As they arrived at the training grounds, the boys began lining up shoulder to shoulder, forming a row that reflected their solidarity. The boy with brown eyes feels anxiety coming to these grounds. This is where the Officers would train him since no Master chose him. He and the rest of the rejects were all treated poorly by the Officers. But as he looks around and sees the strong determination on his brother's faces, he tightens his resolve. He knows they all have suffered here, and he won't be the only one who feels uneasy on these grounds. He looks towards his brother with blue eyes. So do the other boys. But for the moment, they wanted to stop marching, but they all could feel the collective energy pulsing through their squadron, a mix of determination and uncertainty. No one wants to wait. They want to move on as men and heroes of their village. So they marched on.
The boys fixed their eyes on the huge stone stage, waiting for the Officials who would guide them through the coming trials. They knew the test would be tough and push them to their limits, but they were ready to face whatever came next. The blue-eyed boy stared at the stone, impatient. This was the place where pain training happened if anyone tried to run away—a place he had come to know well in his first year.
Minutes dragged on as they stood in formation, each second testing their resolve. The green-eyed boy stayed focused, repeating his Master's words: "Everything has a purpose." The effects of last night's drink still lingered, making it harder for the four boys to stay sharp and hide their emotions. They refused to look weak in front of the others.After all their twice-a-week focus training, standing and waiting like this felt easy for these young men. Sweat ran down their faces, but they didn't dare blink. Even after a day of rest, their bodies still ached from the final year's pain training. The Officers would spar with them, often until they passed out, always taking their time.
At last, two Officials appeared—one in his late twenties, the other in his early thirties—both with a commanding presence. The boys stood straighter, sharpening their focus and preparing for the ceremony to begin.
Four Masters and eight Officers joined the Officials. Master Ta, a retired Officer, wore a purple cloak with gold trim. When the Masters stepped onto the stage, some boys felt a surge of ambition. They longed for their Master's approval on this important day. Each boy felt chosen, since the Masters had picked them personally. The Officials wore robes of white and gold. A golden tree was placed on the front and back of the robe, marking them as Zune's Leaders. Red eyes and Brown eyes couldn't help but stare at the robes. A sense of power overtook them. The Officials are not to be taken lightly. The presence weighs heavily on the young boys. It takes effort for them to keep their heads up.
The Officers wore black cloaks with silver trim. There were more Officers present than the boys had ever seen at once, and most looked to be in their early twenties. Their faces showed scars and cold stares, as if they didn't know how to look proud. Officer Jam called the boys to attention.Each boy lifted his right foot and stomped it down, creating a single, unified sound. Their legs and arms stayed locked in place, arms pinned to their sides. The boys hate standing at attention.
Two teenagers, no older than 15, carried stone platforms. After placing them down, six in total, they turned to the Officials standing at attention. The Officials waved their hands, and the two young men saluted by placing their right arms across their chest, then swinging them back down to their side.The boys watched the young men as they turned from the Officials and marched to the side of the stage. They imagined themselves in those brown cloaks, with dogs and shells stitched in orange cotton on their backs. The red-eyed boy pictured himself on the battlefield, saving his brothers, showing courage, and becoming a beacon of hope for the front lines, just like his master had done.
The boys thought, "Those young men are soldiers. They are heroes."One of the Officials stepped forward from the line of superiors. He was seven feet tall, thin, bald, with broad shoulders and two scars forming an X over his throat.
Official #2 Rodow
"Believe me when I say that you are the future. You will be men now, protectors of this life that this village has given you. Step forward and join the ranks of this village. Be given the blood of the tree. Show us your place and how much you have sacrificed for the village."
It was hard for the boys to stay calm. Their early years had been happy—playing with friends, always having a caregiver nearby, and hearing stories about the village's heroes. They had everything they wanted until they turned eight. Since then, they had faced harsh training, with the promise that one day they could earn back that happiness by becoming protectors and heroes themselves. Now, they couldn't help but feel emotional, hoping to be loved by everyone in the village again.
There were six platforms, one for each line of boys about to become men. During "The Naming," each boy would step onto a platform, recite the oath, and drink the blood of the tree. The oath represented the village's beliefs about what makes society work. Only by taking the tree's blood could they receive their purpose—something only men could carry, not boys. If they proved themselves worthy, the platforms would glow, showing the rank they achieved. The color of the glow showed their rank, and the brightness revealed how close they were to the next level.
Lift Rank #1 Red
Lift Rank #2 Brown
Lift Rank #3 Blue
Lift Rank #4 Green
Lift Rank #5 Orange
Officer Jam and the five other Officers walked down the back of the stage. Each carried a black pouch as they approached the platforms. Once they lined up, Officer Jam shouted to the soon-to-be men."Your names will be earned today. No longer are you children who must be protected. No more will you be without purpose. Those years here mean nothing to the challenge that awaits you on these platforms. Trust your training and join your brothers in the field. Who will be first to take the blood of the tree and your place in this village?"
Some boys felt afraid after the Officer's last words. The brown-eyed boy was a bit relieved that he didn't have to go first—his brothers ahead of him would lead the way. The red-eyed and blue-eyed boys stood side by side, both wanting to get it over with. Thinking about all their training, they wondered if this would be even harder, which made them nervous. They hesitated, but when they glanced at their Master, who was watching them closely, they cleared their minds.
Masters spent a lot of time deciding whom to train. Usually, they started choosing after the first year. Master Ta was the first to pick a student, and he chose only one. This meant his student had to work harder than anyone else. It was the only way to prepare someone for the village's purpose and to reach a high Lift Rank.The boys smiled nervously as they turned toward the Official. There was no turning back; the only way was forward. Everyone felt uncertain. Someone had to go first and show courage for the rest. In that moment, someone needed to step up and be the Hero, leading the way.
The Masters focused on their groups. Each had about ten to twenty trainees this year. Having a Master means you will receive more specialized training and extra resources. These help with healing injuries and building strength.
"Master Ta," whispered another Master with long red hair and freckled skin. "I heard your only student this year didn't get any extra supplements from you. You know that won't get a handicap for the bet, right?"
"You already did your part when you agreed to the bet, Master An. Now watch the show," Master Ta said with a grin. Usually, no one could reach above Lift Rank #2 Brown, but for some reason, Master Ta couldn't hide his smile as the red-eyed boy stepped onto the platform.