The sun shines upon Gelvian who is slowly but surely waking up. The rays shining at him at just the right angle to blind him as he groggy open his eyes. In the corner, a Fang sleeps softly already positioned to catch the first rays of the sun.

“Ah what” He groans his eyes are slightly open Gelvian still is sluggish. The lifestyle changes since the last year not helping his rhythm. “Come on. Time to get up. You lazy body...” He weakly mumbles to himself. “Get up.” In the process of somehow willing himself to get up, he accidentally rolls too far to one side falling off his bed.

A yelp escaped from his mouth. Promptly waking up the sleeping Fang. The lizard after being startled quietly laughed.

“You are undoubtedly the worst person a cultivator could ally with.” Fang smugly says.

“Yet you do work with me away,” Gelvian replied pointing out.

“Well. Sometimes you need to stick to the devil you know and I still owe you a debt.”

“If you want, you can go. I won't keep you here if you don’t want to Fang... or do you like me?” Gelvian wiggled his eyebrows.

“Nonsense. You are merely my Saviour nothing more and nothing less.” and someone that could be the first person to earn his trust beside his mother but he left that unsaid to prideful to admit he liked more than he wants to admit Gelvian.

“Okay enough of me lying down” Gelvian got up with a swift backward roll. “Let's see if Eli- I mean Mother already made breakfast.” Gelvian corrected himself quickly.

“Still not used to her being your mother?” Fang asked. “Even after like what?... 10 years?”

“Oh, no. I love her. She has been a great mother...but each time I think or see her I see my old mother's face overlap with hers. Truly she is great but I have two Mothers and I can't really fully cope with that. Even if my memory of my old life is becoming harder to remember with each year. The faces still are crystal clear.” He goes to the door and starts walking downstairs. "But she is my mother and I will respect her as such as not all are blessed to have good parents."

Downstairs his mother and his twin sister are doing the finishing touches to preparing a superb smelling breakfast. As today is a special day for many kids inside and outside of Cainyorf. Any child with a hint of talent is tested at the Awakening. Pretty much every ten-year-old child is tested as it can't hurt if they try and surprisingly hidden talents always like to surface. In turn, disappointment can be great if a child or parents bank everything on the Awakening being the catalyst to strengthen their child's talents which can lead to some heartbreaking moments.

A tired Darius walks into the room visibly worn from the near year-long campaign against bandits.

The family takes their seat and begin their breakfast.

“Today is the day! My children!" Darius says with a smile, while tired he is motivated by the special occasion today. "Finally getting their talents unleashed and their paths in life opened!” Darius a bit with a tired voice exclaims but is clearly happy.

“Oh dear, we know what both their paths will look like. Levia my daughter” She smiles nodding towards her daughter and Levia is beaming a smile back. “Will go down the arcane as I have and Gelvian-”

“Will be a Warrior! An Ancient guardian who protects the weak and helpless-” Darius interrupts.

“I was going to say a great druid. You know as Ravia predicts he will be?”

“He can still become a warrior. Just because you are druid doesn’t mean he can't wield a metal sword or wear a plate.”

“This would depend on what he does later on-”

“Mom, Dad. Can we just eat? You and Levia prepared this and it smells heavenly.” The smell of freshly baked potatoes and a salad of fresh vegetables with hot bread fills the air.

“He is right. Let's eat. We can talk later when you walk out of the Ceremony. I will be there after my duties at the gates are finished.” Darius answered.

And with a full stomach, the entire family went off. Darius went towards the barracks. Gelvian and his sister follow their mother towards the town's plaza. That is where the Awakening will be held. Fang insisted on coming with them. He was curious as to how this ceremony was going to be. For Elisia this was less than optimal but a blanket over the head of the large Lizard is enough to not scare any outsider coming to the town today. Nearing the town plaza something was different. Instead of the usual shops and people walking around. The street leading there are plastered with merchants from all-round the local area. Elf’s and human's and various other similar races like the occasional dwarf are competing to sell their wares and services. From a simple food stand to a merchant who sells exotic silk robes to a guy selling shiny gems. Everything is being sold. Even in the dim-lit side streets, there are people selling goods. The crowds are becoming tighter as well the closer they get to the plaza.

