Chapter 3: Initiation Part 1

Characters (in order of first appearance):
Mizuki / Mezzaluna

By the time Gelato finished studying, the sun was rising over the smoking chimney stacks of the distant factory. His eyes were halfway closed, and his head rested on an open page in the alchemy book Delfino had lent him. But he realized this too late as he rose, accidently causing the page that was stuck to his face to rip off. He jumped when he saw this, causing the small house he made out of scrap-metal and ragged cloth to fall apart. Then his heart started to panic when he saw the outline of Delfino approaching him in the alleyway. Fearing Delfino's reaction, he turned away from him and quickly stuffed the missing page into the back of the book, while restructuring his house to cover this up.

"Morning, Gelato!" Delfino said.

"Morning," Gelato said as casually as he could.

"Did you study that alchemy book I lent you?"

"Yeah, who do you think I am?"

"Sorry, I just know that you have a habit of sometimes not doing what I tell you to do. Can I have it back if you're done with it?"

"Y-Yeah, sure," Gelato said, unintentionally stuttering as he handed the book back to Delfino.

"Don't worry, Gelato, you'll do fine, just as long as you remember everything I taught you."

Gelato nodded, and gave Delfino a confident grin as they set off together.

The location of the initiation was in a circular room underneath the Godfather's house, with wooden chairs along the curved walls, occupied by all the major mafia Capos (Captains), a cement floor, and a single lamp which shined on Gelato, who stood at the center of room, facing the high chair in the north side, where the 3rd Godfather sat pretentiously. Below him sat Delfino and another gangster with short white-blond hair and eyes as black as night. His name was Mezzaluna, and from what Gelato had heard, he and Delfino had been friends since they were Cugines together. Now they were here to judge the test that Gelato would be put through as part of his initiation.

After a period of silence, the 3rd Godfather spoke, "Gelato Vortice, for twelve long years, you have been a troublesome orphan in our neighborhood. There were times when I thought about disposing of you, but Delfino insisted on taking you in as a Cugine, and taught you what it takes to become a part of my organization, including the forbidden art of alchemy that we practice in secret. Now, you must prove your worth to me, but if you feel that you can't meet my expectations, you may leave now. Once you walk down the path of Mafia, you can never go back."

Gelato's face grew serious, but he didn't move.

The Godfather sighed and continued, "Then we will begin the first part of your test. I want you to create three Homunculi (Shadow-Clone Technique) of yourself in front of me right now. They must have perfect likeness and mobility."

For a moment, Gelato's face flinched, and then reluctantly, he took out a pocket knife, and began to chant while carving a pentagram shape into his palm: "The air gave me breath, the water gave me thirst, the flames gave me pain, the earth gave me form, and the divine gave me life!"

After this, he turned his palm to the floor and allowed three drops of blood to fall to the floor before turning his palm upward again. Then he said, "Homunculus, arise!"

Suddenly, the drops of blood surged into bubbling gushes that reached up to Gelato's height, and then began to take the forms of humans. As their shapes became more distinct, the blood gradually disappeared, revealing three replicas of Gelato. They stood straight for a moment, and then fell to the floor like limp dolls. Gelato gritted his teeth, knowing that this wasn't his strongest spell (technique), while everyone in the room was completely silent, except for the Godfather, who made a few short laughs.

Then he said, "Is that the best you can do? Create useless meat-shields that might distract your opponent for a second, and then leave you completely exposed? I'm very disappointed in you. Knowing your alchemy is just as important as fighting your opponent in hand-to-hand combat. That is why I will give you the chance to make up for your failure if you pass the second part of the test. Delfino, stand up!"

While the three Homunculi that Gelato created disintegrated into dust, Defino stood up from his spot and came into the lamps' circle.

Then the Godfather looked at Gelato. "Gelato, I want you and Delfino to draw your knives and fight each other. If you land a cut on him, you will be initiated, but if he lands a cut on you, you fail. The cut must not be fatal, and you may not use any other weapon, otherwise, we will be forced to terminate you."

End of Chapter 3