Chapter 11
Iblinked at the floor, visualizing the dead. Their spirits would never be filed. They would never have a proper burial. They were snuffed out, just like that. For sport.
The gods took away their bodies but their blood remained. Some of their feathers had also fallen, now stuck to the golden ichor tainting the marble floors. The winged tips of my ears twitched. Farasee Kaelthos allowed the shock to sink in, relishing in our surprise and horror.
“You’re all Ascendants seeking to Ascend until you reach the Farasee Order. To do so, you will have to prove you are worthy. And while we demand obedience, we will always expect your sacrifice. Understood?” Farasee Kaelthos bellowed.
As an orchestrated unit, we all clapped our wings once, in uniformity and in accord.
“You all have learned I am Farasee Kaelthos Zamarien. I come from a long line of Farasees who have served the Order for generations since the end of the Fifth Age. It is with great pride and honor that we serve. Only the best may Ascend. We have yet to see if that will include you. Furthermore, during your first season of Ascension, I will also be one of your Presbitaris. I am the Presbitari over Scroll Order. I will facilitate your classes on The Principles of Righteous Living and Judgment.”
“Righteous Judgment? Him? No burning way,” Daelun muttered.
I snorted at the irony. That class was going to be a joke.
“You now know Farasee Davithius Solman,” Kaelthos continued, gesturing to Davithius who was blatantly ignoring Kaelthos.
“I’m sure you can tell he looks born and bred for war.
” At this, Davithius smiled. “It’s because he is.
” Kaelthos’s eyes flashed. “While he is a Farasee that does the best he can—” Davithius slid a cutting glare at Kaelthos but said nothing.
Kaelthos continued, “He also serves with the empyrean’s Legionnaires. Incense Order, meet your Presbitari.”
“Yes,” I blurted out before I could stop myself. Multiple angels across Incense Order let out their own, tiny outbursts of joy. Davithius looked our way chuckling. I didn’t care if he was difficult. At least the difficulty came with a pretty face.
“Definitely looking forward to class,” Ellabeth whispered.
“Never missing a lesson for sure.” I giggled behind a hand.
Davithius snuck a glance at Ellabeth and I as if he could hear us. His posture hadn’t changed. He kept a wide stance and folded arms. But his eyes were dancing, and that mouth of his was twitching.
“Here we have Taevia Othru.”
Kaelthos gestured to the Farasee—who has perched on the other side of the dais—without even looking at her. I wanted to spit in his eyes for the lack of respect. All because she was a female. And an Anathelle by blood.
I looked at my Tati, impressed with her self-control.
She was four hundred cycles older than Manmi, but didn’t look a dawn older than me.
Tati Taevia ignored him, holding her chin high.
Her pin straight black hair hung to her shoulders, not a flyaway in sight, as she blinked her dazzling hazel eyes with traces of deep purple in them.
Her dark skin was beautiful under the amphitheater lights beneath her plush, ivory Farasee robes.
“Taevia here—”
“Farasee Taevia,” Granmanmi hissed from behind Kaelthos. Tati Taevia was her second born and not to be disrespected.
I was thankful Granmanmi was still here. She seemed to be the only one able to keep Kaelthos in check. He was proving to be no better than swine. My distaste for him was growing by the second.
“Farasee Taevia,” he repeated, mocking Granmanmi. My neck grew hot. “Is the Presbitari for Bond Order.”
The males of Bond Order began protesting.
“No burning way. A female?”
Tati Taevia didn’t take the bait. She kept her chin high and remained calm. Stars. How long would it take me to master such poise?
“Farasee Taevia will also facilitate all of your Spiritscape excursions, should you Ascend past this first season.”
“All of our what?” Daelun whispered.
Hèls if I knew. That little instruction went right over my head.
“And lastly, we have…Farasee Katia.”
I looked at my Kouzi—my elder cousin—and smiled to myself.
I remember when she was told she’d Ascend.
She fought against it. She just wanted to become a wingmate and a Manmi.
But Granmanmi made her Ascend. Wed never heard from, or about her, since.
I honestly thought something had happened to her.
Seeing her now, as a Farasee, filled me with pride.
“Farasee Katia is the Presbitari of Manna Order.” Kaelthos looked around him. “Presbitaris, join your Order. Farasee Esau, come and take your liberty.”
As one, Farasees Kaelthos, Davithius, Taevia, and Katia spread their wings, and flew to the four corners of the amphitheater.
They floated to the small platform at the front of their Orders with several cloudchairs and full goblets with gilded platters full of delicious looking treats.
Once the Presbitaris joined their Orders, Farasee Esau flew forward.
He looked malicious as a Fallen angel, this one.
“He looks like a Fallen,” Ellabeth whispered.
“I was just thinking the same thing,” I exclaimed, looking her way. “It’s the scowl isn’t it?”
