Hey everyone! I wrote this at one o clock this morning after re-staring Sentinals of the Starry Skies earlier that day. This is just a one-shot at the moment but I've got some more ideas floating about in my head and as I''m on my mid-term break, this is the perfect oppurtunity to actually write something without homework getting in the way. Any reviews are welcome and greatly appreciated. Enjoy!
The Choosing.
The room was silent even though it was inhabited by twelve young Celestrians. Each were seated at a wooden desk, a book splayed out in front of them. Aquila, Columba and Apus Major stood at the side of the room, observing them in silence. Apus Major felt nostalgic memories of his own childhood surface and he smiled softly. Two of the children present would be chosen by Columba and Aquila today. They would be trained to become Guardians once they reached their eighth birthday. The others would be given the chance to take Guardian exams but the children who were hand-picked today would have a much better chance of bcoming a Guardian. Columba had trained several Celestrians already but Aquila had suddenly requested an apprentice after four century long hiatus.
Becoming a Guardian was a long and arduous process. One had to become fluent in various forms of combat, the history of Celestrians and the history of the Protectorate, medicine and know about all the weaknesses and strengths of different species of monsters and how to deal with them before they could even think about attempting any exams. Yet so many still attempted to gain that elusive title as a Guardian. It wasn't the glory that attracted Celestrians, several humans refused to adknowledge that Celestrians even exsisted. It wasn't as though it was an easy job, long hours and sometimes absurd tasks from humans made it an exhausting and formidible burden to bear. Perhaps it was the feeling of well deserved satifaction, that smugness after recieving Benevolessence that made the job worthwhile. Even after spending centuries as Guardian, the answer to the question 'Why do we protect the humans?' remained elusive to Apus Major. He was certain there was another motive to helping the humans other than collecting Benevolessence so Celestrians could go home. There had to be...
"What do you think?" Columba whispered to the bald, muscular guardian beside her, jolting Apus Major from his musings.
Aquila paused and surveyed the scene before him with dark eyes before answering. He had the choice of eight boys and four girls. They all looked similar in appearance with dark hair and blue eyes except for three exceptions. A boy with short blonde hair and a girl with blonde ringlets and a delicate face. Aquila knew they were twins. The remaining odd one out was a girl, slightly smaller than the other children with very conspicuous red hair and chocolate brown eyes.
The girl with the red hair attracted his attention the most. Her eyes held a mischievous glint even though she was concentrating on the book as though her life depended on it. She was biting her lower lip with pearly white teeth as she turned over a page in the book. A brief smirk flitted across her face which lit her features up and highlighted her child-like innocence.
Aquila could imagine what his life would be like if he took that girl on as an apprentice; hectic, tumultuous and probably frustrating at times. It would also be the most rewarding thing he had ever done. To see a child blossom and flourish under his care. To aggrandize her.
"I want the red-head." He replied decisively. "Anybody catching your eye?"
Columba wrinkled her nose, a habit of her's when she was undecided about something. "The blonde boy. What about you Apus Major?" She adressed him respectfully. "Assesing personality is your bailiwick, is it not?"
"Indeed it is." Apus Major laughed before continuing. "The red haired child is named Katsumi." He raised an eyebrow. "Surely you realise she
is very..." He paused as though searching for a word. "Spirited."
"I do." Aquila grinned, a rare occurence. "I like a challenge and that is exactly what a headstrong apprentice will provide. I have no worries about dealing with an insubordinate child."
Apus Major nodded slowly. "The boy is named Kai. He is friends with Katsumi and slightly less contumacious. Both are equally intelligent and brave. I admire your decisions. They shall become your
apprentices, two years from now." The three adult Celestrians exchanged brief nods before leaving the room together. Once they left, a red-haired girls and a blond boy glanced at each other and broke out into triumphant grins.