She finally heard the chickens cry. The croaky sound that she had been hearing ever since she was little. It was the signal that the days had just begun. It was her big day, she opened her eyes and her lips curved into the brightest smile she could.

She was finally ten years old and this was the time to attend the coming of the age ritual.

“Johanna!! You got a day ahead of you!” a voice resounded coming from the first floor of their home. It was her mother. She immediately responded after hearing some wood creaks on the 2nd floor.

Johanna had a brownish hair. She was a natural curled hair girl. She was still small for her age but her bright demeanor about everything stood out against her two older siblings.

The door to her room opened and her eldest brother was there with a dress in his hand, he carefully placed it on the bed.

“Mother modified this a bit! Should look good on you!” Erigor was brown and curl-haired too, a trait that ran through their family. As the eldest child, he was the 2nd hand of their father.

Their family lived on the 4th floor of an 8-story Insula building that was named Green Deer. (Basically, they are living in some kind of condominium)

Each floor of the Insula had four families with two floors for them. That meant that an Insula building could accommodate 16 families.

“Elise is also going with you! The two of you have been talking about it from the morning to the afternoon,” Erigor smiled. He was somewhat lenient with his youngest sister.

“Yup!! I will be a seamstress like mother!!” Johanna upon the mention of her friend lit up.

Elise was a friend of her same age and they would share windows going through the apartments to see different sights.

It was not allowed for them to go out of the building until they had reached 10 years old. This was a rule in the kingdom where they lived so it was an absolute.

For years now she had been just watching people come and go through the window.

The families inside an Insula were like huge extended families, they would take care of each other, something that was instilled in them by their forefathers.

“Let’s go have some breakfast and Father will escort you to the Cathedral,” Erigor said and he left the room.

Johanna stared at the dress on the bed, her mother wore it, and her older sister too. It was a plain white dress, she began undressing to wear the dress. After wearing it it felt a bit spacious for her body, tighter around her hips, totally not on her size.

Still, she smiled since she had been wearing her sister’s passed-on working clothes ever since. Wearing another dress for herself was something she really enjoyed.

She swore to herself that she would flare the dress up as her first project when she became a seamstress.

There was no mirror on the house so just tapping her dress and making sure that there was no wrinkle on it was enough. She then walked into their cabinet looking for a hair comb but it was not there.

She figured that her elder sister probably had misplaced it somewhere again, so she began searching for the possible spots. She already had the map of their apartment on her head up to its finer details. Finally when she ran out of options to search she walked out of the girl's room and went to the boy's room.

Although it was unlikely there was a possibility since her sister loved to use the hair comb as a hairpin when she was working. After just a quick look around she knew it wasn’t there. She finally had an inkling of where she could find the comb.

She went out of the boy's room and saw that the third room which was the storage room was still open. She approached it and saw the comb between the door and the hinge. Her sister probably used it as a stopgap so that the door wouldn’t close.

She took it and checked it out, it was still in good shape but already had marks on it since it kept on getting used for different things which it should be used for.

“Johanna! Hurry up!! Your sister is already drooling!!” her mother screamed again.

Following the voice of her mother she began walking down the stairs as she was combing her hair. “Sorry Mother, I was looking for the comb!” she said her excuse.

Her mother just sighed. “I see, I see, let’s eat, your father’s going to arrive any minute now,” her mother’s name was Rebecca, unlike her, she didn’t have that brownish hair, rather her hair was black as straight. She was really beautiful to behold, a feisty one at that.

“Johanna!! I’ve even helped mother early!! Let’s eat!!” Her elder sister Lori was large for her age. She had the same hair as their mother, the only one who had inherited her trait but she was the same as their father.

The door opened and their father arrived, the familiar brownish hair and that wholesome mug. “Hey! Hey! Let’s eat!!” Howrus was a big man, few scars on his arms showed that he had seen battles in his lifetime.

He immediately went to his wife and landed a smack on her cheeks.

