Tedric was unable to keep himself still in the grand, yet empty, lobby outside the massive wooden doors leading into the inner sanctuary of the church. His armor had been cleaned and polished to a mirror shine and twinkled whenever he passed under the rainbow speckled light that spilled through the intricately stained glass windows that lined the walls. In between hours of worship the church had been cleared out so that only the head priest and the Joined were to occupy the space, as was custom. Each of his heavy steps echoed in the vastness of the high ceilinged space and reverberated within his ears. Up and down the marble floor Tedric paced with his hands clasped behind his back and his eyes cast downwards in thought. How many battles had he been in or monsters slain? Young, sure, but he'd experienced death earlier than most and had been a frequent friend of the apparition ever since.<br/><br/>Yet, it was now that he was the most nervous and on edge; similar to the sensation that tingled his body the night before a battle or duel but...more. His mouth was dry and his hands seemed to have a mind all their own and he caught himself constantly wringing them together or fiddling with some errant strand on his cloak or piece armor. Moreover, Tedric had wracked his brain trying to piece together just<i>who </i>his parent's had selected to be his Bound. It wasn't as if Tedric had come across many mages in his lifetime, even as a member of the Royal Army, and his family's businesses did not overlap much with those of the College. Not that he didn't trust their judgment, of course, but he'd had never been fond of surprises; much less one that would affect his life in such a drastic manner.<br/><br/>Then, with a powerful groan, the mighty doors swung open on old hinges to reveal row upon row of empty oaken pews; upon the altar, surrounded by flickering torches, the priest and a woman clad in wine robes. From his distance down the aisle, he couldn't make out the finer details of either person's face or ornamentation but he was certain to have never met the mage before, even in passing. This he was positive of as he would have never forgotten such a figure for as long as he lived.<br/><br/>"Come, child." The priest's voice called as he motioned with his hand for Tedric to enter into the holy sanctum; to which the knight obeyed. The very air felt charged with electric energies that seemed to manifest ever stronger the closer Tedric neared the raised platform. Hairs on his arms and neck stood and the butterflies in his gut fluttered with renewed vigor. When he reached the first step he stopped and knelt down on one knee. Pressing his chin to his chest as he bowed low with both hands placed at the feet of the priest and mage.<br/><br/>"Tedric Arlis Jacominus, third son of Eerdin and Marilin Jacominus, within these hallowed halls titles and claims are but ash before God." The old priest's voice carried as much weight as a wave crashing into the shore as it washed over the auditorium. "Before you stands the woman who is to share your soul, your fate, and your life. Do you accept her pledge?"<br/><br/>Without looking up, as he had been directed, Tedric responded, "I do."<br/><br/>"Then arise, Redric Arlis Jacominus." The priest commanded as he offered his frail hand; to which Tedric accepted and pushed himself to his feet. So close now, Tedric could not help but let his attention be diverted to the woman not but a scant handful of feet away from him. His cool blue eyes resisted the more base instinct to rake across her form, thankfully, and remained steady on her own gaze. Should she hold it, of course. Ascending the set of stairs Tedric wrenched his eyes away to focus once more on the featureless robes of the priest until he stood beside the woman and before the old man. The former turning to retrieve the same ornate chalice that had been given to Alaria but minutes before. "Drink, child."<br/><br/>Tedric took the goblet into his gauntleted hand and looked down at his reflection in the dark liquid. Licking his lips, Tedric raised the container and drank the remainder of the contents in two large gulps. Feeling the immediate burn as, like fire, the strange mixture washed down his throat. The powers of the elements were, naturally, a sensation utterly alien to his body and mind. Still, they came all the same. Like a torrent unleased from a dam and flooding the hollow reservoir of Tedric's very being.<br/><br/>Just as the priest took the goblet from Tedric's motionless hand did the knight's eyes flutter and close. The muscles in his body weakened. The last of his conscious thoughts was of the world twisting upwards as he fell backwards.<br/><br/><div class="bbCodeSpoiler">
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