“Congratulations. The Kingdom of Unity has never seen a finer selection of knights.” The king declared, ending the ceremony

A triumphant fanfare concluded the king’s last few words. The coliseum erupted in cheers as many of the graduating knights took to the front of the stage, shook hands with many officials, and began selecting their graduation gifts: Gems and weaponry!

“Sir Betto, how may I assist you?” An elderly official greeted him with a bow. “What will you choose?” 

He presented Betto with an assortment of weapons, and milky white gemstones encased in the centerpieces of necklaces.

“Thanks.” Betto thanked him, wearing the largest smile in the kingdom.

He scanned the entire weapon selection, various swords, claymores, daggers, and bows. What would he choose? Something buried under a couple of swords and daggers caught his eye. He fished it out, pushing all the enticing claymores and dangerous weapons off the object, revealing a pair of big green heavy gauntlets. The two white gems in the top of the gauntlets entranced Betto’s gaze, his eyes peering into the gems. Slowly pulling Betto’s attention to the intricacies of the mysterious gauntlets.

“Will that be your final selection?” The elderly man interrupted Betto’s train of thought. “Those are very fitting for you.” The old man added.

“Yes. These will do very nicely.” Betto said as he hung the gauntlets from his waist.

“Now, my boy, repeat after me.” The old man said while handing Betto a gem necklace. “I will unite the Lands, the Skies, and the Seas”

“I will unite the Lands, the Skies, and the Seas”

“Until my dying breath, I serve Unity”

“Until my dying breath, I serve Unity”

“Together, we are stronger.”

“Together, we are stronger.” Betto finished.

The gem glowed bright green as it was awakening from its long slumber of being unpowered. The flair of the stone’s glow drew many eyes to Betto and his new gauntlets, the milky fog filling the gauntlet’s gems dispersed by his newly awakened power. A small gust of wind blowing down on him revealed the identity of his power: The Gale.

“You have awakened the power of The Gale,” The old man said. “You have been blessed by an ancient gift, Sir Betto.” He added, bowing to him.

“No-no- Thank you,” Betto replied, bowing in return to the man who gave him his equipment. Silence overtook the crowd as they stared, awestruck.

  “Why are they staring at me?” He whispered to the man.

“It’s because it’s been a while since someone awoke the power of The Gale!” another graduate exclaimed before throwing his arm over Betto’s shoulders. “It’s a rare power!” It was none other than Tev, sharing his enthusiasm with Betto.

“What power did you awaken? Betto curiously asked Tev, who was shaking in excitement.

“You already know what I got!” He replied, lighting a small flame in his hands while brandishing his chosen sword. “ I told you I’d become a flame wielding knight! I also look the part.” He declared, pointing to his orange hair. “Let’s form an adventuring party together! We’ll be unstoppable!”

“Didn’t they say you guys would be assigned your first adventuring parties?” A middle-aged woman asked, approaching the pair. Her bright smile was just as radiant as Tev’s. “I honestly wanted to see your reaction if your gem has awakened the power of The Tides.” She taunted as she warmly wrapped her arms around Tev.

“Oh, quit teasing me, Mother!” Tev pleaded as he returned her embrace. “I told you I’d be a Flame Knight when I graduated.”

“And I’m so proud that you kept that promise.” Tev’s Mother added, continuing to hug him. She turned her attention to Betto, noticing his grandfather was absent. “Betto, where is your grandfather?”

“I’m not sure. I’m sure that I saw him around-”

“If you had slowed down, young lady! Then we would have met our kin at the same time.” Betto’s old and frail grandfather complained.

  He walked himself over with his cane to his grandson. His attention quickly shifted to Betto’s choice of weaponry, unconventional gauntlets. A scowl quickly manifested on his face.

“Hey gramps, what do you think of these?” Betto boasted, posing with his new weapons.

“Why didn’t you pick a sword!?!” The old man yelled, lightly kicking Betto.

“You don’t like them?”

“A sword is much easier to use in battle!” The old man croaked out. “The arrogance!” 

“But gramps, you made me master hand-to-hand combat.”

“I guess I’m to blame then,” the old man smirked before embracing his grandson. “Your father would be so proud.”

“My father?” Betto questioned, looking at one gauntlet while holding his grandfather in another. “Was I anything like my father?”

“You’re worse.” Betto’s Grandfather joked “Raising him was a chore. You? That’s a whole new nightmare, especially after he left you with me.”

“Boys, I think your party assignments are being handed out,” Tev’s mother notified.

Two knights began walking around the graduation grounds, handing out scrolls with scribed messages in them. Continuing from graduate to graduate, they finally made it to Betto and Tev. 

“Sir Betto. Sir Tev. These are your first-party assignments. Please read them carefully. You both will start tomorrow.”

“Oh man, our first parties!” Tev beamed as he quickly unraveled his scroll. “I hope I’m in Sir Peter’s! His scorching purple flame, his amazing flame nodachi, I can’t wait to learn from him!”

“This entire ceremony already knew you were a Sir Peter wannabe.” Betto taunted as he began unraveling his scroll. “I want to be part of Sir Su’s party! His blue flame, his fighting style of getting in his enemy’s faces and quickly finishing them off with his sword is undefeatable!” He added while reading his scroll.

“We’re in the same party!” Tev blurted, looking at his friend, now teammate.

“Who’s our party leader?” Betto asked, skimming his scroll for a name.

“Sir Alain Magnus? Do you know who that is?” Tev asked as he read his scroll.

“Alain Magnus? I don’t think I’ve heard that name.”