Chapter 3:

  Choosing Day

  I barely had time to catch my breath before Mom was fussing over me, pulling bits of straw from my hair and swiping at the dirt on my sleeves.

  "By Cultivation, child, I thought it was implied that you should stay relatively clean before the ceremony. We barely have time to get you cleaned and fed!"

  Before I could protest, she ushered me toward the kitchen, and pushed me down into a chair. A plate of bacon and eggs appeared in front of me as she moved through the kitchen at a feverish pace.

  "Eat quickly," she commanded, her hands already moving to comb through my hair once again. “And do your best not to make more of a mess!”

  I couldn't help but appreciate my mother. Her love and patience had been the glue that held our family together all these years. No matter how tense things got, whether from my father's outbursts or the daily struggles of farm life, she always found a way to bring everything back under control.

  As I finished eating my mother turned towards the doorway leading into the living room and hollered at my younger brother.

  “Seth warm a bath, we have to get your brother cleaned up, and I bet you’re just as filthy as he is!”

  From the other room I could hear Seth groan in protest. "Why do I have to take a bath too? I'm not the one rolling around in the barn!"

  My mother rolled her eyes and put her hands onto her hips. “Because I said so and if I have to tell you a second time, you’ll be holding my hand like a child in front of all the girls at the festival later tonight.”

  I smirked, shoveling another piece of bacon into my mouth. After finishing my plate, I walked over to the sink and began to rinse it off.

  "You don’t have time, child! Go get cleaned up and dressed. I won’t have you shaming me in front of the neighbors, looking like I don’t wash your clothes."

  My mother shooed me out of the kitchen for the second time today, and was already furiously scrubbing the remaining dishes.

  As I made my way down the hall, I could hear Seth still grumbling from the washroom. I pushed open the bathroom door to find him reluctantly dunking his arms into the tub, splashing more water onto the floor than actually cleaning himself.

  "Move over boy, a man is coming through,” I teased, smiling at the scowl he gave me before I began peeling off my dusty clothes.

  Seth scooted over to make room for me "Just don’t take forever. The whole town’s probably already waiting on you. At this rate Grace will find another “man” to stand beside her if you don’t hurry up.”

  I sighed, as I stepped into the warm water. He wasn’t wrong. I had told Grace I would come see her this morning, but instead, I got carried away with trying to plan out my future. It was likely she would be a little unhappy with me, but I had no doubt we could smooth things out later.

  As I dried off with a towel, I walked to my room to find my nicer clothes had already been laid out for me; a pair of brown trousers, suspenders, my dark brown work boots, and a white long sleeved linen shirt. For a family of farmers, this was about as dressed up as we got for any occasion. We might add a coat for extra formality, but given the summer heat, my mother had mercifully left it out.

  Checking myself in the mirror, I took a moment to examine my skin for any blemishes before attempting to tame my unruly red hair. After a few failed attempts, I gave up with a sigh, and grabbed my wide brimmed straw hat from a nearby hook, settling it firmly on my head.

  “Oh no you don’t.”

  I turned to see my mother eyeing me critically from the doorway.

  “Take that off, and I’ll help you with your hair.”

  “Mom, you don’t have to do that,” I said defensively, trying to resist her taking control of the situation. “Just let me finish up, and I’ll meet you in the living room.”

  “You listen here Samuel Jacob Garner” she said, as emotion steadily filled her words. “Close your mouth and let me treat you like my little boy for just a little bit longer.”

  Turning to her, I couldn’t help but notice the tears streaming down her cheeks.

  I smiled and pulled her into a hug, savoring the warmth of her love and support. I couldn’t help but admire the power of a simple embrace, especially from someone who loves you the way only a mother can.

  When we finally made our way downstairs, we found that my father and brother were already waiting in the living room. Seth was dressed similarly to me, the only real difference was the blonde hair sitting on top his head. My father wore slightly darker clothes than myself along with his familiar straw hat.

  “Took you long enough” Seth teased. “I bet dad a copper you would be the last one ready.”

  My father nodded silently and handed over the coin without saying a word.

  “Alright, is everybody ready? We need to get a move on.” My mother rushed through the room, ushering the family toward the front door.

  "And Seth, be on your best behavior, and for my sake, try not to go chasing after every skirt you see for once in your life. This day is about your brother so keep that in mind please.”

  Seth smirked and gave me a knowing look. Though I was not a bad lookin guy by Wheat Hollow’s standards, my brother was a cut above the rest. I had no doubt that he would in fact find himself tangled up with some lass by the end of the night.

  Since we lived relatively close to town we chose to walk there as a family rather than hitching up the horse and wagon. Though it slowed things down a bit, it was nice to have this time to talk, and spend time with my loved ones. It seemed like our busy lives rarely had moments like these during the harvest season.

  After nearly twenty minutes of steady walking through the fields bordering the town, we finally caught sight of our destination. Wheat Hollow, was one of many farming communities scattered throughout the central flatlands. This region was often referred to as, The Belt, and it produced much of the food that was distributed throughout the Kingdom of Rayleigh.

