Time passed, as it always did. The de Blaise estate shifted through seasons of quiet tension and silent rivalries.

Danarre grew from a stumbling toddler into a boy who could hold a wooden sword with steady hands. He was nearly five now, old enough that certain family traditions demanded more than pampered upbringing and carefully measured praise.

He'd seen hints of what awaited him: hushed whispers among servants, older siblings sharpening blades, distant cousins arriving from outlying fiefs in grim silence. Something was coming, a ritual that belonged to the de Blaise legacy.

He felt it in the air, a tautness that crept through the halls and courtyards. Guards polished their armor more diligently, minor nobles and vassals drifted in bearing unfamiliar heraldry.

At dusk, Danarre glimpsed servants carrying crates of chains and wheeled cages draped in heavy cloth. Whatever this test was, it would be no gentle lesson.

It was a gray morning when the summons came. Aveline, the kind midwife-turned-nanny, awakened him at dawn.

Instead of his usual fine silks, she dressed him in plain, sturdy training garb: linen trousers, a sleeveless tunic, soft leather shoes. A simple wooden sword with a reinforced hilt was placed in his hand, and a small wooden buckler was strapped to his forearm.

Both were sized for a child but well-made.

Aveline knelt to meet his eyes. "Young master Danarre, today is the test of the first wetting. Be strong. Show them what you can do."

He blinked. The name was unfamiliar. "First wetting?"

She hesitated, as if unsure how much to reveal. Then she whispered, "It is an old tradition of the de Blaise family. All children under six years of age who bear the blood or serve under its banner face it. You will be tested by creatures set loose in the yard. Survive, fight well, and prove your worth."

"Do we fight each other?" Danarre asked softly. He remembered hearing something different before, but perhaps that was a misunderstanding.

Aveline shook her head. "No, not this time. You are too young for that. The family tradition for direct combat between kin, the second wetting, is reserved for when you're older. Today, you stand beside children of your blood and vassals' offspring. Today, the beasts are your foes."

Danarre felt relief mingle with tension. Fighting fellow children, some older and larger, would have been problematic.

Fighting beasts was still terrifying, but at least he didn't have to worry about betrayal from the ones at his side. Perhaps cooperation might help.

Aveline led him through unfamiliar corridors. The estate's far eastern quadrant was seldom visited by the youngest children, too harsh, too cold.

The stone passages were lit by sparse torches. He smelled straw and iron.

They exited into a large courtyard with high stone walls and raised wooden stands along the perimeter. The sky overhead was a dull gray, as if ashamed of what was about to unfold.

Danarre was not alone. Around twenty children stood in the yard.

Boys and girls, some from the main line, some from collateral branches, some clearly bastards acknowledged but never favored. Others bore subtle signs of vassalage, the crest of loyal knights or lesser nobles sworn to de Blaise.

All were under six, from as young as four to nearly six, dressed in plain training garb, armed with wooden weapons. Spears, swords, short clubs.

Some clutched small shields or wore padded vests that looked too large.

There was nervous whispering. A five-year-old girl with curly brown hair tried to steady her wooden spear, knuckles white.

A boy with a bandaged arm fidgeted, glancing at the stands. Danarre spotted a pair of twins huddled together, whispering reassurances.

He looked up. The stands were filled with older siblings, parents, uncles, aunts, and Senate cousins.

Hendric de Blaise himself stood at a high platform, clad in a dark, elegant robe lined with silver thread. His stern face surveyed the yard.

Lady Julianna stood at his side, expression cold and unreadable. Danarre's older siblings were there too: Alberic, Marleine, Dorian, Victeur, Emiline, Fredric, and Clarisene.

They were silent, observing. No cheers of encouragement. No tender smiles.

Just watchful eyes measuring the worth of those below.

A hush fell as Hendric raised a hand. His voice, clear and resonant, rolled over the courtyard: "Children of the de Blaise lineage, of our collateral kin, and of loyal households sworn to us, hear me. Today, you undertake the test of the first wetting, an ancient rite that separates those fit to bear arms under our banner from those who merely share our blood and name."

He paused. The children stiffened. Danarre tried to keep his grip steady on the wooden sword's hilt.

"You are young," Hendric continued, "but youth does not spare you from the responsibilities of our house. Strength, courage, and wit are demanded at all stages of life. Today, you shall face beasts of increasing ferocity. Show me that you can stand your ground, strike true, and survive. If you fail, you shall not die, our healers stand ready, but know that failure will mark your future as lesser."