The entrance to the plaza has a line but the waiting didn’t take long. Gelvian spotted a few guards and man in yellow robes near an erected gate. The guards are local elves while the yellow-robed man is a human.

“Next.” One of the guards spoke loud and clear.

“I am Elisia Sunleaf and my children here will take part in the Awakening today,” Elisia answered and she scooped up a Fang with a blanket over his body. The snout of the lizard sticking out a bit.

"I hope I can take my pet inside too? I really have no one to watch over him for today" She nodded to Fang in her arms.

"I am sorry but I have been told no-" The yellow-robed man answers before he was interrupted by a guard.

"Don't worry she... we can allow her to go through with an animal."

"But the rules-"

"She is Elisia Sunleaf she is our resident Mage and wife to the Captian of the guards. You can take it up with him if you tell him that his wife couldn't accompany their children to their Awakening."

"Then she can leave the pet here. We can watch over it."

"Oh believe me that pet is feisty. She is the only one you want to handle him. Or her boy Gelvian. Hey, there fella."

"Hello, Mister Reddalt." Gelvian waved with a small gesture.

"Okay fine but if something happens it's on you." The yellow-robed man finally gives in.

The guard Reddalt turned to the two children. “Your names little ones.” The guards glanced at his friend another guard sitting at a table with a feather in hand.

"It's just for the protocol so we know everyone how already inside." Reddalt added.

“My name is Gelvian Dainsleaf.” Gelvian said.

“Mine is Levia Dainsleaf.” Levia said.

Reddalt motions them to come closer. The man in yellow robes walks towards them with something similar to a birdcage in hand.

“Don't worry. My familiar will only check if you are ready for the ritual.” He opens the cage and a small bird looking similar to a common potoo flies outside the cage and lands on the outstretched arm of the yellow-robed man. The potoo yellow beady eyes focus on Levia first and shift to fully black in the next moment.

The sound of a crying small child escapes from the potoo. For others, the sounds of the bird's cry can be a bit disturbing. For Gelvian this sounds different.

“This one is ready!” The potoo says. His gaze locks onto him. This bird shout for all to hear.

“This one is ready!” The potoo repeats. The bird's cry startles some who are still unaccustomed to the bird's cry.

The yellow-robed man says “Both are ready. I don’t need to remind you that if they already had the Awakening a second time won't change the outcome.”

“I know. Brother of the arcane. This is their first time. I don’t really want to experience, what other parents had.” The humiliation in front of the entire town.

At that the guards let them pass through the temporarily erected gate.

The plaza is changed. Normally a fountain and a few trees as well as the regrown tree that Ravia placed would be here. Instead, the middle of the plaza has a gaping hole leading into the ground similar to a ramp.

“Woha.” Levia exclaimed. Gelvian was too amazed that such a structure existed has existed so close to his home. He always wondered what was behind the gate every year. Now he knows but how could this be excavated in such a short time? He was here not even two days ago.

The entire plaza was littered with parents and their children. From humans to elves he even spotted small broad build humans. Never mind these were dwarfs. A rarity for the people here in Cainyorf a town with 99% elves as a population. Gelvian sees a lot of his former classmates even Elrian with his Cleric Mother. He also noticed that a lot of people in different colored robes were scattered with symbols on their clothing. From Yellow to Green to black most all had emblems embroidered. The emblems definitely signal their allegiance to a group. Gelvian doesn't want to assume so he turns to the most knowledgeable person he knows.

“Mother, who are there clothed people. Some are wearing different clothing and symbols.”

“Oh my, dear. These are various guilds and schools. Some are even religious sects.” Elisia sighs. “They are here to recruit new talents into their ranks.”

“The man in the yellow robes before is from the Drager Guild. In my times as a young adept, they used to be exclusively a Brotherhood. Their focus is on people with arcane talents. The Drager have a monopoly. You know? 'Mining help services'." She scoffs. "They help people navigate and expand mines make them safer with their familiars for exorbitant prices.” She says clearly disapproving of the Drager Guild.

