The Day of the Blessing Ceremony

The next day Marco got himself ready and ventured into his father’s courters. He wore his usual green robes, combed his green hair back and wore extra golden rings on his sharp ears. A message arrived earlier during the morning. So he dutifully made his way towards the hall of blessings.

Once he arrived, he was greeted by the usual faces. Being part of the group of elite youths, he was familiar with the current line-up already gathered by the foot of the towering stoned doors. Threyja surprisingly gave him a short wave before turning her attention back to the conversation she was having with a beautiful Elf with blueish/pale hair tied into a ponytail.

Her name was Zia. Marco hardly had any interactions with her considering she was similar to Threyja and spent most of her time cultivating. Her expressionless gaze always seemed to turn extra cold when she looked at him too. ‘I guess Threyja tells her how awful I am usually. Well its to be expected if they’re close friends.’

Whilst Marco walked past the beautiful duo, he overheard Zia questioning Threyja.

“Since when were you and him so cordial?”

“Huh? Oh Marco well he’s been...I guess you can say he’s been helping me with something important. He’s actually surprised me by his recent behaviour.”

“Pfft, I hope you’re not falling for that crap. Haven't you heard the rumours about him. He only thinks with his dick and aims to conquer the hearts of impressionable Elves! Don’t be fooled by his charms Threy.”

“Wh-what are you even talking about Zia, he’s only helping me with a potion. Stop saying embarrassing stuff. “

“Don't be silly Threy, you know we’re at that age where our hormones are twice as potent compared to other races. This is why I advised you to confess to that beautiful boy you grew up with already. Let him ravish you until your hearts content! Trust me when I say there's not a lot of things that compare to a great steamy fuck!”

“ZIA! ENOUGH! “ Threyja's cheeks were completely red whilst her voiced boomed.

‘Well-well seems this Zia isn't quite the prude I thought she was’ Marco was glad he had passed by just at that moment. He also gained some insight as to why his libido was higher than usual.

‘I forgot about that issue with Elves when we turn a certain age. We start craving sex more and the need to satisfy our lusts. Though I also heard cultivation is a great way to suppress those urges. Hmm ill have a word with father about this.’ Marco was gestured by the elders on guard to enter once he arrived by the door. They all wore fond smiles whilst they received him. One of the perks of being considered the top two outstanding talents of his generation.

Marco was the first to be called. He walked proudly into the cavernous hall and hasted towards the stoned altar. Two elders stood on either side of the stoned altar, awaiting him with smiles of elation. Marco placed his two hands against the cyan crystal. He felt a surge of energy pulling his entire aura into the crystal shard. He grimaced as he felt the air around suddenly change. A warmth of heat encircled him and trapped him inside a pulsating ball of invisible Qi. Surrounded by five stoned totems, three of which started to glow with an aura of liquid gold. Marco watched three out of the five totems covered in gold begin to change from dead eyed statues into golden spirits. With bodies shimmering after being affected by the air around them.

“Success”

“Success young one. The guardians deem you worthy.”

“Worthy to receive...”

“To receive the blessing bestowed upon the chosen.

“Do not mind the absence of the others. For we sensed one of the guardians' strong bonds with your heart”

“So us three are enough”

Marco listened to their words surrounding him. All he could think of was what benefits these guardians would give him.

“What are the benefits?”

“The ones chosen are granted the will and inheritance from us”

“From us you receive choices...”

“Those choices are unearthed based upon your own desires.”

“Be patient, in time all will be revealed.”

“And once unearthed you shall walk the path we have set.”

“Always and true”

“Forever and eternal”

“Protector and sword. Your sword shall slay kings.”

The golden lights faded, and Marco found himself back inside of the hall of blessing.

The proceedings continued and Marco hung around just to see what the blessings looked like for everyone else, to be honest he only cared about Threyjas. As expected, she received 3 blessings. Marco was poised to invite her for a walk when he heard a loud commotion from the hall's entry.

“Did you hear...Julien Razziels son received five blessings!”

Marco almost lost his footing once he heard that. He barged through the crowded youths and grabbed the collar of the short boy who announced that madness.

“Oi what did you just say? Say that again, how many blessings?”

“Ah M-marco forgive me but I haven't offended you so why-” Marco shook the boy a few times. Causing the boys head to jerk back and forth before he started to gurgle a little bit of spit down his mouth/

“Shut up and answer my question, Julien? He-he received how many blessings?”

