The ceremony began with a prayer, and Leon did his best to recite the words he had heard his parents whisper under their breath. He stepped up to the altar, reaching out to touch the sacred crystal as instructed. The moment his fingers brushed against it, a faint warmth emanated from the crystal, but the sensation quickly dissipated. He tried to recall the steps for invoking the blessing, but his movements were hesitant, and his words faltered.
He performed the gestures, albeit clumsily, accidentally skipping a step here and there. His family remained silent, their expressions unreadable as they observed. The priests and priestesses nearby did not comment, though a few exchanged glances. Whether it was out of respect for the Montclair family's influence or pity for the frail young man, nobody dared to voice any judgment.
As the ceremony concluded, Leon stepped back, feeling a flush of embarrassment. He couldn't help but notice Bjorn giving him a reassuring nod, his brother's gaze encouraging rather than critical.
"Nicely done, Leon," his mother whispered as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "You did well."
He could only offer a half-hearted smile in response. Deep down, he knew it hadn't gone as smoothly as he would have liked, but it was a relief that nobody had outwardly criticized him. The Montclair family's status was enough to shield him from most scrutiny.
While his parents spoke with the high priest about family matters, Leon wandered to the side of the temple, taking in the peaceful ambiance and trying to shake off his earlier nervousness. He hadn't gone far when a sudden grip on his wrist yanked him into a shadowed alcove.