In the quiet farming village of Eldoria, which is framed by rolling hills and vibrant meadows, the upcoming ceremony loomed over the heads of the young inhabitants. Each year, the people of the village would gather in the old, stone church of the All Gods to witness a ritual steeped in pride and mystery. It was on this day of the year 1385 AW, that the young men and women of the village would come to the church to see if they qualified for a Divine Manifestation. Divine Manifestations are when the gods of the world find qualities that embody what that particular god stands for in a mortal body. Amidst the line of teens waiting for the opportunity to make themselves known in the world a young man waits. His blonde hair catching the afternoon sun’s light, his brown eyes filled with both hope and fear. Roy, a mere sixteen summers in age, had spent his life yearning for adventure beyond Eldoria’s serene borders, yet feeling trapped by the responsibilities that accompanied his upbringing. His father was a skilled blacksmith, and his mother, a seamstress, both wanted him to take over his father’s blacksmithing shop. Yet beneath the layers of politeness and a drive to make his family proud, a restless spirit bubbled within him, longing to break free. The Walled city of Ardina was less than a day''s ride on horse but it felt so far for Roy. A place where he can make his own name for himself, no longer trapped in the town he grew up in. He had heard whispers of those who had qualified for Divine Manifestations: masters of the elements, bearers of unparalleled strength, and guardians of wisdom beyond their years. Roy’s heart raced as the line grew shorter, envisioning what it would mean to wield such power and influence. He could hear the elderly priestess giving the rundown to a girl who had received a manifestation. Manifestations were divided long ago into three separate categories: Elemental, Physical, and Logistical. Elemental, the priestess explained, was controlling the elements around the person. Physical was controlling yourself or other physical beings, and Logistical was controlling the space in between these two. The young lady who had qualified for the manifestation had been connected to Suvione, The god of travel. This means that she most likely will be able to create portals to different places. Her connectivity ranking was a 6, so her power is fairly limited. As he listened Roy daydreamed about being connected to some god of adventure, or goddess of wealth. As the line dwindled and dwindled it finally reached him. He walked the stairs towards the altar that he had been waiting for his entire life. His heart raced, his palms were sweaty as the priestess took his hand and began the testing. When she opened her eyes she smiled at him.


    “You have qualified for a Divine Manifestation. Qhimos, The God of Fire has taken interest in you my boy.” She says while patting his hand. She gives him the speech about the different kinds of manifestations before giving him his ranking.


    “My boy you…”, she is quiet for a moment then begins once more “...your ranking is a 2”


    “Out of what?” he asked knowing the girl not too long ago had received a 6.


    “Out of twenty”, she says solemnly. “Rankings can grow no matter how low the original ranking is, yet most schools that provide teaching and learning…will not accept this low of a ranking for such a common manifestation…The rarer the manifestation the lower the ranking the schools are willing to accept…” Roy’s heart sunk almost through his body. He was so close to finally scratching that urge for freedom yet he couldn’t quite reach it. It shattered him. He began the tortuous walk back to the shop where his parents are waiting.


    The shop was quiet due to the ceremony that happened so he made his way up the stairs and into the living quarters. His dad sat in his chair eating the stew that his mother had cooked. The meat was local game that was hunted in the forest and some vegetables from the city. His mother saw him enter the room and walked up to him, her face full of excitement.


    “So how did it go?” she questioned waiting to hear a negative response.


    “I have a manifestation. But it''s too low for me to be considered for any schooling…” he responded, his tone full of sadness and feeling dejected.


    “Aww baby it''s alright, you at least know that you have the favor of a god right? Now come on and eat. I made you a bowl of stew.” She hands him a wooden bowl full of the warm food. He goes and sits next to his father.


    “Sorry to hear that your ranking isn''t high enough Roy…” His father said in between bites. “You know…Marie had swung by earlier today and asked for you. She got a decent ranking for her manifestation.” His father continued. Marie was the girl who had received the blessing from the god of travel. Roy’s face darken at the thought that the childhood friend that he had a crush on and had always valued protecting was indeed stronger than him. He finished quickly eating and stormed out the shop, much to his mother’s annoyance. He walked, and walked over to the hill that he and Marie would always sit on while they were kids. The thought of her leaving him behind felt awful. From the hill he could see the village lights shining in the darkening sky. He was too focused on his own thoughts to hear the footsteps behind him until hands covered his eyes,


    “Guess whooooooo?” Marie said, teasing him like she always did. Roy smiled and removed her hands from his face.


    “What are you doing here? Aren''t you supposed to be packing to leave for some big school?” He teased back. He always thought of Marie as a younger sibling, yet as he got older he felt something new towards her.


    “Nope not yet, i still need to be accepted into the school, finish helping dad with the farm and stuff. I still have plenty of time left with you.” She smirked. She had always had feelings for him, ever since they were little. She plopped down next to him as they discussed their future.


    “Roy…come with me” Marie said during a moment of silence between the two. “Come to Ardina with me if I get accepted there.” Roy was stunned.


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    “Like as a housemate or…” before he could finish his sentence Marie laid a kiss on his lips.


    “My boyfriend, silly.” She said smiling. Roy was stunned. The girl that he grew up with and that he now has a crush on wants to date him?


    “YES!” he said, taking her hands in his. “I would love to do that with you Marie.” Roy said, a huge grin on his face. They kissed again, their hearts filled with teen love.


