Chapter 9: 9 - Time Of Awakening
The event date finally arrived and the four of us orphaned we're dressed to the nines in our very best clothes the 'gift' given to us from Sister.
We weren't the only children in the village turning ten so we four were made to join the regular children who still had parents as we all went to and entered the simple church at the village, us orphans took our seats, while those with parents sat with one or both of them in their own rows.
The village priest and Village chief both stood at the head of the church before confirming the number of children present.
"Thank you all for coming today as you all are sure to know is the moment for the Rite of Awakening, when you children will be graced with the knowledge of your jobs, and... for you orphans being graced with gods mercy as a name is bestowed upon you."
Children with parents got to be named by those parents but us orphans were named by the gods, if you asked me it sounded like us orphans were the ones who were more blessed since we would get a name of the gods after all.
"Lyon, come up here."
A kid with blonde hair and decent clothes left his parents behind in the front row before climbing up the steps to the awaiting pair of elderly men.
"Truth in name, truth in seal, Reveal the mark, let fate be real [Citizen ID Reveal]"
And just like that a card rose up from the child's dominant hand and was taken by the Chief who allowed the priest to also see and record the information seen.
Once done the card was handed to the child to also look over, before being inserted back into his hand.
"Michelle."
...
...
...
On and one it repeated itself, until from top rank to bottom rank all the kids had been appraised at least until only us four remained.
"Ophan boy you're up."
The three of us just looked at one another trying to figure out which one of us three was first, but since it didn't matter, I just pointed to Cole who was closest to the end of the pew.
He with a bit of a cocky swagger went up to the elder's raising his hand as he'd seen all the others do.
"Truth in name, truth in seal, Reveal the mark, let fate be real [Citizen ID Reveal]"
Once more a card was extracted, but this time when the elders saw what was written their eyes went wide with shock.
Unable to contain his excitement Cole was bouncing in place waiting to be handed his card but the elders were not moving, so a bit brashly he ripped his card from the chief's hand and stared at it's contents himself.
"YEAH!!!"
His voice resounded throughout the church walls.
"Sir Cole has been born on this day!"
With gusto he announced his new name for all to hear, while the regular villagers were a bit shocked as he announced himself with Sir.
Only for this shoutout to break the stupor the elders had fallen into.
"Congratulations Cole, a knight like you will certainly be accepted into an order to receive training, truly this is an auspicious day for our village."
Hearing the results of this orphans appraisal the villagers were shocked, a knight, that's an advanced class and a ten year old has it, why couldn't it be their child who was so gifted!
"Next"
This time it was Cade's turn to head up, as Cole high-fived him as they passed in the aisle.
Cade took up his stance standing a bit more arrogantly than Cole had, orphans were looked down upon as worthless but with just Coles result things had changed and Cade felt the four of them were destined for greatness given the results of their hunts, and the fact they achieved more than the adults themselves did.
"Truth in name, truth in seal, Reveal the mark, let fate be real [Citizen ID Reveal]"
With a shaky voice the elder cast the skill once more and this time a gold plated card rose from Cade's hand.
Taking the card in hand, the Elder did a spittake, causing the card to be tossed to the Priest who likewise spittaked, launching the card into the air again.
Cade with cat like precision snatched it from the air, and pulled it down to peer at it's contents.
"Yes! Hero Cade will save you all!"
Not announcing it with as much fervor as Cole had done, but the reaction was many times greater than Cole, as the villagers were all standing in awe at the birth of a Hero, a mythical Job class that hadn't been seen since the founder of the kingdom bore it hundreds of years ago.
While the elders were trying to recover Alison chose not to wait and just marched right up onto the stage.
Raising her dainty hand and waiting for her card to be pulled from her hand.
"Truth in name..., truth in seal..., Reveal the mark..., let fate be real... [Citizen ID Reveal]"
Rather than a Gold Card, Alisons presented card was Silver and again upon seeing it's contents the chief fainted, but the priest simply dropped to his knees bowing his head, before respectfully presenting her card back to her.
"Huh? So my name is Alison, but what's a Miko?"
"Dear Lady Alison, a Miko is an Advanced Class just a rank down from being a Saint."
The priest responded with a voice full of worship.
a ten year old Miko, with training a new saint was sure to be born which would rocket his own career up the corporate ladder within the church.
At this point the awakening ceremony felt like dream to most, three Advanced job classes in a row, and from orphans no less but then everyone's gaze turned to me.
The remaining orphan, if the others were like that... just what kind of a monster will he be?
Since there was no reason to prolong it, I got up leaving my siblings behind to joyously talk about their results as I made my way to the stage.
Raised my hand, got my card extracted and...
Huffff...
"Good."
I heard this from the mouths of the elders.
Pretty sure their hearts couldn't take it if I had shown them another advanced job class.
With my regular old brown card reinserted to my hand I made my way back to the others.