Wow. It has been months. After dealing with writer's block and hiatuses, I am finally getting back to my book's sequel, Eternity...
And because it has been so long, this chapter is not really the greatest due to how short it turned out to be... but oh well...
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Arrabalta- Eternity (Book II)
Chapter Four-
Inauguration

Eira was suddenly very nervous. She hadn’t realized that even though many Guardians were unable to attend her inauguration, there were still at least eight hundred of them watching her closely as she entered Crossroads for it. She tried to keep her eyes facing forward, but she couldn’t help but glance sideways every couple of seconds at the Guardians that were there. At the center where the legendary fountain stood, fully repaired, was the Guardian leader, Fielra, her own brother, Storm, Storm’s mentor, Blaze, and the Arch Guardian of Darkness, Shade. Wait. If the Arch Guardian of Darkness is there, does that mean her Dominant Force is Darkness? No. It can’t be that simple.
Eira was barely aware of Thor and Aerobolt’s presence behind her. She just kept her eyes at the paws of the statue. She began to feel sweaty. Blinking a little, she gulped with more ne rvous glances. ‘They will all think I’m a freak. I cannot do this. But… but I must,” she thought. She wanted to stop walking and turn around and hide. She knew she shouldn’t. She knew she had to face who she was sooner or later. She can’t run and hide forever. If she was going to survive, she had to be proud to be different. ‘No turning back now.” Thor and Aerobolt stopped behind her when they reached the fountain. Looking around the front of the crowd, Eira saw her mother Cesia waving at her. Of course. Her father, Farus, was not here. He rarely ever is. Farus is the Guardian ambassador to the Shrouded Wolf Tribe in the Shrouded Forest far to the northwest of Castla nu Craara. He is so busy there he almost never makes it home. She and Storm learn to live without him though. But Cesia does not like that her cubs were being raised practically without a father. Eira’s eyes swept through the crowd, and she saw the other five Arch Guardians standing next to each other near the front of the fountain. Odd. All seven Arch Guardians are rarely at Castla nu Craara at the same time. They can’t all be here just because of her right?!
Fielra’s movements towards her snapped her back to reality. “Eira Farus Tharo,” she began. “You have become of age, and it is time for you to become an apprentice of the Guardians of Life.”
Eira bowed. “I-I am honored to accept, M-Mistress Fielra,” she said unsteadily.
Fielra nodded at her briefly. “Excellent. Now. Eira Farus Tharo. Will you promise to uphold the way of the Guardian, and preserve and protect the legacy of life that was granted to us by our Goddess, Iridescence?”
The contract all Guardians must sign, as they become apprentices. “I do,” Eira spoke a little bit more confidently.
Fielra clapped her paws. “Then proceed to reveal yourself to our Goddess by taking your plunge into Iridescence Fountain.” She moved aside for Eira to pass, and the huge stone fountain was right in front of EIra. The waters swirled in all colors and brightness, waiting for some new apprentice to be granted the powers that all Guardians wield. This. Was where Eira’s strange power would reveal itself in full force. Eira almost turned back. She was still convinced they would all belittle her and discriminate against her. No. The Guardians wouldn’t do that. They couldn’t do that. Could they? No. Eira must stay firmly convinced that she will be fine. She clenched her fists tightly digging into her pad so hard she felt it bleed a little. Ignoring it, she took a step toward the fountain. Then another. It was not long before she was peering into the omni-colored waters. She took one last deep breath before diving headfirst into the fountain.
The pain was instant. Agonizing. It sent shockwaves of power through every strand of fur on her body that made her feel like she was going to explode. She screamed underwater, sending bubbles of air to the surface. Or did she? She couldn’t hear herself screaming, nor could she see any bubbles. Yet she could feel her muzzle open in agony. She dare not open her eyes, fearing the worst could happen to them. She remembered being told by Storm that the fountain would be painful, but she never imagined anything like this! Iridescence was granting Eira her powers, along with the strange power that Eira governed over. Eira’s paws tingled. No. They stung. The imbuing of the power was incredibly painful. Nor did it fade away for the longest time. Eira wished over and over that it would end. She couldn’t breathe, yet she could not feel her lungs screaming for breath. Her heart beat insanely fast. So fast, she thought it would fail. Yet she overall still felt fine. The pain itself was finally fading away. But at first she failed to notice through her strange resistance to it. But when she opened her eyes underwater, she almost opened her mouth in shock. It was obscure, quick, almost like she was seeing things, but Eira thought she saw Iridescence’s face in the water with her. As soon as the image faded, she suddenly felt her lungs, and soon she was spluttering out of the fountain coughing. Despite her being completely dry upon emerging, she still choked for air.
Fielra was the first to react. “Eira! What happened down there!? Did you see something!?”
Eira shook her head. She was not sure if she really saw Iridescence or not. It was too fast to tell! She looked up at Aerobolt and the Arch Guardians. All of them had shocked or concerned faces. Her face burned with embarrassment. But that was not the worst part, as they would all soon realize…
Fielra stared at her for a moment before moving on with a hint of uncertainty. “If you say so… So you know what the next step is, I assume?”
‘Yeah, yeah. Revealing my Bane,’ Eira thought remembering Storm’s inauguration into the Guardians. She nodded to Fielra, tight lipped. ‘But after that… my Dominant Force is revealed… except… it…’ Fielra interrupted her thoughts.
“What are you waiting for? Present your paws to reveal your Bane. We shall then appoint you a mentor based on as such and present you your Force Scarf.”
