The sun slowely rose past the horizon, finishing its reoccurring and destined slumber. The day started like any other and it would end in similar fashion.
From a worldly perspective, nothing really note worthy was about to happen, the same could be said about a continental viewpoint. Wars, death, darknes, chaos, hatred and evil were a daily and normal occurrence on such a big scope, but that was also the case for peace, life, light, order, love and righteousness.
Almost nothing seems to matter if you look at it with some distance. Everything fits, like cogs inside a grandfather's clock, one of them turns because the one before it made the first movement. Al those connected movements will push the hands of the clock to the next seconds, minute's and eventualy hours.
From afar, that clock might look beautiful and purposeful, but it wouldn't be that interesting. The only reason a normal clock could be interesting is when you open it, to see how it works. Every bolt and every cog that causes the whole system to work is noteworthy. Every dent or placement will influence how the machine is going to work.
The world, or a country works in a similar way. A war might start between two countries, there will be battles, there will be destruction and there will be death, that speaks for itself. What will happen is clear, but the reason why is not recognisable from a first glance. Political differences, religion, terrorist attacks or simply one man's greed could all be reasons for all that turmoil.
What's even more enticing than the reason is the reaction of the other cogs. And one of those cogs would have a unforgettable day today.
"Shouldn't you be preparing for the ritual, that painting can wait you know. That priest is not going to do the same."
Johnathan said, sitting in his workspace holding a brush in his right hand while an almost finished portrait of a cat was in front of him.
"Yeah yeah, I thought I had something to add but it was just a fluke".
The young Caelus put down his utensils and put on his coat that was hanging from the chair he was sitting on.
The sun was slowely rising above the grain fields outside their window, the colour of the sky was similar to the one he had portrayed on the canvas in front of him.
Jonathan than stood up, his face showing that he was getting close to kick his son out of the house.
"I am going, I am going. You don't have to chase me alright."
His dad sighed. "Look, I know that the ritual might be a big part of how your future is going to look like, it is quite a frightening step to take but it is one you should take. Your gift might make a road towards your future, but you are the person who is suposed to walk it."
Jonathan than walked towards Caelus and put his right hand on the young man's left shoulder.
"If you don't like that road, walk another one. You don't have to use a gift to be a worthy person. You have great potential as an artist, its also somthing you enjoy, so if your gift doesn't support that, than damn it to bits and continue doing what you want."
Jonathan's hand started to tightening a bit. It hurt Caelus a bit but he didn't seem to mind at the moment.
"Even if people mock you for doing things differently from what God intended, I will support you. Hel, you don't even have to go to war, we can hide and ...."
"Dad, I am fine. I really thought that I had something to add to the painting. And don't even finish that sentence, we will be on the run for a lifetime if the knights find out. We will talk about it later okay, I have a ritual to attend".
Caelus lied right there and then. He was afraid. His dad was right, he was afraid. The thought of being forced to follow the future that he had no control over scared him greatly, but he had to face it at some point and now was the best time.
Caelus took his dad's hand of his shoulder and walked towards the door.
"I will be back in a bit. I hope that the others are late to, otherwise I will be home a bit later."
Jonathan looked at his son standing in the doorway waiting for a response. The older man put his left hand up and turned around towards his new project.
"Allright, dont forget to bring some groceries after you are done okay. You can't let your old man die of hunger."
Caelus chuckled and closed the door behind him.
After walking towards the marketplace, the young man stood before the church. Here a line was formed of only males, their age ranging between eighteen and late twenties. All of these man were forced to fight for their country. A few were very passionate about that, but most were doubtful and wanted their peaceful life to keep on going.
Caelus noticed the faces of the people that left the church.
Some had happy expressions, they probably had gifts that gave them good positions in the war. Others were neutral, they didn't know how to feel about what was happening, they still had to figure that out. Than there were those with utter despair written over their faces. They might have gotten a gift that was useless or they had a gift that was useful but not in a war, or they were just scared of the war itself.
'I wonder how my face will look after the ritual'
The line was moving slowely until Caelus got close to the door. There still were ten men infront of him. Next to the door was a knight dressed in full shining plate armour. The chest plate had the symbol the sun with a head infront of it. This symbol represented the knights that followed the church of 'the one'.
'I wish that I would get that kind of armour, but that's asking to much. I would be suprised if they gave me any protection at all.'
