To the ceremony (2)

Theo, Bram and the Baroness stayed quietly in the carriage and moved slowly in the carriage.

The way to the ceremony was not that far, it was just outside the Barony's town, inside the one church that many of the Barony's shared.

Theo waited patiently and Bram tried his best to make his little brother comfortable.

Bram Merrick was 2 years older than Theo and it had only been two years since he got his affinity.

His taming journey had been going very normal, that is, not outstanding like Lucien and the other older siblings or bad like the twins.

All the carriages moved through the town and Theo saw all the people lined up to look at them go. There were small kids whose eyes sparkled when they saw the silhouette of Theo. Yet he was not allowed to lift the curtains of the windows for some reason.

There were guards all over the place where the crowd was and it took a few minutes for them to get outside the town.

Now, Theo finally opened the window to look at the lush forest all around them.

He trees were larger than anything he had seen before in this world, there were grass so large Theo was sure they were double his size.

In just 20 minutes of traveling with the help of the demon horses moving the carriage, the family finally reached the establishment.

"We are here, Theo." The Baroness spoke and Theo looked outside, there were white colored marble walls right in the middle of the forest, his carriage became slower than before and Theo finally realized why.

He peeked outside and saw many carriages before him, there was a line and each of the carriages was getting checked by the guards guarding the entrance of the place.

"All the Barons and some Viscounts will be present in this ceremony, Theo. They all are bringing their young ones for the ceremony." The Baroness spoke while looking outside.

"Are the commoners coming too?" Theo asked in curiosity.

"No, they aren't. It's the rule that the nobility shall get to use the ceremony hall before the common people. It's mostly there so that we do not take advantage of the common people and their safety."

"How are we a danger to them, mother?"

The Baroness thought about the question for a second, it seemed as if she was not sure whether to answer or not, "Well, in the older times, many kids from the commoner lineage lost their lives due to some arrogant nobles after they got worse affinities than the children of the commoners. It is great that they established this rule. Now, the common people also have a chance to advance in life with the help of their offsprings who have talent."

"I can't believe someone can get rid of small kids just because of their arrogance." 

"We can do nothing about this, Theo. But you are taking it rather well, when I told Bram 2 years ago, he became very emotional." The Baroness said while smiling at Bram.

"P-Please don't embarrass me in front of my little brother, mother!" Bram said while fidgeting his hand. Theo chuckled while looking at the innocence of the child.

But before he could ask anything else, their carriage reached the gate of the establishment.

Theo heard the driver of the carriage talk with one of the guard and then after a few seconds, the carriage started to move again.

This time, Theo bobbed his head outside and his gaze widened, it was a structure as well made as a monument, the whole building was shining under the bright light of the day, Theo could tell that it was made from a material close to marble. 

When his gaze came off the building, it fell on the carriages parked in a line just like a parking lot. 

People in noble clothing were getting out one after another and Theo was sure there were more than 30 people in the big open space of the building.

Soon, his carriage stopped too and the gates of the carriage was opened by the driver.

Theo took his mother's hand which was the norm for his age and moved out of the carriage, the wing made his clothes swirl and Theo felt satisfaction with how pleasant the atmosphere was.

"Mother, it's our turn," Elara spoke while she cane toward them. She was wearing a beautiful red dress that suited her well.

"Good luck for today, Theo. Remember to be calm, alright?" Elara came to him and patted Theo's shoulder with a smile.

Theo nodded in agreement, he couldn't believe the time gad come for him to get the system.

"Will Clara be with us?" He asked the Baroness who looked back at the entrance.

"The attendant carriages were right behind us, they will be here soon so don't worry about her. Now, let us go to the others" The Baroness did not stop holding the two boy's hands while she went regally toward her other children.

"Good luck, Theo."

"Yeah, go for it, little brother, I have trust in you."

"Good luck!" 

Many of the siblings came to him and gave motivating remarks and Theo gulped them all down in one go, he needed as much motivation as he could.

"Elysia Stonekeep, please enter the ceremony room" 

Everyone stopped talking and moved their body to face the person who spoke.

Theo looked at the man clad in a white robe with a long hat on his head.

'He looks like a priest…' Theo thought.

The entrance of the big monument was open from the start and soon, Theo saw a girl no older than him moving toward the priest with a straightened back and confident steps.

"She is the youngest of the Stonekeep Barony, Theo." The Baroness spoke.

"The Stonekeep Barony is one of the closest allies of the Merrick Barony, right mother?" Theo asked making her mother surprised.

"Yes, you are correct. You will be introducing each other after the awakening ceremony so be good to her, okay?"

"Yes,"

"Sigrid Frostmoor, please enter the ceremony room" The man clad in a robe spoke again from the gate.

"The girl hasn't come out Mother, and yet the next is asked for?" Theo muttered while looking around to find the kid that was going to go up.

"Don't worry about that, you will know soon, Theo." The Baroness said yet Theo could feel some distraught in her voice. 

But when he looked up at her, he saw nothing but a smiling face.

'Was I imagining it?'

Soon a small kid clad in a royal blue leather attire went to the entrance and disappeared inside just like the other girl.

'The Frostmoor Barony is close to us in distance but our relationship is not that good, maybe mother is angry because of them?' Theo thought but then he realized that even though their relationship with the frostmoor Barony was not good, he didn't know the reason why.

"Theo Merrick, please enter the ceremony room,"

Theo felt a shiver go down his spine and so did many of his Barony, it was finally time.