It's a bright morning in the kingdom of Gardino. Guards marched around the Head House, stomping their boots now and then. Meanwhile, the people of the lower village made their usual cacophony of cajoling merchants, wagons clanking, and grinding stone slabs—a testament to a flourishing kingdom. Masonry houses lined up almost perfectly in different rows on the busy street. Far enough from this chaotic scene, an eighth house stood still as if there were no one inside. Within the walls of this house, a young boy sat quietly on the nightstand near a window, his chin in his palm, gazing at the blue sky. He was rolling a necklace on his finger, twirling it back and forth from left to right once it hit the ends. Each breath was long and loud enough to hear his boredom.
"Saie!" a voice called out from downstairs.
He froze; his head snapped around.
"Saie, where are you, dear!?"
Another yell came from a feminine voice, its tone growing louder as it neared. He looked toward the door. A familiar woman appeared on his doorstep, wearing a scarlet dress adorned with patterned flowers. Her eyes crinkled at the corners as she extended her arms when she saw him, a warmth in her expression.
"Saie!" she cried; though high, her voice was like a gentle melody.
His eyes widened, a grin spreading across his face as he sprang from his seat and rushed towards her, as if he hadn't seen her in years.
"Aunt Gloom!" he joyfully exclaimed.
Saie stood up, his head almost reaching the ends of his aunt's dark hair. He wrapped his hands around her; while taken aback, she hugged her nephew back with a soft "oh," realizing how tall he had become as the years passed.
"I would've never thought," he murmured, hugging her.
It was only when Saie was a baby that he had met Gloom. After she moved out of Gardino, he never really got to know her personally. His father would tell him that Gloom was his favorite of the three siblings he had, and she'd fill her wardrobe with red dresses, which she loved to wear every day without even explaining the reason behind her obsession with red. But unfortunately, this was all Saie knew.
"Oh, Saie, you've grown," Aunt Gloom admired, touching Saie's cheek before wrapping her arms around him again.
"I never thought you'd come, Aunt Gloom."
"Oh, come on now, I haven't seen you in ages!" she laughed, emphasizing how long they'd been apart. "But how did you even recognize me?"
"Dad kept a family portrait of you with your other siblings on the wall, near the dining area."
"Oh, is that so? Well, I missed you so much!"
"Me too, Aunt Gloom. I'm finally seeing you in person."
"Let's go downstairs," she suggested, rubbing his head. "Come meet the others."
"Others?"
Saie didn't realize that anyone had come besides his aunt. Curiosity etched itself on his face before he asked, "Who is it?"
"Come now," Aunt Gloom repeated as she walked away from Saie towards the stairs.
Saie slipped the necklace over his head before following his aunt downstairs. He never thought about who had come as his father's family because they never really showed up—and certainly not his mother's, whom he also hadn't seen or known. He assumed they were his father's friends visiting until he heard a voice calling his name in the kitchen.
"Loy, Saie!" the man shouted.
"Ah, this is your Uncle Nil," Aunt Gloom introduced, looking at him.
"Hi, Uncle Nil!" Saie exclaimed.
"Ahh! You're so big now, huh!" Uncle Nil barked in his hoarse voice.
Uncle Nil was a short, funny man with eyes always slitted and a contagious smile. He often told jokes, laughing at them as if he were hearing them for the first time. Aunt Gloom gave Uncle Nil a quick peck on his lips. Saie's lower lip stretched and his brows twitched—not because of who but where—he realized that Uncle Nil was Aunt Gloom's husband. Outside by the door, where Saie could see a little, a tall man who seemed to be filling a wagon grabbed his attention. He was brawny, with every clenched fist revealing prominent muscles through his sleeves. He had a mustache and a stance that screamed bravery. After two or three parcels, he'd pause, adjusting his shirt and scanning the surroundings to see if anyone was watching him.
"That's your Uncle Dawn," Aunt Gloom whispered behind Saie's ear, her tone confidential.
"Hm… that must be Saie!? Right!?" Uncle Dawn's voice boomed.
Before anyone could respond to him, Saie turned to a recognizable face.
"Morning, Saie!" His father greeted him outside as he walked towards them.
"Morning, Dad!" he replied, smiling.
"I see you've met your Aunt Gloom and Uncle Nil now."
"Oh yes, he's such a grown boy. I was surprised by how big and tall he's gotten now, Pete," Aunt Gloom piped in, "and of course, Dawn," she added, turning to look at the wagon.
