The Elixir

~Summoning

Derald wishes he could be an only child. He loves his siblings, though there are many, but more often than not they are becoming a cause of irritation. Take right now, for example. Instead of meeting up with his friends on his special day, he's forced to babysit Phaela and Dion, his younger sister and brother. Derald's older siblings ran off the minute they set foot on the grounds, which was to be expected. His parents wanted to attend the parent conference so he was stuck watching over the kids. It would be much easier to just desert them but he would get a good clout to the ear if he did.

Derald sighs long and loud as Phaela tries to drag him one direction, and Dion tries the other. They argue over each other, although their voices are drowned out by the excited chatter surrounding the three of them.

Exhausted, Derald drops to a crouch.

"Listen, you two," he hisses. "Today is my Summoning, so you have to do what I say. Understand?"

The two glance at each other before Phaela sticks her tongue out at him.

"You aren't the boss of me!"

Derald moans. Phaela is the brattiest of all his siblings.

"Today, yes, I am. Now, you don't want me to tell Mom, do you?" Dion, the shyer of the two, shakes his head hard. Their mother is a fearsome woman and more times than he cares to admit, he's gotten on her bad side.

"Fine." Phaela huffs. Triumphant, Derald tucks their hands firmly in his and deposits them swiftly at the child care center.

"I'll tell Dad to pick you up, alright?" Dion's eyes are wide and his knees are trembling. He's never been a brave child, unlike his twin sister. Phaela has already run off, probably playing with some children.

"Can I come with you?" Dion asks in a small voice. Derald hesitates, his step faltering. Sighing, he turns back and pats Dion on the head.

"Not this time, buddy."

Dion droops but lights up when one of the caretakers hands him an enchanted toy. With a delighted giggle, he follows the toy around. The woman winks at him and Derald pivots sharply and breaks into a trot. Today might just be the most important day of his life.

Today is the day of the Summoning.

Everyone who isn't a commonblood has their own Summoning. It's a simple ceremony, a simple affair, but it's celebrated widely. Every region attends, and for good reason. The Summoning is sort of like an acceptance into the world of mages, something Derald has dreamed of since he learned the word. He isn't much for aesthetics, but even he can admit that the grounds look beautiful. Colorful, cheery bunting is strung up in every corner and tantalizing smells inhibit the crisp air. This late in the year, the heat is beginning to fade.

The richer families can afford to rent their own enlarged tents but the people who can't walk around, enjoying the festivities. Derald swipes a box of crabby crackers as he goes, munching distractedly. He's jostled this way and that, but he doesn't care. People of all shapes, sizes, and colors mill around eagerly. The crabby crackers snap and yell at him, but Derald doesn't give it a second thought. That's what makes the crackers so entertaining; seeing what new insults they come up with.

The fanfare trumpets and Derald tosses the empty box into the nearby trash and sprints to the arena. The arena is the star of the grounds; with huge sloping sides, and reaching flag poles, it looks grand as ever. Derald has attended many a Summoning, thanks to his three other older siblings. Two are Tsunamis, while his oldest sister Gia is a Gaia. She's never cared, however; she likes the Gaias. Derald would love to be named an Arcane but the chances of that are very, very low. Every Pellefard before him, save for a few odd ducks, have Summoned Kelpies, the familiars of the Tsunamis. Wonderful creatures, but the dragoni have always been the beasts that catch his eye.