As soon as the words left the Arcon's mouth, Ezekiel was already reaching for the bread, followed by Lucius who realised it was time to eat thanks to Se'raf nudging him. Ester found it strange, as If he were dismissing the Arcon on purpose.
From golden loaves of bread to herb-crusted lamb, Ester heard Saphy's stomach growl in response at the spread. She couldn't blame her, even the dishes that seemed foreign to Geneeva looked enticing.
Whilst Kris, Arthur and Ester ate with a degree of modesty, Ezekiel, Lucius, Geire and Saphy tore through their food as if it would be the last time they would ever eat. To other Starless they probably would've thought they were having a competition, only occasionally stopping to down their watered wines.
"Dis…" Saphy tried between mouthfuls, "...So gud!"
"More bread!" Ezekiel mumbled, waving his hand at a maid. "Over here!"
"Where are your manners Zeek…" Kris sighed. "They can barely understand you."
"He reminds me of someone." Se'raf said, eyes drifting to Lucius who scarfed down spiced chicken legs. "Wouldn't you agree?"
They both looked up hearing this, a confused expression on their faces as they look at each other, still chewing.
"You referring to me, Se'raf?" Lucius said around a mouthful.
"Forgive me, Lucius," Se'raf chuckled. "I didn't mean to offend."
He grumbled as he continued with his meats. With Lucius, Se'raf seemed so much more relaxed. Ester wondered what the story was between them. What the story was with Se'raf, why they wore a mask. Ester wasn't even sure if she'd seen Se'raf eat.
"I see it." Arthur said with a chuckle.
"Me too!" Saphy said with her mouthful.
Ezekiel continued stuffing his face. "We're nothing alike…"
Lucius pretended to be shocked, placing a hand on his heart and his mouth open as he jerked backwards. They burst into snickers, except for Geire who seemed to focus on eating. Lucius turned his attention to him watching for a while.
"You." He said, pointing a chicken leg at Geire, who guarded his plate like a wild, nervous animal. "You can already use Flo right?"
Geire blinked a few times before nodding twice.
Lucius grinned. "How long?"
"Since… I was eleven."
"And… you're fourteen right now."
Geire didn't blink. He was shaking, staring at the boy with the blindfold as his chicken, wondering what else he knew about him.
"How...how do you know…" He whispered, trembling. "Who told you this?"
"...Lucius can read a Synchrite's Flo signature," Se'raf spoke up. "Just as fingerprints are unique, so is a Synchrite's Flo signature." They glanced around, hand resting on their chin.
"Personality, potential," they said. "Even something as trivial as their eye colour… There's little he doesn't see,"
Everyone slowly stopped eating after Se'raf said this. Surely such a thing wasn't possible. Being able to see everything about someone based on their Flo? It slowly dawned on Ester if that was how he recognised her. She didn't want to bring it up. Didn't even know what to say to him. Part of her was scared of what he would say. Lucius glanced up when he realised they had stopped eating. "What?"
The table went quiet. As if everyone had suddenly become aware of who exactly was sitting next to them.
It was the sound of a chime echoing from the Arcon's table, that pulled their attention away from the terrifying revelation of Lucius the Praised. The Arcon stood up from his table and raised his hands.
"Starless! Are you enjoying yourselves?" he asked, and resounding yeses filled the room. "Good. Because I think it's time we continued."
He began to make his way down the steps towards the middle of the hall. "Tell me," he said. "what do you think a Synchrite is?"
Hands began to rise, and he picked one. A familiar bald-headed boy. Gideon answered. "A Synchrite is someone who is able to manipulate Flo."
"Good. Good." the Arcon nodded along. "And Flo? What would you say Flo is?"
"...An invisible mist?" he answered again.
"Excellent!" He turned his back around. Ezekiel scoffed. "Flo is like an ever-present mist. Invisible to the naked eye. Even to most Synchrites as well."
He glanced at Lucius who was still eating.
"Besides the Arc's Authority, whose source of information comes from his ability to perceive Flo, it is extremely hard to do.
Lucius kept eating, even as Starless stole looks at him.
The Arcon snapped back into focus.
