The town of Gorinic gleamed beneath banners of red and gold, its cobblestone streets alive with the pulse of drums and laughter. Every six years, the people gathered to celebrate their ancestors’ victory — the War of Scales, in which they had managed to drive the last of the dragon tribes into the far mountains. Three centuries later, the story had grown into legend, told everytime to inspire children. 

Children wore paper wings; vendors sold candied wyvern claws. Beneath the glow of lanterns shaped like dragon eyes, songs of old battles rose into the dusk.

From the edge of the crowd, Cassian Dusk watched in silence, the flame of a torch flickering across his sharp, bronze-tanned face. A long scar cut across his right cheek — a souvenir from the last Rite of Passage. He and his friends had survived when so many hadn’t.

The Festival of scales is a two day event. The Night before commonly known as "The first Night" is when the young boys and girls are finally prepared to go on their first mission.

To hunt down wyverns. 

Weeks before the Festival of Scales, a top ranking adventurer is sent to scout the hunting ground and confirm the location of the Wyverns they plan to hunt. 

Cassian and his friends were part of the last group. Barely sixteen then, he and his friends had spent the entire day reciting the warriors Creed. He could still remember it like it was yesterday.

Darion, the biggest boy out of the ten had proudly puffed his chest out, his left hand behind his back, and his right hand above his head and recited; "I am the edge between peace and ruin.

I stand not for blood, but for balance.

My blade is not rage  it is resolve. I fight for the breath beside mine, for the ones who cannot raise a shield,

and for the dawn that follows every fire......."

"Hello Cassian, missed me?" A voice cooed from behind him. 

"How could he miss you when he's so lost in thought" Kael said while laughing.

Cassian turned to look at his friends. A smile swept across his face. "Boy am I happy to see you guys" he responded.

Seraphine and Kael had been part of his group that went for the last Festival of Scales. They had been childhood friends and had signed up for the rite of passage together. Their friend group consisted of six people. Two of them had died when the Wyvern hunting had gone horribly wrong. Of the twenty people who went for the expedition, only nine had returned. 

Seraphine planted a kiss on his mouth and he returned it. 

"I can never get used to seeing that" Kael said while looking away From the couple. 

Seraphine smiled sheepishly "Get used to what?" 

Kael simply nodded his head as if to discontinue the conversation all together 

"Where's Elira?" Cassian asked while looking around for his friend. 

"Oh my cousin won't be joining us tonight, she has some urgent matters to attend to at the guild" Kael answered.

Elira and Kael Drayven had been friends with the group as long as they could remember. They joined the last Festival of Scales because of Cassian and they had convinced their other two friends; Darion and Silas to also volunteer for the rite of passage. 

The group had been inseparable since childhood.

Silas, a shy and quiet boy had been the one to first spot an elder Wyvern. He had screamed out of fear and the herd noticed him.

Panic ensued after that.

"I heard there's a special request at the guild" Seraphine said to the two "something about a missing relic that could even shatter the sky."

Cassian interrupted "Let me guess, it could also revive the old gods?" He laughed a little, almost amused at his own humor. Kael was smiling too.

"I'm serious Cass, I heard there's a bounty of 4000 waghs on it" she said pinching Cass's arms. 

"4000 wagherons?" Kael asked, if he didn't hear the first time. Cassian was not smiling anymore. A little hint of concern could be heard in his voice.

"That amount could feed an entire village for several moons" 

"I know" responded Seraphine. 

After a little bit of silence, and with both Kael and Seraphine looking intently towards him, 

"Which adventurers are signing up for the quest?" He asked

"Well, the guild masters are trying to keep it under wrap because it coud be dangerous " she said.

"How dangerous?" Cassian had to be sure. The past few months hasn't been very good to him and friends. They had spent the little savings they had left on a hunting trip some months ago and only came back with a baby Lakhron. They needed this.

"Nothing we can't handle. You in or out?" Seraphine asked.

"Who would be joining us?" Cassian was curious. He already knew the answer but he wanted to be sure. 

"Well, me, you, Kael obviously....."

"Do I get a say in this?" Kael interrupted 

"I don't think you do" Cassian laughed 

"Of course he doesn't" Seraphine smiled and continued 

" Elira is also coming, I spoke to her earlier and she said wherever Kael goes, she follows" Seraphine said, almost teasing.

"Awww, so cute. Must be nice" Cassian joked.

"Oh stop it you guys" he also laughed.

Cassian paced around a little bit while taking in the surrounding. 

"Alright guys, let's do this." 

