The first person to exit from the gate of initiation was Osinar Magikan, a 5 '11, redhead with white eyes void of pupils. A Warden tasked with guarding the hall signals for his sentinel squadmate to guide him to the Eye of Unity. "Stand on the symbol please." The sentinel points to a silver sword and shield with an eye in the middle of it.
Osinar complies, analyzing the symbol with his ghostly white eyes before stepping on it, and as he does it starts glowing.
"First initiate Confirmed. The gate will close in… 5 minutes." An angelic voice fills the entire hall as the chains holding the gate open start tightening.
"I told you he'd be the first out." Orion remarks, tapping the crescent moon shaped table in victory. "Quit your yappin!" Orion says giving him a glare that makes him do just that.
Another person walks out the Gate of initiation and as they do the rafters go crazy!
"Meria!" "Meria!" "That's the Fire Lord's daughter Meria!"
A girl with extremely long red hair and deep red eyes elegantly steps, stopping beside Osinar who turns to look at her.
"Cool hair." Osinar says, slicking his red hair back.
"This red aint just for show ghosty. I'm Imperia royalty." Meria says, referring to his pupil-less eyes before looking toward the rafters, toward the hundreds of OMEN members, civilians and people who have traveled from all over the world cheering and celebrating her for becoming one of this year's new initiates.
"It's the Ice King's son!" A voice screams out louder than the rest causing the rook to erupt even louder than when they saw Meria.
"So much for you huh?" Osinar says with a mocking tone. Meria's hand glows a dim yellow. "Don't test me."
Mercer walks out, Kinn-Kinn and Synn-Synn close behind him. "I just kicked my own ass." Mercer says with the utmost confidence which causes Kinn-Kinn to facepalm. "You royal idiot.."
A few more initiates walk out.
"1 minute and 30 seconds.." The angelic voice echoes throughout.
"That's 7 of the 11 who passed. They all seem to be capable off chikara flow alone." Quincy says, his eyes glowing a bright yellow.
"Your ability still gives me the creeps." Yulan remarks as she quickly looks away from him.
"That ability is why he was allowed to join the council." Tenki says with a tone that makes the entire room silent, allowing them to hear the footsteps of the next approaching initiate.
The next initiate to step out the Gate of Initiation is..
"Not him again." Mercer stares at the blonde haired boy walking out of the gate.
Ilija's indigo eyes scan the room as he continues walking forward.
"Mercer? didn't expect you to actually make it after using your ice prison." Ilija's words cause Mercer to nearly lunge out but he's stopped by Kinn-Kinn.
"Dont."
Reinhart watches this happen, "Already some bad blood between these kids ey?"
The next person to step out of the Gate of Initiation is Nay. Her orange hair and confident walk almost guarantees she faced little difficulty during her path.
She doesn't even look up, she doesn't need to. "Where's Grim'Lok?" She asks Ilija as she walks up to him.
Ilija shrugs, "No clue."
A pale skinned purple haired boy walks out of the gate, his black eye shadow and purple eyes giving him a different type of appearance than the others. The sentinel who had guided everyone else didn't get the chance to.
He steps onto the eye of unity alongside everyone else.
"Who are you?" Meria asks leaning forward a bit to look at the purple haired boy at the end.
"Kodeki." he proudly announces to the entire room.
Tenki grins hearing the name. "Kaiso pull him up." She asks as she analyzes Kodeki.
Quickly Kaiso reaches under the table, pulling out a scroll. When he unwraps it his eyes widen.
"Tenki… his profile is virtually unknown. It's like he never even existed." Kaiso says as his eyes stare at the blank page with only Kodeki's picture.
"What's his clan?" She asks as she watches the gate, waiting for Saido to come back.
"Unknown." Kaido's voice is full of uncertainty but it's quickly hidden when the angelic voice says, "30 seconds. I repeat 30 seconds until the gate closes."
Tenki grins, "I hope he hears this."
"30 seconds…" The faint voice reaches from the crescent moon hall to the misty walkway where Saido who's been walking and carrying Grim'Lok finally puts him down.
"Alright Wolfshire." He puts his hand over Grim'Lok's chest.
His palm starts glowing bright green, the air around his hand starts to crackle with green electricity and Saido makes note of the time. "22 seconds."
A pulse of energy flows from Saido's hand to Grim'Lok's body immediately causing Grim'Lok to gasp for air as he wakes and sits up.
"There he is." Saido helps him up to his feet, "You have no time to catch your breath, And definitely no time to be knocked out on the battlefield." Saido puts his hand on Grim'Lok's shoulder. "10 seconds Grim'Lok. I need to know now, are you ready to become a part of Omen?"
