The smoke rose up and up in zigzag spirals as if trying to rise high enough to beat the towering mountains that surrounded all the corners of Braycliff Ward.
The source was the huge fire that had been lit just outside Castle Braycliff.
Several girls and boys who appeared around the age of twelve stood a safe distance from the towering flames... some grown-ups, likely eager parents, were watching from a distance.
"Do you guys think anyone might contract a mythical-rank beast?"
This question was from the tallest in a group of four friends who stood closest to the fire. His hair was a flawless mass of blond, and his eyes were a sea of deep blue. Those eyes were now looking expectantly at his friends.
For a while, no one answered; all of his friends were staring at the fire as if hoping to see the answer that the boy was asking from the flames.
"Are you kidding... there's no chance of that happening," it was yet another boy.
This one was tall as well but with a lean frame and dark eyes that seemed to struggle as he stared at the bright fire.
"The best anyone can get in Braycliff is rare rank," the boy said, rubbing his eyes uncomfortably.
"Speak for yourself, Clark..." the first boy countered defensively, as if Clark's answer wasn't what he wished to hear. "My father told me that one tamer from Braycliff contracted a legendary-rank beast some years back."
Clark's mouth opened to answer but shut as he looked at the big boy... for a brief while, he looked like he would give in, but his mouth would not let the opportunity slip past.
"But you said it yourself, Tommel... once... and that was just a legendary... a mythical-rank beast tamer comes once in a century in the whole Gadlon, let alone Braycliff..."
"Well, I know I will contract a dragonet or a fire fox, and then I will receive an invitation to join the Gadavale Magic Academy."
Tommel's dreams were what was shared by every twelve-year-old in the kingdom.
The ultimate dream was to contract a beast of the highest rank and awaken a strong enough ability to warrant the attention of the kingdom's magical academy.
Unfortunately, though, it was never achieved by the majority.
"Thhh..." the sound of someone struggling to stifle a laugh came from the last boy in the group.
He was a head shorter than Clark, and his head was also a mess of dark hair.
Unlike many other kids around, his clothes did not look anything special at all.
His eyes, which were normally even darker than his hair, had now lit up as he fought vainly to suppress the laughter.
"And what is funny, Alden... you didn't dream of contracting a housefly now, did you?" Tommel spat.
Despite his mockery, he already had a feeling about what Alden was laughing at.
On his part, Alden would have stayed quiet. In fact, he had not intended to laugh; he just couldn't help it, but now, hearing Tommel's insult, he decided otherwise.
"Well, at least I am realistic. If you want a dragon, I think you chose to be born in the wrong kingdom. You could try Drahon. The only dragons in Edge of Bray are dragonflies."
Clark burst out laughing, something which seemed to annoy Tommel even further.
He looked like he was about to pounce on his shorter friend but checked himself; his eyes drifted to where several adults were gathered, including Alden's mother and sisters.
It would not do, he decided.
"I will still see you, Smithboy... you ain't going anywhere."
"Well, I guess that makes two of us... when did you get so smart, Tommel?"
Tommel now looked like he would attack despite the adults' presence, when the petite redhead girl stepped between them.
"Can't you guys drop it even for a day like this...?"
Her name was Ina, and despite the furious look on Tommel's face, he couldn't match the burning fire in the redhead's eyes.
Tommel eventually obliged and went back to staring at the fire.
"Thhh..." Alden began, but when those eyes were turned towards him, he froze like a paralyzed man.
"Not now, Alden."
Alden seemed to recoil back to himself.
The tense silence stretched for a while before Ina broke it.
"Why must they even make such a big fire every year... it just adds unnecessary tension," she said, seemingly blaming the short conflict on the towering flames.
Clark, who had stayed silent to detach himself from crossing Tommel's path, did not appear to take Ina's statement kindly.
"Unnecessary? Are you kidding? That smoke is from special woods. It's meant to wake everything inside the Edge of Bray. By the time we are allowed to enter, the place will be teeming with all manner of creatures."
"What?" Alden exclaimed, astounded, "they are making them come for us?"
Tommel looked like he wanted to use the fear in Alden's voice to have a last laugh, but even he could not hide the fact that Clark's statements had shocked him.
"Well, yes, that is sort of the point... there are some creatures that are in hibernation and some beasts are in deep hideout inside the forest. The point is to make it easy for us to find a beast; otherwise, we might have to spend the whole day and night there."
"Oh, I didn't know that," Ina said, not a hint of fear in her voice. "I suppose if you put it like that, it makes sense now," she said, staring at the flames, seemingly more determined now.
Looking at her, Alden could not help trying to guess what was going on in her head.
"Which beast would you like to contract, Ina?"
Alden asked, and the other boys turned towards her with curious looks.
Ina looked at them shyly as if the question was too personal, or maybe it had just caught her unprepared.
"Me?... well, I don't want a legendary or a mythical beast if that's what you are hoping to hear," she said.
Alden could see the look of disapproval that Tommel threw towards her.
"I heard that some are just too powerful and may eventually fall out of control and... well, they can harm even their tamers."
"Well, I guess then you will become a dressmaker," Tommel said, looking anywhere but at her.
Ina looked insulted but did not give Tommel the satisfaction of thinking his words had hurt her.
"I just hope to find anything that can help me get a strong healing ability."
Tommel was looking around at them as if trying to gauge whether his statement had been heard.
Alden fought yet another wave of laughter. He was starting to think Ina could easily make Tommel doubt his own existence.
The castle bell rang, and the group split, each heading towards their families. It was time for the ceremony to begin.