Simon looked around, taking in the sights. He'd been here before, he knew what everything looked like and where everything was, but it felt so different, like everything had changed. Everyone had already gone inside except for him, Clary and Isabelle.
"What if they change their minds at the last minute?" he said.
"Simon, they won't," Isabelle said.
"Why are you even thinking that?" Clary said.
"Because I used to be a vampire..."
"A vampire that helped save the Nephilim. We've been over this. Come on, we better hurry up and go inside or they might change their mind!" Isabelle said. They walked in to the Council room and every single pair of eyes rested on them. Clary felt Simon stiffen beside her. She looked at him. He was about to take a step backwards when she nudged him, encouraging him to walk forwards, not backwards. She and Isabelle went and sat in the seats that had been saved for them, right next to each other between Jace and Alec. It had previously been agreed because, with the exception of Simon, they were the ones that would be most affected by the outcome of today and needed to support each other.
Simon noticed that more than half of the population of Alicante was here, and a few other Shadowhunters from different Institutes. He looked around and noticed a bunch of small Shadowhunters all sat near the front with their uncle, Arthur. One of the smaller Shadowhunters, Emma Carstairs, smiled at him and waved. Simon smiled back.
"Simon Lewis, please step forward," The Consul, Jia, said. He did. There were two Silent Brothers stood either side of Jia. "Shadowhunters, and warlocks," she said, nodding her head in the direction of Magnus, "We gather here today for the Ascension of the mundane Simon Lewis, who as a vampire, played a very large part in the defeat of Sebastian Morgernstern." Clary flinched.
"He sacrificed his immortality and his memories so that his friends, some of our Nephilim children, and Magnus Bane, may return to Idris safely. As we are all aware, Magnus has been successful in returning some of his memories, and other memories are returning naturally. He is fully aware of the Shadow World, and has been studying our way of life for the past 3 months, as well as going through intense physical training thanks to the Shadowhunters of the New York Institute. Before we go any further, are there are Shadowhunters here today against the Ascension of the mundane Simon Lewis?"
Not a single hand was raised, or a single voice heard. Simon let out the breath he didn't even realise he'd been holding. Clary and Isabelle squeezed each other's hands. Clary was so nervous that she felt sick.
"Very well. Simon, please enter the circles."
Simon looked down. There, on the ground, was a great double circle. In the space between the circles were runes: runes of binding, runes of knowledge, runes of skill and craft, and the runes that symbolized Simon's name. He stepped forward in to the centre of the double circle.
"Before we officially start, have you chosen a Shadowhunter name to take as your own, or have you thought of one yourself?"
He opened his mouth to speak, but realised he couldn't. He hadn't thought of a name of his own, and he hadn't decided on an already existing Shadowhunter name either. He bit his lip nervously. He glanced around the room, taking in the faces of all the Shadowhunters, and then his eyes fell on one particular Shadowhunter. A familiar female. She was looking at him intently, and he looked back at her. He turned back around to face the Consul.
"I have, Consul."
"Make sure it is definitely one that you want, as you will not be able to change it. Once you have decided, it is yours for life."
"I am certain, Consul. This is the name that I wish to carry for the rest of my life."
"Very well. What name shall it be?"
Simon looked up at her, with a smile on his face. A genuine, happy smile. His lips parted and he spoke the name, with a lot of love in his voice.
"Fairchild."
He heard the gasp. One, very loud gasp, and he knew straight away who it belong to. He turned around and looked straight at Jocelyn. She had a hand over her mouth and, although he wasn't a vampire with extraordinary sight anymore, he could see the tears in her eyes. He smiled at her, a smile only a son could give his mother, and turned back around. Jia smiled at him.
"Kneel please." He did. Jia walked over and stood infront of him, wearing red Consul robes, with various runes on it. She held the Mortal Cup in her hands. "Simon Lewis, please take the Mortal Cup." Simon reached up and took the Cup with both hands. The room was so silent he could hear his heart beating, which was quite pleasant now that he had his memories back and could remember when he couldn't hear it beating, because he was undead. Jia spoke again.
"Do you swear, Simon Lewis, to forsake the mundane world and follow the path of the Shadowhunter? Will you take into yourself the blood of the Angel Raziel and honor that blood? Do you swear to serve the Clave, to follow the Law as set forth by the Covenant, and to obey the word of the Council? Will you defend that which is human and mortal, knowing that for your service there will be no recompense and no thanks but honor?"
"I swear," Simon said.
"Can you be a shield for the weak, a light in the dark, a truth among falsehoods, a tower in the flood, an eye to see when all others are blind?"
"I can."
"And when you are dead, will you give up your body to the Nephilim to be burned, so that your ashes may be used to build the City of Bones?"
"I will."
"Then drink from the Mortal Cup," Jia said. Simon looked down at the Cup. He managed to stop his hands from shaking. This was the part he was scared for the most, the part that he may not survive. If he was deemed untrained and unworthy, he would not get out of this alive. He took another deep breath, closed his eyes, put the Cup to his lips, and drank.
Clary and Isabelle were squeezing each other's hands so tightly they were turning blue. Clary had also gripped Jace's arm, so tightly she was about to draw blood. Everyone in the room was holding their breath, terrified that it may not work, but confident that it would be he was most definitely worthy.
The circle that surrounded Simon and Jia flared up once with a cold, blue-wight light, obscuring them both. Clary and Isabelle had both stood up. All of the colour from their faces had drained and they both felt as though their heart was in their throat, threatening to make them throw up. When the light faded, Simon was unharmed. There was a strange glow surrounding the Cup. Simon gave it back to Jia, his hands shaking, and he was laughing nervously. "I- I'm alive. Did I do it?"
Jia smiled and nodded, once. "You are now Nephilim. I name you Simon Fairchild, child of the Nephilim, protector of the mortals. Arise, Simon Fairchild." Simon stood, but did not dare take his eyes off the Consul. He wasn't even aware of the cheering around the room. Everyone was on their feet, shouting, whistling, some chanting, 'Simon! Simon! Simon!' and others hugging each other. "Congratulations Simon. May you serve us well."
Jia walked away, and suddenly Simon was flocked by everyone he loved most. Clary and Isabelle had jumped at him, and both wrapped their arms around him, practically crushing him. Jocelyn and Luke and Alec and Magnus and Jace were surrounding them too, aswell as little Emma Carstairs. Simon was so overwhelmed that he started crying. The tears just rolled down his face and he didn't even try to hide it.