As the day of her awakening approached, Yvanna's languid routine remained unperturbed much to the chagrin of a certain someone.

"WHERE IS THAT SLOB OF A BEAR!?"

Elara was furious!

She had especially reminded her daughter last night that today would be the day her 'gift' awakens and envoys from the surrounding nobles would be coming to witness her awakening.

But this slob just won't listen!

There was barely an hour left till the ceremony began and Yvanna was still sleeping soundly in her bed.

She ordered her maids to wake Yvanna up so she could get ready for the awakening ceremony. It took several of the maids and half a dozen buckets of cold water to rouse the stubborn young lady from her sleep.

As Yvanna groggily made her way to the bathhouse, Elara took the opportunity to berate her daughter for her laziness and poor attitude.

"My dear, do you know how important this awakening ceremony is for the entire Rochelot Household? How can you possibly behave like such a slouch in a time like this?"

Elara scolded, her voice rising with each word as she continued the tirade.

Yvanna had enough and groaned loudly,

"Oh come on Mother! Why is this awakening ceremony so important? It's not like I'm about to lead the bear-kind into a battle or something. This is just a fancy party, nothing more."

Elara raised an eyebrow before bringing her fist down hard upon her foolish daughter's head. A blow that Yvanna barely dodged and fortunate that she did so because the stone stool she had been sitting on had shattered from her mother's attack.

"Just because you don't understand the importance of this ceremony doesn't mean it is unimportant, my dear. The whole of Rochelot Noble House's future depends on what is the goddess' verdict on you!"

Yvanna stared at the spot she had been sitting on, stunned out of her mind,

"What was that for!? You could have blown my head clean off of my body! Now I'm not getting up!"

Elara rolled her eyes in exasperation,

"Don't you dare think about lazing around on your back as an excuse to ignore the ceremony? I know you better than that! Now come on, we have a ceremony to get to. And you're not leaving the bathhouse until you're all dolled up with your best gown."

*Growl!*

Elara froze as she heard the sudden growling of her daughter and realized she had said something she should not have.

"Ah, right. No gowns, I already have your armor polished. Though I still think you should wear one, you would look breathtaking in it."

Yvanna rolled her eyes, grumbled, and stumbled to the bathhouse, grumbling along the way.

Elara was worried that Yvanna's lazy attitude could spell trouble on a day so crucial to the Rochelot household. Once Yvanna had gotten a bath Elara helped her put on her armor, even braiding Yvanna's hair in a complicated style.

The two made their way through the castle and into the grand hall, where the entire bear-kind had gathered for the ceremony. Yvanna tried to go into hiding, but Elara found her and led her to her seat in front of the other bear nobles.

Elara gave Yvanna a stern glare and whispered,

"No more of your usual antics, understood?"

Yvanna nodded reluctantly, and the awakening ceremony began. The sun shimmered off of ice sculptures arranged in the hall, and the decorations shimmered and sparkled like gems in a crown.

"Yvanna Crelon Rochelot, today marks the day of your awakening,"

declared the ceremonial officiant.

"May your gift bring glory to the Rochelot name!"

The ceremonial officiant continued with a solemn voice,

"As the heir to the Rochelot Noble House, you are about to receive the divine blessing of the goddess. May your gift be revealed and may it serve to strengthen the legacy of your family."

Yvanna shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her armor feeling heavier than usual. The eyes of the bear nobles were fixed on her, and the weight of expectations pressed down upon her.

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Elara, standing nearby, shot her daughter a stern look, a silent reminder of the gravity of the occasion. Yvanna sighed inwardly, resigning herself to the formalities that awaited.

The officiant raised a ceremonial staff adorned with mystical symbols and began chanting ancient incantations. The atmosphere in the grand hall grew tense as magical energies swirled around, creating an ethereal ambiance.

Suddenly, a radiant light enveloped Yvanna. Gasps and whispers echoed through the hall as the nobles witnessed the manifestation of her gift. The air crackled with anticipation.

Yvanna felt a peculiar sensation, like the fluttering of wings in her chest. As the light subsided, revealing her standing in the midst of a soft glow, the officiant spoke once more.

"You have been chosen... by the goddess FORTUNA! Your divine gift is 'Fortuna's Favourite!' May it serve you well."

The revelation hung in the air, and the chatter of joy and interest suddenly died down as a solemn air flooded the hall. The bear-kin, bound by centuries of disdain for Humankind, stared at Yvanna as though she had just sprouted a pair of horns. But even that would have been better than what she was facing now.

In an instant, her world crumbled. The nobility, once assembled in celebration, now wore expressions of judgment.

Yvanna's mind raced to comprehend the weight of her newly revealed gift. 'Fortuna's Favourite'—a name that echoed with irony. If she remembers correctly, then Fortuna was the most active goddess of mankind. She had been known to mess around and grant her blessings to all species save for humans themselves.

