-~*~-
.
.
.
Chatters from the guests filled the main hall as people waited for the ceremony. Everyone is at their designated place. Eker is outside alongside Yanyi and Luyao. Waiting for the trumpet to be sounded across the hall.
Despite having a small prep talk before, Eker is still as nervous as a jelly. This is his first official ceremony for himself. Thankfully the pat from his back is helping to calm his nerves little by little. "You can do it."
Soon enough the awaited call resound throughout the hall. The giant marble gate was opened and three people came in. Eker walked in front of Yanyi and Luyao, ready to get his first ever Cryst.
When the boy reached the central podium, he was face to face with one of the High Priestesses that he had talked to before. He bowed down, showing his composure and elegance. He then proceeded to turn around, facing the rest of the hall.
Thus, the ceremony finally began. A charles made of gold is placed before him. He then held out his pinky and slit a small wound. Enough to let a single drop of blood trickle into the chalice' water. A prayer is then recited by the High Priestess behind him.
After all of that, he brought the chalice before his lips and took a good sip from it. He would then turn around and face the four Aurilian statues. Pouring the remaining water onto the plate below him is the last step needed.
All they have to do now is wait.
Bling!
The statue of the Auril or Ivory glows in the bright white light. Soon enough in the water that he had poured out emerged an Howlite Ivory. Eker's first cryst.
"A new warrior of freedom is born! Rejoice!"
Applause came thundering down the hall. From the far end all the way to the front. The official ceremony has ended. Eker had received his first cryst. An Ivory Howlite.
Yanyi would not be less than proud.
.
.
.
The birds are flying away from one branch to another. The courtyard is filled with many parents and children. All came to either congratulate or take advantage of the situation.
Yanyi is standing beside Irene, watching Eker closely. "Ironic how people can change after a news is spread around, huh." Yanyi chuckled sinisterly. She knew what Irene was trying to say. It is what had happened after all.
When the invitation was being distributed, many didn't give back their response. I mean, the invitation came from Vaiden and as far as people in Kinsel knew, Kazuto and Luyao are the only children that Ryuichi has. Vaiden is pregnant but surely the illusion is not for an unborn baby.
Then a few days after, the news about the next Elotion ceremony is meant for Xue Licia Yanyi's younger brother, many invitees give their letter of confirmation. Needless to say they are acting only after learning the news of Eker's identity.
"Sincerity is hard to come by. Even in our circle, we are only sincere to the Empire, not always to each other." Yanyi commented, eyeing all the children that tried to appeal to Eker. Some had praised him and some had even shared their training process.
Eker didn't seem to be too overwhelmed neither is he looking too gullible. He is only nodding and giving out simple responses. One that is vague enough to prevent any definitive certainty.
"That boy learns fast." The voice came from beside Yanyi. Luyao has stood beside her and is also watching the whole area. "Eagle eyes aren't you?"
Luyao — "Same to you."
Kazuto — "At least he knew where he really stood. And he won't allow anyone to take advantage of it."
Irene — "Is it normal for you guys?"
"Yup!" Yanyi and Kazuto responded at the same time. They both have their fair share of socializing. Most of the time it is purely for connection but some have tried to push for a favour.
Out of nowhere Luyao's eyes start to wander towards a particular boy. His clothing is even more lavish than Eker. Like he is boasting around his wealth. He is striding towards Eker with his shoulder held high.
He is a bully.
The boy then starts to speak so loud that the whole courtyard could hear him. "You're not as cool as me. I'm the younger cryst holder across the whole Empire. You just received your signia today! I received mine 2 years ago!"
Irene — "That is not much different is there? He's two years older than Eker, right?"
Kazuto — "By the look of it."
"Ouh but my boy received his signia before his 10th birthday. He's barely reaching ten at the time." The voice is coming from their side. Irene is eyeing the woman that has spoken to them out of the blue.
"I presume that you are his mother?" Yanyi asked in normalcy. Like nothing that the pair of family is doing is wrong. Irene was about to add more before Kazuto grabbed a hold of her wrist.
"What?" She whispered, a visible tinge of anger still inside. Kazuto shook his head. He motioned with his eyes. Let them resolve this. We can stay back and watch. Yanyi wouldn't let such arrogance slip just like that.
"Oh really? Well I would hope that what your son said is true." Yanyi smiled again. Her lips didn't reach her ears. It's a mocking smile.
"Eker also still has yet to reach his 10th birthday so I guess he is also a lucky youngest cryst bearer isn't he?" the woman's face started to turn red. Presumably from anger and embarrassment.
Can you say anything else. You tried to pick a fight with the children of the Xue Family, of course something bad surely occurred. Luyao didn't do so much but kept his sight on the children before him.
.
.
.
Eker's side.
The boy managed to get a hold of 50 percent of the attention surrounding Eker. The children's eyes start to dance around his sentence filled with pride. That is when Eker said one sentence that broke his confidence.
