The Bent World (Formerly: Multiverse Revenge Story): Chapter 10 The Ceremony

Chapter 10

The Ceremony

(Friday)

The ride to school was rather eventful.

Only for the fact that for the first time ever Auntie rode with us. Her seat was supposed to be in the front, next to Ceecee the driver. Yet, she instead chose to ride in the back with Sarina and me.

Sarina for her part sat in the bucket seat next to me. Meaning that Auntie sat in the backwards facing row of bucket seats.

I had tried that seat one day, but found the whole vision to be weird as we could only see where we had been. Though, Auntie didn’t sit there for the view out the back of the moving luxury vehicle.

Instead, she sat there just staring and taking me in.

Finally, after a long time of silence she began speaking by turning to Sarina, “is he always this quiet in the morning?”

“He’s always quiet, Master.” Sarina replied.

There was an awkward pause as Auntie just stared at Sarina, before turning to me once more.

I just stared back, though I was happy that Auntie’s overwhelmingly fresh scent of vanilla and honey could easily overpower the long time fragrance built up by riding with Sarina and Ceecee.

“He has grown a lot,” Auntie spoke, it was spoken as a statement but Sarina responded all the same.

“He has, this is his second size increase since he began this class,” Sarina noted, indicating that my clothing size was now what my old world would have called a Medium. But the sizes for boys here are a bit smaller and can vary from shop to shop, but in all I had shot up a good four inches this year at the very least.

Hearing that comment Auntie just nodded to herself.

“Does he stand out?” Auntie continued, apparently using this time to get a full run down on me, while in front of me.

Normally such a conversation might come across as rude, but I think Auntie wanted me to know what others were likely asking about behind my back. That or she was now so old that decorum and manners were completely lost to her.

“He does make straight excellent markings, retaining all knowledge given to him,” Sarina answered, her tone a bit nervous at the seemingly vaguely worded question.

At that Auntie just shook her head.

“No, is he taller than the others?”

“Oh, he is the tallest of the boys and is taller than all but three of the females,” Sarina stated a bit more confidently.

Auntie just nodded her head, and then peered at me.

I just stared back.

Finally, after a moment she just shook her head and smiled.

“You do not have any fear, that’s for sure,” Auntie stated with what could be considered a cold smile by most. But knowing Auntie, I was pretty sure this was as close to a genuinely warm smile as she could create.

Seeing her like that, I also smiled brightly at her.

That was it, for she just smiled a full smile. Showing that she had been holding back her true emotions all along.

“Right, I um…” Sarina began to speak but was quickly cut off by Auntie who was still staring at me while speaking openly.

“You’re also quiet, a trait that I value extensively,” Auntie claimed.

With that comment Sarina just pursed her lips together and looked visibly chastised by the comment. As Auntie’s meaning behind her words were heard loud and clear.

Seeing the normally energetic Sarina try to force herself to be still and quiet under the watchful glare of Auntie was a bit too much and I couldn’t help but smile.

Fortunately, I was able to keep myself from laughing outright of the oddly fidgeting Sarina, but only barely.

Auntie who had managed to keep a stoic face up until my action just started laughing as well.

“Oh stop, I’m only teasing,” Auntie finally told Sarina, releasing her from her seeming self-imprisonment.

“Oh phew,” Sarina stated, it took her a few minutes to regain her confidence and just before it was time for her to speak again, we were already at the school.

Ceecee opened the door, escorting Auntie out first, then Sarina, and then finally I was last to leave.

As we exited, I could see that Auntie was already scanning the area.

Tisk.

Looking around Auntie let out a minor click of her tongue, with a look of disgust on her face. The look itself was minor, but knowing Auntie and her always professional demeanor, especially to the public, the look spoke volumes.

“You okay?” I ask, reaching over and holding Auntie’s soft and supple hands. Even her hands felt like they were well moisturized for years but still had the ability to crush boulders if needed. They were odd but felt fantastic.

