A Tamer's Tale

Looking around, Elias examined his surroundings. To put it bluntly, his situation didn't look too promising. His new mother was huddled around stacks of shabby wooden crates and tools. She lay on a mixture of torn, stained blankets and hay and she wore a simple burlap dress, her black hair tied in a ponytail. Her body looked exhausted and somewhat malnourished, but there was unwavering vitality in her violet eyes.

From the occasional bumps and dips, Elias deduced he and his mother were in a wagon. Sounds of large animals and men talking were obvious now that he directed his attention to listening to the odd language that the people outside spoke.

His mother, who had not yet taken her eyes off Elias spoke the same odd language, a single word standing out "Rueliel"

Several days had passed since Elias's birth. Though he had yet to understand the language that everyone spoke, he deduced a few things from observation. It seemed that his family were refugees or travelers, there were a few other wagons following along his own. His father, a brown-haired man sporting ungroomed facial hair with several layers of bags under his eyes always traveled side by side the wagon. His sister and brother both were too young to constantly walk with his father so they would occasionally rest, often greeting and playing with Elias.

What surprised Elias the most was the creature that was pulling their wagon. It was a large dog, probably the size of a small horse.

Though other travelers or refugees would occasionally approach, there were never any unforeseen delays or accidents during the trip.

A full week after Elias's birth did they finally arrive at a large stone gate. The guards were swift to redirect them and the other travelers in their caravan to a nearby Hamlet where they could finally stopped their travels.

They were "given" a small plot of land with a tiny wooden cabin placed at the center.

Quick to move in, or rather there were few things to unpack they settled into their new home.

Elias spent his first two months breaking down the language.

His family called him Rue, his father's name was Jerimiah, and his mother was Eliza. His oldest sibling was his sister Jule, and the middle child was his brother Gabe.

During the day his father would farm. He was quick to overturn the soil and plant whatever seeds he had available. The massive dog would bring his father bunnies, rats, and mice who would attempt to sneak into their field.

His mother was a talented seamstress, always renewing the broken and torn clothes or blankets that always seemed to have something wrong with them. Other nearby families would sometimes bring over clothes or sheets to be fixed.

His siblings were less productive. They would leave home, and return late in the afternoon tired and hungry. Though his sister, Jule would always ask if she could play with Elias.

Elias looked forward to 'playing' with his sister, not because he actually wanted to play, but rather because she would talk to him as they played. It was a great time for Elias to listen and learn the language.

But, as months passed, Elias turned half a year old. He had learned the language but had yet to speak. He had a fear that his family might freak out because of his accomplishment.

"Jerimiah!" Elias's mother called out, her frame noticeably healthier. She waved a note in her hand, a thorned berry bush stamped into the wax seal.

Jerimiah, his father entered from the backdoor, his beard still ragged, but noticeably cleaner. He grabbed the letter, his right eyebrow raised in curiosity. "I wonder what the Count would want with us?"

Jerimiah's worn and calloused hands gently peeled back the seal, revealing a single white piece of paper.

The paper's penmanship was simply breathtaking, each character perfectly flowing with the next. Jerimiah read the letter with visible strain, each word separated a few seconds from the last. Elias now in his mother's arms listened with curiosity.

"The Count of Oasis has declared a new awakening tradition for those of the new 18 hamlets. Each year those who had turned the age of 14 will have the opportunity to partake. Each ceremony will be held on the seventh day of the month of sea, located in the central area of each hamlet. Those who had not had the opportunity to awaken previous to their relocation, and are under the age of 22 will be granted a single chance at the first ceremony to awaken."

Jerimiah placed the decree on their sturdy wooden table. Noticing that Jerimiah was done, Eliza commented "The seventh day of sea is tomorrow!"

Jerimiah perked up, "We could go and watch. Even though none of the kids are old enough, its bound to be interesting.."

Eliza nodded, her arms rocking back and forth cradling Elias. "Call back the children. We can tell them over dinner."

That next morning Elias and his family walked down to the hamlet's square. Elias was sitting on his father's shoulders, grabbing his ears to prevent himself from tumbling to the ground. Jule was skipping ahead of the group, while Gabe chased after her. They all had their best clothes on, prepared to watch the ceremony unfold.

The Hamlet's center was a raised stone platform with rudimentary wooden benches surrounding it. A large pine tree stood tall in the middle of the platform.

A few families had already sat while up near the center platform several young men and women lingered about, their general attitude was of obvious stress.

Elias's family took a seat. Elias, from a higher vantage point watched with round eyes. He had not really left his home much. This was the first time he had seen so many people gathered since his rebirth.

More and more people flooded into the town square. Then two men entered the square, their dress and demeanor completely different from the rest. One wore a vintage light gray suit, a monocle resting on his crooked nose. The other man wore a long purple robe, 2 bronze circles each within another rested on his heart. He was young, with blonde hair and striking scarlet eyes.

Both quietly made their way atop the stone platform. As they arrived at the top, they glanced down at the group of people huddled around the side of the stage, amusement on their faces.

The man in the suit was the first to talk, a haunty and condescending tone shot from his mouth "People of Verdant Hamlet, today marks the day several young men and women will alter their very life's trajectory." Opening his arms wide, "Let us begin."

The suited man gave a curt nod to the robed young man. "Please line up in a single file line and ascend the stage one at a time."

The young adults lined up, shoves and kicks quick to decide their order. The first was unsurprisingly the largest. He ascended the stage, a smug look plastered on his face. His wide frame and 6' 5" height dwarfed the two men already on stage.