Grim'Lok looks down at Saido, and with a determined nod says "Yes sir."
FLICKER!!
Saido appears with Grim'Lok directly in the eye of unity with all of the other initiates.
"Then prove it." Saido says before his afterimage disappears in front of Grim'Lok and he appears kneeling in front of Tenki. "I have completed my mission Milady."
The chains holding the gate of initiation snap as the Angelic voice finally says. "All initiates have reached the Eye of Unity." The snap from the chains causes a small shockwave and makes some people in the room shield themselves from the pressure. Grim'Lok looks around, ignoring the shockwave, eventually finding Nay and walking over.
The gate slowly starts closing and the Eye of Unity starts glowing.
Suddenly the lights in the room shut off, the only thing visible being the initiates.
"It seems this year's class is small, strong, and resilient." The heavy clanks of armor followed by a giant spotlight reveals OMEN's leader, Erik Stormbreaker.
He grins as he steps towards the Initiates, "Today is not only your initiation to OMEN." he continues walking and with each step the lights glow brighter.
He stops in front of the Eye of Unity, analyzing every initiates expression.
"But it is also the day you learn what OMEN really is. OMEN stands for The Order of Manifested Eternal Night formed to safeguard the continent of Azunne from external threats, to maintain balance, and most importantly… Prevent War."
Those last words cause the audience to shudder.
Grim'Lok grits his teeth as flashbacks of what happened to his village replay through his mind.
Ilija stares at Erik with a determined look. Nay, who had been searching for an opportunity to move closer to Grim'Lok, does just that. The two meet eyes as she approaches.
"OMEN was formed a century ago, after two legendary warriors Gaal and Isse sacrificed themselves to seal away a demonic force called the King of Kouniza. A man so powerful he and an army of demons took control of the entire world before they saved us. We all owe our lives to them." Erik's voice was cold yet gentle in telling the founding of OMEN.
Erik meets eyes with Grim'Lok as he starts speaking again. "Our motto is,"
He paused for a second allowing the multiple different ranks of OMEN who are in attendance to stand.
"FROM THE SHADOWS!" Erik screams out and as he does the Eye of Unity starts to glow an intense white light.
"WE SAFEGUARD THE LIGHT!" As the members of OMEN finish the motto a gigantic beam of white light erupts from the Eye of Unity from the floor to the sky.
Erik grins as when the light dissipates each of the initiates are now wearing OMEN's uniform. A lightweight form fitting jet-black undershirt and combat pants, a sleeveless grey reinforced combat vest made for unrestricted movement, bracers, gloves and a utility belt although that's empty for now, all of this is topped off with silent combat boots ensuring undetected movement.
The initiates begin chattering amongst themselves talking about what just happened.
Meria pulls the fabric testing the flexibility. "I like the fabric." Osinar then pulls her fabric making it snap back into her skin. "Oops."
"You bastard!"
Grim'Lok looks down at the symbol and then his uniform. "I really did it. I'm a part of OMEN." The realization finally hits him and a goofy grin overtakes his face. Nay noticing runs her hand through his hair. "I can't wait to tell Risaki all about it."
"ATTENTION!" Erik says making the initiates regain focus.
"Understand OMEN lives by a strict code. Understand that we do not serve kings, we serve balance. That balance is always our goal, anything that shifts the balance will be eliminated."
"OMEN are not just warriors, we prevent war on the continent of Azunne, we are assassins."
"The shadows are our veil, but our cause is just. So when one of us falls another one rises to take our place."
"That is what OMEN is, from the shadows."
"We safeguard the light!" The initiates all say without thinking, as if the motto has been engraved into their very being.
"All of you are now officially D-Rank Initiatiates." The council who had previously discussed making some of the Initiates a higher rank attempt to speak up but Erik Stormbreakers presence alone makes them hold their tongue.
30 MINUTES LATER!
Grim'Lok walks though Archfield, his mind replaying what he saw in the Eye of Unity. The battle between the newly formed OMEN vs The King of Kouniza.
He looks at his hands, "I'm gonna change the world too."
Juzu and Mizaka appear in front of him a few seconds after he said this, "Grim'Lok.. Erik wants to see you in his office."
Grim'Lok nods before heading towards the Pinnacle Lookout.
Erik Stormbreaker is in his office staring out the window he opened.
"Hello, Wolfshire."
Grim'Lok looks at Erik, and then what he's looking at. The giant circle of charred trees miles in the distance. "Woah, what happened while we were taking the exam."
"How close were you and Risaki?"
The question stuns Grim'ok for a second, well ever since he took me in he's been like my Grandpa. But he's always been around me and my family for as long as I can remember."
