1.16 The Graduation Ceremony

    "Greetings, my fine aribu of the Atlan Empire!" King Atalon's voice thundered across the Grand Courtyard, powerful, magnetic, amplified by the acoustics of the tall, circular stone walls. "It is with great expectations that this year, I present the most promising Examples in the history of the Atlan Empire..." A short drum roll stoked the energies... "The Serpent Year Gens!"

         On cue, the crowds erupted with whistles and cheers, waving their red flags in celebration, accompanied by the drums rolling again, building into a thundering crescendo.  

         Zara felt a surge of pride rush through her veins as she followed her fellow grads towards the stage. Forget looking good, it was all she could do to not shed a tear as she climbed up the lofty steps leading to the runway. She had worked so hard for this moment, the class had rehearsed the ceremony so many times, even the Pageant couldn't compare to the real thing.

         One by one her classmates stopped to wave at the top of the stairs before strutting their stuff down the red carpet towards the main stage. Zara visualized the string as she waved to the crowds, holding her head high for a moment she felt like a real superstar. What a rush, it made walking her finest walk towards the stage seem so easy after all.

         The drumming rolled to a stop as the graduates gathered in position, quieting for the king as he raised his hand for attention.

         "My friends..." the king began. "These are not the finest examples by chance. I would like you to congratulate Hedena!" He gestured towards his sister, she smiled and stood on cue, radiant in the late afternoon sun. "Hedena, our most gifted and talented goddess of Conformity must be first and foremost congratulated for her most excellent accomplishments this year!"

         The crowds roared with cheer, waving their flags.

         Zara felt pride surging once again as Hedena walked up to the podium, she had never seen the goddess of Conformity look so glamorous as she did today. Her hair was perfectly curled, her chartreuse eyes sparkled like citrus sugar crystals in the sun light, she almost looked genuinely beautiful.

         "Thank you" Hedena began with a smile, taking the podium, holding her hand up to quiet the crowd. "Indeed these are not the finest examples by chance!" She gestured towards the Serpent year gens. "In order to produce such an incredible line, we had to start with excellent bloodlines. Sixteen years ago we produced an outstanding new generation and this is the result!"

         Cheers erupted again, stimulated again by the rolling drums.

         Hedena raised her hand once again. "I would like you all to thank Medena, our goddess of Plenty, for her most excellent product design, the Serpent year Gens are the finest Atlan has ever seen!"

         The crowd cheered and waved their flags again as Medena stood and approached the podium. 

         Zara craned her neck, she had never seen any of the other gods in real life… Medena looked a lot like Hedena, slightly taller, just as glamorous in her emerald green dress… She looked much heavier, however, judging by the coils of gold beads around her neck, Medena was much wealthier than her sister... Medena had a mysterious air about her too, was it an uncomfortable air? Or was it uncomfortable simply because she didn't know her like she knew Hedena?

         "Thank you very much Hedena" she began, as the crowds hushed once more. "Indeed, these are not the finest examples by chance! I would like to thank King Atalon for our fabulous labs, our nutritious food and beverages that made such produce possible. For it is he who has given us all this wealth, this gift of success and fortune. It is he who has delivered us from the evils of poverty and slavery."

         The crowd cheered, flags waved. 

         "Hail King Atalon" she raised her fist.

         "Hail King Atalon!" the crowd cheered louder, flags waved wildly. "Atalon... Atalon... Atalon... " they began to chant.

         The drums joined in, adding a thundering roll.

         "And lest we forget" Medena continued, competing with the noisy crowd now. "I would like to thank Doctor Malodon, god of Transformation, for it is not without his incredible genius that the Serpent Year Gens are so fine."

         The crowd cheered and whistled, even though Malodon was still seated in his chair, they all knew he was the real superstar here today. 

         Zara strained to catch a glimpse, it wasn't so easy since he wouldn't stand... He looked so humble... Wise... Calmly waving to the crowd… She followed his gaze back towards the cheering crowd jam packed from bleacher to bleacher, the scale was incredible, he had designed them all? It truly was an impressive reality.

         Medena stepped aside allowing Hedena to take the podium once more.

         "It is with great pleasure that I award each of the graduates with a medal of excellence" Hedena announced.

         The drums began to roll again as a stagehand carried out a tray of medals and a gold tipped scroll. Hedena took the first medal and held it up for the crowd to see while Medena unfurled the scroll to read the list of the graduating students. One by one Medena called the students to the podium, each one of them knelt obediently as Hedena placed the medals around their necks.

         The medal spinning in the sun as Hedena lifted it up was hypnotic, adding an extra sparkle of magic to the show. Once again Zara had to wipe a tear from her eye, the moment was unbelievable, she wanted it to last forever. 

         As she knelt before Hedena, she could feel a new power manifesting inside as the heavy reward was placed around her neck. She stood proud, saluted the gods and walked back to her spot in the group, holding back her emotions as the sea of flags waved in celebration of her achievements from across the grounds. It was thrilling being up on the royal stage with the gods, to be so celebrated like they were, to bring such excitement and promise to the crowds below.

         After the medals had been awarded the classes returned to their places in the courtyard, Atalon stood at the podium once more and the stagehand brought him a fresh tray of awards and scroll.

         The crowds hushed as Atalon untied the red ribbon, slowly unfurling the scroll, tilting it into the sun to read. "It is with the greatest pleasure that I now present you with the Honor Awards. I am honored to announce the Serpent Goddess of Finias...  Athenia of the Ephra Institute."

         The crowds roared to life again as Athenia emerged and walked up the runway towards the royal stage. It was all she could do to hold back the tears of happiness, she knew at this moment, she was the envy of every Serpent goddess in the Grand Courtyard that day, the feeling was incredible.

         She knelt down in front of the king, allowing him to place a fine golden crown on her head, then Atalon turned to the crowds and announced her with great pride.

         "I now present to you Athenia, Goddess of Finias, Serpent year!"

         The crowds went wild as Athenia waved, then strutted proudly towards the canopied seat, placed at the end of the runway on stage right.

         'The Ephra Institute?' Zara wondered out loud as she watched Athenia do her thing, filled with admiration for her talents. She couldn't even compete with the likes of Athenia, Athenia was beyond gorgeous, a perfect ten plus ten times more, clearly destined to be a celebrated Vine Goddess with such a fantastic form and bright start to her future.

         Atalon hushed the crowd with his hand. "It is with my greatest pleasure" he picked up a golden medal, "and my greatest honor, to announce the Cow Goddess of the Serpent Year."

         On cue, an older, unlikely-looking aribu dressed in a simple black robe emerged from the left wing of the stage. The crowd cheered with much less enthusiasm as she knelt in front of King Atalon. They watched with mixed interest as he placed a large medal around her neck and gave her a bouquet of silver ivy. She stood up and turned to face the crowd, but she hardly resembled a goddess, she didn't even seem happy as she ought to be, as if she was forcing a smile.

         "It is with great pleasure" Atalon continued, "that I present to you Medu, Cow Goddess of the Serpent Year!"

         Once more the crowd whistled and cheered, but again it was reserved delight, as if no one really knew what it was they were cheering for.

         "I would like you all to thank Medu for this years finest Product, that we may offer our great Creator god, Medel, our greatest Gratitude."

         The crowd roared a little louder, waving their little red flags with renewed enthusiasm.

         "Hail Medel!" King Atalon rejoiced.

         "Hail Medel!" The crowds echoed back.