Nerluce inhaled.

He gripped his hands together in the makeshift handshake. He rubbed his palms, creating the heat, the friction. It was warm in all of the best ways possible. Nerluce felt the warmth fill his chest. He felt it travel through his veins, reaching out through his limbs to the palm of his hand where the heat had all began.

And when Nerluce exhaled, there was fire in his hands. Every time, excitement raced through him. Every time felt like the first time. Nerluce still couldn't believe he was doing it. He was always so amazed that the fire was there, that it had always been there, just waiting for him to call on it. It danced cheerfully between his fingertips, hovering an inch above one palm and an inch below the other.

Again, Nerluce inhaled and this time he stretched his arms apart. The flame stretched with him. It was his twin, his mirror, his shadow. Its color darkened. Yellows turned to oranges and oranges turned to reds. His fingers curled and spread, guiding the fire into a familiar shape. He'd called it so many times that he hardly needed to think anymore. He knew its shape better than the features on his mother's face. He knew this sword better than he knew himself.

Nerluce exhaled and when he did, he was holding Ealatas, crimson fire licking his blackened fingertips.

Clapping.

Nerluce lifted his gaze to the High Priestess. The scene before him felt familiar. The High Priestess on her throne, Aristide to her side, holding a now enthusiastically clapping Kierli. Taayir standing on the other side, her chin raised with pride. All of the other teachers standing and looking at Nerluce, nodding their approval. These were the people who had witnessed him having his Affinity tested.

And now they seemed to be here to witness whether or not Nerluce would be granted a position as Seraph of Ethera.

Before Nerluce even entered the room, they had spoken - at length - about him. They talked of the marks he made on his tests. They talked of his personality and behavior. They talked of any incidents he'd been involved in. They looked at all of his past accomplishments. And when all was spoken, they each made a verdict without even seeing his performance today. They either recommended he be made a Seraph or recommended he be sent home.

Scanning their faces, Nerluce had no idea what each had said about him. He would like to think that Taayir had recommended he become a Seraph but... maybe she didn't think he was ready yet. She didn't say it but Nerluce knew she was surprised he'd managed to summon the fire.

Aristide probably recommended he become a Seraph. At least, he'd always told Nerluce that he thought Nerluce had the potential for it. He... probably wouldn't lie about that. But maybe potential and reality were two separate things.

Kierli probably advocated for him quite a bit. She liked his stories. Nerluce wondered how much say the Chosen Light got in these matters. A part of him would be relieved to know that a three-year-old wasn't in charge of making all the most important decisions but... another part kind of wished she was. At least he'd get to stay then.

But, no matter what the others recommended, the High Priestess had the final verdict.

She stood up from her throne, white eyes both all-seeing and blind. She came down the steps, robes trailing after her. The room was quiet, painfully so. She took Nerluce by the arm and said in a soft voice, "Walk with me?"

"Of course, High Priestess," Nerluce said.

They walked.

Nerluce had never liked the temple all that much and avoided it for the most part. It was beautiful, in a haunting way. Even now, he kept his eyes trained on the ground, not wanting to look at the pupilless marble gods or the careful brushstrokes that made up a scene of divine and bloody vengeance.

"I've heard many things about you," the High Priestess said.

"Good things?" Nerluce asked.

"Many things," the High Priestess said again. "Good things and bad things. But... mostly just things."

Uncertain of what to say to that, Nerluce remained silent.

The High Priestess smiled at him. "What kind of things do you think were said about you?" she asked. "If you had to guess. I really hope you weren't eavesdropping on this conversation of ours or else you'd be in trouble."

Nerluce flushed and ducked his head. "Sorry. I don't mean to do it I just... have a bad habit of being in the wrong place at the right time."

The High Priestess chuckled. "I am not holding it against you. Just... tell me."

"Well, first there'd be something about my Affinity."

Again, the High Priestess laughed. "You're right. That was the first thing we talked about." She shook her head. "But what else?"

"I think... I think a lot of my teachers would probably say that I have trouble listening. That I can't sit still," Nerluce said, frowning. "They might grumble something about how they think I'm a cheat. They did that a lot. But I'm not. I just... don't think many of my teachers liked me all that much."

"Why's that?" the High Priestess asked.

"Because... I'm not smart like Eko is," Nerluce said. "I'm not... naturally smart. And I can't sit and listen. Also, I sometimes fall asleep in their classes but that's usually because I was up late doing work for their class so..." He huffed. "That might be something nice they say. I work hard. And even though I'm not naturally smart my classmates all say that I'm smart so maybe that too." He bit his cheek, trying to think of any more positives. "I... really don't think they liked me, though."

"Taayir seems to like you," the High Priestess said.

"Yeah," Nerluce said. "She likes me because I think I remind her of herself." He let a small smile slip onto his face. "I think I like her because of that too. I know I'll never be like Aristide but... I think I could be like her."

The High Priestess hummed and nodded. "Very well then."

"What?" Nerluce asked.

"You pass," the High Priestess said, easily. "You'll be made into a Seraph proper tomorrow."

"Are you-" Nerluce's eyes were wide. "That's it?"

The High Priestess laughed. "Do you want there to be more?"

Nerluce shook his head.

With a smile, the High Priestess turned and started to lead them back to the entrance of the temple. "I'm glad you think that. I think that too." Her gaze drifted and she suddenly looked very, very dreamy. "Aristide believes you have a lot of potential and I'm inclined to agree with the boy." She smiled. "I think that with enough time, you will grow to be an amazing Seraph and perhaps even a Priest of Ethera."

"Priest?" Nerluce asked.

"All of the Seraphs have potential to become Seers," the High Priestess said. "Some more than others." She winked at him.

Nerluce couldn't help but laugh. "R-really? Me? A Seer?"

"Yes," the High Priestess said. "Rather infamously, we Seers have trouble... seeing other Seers, especially powerful ones - both present and future." She hummed.

"So... you've never had a vision of me?" Nerluce asked.

"Not one," the High Priestess said. "You also have the tendency to turn up in places originally left... dark in my visions."

"I really could become a Seer someday?"

"Most likely," the High Priestess said.

Nerluce felt a sudden excitement race through him. A Seer? He'd never considered it as something he'd be gifted in. He never really thought he'd be gifted in anything. But something as rare and powerful as Seeing? He'd never dream of it. But, when he first came to Ethera, he never would have dreamed he would be a Seraph.

Yet here he stood, regardless.

"Many of our Priests and Priestesses did not go through the hassle of all the ranks," the High Priestess said. "I myself became a Priestess shortly after obtaining the status of Seraph. Taayir was barely a middle disciple when she gained the title." The High Priestess's milky eyes looked over Nerluce. "So work hard and who knows what may happen. It may be time that Ethera has a High Priest."

Nerluce nearly choked on that implication.

"Go and celebrate with the others. I've already informed my three Seraphs of their upcoming promotion," the High Priestess said.

"Who... Lyana and Eko?" Nerluce asked.

The High Priestess said nothing but it didn't take a Seer to know that those two would have passed.

"Taayir should be posting the results now," the High Priestess said.

So it seemed that this conversation had no impact on the decision at all! If Taayir knew that meant that the High Priestess had made up her mind back before she stepped down from her throne, maybe even before Nerluce summoned Ealatas from his own flame. But, he didn't have time to be upset.

Instead, he ran, ready and excited to greet his friends and celebrate their accomplishments.