The arrangement of the room was like this: the side where the mages were standing was to my left. Students stood to my right. I was in the office on the side. The office had a glass door through which I had been peeping. The boxes provided even more cover. So I was hidden. And thus safe. And I was now praying to God that they would not realise the simple counting error that they had killed off one student. So, there should be one dose left.
By the end, some students had started moving. I was also one of the first to break free. I crawled back and under the desk to hide. Right before the students came to see if they could find something to open the locked doors from the inside. Needless to say. The effort was futile.
A few hours later, The gates opened, and the mages walked back in.
From the shouts and occasional comments. They were making a circle of power. The roof opened up to reveal the twinkling night sky with a bright, clear moon, which was slowly turning Red.
"Oh the Chandra Baksh array?"
"Yes, we thought that it would be best considering the event tonight."
"Yes, makes sense."
I finally peeped out to see the glowing red circle. It's glow increased as the Red of the moon deepened and the golden runes on the wall grew brighter in turn.
"Perfect, the array is active. Let's begin in five minutes, when the moon reaches the proper phase."
"Yes, sir."
When the ritual started,
10 of the crying and afraid students stood in a neat line in the circle. "Begin!"
They hesitated, but obeyed. Last few hours had introduced a bit of reality in our brains.
Their veins bulged, and the screams began. The circle seemed to be reacting and amplifying their pain. But it didn't last long. Most of them burned up and turned to ash.
But one survived.
A tall, strong boy from Electrical. Aditya.
"Less than one minute. No element, no Shastra formation. A Shudra!"
"Congratulations, little one. What's your name?"
"A-Aditya!"
"Welcome, Aditya. You have successfully stepped into the world of true Power. And the Patils welcome you with open arms."
I couldn't see clearly, but I guess they were welcoming him? Oh, I see, the dots connected. Ahis is an initiation ritual! A very deadly initiation ritual ritual from the looks of it. It grants powers to the suriovrs. In that case, I had stumbled upon a jackpot! I just had to live long enough to cash it in.
A crushing scream of pain jolted me out of my reverie. One of the mages held a ritualistic glowing hot branding Iron the size of my head. Aditya's shirt was torn, and a huge glowing brand was marked onto his back. An Eagle holding the sun in its talons inside an intricate circle of runes. I instinctively brought my hand up to my back.
The harrowing gamble continued. Students stepped forward. Those who didn't were dragged. When they broke a guy's leg the students became obedient again. They weren't fighters. And death wasn't certain, right? Everyone is a hero in their own story. Mostly, only one survived, sometimes none. Almost all were called Shudra for some reason. I remember that it was the ancient cast system that was now banned and outlawed. But the context of use seemed very different.
One of the survivors was giving off cold steam; his process lasted longer, too. Almost 3-4 minutes. To which the note taker seemed overjoyed. They didn't even mark him with the eagle crest.
"An Agni Vaisya, Rajkumari. Your presence here must be auspicious."
She ignored the flattery.
"Just a Vaisya nonetheless. Wake me up if you see a kshatriya."
Her words sounded dismissive, but she was grinning from ear to ear. Which actually made her look really beautiful now that I wasn't terrified out of my mind.
In the end, they got 12 Shudras and 1 Vaisya. The whole thing was over in less than an hour.
Once they collected all the ashes, the Rajkumari addressed the newbies as a fire manifested above her hands and began dancing on her palms.
"What you have just experienced is the grace of the Patil Rajgharana (Patil Royal Household). You have been given the chance to shed your mortal constraints and step into the path of light and power. Be grateful."
The fire curled and moved up her hand like a snake.
"Magic is merely the smoke.
What we have ignited in you is the bloodline—a lineage, a privilege that would have never been yours to claim in this life,
We have torn open what lay dormant.
We have rewritten your flesh with our proud heritage.
And now, though you stand trembling, you stand as something beyond human.
Be grateful.
This awakening is not a ritual anyone can survive.
It is a gift reserved only for those the Rājgharaṇā deems worthy.
You live because we allowed it.
You changed because we willed it.
And everything you have and will ever have is our grace and nothing more.
Do not forget:
Bloodline is Power.
Power demands loyalty.
Loyalty demands life.
And we have given you your bloodline. So we expect, nay we demand payment.
From this moment on, your life is no longer yours.
It belongs to the Patil Rājgharaṇā—the House that has taken you, reforged you, and branded you with its strength.
Every heartbeat you feel is a gift of our mercy.
Every surge of magic you sense is merely a reminder of the grace that we bestowed.
But treat these bonds not as chains of despair.
The Patils reward loyalty,
Obedience is not the end of ambition—
It is the beginning of it.
Serve well, and we will raise you.
Prove your worth,
And you will find doors opening that no unawakened soul could ever touch."
The fire curled behind her and began rising up as a huge cloud. It changed shape as her eyes began glowing a fiery gold. The flames stirred and took shape as an eagle emerged from the yellowish-orange cloud, spreading its wings right behind her.
"Those who excel rise higher—faster—than they ever could in the world outside these walls.
Yes, you are bound.
But you are bound to greatness.
And the ones who rise with us rise far.
See the crest not as a chain but as the badge of honour and power that it is. Accept your new life, and carve out your place through loyalty and strength.
Do that, and you will not only survive—
You will ascend.
Your service begins now.
Your climb begins here."