"As some of you know, there've been sightings of...monsters recently," he said. "Not Flo beasts, but creatures that were once human having mutated into these things… Echoes of their former selves." He looked at Arthur, gesturing to him with a smile. "Arthur Ren of Leria. He stood against one of these creatures. He protected his city even before a Synchrite could be alerted. We owe him our gratitude."
Then, softer. "And Lin Hua. She faced the same threat. Perhaps even stronger and valiantly dealt with the Echo without any casualties." Ester saw the way Ezekiel's hand tightened on the fork he held.
The Arcon looked back at Markos. "How is her condition?"
"Regrettably...she seems to be in a coma…"
Ester's heart dropped. She turned sharply to Kris and Ezekiel, eyes wide, searching for an answer, but neither of them met her gaze. Why didn't they say anything sooner? Where they ashamed? Saphy had her head lowered. She took the news quietly.
"Though her health is stable, she shows no signs of waking."
The Arcon frowned. "That is terrible…"
He sighed, throwing his hands in the air. "At least she performed her duty admirably." He looked at them all. "Being a Synchrite is not just about fighting dangerous Flo beasts, or traversing unexplored territories, or even subduing rogue Synchrites." He paused again. "It's not about the fame...or the wealth or the power." He smiled. "...Well, maybe that's not entirely true." There were snickers when he said this.
He paced slowly. Eyes on the Starless.
"It is about purpose." He stopped to really look at them all. "You have been given a gift. Power that most cannot even imagine. You are expected to set an example for those who entrust their livelihood to you. After today, your life won't just belong to you."
Markos grimaced.
"It will belong to your fellow Starless. To the people who cannot protect themselves. To the Church that guides you. To the families who believe in you." He bellowed.
"Just as the Arc has called you, so do we," he said calmly. "To be shining examples of what a true Synchrite should look like."
"We will honour Lin Hua the same way we would any of you who displays such awe-inspiring feats."
He turned around and walked back up to the steps, where a black-cloaked individual stood up to meet him.
"Why are those guys in hoods?" Saphy whispered.
"Personal disciples to the Arcon." Kris muttered back. "Really powerful Synchrites that don't show their face for some reason."
They bowed slightly and revealed something in their palm, handing it to the Arcon. It was a small medal in the shape of a star.
"This is the Crimson Star award," he announced. "Given to those who prove themselves when faced in danger. Who gain notoriety."
He held it up. The candlelight caught the metal. It glowed blood red.
"We honour Lin Hua with this medal."
His acolytes began applauding, then Markos and the third years and soon the Starless joined in, except for Ezekiel, who just stared at the table. Saphy, Kris and Ester reluctantly joined the applause. They couldn't help but feel guilty. Lucius kept eating. He was drawing attention to himself.
The Arcon turned to Lucius, then shifted his focus to Arthur with a smile. "Arthur Ren of Leria, and the Arc's Authority, Lucius. Please stand."
Arthur looked around as people began turning to him. He stood up anxiously. Lucius followed sheepishly after being nudged by Se'raf.
"For your deeds and actions, you will both receive your notoriety awards," he smiled. "...That is if you pass the upcoming Trials."
"...Thank you, your Grace." Arthur bowed.
Lucius looked at Arthur bowing, then shouted really loudly.
"Yeah. Thanks."
The Arcon paused, a soft smile still etched on his face as he told them to sit. Between Se'raf constantly directing Lucius and his oblivious nature, something didn't add up to Ester.
"Okay." The Arcon clapped his hands. "Before I leave you all, I would like to invite each table up one at a time to swear the Starless Oath. The rest of you can eat and watch in the meantime if you'd like."
The Oath. Ester recoiled just remembering it. She wasn't the only one. Kris and Arthur both seemed apprehensive.
The Arcon walked back down the steps, an acolyte following him.
"The Oath is sworn by all Synchrites," he said. "To pledge their loyalty to the Church, the HoS, to each other, and to the people of Chimera."
He paused at the base of the steps. The acolyte stood beside him. Hooded. Silent.
"You are all expected to accept the vow the Oathkeeper will repeat for you." He gestured to the figure next to him. His smile returned. "You do this, fame and glory is in your future."
He turned to the right, away from Ester's side of the U-shaped table. He called the first table up, the one closest to the head table, and they nervously scrambled up to him. He patted each one on the shoulder with the same holy smile, saying a few words to each.
