At this point, Tarphus was slapped on the back, and as he turned his head, he saw his best friend Damitir, with two people right beside him. Obviously, they are twins, but he could see that one was slightly masculine while the other was feminine. Tarphus smiled happily at his friend then looked at the twins with a question on his face. However, it was the girl that spoke first, interrupting Damitir.

"Hello! I am so happy to be here; I wanted to see you and thank you as well as your father for allowing us." she points toward her doppelganger. "To attend this awakening, I am honored to receive my class with the son of Lord Cullivan. But I have to ask because you seem familiar, where have I seen you before?"

Tarphus looked at her and was about to reply but was interrupted by her brother." My apologies Sir Tarphus; it seems that my sister is over-egging the pudding. We are the twins of house Novalas; I am Antonius." Antonius bowed with great care for his every move.

He was shorter than most people here, 1.2 meters. His black hair was at odds with his grey eyes. His facial features might resemble a hawk; however, the laugh line on his face was remarkable even though he was only fifteen years old. His sister was taller at around 1.3 meters, had the same hair and eye colors, and roughly the same facial features; the thing that differentiated them was the hair length.

Tarphus nodded at the two of them, answering with a smile. "I remember meeting the two of you two years ago at the Solstice Festival. It has been a while, so I am not insulted at the prospect of being forgotten, as I am not memorable as others." Finishing with a nod, Tarphus turns to his friend with a bright grin on his face. However, before the two can conspire, Antonius interrupts them with a cough.

"My friend." His smile was strained as he walked closer to Tarphus, then whispered, "Can we stay by you, or rather can my sister stay near you? I would rather her stay here with the son of a knight than go near the wolves scattered about." Tarphus was shocked; that was a serious accusation and could damn him. "What about you?"

Tarphus said softly, only Antonius could hear, "I heard that there are those among the court that are… fanciful for you. fanatically so, so much, so that did you not get kid-" Antonius held up a hand and stated. "Your point is sound, but my point remains, as there are many wolves here, Christapher is amongst them. So, I am pretty sure you know why we cannot allow anyone to get in his clutches… again."

The added word was due to how Tarphus's face became cold, and his fist clenched. "Oh, I understand on that front, however, do not bring that particular news up again."

He could feel his rage boiling over as he relived the burning again. His breathing became ragged as he smelt the horrid stench of burning flesh and the screams of someone he loved. It felt as though blood was clouding his vision as he breathed heavily, hatred brewing.

It was then that Tarphus felt a hand on his shoulder, and he felt himself being shaken. Tarphus closed his eyes as the screams rose an octave. He took a deep breath as he felt the firm hand squeeze further, causing a slight amount of pain. This broke him out of the strange trance he found himself in.

Looking back, he found Dimitir with a smile plastered on his face though Tarphus saw the worry beneath that veneer. Tarphus then turned fully to his friend. "It has been some time, Dimitir; I am afraid that I promised Teacher to behave. However, there are things that we should discuss." Tarphus goes to his friend and puts his shaking hand out for a handshake as appropriate for the situation. What he received was a firm hug.

"It is good to see you, bookworm!" The crowd heard the amiable caller nearby. The nobles sneered at such a display. To the nobles around them, such a display was unbecoming. To embrace each other was something a commoner would do as such. It was improper for a noble to do such a barbaric thing.

"As for Udera, I will keep it civil… that is until the celebrations." Again, Dimitir winked at his friend, this time keeping his voice down to an acceptable level. Tarphus found himself smiling despite himself.

"Oh, then mayhap I do not need to tell you of my planned adventure, for if you would not keep the peace at the festival, then how could I trust you on our adventures?" At the word 'adventure,' Dimitir froze. He shakes his head emphatically. "You wouldn't; we have been through so much, to leave me out would be cruel." Tarphus smiles, nodding, then whispers to his friend. "I plan to go north after my awakening."

Tarphus turns around and walks towards his mentor, who nods happily; a broad smile sits firmly on his face. "It is good to see that you have at least a friend though the twins seem to be close to you." Tarphus begins to look for the twins but gets stopped by his mentor. "They were hovering around your conversation with Dimitir, do not look for them; let them come to you. Besides, it is time for your awakening. Let us be off then."

It was at this point when the Knight straightened up and spoke, "The point is now for your awakening, now step inside the church, no one is allowed to enter after you. What you face inside is your trial. may the Gods light your path, for you will not receive help in those trials."

The nobles lined up from the most important to the least, with Tarphus taking the last place he could have gotten up front due to his status as the Host's son. Still, he would be directly in front of Christapher and would not bear such embarrassment.

At this time, the doors opened a soft purple glow emanated from the portal. There were glittering lights that sprang from the sides of the door only to travel to the center of this doorway, though it slowly turned from a rectangle into an oval shape.

After that, the glow became much more solid. The children felt compelled to enter the opening Tarphus was no exception. He so desperately wanted to run into the portal and chase his destiny; however, restraint prevailed for now.

It felt like years to Tarphus, but it was minutes. As each noble stepped into the glowing portal, then almost immediately, the portal would dim before becoming even brighter. That signaled the next person to go. Now, now it was Tarphus's turn; the glowing purple door held his destiny. He took a deep breath closing his eyes, and stepped forward. What hit his eyes as he opened them was gold.