Pasiap Draws Breath

Even in the House of Bells, where we were taught to fight and work together as teams, there was a sense of a pecking order being established. The teasing, jesting, ego and jockeying for social position. I found it all rather despicable and pathetic sometimes, though there might be a use for social order, these juvenile actions were hardly it. One in particular, was a rather foolish, Air-aspected brat named Ledaal Kutulu who was particularly fond of throwing barbs at those he thought was of 'lesser breeding' compared to his incredibly early Exaltation and elemental features.

It began with the usual, with his talking about the Legions' debacle in the north against an Anathema. Usually, such statements would have drawn the attention and harsh punishment of Tepet Chaio, but for some reason Kutulu was smart enough to avoid such words in her presence. Or maybe he was just lucky. His words, as usual, grated on me but I managed to keep my head and temper together for the most part. The insults against my House, I deflected as best as I could. But one conversation in particular I recall even to this day, as we were working out with various personal arms on the field:

"I can't imagine why Mnemon would allow one of her daughters to be betrothed to someone of your unfortunate pedigree, Eran."

"You're astute enough to know why, Kutulu."

"Perhaps. But Mnemon is a sorceress after all. Perhaps that child was one of her get with some vile spirit or demon. It would explain why she would be willing to let such a betrothal take place, quite appropriately: the least child of Tepet with a demon's spawn."

It felt like fire had washed over me, and I tensed as I sought to control myself. I looked up at Kutulu, expecting to see those mocking eyes. But for some reason, I found a different sensation and vision descend upon me. To the far north I saw the Imperial Mountain, a memory of my own, of Cynara, and a deeper dream of a timeless power, immortal and enduring. I saw beyond the wisp that was Ledaal Kutulu and felt an unconquerable strength reach into my soul.

My eyes flickered and snapped to the Ledaal, and in a sudden movement my hand shot out to his throat. With a power beyond my own, I hammered him into the ground. I barely noticed the blast of air he'd manifested around himself, as he tried to ignite his anima banner to hurt me. But I had the strength of the Earth in my bones, and nothing could harm me. Like the Imperial Mountain itself on which even the greatest storms broke against, the Ledaal's pathetic struggles barely scathed me.

I pressed down on him, oblivious to the clamor that was bringing the teachers to us. Before they could pull me away however, my shadow and form covered him like the onset of an avalanche. "You. Will. Not. Speak. Such. Things. Again. " Each word escaped my lips, my voice rough with the raw power that was flowing through me.

I did not see him for at least a week after that, and even Chaio seemed to ease up for awhile on her severity on me for a few days. Certainly, I was among the Dragon-Blooded now, and no fool would ever question whether I truly was a child of Tepet or not.