I didn't sleep through the night because I was the first one to wake up in the morning. Even when Anita came to wake me up, I was waiting for her. Anita helped me to get ready. I'm with the help of two other maids whom I don't know because they work in this mansion. Only Anita and Neena (my mother's maid) came with us, and three servants for my brothers and father. Today, I am wearing a red and white silk frock, a little red feather-shaped ring on my right hand's ring finger. The red feather is a symbol of our family. I have literally every type of jewelry, from ankle to small tiara, because it's a must to wear your family symbol. While I was getting ready, I couldn't shake that uneasiness that was growing more powerful in my heart.
I didn't realize the time, and now I was standing with my family, except Nuri, because no one is allowed under the age of seven in the ceremony. So, only four of us were present while Nuri was sleeping.
"Baby, don't worry, you will be fine, okay?" my mother gently said.
"Don't worry mother, I am not worried about the ceremony, but I didn't sleep through the night because of the excitement. That's why I am feeling a little," I explained.
I didn't want them to worry too much. Mother just rubbed my head lovingly. I think they know I am lying but choose to remain silent.
We arrived at the temple early in the morning. It wasn't even six, because around that time the ceremony was going to start. Usually, everyone arrive first and then the royal family, but this is the only occasion where royals are the first to arrive. The royal family of our kingdom are the ones who receive the blessings of the Goddess, and after that, the King and Queen perform some kind of sacred rituals for the blessing upon the kingdom that nobody is allowed to see. The Royal Family arrived around three in the morning. After the rituals, the priest addressed the King, Arion Kai Marienis, and the Queen, Ravena Sterling Marienis. Afterwards, he asks the children to come onto the sacred stage where the holy stone is installed to help them unlock their power and frees the 'Sila' stone.With that you will know how much 'Sila' we have in our body.
While I was busy, the temple was packed. Their only fair and most stunning chamber is for the royals, and the other three are for the dukes and other nobles only have a common area, not a chamber , actually only two duke's families are present.
The symbolic emblems of each family are carved on their door. Otherwise, all nobles are going to gather in the common area.
"There is one more thing," my brother Agni told me, "that whoever is going first is actually dependent on the name of the child. A kid whose name starts with 'A' is going first, and a kid whose name starts with 'Z' is likely going last. So, like your name starts with 'A', you likely will be the first one or maybe second."
"Arya, look, you have to go," Agni pointed towards the stage. "See, there will be an announcement, and you must stand near the stage because your name will be announced at the start, and last but not least, believe in yourself." My big brother kindly explained to me.
"Thank you, brother, I will remember it."
"Kids, look, the priest has come to make the announcement!" my father informed us.
"The Mother Goddess blesses everyone. I, the servant of the Goddess, welcome the blessed Son, the Arion Kai Marienis, with the royal family and all the nobles of the kingdom. At last, this servant of Goddess invites all the children to join the ceremony. Please." With that, the priest ended his speech, and my nervousness reached its peak.
"Dear Arya, you should go, don't be afraid. Everything will be fine," my mother said lovingly.
"Yes, Mother," I couldn't bring myself to say more. "That's it, this is the moment. I wish and my family waited so long, and at the same time, I wished it would not come a day like this." My feet were heading towards the stage, but my mind was going backward. The first big step out of my family, I felt all alone and scared, but I will overcome this, no matter what. I clench my wrist and take a long, shaky breath. 'Yes, I can do this, yes, I can overcome this.'
In the novel, 'Arya' has enough 'Sila' as a Duke's daughter, but the heroine, who was just a daughter of Baron, has more 'Sila' than her. This was the main point and the starting point of 'Arya's' doom. But this time I will care only for myself. I will not be going to focus on anyone else. With that thought, I stood in front of the stage with many other kids my age, as nervous as I am.
"Arya Ignis." My name is announced by the priest. I never realized I would be the very first person! "Okey, here goes nothing!" I unclench my hand and start to climb the stairs and pray to the Goddess.