Julianna's voice, softer but still carrying, added: "No child here will raise arms against another. Cooperate if you wish, or stand alone. The choice is yours. But understand this: weakness is remembered. Those who cower or cry for mercy will find little favor in the years ahead."

Danarre exhaled slowly. He glanced around. Cooperation might be key.

He was only five, smaller than some, but he had trained in secret, honing footwork and a bit of aura sensing.

He also carried a secret weapon.

[Arcane Glimmer].

A mild illusion spell he could use to distract beasts. But he must be careful, magic was frowned upon.

He'd mask it as sunlight or coincidence if possible.

The heavy iron gate at the far end of the courtyard rumbled open. From inside the dark passage, he heard snarls and scraping claws.

[System Notification] Event Triggered: Test of the First Wetting (Stage 1)

Objective: Survive the waves of beasts. Impress the patriarch. Restrictions: No inter-child combat. Rewards: EXP, increased status, potential familial recognition.

A figure emerged, an estate beast-handler in leather armor, guiding two large cages on wheels. The handler's face was hidden behind a metal visor.

He positioned the cages at the center, then pulled a lever. Bars slid open with a clang.

Children gasped. Danarre tightened his grip.

The first creatures were small but vicious: three horned scuttlers, dog-sized reptiles with bony horns protruding from their heads and sharp talons scraping the ground.

Their eyes gleamed yellow. They hissed, darting from side to side, testing the air.

A boy near Danarre squeaked, taking a step back. Another child raised her spear, trembling.

Danarre noticed a girl with short black hair shift her footing, preparing to strike if the creatures lunged.

Hendric's voice boomed: "Stage one: Horned Scuttlers. Show no fear."

No adult came to help. The scuttlers spread out, one charging at a cluster of children on the left, another circling to the right, the last lingering near Danarre's group, flicking a forked tongue.

A boy with a wooden club shouted, "Circle it! Don't let it isolate you!" Another girl cried, "Hit the eyes!"

Danarre decided to move. He stepped forward, shield raised.

The scuttler near him hissed, lunged. He raised his shield, felt a jarring impact as horns scraped the wood.

The scuttler tried to claw around the shield's edge.

He seized the moment, swinging his sword down at the creature's foreleg. The blade bounced off tough scales, but the impact made it recoil.

Another child, a vassal's daughter, judging by her simple crest, stabbed her short spear at the creature's flank. The scuttler shrieked and twisted away.

On the stands, voices murmured. Emiline leaned forward, fascinated.

Alberic, older and composed, remarked quietly to Marleine: "The young ones are holding formation better than last year's batch."

Marleine smirked. "That one with the sword and shield, that's Danarre, father's concubine's child, right? He's smaller but not panicking."

Emiline nodded slightly, remembering Danarre's unexpected cunning in previous private encounters. She said nothing, just watched with keen interest.

Back in the yard, Danarre feinted a strike high, causing the scuttler to lift its head. The vassal girl seized the opening, ramming her spear into the creature's neck.

A gush of dark fluid spattered the dirt. The scuttler convulsed and collapsed.

[System Notification]

Enemy Defeated (Assisted Kill): Horned Scuttler +20 EXP

The girl glanced at Danarre. He gave a small nod. Unspoken alliance.

He would remember this.

The other two scuttlers caused chaos on the opposite side. One boy cried out as claws raked his forearm.

Another swung a wooden sword wildly, forcing the creature back. Eventually, two older five-year-olds pinned a scuttler against the wall, battering it until it went limp.

The last scuttler tried to flee but was cornered by a cluster of determined children. A flurry of strikes ended it.

Hendric's voice rang out: "Stage one complete. You have tasted blood. Good."

A servant rushed in, dragging the scuttler carcasses away. The children panted, relieved but shaken.

Some bore scratches. None were gravely injured, yet.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Danarre flexed his fingers. He'd gained confidence. Working with others helped.

He also noticed that many children now eyed him with subtle respect, as if he'd shown a cool head. That might encourage them to follow his lead if needed.

The iron gate rattled again. The handler returned, pulling another cage.

Inside: something larger, heavier. With a dramatic flourish, the bars rose, revealing a tusked boar-like creature the size of a small pony.

Its hide was thick, tusks curved upward, and its eyes burned with feral cunning.

A hush fell among the children. This beast looked tougher, and there was only one.

Could they swarm it?

Hendric called down: "Stage two: Ironback Boar. It is said these creatures can topple grown men. Let us see if you children can fell one with your wooden arms."

The boar snorted, pawing the ground, and then charged straight at a knot of children who stood too close together. They scattered with screams.

