There were drums beating and voices jeering as more and more of us emerged. My ears rang from the noise in the coliseum. It was absolutely deafening.
“Get off me, Vigil!” Abellie shouted, but I could barely hear her.
“Sorry, Abellie,” I said as I rolled onto the cobblestone ground of the ancient arena. When I got to my feet and looked around, I was awestruck. A twenty-foot-high wall surrounded us. There were grandstand seats at the very top, filled with dark-robed figures shaking their fists and cheering. I couldn’t make out whether they were yelling for us or at us. Suddenly, I remembered Shepherd Machoji’s instructions to hurry up and find a seat.
“Come on!” I shouted to Eeliyah and Abellie as I grabbed both their hands and pulled them up off the floor. As I started to lead them both across the arena, I felt a tremendous weight pull on my arm, stopping me instantly. Abellie was frozen in place, too scared to move. I looked helplessly at Eeliyah, who looked back at me with the same worried expression.
“What do we do?” I yelled to Eeliyah over the chaos and confusion.
Eeliyah quickly moved to the other side of her sister and grabbed her free hand. “Abbie!” she shouted. “Abbie, shut your eyes! Now!”
Abellie did as her sister instructed, and I felt her grip instantly tighten.
“Just start walking! We’ve got you, Abbie!” Eeliyah said and nodded for me to start coaxing her sister forward. Thankfully, it worked.
As we made our way across the arena floor behind the rest of the pack, I could see Shepherd Machoji staring intently at me from the center of area. He was standing in front of a towering gray stone pyramid-shaped obelisk, surrounded by two rows of curved stone benches where the other potentials were gathering.
I helped Eeliyah and Abellie grab the first available bench we came to, and I took the last available seat in that same row, trying to convey a sheepish expression to Shepherd Machoji, hoping he’d understand and accept my apology.
~24~
Once I was settled, Machoji stepped onto a platform at the base of the obelisk and calmly raised his hand. Respectfully, the commotion in the coliseum immediately stilled.
“Ein be praised!” Machoji shouted happily.
“Praise be to Ein!” the entire crowd roared in unison, then fell deafeningly quiet. To hear such a rowdy crowd come to order in the blink of an eye with one phrase was eerily haunting.
“I want to wish every one of you a most blessed and joyous Festival of Ein!”
The room clapped and rejoiced. I didn’t know if I should clap or not, but he began to speak again through the applause, which quickly died at the sound of his voice.
“As you all have noticed by now, we have about half the number of new potentials who would normally be introduced at orientation. It reminds me that at this same time last year, we were on the precipice of one of the greatest disasters ever to befall the good people of Telshakra. Each one of you here today has been touched in some way by the devastation of the blood croup. It’s because of such a tragedy that I ask you all now to remember the souls of our friends, family, neighbors, or those you held dear, and honor their memories with a moment of silence.”
The coliseum went dead quiet once again. I tried to be still, but the moment of silence was so encompassing, even the slightest shift on the bench caused a raucous noise.
“Feniche,” Shepherd Machoji said as he lifted his staff a few inches off the ground and pounded it back down.
“Feniche,” the crowd replied in unison.
“The gift of becoming a shepherd is the highest honor that Ein or any of His children can bestow.” Shepherd Machoji looked directly at me and then casually moved his gaze across the faces of the other potentials. “Here, you’ll learn to use and control your gifts, your hearts, and your minds to devote yourselves to your patron gods and goddesses and to Ein Himself. To be chosen to serve the gods in their name and for their glory…I promise you there’s no greater honor or responsibility throughout the realm of Ein.”
The crowd clapped and cheered, then grew silent when Shepherd Machoji raised his hand once more.
“Shepherds uphold the divine responsibility of helping the Children of Ein watch over and maintain the balance and unity of the entire universe. There will be times in your calling as shepherds when evil itself will challenge your heart and soul. Yes, you will be tested. I can promise each and every one of you this.” His gaze shifted away from us as he scanned the upper grandstands. It was then I realized he wasn’t talking only to the new potentials. Shepherd Machoji was addressing everyone there.
He slowly walked around the obelisk, and the top of his staff started to glow bright green, leaving a trail of light that formed a ring around the pyramid as he circled it. “We’re called to serve a higher purpose greater than ourselves.”
As Machoji made a second pass around the monument, he struck each side of the structure with his staff, releasing a different colored mist of energy as he did so. The four mists floated up to the top of the pyramid and danced around the peak of the statue before separating and almost squaring off against each other.
One by one, the mists were transformed. The brown mist began to move into itself, rolling and tumbling until it had changed into a ball of rich brown soil that churned weightlessly about the obelisk. The light blue one swirled around and around until it whipped itself into a contained cyclone of wind. The red mist sparked and became a blazing fire, beautiful and wild, yet somehow hovering in the air. The dark blue one melted and dripped as it changed into a whirlpool of water, flowing endlessly into itself.
I was speechless, as were the rest of the potentials. I glanced around at our little group and saw everyone gaping in awe, even Biklish.