Eker — "My sister is the youngest bearer as far as I've learned."
This caught the boy off guard and he totally didn't take this easily. Instead he starts to fall off his pride and starts to throw doubt and accusation to Eker. He doesn't falter if he speaks the truth.
Boy — "That's not true! The youngest bearer of me! It's even recorded in Kinsel's book!"
Eker — "My sister was a bearer when she was seven and it's recorded in the Imperial book."
Boy — "I have been taught by the top 10 fighters in Kinsel!"
Eker — "I have been taught by the best melee fighter in Volenix. I even hold my ground against him."
Boy — "Well, I have been to the Imperial Palace! What about you huh?!"
Eker — "My sister has a personal room in the Averlion Palace."
Boy — "Well that's your sister! Not you! You never even set foot in the Palace!"
Eker — "Yeah. But you never speak to the Crown Prince before right? I have! I had a fun conversation with Brother Lyon!"
The last two words really pull everyone into a shock. The children around him and even the prideful boy is also stunned. Eker is referring to Crown Prince Devian with ease and is using his middle name to prove how high status he is.
The boy didn't seem to give up and even started to throw yet another round of insults. "My family is from a very prestigious background! You are only the adopted son of the Xue Family! You're not even related by blood!"
Eker was silent for a solid minute. His response, "At least my family cares and dotes on my upbringing. Not like yours." The final straw has been pulled. The boy is seething with anger.
His hand reaches behind his back and reaches out to his own signia. He is taking this for the win no matter the cause. He pulls down his dagger signia to Eker, it is right in between Eker's forehead.
GRAB!
"ENOUGH!"
That resounding voice filled with authority pull the boy away from his crazed mind. Only then did he realise that he was being held above the ground. His hand holding the signia is within the grasp of Zheng Luyao.
Flailing around to escape from his grip his eyes then scanned towards his ultimate victim. That is when he saw that a young beautiful lady had situated herself behind Eker. Her hands then went underneath his arms before lifting him into a cradle.
The grip on his wrist then vanished and he fell face first on the ground. Luyao has moved away from him and is standing beside Yanyi and Eker. His eyes staring straight to the little guy that he had restrained easily.
Yanyi wiped away the shock tears that had formed underneath Eker's eyes. With his head in between her neck she whispered sweet nothingness. Soothing the little boy.
After a minute or two, Yanyi then eyed the mother of the boy. The woman that had attempted to boast and embarrassed Yanyi. "I wouldn't mind sharing your children's experience. But failing to compose his temper and attempting to harm another? Surely this is not the way that your family teaches your descendants is it."
Woman — "I-!"
Yanyi — "My Lady. It is true that Eker is not my biological brother but it should not have been an instrument for you to attempt to bring him down. Any parents who fail to educate such basic manners to their children should not even be allowed to have children in the first place!"
Boy — "Mom, I-!"
"And you." The boy slowly turned his little head to where Yanyi and Luyao stood. His face turns pale and fear is visible across his head. "If I see you ever try to harm Eker in any shape or form, know that the Imperial Family would gladly build a new correction school for you!"
Fast steps approached the commotion and an older gentleman. His body looked exhausted. From the pale colour of his face he did not even see this plan from his family. He apologises profusely to Yanyi and even forces the lady and the boy to bow and apologize for their mistake.
Soon enough, they leave the courtyard.
The commotion had died down. Nevertheless there's no need to fear. All of the things that Eker had spoken turned into a new topic between the children. They had even started to wish how they would be in his position right now.
"Do you want to play around, Eker?" The boy shook his head lightly. He didn't seem to be so enthusiastic anymore.
Unfortunately, with the celebratory boy so down, Yanyi had to come to Marchioness and call for an early ending of the afterparty. Vaiden didn't argue after seeing the little boy in Yanyi's embrace.
Not all is in vain. Many of the children start to say their goodbye to Eker. This time it is filled with admiration. Eker seeing the many little hands waving to him, waved back a few times.
"At least the little guy is okay." Luyao speaks to Yanyi from her side.
She nodded in agreement.
.
.
.
The next day.
After the Elotion ceremony there are a couple of things that they have to do. One of them is actually ordering for Eker's signia. Yanyi had already taken the half of the day off and she will be meeting with the Vaiden at the blacksmith soon.
Cleaning the dishes is the last thing that she had to do before pulling up a carriage for their travel. "Eker! Are you ready yet? Don't forget to bring your cryst!" She shouted from the kitchen all the way to the bedroom.
"Coming!" A little boy came running with a small box in his hands. He then proceeded to go to the living room and put on his shoes. Yanyi had everything cleaned up and just had to waive down the carriage.
Yanyi — "Come down when you're ready. We can't make Aunt Vaiden wait okay."
Eker — "Okay!"
