[Firenze]: 56.Sharman - The New Beginning: Chapter5

CHAPTER FIVE – THE SHARMAN GUILD

Kerrin entered the guild grounds with head still hanging down. Kenaz walked up to Kerrin and placed his arm around her shoulders to comfort her. But all this did was to make her more unhappy and in ways slightly disturbed. The everlasting thought of what was about to happen would plague Kerrin for the rest of her days.

She watched the other apprentices battle each other in the guild grounds under the careful watch of Sharman. One thing she did notice when they were battling each other, was the colour of each of their shots of magic. Kenaz went to explain that in an apprentice's first year they were tested again to discover what their preferred element and season was, this was to help them find a spirit guardian that would be better suited to them. He went on to explain that there were four elements, fire, earth, water and air; and apprentices would be designated two elements, and would train to the highest degree of their elements, the apprentices not only had to train in their designated elements but they also had to have a certain amount of knowledge in the other two elements. He added at the end that the season the apprentice specialized in would be of their own choosing. Kenaz turned to Kerrin and looked at her, he was about to ask her a question when the High Sharman appeared from no where.

“So is this your long lost niece Sharman Kenaz?” asked the High Sharman.

“Yes it is High Lord, this is Kerrin, Family of Tir” replied Sharman Kenaz.

The High Sharman turned and looked at Kerrin with his cold dark eyes, “Do you have any idea who I am Kerrin, family of Tir?” asked the High Sharman in a mysterious voice.

“Yes I do m’lord, and I do know a little about your history as a Sharman as well plus I know a few things that could ruin your whole life sir” replied Kerrin in a spiteful tone.

“Is that so Kerrin, I would like you to join me for the evening meal in my quarters alone tonight if you would, to discuss the matter of your education and so that I may get to know you a bit better than I already do.” Asked the High Sharman.

“If it is fine with my Uncle then I shall dine with you tonight? Uncle Kenaz is it okay with you if I dine with the High Sharman tonight?” asked Kerrin unsure of what she was doing.

“Yes Kerrin you may as long as the High Sharman shows you the way back to my apartment” said Sharman Kenaz.

“Sharman Kenaz, Kerrin can stay in my home tonight as I believe we won’t be finished discussing her education until late this evening.” Said the High Sharman.

“Very well High Sharman, would you do Kerrin the high honour in testing her for the elements and help her in her choice of season?” asked Kenaz.

“Yes Sharman Kenaz I will do Kerrin’s testing for you, let’s go to the testing arena.”

Kerrin followed both Kenaz and the High Sharman to the testing arena. The testing arena was not as big as she expected it to be, the size of it was no bigger than the average size of two houses. When they entered the arena a sudden rush of energy rushed passed her knocking her back a few paces. The High Sharman went directly to the center of the arena and beckoned her to follow. As she neared the High Sharman she began to feel uneasy about her surroundings and she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before finally stopping before the High Sharman.

“This is the testing arena and in this arena I will be testing you on your current abilities as a Sharman.” Boomed the High Sharman.

“Hang on one minute, I have no Sharman powers, so how am I to be tested?” roared Kerrin.

Ignoring her anger the High Sharman sent an array of fireballs towards her. Kerrin drew her mothers sword from its scabbard and deflected every fireball with ease, after that she carefully sheathed it again and stood there focusing her anger into the palms of her hands so she would be ready to strike the High Sharman. He stood there watching Kerrin with intense concentration knowing that if she carried on building up the energy she had within her, she would be able to destroy him so he sent the next wave of attack in the form of flying rocks. Kerrin dashed forward and dodged some of the rocks and in amazement she also managed to destroy some of the rocks by facing her palm to the rocks she wished to be gone.

“Kerrin’s first element is air” roared the High Sharman as Kerrin stood there face to face with him. Kerrin bowed and returned to her original position.

As Kerrin walked back to her original position she noticed that her feet were becoming wetter by the minute and she looked down to discover that the floor was covered in water, she turned around and the High Sharman was missing.

“What is the meaning of this? Where in the fuck is the High Sharman?” bellowed Kerrin.

A shallow breath went down her neck as she realized that the High Sharman was right behind her about to pound her with one of the biggest waves she had ever seen. Kerrin ran and as she ran the water became deeper and deeper. She reached the end of the arena, when she noticed that there was a shield above her head, she jumped up and grabbed it hoping it would be of some use against the oncoming wave. The wave drew nearer and nearer, Kerrin ran towards the wave and jumped onto the shield just before hitting the wave. Kerrin felt as if she was one with the wave when she was travelling through it and the fact she was able to breathe underwater didn’t scare her one bit, for once in her entire life she felt safe and free. She focused her energy and turned the wave unto the High Sharman. The water evaporated into thin air leaving just her and the High Sharman in the center of the arena.

“Kerrin, family of Tir your final element is water. An unusual combination might I add. I suggest you take on the season of winter as it will fit in well with your two elements.” Said the High Sharman.

“High Sharman thank you for testing me and I will take your advice and choose winter as my season.” Replied Kerrin.

“Good, I will see you tonight Kerrin at 6 o’clock, do not be late.”

“Till tonight High Sharman.” Kerrin smiled and bowed, and the High Sharman left. 

Kerrin looked at Kenaz with a smile. He looked at her with the proudest look an Uncle could give his young niece. She knew that she had done well and now with her two elements water and air and her season of winter, she would have to study and train hard for her new role in life. They exited the testing arena and into the guild grounds and the sun shone brightly.

