Shadows were beginning to gather by the time the Elder led the younger generation back into the village. Warm torchlight illuminated each exuberant face as they passed through the outskirts. The distant sounds of celebration could be heard spreading through the clear evening sky, growing in strength as they neared.
Eiron glanced through the windows of various homes as they continued on. Each one appeared to be deserted, their harsh exteriors missing the contrast of a glowing hearth. Instead of the normal smoke rising from the various chimneys, there was a large amount centered on the square itself.
The majority of the townsfolk were gathered around the bonfire. Most of them wore their finest clothing, but there were a few newly arrived from their labors. The Elder led onwards between two columns of rough benches recently arranged in front of the square. As they drew closer, the chatter faded but the air of anticipation only grew heavier. Eiron received a few nods as he passed by people he knew. He glanced past their encouraging faces, searching for his parents.
A wave drew his attention off to the side. He could just make out his father's figure at the edge of the firelight, silently cheering him on. His mother stood next to him, clutching her cloak against the cool evening breeze. Nervousness was evident in her expression but she did her best to hide it with a smile and a nod.
The Elder stopped in front of the crowd and motioned for them to stand in a line while the gathered adults took their seats. Eiron took a deep breath, careful to contain the collected essence. It felt similar to the pressure of being underwater but inverted. As if his entire body was being pushed apart from the inside out. The force came in waves, as random as gusts of wind, making it difficult to focus as the Elder began pacing between them and the crowd.
"Another Ortus is upon us. This day marks the beginning for these youths standing before you." He looked above the crowd, far into the distance. The journey will be difficult and lengthy. Each step exhausting, each breath strenuous and painful." He looked across Eiron and the rest standing stiffly before the fire. "You may even reach a place where moving one inch forwards seems impossible."
"In that struggle, when even your thoughts betray you, remember this moment. Remember the heat at your back, the breeze across your skin. Remember your families and friends gathered before you. Each one bearing witness to your Ortus; the dawning of your lives." Pausing, he briefly met each young gaze, a spark of something deep within his eyes. "And remember! Your mind alight with uncountable possibilities. The lurching, beating of your hearts. Hope coursing through your veins, urging you forwards. Keep that fire burning and you will climb higher than you ever thought possible."
The Elder gazed past all those gathered, past the buildings and homes, off into the distance. All were silent, respectfully waiting for him to continue. Gathering his thoughts, he turned to face the villagers arrayed before him.
"Let this be a reminder to all of you as well. I have lived a long life. Long enough to see this village be carved from the wilds themselves into a small pocket of civilization. Beasts have beset us and raided our fields, yet we fought them off time after time. Drought, plague, and famine have all swept across the plains. But we stood, side by side through it all. Some would say, we had no other choice. That it was either stand together or fall one by one."
He spit off to the side and paced along before the fire. The silent tension built until he finally came to a stop, directly centered between the bonfire and the rows of people hanging on his every word.
"Those who say such things, lie! Supporting each other only out of necessity breeds betrayal and mistrust. We have achieved much more than that. We have stood together, yes, but by choice rather than by need. Crisis and calamity strike and pass again almost as quickly. Yet we prevail."
The Elder took a deep breath and clasped his hands behind his back, standing tall. Eiron noticed a slight swirling of dust behind the Elder as he continued.
"Remember." The quiet but resonant tones echoed across the silent square. "All of you have been in this new generation's place or will be in the years to come. Use this day to never forget the wonder of youth. Never forget our duty to protect and care for this land. And never forget that as long as we choose to stand together we can never fall. REMEMBER!"
"ORTUS!"
The Elder's shout echoed forth from the crowd in return, young and old alike. As their call rang out, the bonfire flared, doubling, no tripling in height. The dancing flames tore at the sky itself for but a moment before it returned to its normal glow. The display was met with cheers along with scared faces from the youngest few in the assembly.
