Today was Harry's 14th birthday.
Turning fourteen was important in this world. It was the age when a divine fragment, if present, would finally reveal itself.
This meant Harry would soon find out whether he was Aetherbound.
He was nervous.
His friends, however, were excited.
Henry had a close group of five friends who had grown up together since childhood. His best friend among them was Ron.
Ron and Harry had been inseparable for years. They trained together, exercised together, and dreamed of becoming strong.
Ron's older brother, Sam, was already Aetherbound.
Sam possessed the Earth element, allowing him to harden his body like stone. He wielded a massive hammer and belonged to the Colossus Knight class, warriors who specialized in frontline combat.
Ron himself would take the test in a few months, and most people believed he would definitely become Aetherbound.
Another friend, Sean, had an average build and a calm personality. He was not Aetherbound. Currently, the probability of becoming Aetherbound was around 48%, though the chances had slowly increased over the centuries.
The final member of their group was David, the youngest. Tall and thin, he would have to wait another year before taking his test.
Henry's own family lived a simple life. His childhood had been peaceful and comfortable.
That night, after celebrating his birthday with a small but joyful gathering, Henry went to sleep early.
Tomorrow would be an important day.