Prologue: Initiation
#1 of Tales of the Heart
This is a work of fiction. Any reference to historic events, real people, or real locals are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of my imagination, and any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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The castle of Ir'an'del, in the Fedo'rai of Japan.. It is here that various creatures of mystical and fanciful make gather for various social functions every other month. It is here where the Kitsune Princess, Okuda Sakura resides over all her loyal subjects. It is also in this castle of the Dream Realm where our story begins.
Raiden Ryuu, a six foot half demon wolf, was in the process of being appointed a new guardian of the Princess. Raiden wore a black short sleeve jacket that was adorned with a chain around the collar and four long flaps housing intricate runes, long black pants with red long the inner and outer ankles, and black boots, a skull on the outer side of each.
On his back was his buster sword, given to him by a master craftsmen before coming to the Fedo'rai. The sleek, silver with blue trimmings and markings exuberated an air of fire as it swung through the aer. The sword's name, Kaen no Ken, meant Sword of the Flame, as Raiden could channel his pyrokinesis through the sword's hilt and into the blade, causing it to exuberate an aura of fire and heat.
Raiden's ears, adorned with several piercings flicked as he heard his name called. He stood and walked before the altar at the front of the Ceremonial Room. There stood the Princess, a High Priest, a High Priestess and the Captain of the Princess's Guards.
The Princess stood behind the altar with the Captain. Her long flowing, pink hair was let down so that it reach all the way down to her feet. She wore a pink and white dress adorned with will-o-wisps. Her ember eyes reflected the dancing flames of the lit altar candles before her as she gazed upon Raiden as he made his approach. She smiled to him kindly, he nodded slowly and looked at the altar.
The captain, easily towering both the Princess and Raiden, stood at attention beside the Princess's side, his face void of emotion, and his coal eyes scanning the gathered crowd of spectators as if looking for any sign of a threat to the Princess. He wore the same outfit as the rest of the Guard: a blue and black uniform adorned with mystical sigils of the Fedo'rai. The only difference between his and the rest of the Guards with the symbol for Captain written over his heart. He also carried a sword, sheathed at his side.
The High Priest and Priestess were donned in simple black robes, theirs hoods over there heads, casting dark shadows over their faces. The stood facing each other at opposite ends of the altar, mirroring the other. As Raiden approached, they turned to the altar.
"Ryuu Raiden, do ye swear to lay down thine life for the protection or our dear Princess, Okuda Sakura?" the High Priest asked,
"I do." was Raiden's rehearsed response,
"And do ye this swear by the Light of the Goddess, Selest of the Sun, and by the Guidance of the God, Tethe'alla of the Moon?" This the High Priestess asked,
"I do." Raiden replied,
"And will ye take upon thee the Mark of the Guardian, burned into thine skin until such a time as ye are bid hail and farewell from our lovely realm; to harken unto the call of and carry out every whim of our dear Princess?" This the High Priest said,
"I will."
"Then we, being the Acolytes of the God and Goddess of Magic, do hearby mark thee as Guardian of the Princess, know ye that should ye betray us in anyway, and cause harm to the princess ye shall be smote off the face of our world. So mote it be." This both the High Priest and Priestess said in union.
As they finished speaking, Raiden lifted his left arm, and the two touched it gently. As they did, runes began burning themselves into Raiden's arm, from the shoulder to the wrist. Raiden had been told before hand that these runes were meant to alert a Guardian when the Princess called for one of them or was in danger. It would also alert other Guards should one of them turn upon his fellows Guards or the Princess.
Raiden winced and lowered his arm to his side. He then drew his sword, and knelt on one knee, presenting the sword to the Princess, and said the final part of the ritual that was his.
"I humbly offer my sword, my being, and my life to the Princess, may my life be devoted to her safety and well being. Wilst though accept me as thine Guard?"
The Princess curtsied, "I accept thee as my Guard, Ryuu Raiden, my ye be strengthened by the Light of Selest and the Guidance of Tethe'alla. Rise my dear subject and begin your duty as my beloved Guardian."
Raiden rose, returning the sword to its place on his back then back, crossing his right arm over his chest. Straightening up, he turned and left the Ceremonial Room. As he turned and headed down the corridor, he noticed a fellow guard member waving to him. He waved back unenthusiastically, and made to keep going, the guard, however walked over to him, patting him on the back.
"Whelp kid, you're one of us now." he said, "Welcome to the team!" Raiden grunted his response and kept moving, closely followed, to his displeasure, by the guard. The guard had begun rambling on about how his training had gone and his thoughts when he himself had taken the ritual. Raiden had stopped listening after awhile. It was already extremely late, and he wanted to get some sleep in before continuing his workout the next day.
"Have a goodnight." Raiden said, reaching his room. The guard stuttered a response just before the door closed.
Raiden locked the door, removed his sword and set it beside his bed. Unlike the other guards of his rank, Raiden had been given his own room, in the main castle and not the guardhouse. apparently because of his specific skills. Raiden hadn't seen the reasoning in this, however, having the power to Flame, he could be at the Princess' side in but a rush of flames if necessary.
After throwing a fireball into the fireplace to ignite it, Raiden slipped his jacket off, tossing it onto a nearby chair, then kicked his boots off. He knelt by the fire, staring into the golden flames, allowing them to warm his fur. Standing, he loosened his pants and allowed them to fall to the floor, standing completely nude.
After placing his pants with the jacket on the chair, and sprawled out on the soft mattress of his bed, his weary eyes closing, breathing steadily as he drifted off into a deep sleep.