Chapter 10: The Ritual
Sora and Koichi were the first to step out onto the grass. Awaiting them was a woman with completely white skin and long-flowing white hair akin to that of the Sugiyama family, in a light blue kimono. "First year boarders, I presume?"
"Hai, Miyuki-sensei," Koichi replied.
"Ah, good. Who's your friend?"
"You first!" hissed Sora, plunging his hand into his kimono for his wand.
"Sora-san, wai-"
"Ah-ha ha ha ha ha, how cute," giggled the woman. "Ara, come to think of it, I don't recognise you at all. Okashīdesu ne."
"Who are you, woman!?"
"Calm down," she cooed, yet the air around Sora became colder and colder. "...you'll find out soon enough once the new boarders have all gathered."
"What are you-"
"Miyuki-sensei is a Yuki-onna!" interjected Koichi. "You don't want to make her mad; by her very nature, she can create localised blizzards. Miyuki-sensei, Sora-san is just not used to this; it's his very first time here, and he's really slow to trust! Please don't freeze him!"
"Don't worry, Ishida-kun," continued the woman, with another slight giggle. "I was just helping him cool his head. So we have a rarity here, eh? Welcome to Mahoutokoro, in that case. Ah, that reminds me. New boarders, kotchi kotchi!" she now yelled, waving her hand in the air.
As more people gathered, Sora couldn't help but think the response from this Yuki-onna was somewhat underwhelming. From what Koichi said, he expected there to be a much bigger outcry, and her response to the new arrival seemed like she was too… used to it. That, and the way she was able to freeze the very air around him, left a rather bad taste in his mouth. The grip on his wand didn't relax; if this first sensei was anything to go by, Sora would have to be on guard. Other people in similar pink or gold robes took a different route, while yet more gathered around Sora and Koichi.
"Looks like that's everyone. This way," the Yuki-onna finally declared, walking up the hill, weirdly enough, on the same footpath as the rest of the boarders. Looking at the various shrine gates placed along that path, Sora saw that they led up to some sort of large structure… a castle maybe? A tower? Maybe a Temple? Whatever the case, it seemed to be taking a lot of energy for him to keep up with the Yuki-onna, but the object was getting closer and closer: it looked like it was indeed a castle, a shiro to be more precise, made of some thick green material. Closer, and closer they came, finally reaching a set of gigantic, ornate red doors… which started inching forward to reveal an opening, as well as bright orange light.
"To all, welcome once again to Mahoutokoro," declared the Yuki-onna. "As you will undoubtedly know, you will pass through these doors to your new life as part of one of the Eight Clans. For now, follow me."
Sora and Koichi continued to stay in front of the line as she led them into one very large room. Once she determined that all of them had entered, the door to that room shut behind them, and she drew and pointed her wand at a nearby crank, whereupon the floor started rising. "We will be approaching the Ritual Chamber, so while we wait, I will tell you what you need to know about the Ritual.
"Throughout your four years as a day student at Mahoutokoro, the Clans have kept an ever constant watch on your progress. As you know, your performance… not only academically… will determine which Clan becomes yours, but this night is where all your triumphs, all your trials, all your tribulations will be taken into consideration, to see how you honour the sacred code of Bushido. Eight Clans, each representing one virtue of the Code, will assess every moment of your time here to see which of these virtues you most exemplify: Righteousness, Courage, Benevolence, Respect, Sincerity, Honour, Loyalty or Self-Control. In that order, the Steeled Soul, the Roaring Flame, the Gentle Wind, the Reverent Sky, the Flowing Water, the Bloody Oath, the Unyielding Soil or the Unblemished Spirit.
"You may have received commendations from any of the various Clan leaders, but know that as of tonight, they may all be for nothing. It is this night that determines whom you fight alongside, and in an instant, you may find yourself in a different Clan than you expected to be, and afterwards, the decision is final. As for the Ritual itself, when we arrive at the Chamber, you will be individually called forth to step inside, alone, where you will face all eight Clan Leaders, along with their Officers, as well as our Headmistress Yukimura Hotaru-sama. Your history will be considered, your marks evaluated, and once a decision is made on who to take you in, you will be shown the way forward, where you are to remain until all Rituals have been completed."
Just then, the floor came to a stop in front of another door, and the Yuki-onna walked through it before returning with a sheet of washi. "First for the Ritual… Ajibana Hinata."