For a moment Auntie stiffened and looked like she wanted to pull away but quickly regained her composure as she just let the unexpected touching pass.

“Yes, though I am curious how a noted alcoholic like Ms. Ringwald there managed to get appointed as a portal generator,” Auntie spoke, holding nothing back as she spat venom at the odd woman who was clumsily fiddling with a wooden box. A wooden box that was supposed to go on a stand, something that might take two trips, but for whatever reason this person thought they could get it out of their black government sanctioned vehicle.

That was the thing here, government sanctioned vehicles were black, and were the only vehicles on the road that were allowed to be black. They were also the only vehicles allowed to have tinted windows. The idea being that by their being the only ones that were black on the road, then they would be easy to notice and therefore treat respectfully.

We then watched as the woman grabbed the oversized box that barely fit under one arm. Then grabbing a collapsable stand with the other. Then they proceeded to close the government door with their foot. A gesture that sent the woman stumbling.

Only after hearing Auntie’s comments about this person being an alcoholic did I begin to notice the signs that Auntie saw. The person was tall, indicating that they should have gone through a major awakening at some point and been as powerful, if not more than Sarina.

With that much power, one should expect at least partial balance and grace.

Even Sarina for all her quirks is still exceptionally graceful. Awkward, as she will often ramble and go on for hours about nothing, and make you feel extremely uncomfortable, but still graceful all the same.

By contrast, this government worker did seem to be normal. That is, she looked to have a slightly hard time carrying everything in her hands. For even the gesture of closing the door of her vehicle with her foot caused the collapsing table to begin to shift in her right arm. Rather than stopping and readjusting, she just began waddling even faster around the side of the building.

As the government lady, Ms. Ringwald, left I found myself shaking my head in disapproval. Only after a second did I realize that Auntie was watching me and my reaction to the lady.

We watched her go around the back of the large schoolhouse, likely to begin setting up shop in the open fields out back, where the profiling ceremony will be conducted.

“Come on,” Auntie stated reassuringly as she still holding my hand led me into the school building.

Chills.

The moment we entered the school building, I felt an odd chill run down my spine.

“You okay?” Auntie asked, concern etched in her voice.

Not wanting to draw too much attention to myself, and not being able to explain the sudden chill I just shook my head.

“I’m fine,” I managed.

Auntie just stared at me for a moment, realizing that my body gesture and words did not seem to match up. She stared at me for a moment, but then just continued to the front office, where she and Sarina both signed in. Then we were finally able to head to our classroom, where we went over the safety procedures for one last time.

Then we went outside to see that it was a bright spring day. The sun was out and just warm enough to feel its presence. This was the best part of this world, the sun. It’s golden rays and the way it was able to keep you warm without wildly fluctuating temperatures.

“Come on class, our designated area is on the northeast hill,” Ms. Kay announced and the pointed to our area for this event.

And like that, the event slowly began with more and more classes of students coming out to take up their designated areas.

The younger students were first, followed by the second years.

Then finally the third years all came out wearing ceremonial white robes.

It was a sight to behold.

Then before it was time for the third years to come, a singular cloud went in front of the sun, partially blocking the light and casting a slight shadow over the field and the ceremony observers.

Honestly, the shade felt nice, for the day had been getting to that overly hot point. This was a point that you didn’t realize you were getting to until it was too late.

“That you?” Auntie asked Sarina.

“No,” Sarina answered honestly as she shook her head and just looked up at the one cloud. “Though I wish I had thought about that, it is a good thought.”

However, before the duo could talk too much more, the third years finally came out and began making their multiple rings around the ceremonial performer.

Being so close, the multiple classes of third years had to wrap around the performer. By contrast the three classes of second year students only had to do two rows at most.

While the first-year students, of which I was apparently one of three classes worth, only had to stretch around once.

When hearing Ms. Kay’s guidance of what to expect, I was not quite picturing exactly how many were gathered here for this.

