Chapter 4 - 04 Ceremonial.
Jin sat inside the carriage, which rocked gently as it glided on the road. The bright light of the sun cast a soft glow inside the red interior. A faint smell of aged wood and the flowery scent of his mother's perfume filled the small space, making his head dizzy.
Outside from the glass window, Jin saw the unfamiliar town filled with a crowd curious about the carriage that appeared from the lord's mansion and was heading toward the East.
Ryan and Marina sat opposite Jin, flirting as if the world were centered around them. Jin kept glancing outside because he had had enough of the scene. Another reason was that this was his first time leaving his house.
The purpose of today's outing was to go to the temple in the East district of his father's territory. Today is a memorable day for Jin because he will undergo a coming-of-age ceremony to awaken his dormant potential or talent.
This ceremony should be conducted when someone reaches the age of five. This also applies to commoners; there is no distinctive difference between them. The only difference is that a noble could take the ceremony in a private way, but a commoner must undergo it with the other kid beside them. Their talent would be written in the temple's record, and depending on their talent, they would be sent to a sector that suited their talents.
"Jin?". Marina, who noticed Jin kept looking outside, cast a saddened sigh.
She abruptly stood up and began to sit beside the kid, prompting him to turn his head to her. Seeing his son's face, which radiated with innocence and intellect, Marina held herself in, trying to hug her son.
Instead, she pats Jin's head tenderly as if handling something brittle that could crack if she put too much force.
"Look, I'm sorry about last night, okay".
"Huh?".
Oblivious to his mother's concern, Jin tilted his head to the side and wondered what was happening with the heavy atmosphere around him. He began to rack his brain when he caught his mother's words of 'last night'. Jin nods in understanding. 'I see, so about that'.