Chapter 4 The fountain

The second day designed for physical screening, all the candidates that made it past the first day were present at the temple as early as they could, looking smart and clean in their training fits. Lisa addressed them and the screening commenced. The screening was to test each candidates' strength with different kinds of weapons before concluding which best suits them individually.

Swords being the most choicest weapon, had a lot of candidates trying out different types and diah was no exception, she had a sword back home that Hsu used in training her at the back of the house, it was made of heavy wood and had a steel appearance. She wielded many trying to find which is best for her wrist strength and weight management. Lisa sighted her and walked to her.

"Having trouble finding the right sword?" She asked in a nice tone.

"Ummm yeah" she turned to see who it was and realising It was lisa she quickly bowed "your boltness"

"There's no need for that here, we are all soldiers. IF you qualify, we could dine at the same table. And that's a big IF" lisa said being shady. "The thing about weaklings and slaves is that they don't quit until It's too late, then they come crying and begging their former masters to take them back, that is if they don't get struck by the gods when they go too close to the fountain. I hope mine doesn't end up like that cause she doesn't stand a chance here or anywhere near my castle, i spent a lot of time teaching her how to use the wisdom the gods gave her, hope she makes good use of it. Goodluck being a failure" she walked off.

The sword diah was holding slide off her hand, she teared up and went to a corner to cry.

"Crying won't do you any good around here"

She turned to see a boy with a feminine resemblance due to his curly hair and huge dovey eyes that could pierce through one's soul. "Go away" she said with a teary tone.

"I will, but know this. You give them more power when you show them your vulnerable side"

"What do you want?" She turned to face him this time.

"I'm Marcus and i couldn't help but overhear what Icy Lisa said to you"

"Wait what?" She burst into laughter. "Icy lisa?"

"Didn't know that would make you laugh, would've said it first thing" he chuckled.

They both laughed for a while.

"Why do you call her that?" She managed to say after laughing.

"Cause asides from her rank, she's cold by nature"

"Damn. I've worked with her since i could identify signs (age three) and never thought of that name. How come?"

"Well, you probably haven't been bored enough to see her for who she really is"

"Maybe. I'm Diah"

"Cool Diah, let's get back to training shall we"

They both walked back to join others in picking a weapon. Diah tried all and still didn't find any suitable choice. The time came for combat screening. Each candidate would be paired with an opponent and whoever defeats the other before the time elapses will proceed to the next screening stage, whoever gets defeated would have to wait and undergo more training before being accepted into the academy.

Diah was paired with a guy and in a hurry, she randomly picked a sword. The goal was to defeat an opponent with or without weapons. But having a weapon is an added advantage.

The combat began, Diah fought well but was no match for her opponent, he was stronger and had more wield strength, she struggled to maintain balance due to the sword she chose, within the first three minutes she was out of breath and he knocked the sword off her hand. This was tough, Diah was exhausted, no weapon and her opponent looks very energetic and combat fit. He advanced her with blows and strikes with his weapon but she dodged most of it, he didn't allow her a second to catch her breath, he made a swift double consecutive strike, Diah seeing only the first one dodged but got hit by the second one. She collapsed on the floor, blood dripped from her head, her opponent thought that was it but the moment he wanted to celebrate she got up and landed a knee blow on his head, he staggered backwards but regained his balance, he charged at her with his spear but she rolled, grabbed her sword and blocked his spear with it, this sent a strong wind that blew him aback, Diah was surprised at what just happened, determined to win by all means he attacked again and this time, one swing from her sword struck him down unconscious. She waited for the hour glass to empty, it did and he didn't move. The physicians came to tend to him, he woke up a while after, panting hard, Diah sighed in relief. She looked at the sword and realized it wasn't as heavy as before, she chose it as her weapon.

The third day being the most crucial screening of all finally came and everyone was on their toe. The screening would be approved by the gods themselves, anyone the gods doesn't approve of gets struck down immediately but anyone the gods favors would be endowed with a special necklace that gives the person access to his or her supernatural gift and powers. The screening is conducted to test bloodlines and ensure no offspring of the betrayers of the past survived and wants to enrol into the academy. The candidates all dressed in bluish white robes with their nails cut, hair trimmed and packed back, those who had short hair kept it back, pubic hair shaved. A water soldier came to address them while they sat on mats.

"Blessed dawn hour to you. Today is the most crucial screening day of the aspiring rank changing venture. As you've all learnt in the Kauoha history, this ceremony was implemented by the gods to transcend men from mere mortals to demi immortals. The fountain figura and the quests and tournaments are all part of the transition process, our divine ancestors and deities loves us so dearly and they forbid any mortal to destroy our tribe as what was experienced in the great battle century. The fountain will taste and test the blood of each candidate here, if found guilty, the candidate will be struck down by the gods, if innocent, he or she will be rewarded and bestowed special gifts and powers to succeed each quest. So, as many who still doubts their ancestral bloodline please refrain from doing this test, otherwise, Proceed!"

A large gong was sounded and some monks came out with trays in their hand each containing dozens of small daggers for each candidate to pick and proceed with the screening.

The process requires each candidate to cut their palm and press drops of blood into the fountain, when the blood drops into the fountain, it turns violet for a while then changes to crystal if the blood is pure then a sparkling necklace floats to the surface and the candidate picks it up and wears it, after It's worn, a tattoo appears on the arm of the candidate in form of symbols, the symbols is then studied by the astrologers to know what special powers the candidate has been bestowed with.