MakiaVi: The Frozen King - Chapter 3
Everyone had a nice, relaxing morning the next day. It was the first time in two weeks that they were not dragged out of bed at dawn. Once everyone was ready, the six initiates flew together to the deployment center. The building was even more massive up close. It was the tallest building in the entire city, measuring at least fifty stories high. Dragons flew in and out of the building constantly from the landing stations that protruded out of the building . "Brakon said to meet him at the top floor. The Grandmaster wants to speak with us." Burlik said. "What would the Grandmaster want with us?" Edion replied. Bellatrix turned to Edion. "Apparently it's customary for the Grandmaster to initiate new members themselves. Traditions and all that junk." Leon scoffed, "I just hope it's not too boring."They landed at the top floor of the deployment center. It was relatively less busy than the other floors. The new members exited the landing platforms through a large pair of steel doors. They were greeted by a griffin sitting behind an oak desk. She had long brown hair wrapped in a ponytail and wore a simple black suit. "How can I help you?" she said in a cheerful tone. "They are here to meet the Grandmaster." Brakon said from behind them. "How nice of you to show up." Zan said. "Sorry, had a bit of business to take care of. We shouldn't keep her waiting any longer." The secretary grinned and gestured to the doors behind her. "Yes, she is all ready for you. Head right on in."Brakon pushed open the large red doors. The walls of the office were adorned with paintings of great battles. Decorative statues of various dragons stood in the corners. Behind an ornate desk sat a dragon with black scales, long red hair and fiery eyes to match. "Congratulations on completing your training. My name is Elise Flaman and I welcome you all to the MakiaVi as class D members." "Wait a minute," Edion interrupted. "You are apart of Zan's
clan aren't you?" "Why yes, I am." Elise replied. "His twin sister to be exact." Edion's eyes widened as he spoke "How are you Grandmaster already?" Elise chuckled. "I just proved my skills as you all will someday. Let's get to the initiation." Elise cleared her throat. "For three hundred twenty six years, the MakiaVi has stood for the preservation of all dragons and maintaining peace between us and other species. Today, you all carry on that torch and walk the same path of our ancestors. If you are prepared to lay down your life in the name of our values and traditions, approach me to receive your mark." She mumbled a few words and a magic circle appeared on her palm. It was a drake surrounded by what looked like claw marks, the same one Brakon had on his neck. "These will serve as proof of your covenant with the MakiaVi and as your badges of authority."They each walked up to her one at a time and began to receive their marks. Zan was first. He pulled back his vest and received his mark on his chest. Bellatrix had her mark put onto her forearm. Burlik closed his right eye and had it placed over it. Tereen had her's placed on her shoulder. Leon had his mark placed on the back of his left hand. Lastly, Edion had his placed under his left eye. "I confirm you all as full members of the MakiaVi. Now all of you, go forth and defend the weak and helpless. Spread peace across these great lands. Defeat those who mean your people harm or die trying!" The new members saluted their leader in unison and exclaimed, "Yes ma'am!" Elise continued, "Now. you all will begin taking missions. Edion, Zan and Bellatrix, you three will be squad D-116. The rest of you will make squad D-117." "Why they ranked higher than us?" Leon shouted in protest. Elise sighed, "They are just placeholders. Call yourselves whatever the hell you want. I just need something to put on the paperwork. While I brief D-116, the rest of you must wait outside."Leon's team shuffled out of the office into the lobby. Once the doors were closed, Elise spoke, "Now, there is a small town to the east called Likeen. There seems to be an anti-dragon hate
group growing there." "So you want us to take them down?" Zan interrupted. Elise shook her head. "No. Under the laws of Bravia, they are granted freedom of speech. They have yet to do any violence but there has been someone going around killing off their members." Edion chuckled, "I still don't see the issue." Elise glared at Edion. "The problem is that it spits in the eye of the peace we hold here. It was senseless violence like this that split the country in half. Find this killer. Take him in or take him out. Just make sure he is no longer a problem." "Have the local authorities done anything?" Bellatrix asked. "Of course, but they have been overpowered or evaded each time." Elise opened her filing cabinet and pulled out three folders. "Here is everything you need to know. Take time to read over them and prepare to be out of the city by noon. You are dismissed."Edion, Zan and Bellatrix sat in the dining hall, going over the reports they were given. Bellatrix read, "Apparently the killer wears a black cloak and wields a scythe. The townspeople have started calling him the reaper." Zan laughed, "The reaper? How corny can you get?" "This is serious! He has already killed ten people!" Bellatrix snapped. "I'm with Bellatrix." Edion added. "We need to focus." Zan rolled his eyes. "Come on guys, this is our first mission. I doubt they would put us in any real danger." Bellatrix sighed, "Whatever, at least try to not get killed." "Oh what, you worried about me?" Zan teased. "I would rather not have my first mission go south." Bellatrix groaned. "That's why we are going east!" said Zan as he laughed by himself."Hey Zan, let me ask you something." said Edion. "Shoot." "I have realized that there are a ton of people around here that are from your clan. Why is that?"Zan laughed. "Oh there aren't that many of us here." As he said that, Edion pointed to three other members in the room alone that obviously belonged to Zan's family. " Okay, I see your point. You see, my family actually founded the MakiaVi. It is considered huge honor to join their ranks. Everyone is fighting to become the Grandmaster one day." "I guess that's why you are here right?" Edion asked. "You bet!" Zan exclaimed. "One of these days, I will surpass my sister and take her place at the top!"Bellatrix asked, "So if you beat her, you become the next Grandmaster?" "Of course." Zan replied. "To rank up, you either have to beat a higher rank member in a duel or prove yourself in the yearly trials." Edion asked, "What do you do in these trials?" Zan explained, "First you do a series of tasks to prove your power. Then you are placed in a tournament bracket to fight against the other members in your rank. The moderators evaluate your performance throughout. If you are good enough, they promote you. To become the Grandmaster though, you must beat the current Grandmaster outright. The winner is the new Grandmaster. No moderators and no arguments." "Sounds pretty hardcore." Edion replied. "That's why I want a more serious mission." Zan said. "If we impress the MakiaVi, we will be able to qualify for the trials this year.""Capturing a murderer sounds pretty serious to me." Bellatrix protested.Zan shook his head. "If you heard even half of the stories that Elise told me, a murderer would seem like child's play."Leon and his team walked into the dining hall. Bellatrix gave them an excited wave. "Hey guys! Come, sit with us." Leon and Burlik shared one of the benches at the table while Tereen took the other. Bellatrix grinned to the team. "What mission did you all get?"Leon huffed, "We got stuck babysitting some dumb eggs.""Don't say it like that." Burlik responded. "We are escorting a caravan of five hundred dragon eggs from the Loklen province back to the MakiaVi hatchery. Most of them are pretty fresh so they probably won't hatch for a few years."Bellatrix said, "I didn't know the MakiaVi had a hatchery. Isn't that interesting Tereen?" Tereen silently nodded.Burlik continued, "The hatchery takes care of eggs for any dragons who cannot do it themselves or those who have passed away recently. It's a cornerstone of the entire society. You should be proud to do this mission Leon.""There is no pride in being someone's delivery boy." Leon scoffed. "What mission did you guys get?"Bellatrix held up the mission briefing. "We need to find this murderer in Likeen.""Now that is a real mission!" Leon exclaimed."See Zan, Leon agrees." Bellatrix said.Zan sighed, "Fine. Whatever. Let's go." Edion's team stood up, packed their things and started to walk away."Edion. Do try to come back in one piece." Leon teased. "I would hate for someone to kill you before our rematch."Edion turned around and chuckled, "Same to you."