Lexiana Acosta: Chapter Forty
The year is now 7,028 I have been in the priesthood for two years now. And I am now seventeen years old. I have barely been outside and remained to study at the temple. I was told two years after being here I can gain more independence and walk more freely on my own. I am so excited!
I would have been lonely if it wasn't for Iympetus. Whom I call Iymp. We have become best friends over the years. He is eccentric but I love him. According to Kenneth destiny chose me to be with him. I don't know why... But according to ancient dragon law. He is my partner... Forever and always. Iymp has been protective of me ever since. As it is a law that many dragons abide by... They gain power by being with their partner. A Powersource is created on their forehead when a human rides a certain dragon for the first time. No dragons nor humans can explain why this happens... It just does... Many dragons spend most of their lives to try and achieve such power. With many dying without achieving it...
As I have done every day in the past two years I learn about history and politics in the library. Then train in the afternoon. As a shocking twist today Kenneth and I are in his bedroom. Its more elaborate than my room. Large double bed, mini library, desk and chairs made of stone.
Kenneth seems nervous... He is distracted as he sits behind his desk.
"Are you okay Kenneth?" I ask sincerely.
"Your two years of training probation is coming to an end." His hands holding his chin up. He is anxious and I have never seen him so anxious.
"Yes! That means I will be a part of the official priesthood! Hopefully, I won't look like the weird outsider." I smile at him. Why is he so anxious?
"There is something I need to tell you Lexi... I should have told you long ago..." He sits me down across from him. I felt nervous. What does he want to say?
"Your priestess initiation is in a week. And... Like many others who officially join the priesthood... You will have to prove your worth."
"That doesn't surprise me, Kenneth. I mean all of this training and mishap with the elders must lead to something right?" I lean back lazily into my chair and looked up at the rock roof.
"Yes, but it's more than that... You will have to endure, anything will be thrown at you."
"Please get to the point, Kenneth. Your anxiousness is making me anxious."
"There is a ritual..."
"What kind of ritual?" I sit up straight facing straight at Kenneth. My heart started to race.
He takes a deep breathe in.
"You will have to fight to the death in the lava pit."
Time stopped... I was staring at Kenneth in complete silence. I couldn't think.
"Fight... To... The... Death?" I murmur.
But like a lightning bolt growing through my system, I awaken from my shock and stand up in complete anger.
"WHY HAVE YOU NEVER TOLD ME THIS!?" I grab a nearby vase and threw it across the room. Smashing it into pieces.
"Enough Lexi! I'm sorry! Hear me out!" With his draconium powers he pins me down onto the chair.
"What is there to hear out!?" I scream. I squirmed to try and get of the seat. I NEED TO ESCAPE FROM HERE! I was so stupid! I was so blind! I squirmed and squirmed. After a while I was exhausted... Then I realised he was draining my energy.
"Why Kenneth?" My anger and frustration turned to sadness as tears are falling out of my eyes.
"Please Lexi... I am so sorry! Just hear me out!" He had tears in his eyes.
"FUCK YOU!" I say in anger.
This completely hurt him. But what pain he is feeling is nothing I am feeling. He raised me like a cow to slaughter... Everything I have done... It could have all been for nought. I should have stayed in the army.
"Look I'm sorry Lexi! But you must hear this! I have been through this! I have done this! You must listen to me!"
I settle down as I felt so exhausted. What could he say to make this any better?
"It's time you learned about the titans."
"Titans? What in the Magna Draconis are they? And what does that have to do with me fighting to the death?"
"I will get to it. But thousands of years ago... Before the Gold Empire was formed. The world was a different place back then. Draconium wasn't in the world's system as it didn't exist."
"There was a time when Draconium never existed?"
"Yes... And the world of Draconis back then was known as Terra. Dragons and humans did not live together at that time. They did not know that each other existed. But the world was ruled by mysterious creatures that we barely know today. They are called Titans. Powerful beings who could do the unquestionable. There is very little information about them. All we know there were ten but possibly eleven of these beings. Humans worshipped one and dragons worshipped another... There are recordings of drawings of other creatures worshipping them."
"Other creatures? Like what?" As I rolled my eyes. The man says I have a possibility of dying in a week and he is blabbering on. But I'm too tired to move.
