Book 2: Chapter 4 – End of the Ceremony

Jabari could tell that, at least in part, the Supreme Elder's words were meant for him. Yet, he didn't mind. He had no regrets. Even if he were given the chance to turn back time, he would make the same decision again without hesitation.

He wasn't the only one who recognised the deeper meaning behind those words. The other Elders were well aware that, despite his composed exterior, Supreme Elder Diallo took Jabari and August's choices personally. It was an unspoken truth, one that hung in the air like a blade just shy of the skin.

Only Grand Elder Nala made her feelings clear, rolling her eyes in open disdain at the Supreme Elder's behaviour. The others, perhaps out of respect or pragmatism, chose to feign ignorance, as if they hadn't noticed anything at all.

The one who reacted most strongly, however, was Jamal. His entire being seemed to tremble with barely contained excitement as he nodded vigorously. "I won't let you down, Teacher."

Supreme Elder Diallo cast a brief glance at Jabari before shifting his focus back to his new apprentice. Then, with the air of a man who had said all that needed to be said, he closed his eyes and leaned back into his seat, dismissing the rest of the proceedings from his mind.

Jamal strode back to his place among the other youths, his expression one of pure triumph. Yet, the moment his eyes met August and Jabari's, his victorious grin faltered. Neither of them acknowledged him. Neither spared him so much as a glance. Their complete indifference only served to sour his mood, frustration flickering across his face before he schooled his expression.

The next name was called – Danso, the son of the Musa Tribe's Patriarch.

As he stepped forward, he requested a pair of war hammers as his weapons of choice. However, after his assessment, he was informed that he fell just short of the requirements to become a Beast-Warrior.

Jabari wasn't surprised. If anything, this only confirmed his growing suspicion – one must achieve at least a five-star standard in one of the assessments to be eligible for beast blood of a particular element. However, what remained unclear was the exact alignment between the trials and their respective elements. He knew that the test of strength corresponded to fire and the speed trial to wind, but beyond that, the pattern remained a mystery.

As Danso stood before the gathered Elders, uncertainty flickered across his face, his gaze hesitating as it landed on Grand Elder Nala. A moment passed before he turned away and squared his shoulders.

"I'd like to choose Elder Chiumbo as my mentor," he declared, eyes locking onto a relatively short but immensely muscular man standing at five foot six, a massive hammer strapped to his back.

Elder Chiumbo gave a low grunt in acknowledgement, his expression unreadable.

Kwame signalled for Danso to step back, and soon after, Azurian's name was called.

Azurian, a youth of regal bearing, requested twin straight swords. Then, like Danso before him, he was informed that his physical capabilities had not yet met the criteria for becoming a Beast-Warrior.

But it was his next decision that truly caught Jabari's attention.

When it came time to choose a mentor, many anticipated his choice. As a skilled swordsman who had won in his fourth round combat trial, the obvious decision would have been to select Elder Bamidele – the undisputed greatest swordsman in the western branch of the institute. Any aspiring swordsman would have leapt at the opportunity to train under him.

Yet, Azurian defied expectations.

"I choose Elder Zola," he announced, his voice calm and unwavering.

Murmurs rippled through those in the know.

Jabari recognised the name. According to Heba's flash cards, Zola was a formidable swordswoman, but she was best known for her defensive swordsmanship. More than that, she was the most recent to attain the rank of Elder.

Heba's cards had hinted that despite her talent – having made it to the rank of an Elder so young – she was likely the weakest of the Elders. A fact which made Azurian's decision all the more perplexing.

Jabari's amusement grew as he caught sight of Elder Bamidele's reaction – a barely perceptible twitch of his eyebrow, a silent testament to his displeasure. But if Azurian was aware of the stir his decision had caused, he gave no indication. He simply turned on his heel and returned to his place with the same composed air as before.

At the same time, the name next was called – Chantelle Marley.

Just like all those that went before her, she was asked for her choice of weapon. To which she calmly requested a rapier.

Then, unlike Danso and Azurian, she was informed that she had qualified to apply for a vial of beast blood attuned to the lightning element.

'So, the reaction test corresponds to lightning…' Jabari mused, his mind racing. 'I wonder if those three are the only elements available, or if there are others yet to be revealed.'

His curiosity deepened as Chantelle did something unexpected – she chose to wait before claiming her vial. The murmurs from the spectators were immediate, rippling through the crowd. It was an unusual decision, but several saw the wisdom in it. She was patient and unwilling to rush into something so significant without careful consideration.

When it came time to choose a mentor, however, she made the logical choice – Elder Bamidele. As a swordswoman, selecting the strongest was the only natural course.

Next up was Chidi, the young boy from the slums of the Nuwanu Tribe.

He requested twin curved daggers, his preference for agility evident. Unsurprisingly, Kwame informed him that he, too, had yet to meet the necessary standard to become a Beast-Warrior.

What did surprise a few, however, was his choice of mentor. Instead of selecting a well-known warrior, Chidi selected a middle-aged man with cold and beady, snake-like eyes. His name was Elder Yared, a man Jabari remembered was apparently a master of stealth and assassination.