For while Sarina and Auntie were the representatives for our class, the other first year classes also had two or more delegates in attendance as well.

Each group, willing to show the might and support for the family in such times.

In a way, this made sense.

This wasn’t just about gaining prestige by denoting which houses could field capable warriors.

It was also clear that this was a time for the powerful families of the region to use this moment to observe the other powerhouses that were going to rise in the coming years.

The fact that Auntie and Sarina both chose positions where they could see over the rows of small children and had a clear view of the profiling stone was apparent from their intense stares and the way they would shuffle to ensure both could have a clear line of sight.

They didn’t tell me their plans, but I didn’t need them too. It was clear from the way each of the volunteers stared with rapt attention at the profiling stone that they wanted to know what the class of third year students had to offer.

This was not just a way to see your future potential, but this was also a chance to see if working with different families might be worthwhile for the moment.

Many students came from commoner or lower elite statuses. By having this type of ceremony this early, the leaders of the community could make moves to align themselves with youths who were capable of more than what their mothers had shown.

In a way, this was a diabolical plan. By coming into a child’s life at this age, taking the child from relative poverty to an elevated life, they would have a deep seeded bond with the family who took them in and protected them at their weakest.

Siding with a more prominent family would also mean that the family in question might have access to the right males needed to unlock your full potential as a warrior maiden.

Seeing the pitfalls for what they were, it was a system designed to help keep the powerful houses in power. While forcing those that were weak to either die off slowly or hopefully evolve their next line to have a better chance of surviving.

While I never asked Sarina about her true history, I had gained enough tidbits of information throughout the years that she was such a charity case for the Andry family. That her entire claim to a healthy life right now was that Auntie had noticed her during one of these ceremonies and took interest.

Now Sarina was excessively loyal to the family, which worked out for me. At least, while I still had a perceived value to the family, if in two years my awakening was not as expected, then I have no doubt that Sarina would be all too happy to help dispose of me as a potential blemish to the family’s legacy.

Don’t worry, I’ve already begun starting my own countermeasures for when such an order would be issued. I plan to go down swinging, if I am to go down at all.

Rustle.

Apparently, my thoughts are distracting as Auntie sees that I am focused elsewhere.

“Come here,” Auntie exclaims as she reaches down to pick me up so that my face is now eye level with hers. From here I can look over the row of second years and have a direct line of sight to the now out and glowing profiling stone.

While the ceremony’s conductor has had time to sober up, and might otherwise appear normal. Having seen her state earlier, and now looking at her, I can see the faint traces of inebriation at work. Her hands jitter ever so slightly.

“See how the boys are held in protective lines, first behind the second years, then the boys make up the last section of third years?” Auntie asks and points.

As she says this, I soon realize that the second ring of students for the second-year students might be by design. That they are purposefully placed in the back row to prevent them from being exposed.

“While you can’t hear the ceremony from here, the speaker is stating something along the lines of this being a hallowed tradition from the first civilizations. How it was discovered that these stones, captured from invading foreign rifts, is a way we can test the ability of future generations.”

As Auntie speaks, all the other students around me begin to gather closer.

The person conducting this ceremony has no ability to project their voice, forcing everyone to gather close to at least partially understand what is happening.

“That part of the ceremony involves the exposure of our next generation of warriors to energy of slain foes. This is why the ceremony conductor’s role is so important. For you to resonate with the stone, in question, you have to first be exposed to a portion of energy from the stone’s home world. The easiest way to do this is for the conductor to activate the warp stone and create a minor opening that will allow a local beast or monster from the parallel world to get curious and enter our world. Once here, the protectors who have gathered will slay the beast.”

Auntie now realizing that she had everyone’s attention paused for a moment, then continued.

As she spoke, I could almost swear she was reciting the exact speech given by the ceremony’s conductor. Or at least she was telling the speech that the conductor should be given, for there was clear incongruity and lack of flow coming from the person hired to perform this ceremony.