“Yoo-hoo!!” the siblings made a sound as their mother blushed her cheeks.

“Stop it! Let’s eat!! I’m still going to have to do work after this!” their mother complained of their musings but she still had a smile painted on her face, she was a happy wife.

“Come on! Seat! As per plan, Lori will come with us to the Cathedral! Erigor you will be the man of the house for a while!” his father’s jolly voice full of vigor resounded throughout the living room.

Howrus after kissing his wife went back to the door and closed it, the back of the door had a mounted coat rack. He hung his coat there and proceeded to sit on the table.

Lori was already seated, and their elder brother Erigor sat after placing some utensils for their father. Johanna sat too. It was their mother who sat last.

The table was immediately filled with humor from their father’s stories and love from when he constantly rizzed their mother with his lovely nothings.

Johanna really loved the way her father would tell his stories. Men who had reached the age of 16 were required to either serve as foot soldiers for a while or as city guards for life.

Her father chose to be a city guard since he couldn’t bear to be away from their mother. Her father would even say that even nobles tried to court her mother but he put something on her belly first before anyone else.

She didn’t get why her mother would hit her father’s shoulders whenever he came up with the story.

<--->

It was finally time to go, Howrus, Johanna, and Lori were already outside. They were still waiting for Elise, it was the neighbor's daughter.

They then began hearing a scream followed by quick footsteps that resounded from the wooden building.

The door of the building opened up with a slam and a little girl came out, only just half the height of the door, her mother came following her. “Elise! Be careful okay!” although her mother voiced her worries Elise rushed down to the stairs.

“I’m out!! Out!!” she screamed in joy.

Howrus clapped, he admired the little girl, she was a bundle of joy any time of the day and always had a smile on her face. That energy inflicted even his daughter.

“Let’s go! I want to see the stalls!!” Lori who was also infected with energy raised her fist with a bump.

<--->

Lori was singing as they passed through the stalls going into the main road. Elise rode on the shoulders of Howrus taking in all the sights she could. While her youngest daughter followed Lori around.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

“That’s it!! Off we go!!” Elise said as she saw the flooding crowds of children, hundreds of them.

Howrus carried the child down, this was as far as they could go and they could only watch from the crowds.

Lori tapped her sister's shoulders and with a look that was saying ‘You got this!’ the two nodded at each other. Elise and Johanna stood there waving at the big guy and the girl holding some meat sticks.

“Ah… they grow up fast!” Howrus said in a monologue.

Lori just stared at him knowing what her father meant. “True… look at me! I’m in a different league!” she said smiling and putting another food.

Howrus smiled at her eldest daughter and rubbed his head which painted a smile on the greedy girl. She had this satisfying mug.

“Let’s join the crowd!” Howrus said and proceeded.

<--->

The main road was populated by the children’s parade and the crowd that was watching plus the vendors that were going around. They were only separated by a line that would guide the children up to the cathedral.

The flow of children kept on going on the three carriage-wide main road, they wore white dresses of different kinds. They kept on joining as they went out from the ally where their parents dropped them off.

A rope line was used to guide the children straight into the Cathedral. This coming of the age event was held every year and the city already knew how to manage it, the facilitator had already set up the event a day prior.

From the front was a priest of Zoryan Faith, followed by 2 drum players creating a rhythm. The priest walked slowly waving the flag he was holding following the drums. Little by little the number of children was starting to increase, the event must be attended by nobles and commoners alike.

The flag of the Zoryan Faith was colored faded yellow and so was the robe of the priest. Silver ornaments were hanging on the priest’s robes.

At the last leg of the parade, the Insula that was near the Cathedral began throwing confetti to honor the event, it was their job during the event and they also loved doing it. Cheers boomed as it happened.

There was laughter and joy all around, as well as nervousness and expectations. The parade just lasted for 2 hours and they were finally in the front of the Cathedral.