"Large four-legged birds, mice who walked like people, there really isn't information about them. Only what was found in the gold temple library."
"Get to the point Kenneth. Just, please... Why am I being sentenced to my possible death?" As tears flowed out my eyes again. I could never see my family again...
"The phoenix... The very creature who protects us. She is a titan and lives inside this very volcano."
"And?"
"She is the one who controls the volcanoes... She is the one who helps us grow bountiful amount of foods. Her power radiates into the red draconium making it powerful... She is a huge reason why our Empire is as strong as it is." Kenneth sounds so defeated explaining this to me.
"So, our traditions... Of burning corpses into the volcanoes. They're kind of payment for her services?" Good to know my poor deceased father is phoenix trade and not in peace. This just me angrier... No wonder why they didn't want outsiders. The outside disgust of the actual inner workings of the temple will destroy the priesthood.
"Yes... It's a payment. If we didn't the consequences will be astronomical in scale. Millions will die! Phoenix's body is at rest for the moment, but her mind is still awake. The Chama communicates with her. The gold priests who were migrating before Vulkania were founded. Made a peace deal. Sacrifices in trade for her protection and power."
"And this fight to the death... I guess is extra payment? Like a garnish on a meal? It better be worth it. So much death."
"In a very sad way, it is Lexi... The fight to death isn't just to suffice Phoenix's hunger of a fresh blood sacrifice. There will be another ritual where you receive your extra gifts of power. You will be able to become one of us."
"And what perks will they be?" I won't lie... This did pique my interest. But am I really that power hungry by nature? Isn't that why I joined the priesthood in the first place? Become powerful? Defeat the Green armies with my powers? I was such a fool thinking I could get such power with ease... And I don't even know what power it is.
"You will become fire blood. Stronger and faster than the average human. You can swim in lava or walk through fire and never burn to death. The draconium energy in your body can resonate easily making draconium powers easier to learn. You can control some elements of existing flame. The new reforming blood in your veins will never make you cold, so you will never die from hypothermia."
I will not lie... That is some great perks. To never die from the cold? To walk in a burning building and come out alive. I have always wanted to learn draconium powers. And apparently it makes it easier... Like a shortcut? But for all of that... Someone must die... And it could be me...
"What happens if I refuse Kenneth?"
He looks at me sympathetically. He's been through this before. He has those powers... He has killed someone for them.
"You know so much about us Lexi... And since you're an outsider. That makes it worse. The elders will kill you anyway if you refuse."
"Yes... Of course... The elders need to keep their secrets. What of those who grow up here in the sanctuary? Do they know they're possible phoenix fodder?"
"They do... I knew since I was brought here. That one day when they think it is time. I was to fight in the blood battle. And I did... But my master... lovingly chose my friend. It destroyed me... I will never forgive myself for it. Even though my friends' last words were it's okay! DO it!
"You really are like the rest of the priests Kenneth… In the end, you are no different…" I face to my right not looking at him.
He then transfers some energy to me. And with such a burst of energy, I tried to attack him again. He just lets me hit him this time. He doesn't even fight back.
As I punched, I felt his nose break. I felt that crunch and immediately stopped. I have done enough... He lifts himself up from the floor. While using his robe sleeves to try and clean up the blood on his face.
And without a word, he leaves to the healers' bay. I remain in his room in shock and anger. I decided to look around to try and get myself emotionally back together. I look through Kenneth's book stash. He never let me read them... And I never noticed that they are all written by him. All numbered from one to thirteen.
As I opened the first volume his writing is very different. This must have been when he was younger. It's like a journal. It reads about his time as a child here. It's rather depressing... Kenneth had no family only his master and Priest elders. They called him a free thinker... Which is apparently a bad thing in the priesthood. Kenneth writes of his pain of being punished by his master on a daily basis during his apprenticeship. Beaten and starved, he always had to be perfect.
I guess in some way I could count myself lucky... Until now anyway... I looked at the other volumes. They are notes and research details. About the titans...
Why did he not tell me this? Just Why? Well, I did lash out at him and broke his nose and caused bruises on him. But I have every right to be mad! I can die! All my work and training! My family! My friends in the army! I have no friends here except for Iymp... And I can see why now... He didn't want me to be in the same position of killing my friend.