Food and drinks were produced seemingly from nowhere, turning the seriousness into jovial festivity. A plethora of congratulatory shouts and laughter sprang up, adding further warmth to those gathered around the fire. Eiron still stood in the line of children - now adults - in awe. Even with the demonstrations from the Elder earlier in the day, the flaring of the bonfire was still astonishing. However, the Essence within him was a constant reminder of how much had changed.
He glanced over at those next to him and saw the same expression. Wonder and excitement cut with the seriousness of their new responsibilities. Before he could fully process the past few minutes the Elder turned towards them once more.
He looked a bit ragged from his speech and yet, he smiled peacefully. "One last event for the fourteen of you." He gestured for them to follow before striding over to the nearby town hall. Each of Eiron's steps felt heavier as they neared the building. Ever since his first Ortus celebration, he had imagined the possibilities that lay beyond the ornate wooden doorway.
Past initiates had all walked the same path he did now and he wondered if they felt anywhere near as nervous. The inside was disappointing somehow. The mystique was broken as candlelight illuminated a mostly empty room. There were darker patches on the floor at regular intervals marking where benches usually sat. At the front of the room was a raised platform with five well-crafted chairs, each intricate etched with peaceful murals, arranged in a half-circle.
The only other item of note was a strange contraption set in the very center of the room. It had a wooden base that flared out at the top supporting a three-foot-long plank with a shallow channel running down its center. At one end was a miniature boat complete with a small sail. A metal sphere was placed inside the boat, holding it in place.
Standing by the contraption, the Elder motioned them closer. The quiet scuffle of feet slowed as realization dawned on each of them. Hesitant to go first, Eiron watched the others. He didn't have long to wait as Oren simply shrugged and stepped up to the front where the boat sat, waiting.
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The Elder held his hand up before Oren drew too close. "Hold a moment. As some of you may have surmised, this is a tool we use to assess your natural skill or talent with essence. Each of you will release all of the air essence you gathered earlier today, pushing the ship forwards."
He stepped around the device, standing right behind the small boat to demonstrate. Palms facing each other, slightly apart, he tensed in concentration and released a small blast of air. Eiron felt a slight breeze even as far back as he was, but most of the force was directed towards the boat. Its sail billowed, attempting to pull it along the carved track. It strained against the rough surface before finally overcoming friction and sliding forward.
After a few seconds, Eiron noticed the Elder relax his form, causing the small craft to grind to a halt with a lurch. A few hushed gasps broke the silence as the mere possibility of someone directing the air still hadn't sunken in.
The boat was snatched up and deposited back in its starting position before the Elder beckoned Oren forward once more; who now was clearly apprehensive. He assumed the same position but his shaking hands betrayed his assumed confidence.
"It's a strange feeling, one not easily explained. You must reach inwards and move the air essence you hold, out. It will dissipate quickly so keep a steady pressure behind it pushing it towards your hands. As you feel it near your palms, double the pressure and let it flow."
Oren nodded, eyes fixed on the sail. He adjusted both arms to be more aligned before closing his eyes. Silence, heavy with expectation, filled the room. Seconds later, no change. Watching closely, Eiron could finally see a bit of movement. Oren's hands trembled before his eyes snapped open.
A burst of air pushed the ship along even faster than the Elder's demonstration. It finally came to rest about halfway along the track. Oren stumbled back a step before regaining his composure and meeting the Elder's gaze.
"A strong start for this year's Ortus."
Oren was motioned back in line as the next youth stepped up. It was the girl who had ventured to answer the Elder's first question earlier in the day. She reached out hesitantly. Repositioning her hands several times, it took an encouraging nod before she focused and released.
All those watching were transfixed as the small craft flew down its groove. It sped past the halfway mark still under the force of air. Beginning to slow, it managed to almost reach the end of the scale before finally coming to a halt.
Hushed whispers broke out on either side as Eiron looked to the Elder for his reaction. His weathered face broke into a smile, for only the third time that day, as he returned the ship to its starting line once more.