Eira’s mind barely paid attention as she stared at Fielra a moment too long, still pondering one her unusual Dominant Force. Hesitantly, she raised her handpaw up to Fielra.
Fielra’s eyes narrowed as she glanced over her paw. Then to Thor. Then Aerobolt. Then Salamander. “Fire. Her Bane is Fire.” As usual in inaugurations, the Guardians who also had Banes of Fire applauded her, to accept her as one of them. Salamander instantly walked up to greet her. Aerobolt’s father gave her a bow before presenting her with a Scarf with a scarlet red, deep ruby, dark blood, bright rose color. So many shades of red it seemed to radiate all at once.
“Wear this Scarf as a symbol of who you are now, Miss Eira,” he said almost with no emotion, as if he expected to be the one to give her a Scarf. It was as if they all knew that her bane was going to be Fire! But if that is the case, then do they…?
“Now it is time to determine her Dominant Force,” Fielra interrupted. Eira’s paws turned to ice. “Okay Eira. You know what to do, I assume?”
Eira was too nervous to speak properly. “I-I…”
“Conjure each Force for the other Arch Guardians to evaluate! Simple as that! The strongest one in whoever’s eyes is the strong one.”
“O-oh yeah…” Is it possible they wouldn’t find out? Eira hoped so. It had better be the case… First was Water. Nereid is a surprisingly large vulpine. One that Eira privately hoped would go on a diet soon… Upon conjuring water like Fielra instructed, Nereid declared her Water skills as average. Just average? Eira always thought she was good at water… even as a cub she was able to beat her brother at a water fight. And he scored pretty high!
Earth was next. Gnome is short. Quite a bit shorter than most other foxes, no, most other cubs in the citadel. He was the one who presented her brother, Storm, with a Gnome Scarf since his Bane is Earth. Eira expected her Earth to be weak as a result. Gnome nodded at her in understanding after she presented her strength. It was passable in Gnome’s eyes. Not quite as weak as she thought…
Sylph is a surprisingly nervous fox. Since a catastrophic earthquake killed most of his family in his apprentice years, his Bane being Earth, living in these mountains… he’s developed a strong hatred for Gnome. All the Gnomes that he has seen for that matter. Her wind scored good. Not bad. Better than Storm’s capability that is for sure.
When she saw Thor step up nest, she felt embarrassed. Since Storm’s Dominant Force was Thunder, she knew she’d be inferior to her brother in his eyes. And Thor is the Arch Guardian she looked up to more than the others. But when she saw her Thunder scored excellent, she could not help but be surprised.
The grump Seraph practically pushed Thor away. She did not look impressed by anything, even when vulpines rarely show a perfect in Light. She is never impressed it seems. She practically snorted out Eira’s score. It is as if she did not care, or did not want to be there. What is up with her to seem that way anyway? No one in the entire citadel seemed to have a clear idea… Excellent. Another excellent in Light!? Most Guardians can’t get as high as a average in Light! Eira was pleasantly surprised when she heard it.
And finally. Aerobolt’s mother. Shade. “Hello Eira. It’s been so long,” Shade said.
Eira’s eyes widened. “Are not supposed to talk!?” she exclaimed when she realized that none of the other Arches spoke besides her scores.
Shade chuckled. “Maybe not. But what can Fielra do to me?” she glanced at the Guardian leader, who returned her look with one expressionless.
Eira conjured up Darkness, but she found she had the biggest struggle thinking of negativity besides her insecurity at her hidden strength.
“It is probably a good thing, but…” Shade began slowly and a little forlorn even, “Your score is very bad…”
Very bad!? Eira must be pretty terrible at Darkness then! Worse than her brother, who scored with low potential! But that thought did not last long. The Guardians were murmuring the exact suspicion that Eira feared. None of her Forces scored a perfect. Therefore neither was her true Dominant Force.
Fielra looked around. “Her strongest Force appears to be Thunder…” she began.
A Guardian interrupted her. “No way! Thunder did not score a perfect! There always is a—“
“Silence!” Fielra hissed. “How dare you interrupt your leader in such an uncouth way, Blaze!”
The vixen Guardian still held a furious glare at Fielra and Eira.
Fielra continued. “Yes it appears that there is no clear defined Dominant Force within her, but maybe this makes her that much more special.”
Eira did not like that word. “Fielra. I am just like everyone else…” she tried to say. She knew it was a complete lie though. A lie that she probably cannot keep any longer. But she knew she had to try! “I may not have gotten a perfect on anything, but that does not mean I cannot be a great Guardian for you all! Honestly does this even matter!? My strongest Force is Thunder! This scoring thing is only supposed to measure our potential in each Force! And if my potential is not as good as the rest of you, then I am sorry I cannot live up to your expectations. But you bet your tails I will try to!” she glared at all the Guardians with a glare. Her sudden fire in her voice shut them up. They stared at her with surprised eyes.
“Very well then, Miss Eira… Your inauguration ends now. Your training begins whenever your mentor decides to. Guardians! Eira Farus Tharo is now truly one of you! Now disperse! “Fielra called. The Guardians stared at Eira a little longer before they did disperse. Obviously they knew something was off about her, but they could not pinpoint what. Eira wanted to make sure they never knew. Somehow, she knew they’d find out anyway. But like them, she cannot pinpoint what.
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Start from the beginning! https://www.furaffinity.net/view/12848456/
First book! http://www.furaffinity.net/view/11187661/
Series Index! http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/5340298/