Edith’s emotions teetered between being sickeningly anxious to heart pounding excitement. Today was the day that would literally decide her Destiny. The anticipation of finally receiving her Heart’s Bounty, the final piece that would finalize her Destiny, made the extremely early morning and bumpy wagon ride seem trivial in comparison. Now that Greyverte’s towering majesty could be seen on the horizon, her excitement won her internal battle.
“Calm down Edee,” her father lovingly chided, “I know you're excited to receive your Destiny but if you keep squirming like that you’ll spook the canniths and make us late.” The two large dog~like beasts seemed to fidget against their reins, hair beginning to bristle and stand on end.
“Sorry boys,” she sympathetically consoled. “But dad, you have to understand. Today is THEE day. I’ll finally receive my Destiny. How can I not be excited.” she pleaded.
“I know love. I won’t deny that today is a big day,” her father acknowledged. “We’re about an hour out. Remain calm and I’ll see if I can urge the boys to pull us a bit faster,” her father bargained.
Heaving a sigh, Edith did her best to calm down. Admittedly her best wasn’t that good, and the approaching gates only increased her levels of excitement. Thirty minutes late, their wagon approached the gates of Verte. After enduring a brief inspection they were permitted into the great walled city. Based on what mumblings she had overheard from wandering Dungeoneers, Verte was rather small for a city housing a Guardian. Looking at the towering buildings near the gates she found that sentiment to be quiet mind boggling. Even then Greyverte could still be seen towering over the buildings, a gargantuan edifice of benevolence and protection.
No dungeons were able to form around the colossal figures supposedly dotted throughout the lands. The monsters that burst from a dungeon left too long in the wilds tended to avoid the areas that began to approach the Guardians. This protection is the reason civilization was even able to take root across the world. The Ancients’ blessings didn’t even end there, as it was soon discovered that they provided the very blessings that had brought Edith to Verte today.
Lost in these thoughts, Edith finally noticed that they had entered the Guardian Plaza. Her father parked on the outer ring and hopped out of the wagon and began to unhitch the canniths to take them to one of the many water troughs.
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“I’ll get them tethered over by the water honey. Try your best to prepare yourself. Like you were saying, today is a very big day.”
“O-okay dad,” she responded. The power radiating off of Greyverte was overwhelming. Greyverte’s faceless and alien visage tilted down toward the two cupped hands placed on the ground before him. His other hands were held folded protectively to his chest as if to console itself. Where a waist would be his colossal form met the earth. Not long from now she would approach those cupped hands to receive her Heart’s Bounty and finalize her Destiny. The anxiety that had once been bested by her excitement returned. What if her Destiny ended up being of little use?
“You okay dearie?” her father gently prodded. She hadn’t even noticed his return.
“Dad, what if my Destiny is useless?” she whispered.
“Ahh, that’s what’s eating at you.” her father stated. “I’m no expert on any of this but I can tell you of my own experience. Hard as it may be to believe I didn’t want to have my Destiny be a Farmer. I remember wanting to be Dungeoneer, and becoming a local Hero.” he reminisced “However once I moved out to Thyrion and started working the ground, I realized that I preferred the peace and small satisfaction of watching a harvest slowly grow over the season.” he smiled to himself. “I came to realize that even though I didn’t get the Destiny I wanted, I got the Destiny that would ultimately make me happy.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Edith acknowledged “And it’s not like I’ve ever seen anybody disappointed in their Destiny.” she assured herself.
“I’m sure there are some out there, but there are some people who will complain about anything. I’d like to think we raised you better than that,” he jokingly pointed out trying his best to lighten her mood.
“That’s true enough,” Edith laughed. “And I'm fairly sure you raised me well enough that we can probably avoid that.” She hugged her father. “Thanks for the talk Dad,” she whispered.
“Just because you are receiving your Destiny doesn’t mean you’ll stop being my girl.” he whispered back. “I love you Edith. Now get up there and find your Destiny.”
Squaring her shoulders and taking a deep breath she gave her father one last hug before turning and heading for the center of the square. As she drew to the center she began to feel the gazes of people hanging about the Plaza. Someone heading to receive Greyverte’s blessing wasn’t an unusual sight in the city, but Edith looked about the age to finalize a Destiny and that was a bit more of a notable event. She approached Greyverte’s cupped hands and steeled herself. She stepped into the Guardian’s waiting hands. The hands slowly began to rise till she was face to face with Greyverte’s bowed head. It was finally time to finalize her Destiny.