“After all the efforts we’ve put in, you better awaken a sun-attuned bloodline.”

  “Yes, Mother,” Diven said.

  It wasn’t the first time his mother had been lecturing him about the importance of the results of his awakening ceremony. Diven had grown accustomed to it and figured it would end soon. The ceremony was happening the next day.

  “This is your duty, as a member of the Leios clan,” his father said.

  “I know, father. Don’t worry, I will awaken the best bloodline there is. Even better than Uncle Basil’s Sun Heart.”

  His mother frowned at the mention of her brother.

  Their relationship had been strained since their respective bloodline awakenings.

  “You know it's impossible. But if you can have a Sun Heart too, it would please us greatly,” said his father.

  “Now go. You better see your friends. Especially that girl from the Opheo clan, her performance at their awakening ceremony was great. It would do you good to cultivate that relationship.”

  “Yes, Mother. I will go now.”

  Diven didn’t like it when his parents talked about his friends this way. The quality of their bloodline didn’t determine their friendships.

  The thirteen-year-old boy left his family’s home on the north side of the Acropolis and made his way toward the eastern wall.

  Today, like most days in the city of Kheiron, the weather was pleasant. Spring had only just begun, yet the air was warm. The sunrays hit the countless pine trees dotting the landscape, releasing a musky scent that filled Diven’s nostrils.

  The acropolis was built on top of a hill, overlooking the lower city crammed around the harbor. Behind its walls, the three noble clans of Kheiron lived together in an assortment of sumptuous villas and idyllic gardens.

  Diven navigated the wide streets, which he knew like the back of his hand. He’d lived here all his life and could walk around with his eyes closed if he wanted to.

  He didn’t.

  If he closed his eyes, he wouldn’t be able to see the majestic columns of the temples built by the successive generations of heroes that inhabited the city.

  Far from the rest of the Ameian world, Kheiron stood proud and alone. It was the westernmost Ameian city.

  Its isolation set it apart, and all its citizens were fiercely independent.

  Diven was going to be one of them. Tomorrow, he would awaken his bloodline and officially become a citizen of Kheiron.

  Snapping out of his reverie, he noticed his three friends sitting on a marble bench beneath the shade of a plane tree planted in a small square adjacent to the Acropolis wall.

  Standing out, as always, was Philon Thesios. The bright red hair typical of the Thesios clan flowed down his shoulders as he shouted the virtues of his newly awakened bloodline.

  The Thesios clan organized their awakening ceremony one week before the Leios clan, and the Opheo clan one more week prior. The clans were alternating who went first every year. This way, each clan had the opportunity to stand in the spotlight.

  Beside him sat Zoe and Sebastian of the Opheo clan. The cousins looked very similar, their black hair tied in a clean bun. The main difference was their eyes: while Sebastian’s were dark brown, Zoe’s were a deep ocean blue.

  “Diven!” Philon called out as he saw him approach.

  Diven waved back, a smile forming on his face.

  “How are you doing?” He asked.

  “Great!” Philon said.

  “Me too,” Sebastian added. “Zoe, not so much.”

  “Hey! I’m fine.” Zoe protested.

  “What’s going on?” Diven asked.

  “Nothing. It’s just that since we found out about my Skybound bloodline, the clan’s elders keep pestering me. I almost wasn’t allowed to come here!” Zoe said.

  “Is it that bad?” Diven asked.

  “You’ll see if you get a top-tier bloodline like you want,” Philon said. “I’m glad my Warrior Spirit is normal.”

  “Same,” Sebastian said.

  “It’s not that bad!” Zoe said. “It’s to be expected the clan would be protective of the more valuable bloodlines.”

  Even though he was part of the conversation, Diven felt a little left out.

  Why didn’t the three clans plan a joint awakening ceremony? The commoners didn’t even bother with a ceremony, they awakened when they were ready.

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  Diven was ready. He didn’t want to wait.

  But after waiting so long, he could wait one more day.

  “By the way, I’ve been forced to take the Facet of the Sky Mage first,” Zoe said.

  “Isn’t it common practice to take a mage facet first if you can?” Philon asked.

  “Well yes, but it’s so boring. I have to learn too many things before I can even cast a simple spell.”

  “That’s a nice problem to have…” Philon said. “My Facet of the Hoplite is just a Spear skill and a Shield skill. I wish I could learn magic.”

  “Sorry, it’s just so frustrating having access to my inner world but not being able to use any skill,” Zoe said.

  The more they talked, the more Diven felt the gap between them widening. He so desperately wanted to awaken. He may not get something as fancy as Zoe, but he was confident he would receive a sun-attuned bloodline.

  An attuned bloodline meant a mage facet. The type of attunement mattered too. In the Leios clan, sun was the preferred element.

  He was looking forward to sun magic.

  “What about you Sebastian?” Diven asked, curious about his more quiet comrade.

  “Oh,” He said, not expecting the question. “As planned, I’ve taken up the Facet of the Hunter, it was my only choice but it makes sense with my Keen Nose bloodline. I’ll be leaving in a few days to train in the Wildlands with seniors of my clan.”