I sat in his room until he came back with a nose bandage and bruises on his face. His lip was even cut. His orange hair all messed up. I had no idea I could do this another person... When I trained it was always with dummies and Kenneth but never in a real harm fight scenario. In the ritual, I will have to do more than that and I am not looking forward to it.
It was quiet between us. I had no idea how long we were silent for. But whatever friendship we had vanished. There are no words to say.
"We will train more profusely in the next few days. I believe you can win this Lexi!" He says encouragingly.
"Great... To win I have to kill someone..."
"Lexi... You joined the army. You do realize what that entails?" he is starting to sound annoyed at me.
"Yes! Killing the enemy! Not some random priest apprentice!" I shouted at him.
"The enemy are living beings as well! As you have always thought we are fighting the war for our greater good! As we priests do our work here! We have protected our Empire for thousands of years! The many sacrifices we make to make sure our Empire remains powerful! Vulkania is winning the war because of us! Remember that Lexi!"
"And then bringing in of outsiders? What benefits your order?! It was your idea!" I cannot believe this! Is this why I couldn't meet any outsiders? They are being set up to slaughter!
"I asked outsiders to join us to replenish our numbers because of the war as I have explained... But I hoped... I hoped that you didn't have to be trialed like the rest of us. I was a fool into believing it. People like me have been raised by the order since anyone can remember... It's all we know. We need new perspectives outside the order."
"And?"
"It's not all... I met with the council elders to see if I can avoid the apprenticeship two-year trial. You would not have reached the same power as everyone else. But with the trust and dedication, you have proven. They would have given you your two-year freedom. But the Chama our Phoenix speaker demanded you to fight. After that mention I knew I could not fight against it... It's what the titan demands."
I sit in silence. Well, I guess I must prove myself in front of the Phoenix herself! I walk out of his office to my room. Kenneth doesn't follow me. I lie on my bed and stare at the roof.
As a commoner, we always talked about the phoenix. We always knew there was kind of magic surrounding our empire. We never had eruptions… We never starved. Even though the war food is managing to be bountiful enough. But I thought it was just a myth. Like the old stories a grandmother will tell her grandchildren. Our world has always been only dragons and humans... To think there could be other beings out there. I never really thought of the world before the Gold Empire. Seven-thousand years ago the Gold Empire formed. I am sure there is a whole history of how it was formed. But right now I'm not really caring...
I couldn't think straight… I wasn't even hungry. Iymp came to check up on me and noticed my distress. I told him of my plight and he frowned. "All the more reasons for me to hate the priests here… I was exempt because of my speaking gifts. I thought you knew… I'm sorry… But you must give it your all!"
I shut the door on him.
I remained in my room for the rest of the day. Kenneth didn't come to my room at all until the next day.
It was awkward, to say the least. His bruises are now showing. His broken nose looking the worst. I weirdly did not feel guilty about it. It was such a short period of us being friends and then not…
"Are you done sulking Lexi? You have the fight to train for. I don't want you to give up! You may hate me right now. But focus on your current objective! Remember Lexi the person you will be fighting against. They know what they're in for. They WILL try to kill you."
I Look at Kenneth and he is right. I have trained all this time… It doesn't have to be for nought. But there is the fact of someone dying… I will have to kill someone. My very first kill… I don't even know the person whom I'm going against.
With resignation, I have decided to accept my possible fate. Kenneth and I trained non-stop for the next five days. Harder and faster than ever.
And before I knew it… The day came. First time of me seeing the arena called the fire pit. The lowest place in the volcano. Where Kenneth says where the sleeping phoenix resides.
We walk into the elder priest meeting chamber. Iymp came along as my support.
I stand in the middle of the chamber next to a young man around my age. Wearing apprentice greys and holding a spear. He looks serious… Like he is ready to kill. I could not say the same for myself… I look nervous.
I see his master next to Kenneth. They are both wearing full priest garbs so I cannot see their faces. The elder priests wearing more elaborate robes. Staring down at us. Like the pieces of sacrifice we are.
Two large doors open at the other side of the room. A tall woman. Wearing priest armour covered in red feathers. Her armour dark red with lava flowing through it. It looked amazing! A small momentary distraction before the fight I will have to face.