The robed man gestured the giant over, "Kneel"

The giant kneeled, and the robed man placed his hand upon the giant's head.

Elias continued to observe from his father's shoulders. 'Is this a knighting ceremony?'

The robed man's eyes lit with a pale white energy. The energy transferred to the giant, who, not even a second later, grabbed his head in pain, and the blood vessels in his eyes threatened to pop. His body quickly dropped to the floor, convulsing in a pool of unknown bodily liquids.

The robed man stared down at the convulsing giant, sighing he cast his gaze to the crowd, ignoring the giant who was now being dragged away by a nearby knight. "His soul collapsed, his Soul Ocean had become too rigid. That is why there is a strict limit of 22 years of age." Staring at the hopefuls in line, he stared them down, "Do not gamble with your life."

Several people in line shuttered, half leaving, their heads dropped in shame.

"Next" the man in the suit called.

Finally, the first real participant approached the robed man, he kneeled and the man repeated his same actions, injecting a strange pale energy into the young boy.

Elias watched from the front row, the new boy's eyes fluttered and his body shivered for several seconds. Then a blast of energy shot out amongst the crowd, the epicenter clearly the boy kneeling.

When Elias felt the wave of energy wash over his body he felt his brain click. His violet eyes widened in disbelief then a similar but noticeably smaller and weaker blast of energy shot out from Elias. The initial blast overpowering his own.

Elias's mouth hung open.

He quickly directed his attention inward, grabbing at the new feeling stirring within his head.

His consciousness pulled into a dull white space. Elias glanced around at his surroundings, his childish body now gone, replaced with the body of his previous life.

Within the space was a small pool of water, no bigger than a 2' x 2' space. From the edge of the pool, a small creek emptied into it.

Even more confused, Elias willed himself to exit the space, his consciousness slipping back into his body.

His slumped figure jerked upright, Jerimiah laughed "Was that a good nap little Rue?" he asked, patting Elias's leg.

Shaking his head, Elias directed his attention to the center stage. The young boy who had awakened was now standing near a couple other lucky individuals. Nearly the whole line had gone through, but only 6 people had awakened so far.

'Rough' Elias thought, glancing at the group of those who failed. 'Looks like there is a 25% chance to awaken.'

Once everyone had a chance, the suited man addressed the stage once again. "Now that these young men and women have awakened their soul oceans, they will now need to awaken their dormant affinities."

The robed man nodded, taking out 6 crystals of varying color; light green, dark green, scarlet red, light blue, light brown, and dark brown.

He motioned the 6 to approach the stage once again. "Now you will each take turns placing your hands on each crystal. This is an unprecedented opportunity. Do not waste it."

"Each crystal represents a potential Aether affinity, draw the energy into your Soul Ocean. If you have that affinity you will know. You all may begin"

The first person approached the first crystal. His fingers grasped the finger-sized crystal. Slowly the crystal began to dim, turning into fine dust. Then he moved to the next. The used-up crystals quick to be replaced for the next in line.

Soon, each made their way through the crystals, varying levels of emotion plastered on the 6 individuals' faces.

The man in the suit took the center stage, clasping his hands "All right everyone, that is all for this year. We are done, good day."

He then ushered the newly awakened off the stage to a nearby scribe who began to write furiously as each awakened began to explain their affinities.

Elias and his family packed up their things and left. On the way back Jerimiah spoke up, his eyes opened wide, "Looks like we have a genius in our Verdant Hamlet. That Harold from the family 3 homes down was lucky to awaken 4 affinities!"

Jule tilted her head to the side "How could you tell dad?" When they each took turns touching the shiny rocks, she had noticed nothing.

Jerimiah chuckled "Your Papa is quite talented, I'm already awakened!"

"Wowwwww, you are so cool, papa!" Gabe quipped

Jerimiah stuck his chest out in pride, "Don't you worry kiddos, you will all inherit my grand talents!"

"Sure, but let's hope they don't inherit your ego as well," Eliza said, a small smirk gracing her lips.

"Ha! I don't have an ego, only confidence. What do you think little Rue?" Jerimiah announced, his question more rhetorical.

"Yeshh, papa hashh ego." Elias nodded his chubby head.

Eliza and Jerimiah paused in shock. Quickly Jerimiah pulled Elias from his shoulders, holding him at arm's length. "My god Harold isn't the only genius in this Hamlet! Did you hear that Eliza, he said Papa first!"

Jerimiah released a hearty laugh, but Eliza was quick to rebut "He also said you have a big ego!"

"Yes yes, little details aren't important honey!"

The family walked back to their home, laughs and banter accompanying their every step.

That night when Elias was laid down for bed, he thought back to the surprisingly productive day he had. First off his parents didn't think he was a freak for learning to talk so early, secondly, he now had access to what the robed man called a Soul Ocean. What the Soul Ocean did, he had no clue, but that is exactly what he wanted to figure out.

Elias's infant body lay sprawled on his bed, his consciousness directed inward. A body of pale energy sat near the pond.

Elias observed the water sprouting from the spring, it was quick to drain into his Soul Ocean. Weirdly enough the pond never grew in size even with the addition of the spring water. He could feel the excess dissipating, leaving his body. 'Interesting, I wonder what this is even used for?'

'Now that my parents have heard me speak, maybe I can ask Jerimiah. He did say he is an awakened.' Elias's mind began thinking of ways he could take advantage of his awakened Soul Ocean. He had been quite bored this last half a year. 'Well, I guess I'll do that then.'

With a made-up mind, Elias's consciousness slipped back into his body, fading to sleep.