Page 11 of Dark Reckoning
I did, and I let him lean against me until he gathered his strength again.
“The ritual is now complete,” Kakashi said. “The robes you wear are yours to keep. You are to wear them whenever we perform spells. You will notice the robes now bear your own sigil as it pertains to the Echelon Imperial Council. They must never get into the hands of another person, especially not another mage.”
“Not to say that will ever happen, but what if it does?” I asked.
“Bad things you don't want to happen, that we won't want to happen. Just don't,” Aldéric said.
I looked down at Adrian's robe, and he was doing the same, and right there on the front was a sigil that represented the magical essence that was his.
“You will also notice that you now bear your distinctive sigil on the side of your necks. That was the burning sensation you felt,” Kakashi said.
I remembered that moment right before I passed out. I lifted my hand to the right side of my neck and felt something etched there, almost like a tattoo.
“It's there,” Adrian confirmed. “What about me?” he asked, then turned his head to the left.
I nodded. “Yeah, it's the same one that's on your robe,” I said, looking at the black mark now on his soft, tanned skin. To be honest, he looked pretty badass with it there. It was such a unique design, as was my own.
“Are we supposed to keep them hidden?” Adrian asked anyone willing to answer.
“Not necessarily. However, if other mages see it, they may get jealous,” replied Kyla.
“Well, I could give a fuck less about their petty jealousy,” I said.
“I'm sure you don't,” Kyla remarked. “Some of us keep it covered when we are in public to avoid unwanted questions as well. So many want to join our Council, but only the elite are worthy.”
Adrian scoffed and I knew why her words irked him. He didn't come from money, or even a little change. He grew up dirt poor and arrogant attitudes like those who felt as if they were above all others pissed him off.
“And who decides who is worthy?” he asked, and I smirked because I knew it was coming.
“The Imperial Pool. For if one is powerful but not worthy and they enter the pool, it will strip them of their magical ability,” Kakashi stated.
“What the fuck?!” My ears lit up as well as my temper. That was some pertinent information his ass had conveniently omitted. “You motherfucker, that's something we would have liked to have known before we got our asses in that fucking son of a bitch!” I snapped.
“I knew beforehand that you were worthy. Therefore, there was no cause for concern or any reason to add any undue stress on your part,” Kakashi said with a dismissive gesture.
That diabolical asshole.
Adrian handled the news better than me with a shake of his head and a sigh. “Is there anything else we need to know?” he asked.
“When we return to the meeting room, you will notice that your sigils will be engraved on the table and chairs,” Kakashi said.
I rose to my feet and helped Adrian to his. That was when I noticed that the sigil was also on the back of his robe too, and it was bigger. “Hey, check my back, is my sigil there like yours?” I turned around so that he could see.
“Yes, and it's pretty wicked-looking too,” Adrian said.
“If you're done checking yourselves out, please follow me,” Kakashi said, and Adrian and I did just that, making sure to grab our clothes before we left that room. Now that we were back in the meeting room, Adrian and I saw the sigils on the front of the table where we were to always sit, I suppose. Our sigils were also on the front and back of the chairs. The room was electrified with magic that I felt like I was a part of.
“The sensation you feel is the bond that we all now share. Your magic helps protect this realm,” Kakashi said.
“Realm?” I asked.
He nodded. “This safe haven does not exist on the normal plane.”
“But I drove to it before,” I said.
“You drove to the address we gave you because we made it so. The address we gave you does not exist. You will be able to come here whenever you need to from now on as you'll always be able to sense this place,” Kakashi said.
“Is this far from where I live?” I asked since the address didn't really exist. I still tried to wrap my mind around that, because it looked pretty real the last time Adrian, Shi, and I were here.
