The morning air is heavy with excitement. The entire village gathers beneath the shadow of the World Tree, its colossal roots twisting through the earth like veins of an ancient giant. Its branches stretch so high that they vanish into the clouds, leaves shimmering with a faint, otherworldly glow. Some say those leaves are the stars themselves, scattered across the heavens. Today, standing beneath it feels like standing beneath the heart of the world.
Today is the Ceremony of Fate.
Every child dreams of this day. The day their destiny is revealed, when the World Tree grants them a mythical creature that embodies the path of their life. Phoenix for leaders, serpent for scholars, unicorn for healers, griffin for protectors, dragon for warriors—there are countless beasts, each carrying its own meaning. A child without a Fate does not exist. At least, that is what everyone believes.
The temple beneath the tree glimmers white, its stone walls carved with figures of those same mythical creatures. The morning sun catches the carvings, making them glow as if the creatures themselves are alive. Priests in green and gold robes wait at the entrance, staffs glowing faintly with fragments of crystal cut from the roots of the tree.
"Line up, children!" one of the priests calls. His voice is deep, echoing across the stone steps. "Step forward with courage. The Fate you receive will guide your life."
The children shuffle into place, hearts racing. Some are whispering wishes under their breath. Others grin with pride, confident about the glorious Fate waiting for them. Parents watch from the crowd, their faces a mix of pride and nervousness.
Andrew walks with the others, his steps slower, heavier. His chest feels tight, his palms sweaty. He wants to be excited like the rest, but something presses down on him, an invisible weight. He doesn't know why, but he has always felt… different.
He hears the kids ahead of him whisper.
"I want a dragon," a boy says, puffing out his chest. "Dragons lead armies. My father says they're unmatched."
"I'd rather be a unicorn," a girl replies softly. "Everyone loves healers."
Their voices are full of hope. Andrew doesn't say anything. He doesn't even know what to hope for. Sometimes, when he closes his eyes at night, he imagines wings of fire spreading from his back, or a serpent of silver curling around him. Other times, he fears… nothing. An empty space.
No, that can't happen. Every child has a Fate. Every single one.
The first child steps forward. A hush falls over the crowd. The priest raises his staff, and light bursts forth. The glow twists and shapes itself into a phoenix of golden fire, wings stretching high above the boy's head. The bird cries out, a sound like the crackle of flames. The crowd cheers.
"A leader," the priest declares. "This one will guide others."
The boy grins proudly as he steps aside. The next child comes forward. This time, a silver serpent uncoils in the air, eyes glowing like two moons. The priest nods. "A scholar. Wisdom and knowledge shall be your path."
Again, the crowd claps, and the child beams with pride.
One by one, children step forward, each surrounded by glowing beasts—griffins, stags, lions, unicorns. The air is filled with light and wonder, with cheers and gasps. Each revelation is like a piece of destiny being set into stone.
Andrew watches, his heart pounding harder with each child. He feels smaller, lonelier, as if the world around him is moving forward without him. His throat is dry. He forces himself to swallow. Soon, it will be his turn.
Finally, the priest's voice rings out. "Andrew. Step forward."
The world tilts. His legs feel like stone, but somehow he walks. Each step echoes against the temple floor. The crowd's whispers grow louder.
"That's the boy… isn't he strange?"
"Maybe his Fate will finally explain it."
Andrew tries to block them out. He takes his place in the center. The priest raises his staff. A silence falls. Even the wind seems to hold its breath.
And then—
Nothing.
No light. No glow. No mythical beast.
The silence deepens into something painful. The crowd stirs. Confusion ripples through them. The priest frowns, his hand trembling slightly as he lifts the staff again. Still, nothing happens.
A gasp escapes the crowd.
"Impossible…"
"No Fate?"
"That's… that's never happened."
Andrew's stomach drops. His heart feels like it stops. He stares at the empty air before him, his chest hollow. Why? Why is there nothing? Every child has a Fate. Everyone. That's the rule. That's the law of this world.
The priest's voice cracks. "This cannot be. All are bound by Fate. All are chosen. This is—this is wrong."
Andrew feels the eyes of everyone on him. Fear. Pity. Disgust. He wants to sink into the floor, to vanish. His hands shake violently.
And then—
The ground trembles.
The temple shakes as a low hum fills the air. The roots of the World Tree begin to glow, veins of green light spreading across the stone floor. Gasps echo through the hall as the tree itself responds.
"What is happening?"
"The World Tree… it moves!"
The priest stumbles back, his staff flickering. The crowd shields their eyes as light erupts from the roots, brighter and brighter until it feels like the sun itself has descended into the temple.
Andrew staggers, the light surrounding him, filling his vision. He lifts his hands to shield his face, but the glow burns through his fingers. The air vibrates with power, ancient and vast.
And in the heart of the light, a shape forms.
Not a phoenix.
Not a serpent.
Not any creature carved into the temple walls.
A vast, shadowy figure rises, its form indistinct yet overwhelming. Its presence feels older than time itself, deeper than the roots of the world. It is not a Fate. It is something beyond.
The whispers stop. Silence falls heavy.
Andrew stands frozen, bathed in the impossible glow of the World Tree.
The boy with no Fate… has been chosen.