The first day of the second season
1 of the calendar year was always a cherished one in the Grand City of Atutania. A celebration of the Order of the Glade, the great hero it devoted its purpose to, and its service to the nations before it. The first day of trials and tests for those who sought to become known as a warden. The Day of Heroes
2.
But the Lord-Commander was not really thinking about another year of promising new recruits nor was she thinking of the festival that the city put on. She had other things on her mind.
“The world is teetering, isn’t it?”Alicia Welrae sat blankly in her private chambers, arms crossed as she looked over various parchments in front of her. There was nobody else in the room.
“We haven’t been this unprepared in centuries,” she murmured in contemplation,
“and it has happened under my watch.”She sighed and looked upward.
“Seleistia watch over us all.”Dreańe Priihdontas was bored.
Granted, Dreańe was always bored. As a veteran warden she was used to being in the field, not that she was particularly unenthused about her position as one of the few training prospective recruits into the order. The seven days ahead, as per the trials
3, were going to be grueling and a test of character. Dreańe remembered her days as an aspiring warden with eyes as big as the sun. She passed the trials on her first try, of course, but very rarely were people truly ready for the fight before them.
Sometimes, initiatehood hopefuls even died on the seventh trial. How many would do so in the days ahead?
“Lady Priihdontas.”And suddenly the green-haired warden was no longer bored. The appearance of the former child prodigy and newly humbled warden, Maxell Tolecht, was at the very least a curiosity. She wasn’t particularly surprised given the circumstances, though; she had heard the rumors about his previous assignment
4. Those of their qualifications were only assigned to oversee warden prospects if they personally asked for the duty or if they needed to be reminded of their place in the order. She was the former and he the latter.
“Didn’t expect you to be here,” Maxell commented nonchalantly,
“last I heard you were in that wretched desert.”“Oh. Maxell,” the green-haired girl tilted her head,
“suppose I was. But no longer.”“Lord Tolecht.” the blonde corrected with disdain.
Maxell was the son of an undernoble, not particularly powerful nobility, but despite that and his particular reputation for having the impulse of a wild wolf, he did care much about formalities and manners. She didn’t, but she found it quite entertaining to push his buttons. Of course, this was known about her. It was sort of common knowledge among her fellows in the order that she was a bit of a devious one, after all, controlling people’s impulses was a lot easier than controlling hers.
“Lord Toilet,” she smiled wryly,
“I cannot wait to see what initiates come to the proving grounds this year. That is, if they don’t get lost in the city among the celebrations. Quite unfair that we never get to participate, don’t you agree?”He shot her a glare and rolled his eyes, he knew what she was about.
“Games are for others. Not I.”“But I like games!”“I know,” he sighed,
“worry not, you’ll get your fun soon enough.”As they quarreled, initiates began to enter the proving grounds, hoping to become wardens. When they arrived they would then be met by someone who would take their name and information before allowing them entrance into the area. It was here that they would find themselves directed to practice their skills as wardens observed their skills. The options to showcase were up to them: archery targets had been lined up on the west end overlooking the rolling hills that sprawled throughout the glade, melee dummies had been set on the east end, and in the center a large practice circle stood.
A prelude to a great beginning.
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