She opens her arms like an embrace. " Rodrigo and Lexiana. You will be granted access to the fire pit. Where under the eyes of the elders and phoenix. You both will fight to the death! In honour and sacrifice! To protect our nation and her interests!"
I look to my right. And I see him staring intently forward. He has not broken concentration. It's like I don't exist to him. I guess it's best this way.
I look up to Kenneth as he nods at me. He doesn't smile. He seems as nervous as I do.
The doors open as we all follow the Chama down into the fire pit. A large elevator that can carry us all with ease. It is unbearably hot. I was breathing and sweating like crazy. It took me a long time to get used to the heat. Now it's up to the point of ridiculous. I get another sneak look at Rodrigo. He is also flustered in the heat.
After a ride on the ancient elevator, we finally reach the pit. It wasn't as fancy as the other rooms. It's literally a platform surrounded by lava.
We all walkout. I unsheathe my large battle axe. We walk to the middle of the arena as all the priests including Kenneth surround us in a large round circle. Only the Chama stands behind us.
The strange woman raises her arms and with a shock, the place shakes. Rodrigo and I look at each other. He had fear in his as I did. A large bellowing, rough female voice can be heard.
"Hello, young ones. Congratulations on your apprenticeships of two-years. You know why you are here. To gain power and stability for your nation. I am thankful for your sacrifice. Fight with honour as many of your forbearers."
"I shall fight for you phoenix!" Rodrigo screams out in confidence. I say no such thing. Such a heavy price… And I must kill Rodrigo. And he must try to kill me.
" You say, nothing girl… Like a few others, you sense of outsider… I wish both of you luck on you battle. Let it begin!"
And like that Rodrigo with his spear, he lunges at me with full force! My heart skipped beats. It was at this moment I was terrified.
Use all of my training! I jumped out of his way. I raised my axe and swung it at him. Our weapons clashed! Holding together. Rodrigo's strength pushes me away as he tried to again slash me.
I dodged left and right. Rodrigo is so quiet and smooth. Where I grunted and yelled.
In my small distraction, I slipped on a rock. His spear cut my left leg. I screamed in pain. I have felt nothing like this! I see Kenneth in a split moment he looks worried.
My leg bleeding through the basic armour I'm wearing. But I count my luck as it's not deep. I am slowed so I must keep a strong defence.
We clashed and swiped at each other repeatedly. I am so much pain. Tears almost coming out of my eyes. I am getting exhausted, but I noticed he is getting tired. He has been on the offensive the whole time.
I look down and used my good leg to kick him to lose his footing. IT WORKED! I smiled. I have a chance at this! He stumbles over as I aimed my axe at his face.
He blocked it with his spear. I saw the fear in his eyes. He pushes me away once again. Giving a quick swipe cut across my cheek. That was so close!
As we fought. I started to feel scared… Not the fact that I can possibly die… The fact that I am enjoying this. The rush of adrenaline. I have loved training… I love fighting for real!
I smile as this weird love of violence has absorbed me. And like that the tables turned. I am now on the offensive. We clashed many more times.
And with a sudden perfect aim of my axe, I snapped his spear in half. And slashed vertically across his body. I saw blood rush down his forehead and body, collapsing on the floor dead. It's over… I won. I looked down at the deceased Rodrigo... I felt nothing. No sadness... No fear... It was like a void.
The priests clapped as they announce me as the winner. I stare down at Rodrigo's body. I have killed my first person… I have never felt so conflicted. I strangely enjoyed it. I cried… I am so scared of myself and relieved. What am I capable of?
I look over and see Kenneth consoling his fellow priest… Must be so heartbreaking for him… His apprentice is now gone forever…
They both walk over to me. Kenneth hugs me gently. Whispering that everything is okay now. He stops hugging me as I see the Chama approach me.
"Congratulations outsider child. You are now one of us. You now have a reward to receive." The Chama then guides me away from Kenneth and the others. I see Rodrigo's body being carried away on a stretcher.
She took me on the elevator alone and I followed her passed the Elder meeting chamber. Into her private quarters. She has another room connected to it. Unique to other rooms that only have one space.
However, my nerves returned as I see a table with chain restraints on it.
"Um…" I murmur.