“With the energy of the slain beast coating everyone nearby with what is called splash experience, they will then be able to resonate with the profiling stone, which should help show everyone’s true potential. Even yours,” Auntie said this last part to me, but it was clear she was talking about all males.

With that, the ceremony’s conductor made a few more words.

The few words that did make their way out here seemed to reiterate what Auntie had already stated earlier.

“…Even for you males.” The Conductor’s words pierced through and finally were loud enough to be heard.

I just shook my head. Auntie looked at me for a moment, her face and features stoic, but as I glanced at her, it was clear that she too was thinking what I was, that this lady was not a professional.

“All right, now she will begin to slowly pour in energy into the profiling stone, and slowly open a rift in space that will eventually be large enough to let a minor monster from the alternate realm to enter our own.” Auntie stated.

FWOOSH!

Within seconds an immense wave of glowing energy erupted out from the stone causing a dark violet aura to fill the sky.

The outdoors that had been overcast and shady to this point was suddenly far darker and only illuminated by the ultraviolet purple and pink lights that came from the profiling stone.

Lights that begin to cut and slice a hole in the very fabric of reality.

Awe.

The sight was beautiful.

Even being so far away, I couldn’t help but be drawn in and mesmerized by its brilliance.

I had heard, read, and saw the firsthand testimonies of the experts from my home world who went about exploring different multiverse planets. They spoke of the beauty caused by seeing different rifts forming and ripping apart patches of space.

Yet, nothing I read, or saw compared to this moment.

Even at the manor, when I could physically see the open rift, it was not the same. I assume most of that was due to my being protected by the magical barrier protecting the manor. A magical barrier that broke away at the end.

This time there was no barrier, which meant I could see and feel the increase in power and pressure.

“She’s going too quickly, she will cause a rupture if she isn’t careful,” Auntie hissed to herself as she shook her head.

Shocked gasps.

I wanted to ask about this rupture but was quickly drawn back to the portal that was already opening and tearing.

Crackle.

Bolts of purple lightning seem to strike out and carve their way down a thin dark film that seemed to separate two realms of existence.

“Slow down!” One of the guardians from the third years cried out. I assumed they were one of the Oteranski guards, maybe even Ms. Oteranski herself, that or a close cousin, but she was too far away to make out clearly.

Unfortunately, the admonishment came a moment too late, as the rift opened.

Nothing major, just a tear in space the size of a small window. Like some might have in a kitchen to help dissipate smoke more easily. Just like a kitchen window, this one was also off the ground. Clearly visible from my position.

“And that’s a rupture,” Auntie hissed as she put me down on the ground. It was clear she was getting ready to help go up and gain control over the obviously botched opening. Her slow and resolute pace indicated that while this was a mistake, it was clearly correctable.

Even the Oteranski guard seemed to relax slightly at the sight of a rupture that was no more than three feet tall by three feet wide. Not the largest of spaces, and given its height off the ground, it was clear that many felt that any creatures that would come from such a spatial rift would be easier to defend against.

Gentle chilling breeze.

There was an oddly cold chill that ran down my spine, as I saw a slight gust of wind ripple past me and rustle the blades of grass that were clearly in bloom.

Bzz-up.

Then just as everyone seemed to accept the fact that an accident had happened, but it wasn’t that bad we heard it. The first sound of something terrible.

BZZZZ!

First one, then multiple, then hundreds of buzzing sounds began to echo and vibrate through the spatial rupture.

“What the?” Sarina cried out, as she could still see the rift.

After being placed on the ground, I was no longer able to see over the older students so I was at a loss for what was happening.

That is until shocking realization of what was happening cut in.

“AHHH!”

Hundreds of shocked and frightened children began running away. The cause for their concern evident as a wave of darkness rolled out from the rift and began rolling out and over the students, teachers, and guardians in what could only be described as a wave of malevolent darkness.