On the midsummer solstice, the day the empire believed the Sun God drew closest to the mortal realm, cries echoed through Solaria Keep, the estate of the Brightwarden family. At the sound, a man with golden eyes and blond hair rushed through the halls, his usually composed demeanor replaced by raw anxiety. Despite the immense authority and presence he carried, worry etched every line of his face.
"Selena! Are you alright?" he called, bursting into the chamber. Relief washing over him as his gaze fell upon the woman laying on the bed, weakly cradling a newborn that seemed to glow with golden light.
The man froze, his eyes widening as the room itself seemed to respond to the infant's presence. Rays of golden light converged around the child, blazing brighter as if the very essence of the Sun God had chosen to dwell among them.
"My Lord! The young master has been safely born, and the Madam is stable. She will need time to recover, but she will be fine, however," The head healing mage, Naria, said cautiously, "Your son there is something different about him."
She had devoted her whole life to healing and studying magical affinities, yet never had she witnessed a child with affinity to light this high, that he naturally drew it toward himself. Not even the man standing before her, the patriarch of the Brightwarden family, could rival this talent.
Aelius approached the crib, his face full of amazement as he gazed at his son. A smile broke across his face. ". A Brightwarden heir, chosen by the Sun God, The Sun God has blessed the Brightwardens once again!."
He looked at the infant with undisguised joy and pride. "He shall be named Aurelian Brightwarden, heir to the Brightwarden."
The light around the child flared again, almost in acknowledgment, as if the Sun God himself had given his approval .
6 YEARS LATER
Aurelian wandered through the garden, his short golden hair reflecting the sunlight, perfectly complementing his golden eyes and his pale complexion. His small hands moved gracefully, and with a subtle flick, Tiny golden flowers made of light sprouted around him, he carefully placed each golden flower in the soil, but just as quickly as they appeared they scattered and vanished. Aurelian frowned, his small face showing a sign of disappointment.
"Aurelian, my child, you never cease to amaze me." A voice called out behind him. An old man in a red priest's robe approached, the golden insignia of the sun gleaming on his chest. He was the highest-ranking clergy in the Solareth, Grandus the high priest. The one considered the closest human to Luminor.
"To bend light at your age is remarkable. Truly, the Sun God has blessed you."
Aurelian groaned inwardly. Of course he was here again. This old man always appeared, always praising him, always lecturing about Luminor guidance and the Sun scriptures. The lessons weren't the worst part, it was the way the man looked at him, with awe and reverence that made him remember how the world sees him. Aurelian as a child didn't want to be extraordinary or to be treated as some figure blessed by the Sun God. He just wants to play and maybe figure out why his golden flowers always seem to disappear.
"You're here again, Grandpa," he muttered, dragging his feet across the soft grass. "Are we doing lessons today?"
The old man smiled knowingly, but Aurelian could see the patience behind it, the same patience that reminded him every day how different he was from everyone else. He sighed, golden light flickering at his fingertips, wishing for a moment when it could just be fun instead of the burden of expectation.
"We will be doing something special, boy. I've come to remind you," the old man said, his voice firm yet warm. "I will be supervising your First Light Ceremony. What's with that strange look on your face? Oh, is it because you've already awakened your mana and thought you could skip this ceremony?"
Aurelian nodded.
"Well, I don't know why your parents didn't remind you, but you still need to take part. The First Light Ceremony doesn't just awaken the Light Affinity mana of the Brightwarden," Grandus continued, his golden eyes glinting. "According to your ancestor, Solaris Brightwarden, it also strengthens it by unlocking the hidden potential inside you."
Grandus paused, imagining the boy's potential. With Aurelian's already exceptional affinity for light, the ceremony could push his talent to unimaginable heights. The thought alone made the old man's heart race.
"Okay, Grandpa, I understand. When will we have the ceremony?" Aurelian asked, trying to hide his curiosity beneath his usual calm appearance.
"Next week, when the radiance index of the sun reaches its peak. Memorize the Oath of the Sun it's important so that you can be acknowledged by the temple of Light and the clergy. Other families will also come to observe your awakening, so do your best. I have important matters to attend to so no lessons for today Aure."
"As usual, he comes and goes as he pleases. Maybe that's the benefit of being the head of a religion," Aurelian mused. Then his thoughts shifted. Wait, can I become the head of the religion?
He pictured his parents, always busy managing the family domain, and Grandus, who only occasionally visited but seemed to have endless time to spare. Aurelian, as a child, disliked the thought of being stuck in an office all day like his father.
Hmm well, they said I'm the child blessed by the Sun God. Maybe I can become the big boss after Grandus retires if I work hard enough, Aurelian thought, a spark of expectation flashing in his golden eyes. Resuming his stroll through the garden, he let his fingers weave through the air, bending light to his will. Golden flowers bloomed at his command, and he planted them carefully in the soil, the garden once again filling with his radiant creations.
A week passes and the day of the First light ceremony finally arrives.
