CHAPTER ONE: REVERRED

There are not less than a hundred of us -seeking to be titled reverreds-, I analyze my surroundings - placid- is all I can use to describe the dense atmosphere, the hall is large and dark, the few voices are low and frightened, it's evident we all come from different backgrounds, the only thing distinctly similar with all of us, is that we await an orientation to tell us how we can effectively become reverreds, presently an elegant figurine climbs upon the uplifted podium before us, her beauty is exquisite, her aura mystifying, her hair is fiery red,and a perfectly spiky yet rich texture, her eyes are a fiery red as well, -something in those eyes mystify me even more than her aura alone- her dress is elegantly crafted linen, it's shade is layers of fire -real fire?-, we need no orientation to tell -this is a real reverred- "I'll first say…" she begins in a clear, contra-alto tone, her eyes roam the ceilings -the ceilings have peculiar insignas upon them, fire, ice, plants, metal?- these is very much the best description of the illustrations grafted in gold upon the ceilings, her eyes come down to us "…I'll say that not up to one quarter of you lot will eventually become a reverred…" she pauses, "Many of you will die, some of you will give up, many of you will die…" she specifically repeats the 'die part' "So out of mercy, I'll give you an opportunity…leave now…because those of you who give up later will still DIE…", we are all shaken up by her stern words but nobody moves a muscle, she smiles "Alright then, I am Netyisha a rank 2 reverred, you may call me Rev Netyisha…the screening processes will take exactly six months and the other six months will be for intense training, the handful of you left will thereafter be titled rank 4 reverreds..." she pauses and intones coyly "…but I aasure you…all this is easier said than done…" she claps her hands twice, "I am certain that you all know the duties of we reverreds..." she pauses "....we are an absolutely chaste bridge between magic beasts and humanity…it is our chastity that distinguishes us from the mages…so I will ask an open question…I believe we all are virgins… right?" somebody beside me gulps hard, and there are queer remarks passed around, all the hassle and tension thrills Rev Netyisha " Whether you tell the truth or not…there are consequences for those found out to be impure besides, flow of magic is greatly hindered by impurity...your magic will be gifted to you only after screening…" she chuckles -her laughter frightens me, it tells me something is going to be wrong- "We'll be testing out how efficient you can be against beasts even without your magic, in other words crafting out your core, even without magic…" I nearly puke -this is a strange habit of mine…vomiting when I'm absolutely terrified- , she turns to leave but abruptly stops in her tracks and turns back, her eyes glint in a maniacal thrill "You all come from different families…" she pauses " People from cursed families don't make it anywhere", her eyes seem to rest on me, I gulp hard, for some reason her eyes also glance back to the girl beside me, we look at each other -both of us glaringly-