Together they went out of the manor, taking a carriage, moving outside the city to a small clearing not too far from the city wall.
Just before they stepped down, their arrival was announced. It turned out that they were the last ones to get there, causing everyone to wait for them.
"The Altharions are here"
The announcer said, as Grey and his Uncle stepped down from the carriage side by side. One look from Nolan was enough to chase away the dissatisfied expression on some of those present.
"It's up to you know kid. Don't worry, you've got your blood flowing through you."
Nolan said patting Grey on the shoulder, and before he left, he handed one more thing to him.
"Here, kid. I should have given this to you last night. I made a promise!"
Nolan gave a small apology, but that didn't matter to Grey, as he stared at the spear in Nolan's hand. His father's spear!
"How?"
Grey asked in confusion, taking the spear in his hand.
"Eh? You'll get to know that later kid. Go! Let's not keep the others waiting!"
Nolan said walking away from the group, towards the side where some other nobles and the parents of the kids present stood.
"Alright, chicks! Follow me!"
The voice of a man came from the front and the group moved, following him through the entrance of a cave that was just upfront.
Grey moved along with them a moment later, almost getting carried away with inspecting his father's spear, a weapon that had never left his side.
Strange, considering that his father was involved in diplomatic matters and tended to avoid things related to violence and conflicts.
With the weapon in his hands and a nostalgic sense of familiarity which had enveloped him, Grey walked into the cave feeling a little mor3 confident.
The entrance of the cave led to a dark tunnel which lit up with blue stones, lodged into the rocks as they passed by, as if sensing their presence.
After a walking for a whole and taking a couple of turns, they arrived at an elevated spot.
In front of them was the full body of the cave, several of those blue stones wedged into the walls and tall ceiling of the cave illuminating the space brightly.
At the centre of the space beneath them was a large translucent pool, shining with a faint blue shimmer.
Seeing this pool, Grey could feel his heart beating again. He was nervous, placing his hand on a bracelet he had hung on his neck.
"Welcome to the Ancestral Pool, chicks! Make sure to look well, cause this might just be the only time you would ever see it in your life!"
The man whose appreance had now become visble to Grey addressed the crowd.
He turned to them, his hair which looked like an ethereal blue flame leaving small trails behind him.
"You are getting this opportunity because it is your coming of age ceremony, an intergal part of our Theo culture, if not the most important!"
"Today, you all will leave your shells behind and the status of chicks and embark on your path ti becoming true Theo warriors!"
The man said, his passionate voice causing the air to tremble, causing the spirits of the young people in front of him to shiver as they all bore determined and excited expressions, each of them proud of their heritage, their race, the fact that they were Theo!!
Grey on the other hand let out a deep breath, the bracelet he had hung on his neck, under his shirt was now visible on his right hand.
"Follow me!"
The man said and Grey along with some of the others present frowned, confused. There was no visible way to get down there into the pool.
Their confusion was cleared though the moment the man jumped off the edge landing into the pool silently.
The others smiled seeing this, following in the actions of the man, watch of them jumping into the pool that was about three meters below them.
Grey followed suit with a neutral expression on his face.
SPLASH!! SPLASH!!
He and the others landed in the pool causing several splashes as they were nowhere as skilled as the man who had landed there silently.
"Spread out!"
The man's voice came again, this time slightly above them as they spotted the figure which hovered above their heads, his firey blue wings and glowing blue runes creating an enchanting sight, but that wasn't the focus of the matter at hand as the other kids moved away from each other, spreading themselves across the wide pool.
The water was only high enough, reaching most of their chests, including Grey who stood at a height of 6'1
Grey didn't move away from his spot though, letting those around him spread farther away from him.
He looked around him, seeing several faces which he happened to recognize, but he didn't see the annoying face of Alex anywhere close to him.
"Hmm!"
"What's this!"
Several voices and murmurs burst out of the mouth of the kids in the pool as a faint mist suddenly appeared on the surface of the pool, spreading out and fitting thicker until theu couldn't see each other again.
On cue, the instructor's voice cut through to their ears guiding them further.
"Don't panic. The spirits of the ancestors are starting to stir. The process would begin soon. Remain calm and let the rest happen naturally."
The man's voice disappeared just after and Grey sighed holding onto the spear in his hands. The bracelet and the spear were the only things which kept him calm at this moment as he chose to follow the words of the man.