"What is your name, young one?"
Equally shocked as the rest of them - or even more so - the girl replied, still staring at the wooden device.
"It's Mersa, Elder."
"Well met Mersa. A truly fine and rare display you have shown. Take care you don't squander it."
Meeting his gaze, she could see the care and expectation in his eyes. She squared her shoulders and stood tall.
"Thank you Elder. I will do my best."
He nodded and motioned her back to her place. Eiron had to wipe the sweat from his palms at this point as there was only one other ahead of his turn. He started in surprise as suddenly the Elder was gesturing him forwards. Time had seemed to leap forward and he realized he couldn't remember the result of the boy who had been before him.
Legs trembling, he stepped forward. He was sure the Elder could hear the thumping of his heart but he did his best to focus. He decided to block out everything else and extended both hands in determination. Air essence was still moving about somewhere deep inside him, restless, begging to be released.
Mentally reaching in, he tried to grasp it but it fled away, taunting him. A hand on his shoulder broke his intense concentration.
"Take a deep breath. Try to pull it to the surface while pushing it from behind. It will do the rest."
Eiron complied, scrapping his attempt at holding the essence. He pulled at it and felt an odd increase of pressure. "How do I push while pulling?" He thought. Deciding on a different tact, he squeezed down on the essence while still imagining the air being pulled out towards his extended arms.
The bubble of pressure burst and it felt like air rushed through his body. It wasn't as if it physically made its way between muscle and skin but more so as if both he, and the air essence, occupied the same space.
He didn't have long to dwell on such a strange sensation as it raced down his arms to his hands. The speed and pressure forced its way past his fingertips, though he could feel a resistance as it left the furthest extremity of his body.
Air caught the sail and flung the ship onward. It rattled in its groove, almost bouncing out as Eiron willed it to move faster. Seemingly to spite him, it chose that moment to throw away its momentum and halt only a quarter of the distance along the board.
A different kind of silence filled the room. Eiron stared at the unassuming ship and the piteous distance it had traveled. He realized awkwardly that he was still holding his arms outstretched and jerked them back to his side. Unable to meet the undoubtedly disappointed expression of the Elder, he chose to study the floorboards instead.
"I'm sorry." He forced out, feeling his face burn.
"Don't be. Simply strive harder. You will never have the same potential as someone like Mersa but the path before each of us is unique. Hard work beats talent every time but even a modicum of effort mixed with ability will far surpass either."
Still studying the floor, Eiron stepped back into place, shame touching his very soul. There were no other surprises as the testing continued, which further emphasized his failure. Only one other youth was close to Eiron's attempt but even she had passed him by a sizable margin.
Finally, it was over. The last of them returned to the line as they stood side by side facing the Elder.
"As is customary, I will now properly introduce myself. I am Linoh, eldest of the village and conservator of the Enrichment arts. Each one of you has learned much this day and shall learn even more in the months to come. Every week, I will instruct you further and open your eyes to possibilities beyond your current comprehension."
He paused, allowing the revelation to sink in. "Until then, refrain from practicing anything you have learned today, and be sure to maintain the utmost silence regarding your new knowledge. This craft is dangerous both to the practitioner, as well as anyone nearby. Those younger than you will have many questions which are best to be avoided until their time comes."
Still ashamed, Eiron mentally counted the number of people he would be forced to lie to. It wasn't a vast number but still enough to make him squirm. He refocused as Linoh continued on and his words almost felt directly targeted at him.
"Failure will strike at many of you. Some may even fall to it. Even so, remember this day and strive with all that is within you to surpass the generations before you."
He pivoted and flung both his arms out on either side. All the candles were snuffed out, one by one, leaving the room shrouded in darkness. Only the outline of the entrance remained, illuminated by the bonfire outside. As he melded into the shadows his clear voice filled the space and echoed in their minds.
"The fate of the future is in the hands of those who inhabit the present. Never forget your Ortus."