One of the people behind Sora walked forward and got ushered through the door by the Yuki-onna, her closing it once she was inside. It took a bit of time before the next names were called, such as Arakida Shinji, Choshi Misato, Furusawa Akemi, Hachirobei Jirou, Higashiyama Ichirou, and it was starting to bore Sora. Eventually, it came to "Ishida Koichi", whereupon he too disappeared behind the door, and it was there that pangs of panic began to resurface. After that came more names that Sora didn't really care to know, including Kajahara Haruna, Miyake Hayate, Nakata Kaori, Okamoto Keiko, Raikatuji Nobuyuki.
Finally, "Sugiyama Sora" was called by the Yuki-onna, and Sora, like those before him, stepped through the doors, heard them close behind him, and came face to face with the large council of the Ritual.
"Interesting?" a voice chirped among them… a woman in blue robes, with turquoise hair. "Haven't seen you anywhere before, Sugiyama-kun."
"I was never admitted to the school." Sora responded. "Who are you anyway?"
"Me? You can call me Inoue-sensei. Are you sure you haven't been here before?"
"That can be easily explained," another voice, this one belonging to a black-haired and grizzled-looking man with a thin but long moustache, clad in yellow robes. "Sugiyama Misaki had informed us of her decision to homeschool him when he turned seven."
"THAT'S A LIE!" Sora yelled again.
"Watch your tongue!" roared a golden-haired woman in deep red robes. "I specifically received the request from her on your seventh birthday to give you private tuition until you came of age. In that, she undertook to teach you about the basics of our society owing to your longingness to stay with your sisters."
"Who are you, and why do you take such joy in attempting to deceive me?!"
"Matsumoto Hazuki, and your words hold no truth."
"If I may," a black-haired, clean-shaven man clad in violet robes interjected. "I would like to ask Sugiyama-kun a few questions myself."
"Fine, Sakakibara."
"Sugiyama-kun, when you say that Hazuki is lying, can you clarify what you mean?"
"It is simple, Sakakibara-sensei," came Sora's reply. "Misaki-nee-chan did nothing to educate me about ANYTHING!"
"That doesn't sound like Misaki at all. She is not the type to lie," spoke the yellow-robed man again.
"We are in agreement, Kato-sensei," Matsumoto declared. "Sugiyama Misaki has proven to be honorable during her time here."
"Honorable or otherwise, Hazuki-chan," spoke a woman in an orange kimono with red linings, "...you kinda have to see that it is kinda strange. When Misaki was in my class, she seemed kinda like a stick in the mud, just the type of person who wouldn't want to send her siblings on any adventure."
"I feel inclined to agree with you, Atsuko," spoke Inoue-sensei. "However, we must return to her brother."
"Misaki-dono has sent us no indication of anything that might help us find a Clan for him," a man in a golden-lined green kimono voiced. "We might have to do an improvised field test."
"Keisuke-san, we haven't had to do that for decades!" a woman in a pink kimono and hood declared.
"It isn't very many times that we have someone straight into the Clans without four years day school experience behind them, Yuzu-dono."
"Time is wasting, and we need to initiate the remaining students. I am in agreement, we should test Sugiyama Sora ourselves to see with whom he truly belongs," spoke a man in light blue robes.
"Very well," announced a ninth voice, feminine, yet seemingly radiant. "As Headmistress of the Mahoutokoro School of Magic, I decree that, for Sugiyama Sora, a Test of Worth will be conducted. Sugiyama-san, each of the Clan Leaders will ask you questions. You are to answer truthfully to the best of your ability, and based on your answer, each Leader will come to a verdict as to your suitability for their Clan. If your answer is unsuitable for them, they will mark you as incompatible with their Clan. If they cannot decide based on the answer you give them, they may ask you additional questions. If they find your answer adequate, they may consider you for their Clan. If multiple Clans are considering you or reserve judgement, another round of questions will be asked by those Leaders. Only when one Clan Leader is approving of your entry will you will be inducted into their Clan. Begin"
"Thank you, Yukimura-sama," Matsumoto replied. "Sugiyama Sora, I, Matsumoto Hazuki of the Bloody Oath, ask you this: If a Wizard sought to unjustly mark your sisters as Dishonorables and you were the only one who could stop him from doing so, how would you go about your task?"
