"Mama, why did this happen to me?"
It was winter in the village of Michael. The wind was blowing, snow was dancing elegantly to the ground.
Bells rang through out the village and everyone began to dress up in there cosiest jackets and fur boots. Parents escorted their children by the hand to large building that resembled a church.
It was time for all children aged twelve to fourteen to receive their soul animals.
A crowd of people arrived infront of the cathedral and stood in front of its giant doors as though waiting for something.
"Greetings all o' you to the cathedral and I would like to congratulate all children going to receive their soul animals today." Said the Luab, the spiritual leader of the cathedral, who had come riding on a white horse.
"Hey Luab, I appreciate you addressing us in person but could you get us in it's freezing in here." Said one of the father's in attendance.
The crowd chuckled momentarily before the luab lifted up his staff bring the crowd to silence. "Haha." He sighed and his breath could be seen in the cold air. He swang his staff and hit the ground and said, " My apologies to keep you waiting. Without any farther delay allow me to welcome you to the cathedral."
The large doors of the cathedral began to slowly open and the crowd began to enter the cathedral that was a large empty space with tall columns and a mural of an angel with a firey wall posted on the wall at the front.
The parents began to let their children go as they watched them sit down on the floor of the cathedral. Legs crossed like in meditation.
The luab took post infront of them. "First, let us thank Elder beings for their protection."
Everyone began to recite a prayer in unison that was concluded with an Amen.
The luab placed his hand on the ground and yelled Bond before his horse turned into a bright white light that became a magical array on the ground surrounding the children.
The children where in a brief state of awe that didn't last long as they all began to close their eyes and meditate.
"Block out everything and listen to the sound. The sound of your soul animal calling out to you and once you hear it, invite it."
The children did as so and by the time they opened their eyes, the found an animal next to them.
All the children that attended that day got soul animals. All except one.
"Hey, old man." Yelled one of the attendees. It was a seventeen year old boy with jet black curly hair and amber eyes. "You said that this time I might get one."
The rest of the crowd stood silently watching the boy address the luab. They all knew who he was and why he was so frustrated.
"Mama, is that the boy that failed to get a soul animal?" Said one of the young children pointing at the boy.
"What did you say, you bastard?" He yelled.
"Ezra, this is a holy place. Come and speak with me after this." Said the luab, calmly. "Everyone, thank you for coming."
The crowd began their exit leaving the boy alone with the luab and his horse.
"Luab, what's wrong with me? You said that this time I may get a soul animal. What went wrong?" He said getting more flustered as he went on.
"I'm not a fortune teller, Ezra. I really thought that maybe it's just that you're soul is a late bloomer but it seems like it's something else. But I believe that you'll get one if you just continue believing. Belief is the first step towards manifestation."
Ezra sighed in disappointment before giving the luab's horse an apple and making his way for the door. "Thanks old man, I appreciate the help."
He exited the cathedral and covered his head with his hoodie before walking along a path around a hill north of the village that led into an abandoned cathedral.
He entered the cathedral and found four other children there. One his age and the other three, younger.
"Why the long face captain?" Said the child his age. "Come on, let's see the super cool soul animal you got."
"He didn't get any." Said one of the younger children, who was wearing glasses.
"Brook, I was gonna say it." Ezra said angrily.
"I'm sorry." Brook apologised quickly.
"For real. You didn't get one?" Asked the child his age.
Yeah Nova, I didn't get one. For the sixth year in a row." Ezra said.
Nova's eyes widened, "Well fuck those Elder beings, they don't dictate shit."
"But don't you have an Elder god in you." Said another younger child, Bailey.
"I know. Ah, I wish I could cut it in half and give one half to Ezra." Nova yelled.
Haha, "Nova is funny." Said the youngest of the kids, Carl. The whole group burst into laughter.
These group of children were very known throughout the village because of their antics that usually led to a lot of chaos like a bear raid. The group consisted of five major members; Ezra, the captain, Nova, his right hand man, Brook, the logical fifteen year old, Bailey, the princess(14), and Carl, the lamb(12).
Among them Ezra was the only one without a soul animal but where he lacked in power, he compensated in excellent sword-play and high physical capability.
"Any way. Today we have a new soul animal, right?" Asked Ezra looking at Carl.
"Oh yeah, Carl got a soul animal. Come on Carl. What are you waiting for?"
"Okay." Carl said before he called out his soul animal with a whistle and white sheep ran up to him and jumped on him.
"Wow, a sheep. Looks like you really are the lamb." Said Nova.
"Hey don't tease him, Nova. His sheep is cute." Said Bailey.
"Cute is an overstatement for something smelly." Said Nova.
Carl heard him and began to cry which made his sheep turn around to Nova's direction and hit him with its head in the gut sending him flying into a wall.
Bailey broke out into laughter as Ezra looked at Nova body on the ground next to the wall he just hit.
"It's quite strong,right Nova?" Asked Ezra jokingly.
"I'm gonna roast that thing." Nova said angrily.
Later that night, Ezra went back home and found his nine empty bottles of beer on the kitchen counter.
"Shit, he's drunk." He whispered to himself.
"EZRA!! Get your ass over here." Yelled a hoarse masculine voice.
"Yes, father."
"You disgrace. Six years and still no soul animal. How could my seed have given birth to such a waste. Your brother, Trazer has a tiger and you're younger sister, Mary just got hers today." He paused to drink his beer and threw the bottle but it missed him and hit the wall behind him.
"I talked to the luab and he said that..."
" I don't want to hear anything from you. You hang out with that Nova kid but he has an very strong soul animal. His parents must be very proud of him. Get out of my face."
"Good evening, father." Ezra greeted before heading for his room leaving his father with his wife in the living room.
He entered his room and found Mary folding his clothes onto his bed.
"Welcome back, big bro."
"Thanks, Mary. You didn't have to though."
"Yeah, but I did. Because it was so disorganised."
"Okay thanks." Ezra said as he stood his sword in the corner of his room.
"I heard father shout at you earlier."
"He's drunk. Though he said that you finally got your soul animal. What is it?"
"Oh, it was a crow."
"Wow, that's so cool."
"Thanks."
"Mary! Time for bed." Shouted Mary's mother.
"Oh, that's mother. Have to go. Goodnight." She waved at Ezra who fell onto his bed exhausted.
"I'm sorry, Mama. I couldn't get a soul animal. Again."