The Training Halls of the Elite

  Everyone has heard the tales of elite Pathers. Everyone knows that those who advance fastest get the best training. But what does this training entail, where do the Elite go?

  For those who do not have the possible training within their Organization the answer is one of the Halls. Few in number they draw in Elites from across the WidePond. Only a fraction of a percent make the cut, but even that is more than enough to allow the Halls to operate.

  Alumni speak of the experience as vital. Specialized training, focused attention, friendships and rivalries that will last until death. Details are never shared, locations are never divulged, only that entry is always through a Portal that is not connected to the wider Network. Impossible you say, yet stated as fact by all those willing to even mention attending.

  ~ * ~

  Sandra slammed her bedroom door shut as gently as possible, she didn't need another lecture about appropriate public behaviour, before stomping across the room to flop face first onto her bed. She was exhausted, she was fed up, she was overjoyed, she couldn't take it any more.

  Mother was acting as though she was going to vanish any day and Sandra needed to be ready. Never mind that she'd just broken through the wall, all the better for her, and would probably still be youthful by the time Sandra turned 80. Never mind that she was spending 10 to 14 hours a day, every day, even weekends, working with Yshe to learn to be an Engineer, to pursue her Path and advance herself. Never mind her sister was going to get married, although probably not until their mother had grey hair and Sandra looked ugly in the amazing Bridesmaid dress she'd picked out.

  No, that was being mean. Anya had told her she was pushing because of a deadline, some special opportunity truly gifted Awakened got to experience if they advanced fast enough. If the deadline was so important why had they gone dress shopping, why had they even decided to get married?

  Sure it was supposedly romantic how Seb had proposed right after they'd killed a whole horde of goblins, not even bothering to clean up or move out of the remains. But why would you start planning if you weren't going to act on it? Her dress was amazing, she looked stunning in it even without any makeup or hair styling. She could just imagine how everyone would stare at her, compliment her on her choice. How the boys would- Right, there wouldn't be any boys to look at her because they wanted something small and intimate, they didn't want a huge affair where she could be seen for who she was. The only people there would be too old.

  She sighed then took a deep breath. She wasn't being fair and she knew it. She didn't need to close her eyes to hear what everyone else would say if they heard her complaining. She could even hear her own voice scolding her for being selfish about her dress. The wedding was about Anya, and Seb. The wedding wasn't about her, she'd have her own wedding someday with an even better dress and with people attending from everywhere, all eyes on her and whoever was lucky enough to be at her side.

  Rolling over onto her back she stared up at the ceiling, her thoughts shifting to the work she'd be doing tomorrow. Engineer Yshe had requirements, had expectations, and expected them to be met. She made sure Sandra had all the tools, skills and opportunities she needed to proceed and none of the patience she'd been shown growing up.

  She wasn't Junior Princess Lysandra or Heir Lysandra when she was working, she was 'girl' or 'Engineer' or if things were going well 'Sandra'. Everyone knew who she was, but no one cared. They weren't part of Holding Lys, they weren't Affiliated, they did their job and expected she'd do hers. She hated it, she loved it.

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  ~ * ~

  Alex took a sip of his coffee as he settled at his desk. He hadn't been familiar with the drink when he first came to Holding Syl, but now he drank nearly as much of it as everyone else. He wasn't sure why it wasn't more widespread, why it seemed to be something only certain Ponds had, or at least only certain ones drank.

  He pulled up his EDN feed and tried to focus on work only for his thoughts to return to the conversation he'd had with Seb a few hours ago. He'd agreed to the request without hesitation, one did not tell their Holder, or the Holder's Partner, no after all, but Seb had made it clear he was allowed to. Retainers stood with their Lord or Lady during ceremonies, that was part of their responsibility when they worked closely together.

  Closely together, now that was an interesting term for the situation. He saw them a handful of times a month, they praised his work even when it was clear they had no idea what he was doing. It wasn't that they expected little, or would have let him get away with anything, the few times either had actually dug into his answers he'd realized that lying would end badly.

  Lady Anya had clearly been raised as a noble Heir, she might not understand Arbiter work but she knew the implications. Seb on the other hand didn't seem to know anything, which made sense as an Adult Awakened who'd then spent most of his time in the Depths and not in Awakened society. He learned quickly though, his ability to connect concepts and ideas verged on terrifying at times.

  They trusted him, they assumed he was competent and only questioned when they wanted to understand. They didn't demand perfection, they didn't blink when he admitted he didn't have an answer. He'd probably exchanged more words with them over food, that they had cooked, than at his desk.

  Seer Fay still spent most of her time in their Shallows residence when the Holders were around and kept trying to get him to interact with them as well. He'd wondered why at first, wondered what benefit there might be to spending so much time with the Holders in a non-professional capacity. He'd come to realize that there was no real distinction between professional and non-professional, at least not for Seb. Their tone would change, the mood would clearly shift when they were focused on important matters, but they didn't expect a clear delineation, they would still joke, still have food and drink available, still be welcoming.

  He hadn't considered saying no when Seb asked him to be part of the wedding party, he had agreed and stated it would be an honor. He hadn't realized Seb had actually been asking, not making a formal request until it was made clear. He hadn't realized that Seb had been worried he'd say no until just now.

  He knew Lady Anya had her bridesmaids picked out, he'd heard more than he wanted to about the dresses every time her sister came by. She was supposed to be training to be the Heir and an Engineer, yet somehow found ways to make her way into the Holding nearly every day, even when he knew she was supposed to be working at the far side of the plot.

  But Seb hadn't picked anyone that he knew of. The actual date wasn't decided, which made for a logistical nightmare. They didn't need a space, they had the Holding, they didn't need perishables, those would wait until the last minute. They didn't need to make other arrangements, except Seer Fay wanted everything planned out just in case they changed their mind and wanted the wedding to happen sooner.

  Did Seb not have anyone else to pick? Was Alex actually near the top of his list? The more he thought about it the more he realized it was likely the case. The Holders didn't seem to socialize much, didn't spend much time doing anything other than Dive, train or interact with the Holding.

  Alex had limited social exposure since joining them, he'd spent a bit of time in Deep Earth proper, spent slightly more time at the new Syl-Affiliated businesses, especially Kaf-Fay, if only because it was the first to open. His life had been destroyed, he'd lost touch with everyone and had made minimal effort to rebuild that past. He was so focused on ensuring he made a good impression on the Holding he hadn't stopped to consider what being part of Holding Syl meant, what this place was becoming for those who were part of it.

  He hadn't realized that he'd found somewhere to be, not just somewhere to work. He hadn't realized it would matter.

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