After a long week of various activities, the big day had finally arrived.

It was a beautiful Saturday with flowers coming into bloom as the year got further into spring, while a calming warmth cascaded down onto the town of Redwood. The sky was mostly a clear blue, but the occasional cloud or two flew by, granting some form of extra shade for those in need below.

A perfect day for a celebration to be held.

While the celebration hadn't officially started yet, even in the early morning light Jane could spot hundreds of people already walking around. Families were touring around checking out various places while businesses were either getting ready or already ready for customers who were getting an early start to their day.

When Jane made her way from Angeline's house, through the farming district, and into the town square, the smell of countless different foods wafted into Jane’s nose causing her to almost lose herself.

Besides food, Jane had also seen countless festival game stalls of all sorts being set up all around. There was one where you threw a ball at a target, one where you put a coin into a chamber of pins and it bounced around, and a myriad of others. Some game stalls seemed open and others of all ages were playing them and earning simple prizes— which included tickets to put into the lottery at the end of the day.

Jane didn't get a good chance to see everything, but after she was done with her presentation, she would make sure she witnessed all the celebration had to offer. The celebration was happening because of her and she would make sure she appreciated every aspect of it— that was her sworn duty.

Already in the town square, Jane found herself under a tent just off to the side of the stage which sat in the center of the town square. The stage was a giant wooden circle platform raised a few feet off the ground without any walls or curtains blocking it, allowing people from all angles to see what was happening on it.

Under this large tent, besides Jane, was the mayor and a few of his workers who he had put in charge of the stage for the day. Drinking from a pouch of water, Jane unconsciously fidgeted her fingers together since she was slightly nervous for her upcoming presentation.

“Five minutes ladies and gentlemen, five minutes until we begin!” Peter Petal announced to those in the tent and received a quaint cheer from the workers in response.

Peter slipped his way past everyone and sat down next to Jane who wore a furrowed expression. “Jane! How are you feeling? You seem a little nervous.”

With a sigh, Jane replied. “Can't help but feel a little nervous. It must be easy for you, you got a lot of experience.”

“I won't deny that claim.” Peter chuckled. “But— like everyone— I used to be just like you, nervous, afraid of what others might think of me, and constantly worried that I'd mess up.”

“And do you still feel that way?”

“Hmmm, I'm less nervous than before, but even to this day there's still this twinge of electricity that courses through me every time I do something like this.” Peter explained. “It becomes easier, but never disappears entirely.”

“That's at least somewhat reassuring to hear.” Jane said, breaking her worried face with a smile.

“I'm glad I might have helped a little.” Peter said, “Now, there isn't much time left until I go up there and kick start this entire thing. Are you ready?”

Jane nodded a few times trying to convince herself she was in fact ready.

“Alright good, I wish you the best of luck then.” Peter stood up and walked away but before he got too far away, he turned back to Jane. “Also, no matter what anyone thinks, if they bother you then you come find me to deal with them okay?”

Jane smiled and hummed a response. Danielle must have spilled some of her worries to Peter.

“Perfect, now when it's your turn, make sure you show them how spectacular you are.” Peter chuckled and then left the tent.

Only a couple minutes until the celebration officially began and Jane was anxiously waiting as time ticked down. Suddenly she felt someone grab her shoulder from behind causing her to flinch and snap around to see who it was.

A goofy grin resting on the oh-so familiar face of her best friend Eric was what she turned towards and couldn't help but give him an angry smile in return. He was still in his tightly fitted white chef uniform with his floppy hat resting on his head.

“Sneaking out are we?” Jane asked Eric with a raised brow.

Eric sat down next to Jane where the mayor just was, and his grin widened. “I'd be dead if I snuck out of work, that old man Redrick would skin me alive if he found out.”

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“I asked him earlier if I could support my best friend on stage when the time came and he gave me the okay— but I gotta work an extra thirty minutes later.” Eric finished.

“Well you're just in time, seems like the mayor is ready to get things started.” Jane pointed to the mayor who made his way up the stage’s steps.

Peter Petal walked to the center of the stage where a podium sat, resting on top of the podium was a white crystal ball that faintly glowed. The crowds surrounding the stage that were waiting for things to happen, had their attention taken away by the mayor once he appeared behind the podium. They knew he was about to begin.

With a tap, Peter turned on the sound rune engraved on the crystal ball that connected to separate sound runes all around the stage.

“Ahem, testing testing. 1.2.3.” Peter tested the rune and hearing the satisfactory response of his words echoing all around the town square, he was ready to start.

