We stepped out of the tent to join the other classes, I saw that the town’s people had been busy. The town's square was decorated with little flags either showing the crest of the royal family, the sun or the sigil of Aether. The large bonfire was prepared to be lit after the Summoning, with multiple stalls all neatly ordered for people to pass through. There was a crowd gathered in front of the stage. The principal was already present, waiting patiently as our teachers herded us to the stage. They would call out all names with the same letter in the order of the alphabet. Anyone who wasn't called had to wait just behind the stage.

And then, the ceremony started. The principal's hare stamped its foot loudly on the stage. The crowd grew silent when the principal spoke up, his voice once again easily reaching far over the square. A shiver ran again down my spine.

"Another Day of Aether is upon us! A new chance for these fine students to join the world as they Summon their familiar!"

I got poked in the side. I looked up surprised to find that both Janice and Suzy had found me. Janice smiled encouragingly me. Suzy leaned towards me.

"You're repeating after him again."

I grinned and began to copy our principal, with the same stern look on his face as my lips formed the words he was saying to the public. Every year he'd done the same and I'd been at every Summoning Ritual ever since I'd gone to school. It wasn't hard to remember what he'd say. Summarized he'd praise the god Aether for granting us the power to fight against the dark of the goddess Umbra. That now a new generation would be granted with the protectors needed to aid us in that battle. He'd praise the royal house of Lindell. Thanked them for their protection and the chance they gave us little folk to celebrate this marvellous day.

Janice looked amused, but managed to keep her humour silence at my antics. Suzy, however, couldn't and finally choked out a laugh. This got the two of us hissed at by several students and a teacher. It did shut us up. My cheeks burned up again and I looked down. I stole a glance at Suzy, who grinned when she noticed me looking. I grinned back and nudged her a bit. My anxiety had lowered. Though it was only for a short period of time. The principal called for the teachers, before announcing all the students whose last name started with an 'a'.

A silence settled over us. I doubted there'd ever be another moment when this many kids would be this silent. Somewhere in the distance the voice of a young child rang out, yelling for something to drink. It shut up quickly though. I couldn't see a lot, but a flash would happen shortly after a name was called, followed by an applause and the voices of proud family members shouting.

I thought, with having the letter 'g', that I'd have enough time to mentally prepare. It didn't feel like it when the 'f's' were called. Judith and I crossed gazes shortly and that complete confident grin of hers appeared again. Gods, I would never say it out loud, but I wished that she turned out to be a Soulless. It would be a good addition to her lack of heart. And then I would be the one smiling.

I finally managed to get close to the stage, where the seven of our year patiently waited as the eighth started his Summoning. Finally Richard was called. He first walked to where the circle would be drawn. The four teachers each stood in one of the cardinal directions. Richard received a piece of chalk from the principal and drew the circle between the teachers, with a smaller circler in each direction. There he'd draw the sigils of the gods and the sigil of Summoning. He then walked to the box that was placed next to the line of students and searched for his sacrifice. He came up with a worn, but richly decorated tunic. He placed it in his drawn circle. Once done, the teachers checked the circle for any mistakes. The moment they gave their approval, the principal would chant, which Richard repeated. The moment the chant finished, Richard spread his arms and placed his hands on the ground. A light came from the stage.

I think I forgot to breathe. Instead I pressed my hands to my mouth as I looked with widened eyes at the still empty stage. That wasn't supposed to happen. He...There. The moment the light faded. There should have been a familiar where the sacrifice had been. That's how it has always been. That's what had happened to everyone before him. For a short moment, nobody moved. A deadly silence had washed over the crowd, when finally a woman cried out. Her shout seemed to wake up everyone else. Mr. Woods and Mr. of Meads grabbed a hold of Richard before he could do much more than blink. Mrs. Forres walked off stage, before returning with a set of chains. Mrs. Kingsley had procured a lock at the same time.

Richard began to cry out, the same heart wrenching screams as the Soulless of the years before him had done when they were discovered. I felt as if an iron hand was squeezing my heart with every gut wrenching cry and plead he made. The sounds had always caused my stomach to turn, but right now, it even made me lightheaded. It became worse when his mother's cries merged with his. I'd never expected him to be Soulless.

"Once again a servant marked by Umbra has been discovered by the shining light of Aether!" the principal called over the screams of Richard and his mother. "Fear not child, for we will never give you the chance to fully serve the Dark Mistress. Your time with us was short, but know you can still return to Aether's halls. The light of the Summoning will create the path for you to return to our Lord. It was not your fault that Umbra chose you. We all carry her poison. It is unfortunate that you are destined to fall prey to it."

The principal's words were grave and loud. Richard had long stopped listening. He was still begging as the teachers dragged him off stag. He tried to fight them and almost made his escape. But then Bertrand and Mrs. Forres' cow familiar grabbed a hold of the chains as well. They pulled him down the stage and chained him to the it, just below where the Summoning happened. The light would seep into him and then. When everyone had Summoned. Richard would be executed. I closed my eyes as he begged again to give him another chance, his voice hoarse of the tears and his screams. My heartbeat had picked up when his screams suddenly stopped. I looked again, but the lack of reaction from the students on stage told me Richard was still alive. Yet I couldn't see why he'd suddenly gone silent.

The principal called the next name, but now I was no longer really interested. I didn't want to speed up Richard's final moments. And I didn't want to join him. He would be forgotten by his family and friends. After all, knowing a Soulless was blasphemous. That much was evident by the fact that his mother had stopped crying out. She hadn't bothered to push through the crowd to save her son. Well, he wasn't her son. Not really. Not anymore. He was a vessel to Umbra and his mother couldn't afford to fall to Her powers as well. Still I found it hard to believe that the shy boy I'd known was dangerous.

"Judith Fox."

With reluctance did I look back to the stage. Judith walked up and did the same Richard had been doing. For a brief moment I wondered. Would I wish her the same fate as Richard? I hated her. But to be a vessel of Umbra? To be humiliated and then killed before the whole town? I wasn't certain I'd wish it to her.

I watched as the light finally faded for a young stone marten. It skittered a bit around the stage before it ran into the hands of Judith, who placed it on her shoulder and walked back to the line. The applause swelled up and I could make out the voice of her sister from the people who cheered her on. Of course she'd summon a scavenger. Just like her sister. Just like her whole stupid family.

The final one of the line Summoned a toad. The principal ushered them to go before reading out the new names. A shiver ran down my spine when I heard mine. Janice and Suzy both petted me on my back, causing me to make the first step. After that I started walking almost mindlessly. Until I passed Judith on my way up.

"Don't worry," she said. "You'll soon join Dicky."

I made an immediate turn, just in time to see her vicious smirk and twinkling eyes. Her marten did a poor attempt at hissing at me. I'd nearly thrown myself on her. I couldn't believe I was doubting to wish Richard's fate on her. She should have been the one chained to the stage. I'd already taken a step towards her, when the principal called for us not to dally. It was only for that split second that my anger already lowered. Instead I shot her a glare and stamped on. The principal gave me a warning glance when I'd stamped onto the stage. It caused my anger to plummet. Instead my cheeks burnt and I looked down, muttering an apology.