  Wheat Hollow wasn’t large by any means and it served more as a checkpoint for travelers and traders on their way to the bigger cities. It was a collection of buildings that formed a large circle around a fairly sizable garden in the middle of town. A dirt road encircled the exterior of the garden and allowed for fairly easy access in and out of the city. At the center of this garden was the Church of the Path; it was there where we would all gather tonight, and those of us participating in the ceremony would take our first steps onto The Path.

  “Alright boys, be respectful to the other families and do more than your fair share of the work.” Our mother gave us both a stern look before sending us away to go help set up for the ceremony.

  It's traditional for families to show up early to help set up for the festivities of the day. Traditions, I have found, often translate into children doing extra work while parents take the opportunity to gossip and chat with their neighbors.

  I immediately set out to find Grace and apologize for not arriving earlier in the day. She had told me how nervous she was, and like me she felt trapped by her parents expectations to take over the family business.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Her father was the owner of the local Tavern, The Pale Mount. He was a good man known widely for his generosity, and had always been very kind to me. Though when it came to his daughter he was rather heavy handed, and didn’t give her many opportunities to follow her own interests.

  After a bit of searching, I found Grace wandering through the large garden in the center of town. Her golden hair shined brightly in the sun and flowed down around her shoulders as she spun and danced between the yellow patch of flowers at her feet.

  Her skin was kissed dark by the sun, which was a sharp contrast to myself as my pale skin seemed to repel its light lest it be burnt by it. Upon seeing me, she abruptly stopped spinning, and crossed her arms in disappointment.

  “You promised to meet me this morning” she chided, her beautiful face scrunched into a hard stare.

  “I’m sorry Grace, I had some things come up, and I lost track of time. Do you think you could..” But before I could finish my sentence she interrupted me.

  “No, I don’t forgive you.” She held me in cold stare and upon seeing my discomfort, she began to laugh. “I understand Sam, I was busy all morning myself. My father wanted me to get some last minute “training” in so that I might be offered choices that met his approval.”

  “Yeah, I can relate that. I spent most of my morning cutting wheat” I said, as I began bent down to pick a yellow flower. “To be honest, I’ve spent most of the day trying to decide the type of future I want for myself. I’ve heard that it might help convince The Path to offer you a choice beyond the ones you have been born into.”

  Upon hearing my words I could tell Grace was suddenly very interested in what I had to say. I stepped close to her and placed the flower in her hair, setting it delicately behind her ear.

  “Is that true? Does The Path really care about things like that? I can just hope for something more and it will offer it me?”

  “Truthfully, I don’t know for certain. I received a a letter from my Uncle and he seems to think so. He left the farm before I was born and has apparently made something of himself in the kingdom. If it worked for him then I have no doubt it could work for us as well. He said to envision the life you want and to have the resolve to follow through with the choice.”

  Upon hearing this Grace took me by the hand and kissed my cheek.

  “Thank you Sam. Even if it’s not true, that does give me some comfort.”

  Grace and I weren’t an official couple. We had known each other almost all our lives and had been inseparable for as long as anyone could remember. It was customary to wait till after one’s Choosing Day to court someone and get the approval of each other’s families. Grace and I had never discussed it formally, but our affection for one another had never been hidden.

  “I think it would be best to help everyone get things set up. If my mother hears I wasn’t helping she’ll have my hide.”

  Grace laughed. It was a sweet melody of a sound, and in my eyes she was the loveliest flower in the garden. I squeezed her hand affectionately, and we walked with one another towards the church. It was there that they were setting up a stage for the ceremony taking place later this afternoon.

  After a couple hours of solid work, the preparations for the day were finally complete. The stage was decorated, tents were set up, and all the booths were ready for the festivities that would follow the Choosing ceremony. Food and drink would flow in abundance as families celebrated their children’s coming of age.

  As the sun began to set, families began moving to claim their seats in the garden surrounding the church. Hundreds of people filled the garden, and anticipation filled the air as every family worried over the futures of their children.

  Those of us who would be participating in the ceremony were led to the church where we were lined up in rows alphabetically. To my delight, Grace stood directly in front me in her line; her last name being Fairfield, and mine being Garner. She smiled at me, realizing we would be making our choices very close to one another.

  The large gathering of youths who were making their choices tonight were eventually ushered towards the stage as the sun continued to wane in the sky. The visiting priests from the capital had already taken their customary places on the platform, while the head priest stood center stage as he looked over the gathering crowd.

  I only just managed to locate my parents, who were standing on the far side of the congregation. I gave my mother a wave and upon seeing me, she waved back enthusiastically. I also caught sight of my brother, who was already getting close to the Johnson’s daughter.

  As I looked around at my peers, I couldn’t help but notice the nervousness on their faces. I only recognized it for what it was as it was the same feeling I had been carrying around all day. Our futures were about to be decided, and from this point forward, we would be recognized as adults in the eyes of the Kingdom.