The boar's tusk caught one boy's leg, drawing blood. He cried out, limping away.

Danarre's heart hammered. The beast was strong, maybe too strong.

But it couldn't face all of them at once if they coordinated. He stepped forward, raising his voice as best a five-year-old could: "Get behind it! Hit from sides!"

A few nearby children glanced at him. They looked uncertain, frightened.

But one or two nodded. The vassal girl who helped him before circled left, another boy circled right, trying to flank the boar.

The boar spun, nearly trampling a smaller girl. Danarre rushed in, shield raised.

He slammed the shield against the beast's shoulder. It felt like hitting a wall.

The boar snorted and turned, swinging its tusks. Danarre ducked, barely avoiding a goring.

From the stands, Victeur murmured, "Look at them scurry. Like mice around a cat." Marleine shrugged. "They are young. Still, a few show promise." Julianna folded her hands. "That boy, Danarre, tries to give orders. Interesting. Let us see if any listen."

Down below, some children did listen. The twin girls, about four and a half, overcame their fear and darted in to poke at the boar's hindquarters with blunt spears.

The creature roared, turning away from Danarre. That gave him an opening.

He rushed forward, summoning a tiny [Arcane Glimmer]. He made it flicker near the boar's eye, a bright spark like sunlight off a blade.

The beast flinched, distracted.

[System Notification]

[Arcane Glimmer Lv.5 → Lv.6]

Minor illusions refined. Slightly easier to control direction of flicker.

Seizing the moment, Danarre swung his wooden sword with all his might at the back of the beast's neck. The weapon struck with a dull thud.

Not enough to kill, but it made the boar jerk forward, stumbling into the waiting spears of two older cousins. Another child jabbed from the side.

The beast roared, shaking its head violently.

A boy with a stout club leaped onto a low crate and jumped off it to bring his club down on the boar's skull. Crack.

The beast staggered. More strikes followed: careful, desperate teamwork.

With a final squeal, the ironback boar collapsed. The children stepped back, breathing hard.

Some trembled. One girl cried silently, tears streaming, though she hadn't fled.

Another boy clenched his jaw, trying to hide that he'd wet himself.

[System Notification]

Stage Two Complete: Ironback Boar Defeated

+50 EXP (Assisted Kill) Reputation among young participants improved.

The stands murmured approval. Hendric raised a hand for silence. "Better. You learn to cooperate against stronger prey. But this test is not done. Show me more."

Servants again cleared the corpse. A pair of healers tended the wounded boy's leg quickly, bandaging him on the spot and allowing him to remain if he could stand.

He tried to be brave, nodding through tears.

Danarre wiped sweat from his brow. His arm ached from the strain, and his shield bore scratches.

He wondered how many stages there would be.

The gate groaned open once more. This time, two cages were brought forth side by side.

The beast-handler seemed to take pleasure in their fear, pausing dramatically before opening the cages.

Hendric's voice: "Stage three. Few make it look graceful. Let us see how you fare against Stormcats."

Stormcats? Danarre's eyes widened. He'd heard servants mention them, feline predators as tall as a grown man's waist, known for their speed and razor claws.

Releasing them against children under six seemed cruel, but that was the de Blaise way.

The cages opened with a clang. Two sleek shapes padded out: each a blue-gray cat with tufted ears and lightning-like stripes across its back.

Their eyes glowed faintly. Stormcats were known to channel minor static energy through their fur, delivering painful shocks on contact.

The children tensed. Some took a step back, others tried to form a loose circle.

Danarre's throat felt dry. If they panicked, these cats would pick them off.

He whispered to the vassal girl beside him, "Focus on one at a time."

She nodded grimly. Another older cousin, about five and a half, barked orders: "Don't bunch up! Keep moving!"

The stormcats split up, one slinking to the left, the other to the right, trying to flank the group. Danarre realized if they got confused and scattered, the cats would isolate and maim them.

He needed a strategy.

He raised his voice, as loud as he dared: "Hold shields up! One group distract left cat, others flank right cat!"

A few nearby children actually heeded him. Perhaps seeing him calm under pressure twice now earned some trust.

Six or seven children grouped near Danarre, shield and spear forward, inching toward the cat on the right. The other dozen or so drifted left, trying to keep the second cat in view.

The right-hand stormcat snarled, whiskers twitching, then leaped at a child in the front

The child shrieked but held up a shield. The cat's impact knocked the child down, sparks crackling from its fur.

The child cried out, stunned.