Taking a cross legged position in the water with the spear between his laps, as he took in deep and steady breaths, slowly losing himself in a state of meditation.
"What do you think of this batch, Silas?"
In another space, the nobles and the parents of the children in the pool sat, looking down into the pool which to them was void of any fog.
They all watched their descendants with keen expressions, fervently discussing about the potential of their children.
Before Silas, the Commander in chief could give an answer to that question, their attention went back to the pool, feeling a shift in energy, and the source just happened to be Silas' one and only daughter, Aria!
"Wonderful! She had made contact already!"
"You really are lucky Silas, getting blessed with such a graceful talent such as your Aria. I'm jealous!"
The man around congratulated Silas, as they witnessed the talent of his daughter, making contact with her ancestry in the first few minutes. A process that could take the average Theo a few hours.
Before Silas could respond to their greetings, another shift was sensed in the pool, and this time around it was Alex, young master of High house Durnholm.
His father Caspian who was observing from the side took in the contracts of those around with a polite smile, but while they weren't looking his expression had taken a sour change.
'Impressive! Two kids making contact with their ancestry in less than ten minutes'
The instructor who observed from above watched in amazement. This coming-of-age ceremony was already a success in his eyes as he had successfully spotted two outstanding talents, each belonging to a high house.
'His Majesty would be glad!'
"Hmm? Nolan, how come I haven't seen that naughty nephew of yours?!"
Caspain's voice rang put among the crows and the air in the room changed, Silas holding back a deep sigh.
'He's at it again!'
The others in the room, nodded in agreement to the words of the head of House Durnholm.
"That's true! My eyes haven't caught sight if him since the start!"
"He was present?"
Another one of them commented, feigning ignorance at the fact that Grey was present. He was the last person to arrive, seen by all.
"Of course he did! He even wasted the time of the others, I guess he has some balls after all. That at least is a plus point!"
Silas glanced at Nolan from the edge of his eyes, checking his reaction, but the man was as calm as the surface of a lake, the small, confident smile on his face still present, as he ignored the comments made against his nephew.
"No words, Nolan?"
"I heard a rumor that the young lord of Altharion was runeless, is that indeed true?"
Someone amongst the crowd asked and several gasp were heard across the room, and the air suddenly became heavy and thick with tension, a faint hint of killing intent withdrawing.
The person who, had spoken the lord of a smaller family, sat frozen like a statue in his seat, cold sweat running down his body.
Silas seeing the situation, took a step in to calm things down.
"Do not say such things Master Lorynth. Beware of the gravity of your words!"
"Don't take the comment too far Nolan. I apologize on his behalf."
"Hahahaha!"
Nolan's deep laugh sounded like war drums, his voice getting dangerously low as he looked into the eyes of everyone present, apending a few more seconds on Caspian.
"Why would I get angry Silas? I've never cared about the rumors going around about my nephew, and even if he does indeed turn out to be runeless, he his my brother's son, by extension, he is my son and just like every loving father would do. He has my full support. Let that sink into you all."
"You try to target him? Expect me in your homes!"
Nolan boldly threatened all those present and Silas expression darkened further.
'You said you don't care, but yet you speak such words!'
Silas thought.
The gravity of Nolan's words weren't something to be taken lightly. He had just violated one of their fundamental cultural rules, but Silas refused to call him out. The lesser nobles had brought it upon themselves after all—taunting and pushing his sensitive matters right in front of him.
Unfortunately, where Silas didn't want to speak, Caspian didn't give a flying fuck!
"Do you realize the gravity of the words you spoke Nolan? Saying such words at the coming-of-age ceremony no less!! Are you looking down on our culture?!"
Caspian questioned, his words stirring something in the hearts of the dissatisfied nobles, but Silas stepped in once again.
"ENOUGH!!"
He smashed his hand on the armrest lf the chair which had he sat on.
"Watch your words, Caspian! Now is not the place nor the time for this!"
Silas' voice was absolute, containing the authority of the Chief Commader and Head of the High House Vaelmont, the most respected amongst the five high houses.
With his words, Caspian retreated with a small bow of defeat and the space finally went back into harmony.
'His Highness would also like to know this!'
The silent instructor who had been watching all this noted internally.
At the edge of the pool, covered by some rocks, Grey sat there in a meditative space, a force slowly dragging him into the water submerging him fully.
When he opened his eyes, he saw a world of white in front of him.