Erik says nothing, before turning around. Their eyes meet and Grim'Lok sees the serious expression on his face.
"Why?"
"While you and Nay were taking the exam it seems an enemy force tried to break one of the 7 seals OMEN put into place after the Battle of the Sealed King. Unfortunately it was the seal Risaki was protecting in the Sacred Forest of Gomen. And in doing so… He sacrificed his life."
Grim'Loks eyes widened upon hearing Erik's words. "What are you talking about?"
"Risaki Payne is dead Grim'Lok."
As Erik says this a black crow lands inside the office.
"Rengetsu."
The crow bows to Erik before spitting out a Golden Scroll.
"Its just as I expected." Erik picks up the scroll and rolls it out on the table.
"What language is that?"
"It's an encrypted scroll only readable by highranking OMEN."
"It seems Risaki had a dying wish… Grim'Lok, You are a special case. Normally i wouldn't do this but Risaki seems to have a personal request."
"What was his request." Grim'Loks voice is cold and detached.
"You are now the first person in OMEN history to pass the exam and become a B-Rank."
Grim'Lok does nothing but nod.
"And you have a mission as well." Erik stands up and walks towards a case. He opens it revealing a multitude of armbands.
He grabs the armband that represents B-Ranks. "Here." He hands it to Grim'Lok
"Tie it around your arm."
Grim'Lok does just that, tying it around his right arm.
"That is our specialized armbands, they are communication devices that are as resilient as your vest." Erik begins to press on his armband and Grim'Lok watches as it lights up.
"Use it to contact Archfield when you get to Gomen."
"You're sending me to his place after telling me he's died? How convenient Stormbreaker."
"You'll be going with Juzu, MIzaka and Nay as a standard recon squad on a C rank mission. You can rest for the remainder of the day but tomorrow morning you go out to the Mission. You are dismissed." Erik turns back around as he walks back towards the window.
Rengetsu flies up and lands on Grim'Loks shoulder. "Let's go kid."
Grim'Lok looks at Rengetsu and chuckles. "What the hell are you?"
"Risaki's Blood Summon, and he entrusted me to you. You know you are his successor."
Grim'Lok wastes no time heading for the door. "Hey Grim'Lok… I'm sorry for your loss."
Grim'Lok looks back at Erik before walking out the door and heading to his house OMEN provided once he completed the exam.
The door clicks behind him. The room is nothing grand and Grim'Lok knows he's still got a lot to learn. Rengetsu lands on the bed and watches as Grim'Lok starts rummaging through his fridge.
The night is quiet, the air is cold but Ilija roams through the outskirts of Archfield.
He stops a few hundred kilometers away from the base of OMEN.
"I successfully infiltrated Zeru."
As Ilija says that Zeru Kagemura starts to slowly rise from out the ground next to him. "I must say, you're better than I anticipated… Pushing Mercer to a last resort Ice Prison on himself? You aren't some weakling Noctis sends out to die."
"But, you still have much to learn."
Zeru fully rises out of the ground and his eyes lay on Archfield. "Dargus killed Risaki Payne but he failed in breaking a seal."
Ilija chuckles. "Not even with the terror twins? Risaki must've been a serious challenge."
Zeru shakes his head no. "His old age gave him the disadvantage Dargus was toying with him the whole fight. Even going as far as to extract his heart, god knows what he's doing with it."
He turns towards Ilija.
"Grim'Lok, has been given a mission to investigate Gomen and he's being sent out tomorrow. That means you're gonna be sent with him too."
"You think so?"
"I know so."
"Now I want you to partake in this mission and after that report to me the details. Also, you are to find the seal in Gomen and report that to me as well."
Ilija grins. "No problem boss."
"Make Noctis Dominion proud."
Zeru slowly sinks into the ground, "Oh and make sure you keep getting stronger or Grim'Lok will stay stronger than you."
When Zeru fully disappears Ilija looks at his hands. "Grim'Loks stronger than me?"
The question hangs in the cold air making the silence feel like a thousand daggers.
"No.. Impossible."
He clenches his fist. "I'll prove it on the mission who's stronger between us."
Ilija turns back to where he came from, taking that same path back to Archfield, the enemy of Noctis Dominion…
ELDORIAN HISTORY… Noctis Dominion.
Noctis Dominion is an organization formed by the first Ronin-Class warriors, individuals who rejected the constraints of society and fought for their own glory. The organization rose from the ashes of chaos, its roots in the turbulent wars of the past. These warriors sought only to become the strongest, and in doing so, they became feared for their ferocity, skill, and independence. The name "Noctis" signifies their connection to the night, where they have completed the deadliest missions. Hundreds of lives have been lost due to their rivalry with Azunne's protectors, OMEN.