  “You’re leaving? That’s too bad…” Diven felt a knot form in his heart. He hadn’t considered it, but the opening of the inner world that came with the awakening ceremony marked their beginnings as full-fledged citizens. It was a great honor, but it came with duties. He hoped his path wouldn’t lead to him being sent outside right away.

  But that was unlikely. While the Opheo clan was famed for their talented explorers, the Leios clan was needed in Kheiron. Their sun magic was lauded for the beneficial effect it had on agriculture.

  That’s not to say the clan lacked adventurers. His Uncle Basil had his fair share of stories of fighting beasts and barbarians deep in the Wildlands.

  “That’s why we have to enjoy our time together while we can!” Philon said. “How about we go see the Temple of the Sun today?”

  “Right! That’s where Diven’s ceremony will be held tomorrow.” Zoe agreed.

  “That’s a good idea,” Sebastian said.

  The Temple of the Sun was where the Leios clan buried their fallen heroes. Leios, one of Kheiron’s founders and the progenitor of the namesake clan rested behind its doors.

  The temple wasn’t standing on the highest point of the hill, this honor was reserved for the Opheo clan’s Temple of the Sky. Instead, it was built in the middle of the southern slope, where the sun would illuminate it the most.

  Four tall walls were covered by a roof made of bright red tiles. Around it, a dozen columns on each side helped support the massive edifice.

  In the center of a wide plaza clear of any tree or building, the temple shone under the sun, catching the eye of all that wandered close enough to the edifice.

  Aside from special occasions, entrance into the temple was reserved for high-ranking members of the Leios clan. The gates were guarded by several Evolved-Rank people from the clan. In addition to the elders in the city, nobody would try to sneak in.

  “We should sneak in,” Philon said.

  “No,” Diven answered.

  “Are you stupid, Philon?!” Zoe added. “I don’t want to be grounded.”

  “We won’t be in trouble — if we don’t get caught," Philon insisted.

  “I’m not participating in this,” Sebastian said.

  “Me neither,” Diven agreed. “My awakening ceremony is tomorrow. Are you trying to make me miss it?”

  “Ah well sorry. Zoe?”

  Zoe shook her head at Philon. The red-haired teen visibly deflated, making his friends smile.

  In an alley bordered by a row of olive trees on the left and the rocky wall of the hill on the right, Diven and his friends sat around the little fountain flowing from the ground.

  Shielded from the heat of the afternoon sun, the place was one of their preferred spots for hanging out. A fresh northern wind blew around the hill, ruffling their hair and carrying away the salty scent of the sea.

  “I can’t wait for tomorrow,” Diven said, swinging his legs up and down.

  “I know. Your parents have been pressuring you,” Philon nodded.

  “I guess, but I’m also very curious what kind of bloodline I will get.”

  “Don’t be disappointed if you don’t have a Sun Heart. Your uncle is the only one since Leios himself, that’s not a reasonable expectation,” Zoe said.

  “I know, but I can dream. I will be satisfied with a sun-attuned bloodline.”

  “I’m sure you’ll get it,” Philon said.

  “What will you do if it's not the case?” Sebastian asked.

  “I…” Diven started. “No, my bloodline will be sun-attuned.”

  Sebastian shook his head quietly.

  “There’s no reason his bloodline wouldn’t be sun-attuned,” Zoe told Sebastian. “Both his parents are sun attuned.”

  Sebastian raised his hands in defeat.

  “I’m just saying, it wouldn’t be the first time something like this happened.”

  “Don’t be a downer, Seb,” Philon said. “Diven is stressed enough as it is.”

  As the sun went down, Diven bade farewell to his friends and returned home where his parents were waiting for him.

  “You’re late.” His mother said. “Are you trying to miss the ceremony?”

  “It’s tomorrow!” Diven protested.

  “No talking back. Go to bed; you need to be well-rested for tomorrow.”

  “But I haven’t eaten dinner.”

  His mother let out a deep sigh.

  “Then go eat; there is some bread in the kitchen.”

  Diven walked around his mother and through the kitchen door where his father was eating goat cheese with bread, “Don’t mind your mother, she has bad memories about her awakening.”

  “I know,” Diven said.

  He knew too well about his parents' issues with their bloodline. His mother was a daughter of the clan but had awakened a Sunset bloodline. Needless to say, it wasn’t well regarded in a clan that worshiped the sun. The contrast with her brother’s top-tier bloodline only made things worse.

  “Aren’t you the same, Father?”

  “I wasn’t born in the clan, so I didn’t go through the public ceremony. My Sun Tanned bloodline might not be the best, but I don’t have traumatic memories.”

  “What if I don’t get a sun-attuned bloodline?”

  “Don’t talk nonsense.” His father said.

  “But imagine.”

  “It’s impossible; both your mother and I are sun-attuned. Your maternal grandparents are elders of the clan. This is simply not possible.”

  But it was. The warning from Sebastian was echoing in his mind. His father's refusal to acknowledge the possibility didn’t comfort him.

  Still, it was fine. Right?

  The odds of failure were so low.

  Diven devoured his meal in a few minutes and went to bed. The sooner tomorrow arrived, the sooner he would know the result of his awakening.

  He didn’t sleep well that night.