MakiaVi: The Frozen King - Chapter 3
Edion had a relaxing morning the next day. It was the first time in two months that he was not dragged out of bed at the crack of dawn. He and the rest of the trainees had a simple breakfast of eggs and bread in the dining hall. While it paled in comparison to Brakon's reward, it somehow tasted better than usual. 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 fifty stories high. Dragons flew in and out of the building constantly from the landing stations that protruded from the building. The deployment center's walls were an amalgamation of black and red bricks. Burlik pointed to the tower. "Brakon said to meet him at the top floor. The Grandmaster wants to speak with us."
"What would the Grandmaster want with us?" Edion said.
"Apparently it's customary for the Grandmaster to initiate new members themselves." Bellatrix said.
Zan scoffed. "I just hope it's not too boring."
They landed at the top platform of the deployment center. It was relatively less busy than the other platforms with only a few dragons preparing to leave. The new members exited the landing platforms through a large pair of steel doors. They walked through a short hallway with black walls and red banners hanging from the ceiling. As the students reached the end of the hall, they were greeted by a griffin sitting behind an oak desk who was stamping a stack of documents. She had long brown hair wrapped in a ponytail and wore a simple black suit. Her blue eyes shot up towards the trainees as a warm smile appeared on her face. "Hello! How can I help you?"
"They are here to meet the Grandmaster." Brakon's voice said from behind them. The students turned to greet their teacher.
Zan folded his arms. "How nice of you to show up."
"Sorry. I 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. "Of course. She is all ready for you. Head right on in." As she tapped a rune on her desk, a blue glow emanated from the doors with a soft chime.
Brakon pushed open the large red doors revealing a massive office adorned with paintings of great battles. Golden statues sat along the walls of the office. Behind an ancient-looking desk sat a dragon with black scales, long red hair and fiery eyes to match. With a modest grin, she addressed her guests. "Congratulations on completing your training. I am Elise, Grandmaster of the MakiaVi."
Edion tilted his head at their leader and took a good look at her familiar features. "Wait a minute. You're a part of Brakon's clan aren't you?"
Elise's smile grew. "Why yes I am. His twin sister to be exact."
Edion's eyes widened. "But that means you are only a few years older than us! How can you be Grandmaster already?"
Elise chuckled. "I proved my skills, just 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 dragonkind and maintaining peace between us and other species. Today you all carry on that torch and walk the same path as 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 and magic runes. Edion squinted at the design, recognizing it as 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. As Elise's hand came close to him, the tattoo faded onto Zan's scales. 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.
Elise shook her hand and the spell faded away. "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!" Edion was beaming as he stood with his comrades. This was the beginning of a new life for him. He would be officially free of the shackles of his homeland. At least, that's what he hoped.
Elise relaxed into her chair. "You all will begin taking missions together in teams of three. 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 said.
Elise sighed. "They are just placeholders, not rankings. 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 and into the lobby. Elise continued once the doors closed. "Let's get down to business. There is a small town to the east called Likeen. There seems to be an anti-dragon hate group there. According to our reports, they have been gaining support quite rapidly."
Zan cracked his knuckles. "So you want us to take them down?"
Elise shook her head. "No. Under the laws of Bravia, they are granted freedom of speech. They have only held rallies so far and have yet to commit any violence. However, there has been someone going around killing off their members."
Edion chuckled. "I still don't see the issue."
Edion's body wend stiff as Elise's eyes burned through him. "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.
"Yes 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 picked up her cup of tea as she read one of the forms. "Apparently the killer wears a black cloak and wields a scythe. The townspeople have started calling him the reaper." She took a sip and returned the cup to the table.
Zan bursted into laughter. "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."
Zan slapped his hands onto his cheeks. "Aw, you worried about me?"
Bellatrix rolled her eyes. "I would rather not have my first mission go south."
"That's why we are going east!" Zan pounded the table as he laughed by himself.
Edion looked around the dining hall. "Hey Zan, can I ask you something."
"Shoot."
"I realize 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." Edion pointed to three other members in the room alone that obviously belonged to Zan's family. The bright red hair was easy to spot. "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 said.
Zan slammed his palms on the table as he jolted out of his chair. "You bet! One of these days, I will duel my sister and take her place at the top!"
Bellatrix swiped her drink off of the table before it spilled. "So if you beat her, you become the next Grandmaster?"
Zan sat down. "Of course. To rank up, you either have to beat a higher rank member in a duel or prove yourself in the yearly trials."
Edion looked up from the reports. "What do you do in these trials?"
"First they test your power by seeing if you can withstand an environment high in viren. Then you are placed in a tournament bracket to fight against the other members in your rank. The moderators evaluate your performance throughout and 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."
Edion chuckled. "Sounds pretty hardcore."
"However not just anyone can challenge them. Only S rank members have that honor. That's why I want a more serious mission. If we impress the MakiaVi, we will be able to qualify for the trials this year."
Bellatrix finished off her drink. "Capturing a murderer sounds pretty serious to me."
Zan shook his head. "If you heard even half of the stories that Elise has 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 guys get?"
Leon slouched in his seat. "We got stuck babysitting some dumb eggs."
Burlik grinned at Leon. "Oh don't say it like that." He looked to Bellatrix. "We are escorting a caravan of a hundred dragon eggs to MakiaVi hatchery."
Bellatrix clapped her hands together. "Wow! I didn't even know the MakiaVi had a hatchery. Isn't that interesting Tereen?" Tereen nodded.
Burlik turned to his grumpy teammate. "The hatchery takes care of eggs for any dragons who cannot do it themselves or those who have passed away. It's a cornerstone of the entire society. You should be proud to do this mission Leon."
Leon scoffed. "There is no pride in being someone's delivery boy. What mission did you three get?"
Bellatrix held up the mission briefing. "We need to find this murderer in Likeen."
Leon pointed at the paper. "Now that is a real mission!"
Bellatrix grinned at Zan. "See? Leon agrees."
Zan sighed. "Fine. Whatever. Let's go." Edion's team stood up, paid for their meals and started to walk away.
"Edion!" Leon said. The team paused and turned back to the table. "Do try to come back in one piece. I would hate for someone to kill you before our rematch."
Edion chuckled. "Same to you." He gave his friends a final wave before leaving the dining hall.