“Definitely the scowl.” Ellabeth wrinkled her nose. “He doesn’t look like he has a kind bone in his body.”
I shook my head. “Not one. It’s crazy because he didn’t look like that when we were about to Ascend. Now he looks terrifying.”
“By now you should know that I am Farasee Esau Nakumba,” Farasee Esau announced.
He was one of the few Farasees, like Davithius, whose robes looked like fighting ones.
His tunic had no sleeves, revealing arms made for wrestling dragons.
His jet black hair hung past his shoulders contrasting his sun-kissed skin and glowing amber eyes.
They almost looked like two small pools of churning magma. His scowl made me shiver.
“This cathedral is your Sanctuary for your classes. Beyond class, you must endure trials. The Starfellien Ascent was the start. And no. You will not be warned about your trials in advance. When it is time to begin, you will receive a scrollport with instructions. That’s it. ” A pause. “Now, look at your desks.”
We all obeyed. Beneath the glass, encased in a crystal box, were two emblems, both shaped like smoke. One was a signet ring while the other was a clasp made to attach to our robes. There were other items inside the crystal-encased box. A scrollbook, scrollmap, and a thorn shaped like a diamond.
The scrollbook had our curriculum while the scrollmap showed how to get around the temple and the Citadel—the cloudy city. I’d heard stories about it, but I didn’t know too much. Then there was the thorn. I ogled the thing, not even wanting to touch it. What could it possibly mean?
Daelun pulled out his thorn, also in the shape of a diamond, staring at it confused. “This has two letters on it. IV.” He looked at us, puzzled.
“Mine have DS on it,” Ellabeth said.
“Mine has MS,” Amayah chimed in.
“AR,” Isandra commented, her face riddled with confusion.
“VM,” said Omarion.
“CK.” Kazemir waved his thorn like a flag he wanted to break in half. Everyone turned to look at me.
“Well?” Ellabeth prodded.
I looked at my thorn. “QV.”
“I swear this is so weird,” Isandra, quipped.
“Most of your items—gifts from the Temple for your education and survival—should be self-explanatory. The thorn has another purpose.”
“So we’re all just going to pretend he didn’t just say survival?” Ellabeth breathed, her voice rising an octave.
“Oh, we heard,” I said.
Kazemir snorted, but said nothing more.
“You’re all in your Orders and you have your Presbitaris.
Your Presbitari will break you up into your Dominions and Choirs.
There are three Dominions and Seven Choirs per Order.
Pray you like each other because you will remain together for the entirety of your Ascension.
” Esau looked at the Orders. “Presbitaris, you may begin.”
Davithius flew into the air. “Incense Order, listen up. This is going to be simple. I went through your exams and matched you accordingly. When I call your names, group up and make it quick. I don’t want to be here all dawn.”
Davithius began calling out names. Angels started shuffling. This was annoying. They couldn’t have grouped us before we sat down and got comfortable? Or was splitting us up now the whole point?
Without preamble, Davithius flew through the names of First Dominion, and it’s first Six Choirs. “Incense Order, First Dominion, Seventh Choir,” he called out.
I was about to tune him out.
“Safah Anethelle!”
I snapped my head up. Grabbing my belongings, I quickly threw Ellabeth a look before flying to the front row where seven seats remained for the final angels left in First Dominion.
“Ellabeth Riventhelle!”
“Oh thank the stars!” I cried, spinning around.
Ellabeth bounced with happiness as she grabbed her belongings and flew straight to my side.
The seat to my right had the letters QV inscribed on it.
But the desk to my left said ER. I got it now.
Ellabeth Riventhelle. I eyed the QV to my right once again, my trepidation for whoever would fill the seat growing with each passing second.
“I was about to rage,” she said, throwing herself in the cloudchair.
“Seriously, same.” I nodded.
“Daelun Shenric. Amayah Kamron. Isandra Marisol. Omarion Wylium. Kazemir Nhanket,” Farasee Davithius called in rapid succession. I grinned wide as our newly bonded group found itself close to each other again.
“This entire place was about to be flooded with a devastating whirlwind if we’d been split up,” Daelun said.
I laughed as Davithius ran through the names quickly, going through Second Dominion and all its seven Choirs, and then Third Dominion and its seven Choirs. When he was done, he flew back to his seat, crossed his arms, and perched his legs on the banister in front of him.
“And now, for your temple-mates,” said Farasee Esau once every Order was seated in their proper Dominions and Choirs.
The auditorium fell deathly quiet. We all sat up, our ears pricked. A bond was no small thing. Whoever these Farasees had bonded me to would have to be an angel I could function with or else it would be absolute Hèls trying to break the bond.
“This season every Order here will partner with a Legion from Azarath Academy.”
My jaw dropped, as I shot out of my seat with everyone else. “We are what?”