The training grounds of the city guards looked very different from their usual state today. Instead of soldiers drilling with weapons or officers barking commands across the field, a large gathering had been organized beneath the open sky.
Several city officials stood upon a raised podium, carefully directing the crowd and arranging the attendees into orderly rows.
As more people arrived, the atmosphere gradually shifted. Conversations died down as instructions spread through the gathering.
Officials moved quickly between the lines, reminding everyone to remain silent and maintain proper posture. The sense of anticipation grew heavier with every passing moment.
Standing before the podium were several thousand youths, all of them approaching the age when they would undergo their awakening within the next year. Most were thirteen years old, with only months remaining before the event that would determine the course of their futures.
