Sursey’s hand came down and there was a hollow thud that seemed to have drawn in all the sound in the room. He could only hear his breath and that of his opponent, both panting from exhaustion. Sursey stood up, taking in a deep breath, he bowed to their opponent and then looked to the master. He had a slight smile that was only coming through his eyes. His hand rose and he declared, “Sursey wins.”

There was no clapping or cheering, but a small murmur. His opponent stood up and bowed back, eyes quickly looking away. They both turned to kneel at the side with the others. The next pair entered the middle to spar. Sursey had seen them fight plenty of times before, neither had improved in months, it would be a rather boring match.

His eyes wandered around the room. The seniors were sitting on the side, evaluating those who they would end up taking on in their asesh as an apprentice, and there were some guests who had been invited to see the prospects. Sursey was the only kai pupil who had not been matched with a senior or given an assignment outside the academy. This was to be done for all the pupils at the school for they would be asesh now upon the completion of the rite and receiving their tattoos; they would enter the world. 

Sursey spotted a recently wed couple sitting in the crowd; the henna markings were still clearly visible. The two of them didn’t look much older than he did. They were not watching the match, just chatting to each other. An older tarwan was sitting next to them, he did not seem impressed with this fight either. As his eyes continued to scan the room, it seemed not many were. He saw the two seniors who would be the mentors of the ones fighting; both were shaking their heads in disappointment. Sursey knew though, even if he beat all the other pupils and rose above them, none of the seniors would take him as an apprentice. 

The fights continued for the rest of the morning, some more interesting than others. The master dismissed them all, and then all the pupils were let back to their rooms to prepare for the ceremony. Their ceremonial skirt was a wrapped white thin fabric, the edges lined with thick dark stitching. 

All the pupils were gathered in the courtyard, their seniors stood lined up on the sides, a few of the guests remained and stood behind them. The pupils knelt in the middle, facing towards where the master and a priest of the Tribune stood. Together the master and the priest recited the story of Nikar Ashtus, the guardian of the tombs of the ancients. Steadfast, pious and filial; he stood guarding the ancestors of his kin against bandits, demons and the impure. The master then reminded them all of their duty to each other and those that they would serve; as they were all orphans and did not know their family, Devadas provided them a new one, Zacsoth would bless them today bound by rite, and if they stayed true to their new brotherhood and duty, Eredadgaus would reunite them like any other clan. The priest then said his prayers and walked by each one, smearing blue ash upon their faces. 

Afterwards, they all were all taken away two at a time to receive their tattoos. The temple’s inkmaster and his apprentice were both there, as orphans they would all receive the same simple tattoo on their right forearm: the symbol of the Tribune, three intersecting and overlapping lines; one red for Zacsoth, one gold for Devedas and one silver for Eredaugus. 

Slowly as the afternoon went on, the new aseash pupils met with their mentors and headed back to the main hall. The master took the guests away. Sursey ended up standing alone in the courtyard after the priest and temple inkmaster left. He squatted down and rested. 

Sursey heard the master shout and stood up, he was across the courtyard towards the main hall, beckoning them over. Sursey walked over and bowed, “master.”

“We are about to eat, you wouldn’t want to miss the feast would you?” He said with a smile.

”No.”

”Smile, aseshand, today you have joined the Sulithi brotherhood, you should be proud.”

”Master, what will become of me?”

He firmly put a hand on his shoulder, “that is for you to decide.”

”Is it not you who decides who my senior is or where I go after this?”

”Yes, I am responsible for setting you onto a path,” he leaned in close, “you however, are the one who decides how to traverse it.”

He stood back and ran in place, and Sursey let out a laugh. “You could blaze through it, off to decide the next path on your own.”

He stopped and hung his head down, walking around Sursey slowly and spoke in a low tone, “or you could walk slowly and spend all the time looking at your feet, not noticing anything as you move along.”

“I am not walking around like that, master.”

”Not when you came over,” he poked his chest, “but in here.”

He motioned towards the main hall, “now, come eat, it will make you feel better, and you can laugh and dance with your brothers.”

Sursey nodded and started walking, making sure to keep his head up so the master wouldn’t tease him again. 

He was not wrong about the feast. It was the best meal they all had eaten so far. They were even allowed to have some wine, and Sursey could not stop himself from smiling. All his new asesh brothers danced together with him until they were all exhausted.

—

Sursey was never the first to rise, but the first movements of those who did would wake him. Out of habit, this small group went out to practise in the morning. 

