After the events that just happened Xavier couldn't hear anything going on around him as he felt betrayed by the people who this new world. They promised him that he received their goddesses' blessing yet he got nothing from her. The King eager to continue the ceremony had requested another feast and the food was being brought in.
Tyler went and sat beside Xavier and placed a hand on his shoulder shaking him. "Hey man it's fine, I'm sure the stuff is just spent from all the use. The King did say there were many of us this time right?" Xavier finally coming back to reality gave a fake smile in response. "Yeah, I'm sure that's it. Maybe I can try again later after this ceremony we're in." Xavier then looked at the servants bringing in more food and knew he wouldn't eat anything more.
While everyone ate Xavier sat and waited for the next part of the ceremony and after what felt like half an hour the king finally arose from his throne. "Now that you have all feasted some more and settled down we will commence the second half of the ceremony. It is now time we begin the partying of a woken and I'llgardan citizen." The robed and armoured people all lined up before the king and kneeled to him. "Each woken shall have one I'llgardan choose them as their trainer and you will learn our ways and our land as you both help each other grow in your respected fields combat. Each elemental will have a soldier join them and each warrior will have an apprentice bishop. All except Xavier as he has yet presented a weapon or element to his soul so he shall have a soldier and apprentice bishop join his party."
Each one of the kneeling individuals then stood up and looked around the room before going to one of the woken and standing beside them. Xavier waited and looked over his shoulder and to his surprise, he saw the same girl from before that he had the instinct to protect and a young man with dirty blond hair, green noble eyes and soft freckles all over his face behind him.
The King then clapped and smiled ear to ear "I am glad to see how easily you have all chosen your woken in this year's ceremony. I hope that all woken will enjoy their guides in our land and that we shall see great things from you in your future. All parties are granted up to a month to train and study in my castle before we send you on quests if you so wish but each party will be granted funds and a license to take on quests and tasks from all guilds in the nation. If any wish to begin their journey right away you are free to do so tomorrow morning after some rest. For the rest, you may request a squad formation that allows up to eight members between three registered parties to join up for a total of twenty-four to continue on their journeys. That said most people will only form parties of four to six leaving here but you may recruit and hire party members once you leave. I wish you all luck and may her radiance protect you." Every I'llgardan citizen in the throne room repeated after the king. "May her radiance guide us."
Xavier looked up to the two standing behind him and asked. "So where are we supposed to sleep in this castle?" The soldier responded without changing his stance or looking to Xavier "We sleep in the barracks sir but you sleep in your suite." The girl looked at him a bit awkwardly as if his behaviour was abnormal and shook her head. "We are granted quarters outside the castle although the soldiers call them barracks. The woken are granted rooms within the castle by the king although they aren't all of the same quality. Mostly it's the luck of the draw sir." She then bowed to Xavier and he held up his hand shaking his head in response. "No sir and no formalities like bowing or averting your gaze. You'll call me by name and look at me when speaking to me as I am not your superior. I am just a person like you who is a guest in your world."
The soldier looked down and the bishop looked up and they began to apologize before Xavier stood up and began walking out of the room. "Lead the way to the barracks if we are going to be a party I don't wanna waste time looking around for you both. We stay together always and I talk things out for our group." The girl then followed Xavier closely and the soldier waiting for a brief moment quickly caught up and walked beside them. The party of three began to head down the main hall of the castle and eventually, Xavier found himself outside under a sky filled with so many stars that it looked as if he was peering at a whole galaxy.
Xavier then grabbed each of their shoulders to stop them and pointed up to the scene above their heads. "Is this common in your land?" The soldier responded instantly. "No sir umm sorry I mean Mr.Howell it is only seen the night of and the week following the woken ceremony." "Xavier, call me Xavier and if this is short-lived I am sleeping under it every night." The girl's face filled with dread as her eyes widened and she grabbed Xavier by the collar. "No that isn't possible you could be in danger someone could try and kill you!" Xavier smiled and laughed a bit which made the girl step back in concern. " I'm sorry but once we leave the castle grounds we will be in a more dangerous environment then."
The soldier's eyes focused as if he was thinking on something before he looked up to the girl. "Xavier is right Sintarra, we should prepare for anything and everything. I will tell the quartermaster that Xavier and I will be training for our future endeavours and that I shall no longer be in the barracks. You have the choice of joining us if you so wish but he has the right mindset about this." The soldier then began walking to one of the several small buildings across a large field from the castle. The girl, Sintarra begrudgingly followed him catching up to him and hitting him over the head and he laughed as they took off together.
Xavier waited for them to come back and layed down by a tree beside the castle. Staring up into the stars above Xavier felt calm and relief unsure as to why he was so upset. It felt like he had been betrayed but he only woke up the a few short hours beforehand. Feeling the weight of his eyes Xavier began to give in as he let his consciousness slip away into slumber.
In his dreams, Xavier felt warmth radiating from all around him. Trying to look around all he could see was an empty void yet it gave a sense of comfort to him. Trying to move around it felt as if he was floating and swimming all while standing on solid ground. The further he felt himself move through the void the more Xavier felt as if he was reaching something. Then from within the vast depths surrounding him, Xavier heard a familiar voice. "Fret not my child. You have not been left without my blessing. You must merely find the true potential of your power. Now wake up and join the ones who shall guide you to your destiny."
Xavier's eyes snapped open and he shot upright clutching his racing heart. He gasped for air with his lungs desperate to fill them as if he had held his breath for hours. The two others that lay beside him didn't wake up to his reaction though and he couldn't help but wonder how long he had been asleep and what time it is. Getting up and not knowing where to go or what to do Xavier went to the large field and as he walked across it noticed a large dirt patch with some different markings within the dirt. As He approached a raspy growl of a voice shouted from behind him. "The Hell do you believe to be doing here at this hour!?"
On pure instinct alone Xavier spun around ready to defend himself and swung a punch for the source of the voice out of fear. But to his surprising horror, his hand was now firmly held in the palm of a large man with one eye greyed and diluted from a gash across it, a gnarled unkempt beard and the stench of whisky seeping through his teeth. The one thing Xavier could manage to say was. "I'm gonna die today." The man smirked and let out a deep stench of a sigh. "Time to teach some dope an important lesson in knowing his place in this world."