As I bask in my accomplishment, a regal voice rings out across the court.

  "You have passed, Mr. Kenalofv," the Cronen from earlier called out. "You may walk through the Gates. Once through them, take the bridge across Le Grimgreda to the Terrace where the other initiates until the Dean comes out onto the stage.

  "Thank you," I say to the Cronen. I stride to the large obsidian doors with symbols embossed in bronze that tower above me by at least 5 feet. Though it looks heavy, as soon as I touch the tall doors, they swing into the inner deck. The inner deck is a large wooden platform that connects to the bridge that crosses Le Grimgreda, a large moat around the inner walls that surround the Terrace and the rest of the Coron'E'Al Fortress that all classes are held. As I close the doors, I hear a scream from the contestant that is doing their trials after me. I didn't even hear the second Trials announcement, so they must have died to the zendroya'a. I'm personally not surprised.

  As I walk across the arching bridge, my heeled boots clacking on the wood, I hear a familiar voice call my name.

  "Vondy! Over hear!" a tall Zeneth yells. As he runs closer, I see his face.

  "Keller! How are you?" I ask my old friend. We had been friends since we were small children living in Berdonia, the Vontracean capital city. My dad was a military blacksmith, and is was a General for the Vontracean Armada, so we met eventually. We had been best friends best friends ever since then. I had also had a thing for him since I had saw him. If you looked at him, you would understand. Dark hair, a chiseled face, and the standard pale golden eyes of a Zeneth that had a perfect contrast with his dark skin had every girl ever hitting on him 24/7.

  "Not Bad! How about you? I barely finished my dexterity trial, but hey, I survived," he said in a soft voice.

  "Ugh, It was terrible. I had to lift a zendroya'a onto the roof for my strength trial! When did you get here? I need to get a new shirt on. It has blood on it, and I don't want my shirt getting stained because I was in the splash zone."

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  Keller's face suddenly changes, and he says, "I got here yesterday, so I have my own dorm and some spare shirts. Follow me." Keller grasps my hand and pulls me into one of the doors that line the inner terrace. As we walk down the winding corridors, I notice a hint of gold ink from under his sleeve. I lift his sleeve up his arm and see what I had hoped not to ; two circles intersecting with an eye above them. I drop the sleeve cuff.

  "Keller, you joined Le Gaeluata d'Angeloro?! You've been here for one day. One goddamn day without me, and you've already joined the most lethal Zeneth Gaeluata in Coron'E'Al history?!?!" I scold. "This will get you killed!" He almost looks ... sheepish? Did I go too far? I almost apologize, but he begins to speak before I can.

  "I'm so sorry! But I needed to join. My dad said so, and he just..." he trails off, but I understand. His father, Ygnassio Paota, was possibly the biggest control freak when it came to his son ever. I wouldn't put it past him to force Keller to follow in his own footsteps and join l'Angeloro. Then Keller turns towards a random door and turns the knob. As we walk in, I realize just how small the rooms are. A twin bed sits snugly in a corner, with a small bookcase, dresser, and desk, all in about 16 square feet polished wood. Keller pulls out a black leather athletic shirt to hand to me. As I strip off my bloodstained shirt and begin to change, a horn blasts through the endless stone halls, signaling that the Student Orientation will start in 5 minutes.

  I hastily put on the leather shirt and rush with Keller out, down the hallways, and out onto the grassy Terrace just moments before the Dean walks onto the makeshift stone stage.

  The Dean begins to speak. "Welcome to Coron'E'Al Academy of Mystical Warfare, students! If you are here, that means that you have survived and completed your Trials. Zeneths, Daemons, Cronens, and Humans alike, welcome to your new life. You must survive through your next six years of residence here. A few rules ; No murdering people with Gurunis, No arson, and if anyone is caught committing assault or similar crimes, they will be fed to a Guruni like ground beef. Is that understood?" A resounding chant of "Yes, sir," rises from the crowd of 21-year-old initiates.

  The Dean continues to talk. "You will each have your own dorm room that you will have for the rest of your time here. This is the beginning of your life at the Fortress," the Dean begins to walk out but then seems to remember something. "By the way," he says, "any Gaeluata wars will respond in expulsion for all members involved. Thank you."

  Do You Want Longer Chapters (for the few people reading my book)