“The woman in green is someone you already know.” She points at Ravia who Gelvian didn’t see for 2 days. “She will be the representative of the Faldur Grove. The Faldur Grove as you already have been told by Ravia was founded by a man called Faldur. Some call him Faldur Archwood." Elisia chuckled as if remembering a funny fact. "Nobody knows his real surname name that's why the Grove gave him Archwood as his name but if you question them they deny all of it of course. Anyway. Their focus is on managing the forests near major settlements. For regular pay, they make sure no dangerous animals or plants come to close. This is how they found out about you, Ravia told me.” At that Gelvian ears perked up.

“How did they?”

“The rats. They do 'employ' animals for their work. The animals tell them what they see and the local druid acts on that. You working with the cats to push out the rats. Is akin to me relaxing in a bath and someone else playing with a duck at the corner while also splashing waves at me.”

“So, I got ratted out?” Gelvian smiled at his quip.

“Yes.” Elisia laughed.

“But there is someone else you should know, too. You see that man there.” She pointed to a group where Elrian and his mother were talking to two men in plate armor. “The man with grey hair. You maybe remember him as Uther. He was or better is a part of the Dervian Divine Order again. Next to him is a master of that order. Their focus is purely militaristic. If one joins their ranks, you most likely be tasked with chasing devil worshipers, demons and heretics. That’s what they tell outsiders at least." His mother grimaced. "I saw them fight in wars in with which could somewhat see their point, but their method were, are too brutal.” Elisia sighs. “Anyone who has a hit of divine talent most of the time joins them. From what I have heard they are a tightly knit order but I think they are just chaining them down to their order. Making sure that the threat of expulsion can seem like a harsh punishment. As the talented of the order, most of the time know nothing of what life is outside of the order.”

Elisia looks both at their children. “Levia when your arcane talent manifests don’t join their order. It doesn’t matter what they offer. I rather teach you myself for the first years.” She looks at Gelvian. “You shouldn’t join them either they never do treat people with other talents right. Especially druidic ones as they had declared all druids heretics not even a century ago. They recalled their declaration but they still are unfriendly most of the time. You may get offers and I don’t wish to impose any restriction on your path but the Dervian Divine Order is not up to discussion. Ravia is the better option.” Elisia's eyes look as if they were pleading to Levia and Gelvian. She was scared for her children that was clear. Both Levia and Gelvian promised to not join the Dervian Divine Order.

After a while, a man steps upon a pedestal. He wears white clothing a bit on the tighter side. On his chest, an emblem of a white orchid flower is depicted.

“Attention everyone my name is Theos I will watch over the Ritual today." Theos with a loud voice proclaimed "The Ritual of the Awakening will commence shortly. Parents and their children please form a line in front of me. Representees of the guilds please go ahead inside.”

The lines form quickly. A double thick row is formed the children are on the inner side while the adults are on the outside. Parents and children alike are quick to strike up a conversation with each other. Gelvian sees Levia talking with an Elrian who is in front of them before he could have a chance to join in. A quick poke to his rips diverts Gelvians attention.

A young human boy with green hair sheepishly looks at him. He stammers “Can I touch your ears?” he nervously says.

“Eh...” Gelvian wanted to say no but the honest eyes and tone of the young boy reminded him of something in the long past. He can not really remember what it was but he remembers that they were positive emotions. “Sure but be careful.”

The boy very delicately pokes his ears a pleasant feeling goes through Gelvian before he moves his head away. The line moves forward little by little.

“So. What is your name?” Gelvian asks the boy.

An awkward silence only returns.

“I let you touch my ears, can't I have at your name?” Gelvian looks at the boy. He has short greenish hair and two green eyes and is a bit smaller than him.

The boy quietly mumbles something but it was not clear enough for anyone to hear.

“Come again?” Gelvian asks unsure if the boy said something.

“Henry.” The boy repeats louder.

“Well met Henry my name is Gelvian. Are you here for the first time? In Cainyorf I mean.”