  "Do you think it will hurt?” Grace asked, as she turned to look at me. “I forgot to ask my father about it, I’ve watched it every year since I was a girl, but I never considered what stepping into the spiritual realm might feel like.”

  “Honestly, I don’t think it will be that bad,” I said, doing my best to sound reassuring.

  Our conversation was cut short as the Head Priest’s voice rose above the crowd, amplified by some unseen force. His words carried a palpable weight that physically pressed down on everyone throughout the gathering. The man’s tone commanded both obedience and respect as the ceremony began.

  “Esteemed citizens of Reyleigh, we thank you for your unwavering dedication and toil in preparation for this sacred day. This evening, your children stand on the threshold of adulthood, as they prepare to take their first steps onto The Path.”

  The crowd sat in perfect silence as all eyes turned toward the Head Priest, who was now glowing slightly as he stood at the center of the raised platform.

  “As you all know, The path bestows us choices in accordance with our standing and potential. Therefore, I encourage you, young men and women gathered here beside me, receive the choices you are offered reverently and without protest. For the path you choose shall determine the life you shall live.”

  The Head Priest then called forward his attending clergy and instructed them to place a large crystalline sphere on a pedestal in front of the crowd. The priests then began to chant, their voices rising and falling as one. An iridescent energy flowed from them into the sphere, causing a bright light to shine within.

  “Young ones, when I call your name, step forward and place your hands upon the sphere. Upon doing so you will be ushered into the spiritual realm where you will take your first steps onto The Path.”

  Without any further preamble, the Head Priest began to call out names.

  “Asher Hydes.”

  A nervous dark haired youth stepped forward and I recognized him as the Tanner’s son. They were a leather working family that lived a little ways outside of the town. Tanning wasn’t the most pleasant smelling profession so that only made sense.

  He hesitated for a moment before placing his hands upon the sphere. As soon as his palms made contact, his body went stiff, and a bright light burst forth from his eyes and mouth.

  After several long moments, the sphere began to fill with a emerald green smoke. Golden letters took form within the sphere which then prompted the priest to loudly proclaim the choice that was made.

  “Domain: Cultivation, Path of the Tanner!”

  As the priest made his declaration, I could see a look of relief wash over the young man’s face. He waved toward his family in the crowd with a large smile upon his face. The crowd responded with polite cheers and applause, no doubt thankful the ceremony had begun on a positive note.

  The ceremony continued in this manner for quite some time. A name was called, a choice was made, and one by one, the sea of eager young faces around me dwindled.

  I watched as the Mayor’s son stepped forward, placing his hand on the sphere. Like all the others before him, light shined from his eyes and mouth, but this time a crimson red smoke filled the sphere as his choice was made.

  “Domain: Martial, Path of the swordsman!” The priest cried out more enthusiastically than he had for all choices that had came before, as they were all Paths related to Cultivation in some way.

  A wave of cheers erupted from his family as their faces glowed with pride. I was told by my father that the Mayor had been an accomplished adventurer in his youth, so this offered choice was an expected outcome by those of us who knew their family.

  After a few more youths stepped forward to make their choices, the priest finally called out, “Heather Grace Fairfield."

  Grace stepped out onto the platform, her beautiful golden hair shining brightly as the sun continued to set in the afternoon sky. She took one final glance back at me, smiled, and then placed her hands on the sphere. Light poured from her body, and after a moment the sphere began to fill with a sparkling sapphire smoke.

  “Domain: Arcane: Path of the Dancer” the priest announced, his voice cracking in delighted surprise. A warrior in a community like ours was rare but an Arcane path was simply unheard of.

  Her choice felt so bold and exciting compared the farmers who had come before her. The crowd’s reaction was immediate, families that prided themselves on tradition exchanged subtle glances, their faces drawn tight in judgment. The air seemed to thicken, buzzing with the weight of disapproval.

  “Path of the Dancer?” A group of young men behind me scoffed. “What the hell is that? Some kind of bard? What good is that?”

  As I watched, I couldn’t help but notice how unbothered Grace was by the crowd’s judgment. Her radiant smile made it seem as though the worries she’d shared with me earlier had never existed. With effortless grace, she danced off the stage, each step a quiet rebellion, untouched by the murmurs that followed in her wake.

  It would seem that the advice my uncle had given me carried some weight after all. Upon seeing Grace make her decision despite her family's expectations, it only served to harden my resolve as I waited for my name to be called.

  “Samuel Jacob Garner,” the priest said solemnly. “Please approach and prepare to take your step onto The Path.”

  As I stepped onto the platform, I couldn’t help but feel my body begin to sweat in anticipation. Approaching the center of the platform, I looked towards my family for support. My mother was holding my brother tightly, while my father stood beside them, his face unreadable as usual.

  Taking a deep breath, I reached out my hands and then placed them on the sphere.