"I wouldn't," Sora declared.
"Explain yourself."
"My sisters both think I am too weak and too useless to do anything. If I they were to be marked as Dishonorables, there wouldn't be anything I could do.."
"Disappointing. The Bloody Oath Clan does not see you as compatible with our values."
"I, Fujioka Byakuya of the Reverent Sky, will ask you your next question, Sugiyama Sora-dono," announced the light-blue-robed man. "Should you happen to find something that could potentially see your family brought to trial before the Ministry of Magic, what would you do?"
"I would see that the Ministry finds out."
"Why, Sora-dono?"
"If they break the law, they should not be allowed to get away with their transgression. It is as simple as that."
"Hmmm. For the moment, the Reverent Sky reserves judgment."
"Me now!" the Atsuko woman declared. "Okay, Sugiyama-kun, I, Tsukuda Atsuko-sama have your next question. You see a commoner about to kill an untrained wizard, but you yourself are bound by the International Statute of Secrecy not to perform magic as you are underage. What do you do?"
"I stop the commoner from killing the wizard, and use his own weapon to make sure he can never kill anyone else again," came Sora's reply.
"That's a bit much, isn't it?"
"Saving the wizard would be all for nought if I leave the attacker capable of undoing my work in an instant."
"Iiinteresting. The Roaring Flame is partial to you joining us."
"Your next question," spoke the Inoue women, "...comes to you from the mouth of Inoue Sakura of the Flowing River. If, by chance, you were helping one of your sisters with research, and you found something that you later identified as vital to what they are studying, what would you do?"
"I do not know about any complex research that would be aided by any specific thing I found. Besides, knowing them and their level of intelligence, absolutely anything I find or touch is pure garbage unfit to be use in any such pursuit!"
"I find that hard to believe. Misaki, in particular, had an eye for quality, although I agree that she is rather snobbish about accepting help."
"Disagreed," the Kato man announced. "Her pride doesn't go that far."
"Hiroshi, if you are going to speak right now, speak your question to Sugiyama-kun. As for me, I'm not ready to decide yet."
"Fine. I am Kato Hiroshi of the Steeled Soul Clan, and I ask you: based on what Misaki has taught you, what would you say is the most important virtue of life?"
"To not exist," was all that Sora answered.
"Explain."
"What is there to explain? All she ever thought of me was as scum. So the best virtue I could live up to is to not exist."
"Misaki would not have taught such a vice. The Steeled Soul will not be accepting the likes of you into our ranks."
"That's completely out of tradition for you, Hiroshi-san," the Yuzu woman in pink declared. "I, the Gentle Wind's Koizumi Yuzu, have your next question, and hopefully we can actually see what you know. In our natural discipline of ninjutsu, what are the five Elements we can wield?"
"I've only heard of three: Ka-jutsu, Chi-jutsu and Sui-jutsu."
"Okay. The Elements themselves are just Ka, Fire, Chi, Earth and Sui, Water. Unfortunately, the question itself has no bearing on whether our Clan will accept you, but as Hiroshi-san failed to ascertain this aspect of you, I couldn't let this slide. For now, we remain undecided."
"I am Hayashi Keisuke of the Unyielding Soil Clan. My question to you is this:" announced the green-robed man. "You suspect that you have been betrayed, but you have known the alleged betrayer long enough to know that he or she isn't that type of person. What do you do?"
"If so, my first thought is maybe my friend has been deceived," came Sora's answer yet again. "I would have to find the deceiver and protect my friend from them."
"Promising. We like you, and will keep you in mind. Finally, my colleague, Sakakibara Kotaro, will present his question to you."
"Thank you, Keisuke," the purple-robed man, Sakakibara, replied. "Sugiyama, if you are about to defeat an opponent in a Kendo duel, but they beg for mercy, what do you do?"
"Hmmm…" began Sora. "I think, I would hold back my blade. However, if he tries to attack me once my blade is lowered, that is when I strike the final blow."
"Promising. The Unblemished Spirit will consider you for membership."
Yukimura then spoke. "Sugiyama Sora, at this point, your reputation stands as follows: the Bloody Oath and Steeled Soul Clans have refused to let you into their ranks, the Reverent Sky, Gentle Wind and Flowing River Clans are undecided, while the Roaring Flame, Unyielding Soil and Unblemished Spirit Clans are prepared to accept you. For now, the undecided heads will ask another round of questions, and they will make their final decision based on your answer."