Danarre lunged in, slashing at the cat's hind leg. His wooden blade scraped fur, earning a hiss.

Another child jabbed at its ribs. The cat spun, lashing out with claws.

Danarre barely raised his shield in time. Sparks of static bit into his arm, making him gasp at the sting.

[System Notification]

HP: 120 → 110 (Minor electrical shock) Endurance test passed. Small resistance to shock gained.

The cat tried to retreat, but the children pressed in. One boy, tears streaming from fear, mustered courage and struck the cat's tail.

The creature yowled.

Danarre stepped to the side, waiting for an opening. He summoned [Arcane Glimmer] again, creating a flicker of light at the cat's peripheral vision.

Distracted for a heartbeat, the cat missed the spear thrust aimed at its throat. The vassal girl's spearhead caught the stormcat under the jaw.

It screamed, thrashed violently, but Danarre and another child hammered at its head and neck until it went limp.

On the other side of the yard, the second cat wreaked havoc. Children scattered, crying out as it darted among them.

One child lay unmoving, knocked out, not dead, as a healer rushed in to pull them aside. Another boy landed a lucky hit on the cat's shoulder, causing it to whirl on him.

A tall, five-year-old cousin with steady hands stepped in, using a short wooden staff to strike the cat behind the ear. Another child followed with a downward slam.

After a frantic struggle, sheer numbers overwhelmed the beast. The cat fell, legs twitching.

Children panted, many tearful, but still standing.

Hendric's voice: "Stage three complete. Stormcats defeated."

[System Notification]

+100 EXP (Assisted kills, demonstrated leadership)

Level Up! Current Level: 3 → 4

Danarre felt the familiar warmth of leveling up. He stood straighter.

He had been instrumental in each stage. Maybe Hendric noticed.

Maybe older siblings were impressed. He dared a quick glance upward.

Alberic frowned thoughtfully, leaning to whisper something to Dorian. Marleine crossed her arms, intrigued.

Emiline watched quietly, lips parted, as if seeing Danarre in a new light. Julianna's eyes narrowed slightly, unable to dismiss the boy's growing presence.

Hendric's expression remained stone-like.

Servants came to carry away the unconscious child and treat the wounded. Healers worked swiftly but without fuss.

Another small cart of better-quality wooden weapons and leather arm-guards was brought in, allowing children to rearm or reinforce their gear. Danarre snagged a slightly sturdier sword and a second bracer.

The vassal girl replaced her worn spear with one that had a metal cap at the tip, blunt but heavier.

Children muttered softly among themselves.

They dared not speak loudly, but Danarre caught snatches of conversation.

Hendric raised a hand, silencing murmurs. "You have overcome three challenges, but none were beyond mortal ken. Now, for the final stage of the first wetting, you shall face a creature worthy of the de Blaise name. One who resonates with the element we hold dear: thunder."

The children stiffened. Thunder element? Danarre's heart pounded.

A thunder-aligned beast would be deadly.

The iron gate roared open again, this time with a louder, grating sound. The beast-handler and two assistants struggled to wheel in a large iron cage covered by a tarp.

Sparks danced around its edges. The children felt a tingling in the air.

The tarp was yanked off, revealing a metallic mesh cage. Inside: a Thunder Lizard, long and sinuous, about twice the length of a man's arm, reptilian with crackling blue patterns along its scales.

Its jaws snapped with electrical discharges. It hissed, its tail ending in a spiked club.

Though smaller than expected, the aura it emitted felt dangerous.

Hendric spoke: "Stage four: The Thunder Lizard. Strike it down or yield. Show me if you can face the power of lightning."

A hush. One of the older cousins whispered, "That thing... it's dangerous. It can shock us all at once."

Danarre stepped forward, trying not to shake. He was tired, bruised, and his arm still tingled from the stormcat's shocks.

But he knew he had grown stronger. He must trust himself.

"Surround it," he called softly, just loud enough for those near him to hear. "Spread out so it can't blast us all at once. Aim for the head and tail, don't let it coil and strike freely."

The vassal girl, her face streaked with dust and tears, nodded firmly. Another boy who had watched Danarre's calm leadership said, "I'll go left."

They formed a loose semicircle. The Thunder Lizard screeched as the cage opened.

It slithered out, electricity dancing along its scales. A child tried to poke it from behind, but a whip of its tail sent sparks flying, forcing the child back with a pained cry.

Danarre gritted his teeth. He had to use [Arcane Glimmer] carefully. The lizard might react to illusions differently.

Still, it was their best shot. Distract, strike, retreat.