He turned to the acolyte, who stepped forward, brought his hands close together and muttered something. Green light filled between their palms, causing the Starless to step back abruptly. The green light dimmed just as fast as it appeared, morphing in shape until they were holding a bird, no bigger than their palms. It was white, with a slight tint of orange. Its beak was black and its eyes white.
"Flo beast?" Saphy whispered nervously next to Ester. "W-why would they need a Flo beast?"
She glanced at Lucius, who had now stopped eating, a piece of bread forgotten in his hand as he watched the procession.
"This is Oathkeeper." The Arcon's voice resonated throughout the hall. He turned to the small bird, its head tilted slightly, and nuzzled it.
"It won't hurt you… It can't."
He looked at the first table. At a girl with ginger hair who was trembling.
"What is your name?"
"E-Erin!" She flinched.
"Erin," he repeated with a smile. "A fine name. You will do wondrous things."
He turned to the acolyte. Nodded.
The acolyte's voice was deep. Firm.
"Erin. Do you swear by the Arc to serve the Church's will?"
She whispered, "Yes."
"Do you swear to guard its secrets?"
"Yes."
"Do you swear to become what it needs?"
Her voice was thin. "Yes."
The acolyte paused briefly.
"Do you swear that you are no longer your own?"
The question was a physical blow to her. So vague, it left her speechless. Yet the weight of everyone watching, waiting for her reply, she said the words that she was supposed to say.
"...Yes."
Oathkeeper let out a small cry and Erin doubled over, clutching her index finger. Whispers exploded around her.
"Oh sh—" Ezekiel stood up.
The Arcon raised his hands, trying to rein in the crowd.
"Please wait, Starless." He placed a hand on the girl. "She is fine."
She lurched back upright, her face showing no signs of discomfort but a slight confusion as she clutched her right hand. A mark was there, only for a second, already fading.
He turned to face the Starless who stood next to her, repeating the same question with a smile. "What is your name, Starless?"
"What was that?" Ester whispered.
Kris grimaced.
"A Flo bind," he said. They looked at him. "Probably an insurance policy."
Ezekiel looked from Kris to the Arcon. "They don't trust us..."
Lucius snorted. "Of course not, stupid! What would stop high-level Synchrites from going rogue and threatening countries?"
Ester thought about it. It made sense. From the Church's viewpoint, Synchrites were unpredictable, dangerous beings. Applying such contingencies should have been expected. She didn't even know what she would do if she gained power like Lin Hua's.
She wanted strength to oppose the Church, yet they were the ones applying contingencies to her. And what did they mean by you aren't your own?
The phrasing rubbed her the wrong way. The whole thing rubbed her the wrong way.
They watched as the whole table said their vows and returned to their seats. Clapping filled the air. The Arcon was already eyeing the next table, beckoning them with a holy smile. Another round of questions, another round of yeses, another round of applause.
They were allowed to continue with the Banquet, but no one could take their eyes off the centre of the hall. Their hunger died, leaving only a sense of dread and anticipation for when they were called.
As soon as Gideon's table was beckoned, he was the first to rise, immediately bowing before the Arcon with reverence.
She noticed Ezekiel roll his eyes in a disapproving manner.
The Arcon was taken aback by this, as if to say this one has potential. He asked each of them for their names and they spoke it. The acolyte asked the questions and they answered, Gideon the loudest.
Oathkeeper blinked and they grasped their right hands. The marks on their index fingers faded. Whilst the others looked pale and nervous, Gideon held another expression.
Pride.
He gripped his right hand with uncontrollable excitement as his table returned to their seats.
The Arcon carried on.
"Table three, you may stand."
They repeated the procedure with more enthusiasm. Maybe it was Gideon's effect. Table four and five as well. Murmurs crept up as the tables that had been marked now watched the rest as they began to resume their eating.
With each calling of tables, Ester's heart pounded louder. Each call was a step closer to swearing fealty to the same people who had executed her father. Who had allowed a monster like her uncle to be an Arcon in Training. Who had locked her in a dungeon and called her a monster.
The blood rushed in her ears. The chatter of the Banquet hall faded to a distant hum. She didn't hear Saphy calling her name. Didn't even feel her hand squeezing hers.
"Ester?"
She looked up in a daze.
"It's our turn."