The Mystic's assistants collected the parchments. They placed them on the altar, in sequence, at key points. The names were passed onto the parchment as we held it close to our chests. As soon as all the parchments touched the altar, a beam of light appeared on the altar's crystal and went to each parchment separately.
The Mystic opened the parchments and proclaimed the names. Then it was time to say mine.
"For the thirteenth child of the Eras… it is…" The Mystic turned and looked at me silently for a moment, as if he knew something he wasn't telling me. His gaze seemed to pierce my thoughts.
"It is... it is... Pro-Prometheus, Prometheus Eras…"
The Mystic looked at me and smiled enigmatically. "Prometheus…" he repeated, this time in a whisper. "The name is only the beginning. The flame given to you… can illuminate or destroy. Be careful."
My heart stopped for a moment. "Prometheus?" Not Aether? The word echoed in my mind. It was like a fire smoldering inside me, releasing both awe and fear.
(Meanwhile, the Mystic thought: "W-what is this… why is his aura like this? He frightens me quite a bit… We must check what his parchment says in a second phase…")
We began to leave the Sacred Altar. The Mystic wouldn't take his eyes off me as I descended, but I don't know why—I was smiling like an idiot! I expected him to call me Aether, but he didn't. The crowd started cheering with joy, and the music began!
My father looked at me, but his smile was strange—a mix of pride and hesitation. "Prometheus…" he said slowly. "A strong name. A fate even stronger."
My father specifically said, "I don't know what they say, but I'll continue to call you Aether. It's nice, right, Lux?" My mother, on the other hand, reassured me: "You don't need to worry! Prometheus is nice too! And we can call you Promis—it's beautiful."
The Mystic approached us, ready to deliver the oracles—how our destiny would unfold.
"Young Prometheus," the Mystic said with an authoritative tone, "from now on, make sure to give your light to those around you, even if you have to go through a thousand hardships or even if you have to go to the ends of this world… You will get involved in many things, but do not let the fire be extinguished. You will see many wars, you will participate in them, you will be involved in games of thrones."
He looked at me quite aggressively. "I don't know what's happening, but the parchment seems to be fading. I cannot continue to read… I don't know what happened to you on the altar... If you know and want to say something, speak up."
My eyes had widened because that old man set me up for a firing squad! My parents looked at me with wonder and fear. The girls, however, simply hugged me and smiled with excitement. Hitomi received an oracle to develop technologies, while Galaxia was instructed to learn how to safeguard knowledge.
As we laughed and danced, I saw my father say goodbye and leave quickly in an army vehicle—quite panicked.
Later, I decided to sit down near the tree stump bench where the adults were. My mother looked at me, smiling with happiness, and said:
"Look, you have to go to the Academy that both your father and I attended. For four hours a day, you will learn more about healing through energy, to understand what energy is, to feel it, to love it, and to see how everything is energy... And after your studies, for the next four hours, you will work here at the Clinic, in the department with minor cases or resident visits... so that you can gain experience gradually."
"Ohhh!" I exclaimed with childish surprise. "I'm only seven years old—it's not fair! Child labor is not right!!!"
She laughed heartily. "Hmm, yes???? Are you forgetting that we High Humans and Half-Elves are biologically strange beings? We mature faster in mind and body, and you'll soon look more like a young man. It's sad when you think that you see so much, but you can't do anything... You will find your inner strength to move forward, with a smile, and continue to give your flame."
I stood up, full of confidence: "Aaaah!! I understand! I'm starting immediately!!! I must improve things! Right?!"
Just as I took a step toward the girls, I felt a hand on my head. The hand was the Mystic's!
"Hoo hoo hoo, my little one!" he chuckled. "You will see that it is your destiny! Destiny won't change just like that… You will have to choose from a vast range of different things: who you will follow spiritually, what arts you want to learn, what books you will read... What-How-Why, you will find out along the way..."
"Understood, I see," I said. "I'll do my best, but something tells me this won't be easy, right? I mean, for seven years I'll be in the Academy – working? Is that what you mean?"
The Mystic simply shook his head. "Not exactly. That is another matter. The clothes, the therapies, the items, the filters, and the physical training... You will learn about the deities, about the pets. I might be forgetting something, I don't know! Haha, maybe it's my age!"
I looked at him with a blank stare and whispered, "Or the fact that you're blind???"
He immediately opened his left eye. "What I was referring to before, you will see it in the course of your life… And it will happen, whether you want it or not."
My exhale was one of relief. I headed toward the fun.
Meanwhile, the Mystic turned to Lux. "Tell me, Lux, you see for yourself that the little one is excessively hyperactive, right? Where did your husband go anyway?"
Lux said, nervously clutching her dress, "Yes, unfortunately, he had to leave again. I hope everything goes well! But the Nine Nations have no intention of stopping…"
The Mystic sighed. "Ahhh, I understand you! Do you know how many... how many children we have given names to, and how many of them are orphans? Forget it... We must check how to keep our valley safe, clean, and out of trouble! The Metropolis Aithercryst, along with its surroundings, has a total population of only eleven million. We can't compare ourselves to the high walls that have a million ready-for-war population in their capital city alone! It's sheer chaos!… Let's… keep the present, and let's prepare for tomorrow... tomorrow! Eh, Lux?"
The Mystic stood up. "It was nice talking to you, little Lux. I'm going to talk to the other families too! Have a good evening, and be careful with the little Phoenix!"
Lux laughed. "Little? I'm only nine thousand years old. Yes, I'll keep that in mind! Good luck then! Good evening!"