“During the beginning of the parade, the crowd that was cheering for us had suddenly started to screamed and everything went chaotic. We were then attacked from both sides of the canals. Afterwards, a man came out in front of us and then proclaimed that he was the First Son of Eoum...”

The Ubersmench started to give his testimony as the rest of us had already previously given ours. All of our testimonies were more or less the same so it was only for the matter of formality.

After Ubersmench had finished his testimony, the light grey colour recording tablet’s glow died down and the head-priest bowed his head and stepped back further from us.

The inheritors were silent.

Then-

“Well, we have already concluded about most of the actions we will take. Still, Horatius and Ruigne, please step a little bit forward...” said Tomas as he looked at both of us with a friendly smile.

Both Horatius and I stepped forward that and the Inheritors all gathered in front of us.

Then they all knelt down on their left knee’s.

“Both of you are to be commended for playing a vital role in the defence and rescue of the hostages.”

The one who had said that was Tiphaniae; who at the moment, looked angelic and graceful as though all the traces of her mischievous and playfulness had never existed.

I still remembered all the things she said to me about my memory losses, but I kept my scepticism to myself for the time being. Adding verbal accusations right now wouldn’t incite help my situation but would only further exhausted my fellow summoned and would only further tire them and also we might receive a change in treatment. Our fate is still in their hands after all.

“Horatius, we commended you for leading the other summoned in subduing and defeating the Traevac Mal’eur. It is no easy task as you would need more than 20 Warriors just to take down one. Thus, accept this feather of Akkashiq, gifted for those who had taken a great risk to save others and may you wear this proudly on every battle.”

Tiphaniae took a multi-coloured feather that was held out by the Head-priest who had appeared at her left side.

She took the feather and offered it to Horatius. Ubersmensch took it reverently and stepped back slowly.

“Ruigne, most of the summoned spoke of you that had commanded and gave roles to each and every one. You had rallied the summoned into actions and crafted a plan in saving the hostages and as such we bestow to you this feather of Harakav, gifted to those who shows the sign of extraordinary leadership. You may wear this proudly at every battle.”

Well, it was almost everyone but that’s fine.

I stepped forward as a glass-like feather was held out in front of me. I took it as gently as I could. I could actually feel faint, comforting warmth being emanated from the feather.

“You all should take some rest. You had a rough day. Tonight, we will bequeath a feast for your first battle and victory!” Sir Drafgnai announced with a gregarious tone.

“Dress in your best cloth for tonight, alright? Perhaps one of you will get lucky.” Lady Thurieol lightly said.

After seeing her in battle mode, I was truly terrified of her.

“Oh, we have to dress our best too! Wait, tell everyone that is attending to dress in their best!”

Sir Thomas cast off his serious mode and became jovial as he smiled to himself.

Tiphaniae seeing that her fellow Inheritors was already speaking casually, turned towards us… “You all may go now but… Aeriasus, would you mind if you stayed behind a moment?”

Aeriasus was in a thought and she nodded to her sister.

Thomas then looked at both Horatius and I as he was in a midst of remembering something.

“Wait a moment… Horatius and Ruigne haves to go to the summoning hall to receive the Blessing of Acknowledgement, so that their feather would truly belong to them.”

Sir Drafgnai at his side, nodded.

“Right, right. Then Ghaez, please lead these two to the summoning hall.”

Upon receiving the instruction from Sir Drafgnai, Ghaez bowed and walked towards us.

“The rest of you may go back and enjoy the rest of your day tomorrow.”

Watching the timer, twelve dots had lit.

“Honoured summoned, please follow me after this.”, the Head-priest courteously asked us.

--

I remembered this flower field. It was one of the first places we had passed by when we were summoned to this world.

It was still day-time so I could see the blooming and colourful flowers at their fullest. What was currently in front of us was the building containing the summoning hall.

“Ruigne, thanks for leading them all to safety. It’s good to know that someone competent had taken charge. Okay… that sounded like sarcasm…”

Ubersmench chuckled to himself pitifully.

“You were the first one who actually initiated us to take action.”

“That’s true but I only voiced out my and the others around us our sentiments. I or rather most of us didn’t find a solution in doing so unlike you. I guess I’m a little envious that you quickly thought of the solutions.” said Ubersmench as he turned his face towards me with a sheepish smile.

