There really is no end to how many people will arrive here. I love welcoming the new students, but sometimes it is exhausting. Daphne and I went back to Hestia House dorms and settled in the main living room. My classmates were milling in and out. I overheard one of the students nearby complaining that his mark was different from some of the others. His was the general Hestia mark and denoted his place as a member of the house, but not a priest. I had a priests' mark and would be on the path to becoming a leader in the house or in the world. The Hestia mark was really pretty! The general one held a campfire with a house behind it. The priestly one held the framework for a house and nothing more. I would need to earn the rest of it to become a priest.
As I ponder my mark and my place in this house, I hear yet another trumpet from outside. I chose not to walk out this time. I simply stood in the window and watched as a boy approached the gates. I see everyone surround him, then the head of Poseidon house walks up. I am glad we figured out where he belongs, but I am not a fan of that house. They always get so cocky because they work with one of the big three. It is really annoying.
After he finally clears out of the main square, I head back to my room and relax for the night. In my dreams, I was approached by a pretty woman.
She was beautiful. I slammed to my knees in awe of her. I could not look anywhere but her face. She slowly approached me, as if I might spook if she got too close. Somehow, I did not think that was even possible.
"Rory, my high priest in training, I am so glad I could meet with you. I apologise for my absence as of late, but I have a mission for you. As you know, you must complete the 5 trials of the priesthood to become a high priest. Your first trial was your arrival at Belle Crest. I marked you when you crossed the gate. The second is given directly by your deity, which is why I am here."
I nod my head in submission. I am blessed to have been chosen by the home of the Greek gods. She is the warmth of a fire after a long, cold day. I would do anything to serve her. "Please, Lady Hestia, how can I serve you and earn my place?"
"Gather the others of your position, one from each of the primary houses. You will need to work together if you will become the greatest priests and priestesses of your generation. But I will warn you, if you fail, there will not be a second opportunity. Once you fail, your mark will never complete. Do not fail me, Rory. For the sake of Belle Crest and your friends, we need the high priests to be settled within 3 years, or all of your hard work will be for nothing."
I bow and accept my instructions from the goddess.
When I woke, I knew my mission, but I had to figure out who they were. It dawned on me that I would be one of the thirteen if my job was to get them together. I needed to figure out who else would be a part of the group. I thought about who it might be as I got ready. It was Saturday and I did not have classes. Because it was warm, I assumed most people would be at Drip Point, the lake. The Poseidon kids had probably made it a waterpark at this point and I wanted to see the new additions.
When I got there, I saw Irena sitting with a couple of the older Hermes kids. As I passed, I noticed her mark looked different from those around her. Hers looked like a shoe, while the ones around her were clearly letters with wings. She is only 13, but I guess Hermes chose her to one day be the high priestess of the school. I walk up to her and check in.
"Hey, Irena. How are you? Settling in ok?" She nods pleasantly and hops off of the bench to join me.
"Never better! I am really glad I found this place. The head of Hermes House sent a letter to my guardians explaining my presence here and that I would be residing here permanently. I get to stay here as long as I want."
"That is so awesome! Would you want to meet with me later on after dinner and meet a few other people like us? I would love to hear your story more and there are many like us here. You do know you're going to be a priestess one day, right?"
"I am? That is so cool! I cannot wait to see what I need to do! I will see you tonight." She walked back to her friends and I walked away from her. I went to the edge of the water and settled in. I watched as other students jumped off the water tower. I am scared of heights, so that is a big no from me, but I understand the appeal.
I was startled by Daphne as she sat next to me. She was all smiles and was excitedly starting a conversation, which I missed the first few seconds of because my heart was pounding.
"-and he is smart, and funny, and just ahhhhhhhh!" She shrieked. She was talking about a boy, but which one this time? With how she talks, you think she would be part of Aphrodite's House.
"Slow down, who are you talking about this time?"
She gave me an exasperated stare and rolled her eyes. "I am talking about the new Poseidon boy. His name is Samia and he seems perfect!"
I gave her a look and laughed. She is always trying to find someone to love. I think she will find her person when she least expects it, but until then, I am going to let her play with her dating life. Shortly after that exchange of details, Poseidon boy sidles up to us.
"Why are you two not in the water with the rest of us?"
Daphne giggled and quickly responded, "Because unlike you and the rest of Poseidon House, we don't dry the second we leave the water. I don't know about Rory, but I personally don't like to be dripping from lake water."
"Fair enough. I will give you that. My group does get really lucky with that don't we. Anyway, I have a weird question for you both. My mark is on my forearm, and the rest of Poseidon House has their marks there too, but mine looks different. Why?"
Daphne looked baffled for a second so I answered him. "You are a high priest in the Poseidon House. Your mark will look different because you are a distinguished member of the house. I am a high priest of Hestia. My mark looks different, too. See?"
I pointed to my heart mark and to Daphne's which was visible over her swimsuit. Her mark was a simple house while mine had the hearth in front of it and was not fully filled in. His mark had a wave, but the normal marks had a fully developed wave with a beach line. I wonder what his mark will develop into when he becomes a full priest.
"I am having a high priest/ess meeting later on tonight if you want to come. I need to see how many of us are here and start figuring out what we need to do to finish our training. Maybe one of the House Leaders will know."
"Yes, I am totally there. I will meet you at Hestia's floor right after dinner?" I nod my assent and get up to leave. I needed to go see who else might be on my priestly list to find. I get back to my room and I make a checklist of the gods and the high priest/esses that I have found.
Zeus – ?
Poseidon – Samia
Hades – ?
Hera – ?
Aphrodite – ?
Hestia – ?
Athena – ?
Apollo – ?
Artemis – ?
Hermes - Irena
Ares – ?
Dionysus – ?
Hephaestus – ?
I felt my mark heat a little when I wrote in the first two names. I knew it was a sign that I was on the right track, But finding the others might prove difficult if they have not arrived yet. First step, find one of the House Leaders to help me with this endeavor. Maybe they are in the Staff Office Center…