The males of Bond Order began protesting.
“No burning way. Afemale?”
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?
“FaraseeTaevia will also facilitate all of your Spiritscape excursions, should you Ascend past this first season.”
“All of ourwhat?” Daelun whispered.
Hèls if I knew. That little instruction went right over my head.
“And lastly, we have…FaraseeKatia.”
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.
“FaraseeKatia 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 theamphitheater. 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 wasjustthinking 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 willnotbe 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 toomuch. 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 saysurvival?” Ellabeth breathed, her voice rising an octave.
“Oh, we heard,” I said.