Oh ye gods, I really hope he doesn’t swing that way…

“Well, yeah I supposed so, but you sound quite self-depreciating right now. Cheer up man, you did your part and so did everyone else. In fact, both of us shouldn’t even deserve these feathers because we were only doing what is expected of us.”

“I actually agree with you, but we can’t denied them right?”

“Well, it is rude to do that so I guess we’ll just go with the flow then.”

We both nodded.

“But I think you’re the only one who really should receive that kind of a feather. Everyone that had battled with that dead tree had also received the same feather as I did so technically, you’re a cut above the rest of us, Ruigne.”

Those words coming from the Ubersmench had no malice in them but it was like he was trying to say that amongst all the kids, I got a candy personally made just for me.

“Oh ye gods, you got some serious slips of tongue, man. Filter them.”

“An honest man says what he needs to say.”

We both chuckled.

We reached at the entrance of the summoning hall and were ushered inside.

Ah, the memories of being dumbfounded and standing there butt naked; I remembered the turmoil in my heart and the chaos in my mind. Those were fond memories indeed although only six days had passed.

And then we were lead further inside…

Huh, we passed by an intricate summoning circle and went deeper into the hall.

Since I was too preoccupied with the thought of as to why I was suddenly there without any explanation and simultaneously having my usually existential dread that had permeated my entire being at that time, I didn’t realized that the hall had extended this far.

We then entered into a shrine of sorts. There was an altar in front of us that had an upright pole totem covered in countless plumage of rainbow colours.

The head-priest walked in front of the altar and then knelt down on his right knee.

After several minutes, the head-priest got up and beckoned us to get closer.

“Please kneel on one knee and placed the gifted feather near or over your heart.”

We did so and like in a silent prayer, we closed our eyes and place the gifted feather’s near our hearts.

There was something tingling inside of me like the beating of another heart.

“Don’t remove them until it suffuses into you, then please wait for my instruction.” the head-priest said.

After several minutes, the tingling had faded but it felt like there was a sense of renewal inside of me.

“It is done. The Planet-Spirit has acknowledged your achievement.”

We got up and looking at the feather, I felt nothing physical was different, but I did feel a pang of closeness as though it was part of me now.

--

There was nothing much to do in the afternoon as everyone was busy resting or preparing for the banquet tonight, although we still have a combat training session later.

“Ruigne, are you feeling alright?...” Erganisu, who was scribbling in his log book, asked me without looking.

“Yeah, I truly am. You have asked me that five times already.” I replied.

“… I am quite concerned. Anaemia is a known disease in my world too. Fatal or non-fatal, a disease is still a disease. Also who knows what else you have aside from Anaemia?”

continued Erganisu.

…

Now I’m being treated like a hypochondriac..??

“Fine, I get your point. I’m fine right now.” I finally said.

After I had conceded to his point, Erganisu grunted and continued scribbling his log book.

He’s probably gonna ask again later … so I’ll just lie neatly on my bed until he does.

Two hours had passed and after being asked several more times, it was time for combat training.

“It’s quite understandable if you want to stay here and rest some more. They would understand considering your disease.” Erganisu cautioned me.

I sighed and then got up.

“I can stand up and do any physical activities just fine although not for long but at the rate of the way you’re treating me, like I’m an invalid, I’m better off doing nothing for the rest of my life.” I replied to Erganisu with a straight face.

“… I apologized. I see my error in the way I am treating you. Then let’s go then.”

--

There was this novelty of familiarity on this ground where we had our training.

It was just this morning, but I do so sincerely miss this sensation.

“You can take all the time you want lying there.” said Vefal who had soundly beaten down my ass without breaking a sweat.

“I’ll take you up your offer.” I replied.

She sat down beside me as we watched the others sparring and said: “Are you excited about tonight?”

I replied to her saying: “I supposed so. Everyone needs a moment of respite after what happened this morning.”

“Huh, I hope the foods will be taste something like the first time we ate here.” She commented back to me.

I remembered the succulent and enticing aroma of the foods at that time. Perhaps in two years, I can cook something as good like then.

Amidst all this, I have a feeling that all of us were forgetting something…