The first rays of dawn crept over Solaria Keep, brushing the golden rooftops and bathing the courtyard in a gentle glow. Aurelian stirred awake, blinking as the morning light swirled eagerly around him. It behaved almost like a puppy greeting its owner. Slowly, the light wrapped him in a comfortable embrace.
"You're excited today. It's like you already know what's happening," Aurelian murmured, stretching as he stood. He called for the servants to help him prepare, and soon they brought out the outfit his parents had chosen. A white-and-gold ceremonial garb with a sun emblem at the center, the proud symbol of the Brightwarden family.
After washing and changing, he stepped in front of the mirror. His brows furrowed. He didn't quite understand why the servants kept saying he looked handsome. It was still just him but only wearing fancier clothes.
Aurelian had no idea how perfectly the outfit suited him. His cheeks still held traces of baby fat, but the early shape of his face was already forming. With his golden eyes, blond hair, and the white and gold robe that seemed tailor made for him, he resembled a miniature sun prince though he remained completely unaware.
Still confused, Aurelian stopped staring at his reflection and left his room. Outside, several guards were already waiting for him, mages and knights assigned to protect him. They usually stayed hidden, but today was different. The ceremony was important, and their presence served as both protection and a silent display of the Brightwarden family's strength.
As Aurelian went outside the room. The guards looked at their young master with a mixture of awe. Though their faces remained stern, their eyes softened the moment Aurelian stepped into view. Even fully armored knights couldn't hide the subtle shift in their posture, straightening their backs as if his mere presence demanded a higher standard.
"Young Master, we will escort you to the courtyard," the head knight said, bowing his head respectfully.
Aurelian nodded, trying not to fidget under their collective attention. He never really understood why they looked at him like some kind of divine figure. To him, he was just Aurelian. But to them, he was the future head of Brightwarden, the child blessed by the Sun God, the boy whose light naturally brightened the air around him. Even now, faint motes of gold shimmered at his feet as he walked.
The guards formed a protective formation around him. Their armor lightly hummed with mana, responding to their vigilance. Even the mages following behind were carefully watching every shadow and every shift of wind.
"Dad, why do we have to be here?"
Inside the Temple of Light, a young boy about the same age as Aurelian tugged at his father's sleeve, his eyes wide as he took in the enormous hall of gold. Sunlight refracted off every surface, making the entire temple glow as though it had been carved from pure radiance. At the center stood a towering statue of Luminor, the Sun God, its presence overwhelming especially with his miniature body.
"I already told you," his father replied patiently, adjusting the crest pinned to his chest. "Today is the First Light Ceremony of Aurelian Brightwarden. As lesser nobles and vassals of House Brightwarden, we must attend important events like this.
"And you". He tapped his son's shoulder, as my eldest and heir you will attend many ceremonies like this in the future. Possibly ones that he will be hosting someday. So behave, and if you get the chance, try to leave a good impression."
The boy nodded, swallowing his nervousness as he looked around. More people continued to arrive by the minute. Nobles in elegant garments adorned with their respective family crests, Clergymen of the Solareth each carrying powerful scrolls that shine golden, and powerful rogue wizards each bearing gifts wrapped in enchanted cloth.
"This feels like a festival". The boy whispered, unable to hide his amazement.
The massive temple was filling quickly with each guest arriving. The whole place is already bustling with conversations, laughter, and mana infused greetings. This event wasn't just about witnessing the awakening of the Brightwarden heir many had also come to build connections.
This ceremony marked more than just the awakening of mana or should we say the strengthening of mana of Aurelian. It is also the moment he formally stepped into the world of nobility..
Suddenly a sudden ripple of mana washed through the hall.
"Make way for the Brightwarden heir!"
The doors of the temple slowly opened, flooding the entrance with a sweep of golden mana. The chatter softened immediately, all eyes turned towards the entrance.
Aurelian stepped inside, guided by his escort of knights and mages. The boy's white-and-gold ceremonial attire almost seemed to glow under the temple lights, the sun emblem on his chest catching the radiance and reflecting it like a miniature star. His blond hair shimmered, and his golden eyes scanned the vast hall with a mixture of curiosity and innocent bewilderment.
Behind him, the guards moved with precision, their armor humming softly with restrained mana. Veiled protectors hidden in the shadows adjusted their positions, maintaining unseen vigilance.
The nobles' reactions varied; some vassal nobles bowed their heads, others leaned forward with interest, and a few ambitious nobles whispered excitedly among themselves. Young heirs from other families watched him closely, some with awe, some with envy, and others with calculation.
The boy from earlier tugged at his father's sleeve again.
"Dad, that's him?"
His father nodded. "Yes. Remember his face. You'll be seeing him often in the future."
Aurelian, unaware of the weight his presence carried, simply walked forward, feeling dozens of unfamiliar mana signatures pressing around him. He tried not to fidget.
"So many people". He thought, cheeks puffing slightly in mild discomfort.
As he reached the center of the temple, beneath the towering statue of Luminor, the golden light around him pulsed gently almost as if the Sun God himself was acknowledging his arrival.