“No, sometimes Father travels up here to trade wood and he did take me up the mountain sometimes but not this year.”

“The bandits and orcs right?”

“Yes, he said it was too dangerous to go outside the village.”

“Not any more so welcome to Cainyorf.”

Their group now reached the ramp. Gelvian noticed that the wall further inside is littered with small turquoise crystals giving off a weak light.

A few children give their ah and ohs at the pretty sight.

“So, Henry what do you plan when your talent is awoken? Or rather what talent do you have or think you will have.”

“My father thinks I have a druidic talent. He said that my great-grandpa did have green hair and was a druid. Like I do.”

“That is nice.” Gelvian nods.

“What do you think you have?” Henry asks in return.

“Druidic as you. I already had a guild come to me. My Master, Ravia is from the Faldur Grove. She is that green-clothed woman with sandy blond hair if you saw her.”

“Oh.” Henry paused. “You think I can join the Faldur Grove, too?”

“I can't really say for sure but if you have a talent, they will most likely let you join. I can ask her if you want?”

“Oh, that would be nice!” Henry beamed a little.

“But not for free, I would like to have a favor in return.” Gelvian smiled mischievously.

“Oh.” Henry's beam dimmed a little.

"In the future not now of course."

"Oh." Henry's smile got a bit brighter.

“You like to say ‘Oh’ hm?” Gelvian snickered.

After walking deeper into the mountain the tunnel opened up into a massive cave with patches of white orchids scattered around with a large patch located in the middle of the cave.

To the left side of the cave representatives of the various guilds had taken a seat.

The parents split from their children to the right. The children were left alone in between and four white-clothed adults herded the children to stay together. Some children become nervous, a few started crying. Some parents hovered near the edge of the children's blob. The blob of over 200 children becoming a chorus of noises.

The white-clothed Theos from before stood on a small stool. He takes a deep breath.

“Children! Parents! Representees! I will continue to explain the rules but I need you all to be quiet.”

The noises and murmurs become quieter from moment to moment until they came to a stop.

“To those who do not attend the Awakening regularly.” He points at the middle of the cave towards the largest patch of white orchid flowers that are up to Gelvians neck tall.

“I will call your name. You will come forward and then attempt to walk into the middle of the flower field behind me.”

“After that, your talent will be laid bare for the world. Children do not be scared to walk as far as you can if you do not, bad things will happen.”

“Should you not be able to walk any further only then will your talent be awakened!”

“After that, you will walk back here and then the representatives can make their offers or call their claims or both.” “For the representatives, should two or more call a claim. Both will be seen as naught or if either the parent or the child is unwilling to choose, please respect their wishes and recall your claims.”

At the end of the sentence, a representative in black clothing with a symbol that has a snake stood up and pointed his finger at the white-clothed Theos.

“What do you mean? This isn't how any of this worked at my Awakening or others I attended!” He visually gets worked up.

“This would make claims useless! My guild paid good money and gold for the privilege to claim first!”

“Yes. That is the point. A short-sighted system for short-sighted lives. We in Cainyorf are doing this the elven way. This gives smaller guilds a better chance and all people better lives.”

“But we paid for this privilege!” The black-clothed protested.

“You paid to attend and to make your offer first. That is how the contract is written. I will not further discuss this. Take it up with the council, not me.”

Reluctantly the representative sat down.

“Aurelia Twinwind please come forward.” Theos read the first name aloud.

A small girl with brown shoulder-length hair steps out of the crowd of children.

She stammered “I am here.”

“Please walk into the field.”

She walked very carefully towards the field. The first step she took into the field she visibly strained. She took another step. Struggling even harder. After 5 steps she was as if frozen. At the sixth step. The flowers parted as if repelled. Aurelia looked confused.

“Come back here.” The white-clothed man said. The girl walked back. “Sadly, you do not have any talents.” Theos stated. The girl looked as if she was to cry any moment. “But as per our rules. Does anyone wish to claim this brave girl? Even if she has no talent.”

