The Unseen Path

I wandered through the temple's corridors, trying to make sense of what had just happened. The experience was still vivid in my mind, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that my life had just taken a dramatic turn. As I walked, I noticed my fellow students huddled in small groups, discussing their own experiences. I decided to join them, hoping to find some clarity. "Hey, what did you guys experience?" I asked, trying to sound casual. One of my classmates, a tall and lanky boy named Arin, turned to me with a grin. "I felt a hand on my shoulder, and suddenly I knew that Bentil was with me. It was like a surge of confidence and order." I nodded, intrigued. "That's cool. What about you, Lirien?" Lirien, a quiet and reserved girl, spoke up. "I felt a shiver down my spine, and I saw a vision of Rothal's shield in my mind. I knew he was my patron." As the others shared their experiences, it became clear that mine was unique. None of them had met their patron in person, like I had with Fyrke. They had all felt a gentle touch, a whisper in their ear, or a vision, but nothing as intense as what I had experienced. When they turned to me, expecting me to share my story, I hesitated. I didn't want to reveal the truth – that I had been chosen by a goddess of darkness, and that she had granted me the power to navigate the shadows. Something about that felt...private. "Oh, it was similar to yours," I lied, trying to downplay the experience. "I just felt a presence, and I knew that Rothal was with me." The others nodded, seemingly satisfied with my response. But I could sense their curiosity, their desire to know more. I knew I had to be careful, to keep my secret hidden, at least for now. As we continued to talk, I couldn't help but wonder what it meant to be Fyrke's champion. What kind of power did I possess, and what kind of expectations came with it? And what about the others – how would their relationships with their patrons shape their futures? The ceremony was over, but for me, it was only just beginning. I felt a sense of excitement and trepidation, knowing that my path was about to diverge from the others. And as I looked around at my fellow students, I realized that I was no longer just a Tabir tribesmember, trying to prove myself in a world that didn't always understand me. I was something more – a champion of the shadows, with a mysterious and powerful patron watching over me.