As Chidi returned to his place, Jabari turned slightly, leaning toward Malia – the last of this year's seeded students. His voice was a whisper, low and sure.

"Second from the right."

Malia blinked in confusion, but before she could ask what he meant, Kwame called her name.

A nervous tremor passed through her as she stepped forward, her small frame stiff with anxiety. Jabari could see her fingers clenching and unclenching at her sides, but to her credit, she kept walking.

Kwame, sensing her nerves, softened his tone. "Do you have any idea which weapon you'd like to wield in the future?"

Malia hesitated, her eyes darting between the various weapons displayed across the stage.

"You don't need to decide now," Kwame reassured her gently. "You can take your time and discuss it further with your mentor later."

She nodded hesitantly. Like Jabari, she had grown up in the slums, her body too malnourished to even consider applying for beast blood at this stage.

"Finally, like those before you, you may choose an Elder to be your personal mentor," Kwame continued patiently. "This will be the person who guides you for the next year, so take your time and choose wisely."

Malia swallowed hard. She knew what she had to do – she had seen the others make their choices before her – but standing in front of so many imposing Elders made her freeze. Each one looked formidable, their battle-worn expressions carrying the weight of experience and power.

Then, she remembered Jabari's whisper.

Slowly, she turned her gaze to the second Elder from the right.

A burly man stood there, towering at six foot six, a massive shield strapped across his back. His face was marked by a deep scar, making him appear even more intimidating than the others.

Malia's breath caught in her throat. He looked terrifying.

Her instincts screamed at her to choose someone less intimidating, someone less… dangerous.

Hesitantly, she turned back to glance over her shoulder where her eyes met his.

Jabari was watching her, his expression calm, his lips curving into a small but reassuring smile.

'He has no reason to trick me…

Right?'

Malia squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath, forcing her erratic heartbeat to settle… slightly. When she reopened them, her resolve had hardened.

She had made her decision.

"I...

I would like him, please," Malia said hesitantly, her finger trembling slightly as she pointed at the man Jabari had suggested.

A small smile formed on Jabari's lips. He had expected this outcome. From Heba's cards, he knew that the man Malia had just chosen was Elder Amari.

In terms of combat prowess, Amari ranked near the bottom among the Elders, but there were two crucial reasons Jabari had nudged Malia toward him.

Firstly, Amari had an unshakable sense of justice and fairness – an invaluable trait in a mentor. But, more importantly, as a former slum resident himself, he had a reputation for taking special care of students from similar backgrounds. Malia, given her circumstances, would be in safe hands.

Elder Amari acknowledged her choice with what was meant to be an amiable smile. Unfortunately, the deep scar running across his face twisted with the motion, making his attempt at friendliness appear unsettlingly venomous.

Malia's reaction was immediate – her body stiffened, and before she realised it, she had taken a step behind Kwame.

The awkwardness was palpable. The forced smile on Amari's face froze, and a tense silence filled the air.

Kwame, ever perceptive, quickly stepped in to defuse the situation. "It's okay," he said gently. "You and the other seeded students can head back down to join your classmates."

Malia needed no further encouragement. She hurried off the stage as if escaping a battlefield, her pace quickened by sheer instinct. Jabari followed with the rest of the seeded students, allowing the focus to shift away from them.

Now that the selection process had concluded, all eyes turned toward Supreme Elder Diallo. As the highest-ranking figure present, it was his role to deliver the closing remarks.

Yet, he remained motionless, eyes closed, utterly detached from the proceedings.

A sharp, disdainful snort broke the silence.

Grand Elder Nala rose from her seat and strode forward, her presence commanding as she took centre stage.

"We here at the Western Branch of the Beast-Warrior's Institute offer our sincere congratulations to all who have successfully passed the selection," she announced, her voice ringing with authority. "As we all know, it is far more difficult for those from the slums to match the standards set by those from the main settlements. And yet, this year, we have witnessed something extraordinary."

Her gaze shifted, locking onto Jabari.

"For someone from the slums to not only meet these standards but to shatter two records is an unparalleled achievement. Congratulations, Jabari. Your name will undoubtedly spread far and wide."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the audience. Even those who had initially dismissed him could not deny the weight of her words.

"As for us," Grand Elder Nala continued, "we at the Western Branch will do everything in our power to ensure you reach your full potential."

She let those words hang in the air before moving on.

"And with that, the X827 Western Institute Selection comes to a close. Congratulations once again to all who have passed. You have until seven p.m. on Sunday evening to complete your registration. I strongly advise you to use this time wisely – say your goodbyes to any friends and family while you can. Because once you step through the Institute's gates…" Her eyes scanned the gathered students, her smirk knowing. "The chances of you having any free time this year are slim to none."

With that, she turned on her heel and strode off the stage.

One by one, the other Elders followed in her wake, their robes billowing behind them as they departed.

And just like that, the selection had ended.