    In the shadows between the buildings of the markets slobbering beasts lied in wait. While many of the townsfolk celebrated for the ceremony an army began marching towards the town. An army of monsters. These monsters were called “Abominations of the Gods” or Aboms for short. These are animals that have had a divine manifestation creating a monster that feasts on the flesh of living creatures. The town couldn’t hear the Aboms approaching the town over the sounds of celebration. The lead Abom, an Ice Bear, leads smaller Aboms towards the fresh meat.


    The passionate moment between Roy and Maire ended when the screams from the village reached them. Fires had erupted as the townspeople were slaughtered without remorse.


    “What''s going on?!” Roy shouted as he heard the screams and saw the fires.


    “Aboms…” Marie said, her voice no louder than a whisper. Roy was instantly standing up about to rush into the town to help when Marie pulled him back.


    “Are you crazy?!” Marie shouted. “We need to leave!”


    “I''m not leaving without my parents Marie!” Roy shouted back. He took a deep breath and looked deep into her eyes. “Get as many people out as you can, away from the fires and toward the city, that way the soldiers from the city will get to them quicker alright?” Roy could see the fear in her eyes but Marie nodded anyway.


    “Alright, I will. Be safe Roy”


    “You too…come on i won’t die before we had our first real date.” He shouted back as he sprinted towards the village.


    He rushed to his house, currently engulfed in flames. He bursted open the door to see his father battling multiple small Aboms using his blacksmithing tools while protecting his unconscious mother. Roy rushed and grabbed a nearby unfinished sword and used surprise to help his father.


    “Roy…I''m glad you are safe. We need to leave, now” Roy helped his unconscious mother up and onto his father’s shoulders. Roy ditched the unfinished sword in favor of a fully made one. They snuck out the backdoor of the shop going towards the hill that Marie and Roy had shared first kisses with not even an hour ago. A couple of soldiers were already there along with a Logistical Mage who had summoned portals to help people get to the city. Right before Roy and his family reached the hill, shouts erupted from the fleeing people. Roy turned and saw the ice bear running after Marie and the Elderly priestess who Marie was helping escape. The bear was closing in on them, and fast. Roy, in that split second of time, felt his legs begin to burn with new energy as he sprinted towards the bear and the two girls. Roy’s father, filled with pride at his son, kept moving to the portals.


    Marie had spent years trying to be perfect. Perfect hair, perfect face, clothes, attitude. Yet there was an imperfect boy she loved more than anything. Yet seeing Roy sprint out of nowhere and stab that bear in the neck with a sword made her fall in love with him all over again. The bear roared as Roy yanked sword out of its stomach and backed away trying to direct the bear’s attention away from Marie and the Priestess. The bear charged at Roy, who now fueled by some new power, could keep pace. He dodged the bear''s swipes and bites while delivering blow after blow to the monster. Finally as Marie got the priestess to the portal and she turned, a well placed strike from Roy rendered the bear lifeless as it collapsed to the ground, dead. With tears in her eyes Marie rushed to Roy, hugging him tightly.


    “You did it! You really did it!” She exclaimed while holding her boyfriend in her arms.


    “Can''t…breathe…” Roy was able to choke out as Marie’s bear hug was suffocating him.


    “Sorry sorry” she said sheepishly, brushing him off.


    “It''s alright, are you okay?” Roy questioned. He looked over Marie’s form making sure that she was uninjured.


    “Yes I’m fine. I''m glad we were able to save some people.” Marie smiled as she spoke. They heard the soldiers calling for them yet couldn’t make out more than their names over the sound of the fires. As Marie held out her hand for him to take, Roy heard the shout of one of the town members.


    “ROY! RUN!”


    Before he could react he sees surprise and pain flare up on Marie’s face as her arm falls to the ground, severed.


    “Awww, am I ruining a cute moment?” The attacker said before delivering a knee to Roy’s gut. He stumbled backwards, the wind knocked out of him. He hears Marie’s scream cut off as the attacker grabs her by the throat. Roy looks up and sees the man. He was tall around, 6 foot 9 inches, around his mouth were sharp mandibles. A scorpion tail arched over his head, the lethal stinger poised for action. The fires of the village reflected off his bald head. His body was covered by chitinous armor, green in color. Roy tried to stand and raise his sword but the man’s tail smacked into his side, shattering his arm and sending him crashing to a fence. Roy saw through blurry vision as the stinger sunk into Marie’s stomach. The man dropped her to the ground. He walked over to Roy’s barely conscious form and knelt in front of him. He grabbed a handful of his blonde hair and pulled him to meet his eyes.


    “You are lucky that the dragons are nearby…I wonder what’s inside that puny body that makes both of them interested in you.” The man lets Roy’s hair go and delivers a sharp kick to his head as the man stands, knocking Roy unconscious.


    The field outside the village was quiet as the fires began to die down, the only sounds were the last burns and the soft gasps of Marie as she tried to cling to life. She tries to look over as she hears boots stamping the soft grass. A cloaked figure approaches her and kneels.


    “The boy, where is he?” A feminine voice said from under the cloak''s hood. Marie could only manage a choked sob. “Fine. Then you’ll have to do for now. I’m your reason for living from now on.” The young woman picked up Marie’s body and disappeared into the night.


    Roy awoke in a soft bed. The calming sunlight filtered through the window. He heard the door open to his room as a towering man walked into the room. His cheery smile widened as he saw Roy’s woke expression.


    “Good morning Roy Einclad, My name is Gale. Welcome to Arinda’s School for Divine Manifestations.”