Machoji raised his staff high in the air. “These gifts are only given to these chosen by Ein!” he shouted, striking the obelisk and causing the four elements to converge into a large ball of energy and light.
“We are creatures of faith!” he roared, and struck it again, releasing a pale orange mist that rose up from the structure and washed over the ball of light before splitting it in two. One half morphed into the image of a lion, massive and regal with a heavy tan mane, while the other became an elegant lioness resting beside her mate.
“Over time, Ein’s glory and wisdom will grow within you!” he bellowed with another blow to the pyramid as a dark green mist shot up and formed a thick jungle of trees around the lions.
“You’ll care for and protect Ein’s universe,” he said as he tapped the obelisk again, sending streaks of reddish pink mist dancing around the lions, causing them to nuzzle each other with affection.
“But, be warned! These privileges must be earned!” he shouted with another strike, and a muddy red mist erupted and consumed the lions and the trees in a wave of destruction. The trees snapped and toppled over as the lions writhed in agony and collapsed together in a ghastly heap.
“Only then can you achieve true greatness in the holy judgment of Ein Himself,” Shepherd Machoji said calmly as he tapped the pyramid one last time. Wisps of maroon and purple mist rose up like smoke from the obelisk, engulfing the lifeless lion and his mate. Slowly, the mist, the bodies of the lions, and the remains of the trees began to ascend, coming together in a ghostly ball of beautiful pale green light. It floated higher and higher, growing brighter and brighter as it rose toward a whirlpool of light high above our heads and then quickly faded away, leaving everyone below in the dimness of the coliseum.
“You, who sit here before me…” Machoji said proudly as he looked directly at me and each of the new arrivals, “…are now considered to be potentials in the eyes of Ein and this institution. You’ve taken the first step. Now, we’ll teach you the rest. Welcome to the Shepherd Academy. Ein be praised!”
“Praise be to Ein!” the spectators responded as cheers and applause filled the coliseum once again.
After a few moments, Machoji thanked the spectators for attending the orientation a
nd dismissed everyone in the coliseum except for those of us on the arena floor. When the grandstands were finally empty, we were given our next set of instructions.
“Well done, all of you.” Shepherd Machoji beamed with pride. “In a few moments, you’ll be called one by one to meet with an administrator. You’ll be asked about your Vivication, and those details will determine where you live here and the path you’re destined for. While you’re waiting to be called, I suggest you try to remember everything you can about your Vivication experience.” He gave an exhausted smile, turned and walked toward a small door in the wall of the arena.
The feeling of dread slowly crept back into me.
Suddenly, a large muscular man kicked open a door on the other side of the arena and bellowed in a voice that made us all straighten out of pure fear. “Eeliyah…of the family Lapanista!”
Everyone looked over at her, yet Eeliyah appeared to be too afraid to stand up.
“Eeliyah…of the family Lapanista!” the man shouted even louder.
The fear of hearing her name first must have been overwhelming, but Eeliyah slowly forced herself to stand up and be brave for her sister’s sake.
“I don’t have all day! Move it! Move it! Move it!” he bellowed harshly.
Eeliyah quickened her pace. The moment she passed through the doorframe, the large man followed and slammed the door behind them both, leaving us to wonder who was next. A few minutes later, he returned and barked out another name.
“Abellie…of the family Lapanista!” he roared, and she quickly got up and rushed out of the arena as her sister had.
Thirty minutes had passed, and there were five of us left still waiting to hear our names. Thankfully, I only had to deal with Biklish’s menacing stares for ten minutes more before the large man called his name.
As the potentials before me were summoned one by one, the vast coliseum became more and more unsettling. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw shadows move, and strange bumps and thuds echoed from the darkness of the grandstands. Although I knew the place was physically empty, I felt far from alone.
Finally, the large man returned and called my name as he stepped through the door, “Vigil…of the family Voronto!”
I got up and swiftly approached him. Even though I wasn’t fond of knowing what was on the other side of the wall, I was more relieved to escape such a daunting place.
~25~
The hallway on the other side of the arena door was nothing more than an incredibly long white tunnel. There were no pictures on the walls, no rugs on the floor; nothing to make me feel welcome or relaxed in any way.
“Room number four!” the large man snapped, pointing down the endless hallway.
I started down the hallway, pausing only a moment to turn around to see if the intimidating authority figure was still there. He was.
“Move it, potential!” he growled, staring back at me, his expression stoic and unwavering.
I hurried down the hall, reading the numbers on the doors as I passed by them until I found my assigned door. When I looked back again, the large man had already turned around and walked away without another word.
I stood there, petrified, having no idea what to expect as I stared up at the gold-plated number four on the door in front of me. I took a deep breath, braced myself, and then turned the handle.
“Last, but not least,” a man sitting behind a large desk muttered aloud, staring at the mound of paperwork before him as I entered his immense and opulent office. This room was in stark contrast to the hallway. Large displays of artwork, tall statues, and lush furniture, the likes of which I’d never seen or imagined before that moment, were placed just so.
“I don’t believe it!” he beamed as he finally looked up at me. His expression quickly changed from indifference to that of great interest. “I heard you were coming. It’s so nice to finally meet you!”
