Spring of 489 AD
The air was particularly cool as Ialari took a deep breath in preparation of what was to come. There was a hint of nervousness tickling the base of her spine and a tinge of anticipation licking the back of her neck as she stood and waited at the entrance to the Great Tunnel; the massive passageway that connected all five isurian cities to one another. It had only been a six days since her father, an instructor at the Silver Tower, had presented her to his fellows for consideration in becoming an initiate. With her father's sponsorship, Ialari had been granted the privilege of being named an initiate and was scheduled to take her first test. This brought her to where she was now, standing at the mouth of the Great Tunnel, waiting on the instructor who would conduct her first test.
She had been informed that the test would involve some contest of strength and endurance. As a result, she dressed for the task. Wearing a loose-fitting skirt for maximum mobility, a simple silk chest wrap and soft yet sturdy boots, she leaned against the rough stone that formed the mouth of the Tunnel. The cool stone was soothing and help her maintain focus on whatever was about to happen. Thus she waited for the instructor to arrive so that they could begin.
An hour passed while Ialari waited. Her nervousness gradually increased. Had she heard correctly when her father had told her when and where to meet the instructor? She was certain that he had said morning of that day at the mouth of the Great Tunnel where it connected Pitrius to Coglias. No, she was certain that she had heard correctly and her father wouldn't have deceived her in something as important as this; something that also carried with it the potential to increase his influence or diminish it depending on her performance. She resolved herself to wait longer; passing the time by absently carving into a piece of loose stone found nearby.
After another hour went by, Ialari went from nervous to irritated. She, like her father, did not take kindly to being made to wait for anything. Though retaining the unnatural patience possessed by all isur, the Pythone family was known for the venom of their retribution once their patience was stretched too thin. Ialari was having a hard time wrapping her mind around the concept of a Sentinel, an instructor even, not abiding by a schedule thus leaving her to wait for so long. Just as she was about to turn and leave, Ialari had the strange feeling of someone placing their hand on her shoulder. There was nobody there but the feeling was enough to give her pause. It was pause enough to allow Ialari to hear a slight grinding sound coming from the nearby wall. The sound quickly grew louder and Ialari found herself taking a step back. From the surface of the wall, a form pressed outward. It was humanoid and it looked as though it were pushing itself out from the wall like humanoid statue growing from the stone itself. One stone leg took a step forward, followed by another. As the statue stepped out of the wall, its stone body gave way to flesh and clothing until Ialari found herself facing a male isur dressed in coal black robes. The man had short, neatly cut hair of a color matching his robes. A chiseled, statuesque face surrounding two dark eyes, gazed briefly upon Ialari before the man brought an onyx fist to his chest and bowed his head slightly. In a voice that sounded like two smooth stone surfaces sliding against each other, he said, “Thank you for your patience in waiting, Lady Pythone. I am Caisar Graniteslide Pitrius. I trust that you are ready to begin?” Ialari gave a single nod. Though annoyed by having to wait so long, she couldn’t help but feel somewhat impressed by the man’s entrance.
The air was particularly cool as Ialari took a deep breath in preparation of what was to come. There was a hint of nervousness tickling the base of her spine and a tinge of anticipation licking the back of her neck as she stood and waited at the entrance to the Great Tunnel; the massive passageway that connected all five isurian cities to one another. It had only been a six days since her father, an instructor at the Silver Tower, had presented her to his fellows for consideration in becoming an initiate. With her father's sponsorship, Ialari had been granted the privilege of being named an initiate and was scheduled to take her first test. This brought her to where she was now, standing at the mouth of the Great Tunnel, waiting on the instructor who would conduct her first test.
She had been informed that the test would involve some contest of strength and endurance. As a result, she dressed for the task. Wearing a loose-fitting skirt for maximum mobility, a simple silk chest wrap and soft yet sturdy boots, she leaned against the rough stone that formed the mouth of the Tunnel. The cool stone was soothing and help her maintain focus on whatever was about to happen. Thus she waited for the instructor to arrive so that they could begin.
An hour passed while Ialari waited. Her nervousness gradually increased. Had she heard correctly when her father had told her when and where to meet the instructor? She was certain that he had said morning of that day at the mouth of the Great Tunnel where it connected Pitrius to Coglias. No, she was certain that she had heard correctly and her father wouldn't have deceived her in something as important as this; something that also carried with it the potential to increase his influence or diminish it depending on her performance. She resolved herself to wait longer; passing the time by absently carving into a piece of loose stone found nearby.
After another hour went by, Ialari went from nervous to irritated. She, like her father, did not take kindly to being made to wait for anything. Though retaining the unnatural patience possessed by all isur, the Pythone family was known for the venom of their retribution once their patience was stretched too thin. Ialari was having a hard time wrapping her mind around the concept of a Sentinel, an instructor even, not abiding by a schedule thus leaving her to wait for so long. Just as she was about to turn and leave, Ialari had the strange feeling of someone placing their hand on her shoulder. There was nobody there but the feeling was enough to give her pause. It was pause enough to allow Ialari to hear a slight grinding sound coming from the nearby wall. The sound quickly grew louder and Ialari found herself taking a step back. From the surface of the wall, a form pressed outward. It was humanoid and it looked as though it were pushing itself out from the wall like humanoid statue growing from the stone itself. One stone leg took a step forward, followed by another. As the statue stepped out of the wall, its stone body gave way to flesh and clothing until Ialari found herself facing a male isur dressed in coal black robes. The man had short, neatly cut hair of a color matching his robes. A chiseled, statuesque face surrounding two dark eyes, gazed briefly upon Ialari before the man brought an onyx fist to his chest and bowed his head slightly. In a voice that sounded like two smooth stone surfaces sliding against each other, he said, “Thank you for your patience in waiting, Lady Pythone. I am Caisar Graniteslide Pitrius. I trust that you are ready to begin?” Ialari gave a single nod. Though annoyed by having to wait so long, she couldn’t help but feel somewhat impressed by the man’s entrance.
