"Just what have I done..."
Thierry stared at the paper from yesterday while sitting on his bed. It was a recruitment paper that was the talk of Berken. He wasn't going to pay much attention at first since he was part of the Flounders troupe but now he was most likely going to stay in Berken. The more he read the more his excitement faded. As it was for a subsidiary clan of the five great houses.
'forget it'
After all sure Thierry may fit the age range of fifteen to seventeen being at the bare minimum but It welcomed those who already been initiated with an anchor and had a chain. Whilst those who haven't been initiated, could get an anchor for free. The more Thierry thought about it, he began to realise that he would have no chance against a bounded clansmen.
'Might as well go out before I start to think about money.'
Thierry left his room and went down to the bar. He glanced at the waitress, Emma, before apologising for yesterday and giving her a tip. He unconsciously made his way to
"Excuse me but do you know the way to Roldun Street? I'm not from around here, so I'm a bit lost."
A low humming came from behind Thierry. He paid no mind and kept walking, deep in thought before feeling something tap him shoulder. Thierry turned around to see a rather handsome young man. The young man repeated his question but Thierry was busy spiting him for his charms.
'Gods below, why must you be so unfair...'
The young man had seaweed green hair with a few strands bright like turquoise, although it was disheveled it stopped at his shoulders cleanly. However the most pleasing thing to the eyes were his eyes which were like two deep dark blood drops.
"Sure. Just follow me closely and don't get mugged."
Thierry had no problems with going to Roldun Street. Since the initiation was taking place there, he might as well take the stranger with him
"Don't worry about me. If trouble comes I'm more than sure I can handle myself and call me Veron."
Veron scoffed as he was more than confident in his abilities to defend himself. Thierry just stared at him incredulously before turning his back and speeding in down. They soon made it to Roldun Street. Thierry kept making his way to the address on the letter but stopped in front of large estate and turned to look at Veron who was slowly tracking on behind him.
'Is this idiot not going to leave or do I have to tell him?'
"Don't worry about me. After all this is my home."
It took a second for Thierry to process what Veron just said. Realisation hit Thierry's face as it warped in horror. He blankly stared at the dark grin etched on Veron's face.
'This is... Gods why must you favour him!? Making him a clansman and handsome.'
Thierry mused himself, he tried to find a way to escape but Veron cut him off as he signalled him to come in and the moment the front gates opened, he felt hundred of gazes falling on them. Soon they became the centre of attention, as instead of entering through the guest gate. Thierry's eyes gaped as his sight fell on the scenery. Maybe hundreds of clansmen stuffed in the wide porch all staring at the loggia.
'What have I gotten myself into...'
Most clans in Berken were not allied with the great houses and a subsidiary clan was different from an allied clan since they had blood ties with great houses. Most of the people in Thierry's view were seemed like a clan heir as each of their faces seemed more mature. It was totally not the armour that majority of them wore.
Soon a man made his appearance in the loggia, his face had seen the vicissitudes of life and his eyes were a dull blue. Yet everyone became silence at his presence, maybe it was the way he looked at them mockingly as if they were mere children.
"young master I don't think her ladyship would be please with your antics again! So i hope you make your way to her now, so I can begin the initiation."
Thierry looked to his side for Veron but he was gone. Thierry tried to squirm in more into the crowd but they wouldn't budge at all, not in all that armour of theirs. Instead of attempting the same strategy, he stretched his neck to see Veron walking through the pathway made by the crowd. Slowly but surely he made his way under the loggia. The veteran and the other clansmen beside him showed respect.
"Young master, her ladyship will be waiting for you in the workshop."
"Don't worry I know Magnus, I mean like where else would she be?"
Veron cracked an inside joke between the two of them. He chuckled as he entered the estates bronze doors. Soon the atmosphere returned to how it was. Thierry could feel Magnus' gaze sweep briefly pass him. He muttered something to the other clansmen beside him unbeknownst to those outside the loggia. Soon the clansmen under the loggia went to the left while Magnus stood alone on the right.