Saie felt a weird tension from his father as he faced Uncle Dawn. Pete's smile faded, his eyes fixed on him. He gave a curt nod, but there was no anger on his face. It was only a joyless look, devoid of any warmth or welcome. Unlike Pete, Uncle Dawn's face lit up. He moved forward, ready to embrace him with open arms, while Pete greeted him with hesitation, as if unsure whether to hug his brother. Even upon their first meeting, Saie could already gauge his aunt and uncles' personalities. He suspected his father might not really like Uncle Dawn because of his stance and demeanor—a hint of arrogance.
"Why do you look unpleasant, breet?" Uncle Dawn asked in a facetious tone, as if trying to annoy Pete.
"I'm happy to see you, of course," he feigned, forcing a smile.
To avoid any boasting his brother might throw at him, Pete didn't continue the conversation and calmly walked away towards the altar. Beside the vases of flowers, he grabbed a bucket that Saie presumed to be a paint bucket.
"I'll be back, Saie. I need to attend the place where the ceremony will begin," Pete said. He came closer to Saie at the doorstep and lowered himself to one knee. "Listen, I'll meet you at the Honor. I'm sorry that I won't be able to go with you to the ritual."
"Don't mind your father, Saie. He's just like that when he sees Dawn, but believe me, he loves his brother," Aunt Gloom reassured him. "Now, why don't you step outside and meet your cousins?" she added, tapping the tip of his nose in a silly manner.
"Okay…" he muttered, stepping out.
A flying creature, no bigger than an eagle, gagged out a small ball before spitting it into the air. A small kid wearing leather gloves caught it, then passed it to another boy. That boy threw the ball, aiming near a third boy who wore no gloves. But before it could hit the ground, a floating white hand, strapped in golden lace, caught it mid-air. Only the hand extremities were visible as it moved, as if being controlled by the ungloved boy. He threw the ball back towards the hovering creature. Flapping backward, the creature's wide mouth opened fully, centering itself on the soaring ball, ready to catch it. But the ball was moving too fast. It got stuck in the creature's mouth, choking it while it fell from flight, flapping its wings frantically on the ground. The three boys gasped aloud, ripped off their gloves, and rushed to it immediately to help. The creature grunted as the three boys pounded its back in an effort to dislodge the ball. Suddenly, the ball flew from its mouth, sending it back into the air. This time, it was flying in Saie's direction. For a brief moment, he didn't know whether to catch it or dodge it; he struggled, since the ball was faster than his eyes could follow. In that moment of deliberation, he stood still just as another hand, like the one with the ungloved boy, appeared in front of him to catch the ball. He flinched, eyes closed, covering his face with his arms. A girl chuckled, holding the ball by the white hand. Saie recovered himself. His brows pulled together when he saw the ball smoking—not from heat, but from cold; it looked like a round crystal of ice. He shifted his gaze to the girl's face. She was smiling in amusement at how Saie reacted. Such magic is ordinary in Gardino, but the levitating hand made Saie realize how cool it would be if he were the one controlling it. He felt a pang of envy. He had never seen this person before: blonde hair, smooth skin like silk. Her eyes flashed green as they met Saie's. The creature flew toward them, leaving the three boys behind. She rubbed its rough head.
"You alright?" she asked, chuckling. "This is Goblet."
Saie forced a smile to hide his embarrassment.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for—" he breathed the words out, trying to find what to say next.
"Don't worry about it," she giggled.
"I'm Saie."
"I know who you are, Saie," the girl teased, rolling her eyes.
"You do?" he asked, his tone wondering.
"Ah! I'm just playing with ya," she simpered. "I'm Gaia."
"Nice to meet you, Gaia," Saie replied. "I've never seen you around here before."
"Well…" Gaia drawled. "Do you know that guy?" She pointed at the boy wearing a dirty white collared shirt.
"Yeah," Saie answered boldly, though there was a hint of uncertainty. "Yeah, that's my cousin."
"Oh, alright then. Going back to your question—I just moved here," she said, her lips clenching into a flat smile. "And, uh… that's also my classmate, and Goblet's his pet."
Saie hadn't fully acknowledged the three boys. They were quiet, resuming their play. One ran up to them, asking Saie if he was the "boy." He knew these kids were his cousins—at least he thought so—but he couldn't tell who their parents were. He simply nodded to the boy's question, assuming their parents had already told them they would meet him.
