Descendants of Gibbous
Chapter 46: Fairy

Chapter 46: Fairy

A large gem pillar half the size of the stadium fiercely crashed into the stadium grounds out of nowhere, its impact enough to rip apart the green land.

’Why did they even plant the lawn if they’re just going to destroy it?’ Damien wondered, scanning the pillar.

It was oval and clear—see-through even, placed at the center of a strangely shaped podium with smaller pillars the same size as Damien—two on each side—forming a semi-circle with it in the middle. Their colors were a mix, and the boy was getting bored of seeing them now.

’Green, red, blue, and yellow again? What is this, a house selection process?’ He wondered, making his way to where the rest of the qualified students were now standing.

He spotted Eden and the rest of his team in an instant, mostly because the princess was rather too excited and bobbing up and down like a four-year-old who ate a lot of sugar. When she noticed him making his way towards them, she waved, again, taking his arm and pulling him to her like they were best of friends now.

Ambrose was the one who tugged her off Damien.

"Don’t give people the wrong idea about you and him," she whispered to the princess under her breath before standing straight, her chin tipped up proudly as she looked at the now glowing pillars.

"I don’t care what people think, I’m just making sure we all stick together," Eden retorted.

"Why only to him?" Yong asked, suddenly standing behind her.

Damien and the girls immediately glared at him, a reminder that they hadn’t forgiven him yet. It took those three deadly looks to make Yong retrace himself back to being a side character again.

’This is just the beginning buddy. Wait until all this is over.’

BZZZ-!

Just then, the sound of the speaker being adjusted resonated around the stadium, making the students who were nearer to the source cover their ears—but they couldn’t see who was holding the mic.

"The game of tag was spectacular this year, and only two hundred of you remain. Thank your teammates for the unity they displayed, but if you betrayed them then face their wrath for the coming year," a very tiny voice said in a poetic voice from somewhere on the podium.

Again, Damien and his teammates glared at Yong. He had to cover his red face, eyes shifting around so he could avoid their gaze.

"See, even the fairy is siding with us," Ambrose hissed at him.

’Fairy?’

Damien squinted his eyes at the podium and sure enough, he saw her. She was so tiny—she looked like a butterfly, but her hair gave her identity away.

"I said I’m sorry..." Yong defended himself, earning him another glare from Damien. Luckily for him, the fairy drew his attention with her speech continuation.

"Now that you’re all here and ready for the next step, why don’t we begin the school cardinal housing selection? Please form a straight line that leads to the podium and remain silent."

At her announcement, the stadium came to life with the thrashing students who fought to stand next to the people they knew or the ones they’d been on a team with. Soon, however, they were done, with Damien standing at the line’s end after letting the angsty teens have their way.

They all looked a little too excited for this part of the selection—even Yong who was standing in front of him.

’Talk about a hypocrite.’

As if he heard Damien’s mind, Yong turned to face him, a shameless grin on his face.

"My brother once told me that when the fairy touches you to determine your house, it feels good and it’s even better than when girls do it. I forgot about it during the game, I should have tried my best just for this moment," he whispered excitedly, much to Damien’s disgust.

’Pervert.’

Touching his chest, Yong glanced at the fairy who was now standing on the clear pillar with anticipation. Damien soon noticed that he wasn’t the only pervert. Most of the teenage boys were looking at her excitedly too, even the scared fatty from a while ago.

’It’s a good thing they don’t have technology here. These guys would be porn addicts,’ he thought to himself, gazing at the structures before him.

Like the other small colored pillars, the clear one was now glowing. However, because it lacked color, its glow was pure, a light that kissed every face it touched with fresh ethereal bliss—captivating even to the blind.

Damien had seen a few oblongs that glowed like it did. Maybe it was the size, but the gem was literally lighting the stadium in broad daylight.

It was then that the fairy released a spark of something that looked like glitter, drawing everyone’s attention as she began to sing:

"Ah, young one, seeking a place to call home,

Among the tribes, which Gibbous is known.

Four cardinals stand, each with its own might,

Fangpeak, Draconic, Clawthorn, and Bracadia in sight.

You might be required in Fangpeak,

Where shadows whisper secrets of the night,

Where vampires roam, with hearts both courageous and bright.

Their strength lies in stealth, in blood, and in might,

If cunning and mystery are your guiding light.

You might be required in Draconic,

Where dragon shifters soar, with hearts that intertwine,

Whose scales shine brighter than ethereal light.

Their power lies in elements, knowledge, and wisdom,

If boldness and adventure are your heart’s inside.

Clawthorn’s wilderness calls, with moonlit howls and might,

Where werewolves run free, with spirits wild and bright.

Their strength lies in instinct, in pure love, and endurance,

If loyalty and freedom are your spirit’s track.

Or you might belong in Bracadia

Where wisdom shines, with ancient tomes and spells,

Where wizards weave magic, with minds that compel.

