Background:-The passing of wisdom the choise of a new path.-Her eyes where big as she looked around the room filled with all these people. Her hand was softly laying into a strong man's hand.
She walked down the steps to where a young man in a red buttler outfit pointed them to be seated.
The man softly guided her through the crowd till they reached theyre stools. The man pointed her to her chair and waited till she was seated comfortably before sitting down next to her.
"Can you see alright from here my dear?" The man asked with a soft but low tone.
"Yes I can see everything perfectly. Thank you Father," she whispered most gracefully for her young age.
The man smiled at her with love and pride in his eyes and then turned his eyes to the front of the hall.
Hundreds of men and women where gathered in this place. Some wearing the robes of mages, others wearing uniforms of the Fireward and between them scattered a few men dressed in red uniforms that seemed to be employee's of the academy that where ordered to show people theyre places.
In the middle of the room three high chairs where placed covered with red felt. And it seemed a red felt cushion was placed carefully a few steps from the three chairs.
The hall was build up in a circular structure at least ten stories high and to Yria it seemed that if they would fit in more people then there where now there soon would be reason to build another story.
A man with a long beard came walking in and marched towards the middle of the hall where he took place in the middle chair of the three.
He carefully let his hand run over his beard as if in deep tought. His robes seemed to fall exactly well draped over his slender figure and the colors resembeled those of the robes of an Archmage.
Only a few moments later another man came in, he walked towards the Archmage and exchanged a few words with the man before turning towards the public.
He lifted his hands in the air and pleaded everyone to now be seated and to let silence fill the room.
"Would Sir Alathir Zervenholdt please aproach the council of the House of Moondesk and take his rightfull place" The man spoke with a very correct voice and his posture was upstraight and very distinguished.
As the heavy wooden doors that granted entrance to the hall opened and a young man of fourteen years old walked through them. He walked with a steady selfconfident pace and his head was lifted high until he approached the red felt cushion. Where he stood for a moment and then kneeled down on the cushion as the man standing next to him bid him to do.
Yria lifted her head a little so she would be able to look upon what was happening. Her eyes glittering with pride and her hands clapsed around the side of her chair. A smile that went from cheek to cheek it was shown that the boy that walked into the hall carried her heart with him.
She felt a warm hand lay upon hers and it made her let her gaze go from the boy for a moment to her father that was sitting next to her and nodded proudly at her and then looked back to the boy now kneeled in the middle of the hall.
She saw how the long bearded man stood slowly from his chair and approached Alathir.
He seemed to let his eyes go over Alathir for a moment and then over the people that where gathered in the hall. His gaze seemed to rest upon Yria and her father for a moment as he nodded almost unnoticeably.
"We all know, that many fail when trying to master the arts of our path. It is not an easy way one has chosen when trying to tame the greatest powers that has ever existed. I stand here today, proud as always, every time I am able to announce that someone has achieved this. This time it is even more so special....."
He started to speak in a soft voice but one that could be very well understood and seemed to carry age and wisdom in its wake.
"As we all know, us wizards are not the power in itself. We are the instruments taming the powers and directing them to where we believe they should be directed. Thus, wizards are communicators, artists. We are the ones aiding, communicating and directing the powers unfolded in the worlds and some do so better than others. It is no secret that this is a special day, as I said. The man we are here to celebrate has made wonders come true. No person has ever been so great in understanding and interpreting what is around him at such a young age. He has used his talents with a skill that reminds me of the most wise ones ever having existed in history."
Yria squeezed her eyes a little letting the words of the Archmage slide into her mind and a smile curled around her lips as she nodded to his every word.
"It is with great pride I grant thee, Alathir Zervenholdt the title of -Wizard- of the "House of Moondesk" We have trained students for centuries and the most refined, skilled and intellectual wizards have always come from our domains. We believe in you to be able to uphold our great tradition and reputation. A special place is always left for you here in House of Moondesk, Alathir. Having showed your skills and being rewarded with thy title at such a young age, you are the youngest ever wizard in our lands. We believe much in you and the powers of yours, excel in every area. We are charmed as ever when these ocassions take place, but this time, Alathir, we are also speechless and impressed. You truly have a natural gift and that is why we have a special commendation for thyself."
Yria was softly biting on her lower lip as she heard the man speak such wonderfull words about the one she cared so much about.
She looked up at her father for a moment and she could see his face could not be more radiant then that moment. She had never seen such pride and please curve over his features and is made her happy to see that her brother managed to accomplish all this.
Turning her gaze back upon Alathir she lifted her head a little to see him better as he was kneeled down to low for her to merely see more then the top of his head.
She wondered if he could feel her presence there, if he knew what this meant to her.
Memories of them both toying around in the back of the gardens of the mansion they grew up in. Using her as a guinea pig for his "experiment" often drenching her with water as his envoke rain spell was not all up to parr yet... memory after memory came through to her.
Remembering when they first went to the playground. For them "practice ground" secretly cause father was not allowed to know Alathir was teaching his little tricks to his baby sister. So many hours they both spend there and she would be amazed with almost everything her brother could conjure, evoke, dispell and abjure and not to forget his little illusionism tricks he pulled on her ever so often.
Just in time she recalled that she was in a room filled with people and an incredible silence that was around the one old man that spoke to hold herself from giggling at the images that formed itself in her mind.
"What is thy wish, master?" She could hear her brother speak those words and it was obvious that he was pleased at the tone of his voice.
"You are a man that is powerful with the arts of battle, I shall give you a sign of trust and aid! From now on, you shall not be known as Alathir among the members of the House of Moondesk, you shall be known as -The Crow-."
Yria's eyes grew into a confused frown. -The Crow- Why would anyone want to call her brother a crow? She pondered a little till the hand of her father softly squeezed in hers and beconed her to bow her head as obviously everyone else was doing as a sign of respect to the new born Wizard.
Bowing her head Yria tought to herself that for this moment she would strife. She would walk into her brothers footsteps and one day she would be there at the feet of the Archmage. And one day she would feel the eyes of her brother burn with pride and happyness on her shoulders and her fathers face would shine with just as much radiance as it did for her brother this day.
She arrose to her feet together with her father to applaud her brothers accomplishments and slowly her father guided her to move down to where her brother was where he lead her through the crowd of people who wished to be near him and congratulate him.
When he saw her aproach him through the crowd and her eyes met his she forgot about her manners for a moment and pulled her hand loose from her fathers running up to her brother and embracing him in a strong hug. Realizing what she had done she blushed and released him quickly. But to her amazement everyone smiled upon her with warmth and happyness.
"My little sister Yria , Ladies and Gentlemen," Alathir spoke with his always cheerfull tone. He smiled at her and winked softly. "One day to be just like me one of the most revered Wizards of these lands"
As if he had read her mind....
--- To Be Continued ---
Yria and Alathir