"So, you're new here," spoke Saie.
"Do you wanna show me that place or what?" she nagged, raising her brows.
"I mean…" Saie confusedly uttered.
she scanned the nearby area, turning her head in a full circle, "Why don't we start right over…there!" she pointed at the beverage shop.
"If you fancy so—" he responded, though his voice said otherwise.
The two went to the nearby beverage shop. Saie never went to buy anything here, nor did he want to get close to it. One time, as he was walking home, he saw a man juicing a dead bird's head, lifting it upside down. A faded orange liquid drooled from its beak while its tongue hung out of the glass; it had haunted him since then. Nevertheless, he still headed there with the girl. Gaia, whom Saie didn't think was his cousin and seemed to be good-natured, grabbed a menu on the counter and searched for something to buy.
"Let's see…" Gaia said, moving her finger over each item on the menu.
an old man spoke in a hoarse voice, stumbling over his words. "W-wha what can I g-get y-you."
Saie's eyes dilated, staring at the old man whose apron was covered in stains of varying faded colors. Was it blood? Mucus? Bodily fluids? Who knows? His face crumbled in slight disgust.
"I think we'll have… this," Gaia replied, pointing at a drink as she turned to the old man.
"O-okay… it'll b-be ready in a f-few minutes."
"Take your time," she said with her usual smile.
Before the old man left, he took a moment, squinting his eyes at Gaia. "Y-you have a-a beautiful smile eh—"
The compliment made Saie feel odd; he kept shifting his eyes from the man to Gaia to see if she would respond uncomfortably, but with her nature, it would take a million unfortunates to make her stop smiling.
"You sure you wanna buy a drink here?" his face puffed in uncertainty.
"Why not?" she said with an upbeat tone.
Saie didn't answer as he leaned backward on his stool.
"I promise you, you're going to like it. I never thought they sold it here; it's not a very popular drink."
"Yeah?"
After a few minutes, the old man came back from the kitchen, walking inch by inch in small steps. He was holding a glass, his hands soaked and dirty like his apron.
"H-here's your d-drink…" he said as he removed his hands, leaving wet fingerprints on the glass.
"Finally!" Gaia cheered. She took the glass and presented it to Saie, who hid his face in distaste.
"This is Antiqueroice."
"Antique what—?"
"Have you never tried this before?"
"Oum… well, I don't really drink… I mean… water?" Saie lifted his side lip, not knowing how to answer.
"Ah, forget it. Here, try it," Gaia extended the drink near him.
The drink was a swirling, iridescent blue contained in a clear glass. A faint, rotten egg scent wafted from it, and tiny sparks danced within the liquid while bubbles popped. Saie's curiosity warred with deep-seated unease. His cheeks puffed slightly and his eyes narrowed, the corners crinkling in a way that wasn't quite a smile. Gaia was smiling, interested. She was excited to give it to Saie.
"Try it, Saie," she encouraged, eagerness in her voice.
Saie hesitated; his gaze clung to the glass in Gaia's hand. But he felt he shouldn't resist the offer, especially from an interesting girl he had just met; he also wanted to impress her. After a brief second, he slowly took the glass. His hands weren't trembling, but his jaw tightened with forceful bravado. It's not gonna kill me. Saie chugged the drink as fast as he could, eyes concentrated on the ceiling. As the glass tilted, the sulfurous scent became overwhelming—the burning smell ran through the back of his nose. The liquid seeped from the corners of his mouth, and his throat felt like waves. Saie could only close his eyes. Halfway through, he slowed down, and a feeling of calm and composure lingered in his body. A relaxing sensation washed over him. The beverage seemed to change Saie's mood; he felt more pleasant than anxious. Steadily, he put the empty glass on the table.
"Wha, what—" he stuttered.
"So, what do you think? Does it taste good?" Gaia joyfully asked.
"It didn't, but I feel—it felt good," Saie said, looking at her.
She laughed as if she'd just played a prank.
"It makes you calm, so drink it whenever you're nervous or anxious," she explained.
He couldn't imagine that such a drink would actually make your worries puff out. "Wow, that's cool," he said flatly, still unable to get over it.