'Unlucky'

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"Eh?"

"SILENCE!"

Bellowed Elara as she glared at the shocked noblemen and noblewomen. Her husband, Eustace, had put on his ice-cold face but for those who knew him well, it was a sign of concern and confusion.

Elara's command didn't hold long as whispers of shock and disbelief swept through the hall. The priestess who had made the declaration sensed the tension and tried to regain control of the situation.

"Behold, the goddess's will is mysterious, Fortuna has been known to favor all but humankind. Maybe it's one of her tricks or maybe the Winter Goddess Eona had seen it fit for the young lady to be blessed by her. But Mother Winter's choices are beyond our mortal understanding."

She spoke in a soothing tone and the peace returned to the hall.

Eona the Winter Goddess or rather Mother Winter as the Polar Bear-folks fondly called her, was the patron god of all Polar Bear-Kin. She was the one who blessed all other Polar Bear-kin, so it was quite a shock to see a human goddess bless one of their own.

Eona, Fortuna, and Pheona, all were goddesses. In fact, every species had their own patron gods who provided them with blessing and if a species ever came down to extermination, they stepped in.

Although, in all of recorded history only humankind and the goblins have ever been suppressed to such a degree.

"Silence."

*Zzzzz*

A chill spread across the hall as the patriarch of the Rochelot Family spoke for the first time that morning.

"Yvanna, my dearest daughter..."

His gaze bore into her as she lowered her head in shame of having brought dishonor to his name.

"For two years now, we have overlooked your negligence in your duty as noble in favor of your immense talent. But now, I think it is time you start undertaking some responsibility."

'Anything but banishment! Anything but banishment! Anything but banishment.'

She repeated her prayer again and again in her mind, hoping for it to be answered for once.

"I believe there is a stronghold in need of an overseer."

He turned to look at yet another bulky man standing by his side, Ursus the spirit bear, his attendant, retainer, and an old friend.

Ursus bowed his head before answering,

"Yes, my liege. I believe there is a stronghold further north that is in dire need of an overseer."

'Anywhere but the Frostspear! Anywhere but the Frostspear! Anywhere but the Frostspear!'

She once again began to chant her wishes like a mantra, hoping that whichever bored goddess decided to mess with her life for amusement might take pity on her. But, alas...

"The Frostspear stronghold lacks an overseer, my lord. And I believe that it would be the perfect place for Lady Yvanna to start learning true management."

He turned to Yvanna and gave a soft smile that looked like an ugly grimace.

'You old coot! I should have set you on fire, not your bed!'

Indeed, Ursus was also her teacher and he never quite got over the fact that his proudest student, one he was so honored to call his pupil, turned into an utter mess. He tried every way to get her back on track, intense training, strict orders, and punishment but nothing worked.

Ultimately Yvanna snapped and set his bed on fire while he was sleeping. She once may have been a teacher herself but no more! No more would she suffer such extreme labors as waking up at 5 in the morning!

Now he was taking his sweet revenge.

"Ah yes, Frostspear in the far north. I believe you and me drew our first blood there."

Asked Eustace in a slightly reminiscing voice.

"Indeed my lord."

Ursus bowed even deeper, which was surprisingly easy considering he was 7 feet tall.

Eustace sighed, his face gradually hardening as he prepared his verdict.

"Very well then, Yvanna, you shall be the new overseer of the Frostspear fortress!"

He declared in a tone of finality and no one dared to refute.

"You shall be accompanied by as follows,"

He slowly began to recite the number of people he had prepared in his mind.

"Five apprentices, one novice conjurer, fifty soldiers, ten warriors, five apprentice knights, one knight, and ten servants."

Yvanna breathed a sigh of relief, at least she would have a Conjurer and a Knight at hand. They were third and fourth ranks in both the mana and aether departments, right? Guess she would have to look through the books again.

Eustace continued,

"You shall take as follows,"

He began reciting the list of items she could take with her,

"A hundred swords, a hundred shields, fifty leather armor, twenty chainmail armor, three heavy plate armor, ten staffs, ten lances, ten warhorses, twenty wagons, and enough food and liquor for five months."

He paused to see if anyone from 'HIS' court had any problem with that but none did.

"The Barony shall fund you with ten Gold Fangs. Use them well, you shall leave for Frostspear in five days, till then, stay in your room."

With a decree as swift as winter's chill, Yvanna found herself being dragged through the hall doors by two burly Polar Bear Women in heavy knights' armor. They were the Valkyries of winter, her mother's direct subordinates, this meant the deal was sealed, her dream of a leisurely life was now just that... a dream.

"Why? All I wanted was to laze around!"

She lamented as the gates of the hall closed behind her.