The sky has darkened and the purple lights of the horizon has started to be noticeable. It is finally time for the initiation rites. The postulants who are beginning their wyvern hunting the next day are lined up, and are asked to take the warriors Creed.

The town square was quiet, both the young, old , parents and siblings alike gather together to watch them. 

Cassian and the two also moved forward. A bitter sweet feeling could be felt. 

"We were like them you know?, bright eyed and full of hope." Cassian started.

Seraphine continued "Do you think they know what they are signing up for?" 

"Well, if they are lucky enough, all of them might make it back." Even though he doubted his own statement.

The postulants, around thirty. Eighteen boys and twelve girls all lined up and recited one by one " I am the edge between peace and ruin"....

Cassian and his friends also joined in" I stand not for blood but for balance".

The event continued until late in the night. Seraphine and Kael had gone back home to prepare for the next day. The initiates had already also gone to bed to prepare for their Wyvern hunt the next morning. 

On his way home, Cassian ran into Rurik, the adventures guild master. 

"Hello Cassian" he was beaming with a smile. Cassian was his favourite adventurer. He had been the first to meet the group after their failed Wyvern hunt challenge six years ago. The surviving members of the group had dragged the corpses of their comrades on horsebacks. Cassian a huge gash on his face, and Seraphine didn't even speak for months after that. Kael and Elira held on tight to Darions body, refusing to believe their friend was gone. Silas was damaged beyond recognition. 

Rurik had given them food and water and had announced them to the village as heroes.

"I have been looking for you" he tapped Cassian's shoulders. He noticed a little bit more muscle than before. He must have been working out he thought. Good. He'd need it for this next mission.

"Good evening Mr Rurik" Cassian responded. A bit relieved to run into Rurik.

"Did you get my message from Seraph?" He asked inquisitively.

"4000 wagherons is a bit much you know" he said softly "almost suspicious" he added. 

"I know. Trust me I know, but that's a huge sum of money to just pass up" Mr Rurik said. 

Cassian paused for a while and asked "Do you know who put the quest up?"

"It's someone called Vanysor" he paused "he's a dark elf and .." 

Cassian stopped him "What? A dark elf?" He swallowed "You know we don't trust dark elves" his voice was louder now.

Rurik sighed "The adventurers over at Stonehollow said he's legit. Apparently, he is obsessed with ancient artifacts and he's a rich one" he continued "I specifically saved this one for you because I know you really need it"

Cassian had known Rurik for a while. There was something he wasn't telling him. He could see it written on his face. Rurik knew it too.

"Nothing gets past you eh, my boy?" He smiled

Cass didn't say anything .

"There's a condition" 

"Of course there is. What's the condition?" 

"Asides from the four of you, someone else is going to join you tomorrow. A mage."

After their return from the Wyvern hunt, Cassian felt the most helpless among the crew. One could even call it survivors guilt. 

He had sworn that day to always protect his friends. And he had taken it seriously. The next week after recovery and rest, Cassian had shown up to Ruriks doorstep and asked the man to train him. Rurik, around thirty-one then, had seen a spark in the boy and trained him. He knew how confident Cassian was and how strong he had gotten.

"A new member?" Cassian was confused 

"Yes" 

"Why?" 

"That's what Mr Vanysor wants" 

"Does he not trust us, does he not know how strong we are?" He queried 

"I spoke to him about how strong you are but he insisted" Mr Rurik needed this to go well. It had been months since any adventure group in his guild had successfully returned and that had hurt the reputation of the guild. He didn't want that. 

"There's no mage in your party, and I heard the person joining has a pretty good knowledge on relics" there was no hesitation in Mr Rurik's voice. 

"Are you in?"

"Yes. But the newbie takes orders from us, and if he slows us down, we are not responsible for him" Cassian said matter-of-factly.

Rurik let out a laugh "I knew you'd come around son, if he slows you down, then you do what you have to do- keep your people safe" 

The conversation continued on. They discussed time to meet, where to meet and supplies to take on the journey.

Cassian crossed his arms. “We leave at dawn?”

Rurik nodded. “Aye. Pack light. And Cass…”

He paused, his voice softening. “You’ve carried the weight of the past for too long. Maybe this quest will give you back your dawn.”

Cassian looked away, the wind tugging at his cloak. For a moment, he thought of Darion’s laughter, Silas’s frightened eyes, and the promise he’d made—to protect those who still lived.

He gave a slow nod. “We’ll see.”

As Rurik walked off into the shadows, Cassian turned his gaze skyward. The lanterns burned low now, their flames swaying like dying stars.

Cassian’s hand fell to the hilt of his blade.

Tomorrow, a new hunt would begin.