Shortly after, Uncle Dawn called Saie from the doorstep. He was carrying a parcel on his shoulder, wrapped in smooth, plain brown paper. He lifted it from his shoulder and gave it to Saie. After a few moments, Aunt Gloom came out wearing a different red dress. She was covered in gold: a golden necklace torqued in sculpted leaves, another long golden necklace on her chest, and golden bracelets on both arms. She looked bright. Rubbing his arms, Saie felt a brush of gloom; his dad wasn't with him. This was a trip to the traditional ceremony, where his father should be with him to soothe him with advice. Pete would often encourage Saie with positive words whenever Saie engaged in something new; unfortunately, not this time. Gloom tossed a pair of white clothes at Dawn and told him to put them on, along with the golden jewelry. Saie turned to the parcel in his hand.
"Saie dear, why don't you open that box?" Aunt Gloom suggested, her face flashing with a smile.
"What's in it, Aunt Gloom?" Saie asked.
"Well, you have to open it to find out, dear," she said while she loaded a bloom bundle on the wagon.
Without asking any more questions, Saie set the box on top of the parcels, ripped the paper covering it, and opened it. Inside were a golden necklace and bracelets that looked similar to Uncle Dawn's, along with a thin, sheer white robe. A sudden rush of excitement hit Saie as he grabbed the box and sprinted upstairs to try it on. He took the white cloth out of the box. Under the robe were a white sheer shirt and brown pants. The white shirt was soft against his skin, while the pants were a little wide and swayed as he walked. He looked at himself in the mirror, staring at the robe and the shirt that he could see through. Saie had never worn anything "appropriate" other than his wrinkled, sleeveless shirts and black pants. His mind was full of bliss. He removed the robe to take off the necklace he was already wearing, placed it on the nightstand, put the robe back on, then slipped the new necklace and bracelets on. The new necklace weighed down Saie's neck, but it looked good on his chest. The bracelets fit perfectly on his smooth skin. Of course, he didn't forget the necklace he'd removed; he put it back on before going downstairs.
"Ah, you're done," Aunt Gloom spoke.
"Yes, Aunt Gloom, but how do I look?" Saie asked curiously.
"You look handsome, Saie, but not as attractive as me, of course," Uncle Dawn teased.
"Oh, honey, you look amazing as always!" Aunt Gloom added. "Let's wait here for a moment. I'm sure it'll arrive any time now."
"What is it?"
Before Gloom could answer, an abrupt, guttural rumble shook the wagon. The clouds above began to swirl, converging like water draining from a sink. From the vortex's center, a cube-like structure of weathered cobblestone descended, dragging the swirling clouds into a single mass. Four chains appeared, extending to tether the corners of the structure. The cobblestone transport gave a heavy thud when it landed, sending a loud tremor through the ground. Saie felt the shake ripple from his boots to his body—a spine-tingling resonance. This transportation could not be found in Gardino; it wasn't just unusual, but something he had never seen before. Saie brushed his hands over the rough, bumpy surface and noticed the carved lines of bricks. The hefty stone door opened, making a grinding sound as it slid to the side. Saie's three cousins went inside first. His Uncle Dawn followed, pushing the wagon filled with parcels. Aunt Gloom was waiting for Uncle Nil to finish dressing up; he seemed to have fallen asleep sipping his coffee in the kitchen.
"You go first, Saie. Your Uncle Nil seems to be taking his time," said Aunt Gloom. "Nil! When will you finish!?" she screamed.
Saie turned around; Gaia was behind him, calling his name. She walked towards Saie, smiling. She reached into her pocket and took out a small compass.
"Here, take this," Gaia said, extending her hand.
"What's this?" Saie asked.
"It's a small compass. Take it as a gift for your becoming. It's the only thing I can give you, but it's worth it, you know," she replied.
Saie took it, rubbing the silver surface with his thumb.
"Thanks, Gaia," he said gratefully.
Uncle Nil finally came out, fixing his necktie. He was wearing completely different attire—a black morning suit, his body silhouetted by the tight fit, with a black hat on his head. Only blood-related people were allowed to wear the white, sheer clothes for the Driven family's traditional practice. Aunt Gloom scuttled to a white flower by the window to pluck it, then slid it into Uncle Nil's chest pocket.
"Go on now, Saie," said Aunt Gloom.
Saie went inside the transport, looking back at Gaia as he gripped the compass. Aunt Gloom and Uncle Nil followed. The stone door shut itself with a grinding sound. Saie stared out the open window as the transport lifted in a smooth, ascending arc. It took some time to reach the peak, high enough that he couldn't see the landscape of Gardino clearly. Red-roofed houses were clustered below, and a large pond shimmered quietly. Trees whose leaves were spring green swayed with the breeze. As they approached, the Head House loomed into view—an opus of intricacy and sophistication with blinding golden accents. It was a castle fit for deities, the heart of Gardino.
