Anecus woke slower than usual his awareness was awake before his eyes. 'huh, this feels...different.' Swinging his legs off the bed he looked around the room. "everything is so bright."
Touching his chest "I feel fuller too." he sat for a moment "whatever has been happening seems to have subsided?" His actions were slower more deliberate, like there was untamed power at risk of going wild.
He donned his slippers and hand knit sweater and headed down stairs for breakfast. 'sheesh it getting cold' As he stepped out into the hall he heard a "Opps.." looking to his right, Cassia had absentmindedly gripped the door too hard and broke the handle.
Anecus smiles "klutz."
Cassia just stuck her tongue out and walked ahead of him. As they descended Jane was already placing food on the table, succulent bacon and eggs. Cassia couldn't help it. "Did we awaken!? I just broke the door to my room without even trying."
Red reading a newspaper set it down and raised an eyebrow, "you what?"
Cassia winced
Anecus laughed "nice going klutz."
Cassia releasing her blunder "shut it."
Red counting to read. "No, you haven't awakened yet. You are going through a metamorphosis stage. Your body needs to be able to handle the power of the Accursed." looking up from the paper "But it's a good sign though. It's an indicator of guaranteed awakening."
Cassia's eyes sparkled "eea!" pumping her fists into the air "I knew it! I knew we were going to awaken."
Jane placed the final cup of coffee in front of Red "Alright I know you're excited but no yelling this early, lets eat."
After a hearty breakfast Red and Anecus were outside waiting for the girls, today was the first day of the festival. Red took this time to check in on his son. "How are you feeling? Any flare ups?"
Anecus knew he was talking about more than the typical Accursed side effects. "Everything's louder." He kicks a rock down the dirt road.
Red reminiscing about his Awakening chuckled softly. "You'll get used to it." After a beat Red spoke up again. "Have you decided what Pillar you are interested in?"
Anecus looked at Red "does it matter?"
Red shakes his head a little. "No, it doesn't." looking towards the house, "but that doesn't mean there's no value." His words were an attempt at encouragement, it was not lost on him that Anecus was in a sort of slump lately.
Anecus after a while "I have thought about it many times, and I always seem to come back to one of the Conduit Pillars. Water specifically." He looked at Red for assurance. "Is that a good Pillar."
"Hah, it's one of the more overlooked Pillars. But those that master it, become as powerful as an ocean." Before they could continue Cassia came running out of the house, with Jane leisurely walking behind. "Are we all ready?"
Jane putting on a knitted scarf. "Yes dear."
The Festival was a spetikal, down main street of the Goldenfields where all of the biggest businesses were, the tallest buildings only being 3 stories high.
Nonetheless the warm light given off by the floating lanterns played with the naturally formed ice crystals hanging from the roofs, making the light dance throughout the festival.
Red walking, holding Jane's hand had a moment of reflection, he turned to her "is it everything you wanted?"
She couldn't help but think about all of it. The life they started and cultivated here. 'Anecus, Cassia, Naia' she looked into his galaxy like eyes. "It's everything I could ask for and more."
Cassia pulls up next to them "ooo! Mom! Look at that stand. It's got spirit medallions."
Jane looked over to see a cute little stand made of wood and stone. Hanging from it were lines of leather to make necklaces. All sorts or trinkets and coins representing all kinds of spirits. Jane kind of wanted to get something herself "ok, you can get something."
Already running to the stand "Anecus! Come one."
Cassia reaches the stand was greeted by a elderly woman with grey hair and freckles "well hello there little one. Are you interested?" she said while gesturing to her inventory.
Beaming with discovery Cassia's eyes swept over many different coins and small trinkets, showing water, fire, earth, moon spirits. Some more obscure ones like dream spirits and even some creation spirits.
But there in the middle of it all there was a coin that caught her attention. It was a little smaller than her palm, its colors were a gradient of purples and blues. Wrapping around the entire coin were wings, marvelous wings that depicted freedom and the sky.
Cocooned by those wings was a creature with piercing purple eyes and horns of crimson. Its face was of divinity, honor and wisdom.
Cassia's eyes widened, she hadn't seen something so intricate and beautiful before. The only thing that could compete was probably the creature this coin depicts.
From over the stand the old lady spoke again with a grandmother's smile. "I see you fancy that one."
in a more subdued voice Cassia asks "what is it?"
Putting on her glasses, a string of pearls connected both ends. "That my child is what's known as a Drake, direct descendants of the World Dragons. Majestic beings often believed lost and extinct."
After watching the child awe over the coin she looked to her parents who were standing beside her. "Would you like one as well?"
Jane looked at a small totem of a moon spirit. It was ethereal and shined slightly just like the moon. Not looking away "how much?" the old lady chuckled "I see the appreciation in her eyes. Go ahead and take them."
After a brief exchange, making sure it was ok they parted with their respected souvenirs…not before a tall roguish man stealthy left behind a sum of money well over the asking price.
Anecus had walked ahead to enjoy the music, and he did. He could already see some kids showing off their pillars. Granted 'showing off' amounted to creating a tiny spark, or a few water droplets, a particularly talented kid managed to create a tiny dust devil of sand and dirt.
Then out of nowhere Anecus had his eyes covered by a pair of hands. "Guess who!"
Anecus wanted to play along and brought a finger to his chin "mmh I wonder…I'm happy you could make it Naia."
"Aww at least play along a little longer, and ofcourse! I wouldn't miss your birthday for anything." They both continued their conversation as they walked down Main street.
"Where are your parents?"
Naia looking at all the dancing lights waved her hand "oh they hung back with your parents, I just ran ahead. "looking at the other kids "so have they come yet?"
Shaking his head "not fully, dad says we are in a metamorphosis state, we just have to wait until our bodies adjust to accept the Pillars."
Naia stepped a little closer. "So…have you thought of anything you wanted? Besides a job, mister goodie two shoes."
Anecus was about to answer just like before "I don't really wan..."
his attention was stolen by a strike of a hammer and sparks flying overhead.
*ting!*