And than the Knight spoke in a hoarse and stern tone.
"Welcome sons of the one, the day has finally come for you to accept your gift. The one has made a plan for all of us and today you will find the first step."
The Knight took a sip from his water flask and continued talking.
'He must have been saying this over and over again, that's some praiseworthy dedication'.
"When you enter the church, walk towards the circle that has been drawn by the priest, stand in the middle of it and follow the instructions given to you by the priest. The one will enlighten the priest after the ritual is done about your gift."
The Knight took a slow breath and started speaking again.
" the one only speaks the forgotten language so the priest can't decipher everything from the ritual. This means that some of you will get a more detailed description while others get the bare minimum, but be assured, the one has a plan for you, even if you have to figure out what your gift is yourself."
The Knight than sat down on the ground, giving a signal for the next man to enter the church.
Nine other man followed after that and now Caelus was standing in the doorway.
'I gues its my turn now, I hope its over soon otherwise I won't be able to get groceries for dinner'
Caelus started standing in line when the sun was rising, but now it was slowely setting.
"Kid, it's your turn."
The Knight was looking towards Caelus who woke up from his thoughts.
'Now that I have a closer look at this knight, he doesn't look that impressive.'
Underneath the armour layed a older looking man that looked like a bum. The armour barely held on to his fat body and this caused clear breathing problems.
"Oi kid, move it. You are holding the line."
Caelus bowed politely.
"Sorry I was amazed by your armour sir. I will had inside".
Caelus moved inside but heard the last remark of the Knight.
"Slimeball"
'I was trying to be nice, I'll give you my honest opinion next time' Caelus thought during his walk towards the inner part of the ritual circle'.
The circle was in the middle of the church, around it were countless candles that all burned brightly, but the smell of dying flames was all around the young man.
Caelus now stood inside the circle, looking all around him, searching for someone.
'Where is the priest, shouldn't he be here'.
Than a door opend on his far left. A man with a white robe and golden garments walked outside. He wasn't much older than Caelus.
"Oh I forgot my glasses, give me a second good sir"
The priest walked back and disappeared behind the same door he just came through.
A few minutes later he came back.
"Sorry for the wait, the person before you got a gift that made him a worthy candidate to be a grand officer. We had to fill in some papers and send some letters."
'Damn my higher up was infront of me all this time, I wish that I had talked with him'.
Caelus had been to busy with his thoughts, he barely looked at the people around him so he didn't know who was in front of him.
'Oh well I will hear about it from people in town'
"No worries, you are probably exhausted from doing this all day so take all the time you need."
The priest walked towards the circle but stopped just before his shoe touched the line.
"Oh this is not that bad, the last town we visited had double the amount of people we have today so it's not that bad."
The priest than smiled.
"But we do have a bit more paperwork, this village has great potential. We already found three high ranking individuals today."
Caelus put on a suprised face.
" Our peaceful brennen got three high rankers, I was already suprised by the one infront of me, but three is a real blessing".
The priest was putting some incense on the ground, he than looked towards Caelus who was waiting for what was to come.
"Well I wish a similar blessing towards you. Now, could you spread your arms and look upwards".
Caelus followed the instructions and spreaded his arms widely while looking at the ceiling.
'God, that insense smells horrible. I can't smell anything else.'
" I will now begin the ritual, hold that position until I tell you to stop okay."
Caelus put one of his thumbs up while holding hist position.
The priest murmured some mantra while moving around the circle. Caelus couldn't see anything but he heard the priests every step.
'The smell of the insense is fading, no another smell is more prevalent. Ahhh the candle fire is dying'.
Caelus than noticed that the candle light was slowely fading around him.
The mantra of the priest was getting louder while his movements around the circle began to slow down.
Until it eventually stopped.
"You can rest now. I will translate the message In the backroom, you can wait here i won't be gone for to long. "
Caelus dropped his arms and looked around him. Most of the candles that surounded him had lost their flame. The candles that were still lit made a interesting pattern.
"I'll wait here than."
The priest was already writing things down while walking towards the door he had come through before.
After a few minutes he came back outside.
He didn't look to happy.
"Sorry for the wait sir, I finished the translation".
"Oh what did you find out?" Caelus asked with some concern.
"Well I have some bad news, I didn't find a lot."