Midday had arrived before they finally left the kingdom. His aunt and uncles were busy with last-minute affairs, while the three boys entertained each other with stories about magic school. Saie watched them like a ghost, wondering about his father. What could Dad be doing right now? He clenched the compass in his palm, flipping the silver cover. The arrow was shaking, stubbornly pointing north. Without anyone to talk to, he walked to the other side of the window. Leaning out, he felt the cold breeze caressing his skin.
He savored the moment, closing his eyes as his hair undulated through the air. When he opened them again, a landscape of grassless land and mud-cake mountains filled his view. The transport began to slow down as it neared the island. Saie followed his family out. The soil crunched softly beneath his boots. A row of steles in varying sizes stood upright, facing the endless sea. Inscribed on each slab were names ending in "Driven." He caught sight of a familiar name: Pete. His father's stele sat at the very end of the row, and beside it was a freshly dug hole.
"You see that, Saie?" Uncle Nil said from behind him. "That's where you're going to continue the tradition, like every Driven before you."
"What's the hole for?" asked Saie, frowning.
Nil grinned, a flash of something unsettling in his eyes. "For burying a dead animal, of course!" He cackled, then added: "Just kidding, kiddo. That's where you'll bury something special."
"Something special?" Saie asked, his frown deepening.
"Yes, Saie," Uncle Dawn chimed in. "You will have to bury something you cherish."
Uncle Nil snorted. "Then looks like Saie has to bury his father!" He choked on his laughter.
Saie managed a weak smile, trying to shrug off the unease. He was more curious than offended. When Uncle Nil's laugh fell silent, he cleared his throat—he had realized it was not a good joke.
"Easy, Nil," Uncle Dawn chided. "An object—you have to bury an object that's very near to your heart," he added.
"A Buroline tradition of the Drivens, my boy," said Uncle Nil.
The Buroline tradition had been their practice for generations. The family would go to the Mudland, where the ritual takes place, then bury an object next to another Driven's slab. As they began the tradition, Aunt Gloom and the others formed a semicircle, leaving Saie at the center. He stood quietly, focused, waiting for any signal; no one had told him how the ritual worked.
Seconds passed; Aunt Gloom started chanting, a low whisper that resonated in the thin air. The others followed her: "Nusnia yanda ra, Rita grand Saie sug boyline, nusnia yanda ra, love takin hol yolan, nusnia yanda ra, yan vil non vil duway, nusnia yanda ra, katicklo mismo." With every repetition, their voices grew louder. Saie stood still, feeling a sudden weight on his chest. His palms were sweating. As the chanting rose, an ethereal glowing light seeped out of the ground: a strand of luminous hair, coiling toward the pit's mouth like a ghostly serpent. Saie knew it was a sign he had to offer something. But what could he possibly bury? He laid his hand on his chest—his heart was pounding frantically. Pressing the hard, silver surface of the necklace for the last time, his mind was flooded with doubt. However, a sense of obligation—a pull toward tradition—took hold. Saie unclasped the necklace, held it in his palm, and lowered his head. He knelt on the yielding soil and carefully placed the necklace alongside the glowing light. The chanting continued to vibrate in the air. The dirt around the hole shifted, covering the necklace. The luminous hair seemed to dig its way free, slithering over the slab and inscribing a familiar name: Saie Driven, with AD-1989 beneath it, before fading like a dying candle. Aunt Gloom ceased chanting; the others also paused. Saie squeezed his eyes shut and let out a long sigh—ambivalence washed over him. The uneasiness and pounding in his chest finally drained away.
"How are you feeling, Saie?" Aunt Gloom asked in a conciliatory note.
"You're finally part of the Buroline, my boy!" Uncle Nil added ebulliently.
"I'm fine, Aunt Gloom, but now the necklace is gone…" sighed Saie.
"Oh… the necklace," said Uncle Nil.
"I was right—I had a feeling you'd choose it. I noticed you wearing it since we were at the house," Uncle Dawn noted, his brow arched.
Aunt Gloom interrupted: "Enough, you two. Dawn, why don't you start placing those parcels beside the steles?" she then turned to Saie. "I'm so proud of you. But why the necklace, Saie, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Well… my father said my mom gave it to me when I was a kid, before she passed," he said gloomily.