In about 5 minutes they are already on the carriage ready to head to an old acquaintance blacksmith. It really has been a while since they have seen each other. Thinking back on it, Eker never get a proper introduction to Jerad before.
Oh well, she talked about it when they arrived there.
.
.
.
Ding!
Vaiden, who was sitting in the waiting area, tilted her head from the magazine in her hands towards the front door. In came the two siblings, one has his sight completely bewildered. It is his first time seeing so many signia designs in one place.
Yanyi saw Vaiden and bowed her head slightly, acknowledging her presence and time. She then went over to the counter and hit the waiting bell that had been placed there.
Not long after an employee came. The same employee that she had encountered the first time she came here with Kazuto. "Oh. Lady Yanyi. Would you like to have a meeting with Sir Konse?"
"That would be lovely. Thank you." The employee then went to the back, presumably to get Jerad Konse.
While waiting, she took a spare chair in front of Marchioness Vaiden and sat there waiting for Jerad. Eker had already been sitting in an empty chair while chatting with Marchioness about all types of weapons that had been advertised in the magazine.
It's quite rare to meet someone like Marchioness Vaiden in the current era. Before she married the Ryuichi family her hometown used to be in the Kingdom of Yalon. She is not a very prominent figure but her immense knowledge in weapons hold her to be the unofficial blacksmith of the Kingdom of Yalon.
The Kingdom of Yalon is located on the northern continent in Yucoria. One of the five major kingdoms in Yucoria. It is a kingdom very well known for its vast amount of mining materials. More of which used to create all types of weapons.
Many of them are well known blacksmiths and weapon connoisseurs. Fortunately, they are not power hungry and respect the other nations around it. Providing materials in exchange for essential crops, which they don't possess a lot of.
How Marchioness Vaiden came to Volenix and meet the Marquess is not known to most people. Most of it are buried beneath the current head of the Elite Noble House and their spouse. Regardless, Marchioness Vaiden seems to make Volenix more as her true home.
"Lady Yanyi, Marchioness Ryuichi. Sir Konse is ready to meet you in his office." The employee came back to the counter and announced. Not what she expected but presuming that it is necessary to keep some eyes at bay, they went and followed the employee.
.
.
.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Sir Konse, the Lady and the Marchioness is here to see you sire."
"Come in."
The door is then opened and the three individuals enter the room. It is quite spacious for just an office of a blacksmith. Yanyi's eyes started to wander around the area but it was cut short, "I do some underworld stuff from time to time, My Lady. There's no need to be so curious."
Yanyi — "Underworld work? In Ryuichi's territory?"
Vaiden — "Albeit the underworld of Kinsel is vested in the Ryuichi's, there are sometimes where other houses have to get involved. Thus we allow for a representative of the house to stay for the task."
Jerad — "And it'll be easier and quicker than waiting for an order that could take a week at best."
Vaiden — "Precisely. Something as crucial as the underworld needs a quick response and this is the best way we could achieve."
'More for me to learn.' Yanyi spoke to herself before she felt a tug at the hem of her pants. Looking down she almost forgot the little guy she had brought over. Jerad also is interested in the little one. "Isn't this guy one of the children in that case with Dunisia? Why is he here with you, my lady?"
"Did you watch the Grand Imperial Trial a few months ago?" Jerad nodded while they all take their seat in front of his office table. A lightbulb appeared above his head and that is when things started to make a bit more sense.
Jerad — "So he is the new little brother you speak of that day? I thought it was Jingyao you're talking about."
Yanyi — "A-Yao is all the way in Ashrin. How can he come here out of the blue?"
Jerad — "True True. So! What's your name, little guy?"
His grip on Yanyi's clothes get a bit tighter. "Eker… Zhang Eker…" If it is possible for a furrowed brow to be more furrowed then that is what Jerad's brow is doing. "Zhang Eker? Not Xue?"
Yanyi — "I have yet to get the approval of my father. But I will make it happen. So for now his name shall be Zhang Eker."
Jerad — "Ouh~"
"Why don't you show him what you want, Eker. The faster you do it the faster you'll get your signia." Hearing this, the little guy's embarrassment immediately died down. He immediately get his cryst box and Vaiden lay out the blueprints of the signia that she and Eker had talked about.
"I just got my cryst yesterday and I already planned on what weapon I want with Aunt Vaiden. So… Can Uncle Jerad make it?" The genuine smile of hope is what kill Jerad then and there. Rest in peace.
Jokes aside, he did feel a bit touched by the little guy. Without much talking he immediately agrees even boasting how it will be the first signia he worked on after this meeting. To that, Eker says "Thank you, Uncle Jerad!" Auril, Jerad Konse died yet another time.
That is how the booking went.
Now Yanyi has to go back to the station. Her half day off has already ended anyway..
.
She has other belongings that need to be given back anyway.
.
.
.
-~*~-