“I am proud of you Kerrin; you have won the respect of the High Sharman that is slightly unusual for an apprentice.” Said Sharman Kenaz with a smile.

“I am surprised at my two elements. Why did the High Sharman say that water and air was an unusual combination?” asked Kerrin.

“Well for some reason, only those who are destined to be a High Sharman end up with that particular combination of elements and are very powerful to compete against.” Replied Sharman Kenaz.

“So in other words you are saying that I could become the High Sharman.” Said Kerrin.

“That is exactly what I am saying Kerrin, you are very much correct and now we must return to my apartment in order for you to prepare for your evening meal with the High Sharman.” Said Sharman Kenaz.

Kerrin was proud of herself as she was now in knowing of her abilities within the guild but she found herself questioning her character overall. She thought to herself, she was only a day ago a thief in the most notorious gang in Nied, The Hajj and now she was an apprentice in the Sharman’s guild about to learn all about the magical elements of the world, and had the power to be the next High Sharman with the correct training. This hit her all of a sudden and her stomach began to churn with anxiety and most of all the fear that she might lose the respect of her father in the process of becoming a Sharman but one thing she kept in mind was the fact she might be making her mother proud, and that is what counted to her.

Kerrin turned to her Uncle and asked “What was my mother like?” Kenaz was shocked at the question as he never expected her to ask him that, he placed his arm around her shoulders and looked at her.

“Well your mother looked just like you when she was your age; she had a wild and unruly spirit until she met your Father when he was delivering a large quantity of Pekin wine for a party which our parents were having that night, she fell in love instantly with your Father. In reality I believe that if she didn’t meet your father that day she would have been a truly powerful Sharman and her arranged marriage with the High Sharman would have been a most honourable one for our family.” Replied Sharman Kenaz with slight disdain to the question.

“So if my mother had married the High Sharman, she would have been a Sharman and I would be the daughter of the High Sharman, maybe that’s why he keeps looking at me strangely.” Replied Kerrin.

“I had never thought of it like that.” Said Kenaz.

Their conversation took them the duration of time they need to get to Lord Kenaz’s apartment. Once inside his apartment Kerrin dashed to her room placed her mother’s sword unto her bed and went back out to talk to Sharman Kenaz.

“Kerrin, do you know any etiquette at all? As etiquette is an important factor when dining with the High Sharman” said Sharman Kenaz unknowing of what her answer maybe.

“Yes I know my manners Uncle, I may have been brought up in the most notorious gang in Nied but I do have some decency and order. By the way call me Kerri as I prefer Kerri to Kerrin” replied Kerrin with a smile.

“Fine Kerri, I was worried that you didn’t have any manners because of the way you were brought up. By the way you should have a new set of apprentice’s uniforms in your room now with your elements and season sewn on and may I suggest you have a bath before putting your new uniform on” said Sharman Kenaz.

“I think your right, I will go have a bath right away” Kerrin walked to her room which was connected onto an en-suite bathroom. She walked into the bathroom and went to turn on the hot water when she realised there were no taps of which to turn the water on and off. So she stormed out to the living quarters and demanded to know where the taps were.

“Oh I almost forgot there are no taps; you have to produce your own water using your Sharman abilities. I will show you how to do it” said Sharman Kenaz.

“Thank you Uncle” replied Kerrin.

They walked into Kerrin’s bathroom and Sharman Kenaz stood there for a while contemplating on what he was going to do that evening whilst Kerrin was dining with the High Sharman. Kerrin grew impatient with waiting and tugged her Uncle’s robes.

“Will you please show me how to run a bath as I only have an hour to get ready and get down to the High Sharman’s house?” said Kerrin impatiently.

“Right first of all my elements are fire and air so it is slightly more difficult for me to control the water element but for you controlling water should be totally natural. Place your hand over the bath tub and think about how it felt when you travelled through the water during your testing, now use that feeling and make an image of water pouring into the bath tub” said Sharman Kenaz.

Kerrin focused on what her Uncle had just said to her and after a while water came trickling out of no where. She was proud of her accomplishment and tried making it go faster and within this time Lord Kenaz left the bathroom, and returned to reading his book. Kerrin had finished running her bath and was now soaking in the warmth of the soapy water. The water had a lavender and juniper scent in it which made the atmosphere so relaxing Kerrin almost fell asleep. After washing her hair and cleaning herself thoroughly she climbed out the bath and willed the water to evaporate from the bath tub, leaving it empty.

Carefully opening the latch of the door leading into her room, a cool breeze blew into the bathroom creating goose pimples from head to toe on Kerrin but she ignored it and carried on into her room. Her room was a bright orange in the Niedian sunset which added a warmth to the room. She carefully dried herself and her hair but she didn’t dry it properly as she wanted the natural effect that she was so used to. Kerrin picked up her new, carefully folded apprentices uniform and took note of the two symbols that were on the left sleeve. The first symbol was two wave-like lines sewn in blue which represented water the second symbol was two straight lines sewn in yellow which represented air. Fully dressed, Kerrin exited her room and went into the living quarters where Sharman Kenaz was waiting patiently for her so he can escort her to the High Sharman’s house on the far side of the guild.

“You look divine Kerrin, shall we make our way down to the High Sharman’s home?” said Sharman Kenaz with a smile.

“I believe we should Uncle” said Kerrin and within a few seconds they were out the door and on their way to the High Sharman’s house.

The path to the High Sharman’s house was long, dark and frightening but Kerrin was unafraid and looked forward to her meal with the High Sharman, unlike Sharman Kenaz who was slightly shocked at the High Sharman’s invitation for her to join him for the evening meal but shook it off.