Markab

If you go to the house Aldebaran surprised you, the fact that your girlfriend did not go there was not much of a surprise, yet you were a little shaken by her going to a rival house to yours. She seemed happy to go to Markab and when she went towards the new colleagues she gave you a smile followed by a wave. Shortly after your friend, Arsen went to the same house as her and you were glad that she had someone there. Your older sister, Mirabel, who was in more advanced grades, was also part of the pegasus house. You breathed a disappointment and Dione noticed.

"Is that your girlfriend?" She asked. "I'm sorry. That dreamy house usually doesn't get along very well with our way of looking at the world. Anyway, you have to forget about it and focus on your test."

After a while, when all students were selected for their particular homes, each home monitor called for new students. Dione guided them to the west island of the academy, where there was a considerable amount of ore, so much so that there was a mine there. The welcome bedroom at the Aldebaran house was somewhat rustic, but well organized. It was made of wood, the hall used by the Aldebarans was called the Hall of the ****, where there were wooden tables around the place, a fireplace and on the walls horns and other hunting ornaments, such as the heads of creatures. A hot feast was served on the tables, with drinks being served in horns and rustic wooden mugs.

"Good night, my brothers!" Dione greeted and the others responded warmly. "Today we celebrate our newest confreres!" She raised the drinking horn and many shared the gesture. "Newbies, party, but be prepared. We will test your resilience!" The veterans raised their glasses in approval.

After a while at that rather rustic party, Dione tapped her mug on the table to get attention. She then said that the novice test would begin and luck would decide what type of test it would be.

Inside a bronze bull, magical orbs floated. Your turn has come and you should pick up one of the random orbs that spins quickly inside the bull, as in a draw. You pulled a greenish orb and you didn't know what that meant, but by the veterans' expression it was not a good thing. Dione looked worriedly at you.

"The proof of the twelve bronze rings." She said. "We can't let him do that. That place ... is very dangerous." The others seemed to agree, until one of them intruded. It was that Bryan from before.

"I disagree." He said. "The bronze bull decided the boy's fate. We cannot interfere with that. It is the tradition, we cannot go against fate, against the choice of the bronze bull."

"But, Bryan ..."

"Everyone will do dangerous tasks, Dione, that's what makes us members of the Aldebaran house, what sets us apart from spoiled houses. If this boy is not willing to take risks he is not one of us. In addition, he will have a pair."

"Partnership?" You asked.

"Yes." Dione replied. "The admission tasks of our house are in pairs to encourage the conjunction and teamwork of the newcomers."

"And who is it? Who is my partner?"

"She." Dione pointed to the person who would partner with you. As mentioned before, not everyone at Aldebaran seemed strong and self-confident and that girl who would be your partner was an exception just like you. Her hair was black, straight with bangs, her dark eyes were hidden by the lenses of the glasses she wore, and she often refused to look into people's eyes. She approached you.

"He... hello." She greeted you. "I'm Juliet Evermore... your partner."

"I'm Warren Morinehtar... nice to meet you."

"Yes, they will die..." People started whispering. "They don't stand a chance! It's over!"

All of those whispers weren't motivating at all.

"You don't have to do this if you don't feel comfortable." Dione said to you.

"A minotaur does not give up." Bryan insisted.

You looked at the others. The veterans knew the task seemed difficult, but no newcomer had given up, you didn't want to be the first.

"Okay, just tell me what I have to do." You answered seriously and those in the room vibrated with your courage.

"Follow me." Dione said smiling slightly, but clearly impressed by your great courage, which contradicted your little body.