Nicole found herself yanked into her family's mysterious cloister and dropped to her knees, totally bewildered. There was a throbbing pain in her head, and the day's events were blurry. She couldn't remember who dragged her here or what happened before that. Seriously, why was she here? She'd never set foot in this place before. Every time she'd asked about it, the family would just shake their heads and say it wasn't the right time yet. So why was today the day?
As she scanned the dimly lit room, she spotted her cousins all lined up in two rows, their expressions blank, like they were waiting for the big reveal or something. It was super eerie. What on earth was happening?
Just then, her grandmother Rhea stepped out of the shadows. Nicole hadn't even noticed her until now, which made sense—Rhea had always had a knack for creeping up on people, and her footwork was ridiculously light. The tension in the air was palpable, and Nicole could feel her heart racing. What was coming next?
" Nicole Elara Tundera", Rhea's voice boomed, "Swear your loyalty to Cloud Ghazar Zenith; accept your fate as his paladin." Nicole was shocked. What was she saying?
She was only thirteen; she didn't have to become a paladin until she was at least sixteen and even with that, it was her choice. Why was she being forced to take it on now? It was only then that she realised that Cloud was in the room too, standing behind her grandmother.
His face was tear-streaked, why was he crying as though he'd done something bad? And why was he looking at her hands?
They felt moist and sticky for some reason. When did they even get wet?
She finally looked at them, they were blood-stained.
Oh, so that's why. She thought to herself. The memories of the day flooded back into her head, she felt dizzy. The lake and the stranger, and Cloud. Nicole refused to accept this; she technically didn't do anything wrong, and it was an accident. But it didn't matter; the deed was done, and there were consequences. She'd made it her life's goal to avoid all circumstances that could lead to becoming a paladin and yet here she was at her initiation ritual, years before the actual time.
How could she have been so stupid?
She looked up at her grandmother. Though her face was expressionless, Rhea's eyes seemed to say This is the only way to protect you.
Rhea had never wanted this for Nicole. Becoming a paladin had a way of binding a person to their duties. The weight of that responsibility could sometimes feel too heavy to bear. As someone who had shouldered that burden her entire life, she could attest to its gravity.
She didn't want her beloved granddaughter to endure the same fate, but at this point, there was nothing she could do to change it. Nicole sensed her grandmother's worry.
Pulling up her sleeve to expose her shoulder, Nicole looked Rhea in the eye and said solemnly, "The burden is mine to carry."
Rhea nodded in understanding. She walked over to the furnace in the corner, which dimly lit the room, and retrieved a branding iron engraved with the Tundera crest: a phoenix, symbolizing eternal guardianship.
Rhea walked slowly back to her granddaughter; each step was reluctant, as though trying to delay the inevitable. When she reached Nicole, she gently rubbed her thumb across Nicole's cheek and whispered, "I am sorry."
Nicole was tough; she'd trained Nicole herself, although, at the time, it was more for fun than duty. She could handle being a paladin. Still, Rhea felt a gnawing worry. Taking a deep breath, she gripped Nicole's arm, her voice steady. "This will hurt a bit."
As the iron touched Nicole's skin, a piercing scream escaped her, echoing through the silence around them. It was a raw, primal sound—a mix of pain and fierce resolve—that sent chills down Rhea's spine. Some rites of passage couldn't be avoided.