The representatives stayed silent but a voice from the parent's side shouted. “I do claim her! She is born baker! She has it her blood!” A few parents clapped and nodded in approval. Aurelia rushed over to her father with tears flowing down her cheeks but a smile was clear to see.

Theos to had a slight smile on his lips. A parent who quickly disregards any interest that they had in a talentless child is a bit too common for his taste.

“Okay. Adrian Woodoath next.” Theos announced.

The thin black-haired boy struggled to even step a foot into the field and after 2 steps. He stopped and the flowers flowed away as if repelled.

“No talent. As per our rules. Any claims for this brave boy?”

The silence was the answer.

And so the normalcy of this event repeats.

A bit of time passed with more children being talentless. Parents being disappointed or pretty much abandoning the child as if they didn't exist. Their lives will be harder from this day forward. Theos signed at that thought.

“Baldwin von Krieser.” Theos called.

“A noble?” Gelvian thought.

A young boy with brown hair and with a bit of regal air around him walked out of the crowd. He had some fine clothing on as well.

“Please walk-” before the man finished. Baldwin walked into the field as if nothing was there.

Halfway between the middle and the edge of the white orchid field. He struggled and then stopped.

The flowers repelled away but this time with a clear blueish light emitted from the plants.

Baldwin walked back with a proud smile.

“Baldwin von Krieser is the first one to show a talent today! He possesses a moderate arcane talent! Are there any claims?”

A few moments waiting for any reaction from the large guilds but no reaction. A few smaller guilds took to the stage and called their claims. Offering bonuses like teachers and gold. Some even offered land. Baldwin accepted one of the offers after asking for a large piece of land near his home and a teacher who will teach him personally. This was more the boy recruiting a guild than the other way around.

A few weaker talents were discovered and quickly claimed. Most notable the children with divine talents no matter their strength got an invitation to the Dervian Divine Order.

“Elrian Hazelfire. Please step into the field.”

“That will be interesting. He already has some control over his talent. That race we had was incredible.” Gelvian mused.

Elrian took his steps with a relaxed stride. He felt no resistance and when he reached the halfway point it was still as if nothing was there. In the middle of the field, there was a large rock on which white moss was growing and he walked closer and closer. The flowers didn’t repulse at all. The adults on both sides were mumbling with each other. 6 steps before the stone he came to a stop.

So, it seems. He was struggling to step forward. 5 steps before the white stone the flowers reel back. A golden light was shining brightly inside the cave.

Elrian walked back next to the white-clothed Theos whose mouth was agape. Theos shook his head and turned to the representatives. “Elrian Hazelfire possesses a strong divine talent! Does anyone wish to claim him?”

Immediately multiple hands rose up but before Theos even finished his sentence. All sense of order and rules were broken by the representatives.

“We will give you the best teacher young man!”

“No, we will give money and a title should you join us!”

“We would teach you at your home and build a branch guild here!”

“I make sure to you receive anything you want if you join us!”

After a while of upping the offers. The white-clothed Theos spoke with a furious tone.

He stomped on the ground with a lot of force. It was loud enough to silence everyone. “While a strong divine talent is rare. I ask you to at least respect the rules we set up. As the other guilds paid for their privilege of offering first but as others already call their claims it will be naught. The boy Elrian Hazelfire has the privilege of choosing his preferred guild or none at all.” He turned to Elrian. “Who do you want to choose?”

Elrian smiled and from all the guild that laid a claim, the Dervian Divine Order had stayed silent. It was that guild he pointed his finger at. “I choose the Dervian Divine Order.”

To anyone who has a little bit of knowledge of politics, they know this is a power display by the Dervian Divine Order. To be chosen even without giving an offer is to signal the other guilds the pull they have. It is after all not public knowledge that they already had their claws in this talent. Gelvian thought. He had seen Uther and Elrian walking around the town often enough to put 1 and 1 together. This didn’t stop some guilds from objecting.

“Outrageous! They didn’t even call a claim! Young Boy-” The black-clothed guild representative who has the most vocal was interrupted by the white-clothed Theos.