“Did the master say where you are going?” Asked his sparring partner.

“No.” Sursey pressed his attack. 

“You’ll probably end up going to the temple anyway.” The other blocked everything.

”I’m Sulithi like the rest of you.” 

“You’re just a reject jecth, no one will want someone like you.”

Sursey cried out and tackled him. They fought on the ground, the other grappled Sursey and pinned him down. The two others came over and laughed, one of them said, “you aren’t even that good.”

One whispered in the ear of the other and he ran off, the first one lifted up his robe and started peeing on Sursey. He yelled out and tried to get free, but was firmly held down.

“Someone’s coming!”

They all scattered away, Sursey could hear their laughter fading. He got up and wanted to run after them, but heard the door to the courtyard opening from the other side and he hid out of sight. It was some of the other asesh leaving with their mentors, the ones who were going go south to the marshlands.

Sursey sneaked back inside after they passed and went to the baths. He pulled up water from the well and just splashed it over his head, throwing the bucket to the side. Someone was behind him, Sursey wasn’t letting anything else happen to him this morning. He whipped around, putting all his force into his fist.

It met the master’s hand, which was as steady and hard as stone.

“You need to learn to stay in control rather than yielding to Dezelder.”

“I thought I was supposed to stop a threat before it became one!”

“Am I a threat?”

“Of course not!”

“If I had been your new master, the one you are meant to protect, you would have stricken me. What would happen to you then?”

“I would be whipped.”

“Or you could be killed for raising your hand to your own master.” He smacked Sursey on the top of his head. Sursey looked at him and the master smacked him again. This time he kept his eyes down, his nails digging into his hand.

“Good. Wash up, get ready, and kowtow in the courtyard for striking at me. Wait for me there after.”

Sursey nodded and did as he was told, finishing washing himself and returning to his bed to get a new robe to change into. He went out to the quiet courtyard and faced the shrine, kowtowing five times. He stood and waited.

—-

“It’s been a long day for you, hasn’t it?” A voice said behind them. Sursey turned around to see the man and the young married couple from the day before.

“I didn’t hear you coming.” He said, bowing to the guests.

“Lost in thought?” Asked the girl.

He nodded, “it has been, as you said, a long day.”

“You fought well yesterday,” said the boy.

“Thank you,” Sursey responded, though he needed to think of them differently like himself – they were asesh now, all of them, young woman and young men.

The tarwan man nodded and cleared his throat, “be honest with me, how well do you fight with different weapons.”

Sursey looked at him, his eyes were serious, but he did not sense any judgment in his voice. 

“I’m good with small blades, up close, and I like fighting with a staff, but the master says I always leave myself open when I lunge. Much longer weapons I have the same problem, the spear and such. I’m not good with a bow, but I can also throw small blades the furthest.”

He nodded as Sursey spoke, “I thought as much.”

”I don’t think that’s an issue,” said the younger man, he looked at the young woman who nodded.

”No, no… ah, forgive us, we did not introduce ourselves,” the tarwan said, raising his hands and bowing his head slightly, “I am the Hochir Patriach, and this is my fourth son, Hochir Dramoin, and my daughter-in-law, Hochir Nirva.”

The other two bowed a little more after the father introduced them. Sursey bowed again himself saying, “I am Sulithi Sursey.”

”Most excellent!” It was the master’s voice. “Sorry for running behind. I had to grab some things.”

Sursey noticed he was carrying his bag, it was packed. He looked at the master with wide eyes, who smiled at him and nodded.

“Shall I explain the details?” The master asked, and Hochir nodded, “Sursey, your new masters are now the new couple here, the Hochir are from the Gartem Moutains. The patriarch has agreed to have you trained further as your journey back across the Gnahi basin. Now, come the three of you, your hands together. No, your right hands.”

He pulled out the smudge stick from his robe and made a circle across the back of all three of their hands.

“And that’s that,” the master said smiling, “much quicker than the other ceremonies you’ve all been through the last few days.”

Dramoin nodded and smiled, “appreciated. Thank you, master Sulithi.”

Nivra said, “Pleasure to have met you, Tribune bless you.”

“And may the Horizon watch over your journey home.” The master put a hand on Sursey’s shoulder, “farewell.”

He turned around and went back inside. Sursey picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulders. The Hochir Patriach turned and led them out of the courtyard. Nivra smiled at Sursey before grabbing Dramoin’s hand and they followed their father. Sursey kept his head high and did not look back as he passed the threshold of the courtyard.