She’d been turned down. Perhaps another Lumani would Choose her, but not this little yellow one. I smiled as that Lumani moved past me, and — for a moment — passed between me and the sun. In that moment, with their coloring, they seemed like a little sun themselves.
The Lumani stopped just past me and circled back… stopping above me!
Oh Spirits! This is it!This was the first time one had even stopped to speak with me. I had to make a good impression I had to… but suddenly my mind drained of any useful and intelligent information and I was left a gibbering idiot.
“Hello?” I said pre-emptively.
Hello, child.
Oh Spirits, oh Spirits, oh Spirits!They were actually talking to me!
Tell me, child, what do you want?
“I… ah…”Bloody bones! What did I want? “I…”Oh no, I was screwing this up, I’d never get this one to Bond with me!
Be calm, child. I got the sense of laughter, a faint chuckle.Take a deep breath, and you’ll remember. What do you want?
I did as instructed, taking a long, deep breath, and words came to me. “I want to be important.”Bloody bones! No! That wasn’t the right answer. I had to say something else. “I need to… I need…” Was this why none of the others had Chosen me in the past four years? Because I didn’t have clear life goals? How was I supposed to know what I wanted? True, I was a full-grown woman, but still…
Perhaps I should ask a different question. If we were joined, what would you seek as your True Calling?
That I could answer. “I want to be a Noble. I want to join one of the Noble Houses and be a part of ruling Elista!” Yes! I’d finally managed a coherent sentence.
The small Lumani floated there for a long moment, saying nothing, and I began to wonder If I’d offended them somehow. I tried not to say anything. I feared I might offend them further.
Finally, they spoke again.
Why do you wish to be a Noble?
I hesitated. Closing my eyes, I drew in a deep breath to try to steady myself. I took a moment before answering, trying to find the right words. “I do not seek power. I do not know yet, how best I might serve our nation, but that is what I truly wish to do, be of service and help to keep Elista as the peaceful and prosperous nation it already is.”
I felt like I’d stumbled over some of the words at the end there, but that was my best.
Again, there was a long pause.
I will not ask your name, child, for the name you held shall soon be a memory. I Choose you, child. The Lumani gave a weird chuckle-sigh.I think you and I will do well together. You are driven and dedicated, even if you do not know what you are driven towards. But your spirit calls to me, child, and I hope we can be one.My name is Auwei.
I was too stunned to say anything.
I’d been Chosen!
This way, child, Auwei said serenely and began bobbing away. I followed, as if in a trance. This was it. I’d finally been Chosen.
Now… I just had to prove I was worthy.
Chapter 2
Doyou have anyone you need to tell? Auwei’s voice in my head snapped me out of my shocked reverie.
“Uh… yes, my parents… well foster parents.”
Take what time you need. A carriage will be waiting for us when you’re ready.
Yes, the carriages. A line of carriages stood at one end of the town square, waiting to take the Chosen to Silverveil, the academy where Chosen worked to become True-Bonded. I looked around and saw them, a few remained, and one of them was for me.
Spirits and Sprites,this is happening!
I was still so agitated it took me a long moment to remember what had caused me to look for the carriages: leaving… and telling someone I was leaving!Oh, right!