His voice sounded strangely familiar. In fact, it sounded just like my father’s. More shocking, he even looked like him. Though his face was a little fuller and somewhat older looking than my dad’s, the likeness was uncanny. This man’s only real contrasting feature was his nose, which was crooked and slanted downward like an old peanut. The shepherd swiftly rose from behind his desk and came over to shake my hand.
“Hi,” I said, completely baffled.
“You don’t know who I am, do you? No, there’s no way you would. Oh, Ein does work in mysterious ways, doesn’t He?” He laughed.
“I guess so.”
“I’m your Uncle Vantaru.” He paused, waiting for me to recognize him. “Your father never spoke of me?”
“No. Not really, sir.”
He looked genuinely disappointed. “Oh.” His face fell as he returned to his desk and slumped down in his chair. “Okay, well, let’s just press on, then. Have a seat,” he offered, slightly dejected.
“Thank you, sir,” I replied respectfully.
“Vigil…you’re here at the Shepherd Academy because you’ve received a Vivication, which is like an extremely vivid dream. It’s something so real and intense, yet unlike any other dream you’ve ever had before. It reveals the specific type of blessing you’ve been given from one of the Children of Ein. Do you remember it?”
I stared at him blankly, instantly losing myself to a sea of traumatic memories as I tried to recall the nightmare in question. No matter how hard I tried to focus on the dream itself, all I could think about was my father being burned alive in front of me, my mother fading away before my eyes, and then being ripped away from the only home I’d ever known.
“Vigil? Hello?” Vantaru impatiently waved his hand in front of my face.
“Huh?” I snapped back to reality. “Yeah, I guess so.”
“No, no, no. I’m afraid that isn’t a good enough answer.” His tone grew cold and stern. “Look, I want you to realize you’ll get no special favors here because we’re related. You’ll be treated the same as all the other potentials. In fact, I expect you to work harder than the rest of them, as you are representing the family name. The last thing I need is you embarrassing me. Got it?”
I nodded.
“Good. Now then, think hard and tell me whatever you can about your dream. What do you remember?”
“I remember…it was dark, and I couldn’t move. There were stars all around me…so many of them. But then, my skin…it started to itch really bad, and then it all burned off. There was nothing left of me…just bones…floating in the air. I was so scared until this lady started talking to me. Her voice was really loud. She said her name was Necra and that I wasn’t dead. Then, my bones began to glow, and all the stars came at me really, really fast, and I woke up.”
Vantaru’s skin had gone pale, and he gripped the pen in his hand so tightly that his knuckles were white.
“Okay…well, that…that was a little unusual,” he said, dumbfounded, almost as if he was talking more to himself than to me. “Sorry, Vigil.” He shook his head slightly. “Usually, a potential describes something simpler, like being able to move large boulders or waves with their mind, or create fire or wind with their bare hands; even control wild animals as if they were pets, but I’ve never heard anything like what you’ve just described. The burning skeleton, the glowing bones, the stars coming at you…it’s…it’s all just very unusual, that’s all,” he said, once again lost in his own thoughts. “She actually talked to you?”
“Yes, sir.” I didn’t know what else to say. It was as if he was trying to work out a problem with no possible solution.
“Anyway,” he shook his head again, quickly refocusing his attention to the paperwork on his desk. “The good news is that we now have the information we need to know where to assign you.” Vantaru scribbled something on the pad of paper on his desk, tore the sheet from the binding, and handed it to me. “Take this and head through there,” he said, pointing to a red door behind him. “Go down the hall to the fifth door on your right; Uniforms and Supplies. You’
ll see Shepherd Induviae. Give him that paper, and he’ll issue you your clothing, boots, soap, et cetera. Everything you’ll need here. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Now then, Vigil, I’m only going to tell you this once. Keep your head down, work hard, and do whatever the shepherds tell you to do. None of that bullshit you were doing with the sisters at the home. You’re a Voronto…remember that!”
I nodded indifferently. I just wanted to get this over with.
“But I’m sure, if you’re anything like me, I can expect great things from you.”
Truth was, I’d only gotten to know my uncle in that very short amount of time, and I already wanted to be nothing like the man.
“Good luck. You’re dismissed,” he said with a nod over his shoulder as he shifted his focus back to the pile of papers, ignoring the fact that I was still sitting there.
I got up and walked to the door. I turned around briefly, wanting to say something, but quickly decided against it. Instead, I turned the handle and stepped into the hallway to find the fifth door on my right.
It didn’t take me long, but the moment I walked inside the room, Shepherd Induviae snatched the paper from my hand and barked, “Stand against the wall…and no talking!” He held a tape measure to my body, rapidly taking all my measurements before crossing to a wall of shelves and pulling out several pieces of clothing.
“Okay, listen up, because I’m only going to explain this once. All new potentials are each issued two pairs of pants, two long-sleeved shirts, two exercise suits, four pairs of socks, and four pairs of underwear. You’ll also get one pair of exercise shoes and one pair of boots. Everything else comes with time in service at the academy.”
Burden of the Blessed Page 13