Maple 🍁 town was relatively remote and normal town when considering how big Aria was and how dangerous it could be .
But for Tris and Brown , this town was as normal as one can be, if we don't count the cultivators of big families and various organisations. The couple had a fixed routine.. waking up, waking the kids, feeding them , playing with them , teaching them about the world (as much as they know at least), telling about sects , legends of aria , myths and sometimes pure fiction stories (in a world of fiction that is) but this all changed one winter night .
The change came with the arival of new member of their family. He was unusual child. Strange because he matured faster , even from their perspective, but that's wasn't all . It was his intelligence that was strange, it was like he was always aware of his surroundings, like he knew who was friend or foe . As just the other day when Tris went to shopping with him , he started crying just the moment before she was about to become a victim of a theft.
His intelligence aside , he was somehow very prone to fights and that was despite his calm nature, as he was always fighting with other children of the park , sometimes it could be due to toys but sometimes he faught because he wanted to . That's it . So yes he was unusual. But he was precious too and He already had his values made
" I will protect him/her because I can. And I want to"
That's what he told Brown one day when he came after one of his fight. But despite all his unsualness he had to go in 3 months to talent awakening ceremony. They knew he was special and would go to one of the sects , Tris knew it the moment she saw those blue eyes and brown well he knew it when one day..
It was evening when the third son of Ross family came to the orphanage to pursue tris and brown to pursueade the 2 children to become their childrens followers in the sect and in turn they will be rewarded.
There was a heated argument going on at that moment
"No we will not tell them to do anything like that"
"But think about all the benefits they will have this way , and we will back you up as well including the other children here as well"
"I am sorry Mr. Ross but they are ones who will decide their future not us . "
" Are you sure about that Brown .."
" Yes , absolutely"
"Alright, then don't blame me if something happens"
"Are you threatening us mr Ross "
" No I was reminding you of your choice and your place .." he said this while emanating his martial pressure around .
He radiated this pressure until Mr brown was on his knees and then stormed off the house giving mr brown on last look.
"Huff.. Huff ..Huff ". Mr brown was huffing on floor taking deep breaths. This was the first time he felt the pressure of a cultivator on his and this made him realise how week and insignificant he was in this world. He tried to stand up when Ethan came running to him and helped him reach the chair to sit down.
Mr brown, although looked very frightening to other children but to Ethan , he was the best father one could ask for . He told him stories of great dragons , phoenixes, ancient luans , horses who could run faster than any thing and all other amazing stories. He also listened to him wherever Ethan came bruised from a fight , unlike Tris who remained him .
So yes he was the best father for Ethan and he loved him very much . So when he saw him huffing like that on floor Ethan got scared .
He helped him sir on the chair and when he looked ok he hugged him tightly and Mr brown hugged him in return.
"Are you ok father…?"
"Yes Ethan I am ok now, don't worry about it' Mr brown said this while rubbing Ethan's hair and smiling to him.
"Why were you on ground , did something happen?"
"It was nothing son .. it was nothing "
"If you say so"
"Ethan.."
"Yes father "Ethan answered looking up at his father
"Promise me something "
Ethan for all his smartness as well as unsualness was stumped and surprised , since this was the first time he had ever heared his father with so much longing.
"Anything father"
"Become so strong that no can order you around"
Ethan knew something has happened, and this was the first time his father has ever asked him for anything so with resolution and conviction, as much as a child can gather, he said
"Yes father , I will be strong... No the strongest"
At that moment there was a faint blue glow enveloping him with a flicker looking like lightning in his eyes. All this was invisible to Ethan but to Brown, it was happening right in front of him and was undeniable, and so he understood that Ethan was very special.
Day of ceremony..
The ceremony took place in the plaza of town with 5 to 6 children every year and was officiated by desciples of the sect . One from each 3 sect. These sects were Aqua heart sect, Boulder sect and Moon sect.
Aqua heart sect was a mostly all female sect but there were some males as well but their masculanity was questioned many times due to them looking almost like girls. Their sect was famous for their water arts .
Boulder sect on the other hand had mostly male population in it . The sects main focus was to cultivate ones body to become strong, and they were famous for their defence.
Moon sect , it was different from other 2 sects as it had both males and females and focused on both , attack and defence.
During the ceremony the children were asked to touch a white orb and the orb which was said to made from a special ore which changed its colour with different mana densities. So as children touched the orb , it will change its colour according to the mana density it has absorbed, that is why ceremony happened between age 7 to 9 , as it also helped to understand which child can house mana better. They were then offered the chance to join sects and if one was accepted by more than one sect then it was upto to children to decide where they would like to go.
Ethan was in his room thinking which sect to go if was accepted by any of them
"Ethan it's time to go". He heard his mother calling for him as the time for ceremony was coming near.
"Yes mother, I am coming". He got up as he said this . He looked around one last time at his room as this may very well be the last time he will be here. He did not have many things, some clothes , some of his old toys , his bed and a lamp which he used to study books every now and then .
He got out of his room and made his way towards the stairs, he could see ray and Edmund's room . Both of them had joined boulder sect and were living good lives . Ray was about 15 this year and Edmund who was also the eldest among all the children of orphanage was 19.
Although they came every now and then , the visits have become shorter now and due to the age gap between them and Ethan, be was not very close to them .
He slowly came downstairs and found Clara, lily and Mia's room . They were all in aqua heart sect and were living good lives as well. Although not very close to them , he could, at the very least ,talk properly with them .
He then looked at his parents Tris, his mother, her face looked old now and there were marks of old age on them , her hair had started to become gray as well. But she still had her smile on her face , the smile which always made him feel good and home. Turning towards Mr Brown, he saw that his somewhat muscular figure had become thin now , his eyes had lost those sharpness and he smiled more often.
Mr Brown and tris both smiled when they saw him , Ethan was their last child so the both of them loved him very much . They knew Ethan would higher than their other children and were happy for him and sad as well as they would not be here when his name resounds all around.
"Ethan , today is the day of ceremony, are you ready for it?". Brown asked as looked at Ethan making his way over to them .
" Yes , absolutely father. And I know which sect I would like to go as well...". He said while grinning.
"Hoh... Looks like you already know that you will be accepted"
" But ofcourse, they would lose a prodigy if they did not give me a place ". He answered his mother while crossing his arms.
"Yes yes Mr prodigy , let's go now or you will not be able to participate in ceremony."
As Mr Brown said this , they made their way towards the door. Closing the door they made their way towards the plaza where the ceremony was to take place.
When they arrived there , they saw the plaza was full of people and people from Ross and Wick family were here as well. Making their way there they told Ethan to go and stand in the line where the other children of his age were standing.
As he did so , Ethan could see children he played with standing their as well. Among them Tom was the only person who he usually talked to , he came from a family of three and according to what he said , he was hope of his family. There were some who had been beaten by him and some who had beaten him as well. Well at that was childhood altercation and they knew that as well , so all of them were atleast cordial with one another.
"So you ready?". Ethan asked Tom as he go near him.
"I don't know Ethan. Unlike you I am not sure if I will be any talented enough, but I hope only good comes ..."
" Yes , hope so, by the way , what's with the big families why are they here?"
" I don't knkw really but I heard someone talking that they were not able to join the sects their families are affiliated with .. you know since they are 2nd rank sects so they have harsher requirements than the 3rd rank sects here . "
"Yeah ... 2nd rank sects ..."
At this moment a booming voice came into their ears from the front ..
" Everyone, are you ready. We will be starting the talent ceremony now"
Hearing this , the surrounding noice became dim and all the focus went to the 3 people, one girl and 2 boys ....