"Those who have been initiated already and have their first chain, go to the left with the other clansmen! And those who have not been initiated without their anchor, come over to me!"
'They really weren't lying about receiving an initiation for an anchor.'
Thierry was startled at the announcement from Magnus but he quickly gained composure. After all it did say this would happen on the paper. Thierry fought against the tide that was going to the left and made it to the right side of the estate. When comparing the crowd, if you can even call it that, it was evident there was far less people on the right.
'No more than 20. Gods below please say there's no assessment.'
Thierry couldn't help but plead with himself. His only strong suit was being quick on his feet and his flexibility. Magnus waved his hand to them as he went deeper in the loggia signalling them to follow behind him.
'I wonder what it feels like receiving an anchor?'
Thierry mused himself but not too deeply since he really was going to get one today. He kept up with the crowd as they entered a greenhouse of sorts. There was no plants inside but the gnawing smell of blood.
"Does anyone here know why an anchor is so important?"
Magnus probed but as expected all that came out where generic answers such as it was needed for your chain to have something to anchor to. Magnus wasn't even bothered, after all what was he expecting the uninitiated knowing the importance of an anchor? It was standard protocol.
"The most fearful thing about an abomination is not how many chains it has but the amount of anchors. Sure it could have one chain but what good is that if it has five anchors and you can't even pierce its hide. You would have an invincible ravager."
Thierry was startled after all since humanoid beings could only take one anchor and all it did for them was push their bodies to its realised potential, he automatically put one's chain as their priority. After a while he began to agree with the veteran since the effect would keep piling up.
"I assume known of you would know how anchors are formed and where they could be found. Listen well since I won't repeat myself, anchors may come from the old world like items which held significance and traces of divinity. However such items are rare and most anchors come from a monsters own anchors or its carcass if it had four chains."
As Magnus's speech neared its end, a few people which Thierry recognised came in. It was that bastard Gallagher and his cohort. With them came in operating tables for no less than 20 and a box. Magnus took a piece of grey stone akin to a hilt from the box. Thierry looked at the box seeing numerous replicas of the hilt.
'Surely we're not imbedding that into ourselves...'
Thierry tried to reassure himself but Magnus was quick to break that delusion.
Something about that didn't convince Thierry at all maybe it was his mocking grin and tone.
"The anchor you're all going to be using has been sent from the house all the way to us. Its from something we called a catastrophe back in the day due to its sheer size and rock skin. You should be grateful we're giving you the chance to be initiated with this!"
Magnus's overbearing loud voice echoed inside the greenhouse as he sternly stared at the young uninitiated. He soon left and the clansmen nearby soon came to guide us each to a table. Thierry looked around for Gallagher but he was nowhere to be seen.
"You should turn around and follow me quietly."
Gallaghers voice resounded behind. It caught Thierry off guard before he grasped the situation.
'This bastard abusing his chain!'
At the first Thierry tried his hardest not turn back yet his body still lost all strength. He blankly followed Gallagher to a table. The worries and doubt was written all over Thierry's face and Gallagher could tell so he was hard at work to ruin his mood.
"Don't worry kid, I got a tongue imbedded in me and the pain was underwhelming."
Something didn't convince Thierry at all who stared at him incredulously maybe it was his grin or the fact he had a monsters tongue somewhere inside of him.
'Of course I'm stuck with this unhinged bastard. Maybe it won't be as bad as I thought...'
Thierry tried to lay down but was stopped by one of Gallaghers member. He was an therianthrope with not much animal features only his brown ears, akin to a bears, sitting at the top of his head and his sharp teeth. However he was a giant towering other Thierry.
"Bale how many times do I have to tell you. If you stand there like that without saying a single word of course people are going to terrified of you."
"Take this you're going to need it..."
After a scolding from Gallagher, the giant Bale muttered something barely audible. Thierry stared at Bales hand to see a rag. Bale indicated it was for him to chew onto once they began the anchoring. Finally he laid down on his front putting his head through the hole with the rag in his mouth.
It was finally time for his initiation.