The Land Below our Feet II (Unleashed) COMPLETE

CEREMONY

The auditorium was crawling with fresh Yahurian inductees. Their still unmasked faces glowing expectantly in the dimly lit hall as they all waited for the Ceremony to begin.

When Souna entered the enormous vault holding Ussi´s arm, her jaw almost dropped to the floor at the sight of the massive place. There was a solemn silence floating around the thousands gathered at the ancient amphitheater, every eye glued to the still empty stage, which was flanked by two huge stone statues, exquisitely carved and magnificently displayed at each side of the platform.

-Who are those? – Souna whispered as she took the seat Ussiariah had just pointed at – Is that supposed to be the Guider?

Her sight trailing the little details belonging to the colossal depictions of what seemed to be two mighty warriors: A man and a woman.

The effigy of the brawny woman stood proudly on the left side, spear in hand, mask on face and an extended arm signaling to the stone figure of the statue of a man kneeling across the room... It was clearly the image of a soldier, every muscle of his anatomy sculpted to perfection and to the image of nearly any Yahurian warrior around.

-Sort of – Ussi muttered back, taking a seat beside her and nodding at the mentioned idols with a smirk on his face – Those are Hagnha-Xe and Edanto Pharius… Yahur´s first Guider and first Commander, respectively.

-Really? – Souna wheezed, staring at the stone images, and feeling completely mesmerized by the precision of the tiny, meticulous details adorning them– When was that? Those statues don't look that old to me at all…

-Don't let the good shape they're in fool your senses – The warrior chuckled, adjusting himself on his chair and giving her a half smile – Yes, a lot of effort is put into their preservation. But the truth is, they have been here for eons, ever since the Order's very first start… Or at least that is what our history says.

-That's amazing! – Souna exclaimed, her mouth widening in awe – They are such magnificent creations! I can tell...

-Yeah – Ussi agreed, scanning the familiar figures –The legend says that one of the first monarchs whose realm was once freed by Yahur commissioned his best artisan with the sculpture of these monuments as a gratitude gift… Word is that the artist came to Yahur and spent two whole years within our walls before his work was properly completed, and he could go back home at last.

Souna´s attention wandered around the place, noticing the large crowd of stern Yahurian faces gathered throughout the vast hall.

They had been given front-row seats, directly positioned in front of the very center of the spectacular stage and her gut churned with a mixture of excitement and agitation at the tense atmosphere that prevailed. So, she directed her attention to the stunning soldier sitting beside her in an attempt to calm her racing mind.

But looking at him had a paradoxical effect on her: It soothed her like nothing else in the world could… And yet, it also made her heart flutter uncontrollably every time. It didn't matter that she'd seen that face a million times already … It was simply and irremediably so breathtaking that she often found herself fantasizing about it in the middle of the day, and by now she had resignedly come to terms with the fact that it might never lose its weakening effect on her.

“Oh, Gods! There's my wonderful husband” – Souna reminded herself as she discreetly trailed his flawless figure with her eyes from head to toe, shivering at the outstanding perfection of it – “This is the man I get to sleep beside every night”... “How can anyone be so ridiculously blessed in just one life?”

Her eyes drinking every drop of his sublime figure. His bulky torso wrapped in his customary dark armor, and his limbs covered by the usual shiny metallic plates. He looked strikingly handsome, and she couldn't help but imagine herself undressing him little by little, stripping him of every little piece and fully uncovering his delicious body.

Feeling her groin tingle and noticing the undeniable heat creeping up her face, Souna fought to keep her composure and focused on the trivial details instead… Like the way his lustrous, golden hair hung down his chest, tucked in his ever-present braid. And how his knuckles flexed back and forth distractedly over the armrest of his seat.

For once, he was not armed in any way. He didn't need to when they were in the safest city in the land, and among an army of the toughest men ever to exist.

Every soul present was dressed impeccably, every soldier wrapped in equally lustrous armors regardless of their status or hierarchy. The only discernible difference between the veterans and the inductees being the visibility of their youngsters´ faces... But that was about to change for most as well.

Souna noticed Iktan´s familiar affable eyes staring at her in the distance, and she smiled widely at him.

-Show them! – She wordlessly mouthed to him and a s**t eating grin appeared instantly on the warrior's face as he nodded knowingly at her.

The silence that reigned around the vast room turned even quieter once the dark drapes that hung from the high ceiling and all the way down to the floor were pulled back by two somber-looking Yahurian guards and revealed the familiar silhouette of the Guider, who was standing behind them, along with Sehira.

Both women were dressed in full Yahurian gear. The former in a deep indigo one, the latter in bright azure shaded plates. One wearing a matching mask on her face, while the other's features remained uncovered and serene.

- Aig Yahurah Nahe – Pahoka-Xe greeted the crowd aloud in her musical voice, an arm gesturing kindly to the surrounding crowd, her milky eyes slowly scanning the congregated young men.

– Welcome, my children! Are you ready to take your vows now? – She asked, her head tilting curiously to the side.

-We are, Mother! – A loud roar responded simultaneously, hundreds of voices united in one, making the very foundations of the precinct tremble obstreperously.

-Good! – The Yahurian leader agreed, nodding at Xibu, who had just walked in and stood imperturbably beside them – You have all completed your transformation, and you have all proved your worth repeatedly. Tonight, you become the faceless protectors of peace… And tomorrow you will fight!

An ear-piercing clamor erupted from every present throat as they all cheered excitedly at the Guider's words. She let the buzz extend for a few more minutes, before finally nodding again at the Commander who raised a silent fist in the air, and every noise was hushed at once.

-Children! – Pahoka-Xe called out, eyeing them all purposefully – Let us remember that this is no ordinary Initiation Ceremony at all. Today, for the first time in many years, we are also formally welcoming a new Guider into our sacred Order. So, I must ask… Warriors, who do you follow?

-We follow our destiny! We follow the creed! We follow the Yahurian Mother's lead! – Every voice around recited faithfully and earnestly, sending shivers down Souna´s back at the conviction of their tone.

-Very well… – The old lady stated satisfied, extending her hand at Sehira, who promptly took a step forward and knelt before the audience in a respectful motion – Let us begin then.

-As our fight is nigh and our purpose remains, I pledge myself to this Order and its sacred ways. And may you all bear witness of my everlasting Oath – Sehira sighed, steadying her voice and smiling widely while she continued uttering the words – I am the beacon of the road, I am the keeper at the gate, and this life is bound forever to our one true legacy. So it shall be, from this day forth... And till the last of my dying breaths.

She paused, her eyes panning slowly over every covered and uncovered face around, studying their impassive expressions for a moment, before resuming her vows.

-Yahurians! – Sehira exclaimed out loudly, staring up front with determination – Tonight I kneel down on this stage as a daughter, and may your favor let me rise as a mother... Tonight I come to you as a servant of fate, so that my humble senses may guide you one day. Therefore, would you be my children and take my hand when the time comes? I ask then...

-We will, Mother! – A general outcry responded, rumbling through the high auditorium's walls and awakening a deep pride inside Souna´s heart – May our spears clear the path that you will trace for us to walk!

-Yahur has spoken… And it has welcomed you, my dear – Pahoka-Xe declared serenely, grabbing the metallic mask held in Xibu´s hand and fastening it around Sehira´s head, shielding her lower face forever from non-pledged eyes – From now on, you are to be known as Sehira-Xe, my child. Now rise! It is time for you to perform your first initiation service as co-regent Guider.