Just like the night before, the door to the headmaster’s office was locked, leaving the group outside to rest on the floor. They weren’t as tired as they were last night as they’d gotten the chance to sleep during the day, but there was no other place they’d rather be in the moment other than their beds.

“You know” Aiven said, breaking the silence. “If you hadn’t messed around with the headmaster’s stuff we’d be waiting in the office” Yune whipped his head to look at the somewhat taller teen, hins tendrils rising up to his eye level. “Oh ha ha. How was I supposed to know they were antique or ancient or whatever?”

“I mean, you really shouldn’t have been back there, at all” Derin pointed out. Yune groaned and crossed his arms as he let himself fall back to the fall with an audible thud. A soft blue and yellow suddenly lit up the hallway before them. The group looked up to see Shaula and Alkaid coming towards them. Their pinkies where hooked whilst the free arm rested behind their backs.

“Evening” Shaula greeted with a smile as she and Alkaid came closer to the group. “Evening” Livíne said with a soft smile, the only to be present among the tired frowns of the others. The couple let go of each other and Alkaid proceed to open the door. The made their way into the office, through the mirror, and all the way to the Temple. However, instead of continuing to the arena, both Stars stopped by the table and turned to look at the group.

“Tonight we will focus on your protection and the bonds you will share with each other over the coming years” Shaula began. A sigh of relief washed over the group. It appeared that this night would be rather chill. “We will begin with your armor”

“A Zodiacs armor is the strongest mean of protection there is, both to one's health and identity” Alkaid explained. “It’s only weakness, its bearer”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Yune questioned. Alkaid smiled. “Armor means nothing if its bearer can’t handle it. If you’re not careful the armor might vanish. That is why you’re to wear it every night you train, to get used to it” “Okay, now here’s a second question. Protect our identities?” Yune followed and crossed his arms.

“The armor is made of celestial magic, it can twist and change how others see you. They might take in all your features, but they won’t be able to identify any of you” Shaula spoke before clapping her hands together before her smile. “Now let’s start! It’s a lot like summoning your magic, but not as time-consuming or challenging. Just imagine yourself in armor”

The group shared side glances. The instructions seemed simple enough but, how was that going to summon anything? Just picturing it in your head. Nonetheless, they begun, taking a few steps away from each other, not knowing what would happen. And just like Shaula had said, summoning their armor took a lot quicker than magic. It took about fourteen minutes before a weak light covered them and they all stood there, geared up in armor. It was almost identical to the ones on the statues on the way to the Arena.

Silver cuffs were wrapped around their wrists. They were simple, only detail being two black wires that were wrapped around the light iron-like material. Their hands were clad in black fingerless gloves. They wore a long sleeve black undershirt that also wrapped around their necks, the ends seemingly being hidden under the cuffs. The material was soft but, nothing they directly could identify. It also appeared to have a weird, uneven texture to it. Covering their torso was a rather heavy sleeveless jacket of some sorts. It was white and had a lot smoother texture than the undershirt. The edges were lined with black and it went down to their hips, a small slit up the sides allowing them to move their legs more freely. It was held closed by small black clasps that blended in with the black edges. Smooth light iron plates covered their shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. The boots they wore came up to the plates but were made of completely different material. They were dark grey with black soles and an ever so tiny heal. A black wire was also wrapped around them, around ankle level.

They all looked at themselves and each other. The armor they wore was, well, nothing like any had pictured in their heads. It was rather tightly fit, but they could move without struggle. Shaula and Alkaid looked at them with a grin on their faces.

“Perfect! Now, time for some simple bonding”

“Excuse me?” Cassíe said, looking up at the tall woman from her previous examination of her new boots. Shaula beamed down at her. “You’re a team now, and a team is nothing without a bond. We’re not going to do any activities, if that’s what you thought” She assured.

“Tonight you’ll simply get to explore the Temple on your own whilst building up your friendship” Alkaid said. He took the other Star by her hand and the two walked past the group. “We’ll be back once it’s time for you to leave. Don’t break anything and Don’t try to open any locked doors!” and with that the two were gone. Already on their way back to Asárax.

“Did they actually leave us, a group of teenagers, alone in an ancient temple?” Aiven questioned. “I guess” Tarrio said.

“Yeah so don’t break anything” Raión teased. A toothy grin was aimed towards Yune who glared at him in response. “Okay now y’all are just being mean!” he whined. Raión chuckled before he turned his back at the group and started to walk away. “Later” he said, a smug, nonchalant wave back. His footsteps echoed through the Temple, the only thing breaking through the thick embrace of silence.

