Read Chronicles Of Mirth :: To be

You stand there, your chest heaving as you catch your breath. The air around you is filled with the sound of your heartbeat, pounding in your ears. You turn to the High Priest, your eyes fixed on his. "What now?" you ask, your voice barely above a whisper.

The High Priest smiles, his eyes twinkling with anticipation. "Now," he says, "you will be taken to the Council of Elders. They will decide if you are truly worthy of the Pharaoh's blessing." He gestures for you to follow him, and together you leave the chamber.

The corridor is long and winding, lit only by flickering torches mounted on the walls. You can feel the power coursing through your veins, making each step easier than before. As you walk, you can't help but wonder what challenges await you in the Council of Elders.

The High Priest leads you through the twisting corridors, his long robes swishing behind him. You follow closely, your sword at the ready. The air around you is heavy with anticipation, and every step feels like it's taking you closer to your destiny.

As you round a corner, you catch sight of a massive door carved with intricate designs. The High Priest stops before it, placing his hand on the ornate handle. He turns to you, his eyes gleaming with pride.

"This is it," he says, his voice ringing with authority. "The Council of Elders awaits." He pushes open the door, revealing a grand chamber filled with ancient-looking Alphas. They are dressed in elaborate robes, their faces painted with the most wicked of designs.

As you step into the chamber, the Alphas turn their gazes towards you. Their eyes scan your form, taking in every detail. You feel the weight of their stares, but you stand tall, your sword at the ready. The High Priest motions for you to approach a large, ornate throne at the end of the chamber.

You walk slowly, feeling the eyes of the Council of Elders boring into your skin. As you reach the throne, the High Priest gestures for you to ascend the steps. You do so, your sword held loosely in front of you.

The Alpha sitting on the throne, Prince Datet, studies you intently, his eyes boring into your soul. "State your name, stranger," he says, his voice deep and commanding.

"My name is Kekara, honored Elder," I reply, bowing my head slightly in respect.

The Alpha nods, his expression unreadable. "You have proven yourself worthy in many trials. But before we grant you the Pharaoh's blessing, there is one final test."

You nod, ready for whatever challenge lies ahead. "I am prepared," You say, your voice steady. The Alpha smiles, a slow and knowing grin. "Then let the test begin." With a wave of his hand, the chamber is plunged into darkness.

You can feel the power coursing through your veins, but the darkness is disorienting. You reach out with your senses, trying to make sense of your surroundings. Suddenly, you hear a rustling sound from behind you. You spin around, your sword at the ready, but there's nothing there.

The darkness, as an Onnori you can see in darkness clearly, but this, this magic darkness, designed to blind. It seems to be playing tricks on your mind. As you stand there, trying to make sense of the sounds, you feel a chill run down your spine. Suddenly, you hear a faint whisper coming from all around you. "Find the light," the voice echoes through the chamber.

You strain your senses, trying to discern the source of the voice. It seems to be coming from everywhere and nowhere at once. With a deep breath, you close your eyes and reach out with your senses once more. This time, you feel a faint glimmer of light in the distance.

You start moving towards the light, your heart pounding in your chest. As you get closer, you realize that the light is emanating from a small crystal hanging from the ceiling. You reach up, grasping the crystal in your hand. As soon as you do, the chamber is bathed in a brilliant light.

The Council of Elders watch as you emerge from the shadows, their eyes fixed on you. The High Priest nods approvingly. "You have passed the final test," he says, his voice ringing with respect. "You are truly worthy of the Pharaoh's blessing."

You bow your head slightly in acknowledgment, feeling a surge of pride and excitement coursing through your veins. "Thank you, honored Elders," you reply, your voice steady and strong. "I am humbled by your trust in me."

The Alpha on the throne nods once more. "Then it is decided," he says, his voice deep and resonant. "You are hereby granted the right to be given the Pharaoh's blessing tonight. May the Mirthful Ones guide you on your journey." You feel a rush of energy course through your veins as you step forward, your sword held high.

You look up at the Alpha, your eyes meeting his. "Thank you, honored Elder," you say, your voice ringing with determination. "I will not let this gift go unused." The High Priest steps forward, placing a hand on your shoulder. "Then let us prepare for the ceremony."

You nod, following the High Priest out of the chamber. As you leave, you can't help but feel a sense of anticipation building within you. You know that this is just the beginning of your journey, but you're ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead.

You follow the High Priest through the winding corridors, your sword held tightly at your side. The power coursing through your veins is almost overwhelming, but you push forward, determined to prove yourself worthy of the Pharaoh's blessing.

As you walk, you can't help but notice the intricate designs carved into the walls. They depict scenes from ancient legends, tales of brave warriors and powerful mages. You feel a sense of kinship with these figures, as if you are destined to walk in their footsteps.

You continue your journey, following the High Priest through a series of grand halls adorned with ornate tapestries and towering statues of the Mirthful Ones. The air is thick with the scent of exotic incense, and the sound of distant chanting echoes off the high ceilings.

As you approach the great hall where the ceremony will take place, you feel a surge of energy coursing through your veins. The High Priest stops before a pair of towering doors, his hands pressed against them as if to steady himself. He turns to you, his eyes gleaming with pride. "This is it."

You nod, your heart pounding in your chest. "I am ready." The High Priest nods, his expression solemn. He reaches out, his hands pressing against the doors. There's a moment of silence as he seems to draw strength from somewhere deep within himself. Then, with a great heave, he pushes open the doors.

As the doors swing wide, you're met with an awe-inspiring sight. The great hall is bathed in a warm, golden light that seems to radiate from every surface.

The walls are adorned with intricate mosaics depicting scenes of ancient battles and heroic deeds, while towering pillars carved with images of the Mirthful Ones support the high ceiling. At the far end of the hall, a massive throne made of gold and jewels dominates the scene.

Upon the throne sits the Pharaoh.

The Pharaoh stands up from his throne, his gaze never leaving you. He begins to circle around you, his footsteps echoing off the stone floor. The advisors and nobles watch in awe as he examines you, as if searching for something. After what feels like an eternity, the Pharaoh stops in front of you, his eyes filled with a newfound respect. "You have proven yourself worthy."

He continues, "You have shown great dedication and discipline in memorizing the sacred text and surviving my trials. You have demonstrated a deep understanding of our faith, and a profound connection to the divine. As such, we have decided to accept you as a Young Blood, you may move on to the next step of the ritual." The Pharaoh raises his hand, and one of the advisors steps forward with an amulet in the shape of The Mirthful Ones' symbol.

You take a long moment just to look it over as the crown prince watches you closely. You walk closer to get a better look at it and your breath catches in your very throat. It is a piece of jewelry unlike any other you have ever seen or laid eyes on at a distance, before. It is the symbol of The Mirthful Ones, a tragicomedy mask amulet, tragedy is a deep lime green color, and comedy is a deep candy red color and in each of the masks eyes are swirls of both majestic and beautiful colors. "Thank you, I cannot wait to make it to the second part of the ceremony" You whisper at the amulet quietly as you continue to look at it with star struck awe. "I will do my best put on the most entertaining of shows for you oh lord..."