“Good afternoon fellow residents of Redwood and those from afar, how has your morning been?” Peter announced receiving a cheer in response.

“Amazing!” Peter adjusted the tie on his suit and put on his most charismatic smile. “Just in case you didn't hear yesterday, or are just arriving in Redwood, we have tons of events and areas for you to check out and explore. I won't explain everything since that might take up too much of your time, but if you're wanting to know more, then look no further than the giant signboard in front of me.” Peter pointed to a giant wooden signboard where a map of Redwood was drawn on.

“That signboard has every location you might want to visit and every main event labeled down for you to check out. Don't worry there’s a signboard in every district so you won't get lost— or at least, not too lost.” Peter chuckled.

“If you have any questions, feel free to ask any of the workers under the tent over there.” He pointed to the tent Jane and Eric were under. “Okay that's enough of the basics, let's get into the real thing.”

“There's only one reason we are celebrating today. One of Redwood's very own has successfully graduated from the Academy of Classholders and has come back home. As citizens of Trinium, it's our tradition to celebrate the massive milestone that this accomplishment represents.”

“Our classholders name is Jane Bluegold, and after having personally met her and having my daughter as one of her friends, I'm privy to know that Jane is gonna bring our town to new heights never seen before.”

“There’s so much I could explain about her, but I feel that I should let her do the talking herself.” Peter turned to look at Jane from the stage. ”After over a century, Redwood has its very own classholder! Please welcome to the stage, Jane Bluegold!”

A surprising loud roar of voices came from the crowds, something Jane wasn't expecting.

Were people not as wary about classholders as she thought? Was everyone this accepting?

Feeling a hand pat her back, Jane thanked Eric with a nod and walked out of the tent and up onto the stage where the eyes of hundreds of people reached her.

This was it, no going back.

Peter stepped back from the podium and gestured to Jane to take his spot. Standing behind the podium, she stared out into the sea of people out there and felt her heartbeat start to accelerate a little faster.

Taking one more deep breath, Jane did her best to purge any anxious thoughts still swirling around her head, and was ready to present.

“Hey everyone, my name is Jane Bluegold. Some of you might recognize me from before I left to the academy, but most of you probably don't remember me.” Jane started on script. Those in the crowd quieted down as she began to speak.

“I grew up in Redwood my entire life until that one fateful day four years ago.” Jane said. “I was suddenly thrusted into a new environment with new powers I didn't understand. I thought at first the academy would suck, but during that time I learned about myself; my powers, my feelings, and my general tendency to get in trouble quite easily.”

Some in the crowd chuckled at her half joke, half true statement. That was a success in her books, which in turn made her just a little more confident.

“I know most of you won't care about the boring details, but don't worry, I'll get to the interesting bits soon enough.” Jane started to use her hands to gesture, not as anxious as she thought she would be. “Before I can do that though, I have to thank a handful of people.”

“Obviously I have to thank my parents who raised me, taught me, and treated me no differently even when they found out I was a classholder. Thanks Ma. Thanks Pa.” Jane didn't have to look hard to find her family as they had managed to secure front row seats. “They must’ve missed me so much that they made another one of me.”

Hearing Jane, they raised Abigail into the air and a hearty laugh resounded through the town square seeing the little girl. Jane didn't even realize this, but that wasn't part of her script.

“Imagine coming home and finding out you were a big sister for the first time, man that was a mix of emotions.” Jane saw less of a reaction out of that one and knew it was time to move on.

“I also gotta thank the Frier’s. They are like my— no, they are my second family, each and every one of them.” Jane corrected herself. “They kept a spot open for me at the dinner table if I wanted to visit, they let me sleep there if I was too tired to go home, they did so much for me and I couldn't be more happy to have them.”

“Lastly— so everyone doesn't get bored too soon— I must thank my best friend Eric Frier.” She name dropped him and saw his surprised expression in the tent. “I left him four years ago and after coming back, I feel like we're just as close, or even closer than we were before.”

“I'm so, so glad that our relationship has continued after coming back.” Jane genuinely smiled at Eric and felt a tear try to squeeze its way out of her eye but she held it back. “Not only is he the best, but he introduced me to his friends he made in my time away, and they’ve accepted me like one of their own already. Thanks Danielle, Angeline, Robby and Jared.”

She didn't know if they heard her, but she hoped they did.

“Now that the necessities are out of the way, who wants to see something cool? ”Jane rubbed her hands, it was time for the fun stuff.