The group looked after him. “So, we’re just gonna split up and explore?” Feíx asked. Zam looked at him with an arched eyebrow. “Just one person left” “Cassíe, Terrie, Tarrio and Yune are also gone” Feíx pointed out. He then wrapped his arms around Derin and Aiven, forcing both of them to bend down, Derin more than Aiven as she was the tallest of the three. “Let’s do this!” he beamed before dragging his best friends off somewhere in the temple, not bothering to wait for any sort of reply. Both Derin and Aiven followed, smiling at each other and then Feíx.

.:.

The temple was massive. The trio continuously walked through corridor after corridor, trying to find something that interested them. Or a way back, they weren’t sure how far away from the fancy foyer they where. Non had bothered to say anything, just taking time to look at the many paintings that hung on the walls. They were the same as the group photos of the previous generations they’d seen in the office, just clad in armor and standing in more proper and formal poses. Feíx and Aiven were ahead of Derin, who had slacked back slightly from looking at the paintings. She had her eyes dashing between anything that interested them, letting her take note of the arch they passed by. There she stopped, she’d found something that really interested her.

The arch lead into a large but rather empty room, on the wall in front of her hung a tapestry and even with the distance Derin could see most of the details. At the floor underneath were flowers of every kind and golden candlesticks that matched the chandelier, that heald thin pieces of fabric to let them hang down and sway in the almost non-existing breeze of the room. The gentle, sweet smell of sylven oozed out.

But that wasn’t what interested the áecunese girl, it was the tapestry. It was ripped. A whole piece of the right side was, gone, leaving rough strands of thread to hang down.

Derin walked closer to it. The tapestry, or what was left, depicted a strange being of what was supposed to be warm light. It was clad in nothing but white cloth that draped over its hips and shoulders. It had no face but Derin could tell it was in a calm state, mainly from its posture. One hand was holding up a piece of the cloth showing off the leg of the being. The other hand was held up high, an orb of the same light hovering slightly over it. The being was surrounded by animals and plants, all looking at the orb wich guided Derin to follow suit. Near the orb was another, this one under the first. A hand of deep blue was slightly under it.

That was all that could be seen of the torn piece of the tapestry. Cold blue and white. Derin stopped, now standing by the flowers and candles. And just now she realized they were lit. The flowers also seemed, new. A hum escaped her lips. She returned her glance to the Tapestry. She couldn’t directly say what, but something felt familiar about the depicted being.

“Ina! Where are you?” Feíx called out. Derin wiped her head around and shouted a response. “Coming!” She quickly walked out, leaving the tapestry behind.

.:.

Cassíe groaned. Apparently her pod had vanished along with her clothes when she got her armor on. She had been checking almost everywhere to see if she could find a pocket or so that could potentially hold her pod, but she of course found nothing. Perhaps she was addicted to the device, but could you blame her? She might be in some magical place known only to the ‘chosen’ ones, and she might enjoy the solitude it was giving her, but at the moment she was tired. And hardly anything was enjoyable when she was tired, and the only thing that could possibly keep her interested and awake, was her pod. Which she didn’t have.

Cassíe slammed her fist into the wall next to her in frustration. “Wow, aggressive?” Cassíe shot a glance back, meeting the smug grin of Raión. He was standing with his arms crossed a few meters away from her. “What?” Cassíe sighed, relaxing her posture and turning to face Raión, a blank expression on her face.

“Well, I was having a pleasant walk when I came across you throwing a tantrum” Raión said, moving his hands to his hips. “I was not throwing a tantrum” Cassíe stated. Raión hummed. “Then what where you doing?” Silence. Just the two fire signs glaring at each other. Raión snickered. “A mighty, powerful, natural born leader, throwing a tantrum over not having a pod. Wow” he teased, as if he’d won. Not against Cassíe.

“You’re one to talk” “Excuse me?” Cassíe started walking towards the other teen. “Oh please, stop pretending you're better than us. You’re as easy to read as a children's book, Bexian” Raión tensed up, his grin dropping somewhat. Visibly taken back by Cassíe’s comment, he looked like he wanted to back away from the acrimen girl who just came closer and closer. The girl stopped right before him. Glancing up with the endless, black pits known as eyes. “And trust me” she started. “It is a sad read” her words sent an unpleasant shiver down the tallers spine. He was silent for a moment, simply staring down at Cassíe. His eyes hinted at confusion and a slight sting of fear, but it all vanished as he blinked. Replaced with mischief and accompanied with a smug grin. He snorted.

“Are you trying to intimidate me, Akai?” Raión asked, letting his head fall slightly to the side. He put emphasis on her last name, just as she had done with his. Cassíe shook her head gently. The strands of hair hanging by the side of her face caressing her cheeks in the motion.

“I’m not trying anything. I’m stating facts” Rauón chuckled, and crossed his arms. “Yeah right. Come at me when you know how to read” he said and walked away, dragging a hand through his hair.

“Tsk. I know damn well how to read” Cassíe hissed after him, but not loud enough for him to hear. Not that she wanted him to.