The Paradisus Chronicles Book 1: Vengeance

"This event has been an exciting one for the leaders of the different houses to watch from the beginning to the end. Now that the event is over, the leaders of the different nearby Terran houses will choose all the people that they want to become active members of one of their strike forces. If you are not chosen by one of them, then you will be required to become a mercenary," I saw the announcer say on the display screen that was in the waiting room.

I hoped that I would be selected by one of the houses because I would rather kill myself than become a mercenary since they are no more than scum to me.

"We will begin by choosing where the mages of our race will go". The announcer said as the door on the opposing wall slid open, and I saw a set of stairs that led to the area where my fate was going to be decided.

As soon as the door slid open, I saw that all the mages moved up the stairs in unison like one giant machine. The thought of how they acted felt very odd and inhuman to me.

It only took about thirty minutes for all the mages to be separated. The rouges went next. Then the warriors followed by the specialist.

"Now it is time for those that have been born with a very rare talent. It is time to bring out the members of the Healer Caste!"

Right after the announcer spoke my caste, I walked up the stairs knowing that the other healers that I had spent the last four years with would follow right behind me.

I could hear the crowd beginning to cheer as I walked into the upper area, which was a massive open stage in the clear early night sky. Spectators were staring at me from all sides as I entered the stage.

Then I noticed that at a much higher vantage point, there was a group of people that were sitting in a very luxurious area of the spectator's seats. Those people must be the leaders that were going to be choosing if they wanted us to join them or not.

The next thing that I noticed was that the announcer was in a room above the area where the Terran leaders spectated everything that was going on.

"Let us begin the selection of the healer caste with Donivon!" the announcer said from his stand.

I saw that Donivon walked up to the center of the stage and a microphone droid flew right in front of him from a higher altitude.

"This healer took down three of the members of team beta, but then he was done in by a Demetra! Will any of the houses choose to have him as a healer that works for them or will he have to embrace the harsh life as a mercenary!". The announcer exclaimed.

I saw that the crowd was moved with each as if his words were as sweet as homey.

After the announcer spoke one of the leaders stood up in response to Donivon's name.

"Ladies and gentlemen; Donivon has been chosen to join the house of Xenloo!

Donivon, do you have anything that you would want to say before your new life as a healer for The House of Xenloo starts?"

The crowd was silent in anticipation of what was going to come out of Donivon's mouth.

"Yes, I have things to say before I leave this world and start my new life. I want to say this to you, Danny. At first, I thought that you would be nothing more than a joke as a fellow healer because of your simple upbringing as a former member of The Crafter Caste, but you proved me wrong over the last four years. You have proven to me that you are truly worthy of being named my rival." Donovan said as he pointed at me so that everyone in the area could see who he was calling out.

"Well, that was a crazy claim for you to name someone to be your rival this early in your life." The announcer said in a shocked tone to what Donivon had just said.

"I understand what you mean, but no matter what you think about my rival he has earned it through four years of training," Donovan said as I saw him point at the announcer.

Then I saw Donivon make his way over to the area of the stage where the other members of House Xenloo were waiting.

"Now we will be introducing the healer that was able to take down a female Vordonian. Then he was defeated by the female Vordonian leader in a single strike. He is the healer that has a dark twist to his talent, Danny!"

I walked up to the stage and stood still at the center of the stage, trying not to freak out because of what was going to be said next by the announcer. It would not just choose my fate but it would bind Nora's fate as well.

"Are there any houses that want to recruit The Dark Healer, or will he become a mercenary!"

As soon as the announcer finished speaking, I saw that all of the houses stood up in unison for me.

"Can you believe every house wants The Dark Healer to join them? This has never occurred in the entire history of the event. According to the rules set by the first council of The Terran Collective, he gets to choose the house that he wants to join."

As soon as he said that I did not even have to give it any thought on what house I was going to join. If I wanted for my new life with Nora to be as enjoyable as possible then there was only one real choice to be made.

"I choose to join The House of Lupus. It would be an honor to join that household and bring them glory and fame." I said as I pointed to the leader of that house so that he knew that I meant what I said.

"Do you have anything that you would wish to say before you are a permanent member of The House of Lupus?"

"Yes, I want to say that the other healer that is about to be chosen, Nora, is my betrothed. Due to our laws and customs, whichever house gets me also receives her as a healer." I said I motioned for Nora to join me on the stage.

I grabbed her right hand and lifted it showing the ring that she was given to bind our fates eternally together as one.

The announcer did not say anything, which I found a bit odd, but as I looked up to where he should have been standing, I instead saw a massive pool of human blood sprayed across the window.

"I am sorry the announcer is currently dead due to being made of a massively inferior set of genetics." I heard a female voice say throughout the entire structure.

As I looked at the area where the announcer was formerly standing, I saw a section of the blood pool that was wiped away and I saw a tall and buff Vordonian that had black horns. The sight of her enveloped my entire body with a continuous wave of dread and fear.

There was no way that I would be killed by the same kind of alien life form twice in a row. Life was not that cruel.

"We have come here to exact our sister that set off her beacon. If you get in our way, we will prove how much weaker your race truly is compared to ours." The Vordonian said as I saw her press a button which generated a sharp and very intense soundwave that caused me to pass out.