Chapter 10: Domain Affinity
The hall cheered, and the affinity testing began.
The adolescents who had woken their bloodlines — seated now on the first three floors — were called up one by one, in the order of their room numbers.
Marat, of the nobility, room one, climbed the stairs onto the glass platform.
" Place your hand on the skull , " a Council guard beside the stairs said. " And fix your mind on it. "
Marat set his hand on the crystal skull, and it began to shine, and a full golden circle bloomed across the glass beneath him, plain to every eye in the amphitheater.
" Marat shows affinity in martial prowess. " Cecil’s voice went out. " He joins the Temple of Bellicus, at the center of our capital, one week from now. "
Marat left the stage, and Nessa, of the nobility, room three, was called up.
She set her hands on the skull, and two circles formed beneath her — one blue, one white, one inside the other.
" Nessa shows a dual affinity. The inner white marks her core affinity in the air domain; the outer blue, the water domain. She may choose one temple for now, and will be permitted both once she reaches master level in either. " A High Priest’s voice carried it. " The Temple of Auran, in the Whistling Valley, or the Temple of Aquan, on Unda Island. She is to report to the Council within two days, and will be escorted to her temple by Council guards. "
The hall applauded her down off the platform. On the first floor, some of the adolescent females watched her go with jealousy in their eyes.
The testing went on.
" Zakhar, of the nobility, room twenty-five — affinity in the fire domain. He joins the Temple of Ignan, in the Impes Valley, on the jagged mountain range. He reports within two days. "
" Yaakov, of the nobility, to the Temple of Bellicus. "
" Yuri, of the nobility, to the Temple of Ignan. "
" Mellor, of the nobility, to the Temple of Aquan. "
" Ardalion, of the nobility, room fifty-two — affinity in the earth domain. He joins the Temple of Terran, in the Creta Valley, at the foot of the jagged mountains. He reports in two days — "
Kei took it all in, curious, the strangeness of the world no longer something he fought. He had learned to expect things here that defied any reasonable logic, and he had begun, despite everything, to enjoy it.
And still his mind stayed tight, because his own turn was coming closer, and on instinct he read the hall for exits and turned over the shapes of a plan to run, if he failed.
" Rurik, of the nobility — affinity in the death domain. He joins the Temple of Inmortui, on an islet in the Screaming Sea. He leaves tomorrow morning with the Grand Cleric of his temple, or he will not be granted entry after. "
Rurik looked toward the seated Grand Clerics, and the one in the dark-purple garb — the one who had been watching Kei — rose, and sat back down. Rurik nodded, and left the platform.
Kei caught it too.
" Marcus, of the commoners — now of the nobility — affinity in the shadow domain. He joins the Temple of Caedis, in the outer reaches of the Cruentus Rainforest, two weeks from now. He must come to the temple alone, with no help of any guard or mercenary. This is a condition of admittance. Fail it, and he is not permitted entry. " Cecil’s voice.
Kei was caught by that condition — and then, out of the habits of his last life, he thought he could guess the reason for it.
" Ulyana, of the nobility, to the Temple of Inmortui. "
" Rada, of the nobility, to the Temple of Caedis. "
" Kaiser. Room one hundred. Come to the platform and test your affinity. "
Every eye in the hall turned to him as he rose and came slowly forward — the shard of sharp jade hidden in his left hand, held like a weapon.
