Hedena, goddess of Conformity raised her hand once again. "I would like you all to thank Medena, our
goddess of Plenty, for her most excellent product design, the Rabbit
year Gens are the finest Atlan has ever seen!"
The
crowd cheered and waved their flags again as Medena stood and approached the
podium. "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 chanted.
The
drums joined in, adding a 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 Rabbit 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's
eyes drifted again to the cheering students, how eager she had been, just like
they were now, except now she didn't feel like cheering anymore, she had somehow lost her
passion, she could barely lift her flag in support of the show and began fidgeting with her suddenly itchy robe.
Eden
elbowed her gently, her focus returned to the stage.
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 before them as Hedena placed the medals around their necks.
The medals spinning in the sun only reminded Zara that her medal had failed to yield very much. What were they really for? For the first time now she wondered why she had just kept her medal in a drawer, no one ever saw it, it hadn't really fulfilled her dreams at all…What would happen to it now?
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 Rabbit Goddess of Finias... Bella of the Ephra Institute."
Orien's
face lit up as her name left Atalon's lips, it was all he could do to hold back
tears of joy! He jumped up with great enthusiasm, waving his flag
wildly, knowing how badly she had wanted to be the Goddess of Finias!
The
crowds roared to life again as Bella emerged and walked up the runway towards
the royal stage. 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 Bella, Goddess of
Finias, Rabbit year!"
Torus
noticed the sacrificial boy come to life as Bella's name was announced.
Curious, he turned to study Bella the new goddess... She had interesting
hair... It was almost... pink! What secret powers did she have over
him?
The
crowds went wild as Bella strutted proudly towards the canopied seat across the
stage from where she sat, the irony was unbelievable. Now Zara saw a different
reality. Like Bella, Athenia, the Serpent year goddess of Finias was beyond gorgeous, a perfect ten plus ten, yet Athenia had met the exact same fate that she
had! Worse! Athenia was still stuck in
Lochia! No one had heard from her since!
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 Rabbit Year."
Eden
nudged her again, harder this time; this was her cue. Zara held her head high
and walked out of the left wing onto the royal stage, unrehearsed this time, from a completely different
place than she had done ten years before.
The
crowd cheered and whistled as she made her way across the stage, her stride a
pale comparison to the cultured saunter she had almost mastered in her youth.
Her nerves were not steeled from excitement, it was a dreadful sickness
enslaving her wellbeing as she knelt in front of King Atalon that day. The
pungent aroma of his frankincense felt like a drug as he placed the heavy medal
around her neck. It took great effort to keep her chin up, to feign joy as she
received the bouquet of silver ivy. Sweat was breaking out all over her body,
it was all she could do to keep her composure, hold on to it, to stay conscious, dizzy from the sun
and the overwhelming throbbing in her head.
Atalon
placed his strong hand on her shoulder, steadying her as if he knew how strong
she had been.
"It is with great pleasure" he
continued, "that I present to you
Zara, Cow Goddess of the Rabbit Year!"
Once
more the crowd whistled and cheered in delight, but Zara noticed the cheers
lacked enthusiasm otherwise noted. Were they were feigning delight. too?
"I would like you all to thank
Zara for this years finest Product, that we may offer our great
Creator god, Medel, our finest Gratitude."
The
drums rolled once more as the crowds whistled and cheered in delight, waving
their flags with renewed enthusiasm.
"Hail Medel!" King Atalon rejoiced.
"Hail Medel!" The crowds echoed.
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