The Empire: A conglomerate of human kingdoms formed in the middle of the great Suza Continent. Many suspect that the first Emperor had wielded multiple Virtues in order to heroically rally the human race under one banner against the scourges of this world.
~ a brief definition from the Royal Libraries ~
The day of the ritual was upon them.
The small village was a maelstorm of activity as the adults scurried about to get the festival prepared and the mottled group of children gleefully ran about in anticipation their complexions varying from porecelain to black as night. Berm ran alongside his friends knowing his days as a child were coming to an end. He was 12 and ready for the ritual to transition from childhood to adulthood, to inherit his father's farm and continue on the heritage he'd been born into. Berm was 5'4 average height and build for his age he had no distinction between him and any of the other village children his skin a mocha brown and black hair cut short.
Childa looked at his friend Berm as they ran and egged each other on showing the soon to be women their strength and stamina. He was just as anxious as his friend was for the ritual as they lay in the field watching the clouds and catching their breadth, "Can't wait for when you get that farm Berm it's goin to be a whole lot easier with some extra food on the table and money to start fixing the house up, your da would be proud." Berm smiled back at his friend, Childa was taller than Berm by a few inches, fair skinned with a sunburn that never seemed to abate but that didn't stop him from helping Berm on the farm everyday. "Yeah and maybe we can finally get you something other than those shit hand me downs," smirked Berm knowing clear well that those were his own clothes Childa was wearing. They laughed and threw insults back and forth at each other till it was time to head back their shadows drawing as the sun set.
If anyone had asked Berm 3 years ago how much Childa meant to him he wouldnt even bother to respond but 2 years back after Berm's father had passed Childa showed up saying he'd help him work the farm as long as he could have a roof over his head, at first Berm was reluctant but realized his mother and he couldn't work the farm on their own and such a light cost for labor would be a blessing. Childa and Berm soon became brothers, their hard work and sweat building bonds of iron. The full responsibilities of working on the farm had fallen to his friend and himself. Childa had no other family and was more than happy to keep a roof over his head and food in front of him. They had worked the fields every year since waiting for Berm to go through the ritual so he could inherit the farm and claim back the profits that the village head had so kindly with-held for "safe keeping" until Berm properly inherited the farm. Just thinking of their slimey village head made Berm's skin crawl but today was the day, the village head could do nothing to stop him now.
The sun had completely dipped below the horizon as all the villagers and children were round up to the village square in front of a constructed stage and roaring bonfire the priest awaiting the sun to disappear and the blessing stone to light. "Tonight is a very special night as you all know every child born in the year of the 42nd empire calendar will be blessed tonight as full adults I hope our children have grown strong and ready for this great ritual" The portly village head anounced at the top of his lungs setting his multiple chins quivering on top of the stage as the priest shuffled forward to begin the ritual. "Children form a line and await your turn as I bestow the blessing upon you one by one" the priest said his voice croaked with age as he lightly knocked his gnarled staff upon each child's forhead as they came up anointing them as adults after a short prayer and small pulse of blue from the blessing stone. The villagers cheers roaring into the night after each blessing.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Childa looked back at Berm before bravely walking up the steps his bright red sunburned shoulders still visible in the light. Giving a nervous smile at Berm as the priest swiftly begun the ritual again and Childa placed his hand on the blessing stone.
The stone pulsed once. Blue.
The stone pulsed a second time. The color fading to grey.
The stone pulsed a third time. Purest of white.
Gasps of excitement and the sound of jaws being hitting the floor could be heard as they looked at the dirty boy in front of them, the priest flashed a rare smile "A mark of Virtue is among us I am humbled to see another after so many years, who's boy is this?" And Before Berm or his mother could say anything "He's mine" said the village head his smile reaching from ear to ear, his eyes filled with excitement "He was born out of wed-lock but I will step up and claim him as rightfully mine his mother had passed and I have always made sure he has been able to survive I am so so sorry my boy you don't know how happy I am to be able to be with you again" His meaty hands smothered Childa before he could say anything his mind muddled with the monumentous shift. The villagers cheered raucously regardless knowing such bastard children were common in aristocracy and that the boon of a new Virtue carrier far outweighed any criticism, the cheers drowning the distraught looks of two boys.
Berm fidgeted in line as his turn came up as he exhaled hard trying to move past the events that just happened as his turn came he glanced at both his mother in the crowd and Childa who looked dazed standing next to the village head his fat fingers resting on his best friends’ shoulder. Berm solemly walked up the steps sweating light rivets of anticipation mixed with confusion as he listened to the priest deafly and placed his hand over the stone while the priest said his prayer.
The stone pulsed once. Blue.
The stone pulsed a second time. The color fading to grey.
The stone pulsed a third time. Blackest of night.
The priest and the crowd looked wide eyed with a light gasp barely a whisper could be heard as the priest nodded somberly "A blessing of Sin."
The village head suddenly clamped down with his meaty claws on Childa’s shoulder narrowing his eyes as he quickly thought to deal with the situation before it turned to anything else he wooed the villagers into raising an applause although much more muted than before their expressions slightly strained. Berm had been marked for blood. Berm had been marked as a beast.
