Draped in full leather armor, I knelt on one knee, my head bowed low as I stared at the neatly arranged stones pressed into the ground beneath me. The cool breeze of the morning brushed against my face.

On a raised wooden platform before me sat an old, blind man—the village elder. His hair was still thick and long, but had gone completely white. Part of it freely ran down his back with the rest bound into a bun that crowned his head. His beard was equally vast and colorless, easily reaching down to his chest. His eyes were clouded, whiten and glossed over. Almost similar to those of the Noxpanther that had brought me before him. 

Beside him stood Valor, clad in ceremonial armor that was rarely worn except on occasions of great importance. The polished black leather reflected the light with various and intricate designs etched into the surface. I had only seen him wear it once before—when Eldrin had officially joined the village guard. 

Now, it was my turn.

The elder raised his hand, wrinkled to the point it looked near mummified. His voice, though weak and raspy, carried the weight of authority and reverence. Instantly capturing the attention of those who had gathered.

 “I have come before you today,” he began, his words rolling out slowly, “to bestow a great honor upon this young man, Sennin Cyprus, who has presented to me a true proclamation of his spirit as a warrior!”

Valor stepped forward, pulling out the Nox tail and gently placing it into the elder’s outstretched hand.

Slowly he raised it up, displaying it to the crowd.

The village erupted into cheers, a wave of applause and praise seemed to crash over me. In the sea of voices, I could clearly distinguish those who were dear to me. 

The Mercia family, Finn and Hestia, Lirael and her father, and most importantly, my mother, whose cheers rose above all others.

Emotion surged within me, and I had to summon every ounce of my willpower to keep the tears from spilling over. My fists clenched tightly, the leather of my gloves creaking under the strain, as I struggled to maintain my composure before the elder.

“Having passed this most trying challenge,” the elder continued, his voice cutting through the fading cheers as Valor descended from the platform, “he has graduated from the simple life of a mere boy and into that of a man.” He paused, letting his words echo over the crowd. “A man—of the guard!”

The proclamation was met with another surge of cheers, even louder than before.

At this point, I slowly rose from the ground, my legs trembling slightly as I stood before the elder and Valor. My gaze met Valor’s, who now stood before me, his eyes filled with pride. Once again, the crowd fell into a silence.

In his hands he held out a spear. And though it was similar, it was not the one I had become so accustomed to over the last few years. 

“But this is,” I muttered softly, my voice barely audible as I stared at the spear in awe.

Valor’s smile deepened, his eyes shining with a mixture of pride and approval. “It is the spear of a true soldier. It is yours.”

Slowly I reached out, and took Valor’s spear from him.

“Now face them,” Valor said firmly, his voice steady and commanding. “Face them, as their protector.”

With a deep breath, I turned to face the crowd, my heart pounding in my chest. The sea of faces stared back at me, their expressions filled with anticipation and respect. For a moment, I felt myself begin to freeze under the weight of their gaze.But just as I hesitated, the firm grip of Valor’s hand was placed upon my shoulder. A reassurance that anchored me in place.

Gritting my teeth, I tightened my hold on the spear and thrust it into the air, the blade catching the first rays of the rising sun. The crowd erupted in celebration once more, their cheers ringing out like a victorious battle cry.

I had done it.

As of today, I had joined the guard.