It was around midday when the castle bell rang, announcing the commencement of the ceremony.
One by one, the kids, parents, and many curious ward residents began to file toward Castle Braycliff.
The huge court was filled with excitement and activities from the castle servants and nearly two hundred people were gathered to witness the rite of passage ceremony, even though only about thirty were the actual people who would face the Edge of Bray.
To most of these villagers, they did not have big hopes.
At best, maybe one of the kids would contract a mildly powerful beast and awaken some skill, which would either grant them a ticket to become one of the ward's beastknights.
With luck, they might get one to be offered a chance to join the prestigious Gadavale Magic Academy.
If not... well, they would be tutored in the ward's battle school and would be guaranteed a place in Lord Goldel's court. It would still be an honor to those lucky few.
Most, though, would return with either the common beast that would awake minor abilities like body strength and minor healing, and join the ranks as foot soldiers.
Braycliff was one part of the Gadlon Kingdom that enjoyed long periods of peace. Despite the fact that it was on the eastern edge of the kingdom, any enemy would first have to conquer the Bray Mountains that encircled it.
Due to this, they did not keep a large number of ready soldiers, but it was still mandatory to have trained men just in case they were called upon to contribute to the kingdom's military.
The kids who were unlucky would return empty-handed and back to continue their family trade in the case of boys, or look to be married into other powerful parts of the kingdom and strengthen the family in the case of girls.
Nonetheless, it was still an evening of pride, this tradition united all the parts of the kingdom and the same thing was happening in all the wards in Gadlon .
Parents were standing with eager expressions, some whispering family instructions and tips that most certainly wouldn't help.
No contractual process was similar to the other. It, however, served to calm the kids, who were at the moment feeling on the edge.
As was customary for the well-off families, tiny vials of fragrant oils were being passed around, and children were dabbing their wrists and necks with the shimmering, faintly glowing concoctions.
The smell filled the place with an earthy yet sweet scent.
Such blends were specially crafted to attract beasts of higher affinities.
In the far corner of the hall, Alden stood between his eager siblings. His mother was chatting nearby with another parent.
Little Rose was tugging at his oversized woolen sweater that his mother had knitted for him for his last turn of age.
"Al, will you bwing me a faiye?"
Alden bent down and picked her up, if only to stop her nagging.
"There are no fairies in the Edge of Bray, Rosie," Adaline, the second youngest, saved Alden from breaking his sister's heart.
It did not, however, mean that Rosie's feelings were spared.
He saw her lips begin to swell in preparation to unleash a shrill cry that would draw everyone's attention to them.
That was something he could not allow to happen.
If Rosie began crying, nothing in this court, big as it was, would go on. She always made sure of that, and should the speaker try to raise their voice above her, then she would keep increasing until they gave up.
Little as she was, Alden had never been able to figure out the full capability of the little girl's vocal cords.
"Of course, there are fairies," Alden said, quickly throwing a warning look towards Ada, who had been more than ready to defend her point.
Adaline looked disappointed but obliged and stayed quiet.
"Don't cry, Rosie... how many do you want?"
"Two, a pwince and a pwincess," Rosie answered quickly, putting all ten fingers up. To her, every count was represented by all fingers.
"I will get you that, and a knight and a queen."
Elsie, the second-born, who would be undergoing this same ritual after her next turn of age, threw him a warning look
She was reminding him that lying to Rosie wasn't a good idea.
Alden knew he was trading his whole night's peace for the moment.
Rosie would not stop nagging should he come back empty-handed, as he surely would.
Alden's father had stayed behind at the smithy, likely putting the final touches on a client's sword or armor.
That was the life he would return to after this... pointless tradition was over.
Alden had long ago accepted his place, one firmly rooted in Braycliff Ward.
He knew he wasn't destined for powerful beasts or nightly roles. Tonight would end the same way it did for his father and grandfather before him — he would go out into the forest, return empty-handed, and find himself back at his father's side, hammer in hand, bending iron to others' whims.
A commotion stirred up in the hall, and Alden looked up to see a procession approach.
Lord Goldel wasn't an easy man to miss; he was close to seven feet, with a big round belly and a regal presence around him.
Even for someone who might not have laid eyes on him, they could easily know they were in the presence of the wardlord. Looking around, Alden noticed that several castle servants had entered carrying rucksacks that were probably meant for them. His mother had told him that they would be given small supplies from the castle's kitchen.
They would, after all, be spending almost the rest of the day in the Edge of Bray.
That food would probably be the best thing he would encounter today... not often did he get to taste meals from the castle.
Alden noticed that the crowd had begun to move closer to where Lord Goldel and his lady were standing.
He could see that Tomel, Clark, and the rest of the kids were at the front. From the looks of it, he was among the last.
"Come here, Rosie," Alden turned to see his mother had returned.
"Hurry, Alden... join your friends," she said as she lifted his little sister from his hands.