“F-f-five blessings,” Marco released the boy allowing him to drop onto the ground with a loud thud.

He anxiously moved his eyes towards the halls entrance, where he saw that fat timid Elf being doted on by many elders. Marco couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Suddenly his joyous day had turned into a nightmare. ‘h-how...’ his mind couldn’t make sense out of it. Marco understood the seriousness to this achievement, after all, only one other person recorded in the history books had achieved five blessings. That figure went on to become the holy mother of the Elven tribes. Her descendants became the current royal house of the Elven realms, the Queen herself. Unable to contain the rage boiling inside of him, Marco dashed away from the hall. He even ignored Threyja who he noticed watching him from a distance.

‘Fuck this-fuck everyone-I need to get out of here’

Marco hadn't calmed down at all and found himself aimlessly walking through one of the many jade gardens built on this mountain. He kicked the flowers in his way, his mouth still filled with curses as he couldn’t shake away the painful truth. He was about to lose the grip he had over this generation. If he wasn’t considered the most talented, would the elders still show him support and push for him to become the leader of the youth? His mind couldn’t take it and Marco needed water, desperately as he felt nauseous to the point he almost vomited.

“Hey, are you my master?” he heard a voice speak out.

“Huh?” Marco turned on his heels, and instantly stood on high alert. He didn’t find anyone, but the bed of short flowers growing between the grass beds.

“Silly I’m over here-over here!” Marco was captivated by a childish voice. He suddenly tilted his helm towards the skies. Hovering just above his head was a tiny sprite, she wore no clothes but didn’t have the parts he was used to seeing on woman’s bodies. She was almost as smooth as a doll. Her skin was olive and she had two silver sea through wings attached to her tiny back. She stood no bigger than his hand. And her hair was a mixture of green, blue and pink. The sprite fluttered around his face, before landing just before his nose. Up close Marco could see her iris were green, and though she carried features of an Elf she was by no means one, considering how tiny she was.

“Who are you?” his voiced sounding slightly croaky

“Me? I am Izzy-Bell and you are my master...”

‘Master? What the hell is this thing.’ Marco was thinking about using a fist infused with Qi to squash her, but he suddenly felt something odd within his mind. Just as the little sprite creased a playful grin, Marco suddenly felt a surge of power rushing through his body. He gazed down at both of his hands, seeing a golden like aura wrap itself around his entire body. His back started to itch, and then he felt something growing out from there, it happened so quick that he didn’t really feel it in its entirety but he knew something was there. Turning his neck around he was shocked beyond disbelief once he saw a pair of ethereal jade like wings.

He looked at the playful sprite in horror.

“Master-master is silly. Doesn’t master understand who Izzy-Bell is? Izzy-Bell is from the ancient clan of Faye’s so that makes Izzy-bell...”

“A guardian? You...you’re actually a guardian.” Whilst that realisation hit him, he felt the golden aura, along with the jade wings decapitating. “Very good Master-master is smart I knew it. But master must practice in order to have control over Izzy-Bells skills.” Marco was gobsmacked and had to do everything within his power to remain composed. ‘A guardian? I sired an ancient guardian? If father knew of this...or even the elders...’ his mind raced with many thoughts. The little sprite seemed to grow bashful as it pouted its tiny mouth.

“Master is being silly again, doesn’t master understand only Master can see Izzy-Bell. Since Izzy-Bell chose master, the guardians spirit lives within Master.”

Marco barely listened to what she was saying, but he did understand a guardian was incredibly powerful. He almost howled in laughter but didn’t want to scare the little thing.

“Hey do you know if there are other guardians around here and can you find them?” Nothing but greed shone across his stare. The sprite didn’t seem bothered as it placed a hand beneath its chin and pondered.

“Izzy-bell can sense other guardians. But there are no other guardians here beside Izzy-Bell. Master is one of kind since Izzy Bell was drawn to masters lovely smell.” the sprite flew closer to his face and hugged his cheeks, rubbing her entire body against him.

“Hmm master smells lovely. Izzy bell loves master”

“Hey-hey stop that nonsense, oi tell me what powers do you have? And what kind of patron are you?”

Marco understood a little about guardians, since they were incredibly rare to find and even more rare to make a pact with one. He knew most guardians were under a patron, an element or an emotion which governed their existence.

“Oh master can't tell? Izzy Bell is just like master...”

“What do you mean just like me?”

“Master's lovely scent. Its just what Izzy-Bell likes...in your world its called desire.”