There was a stage in front of the Cathedral, and three High Priests stood there. One by one the children would have to come up and kneel in the front of the High Priest to receive their blessing.

As the priest who guided the parade went up onto the stage along with the two drummers, the rhythm of the drums became faster and faster until finally, a loud hit signaled the start of the ceremony.

As per the program of the ceremony, a group of priests began circling around the children waving their incense. Finally going up into the stage. The priest who was leading the incense went into the middle of the stage to speak, he placed his hands on his throat.

“The Blessing of Zorya be with you!! We will commence the Ceremony of the Zoryan Heirs!” his voice was magnified with magic.

The crowd cheered.

<--->

They were actually drawing lots. As the name was called a child would come up and kneel on one of the High Priest. The High Priest would hold his hand over the child’s head and plead with the gods to gift her their blessing.

Generally, the blessings the children would receive were Jobs, and acquiring a job makes them proficient in the skills needed to do it.

Since the future and the fate of the kingdom depended largely on the children the ceremony was really important and not attending it was not allowed.

Three by three the children went up and went down the stage. Some were happy with what they received and some were disappointed. Usually, the job that the child would receive was in some way be a job close to their parent’s or family’s job.

The draw lot continued.

“Elise of the Green Deer!!!” the priest pronounced the name of the next batch of three.

Elise who was just beside Johanna immediately responded by raising her hands. She was stiff as a sign of her nervousness she walked with awkward, measured steps, her eyes darting around the room like a malfunctioning sensor.

“Just relax! Elise!!” Johanna her friend among the children tried to calm her with the message but it seemed that it was not registering to her.

It was fun for Johanna to see her like that.

Elise and the two more of the children knelt in front of the high priests to receive their blessings. Johanna who had seen this already like a hundreds of times wondered what it would be like when it was her turn. Her anticipation just grew higher now that she had seen that it was her friend's turn.

As the bodies of the children were enveloped by a dim light nervousness fell on Johanna’s heart, her friend’s dream was to be able to travel around. The Green Deer Insula was a house of Seamstress and Weavers. Getting a production job would be a suitable course for becoming a traveling merchant and that’s what Elise wanted.

Now that they had received the blessings, the children must face the crowd and announce their job. Elise was in the middle. One of the children that was on the stage seemed to be a noble.

“Knight,” “Seamstress!” “Scholar,” out of the three who announced their jobs it seemed that Elise was only happy with the job she received. The three went down and the ceremony continued.

She could hear some parents scorning as the children returned to their parents. Elise should go to her father.

After an hour.

“Johanna of the Green Deer,” the priest on the stage announced.

It was finally her turn. Like every other child, she proceeded to the stage, she could hear her father’s voice but couldn’t make it out. She glanced and her father, sister, and her friend waved at her. She finally saw them and it renewed the feelings in her heart.

She was on the right side and knelt down in front of the priest. She was praying solemnly, she also wanted to be a weaver or probably a seamstress too, she really did love clothes and working on them.

As she closed her eyes, the murmuring of the crowd was silenced. She could feel magic entering her body. Her soul was being uplifted. It was truly a divine feeling, her mind drifted between the physical and spiritual realms.

“Johanna of the Green Deer… you are special,” it was like she heard the voice of the gods.

She was sure that it was not the high priest’s voice because rather than hearing it, it was being spoken directly to his mind.

“Child open your eyes!” the voice of the high priest trembled in a croaky manner.

Johanna opened her eyes, blinking against the brilliance that still lingered. Ethereal remnants of light continued to drift upwards from her body, like tendrils of shimmering mist rising to the heavens. This divine light enveloped her in a halo of luminescence, its glow soft yet intense, radiating warmth and serenity.

The light was mesmerizing, each flicker and wave captivating in its delicate dance. It seemed to pulse with a life of its own, a celestial glow that transcended the ordinary. As the light ascended, it left a trail of glistening particles, each one sparkling like a tiny star before fading into the ether.