"Fine, but I would rather be in a separate Clan than my sisters," Sora declared.
"The Steeled Soul has already disqualified you from their ranks, but the Roaring Flame is a Clan that has shown an interest in you. Why do you want to be separate from them?"
"I - I need to stand on my own two feet. I heard that my age is the age when the students make Mahoutokoro their new home. This is my first time here, and I must grow, like my sisters have done. I cannot grow while in their shadows or their Clans."
"Gotcha. Per your request, the Roaring Flame withdraws its willingness to accept you, Sugiyama-kun. Pity, though, you were quite an interesting one," announced Tsukuda Atsuko.
"However," interjected Fujioka Byakuya, "...your disrespect of procedure here by trying to impose your will on this Council leaves the Reverent Sky no choice but to discount the possibility of you becoming one of our members."
"Although I was willing to accept you, Sugiyama-kun," Hayashi Keisuke declared, "...I have to agree with Byakuya-dono; it is not your place to try and force us to select you based on your own selfish desires. I also withdraw my offer to you."
"Thank you, Byakuya, Keisuke, Atsuko," Yukimura Hotaru again announced. "Yuzu, Sakura, Kotaro, what are your impressions?
"I don't know... " Koizumi Yuzu began. "The way he tries to distance himself from those who would want to see him… doesn't sit right with me. The Gentle Wind has come to a decision: we do not elect to grant you membership of our Clan."
"You can speak for yourself on that one," protested Inoue Sakura. "Sugiyama's statement of which Clans he will be comfortable with have actually made our job much easier. Also, to break tradition like that and speak from the heart is a rare skill indeed. The Flowing River is willing to consider you for its ranks."
"My opinion of Sugiyama Sora hasn't changed," voiced Sakakibara Kotaro. "The ability to determine for oneself what to do is one that we acknowledge. The Unblemished Spirit is still prepared to accept you."
"Very well," spoke Yukimura. "Sugiyama Sora, the only two Clans which are prepared to take you are the Flowing River and the Unblemished Spirit. Inoue-sensei and Sakakibara-sensei are going to keep asking you questions, and if one of them finds your answers unsatisfactory, the other will take you into their Clan. Sakura."
"Yes, Hotaru-sama," began Inoue Sakura. "Sugiyama-kun, if you received a present from one of your sisters, what would your initial reaction be?"
"I wouldn't receive a present from them," answered Sora.
"Let's say for sake of argument that you did. What would you think upon seeing it?"
"Okay… in that case… it's a trap."
"A trap?"
"Yes. Depending on who sent it, it could either cripple me and steal my mind, or it would combust instantly and burn my skin for days on end. I'd rather not take any chances; I'll give it to someone else."
"Oh… my… we might need to talk at the later stage, but for the moment; Kotaro, he's all yours. The Flowing River withdraws your potential candidacy. Such paranoia is really unhealthy."
One final time, Yukimura Hotaru spoke. "Sugiyama Sora, you have been chosen for the Unblemished Spirit Clan, they who uphold the virtue of Self-Control. As you have only recently arrived, Sakakibara-sensei will present you with your robes when you arrive back at the Clan Halls. For the moment, you may leave."
Part of the wall underneath Sakakibara-sensei's balcony withdrew into the ground, leaving a passage with a very small number of other students… none of which were Koichi. He walked through the gap, and as he reached the vestibule with the students, the walls closed again. The other students there, predictably, didn't recognise him, and when he stood with his back against another wall, they resumed their conversations amongst themselves. Sora didn't mind; the one person he would have liked to speak with was somewhere else.
The Rituals must have continued for a while, but Sora couldn't hear any of the proceedings. Very rarely, the Walls would reopen and let another student through, but when it happened, the rest of them would begin interaction with the new member. There was one particular cheer when a tan-skinned girl with brown twintails walked in; apparently they were celebrating that the daughter of Japanese Quidditch Beater Takahashi Keiko had gotten into their Clan. What was strange about that was that she seemed to be looking quite intently at Sora with her dark brown eyes. Given her surname, surely there wasn't much longer to wait until the Rituals were over…