Hagir

It was time for my initiation, and time for my naming.

The Hewn City was always shadowy even on the brightest days. But the ShadeReaver's dojo, that was a pitch-dark cavern. It was large. No, it was huge, really, even by a guardian's standards. And it was empty, except for me. I felt like I had been swallowed. The ShadeReavers trained to fight in - and against - darkness. I had been told to come here and wait.

I was told I would be tested.

They were here. I only realized that the ShadeReavers had arrived when I felt a spiral settle next to me. I could see nothing in the darkness, and the silence was oppressive. But suddenly, the cavern felt crowded. I shifted nervously, seeming to be the only thing in the cavern that moved.

A wing lifted, revealing a pale, pastel light glowing from a cracked pearl. The light was dim, barely revealing the face of the pearlcatcher that held it. But after the pitch darkness, it was blinding. It was Raver, the clan vizier. He was a seer, a deviner. I eyed his cracked pearl nervously. He was also insane. He could see magic, everyone said, and he had true visions... and sometimes he saw things that just weren't really there. He breathed on his pearl, and it shed shards of light.

"Ready," he smiled, and paused for a heartbeat.

"I don't know. I..."

The cavern erupted.

The ShadeReaver's racing-lines flashed with clashing neon lights, a blinding swirl. And the noise! The bass bellows from the larger dragons, trills from darting fae, and trumpets and shouts and whistles from the everyone else were deafening. All was in motion, stomping, slashing, thumping, crashing, practice-fighting in the dance that was the ShadeReaver's art. I was lost in it, dazzled.

"It's in the rhythm. It's magic. Let it in," a passing voice shouted, seeming like a whisper in the din.

I was absorbed in motion, sound, and light. I lost all sense of time.

I didn't realize when it ended. All was silent again. The cavern was empty, and dark... except for my racing-lines, now glowing.

I was in. I had begun.

I was a ShadeReaver.