Johanna felt the remnants of its warmth on her skin, a gentle reminder of the divine connection she had experienced. She watched, entranced, as the last of the light dissipated, leaving her with a profound sense of peace and awe.

“Speak: Node and tap your heart,” the high priest said.

Johanna followed and did what she was told.

A screen-like thing in front of her appeared and there displayed a few words and numbers she understood.

“On the topmost, you should be able to understand it, stand up, face the crowd, and speak of it after the signal,” the high priest added more and she followed the voice.

Johanna stood up and faced the crowd, the floating screen in front of her didn’t block her from seeing the anticipation of the crowd.

The priest that was facilitating waves at the children. “Priest,” “Accountant,” “War Maiden…” Johanna read as per the High Priest’s and everybody was surprised.

Was it good? Was it bad? This question ran through her mind. The reaction of the crowds made her more confused. She found her father’s face among the crowd.

“Tap your chest to put it back,” the High Priest said.

Then from behind another high-ranked priest climbed up the stage. The Bishop was from the higher echelon of the Religion, they would usually attend the ceremony to facilitate.

The bishop stood tall, a figure of serene authority, wrapped in a robe of faded yellow that once shone with the brilliance of the sun. The robe, though worn and dulled by time, still carried an air of quiet dignity, its intricate embroidery telling stories of many seasons past. The hem frayed slightly, whispered softly against the marble floor with each measured step.

His eyes, deep and contemplative, scanned the congregation with a kind, knowing gaze. The faded yellow fabric draped gracefully over his shoulders, the color a symbol of humility and continuity, a reminder of the bishop's long journey of service. As he lifted his hands in blessing, the robe's sleeves fell back slightly, revealing hands weathered with age but steady with purpose.

Golden threads woven into the robe’s edges caught the light, glinting subtly, a testament to the robe's former glory and the enduring faith of its wearer. Despite its age, the robe held a timeless beauty, much like the bishop himself, who carried the weight of his responsibilities with grace and unwavering devotion. (If you played Dark Souls 3 you will find him!)

The Bishop directly walked to Johanna looking at her from head to toe. From the sleeves, the Bishop took out a medallion. The High Priest who was in charge of Johanna signaled her to kneel down by waving his hands down.

Johanna although confused followed and the priest placed the medallion on her neck. “Enjoy your precious time with your family,” the Bishop said and he climbed down the stage.

There was a suffocating silence from the murmurs of the crowds and it was only Johanna who could feel it.

The priest who also signaled them to declare their jobs waved to move them down the stage. The children followed suit. The knights that were guarding the crowd opened a wooden gate to allow the children to go to their parents. Johanna was the first one to come out of the small gate.

“It's the War Maiden!” the crowd who was there exclaimed as they had a good look at her. It stuttered her from going out of the wooden gate.

For the first time, Johanna felt as if the eyes of the entire world were upon her. The murmur of the crowd faded into a distant hum as she stood frozen. She could almost feel the collective gaze pressing down on her, a tangible weight that made her heart race and her palms slick with sweat.

“Johanna! Here!” She immediately found his father by following the direction of the voice. She ran to her into his huge hug.

“You are a War Maiden?! What was that?!” Lori who was just beside their father said. She held a fresh batch of barbecue meat.

Elise who was also eating some just stared at them. “I want to go around!” she said.

But Howrus was more concerned about her daughter, she was trembling. “Are you okay?” he asked, and Johanna just nodded.

After rubbing her head on her father’s shoulders she finally pushed her body away from her father. “… Father… what’s a War Maiden?” she asked.

Her father smiled at her “It's actually a cool job-” then he knelt down matching her face “-I’m proud of you…” Her father’s eyes were sincere but there was a hint of sadness.

Her father knew what was going to happen and she could tell that he did. She was just 10 years old, what did she even know?

“Everything’s going to be okay so don’t worry too much,” and his father brought her to his shoulders.

She could hear the piece of medallion swinging on her neck.