"Don't be sad on us now, dear—that's the whole point of this thing, right? Getting used to saying goodbye," Aunt Gloom added, encircling him in a hug.
Before they left, Saie took a moment to walk among the steles. Slowly moving between them, his eyes wistful, he still carried the memory of the necklace. The rough stones felt cool beneath his fingertips. Far from his slab, near an eroded mud-mountain, stood an old stele—crawling with cracks and covered in dark green algae, framing an unfamiliar name: Sorchid Driven.
"Ah, Sorchid the First," Uncle Nil spoke. "She's the first Driven, Saie."
Beside her, another slab was inscribed: Fillion Cortri.
"And that one is her husband."
"Fillion Cortri—why isn't his name Driven?"
"Ah… I knew you'd ask that," he paused, his lip pursed. "Well… I'm not a pure Driven, Saie, so I don't really know," he joked with a short laugh.
Saie could only roll his eyes at his uncle's unseriousness. "Is that so…"
"Oh… sorry, sorry. But I do believe that no one in your family who's alive knows that—it's best to ask your father," Nil said as he clasped Saie's shoulder, leading him back to the transport.
The breeze was growing colder. When the sun drifted across the blue sky and hid at the edge of the sea, they set off for the final ceremony. Pete was up to his neck in preparations. He carefully painted an image of Guardicts on the Honor stone: the central figure was a knight in white armor, its face hidden behind an ocularium with a golden sphere. Then, he scattered petals of Willflower—which glimmer at night—along the Light path, creating a shimmering trail for Saie to follow. Amid all of this, Pete couldn't shake the growing joy in his heart.
When the last amber rays sank below the horizon, a hush fell over the Honor. The painted kneeling Guardicts turned into luminescent images, and a wave of white robes appeared in thin air beside the Light path—the Whiteecons had arrived. They stood on the petals like celestial beings. A few minutes later, the transport carrying Saie arrived. Pete's lips parted, and a smile slowly spread across his face. Above, Saie saw the ethereal scene his father had created—something he had never seen before. The Whiteecons watched him as their robes swayed; on their backs, the three Honor stones loomed like giants. Saie's cheeks lifted in a faint smile—he could finally let go of his flustered feelings.
"Oh, Saie… look how beautiful that is," Aunt Gloom whispered.
As soon as the transport landed, Pete went straight to the stone door to assist Saie.
"Dad!" Saie exclaimed.
"Oh, my Saie…" Pete's voice was full of joy as he pulled his son into a tight embrace. "How'd the Buroline go?"
"Um… it went well," but Saie's voice dipped slightly.
He didn't mention what he had buried, but Pete noticed the necklace was no longer around his neck. He wanted to talk more about it, but they were in the middle of Saie's Unfecuous ceremony. He pushed the thought aside, ruffling Saie's hair.
"Did you make this, Dad?"
"Yes, but some of my friends helped me, of course. Do you like it?"
"I love it!" Saie chimed.
"Hahaha—I'm glad you loved it," said Pete, grinning. "Are you excited?"
"I'm feeling a little nervous, but it's just like what happened in the Buroline."
"Ah—I assumed you'd be nervous, but you got through that, didn't you? There's no reason to be nervous now," he advised.
"I guess so… but you're here now, so it's okay," Saie said, smiling.
Pete clasped Saie's shoulder as he led him across the Light path. Halfway through their walk, the Whiteecons began to glow blindingly bright. Their white robes flashed neon white. They levitated off the ground and angled their arms toward each other. The petals slowly lifted, circling their bodies before falling in a shower above Pete and Saie's heads. At the end of the Light path, they stopped, facing the Honor stone. Pete reached for the nearby bucket of paint, stirred it with a brush, then took Saie's hands and covered them with golden pearl paint.
"Now, son—carefully place both of your hands on the surface, and wait till the Guardict lights up," he instructed.
After placing his hands on the stone, the central Guardict lit up with brilliant light. Fascination shone in Saie's eyes as he stepped back—his handprints glowed behind him, a sign of a successful Unfecuous. Saie lowered his head, and his fingernails suddenly glistened, turning ivory-gold. Everyone there cheered loudly as they saw that Saie had finally gained his long-awaited potential.
"I'm so proud of you, my son," Pete said, his eyes crinkling.
"Thanks, Dad. I'm finally Unfecuous!" Saie responded exuberantly.