“You all will stay silent or you will be thrown out of the Awakening Ritual. I give you a single and last warning.”

The representative sat down grumbling.

A few others were called until he heard his name.

“Gelvian Dainsleaf. Please step forward and into the field.”

Gelvian head perked up. He stepped forward and into the field. The white flowers flowing around him brushing his skin feeling it tingle him. He took each step without any problems. Even at the halfway point towards the middle, he didn’t feel like stopping.

Only 7 steps before the moss-covered stone the resistance showed up. The next step was as walking through a thick bush. The next is like walking through water. The next is like walking through a strong waterfall. The next as if a river was hell-bent on stopping him in his tracks. The next step was a solid wall. He was two-step away from reaching the stone. He stretched his arm as far as he could but the pressure was too much and then the pressure stopped. He stumbled into the stone face first. A deep green light was emitted from the flowers. As he stood up the flowers reeling back. He walked back to where the white-clothed Theos stood.

“Gelvian Dainsleaf possesses a strong druidic talent!” The white-clothed man exclaimed pretty surprised to see another strong talent revealed in a town. “Does anyone want to claim him?”

The same man in dark clothing the same who was upset about the rules before raised his arm. “I claim this boy.”

“Any other claims?” The white-clothed asked.

Then Ravia raised her hand. “I do claim him. He will do well with us.” She smugly proclaimed.

After that, other claims had been called.

“So many claims! This will make any naught. Young Gelvian. Do you want to express your wish?”

Gelvian thought about this decision weeks ago. He knew that the Faldur Grove was a large guild. One with the right resources and they do seem to be interested in the wellbeing of the people. Even if their method to convince the unwilling is a bit underhanded. Ravia had spilled to him 1 month ago that they sometimes feigned wildlife attacks on villages. To convince them that their child is safer at the Grove. They made sure none came to harm and that she does dislike it when they need to use that tactic. It is a mandated tactic by the archdruids which she wants to change. She wanted to him that even if there is the danger of him turning away from her.

She told him if he were to go and join the Faldur Grove he would still be her apprentice as by their binding. Often a light binding was done and after the Awakening would it be completed. But with him, she saw his potential as a druid.

“What do I want?”Gelvian thought “I want power. Power to change the lives of people for the better and keeping my family safe.” He breathed in. The last year showed him that life here was not safe all the time. "I don't want to repeat the past with me being complacent." He remembered the bitter faces of the people he had wronged in his past life. He glanced at his mentor. “Ravia wasn’t always a perfect teacher or a perfect person but she has been honest and always pleased to help me advance even when I was stuck. She doesn’t see me as only as some prodigy. She sees me as a person and trusted me enough to do a full binding. Even if she does have an ulterior motive but in this world and past who doesn't have one?”

“I choose the Faldur Grove.” Gelvian grinned proudly at the representatives.

“What a damn shame.” the black-clothed man thought to himself.

Henry was the next person he paid attention to. Henry was revealed to have a moderate druidic talent even if it was on the weaker side. Again guilds tried to recruit him. Gelvian wanted to gain the attention of Ravia to push her to recruit him but he didn't need to.

Ravia had extended an invitation to him. Henry being shy just walked towards the direction of Ravia and bowed in her direction and scuttled back into the group.

Ravia only laughed and said, "I accept your application.".

Later Levia was called forward. She walked to through the field with no problem until the halfway point. The flowers reeled back and blue light was emitted.

“Levia Dainsleaf! You possess a moderate arcane talent. Who does wish to claim?” but before any representatives could raise their arms. The black-clothed man jumped high up inside the cave.

“What is the-” The white-clothed Theos shouted before he was silenced permanently. A large dagger was buried deep in his throat.

The black-clothed man laughed maniacally “We got work to do!”

As if on cue other representatives threw their clothing off revealing black clothing and a mask on concealing their true face. And a handful of masked people rushed down from the ramp.

In the same moment smoke bombs went off and a struggle on the right side ensued. The four white-clothed guards were already engaged in combat near the ramp. The only thought that went through Gelvian head was “What the hell is going on!”