The Lion's Thrall

Chapter 21

The officials lead them back to the tiny room that was called as the Tester's Room with its rows and rows of crystal shelves that were filled with orbs of different colours.

Freya wondered why the room was not under some kind of illusion as it was last time around. Perhaps the illusion was created so as to impress the prospective employees. If that was the case, she had to say that it was not really that impressive. She was a normal person without the access to magic so it made sense for her to be impressed but the people who came for this job…other than her…were people who were used to seeing magic all around them.

Freya walked behind Tressa, her gait keeping an even distance from the woman.

Tressa scowled and tried to increase her steps and Freya increased her own pace with the woman unconsciously. She was too used to this kind of behaviour from her previous job. So, she did not see that Tressa wanted her to stop tailing her.

William, who saw Tressa's pitiful attempt at trying to outdo a human without the human noticing, wanted to laugh and mock the woman. She was a vampire! A new-born, but still, a vampire! The fact that she was not able to beat a human despite her clear species advantage was the funniest thing that he had ever come across.

William wanted to laugh at the woman but a warning look from the principal put an end to that thought before it could even get a form in his mind. Which was a lucky thing, had it been after he had decided, not even the principal would have been able to stop him.

Freya and Titus found themselves back in front of the lotus etching on the wall. The red gem at its centre no longer glowed.

Tressa walked forwards and put her hand forwards. A small bronze bell appeared in her hand.

She rang it twice.

With a swirl of purple and pink smoke a figure gradually formed in front of the woman.

Freya had heard of this spell. The Travelling Fog.

The Colour determined the power. If it was red or black then the distance was large. Even so, the colour of the spell this time around was blue and purple. It was getting closer and closer to red. So the distance that the person travelled had to be huge.

The smoke separated to reveal the person that Tressa had called.

Freya was surprised to find that it was a very familiar face.

It was the woman that had roll called them when the tests initially took place. The woman's curly hair bounced as she walked up to the group of people.

"Principal," the woman said to the man, giving him a shallow nod.

"Ms Aiva," the principal said with a light laugh. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard that you are recruiting more employees on the sly," the woman said in a measured tone, her eyes going towards Freya and Titus.

The principal laughed. "So it is, but not on the sly. These young ones were part of the testing that you did. It is just that you seemed to have not given them a chance to compete at all."

The woman scoffed. "Why are they so important that you want to do this?"

The principal grinned. "Let me introduce you all. This is Freya Wang, Andrew's Recommendation. And this is the Prince."

That had the woman choke and looked at Titus in shock. "You-your-your-"

"sorry if it seemed like I was hiding," Titus said in a calm tone, his eyes emotionless.

Freya was surprised by the look in his eyes. She had not seen that kind of a cold look on his face and it brought a weird fear in her heart. The change that happens when an emotional face shows no expression was too disconcerting.

The others looked at the young man as well. But it was not for the sudden change in his attitude. They were all centuries old and had seen too many creatures. It was nothing new to them that the boy had such a side to him. He was the Heir to his family and grew up escaping assains after all. It would be more of a wonder if was so happy-go-lucky. No, the reason that they looked at him was because of his words. What did it mean that it 'seemed' like he was hiding? He was hiding. That was the truth. There was no seem in it.

"I just felt that it was better to get in on my own skills." Titus continued to say in a slow manner.

The woman paused for a moment. And then nodded.

The ceremony thus began.

Titus was the first to go.

Freya backed off when the others tried to make her go first. She did not dare to go yet. The Ritual would reveal that she was a human and then all this would end.

It was dumb of her to have come here. But she did not want to live in the 'what-if' land more than she already did. She had paid her rent there a long time ago.

There was no surprise when the stone glowed.

How could the stone not glow? He was the prince after all.

The creature that stood before them was a Lion. It was ten times larger than ten people standing on top of each other. It had dense large golden mane and a strong body. The creature was both majestic and enchanting. The thrall it brought surprised everyone present.

Freya clapped her hand, impressed.

"Next is you my dear," the principal said in a laughing voice. "Let us see your Manifestation!"

Freya's smile froze and her gaze went to the beautiful design of the enchantment.

It did not look so attractive anymore.

Her lie was about to be exposed to everyone.

She took a step forwards with fear in her heart.