Summoning Ceremony

Jordan was excited for his summoning ceremony as this would be the day everything changes for his family. The summoning ceremony was held once a year and only those at the age of 18 could partake in the ceremony although it was not mandatory, once the ceremony was missed it could never be taken again.

Fortunately, the ceremony was held on the 235th day of every calendar year so those who turned 18 after the ceremony would still be able to catch the following year's ceremony before they turned 19.

The reason was unknown and under research for many decades however, a conclusion has yet to be validated as to why the ceremony only affected those that were 18yrs of age. No younger and no older.

The ceremony was also only capable of being conducted on the 235th day of every calendar year because it was said that it was the only time that the waking world and the spiritual world overlapped and interacted with each other to some extent.

The summoning ceremony was less a ceremony but more of a ritual that had to be performed to communicate with the spirit realm for a person to sign a contract with a spirit that would become their lifelong companion and bestow unique abilities upon them.

It was unknown why the spirits refused persons under and above 18yrs old.

As Jordan neared the village he could see a lot of movement as the streets were crowded and packed. Everyone wanted to spectate the event and see what cool spirits those participating would summon.

Jordan arrived at the center of the village just in time as the others that would be taking part in the ceremony had only just begun to line up around the crystal ball that was placed in the center of the village for this most auspicious event.

The sun had risen to its peak and it was finally time for the event to commence.

Jordan had watched many years as this ceremony was conducted and although he knew what would happen he was still captivated by the process. He had stars shining in his eyes as the first person went up to the crystal ball with a knife blade made of pure adamantine with archaic symbols and characters along its edge.

The young man stabbed the knife through the palm of his hand until it came out the back, biting his lips from the pain he pulled the blade out and placed his bloodied hand on the crystal ball as he chanted the incantation, they were all taught two weeks before to invoke the summoning process "Spirits of the mist, spirits of the wild, hear my plight and heed my call.

Come forth and bestow your eternal blessings on me that I may show you the world far and beyond".

Immediately after uttering the incantation the crystal ball began to glow slightly as the blood that had pooled up began to be absorbed and a thick but transparent mist began to form in the surrounding area as something suddenly left the crystal ball and entered the young man's wound on his hand which then closed and healed at a visible rate.

He was then taken into a purple-colored tent off to the right of the venue and the next person in line was allowed to take their turn. There were a total of 15 persons partaking in the ceremony this year including Jordan.

One by one they each walked up to the crystal ball stabbing their hands, uttering the incantation, and their wounds healing. They each had a look of excitement on their faces as they left to head to the tent.

Finally, it was Jordan's turn, he was last in line and his summoning would mark the end of the ritual and the official beginning of the ceremony.

Jordan stabbed the knife into his hand without a second thought ignoring the pain as he could not help but imagine what magnificent spirit would choose him.

He uttered the incantation and stood there waiting for what came next.