbegan. Any questions?”

“Not exactly a question but I do want to make sure I understand what I’m supposed to do once we leave here.” Derketo said cautiously, “We leave this room, assemble in the hallway until the gongs call us into the Great Hall where we get divided into the races we have chosen. I am to ascend a platform to become a Kabouter. Am I to carry my satchel the entire time and where am I to leave Ade for the Transformation Ceremony? I want her to stay the size she currently is.”

“That is all correct. You carry your satchel with you at all times, the satchel and the contents will all shrink to Kabouter size during the ceremony. You may take your Leontophone with you and I can watch it during the ceremony for you to make sure she does not get up on the platform. The transformation part does not affect animals at all, only humans, if that makes you feel any better.” Senara replied while now petting Ade, who had come over to see why she was being discussed.

Derketo petted his new pet’s head and nodded “It does.” Just then, the sound of gongs could be heard ringing throughout the Temple.

“That would be the gongs calling everyone to assemble. I will see you in the hallway.” With that as her parting words, Senara went through the waterway grate.

Looking at Ade, Derketo chuckled as his pet looked inquisitively at the way Senara had just left.

“Come Ade. We must assemble with everyone else before we go into the Great Hall. There our new lives will begin!” Derketo hastily put his Senet set and beloved Ocarina in his satchel, slung it over his shoulder and headed towards the door. Ade obediently followed him into the hallway, where Senara was somehow already there waiting. He could see why she did things in the order she did them and why she was so good at her job. Many other humans looked down right scared and were unable to find their escort, most had no idea what order things were about to happen Derketo judged by the questions he was hearing getting asked as he confidently walked with Ade over to where Senara was waiting.

“Now I see why you insisted on us meeting before this. If we hadn’t, I’m pretty sure I would be just as confused and nervous as most of the others here.” Derketo said to Senara as he glanced around before turning to look back at her. “I have everything I want to be transformed to Kabouter size in my satchel as well.”

“Good. Now we wait for the gongs to signal our entrance into the Great Hall for the Transformation Ceremony. I am obligated to tell you that this is your last chance to change your mind about transforming.” Senara said in her official tone.

“I do not wish to change my mind. I am going to be transformed into a Kabouter. I am the only one having such a transformation today and I am getting transformed after the humans are transformed into the Ancestral Races.” Derketo confidently declared with a smile on his face. Senara smiled in approval.

“Glad to hear you are confident in your choice.” Just then the gongs started to ring out a second time and everyone in the hall got quiet. “That is our signal to proceed. Remember to find me after your portion of the ceremony. I will have Ade and I will be in the waterway behind your ceremonial platform.” Senara instructed. Derketo simply nodded as he waited their turn to proceed into the Great Hall that was already erupting with applause and cheers from the assembled crowd as the humans entered in the order of their transformations.