" Oh don't worry Lexiana. A whole new world will be your oyster. If you relax it'll be painless."
"What?" As I look around her scary room of tools and torture.
"Now sit on the table… Do not fret this will be good for you! Has Kenneth told you of the reward for surviving?" As she looks on her shelves of different concoctions.
I sit down hesitantly. I look down that my leg is still bleeding from being cut. Kenneth then comes into the room with a bottle. I don't even want to think of what it contains… But it's thick and dark red.
Kenneth smiles at me softly. He is relieved that I have survived. I look over the Chama as she takes the bottle from Kenneth.
She pours the thick red liquid into a chalice. Along with random ingredients and raw red draconium… A high concentrated amount of it. I breathe heavily as I know that stuff can be lethal…
The Chuma then brings the large glowing chalice to me.
"Drink up child... Absorb the draconium powers and officially become one of us."
I grab the chalice with both hands and looked down upon it. It's so bright and thick I can't even see my reflection. And before I knew it started to chug the whole thing... It tasted like liquid fire. Searing into my body, I almost chocked it out. Kenneth with quickness forces me to drink all of it.
I then collapse on the table. Everything went black...
Lexi... Lexiana... It's time to wake back up...
It was Kenneth. I opened my eyes and I felt like I've been asleep for years. I felt so exhausted... I sat up and looked at him. He then hugged me.
"I am so sorry child... This is all over now..."
"Kenneth... I feel so strange... I cannot explain it. My body... It feels like something else... I do not feel... How I thought I would feel... When I was fighting. I was so scared yet... I enjoyed it... I killed a man and felt almost nothing... Is something wrong with me?"
"It was either you or him Lexi... If it was you who lost. It would have been him in this very spot now. You did what you must survive... He has been put to rest with phoenix. She and the Chama are satisfied. You need not think of it anymore."
I look down as I feel like an entirely different person. I felt more assertive and powerful... I knew from me waking up. I will never be the same girl again.
Kenneth hands me a hand mirror. I quickly noticed my once brown eyes are now blood red. With the scar on my face healing up. It'll remain there but the pain and bleeding have stopped. I then look at my leg left and it has healed. The scar remains but it has healed...
"It took a while for your body to absorb the potion. I was getting worried for a while, but you pulled through. You did well Lexi."
"What was in that potion? I can only guess two things in that potion. Red draconium and... Rodrigo's blood?"
"Yes... You did drink Rodrigo's blood... Blood of a freshly killed sacrifice. The red draconium you drank is mined from this very volcano. As for the rest of the ingredients, I don't know... Only the Chama priest and their apprentice knows the potion. As you can imagine, what would happen if everyone knew how to make it. So, it's a secret I will never know."
I stand up feeling better as my body needed to sort itself out.
"You want to go topside?" As Kenneth says to me excitedly.
"What?" I look at him.
"You have extra freedoms. But you must not tell it to anyone! You can do anything else. Just not that!"
I nod in excitement. It has been so long since I have been topside. We head up the chambers to meet up with Iymp and Pyromancer. Iymp is so happy and relieved that I survived. He watched me fight and said that I was impressive for a young apprentice. We then rode up onto the top of the volcano and look up at the clear sky.
I want to experience everything now... My mind... I killed Rodrigo. But it no longer mattered to me. I feel powerful... I am accepted by the sect. He would have felt the same if he had killed me... Right?
I get off Iympetus and run down the temple entrance into the city. I knew I could have ridden him, but I felt so alive and new now. I ran! I ran so fast! Jumping with ease and precision that I never knew I could do! Iymp easily catches up with me and mags me onto my saddle once more.
Kenneth and I raced to my mothers and sisters house. Jamil is twelve now and has grown so much. She now helps to teach alongside her mother. As she has resumed her teaching duties. According to them, I have gotten so much taller.
I refrained from discussing the priesthood... Everything I have done recently and the past two years. We had lunch with them. And I am glad to hear that my mother is living life again. I smiled and waved as we left my old home.
The city is still at war so much of the crowds are soldiers and workers. Being shut away from the world... After so long it feels different. As I felt different.
After a nice day in Vulkania we travelled back to the temple. As we entered the main hall. A steward boy came running to us. We are being commanded to the meeting chamber...
What is it now?