LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 4: 04 Ceremonial.
Jin sat inside the carriage, which rocked gently as it glided on the road. The bright light of the sun cast a soft glow inside the red interior. A faint smell of aged wood and the flowery scent of his mother's perfume filled the small space, making his head dizzy.
Outside from the glass window, Jin saw the unfamiliar town filled with a crowd curious about the carriage that appeared from the lord's mansion and was heading toward the East.
Ryan and Marina sat opposite Jin, flirting as if the world were centered around them. Jin kept glancing outside because he had had enough of the scene. Another reason was that this was his first time leaving his house.
The purpose of today's outing was to go to the temple in the East district of his father's territory. Today is a memorable day for Jin because he will undergo a coming-of-age ceremony to awaken his dormant potential or talent.
This ceremony should be conducted when someone reaches the age of five. This also applies to commoners; there is no distinctive difference between them. The only difference is that a noble could take the ceremony in a private way, but a commoner must undergo it with the other kid beside them. Their talent would be written in the temple's record, and depending on their talent, they would be sent to a sector that suited their talents.
"Jin?". Marina, who noticed Jin kept looking outside, cast a saddened sigh.
She abruptly stood up and began to sit beside the kid, prompting him to turn his head to her. Seeing his son's face, which radiated with innocence and intellect, Marina held herself in, trying to hug her son.
Instead, she pats Jin's head tenderly as if handling something brittle that could crack if she put too much force.
"Look, I'm sorry about last night, okay".
"Huh?".
Oblivious to his mother's concern, Jin tilted his head to the side and wondered what was happening with the heavy atmosphere around him. He began to rack his brain when he caught his mother's words of 'last night'. Jin nods in understanding. 'I see, so about that'.
"Nothing, mother. I'm just curious about the town that Father has because, you know, this is my first outing."
"Is that true?".
"Yes, of course. I knew that mother was doing it for my sake. I don't blame you or anything".
"Jin, thank you".
Marina, who flooded with happiness, spread her hand open before squeezed her son's body close to her bosom.
Last night, for the first time in his second life, his loving mother refused his request, which greatly shook Jin to the core. However, upon further explanation, Marina wanted to teach Jin magic more than anyone else, but she couldn't do that because Jin's talent had yet to blossom.
In this world, every human will acquire talent that blossoms at a certain age, and the coming-of-age ceremony is necessary to awaken that talent.
Marina couldn't teach Jin because she didn't know what aptitude Jin had for elemental magic. Marina herself has an aptitude for Fire elemental magic. His father has no affinity for elemental magic, but he was blessed with Swordmaster Talent.
After the heavy mood melted, the three began to harmoniously talk about some random things while waiting until they arrived at the destination.
The carriage rocked slowly before it stopped and alerted the people inside. There was a knock on the door, and Irena's voice could be heard behind it.
"My Lord, we have arrived!" Irena said, opening the door for Ryan and others to come out.
Jin, who begrudgingly cursed the carriage for not having a suspension, stepped outside. The warm and gentle light that had temporarily blinded his vision faded, and now he had a clear picture of the scene in front of him.
A white temple stood on the ground like a relic from the past. Its towering pillar stood in majesty, surrounding the outside building like a loyal guard.
Marina took Jin's hand, and they both walked approaching the temple, followed by Ryan behind. Irena had to stay behind to tend the horse.
From the door behind the pillar, a young man wearing a chiton, a special outfit, a person who served in the temple. The person awaits the Midnight family's arrival above the stairs, and when the two meet, Ryan steps forward and briefs the young man.
"Excuse me; we are here because of the ceremony/."
"Ah, Lord Midnight, right. Our head priest is already waiting for you inside".
"Mm, thank you".
"No, no, we were just doing our job".
Ryan walked past the young man, and when Jin's eyes briefly met, they both nodded in silent smiles.
