NOVEL WEB Chapter 10: Awakening Ceremony
A long queue snaked its way to the shrine, filled with young women elegantly perched in wheeled palanquins, some being carried like royalty, while others enjoyed the luxury of raised seats. I found myself nestled in my palanquin alongside Elara, with her brothers dutifully pulling us along, which kept things above board. Honestly, I was grateful for the company; it was a delightful distraction from my overwhelming urge to bolt, a temptation I had nearly succumbed to more than once. What if I lack the power to awaken? It seems unlikely that I will awaken, after all—I'm just a human, not some beastkin!
Elara leaned forward and patted my hand. "Don't worry about it. We'll find out what kind of Beastkin you are soon and everything will be alright."
A crooked smile appeared on my face. "What if I don't shift?"
"You'll shift, everyone shifts. Don't worry about it, if you really don't shift, I'll help hide you and I know all the good hiding places from hiding from my nagging parents."
My ride finally arrived at the foot of the stairs leading to the stage, and I let Elara take the lead. The stage itself was a stunning expanse of white marble, laced with golden veins, and adorned with a pergola draped in flowing red silk, wishing the newly awakened all the luck in their upcoming adventures. Spotlights illuminated the scene, the curtains drawn back to reveal the spectacle, while a large crowd of eager spectators watched with bated breath. As silence enveloped the audience, Miko Vera stood poised with a bowl of shimmering liquid, held by a gentleman beside her. She carefully traced a rune on Elara's forehead, infusing it with mana. In an electrifying moment, a pulse of energy surged through the air, and Elara radiated a brilliant yellow glow.
"Elara has been blessed with a yellow-level aura. Blessed is Elara!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, "Blessed is Elara!" as she spun around, her face lighting up with excitement. Suddenly, the aura surrounding her grew brighter, and she morphed into a powerful wolf, roughly half the size of Kia's majestic tiger. With her head held high, she unleashed a resounding howl, prompting several others to join in the chorus. A jubilant woman dashed forward, enveloping her in a warm embrace. But the question lingered: had this newly awakened beauty been claimed by a first male, or had her family chosen someone for her? Her parents exchanged nervous glances, and the head male of her family firmly shook his head, signaling a resounding no.
"Then is any male willing to step up and be mated to this female?"
Again the crowd was quiet except for a few women quietly snickering.
"Then by the laws of the tribe, she shall participate in the upcoming Female Snatching Ritual."
Elara's face went white, "Can't you reconsider?" she said quietly.
Vera rubbed her hand reassuringly. "I'm sorry child, it's tradition, but I'm sure it's not nearly as harsh as you're making it out to be. Make sure you prepare her well for it."
"Yes, Miko Vera," said her parents in unison while giving her a polite and small bow. They walked off the stage leading a devastated Elara with them.
It was finally my turn. I scanned the room, ensuring I was nestled near my trusted allies while keeping the unfamiliar faces at a safe distance. Just in case things took a turn for the chaotic, I wanted my backup ready. Miko Vera stepped up, hands poised, as she expertly traced the rune and infused it with her mana.
[Congratulations! You've officially passed the rigorous standards set by the Female Acquisition System and are about to embark on the oh-so-challenging journey to become an extraordinary Female Beastkin.]
[This delightful system was concocted by the oh-so-noble Guardian Deity Alliance to tackle the ever-pressing female shortage by scouting and snatching up those deemed worthy for transformation into beastkin. You passed your brief qualification phase, after which you'd either be sent back to your home world or kept for your grand metamorphosis.]
[Your first task in this thrilling adventure? Pick a beastkin type from the delightful options I have lined up for you. Just a heads-up: once you make your choice, your age will magically sync with the seasons, your looks will undergo a makeover, and you'll experience your very first transformation. How exciting!]
"So that's what happened! Don't you think you should ask someone before you just snatch them up from their life?"
[I'm designed to cater exclusively to those who are utterly dissatisfied with their current existence.]
"And you really believe that stepping into this place will magically boost their happiness?"
[I'm also equipped to evaluate how well these individuals are adapting to their shiny new surroundings before finalizing the transfer. Congratulations, you've made the cut, so get ready to embrace your inner beastkin.]
"What if I don't want to stay?"
[You've already made the cut, so there's no escape route now.]
"So after I choose, I'll suddenly become sixty-eight?!"
[That's right.]
[Here are some options handpicked just for you, based on what you seem to like.]
Bunny Beastkin: You scamper around like a hyperactive fluffball and find rabbits utterly adorable.
Tiger Beastkin: You're totally smitten with General Kia, who's basically the definition of beauty and ferocity.
Lizard Beastkin: You've got an insatiable urge to squash bugs and think scales are just the epitome of elegance.
Mermaid Beastkin: The ocean is your happy place, and you adore swimming while admiring those fabulous scales.
Mule Beastkin: You're all about having things your way, because why not?
Cheetah Beastkin: You love to sprint, but only when there's no actual danger involved.
Spider Beastkin: Maybe if you were a spider, you'd finally get over that irrational fear of them.
Canary Beastkin: You've always dreamed of soaring through the skies like a feathered diva.
Bat Beastkin: You want to take flight and have a serious vendetta against bugs.
Cow Beastkin: Occasionally, you find yourself identifying with a cow, and honestly, who could blame you?
I perused the options available to me. Kai mentioned earlier that legendary beastkin age differently than their ordinary counterparts, and he also pointed out that Mermaids fall into the legendary category. So, if I'm going to lose my youth, it looks like my only choice is to transform into a mermaid.
[Mermaid, is that your choice?]
"Yes."
[Just hang tight for a sec while the magic happens. Brace yourself, this might pinch a little.]
I felt excruciating pain, doubled over, and started throwing up on the stage in front of everybody.
"We have a strong reaction here, someone close the curtains!" yelled out Vera.
Kai gently picked me up and cradled me in his arms. "What's wrong with her, the other females didn't have such a strong reaction."
"She is turning into a legendary beastkin," said Vera into Kia's ear. "You need to quietly take her home if you don't want a riot on your hands."
"Legendary Beastkin? What is she turning into?" he whispered back.
"A mermaid."
"Dear Deity, how is that possible? Mermen guard their females religiously, never allowing them out of their sight since they are so rare. If they found out that the land-dwelling beastkin had possession of one, war could break out in their attempt to steal her away," said Kai.
"Your guess is as good as mine, but the how isn't important right now. The important thing is to get her alone so that she can finish her shift without prying eyes. Her first shift can last up to a week, but she's going to need a lot of swimming time so that her scales come in properly. You need to take her far out of village limits and to a secluded location so that she can swim without prying eyes. Whatever you do, don't take her to the ocean, she'll get stolen before you're able to blink."
Coming Next Time: Suddenly Leaving Town