Their power lies in calculations, in pride, and in art,

If magic and discovery are your heart’s every part.

Now place your hand on the glowing gem of fate,

An all-seeing eye that’ll read your blazing heart,

For in it’s memory is a house where you can stay,

A tribe where you ought to be.

And in its core is a measuring eye,

A test that’ll reveal your rank among the lot.

So listen well, young one, to the whispers of your soul,

And let your heart reveal, the tribe that makes you whole.

Place your trust in the gem of truth,

And let it reveal a truth that not even you can see,

Let it show you how much power you wield,

And what your place among the ranks is.

Now where will you find your home, your people, and your place?

Is it Fangpeak, Draconic, Clawthorn, or Bracadia’s sacred space?"

The whole stadium burst into whistles and clapping sounds after she finished her song, and she bowed to every corner, her hair now glowing a bright pink.

"So, no getting touched I guess," Yong sulked.

"Well, now that I’m here, might as well be in Fangpeak. All of the most powerful heroes from Gibforge were in that cardinal house and I wouldn’t want to be in the loser houses now, would I? Besides, my entire family was in there too," Yong blabbered, nudging Damien’s arm.

Damien only spared him a glance, turning his attention back to the glowing pillars as he felt more unknowledgeable by the second. He didn’t know what was going on and had wasted a lot of time having a heart-to-heart with Ahara instead of asking her what kind of second test was waiting for him.

It didn’t seem like anyone would get disqualified this time, but still, everyone around him seemed to know what was going on except for him.

’I should have stuck with Eden,’ he thought bitterly just when the fairy announced in her small sugary voice:

"May the first student please step forward into the podium."

The first student was none other than Vestin, with yet another green robe that matched the one Damien had torn. He strode towards the pillars until he was standing between them, his face stoic.

"Place your hand on the clear gem," the fairy commanded and Vestin did just as she asked.

The moment he placed his palm on the gem it came to life, and so did the small gem surrounding it. Large numbers and letters flickered at its topmost part, showing the rest of the stadium what Damien realized was Vestin’s aura value and name.

"Vestin Slade everyone. The Wizard lord’s son!"

The stadium remained silent, everyone’s eyes glued on his aura value. As for the gem, it was no longer clear. It flickered with different colors nonstop. Damien had been informed about this. The large-scale aura testers meant for hero ranking changed colors from blue to black depending on one’s rank; and if one was strong enough to make it crack even a little, they were immediately ranked, X.

As for those that could make the gem shatter, well, only a few like Damien’s Dad could do it—the Numens.

For the colors, blue was the most embarrassing to get during these rank tests. Ahara had told Damien that it meant someone was an E-rank—the weakest rank there is in Gibbous. The same applied to its slightly modified mate, dark blue, which was meant for D-ranks. Bronze which is meant for C-ranks was acceptable, and if a student got silver—meant for B ranks, Ahara had told him they’d receive loud cheers from the crowd.

If they got gold? A standing ovation, because that was equivalent to an A, a rank only to be acquired by the rarest of teens to be found in Gibbous, ones like his dad who made history.

Damien could feel the pressure of the test weighing on him as he saw Vestin’s aura value numbers come to a halt, the gem colors finally stopping their flickering. To Damien’s surprise, it turned silver, with the number 1000, flickering non-stop on it.

"B-rank wizard student to grace Gibforge this year, and the house he’s going to is,"—a pause as the fairy glanced at the colored pillars.

"Bracadia!"

Loud cheers echoed from the students wearing green and they shot fireworks in the air with their wands as Vestin went and stood right below the serpent.

’Guess he really wanted to be in that serpentine shit hole,’ Damien thought when he noticed the prince smiling for the first time since he met him.

"Next!" The fairy suddenly called out, snapping Damien back to reality.

Going to the podium now was Brandon, and Damien glued his eyes on the gem, impatiently waiting to hear his results.

"Brandon Rodante. C-rank wizard for Bracadia!"

Another loud cheer from the students dressed in green, but with no fireworks this time—much to Damien’s delight.

After that, the line began to reduce at a considerable pace and Damien’s anxiety kicked in. He didn’t know which cardinal he was going to be placed in, but he knew he didn’t want to be in the same one as Vestin and his team. Apparently, the Prince was the only student who had acquired the B-rank so far, making him some sort of leader among the new students.

Finally, it was Ambrose’s turn. She strode towards the podium and touched the gem with her head held high as she focused on it, looking a little too proud for someone whose results were about to be broadcast to hundreds of people. Soon, though, Damien understood why she was being smug.

"Ambrose Rodante. C-rank witch for Fangpeak!"

’Woah,’ Damien gawked at her sashaying away as loud cheers came from the students in red—only to stop the instant Eden moved towards the podium.

"Eden Bloodhorn everyone! The Vampire Queen’s daughter!"

Damien groaned internally.

’And so begins our humiliation.’