After entering the temple, Jin's spine shuddered because of the difference in atmosphere between the inner and outer places. There, he saw a long hall with high ceilings. On each side of the straight path stood a statue of the current Gods and Goddesses that ruled over Mount Olympia.
Jin looked around the interior, especially toward the imposing twelve statues. He felt strange that just some statue could bring out their charm and might, even if it was just a doll. Maybe there was some involvement from the god itself when creating it; Jin shrugged his shoulders and stared straight into the innermost room, where a lone statue stood out among the others.
'So I assumed that was Ares, The current King of Gods!'. Jin stood there marveling at the statue of a god in human appearance, wearing a battle-oriented outfit, a sword in his left hand and a thunderbolt, the mighty weapon of the previous King of Gods, Zeus.
In the story he read, Zeus, after the war with the ancient Titan, got drunk on power and liked to ravage human women and even the Goddess, not escaping his radar. Because of that, the planet was brimming with demi-gods that kept appearing, creating havoc in the world.
War became an everyday scene at that time, until Ares, who couldn't bear witnessing the world in chaos, sparked a rebellion along with the other Olympian Gods. Helped by other gods and even the prisoned Cyclops and Hekatonkerie, Ares managed to usurp his father and became the King, and he remains the King to this day.
'Always a rebellion, huh'. Jin's interest in the statue faded as he stood in front of an altar that elevated from the ground. In the middle, there is an elevated small block of white marble with a crystal sphere on it.
"Head priest".
"Oh, my lord, Thank you for coming into this humble abode". The older man in his sixties began to exchange pleasant greetings with Ryan.
"Right, Jin, come here".
Hearing Ryan called, Jin stepped forward and bowed his head slightly before introducing himself with a hand on his chest.
"Pleased to meet you, head priest. My name is Jin Midnight".
"Oh, so this young lord here is the one".
Jin straightened his posture, wondering what the old man was talking about. He met the head priest's gaze for a moment before the man parted his lips.
"So, what should I do from here on?".
"... Ohoho, it seemed our young lord seemed impatient to find out his talent". The head priest walked close to Jin's side and began to explain the procedure. "First, head to the sphere over there and out your palm. Each hand is fine, and then your talent will blossom!".
'That's it!? So easy!'. He almost let that slip, but noticing the atmosphere surrounding him, Jin managed to hold his tongue.
Under the tension that started to build up in the place, Jin took his first step toward the altar. Each step he took echoed in the vast and high room.
As he stood in front of the sphere, Jin's face broke into amazement. Never in his life had he seen this clear and beautiful crystal sphere glittering even under the dim room.
Jin took his breath deeply before exhaling it in one go. Slowly, he reached out his right hand and touched the sphere. 'Come!'.
The sphere blinked before it shone in a calm and gentle emerald color. From behind, Ryan let out a gasp while Marina sighed in resignation.
[Talent: Magic Swordsman]
'Hmm, so that means I could master both Swords and Magic at the same time… What!?'. Jin's face stiffened after he saw a layered translucent panel appear in his sight.
[Overwriting the current system]
[Processing 1%...10%...70%]
[Process complete]
[Apostle of All-Father had received his blessing]
[Title: Apostle of Al Father obtained]
[Unique Skill: String of Fate (EX) obtained]
[Would you like to see the Status?]
[Yes or No?]
'Yes?'. Because of the sudden development when he was overwhelmed by the translucent Panel that kept appearing and blocking his sight, Jin muttered those words, and another long panel appeared.
[Status Panel]
Name: Jin Midnight (M)
Race: Human
Age: 5
Talent: Magic Swordsman
Parameters:
Vitality: E-
Mind: D+
Strength: E-
Agility: E
Stamina: E+
Skill:
String of Fate (Divine), Swordsman (Intermediate), Wind Magic (Low)
Title:
Apostle of All-Father
######
World Quest: Prevent the Tragedy!
Reward: ???
Penalty: Death
######