He thought of the sequence.

The lizard lunged at a pair of children in front, jaws wide, electricity crackling between its teeth. They scrambled away, shields raised.

The discharge hit one shield, sending the child sprawling. Danarre took the opportunity to dash forward, feinting a strike at the creature's flank.

The lizard turned its head sharply toward him, eyes glowing. Perfect.

He conjured a tiny flicker of light to its left side. The lizard snapped at empty air, confused for a split second.

In that heartbeat, a brave boy with a club smashed down on the lizard's tail. Another girl jabbed at its belly.

Sparks flew, shocking them both, but they gritted their teeth and held on.

Danarre struck at the lizard's neck, his wooden sword impacting with a dull thud. The creature hissed, whipping around.

He raised his shield. Pain flared as a bolt of electricity danced over him, draining his stamina.

[System Notification]

HP: 110 → 90 (Electrical shock)

MP: 20 → 15 (Slight mana drain from maintaining illusions under stress)

He staggered but remained standing. Other children pressed the attack.

The twins from earlier harassed the lizard from behind, poking its hindquarters and ducking away from its tail swipes. Each strike seemed to weaken it, though it fought fiercely.

The lizard coiled, trying to gather a bigger charge. Danarre saw blue arcs crackling in its mouth.

If it released a large bolt, many could be hurt.

He had to stop it. With a desperate yell, he charged in, shield raised high.

Another illusion flicker near its eye made it jerk its head, misaligning its aim. Its lightning bolt fired off at an angle, scorching dirt harmlessly.

At that moment, five children struck in unison: spears, clubs, swords, all hammering the lizard's neck and back. The creature's scales cracked.

It shrieked, tail thrashing. Danarre slammed his wooden sword down again and again, fueled by adrenaline and resolve.

Finally, the Thunder Lizard went limp, static sparks fading from its body.

Silence. The children panted, eyes wide. They had done it.

Hendric's voice, clear and sharp: "Stage four complete. You have faced thunder itself and prevailed."

[System Notification]

Thunder Lizard Defeated!

+200 EXP (major contribution)

Level Up! Current Level: 4 → 5

A warm surge of strength coursed through Danarre's limbs. He was satisfied, but also exhaustion.

This had been a brutal test.

The servants and healers rushed in to tend wounds and remove the lizard's corpse. Hendric raised his hand for silence once more, addressing the children, who stood battered and weary, but unbroken.

"You have completed the test of the first wetting," Hendric announced. "Some of you show promise. Others merely survived. But survival itself is no small feat for those so young. Remember what you learned today: your bloodline demands strength and cunning. You have spilled the blood of beasts with wooden arms. In years to come, you will wield steel and aura to face far greater threats."

Lady Julianna stepped forward, her tone measured: "None of you were asked to fight each other this day. The first wetting is a reminder that before you contest among yourselves, you must prove you can stand against the world's dangers. You have done so."

[System Notification]

Test of the First Wetting Completed!

Rewards: +300 EXP, increased familial recognition, improved reputation among peers.

Danarre's legs wobbled. Another level might be close. The experience from the final stage and completion reward surged inside him.

[System Notification]

Level Up! Current Level: 5 → 6

He dared not grin openly, but inside he felt triumph. Two more levels gained here, significant stat growth, and the quiet admiration of many.

He looked around at his fellow survivors: some cried softly now that danger had passed, others wore dazed looks. The vassal girl who fought beside him smiled shakily.

Quietly, Danarre said to her, "We did it."

She nodded, voice trembling, "Yes... we did."

No adult praised them with warmth. This was not a celebration.

It was a measurement. But Danarre could sense the subtle shifts in how everyone regarded him.

He had offered calm guidance, used cunning illusions without being caught, and fought in the thick of danger. He had proven something today.

From the stands, Emiline, older by a few years, watched him intently. Alberic exchanged a glance with Marleine.

Dorian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Even Julianna's posture stiffened slightly.

Hendric gazed down, expression unreadable, before turning to leave, his robes whispering over the wooden floor of the platform.

As the spectators departed, servants guided the children toward a side exit where they would be washed, tended by healers, and given a warm meal. No one coddled them; this was a soldier's respite, not a child's pampering.

Yet the meal and healing were mercies enough after such ordeals.

Danarre stumbled along with the group, shoulders aching. He cast a final glance at the now-empty courtyard.

Bloodstains on the dirt, shattered wood fragments, and the smell of violence lingered. A place of cruelty and growth, where he and the others took their first true step into the world of the strong.