Natsuki moved through the house, his weak and feeble body making it hard to come down the stairs but he was used to it by now.
When he finally reached the end he was met by his parents, everyone was in their best attire.
"Are you ready, it's finally your big day."
The man from the picture said, he was a slightly tall and stocky man, extremely muscular and wore glasses.
"Yeah I'm ready."
"The carriage will be here soon, so any last minute preparation we should do them now."
"I'm good, it already took half the day to get this ohn."
"Only cause you wouldn't let me help."
The woman who was still putting on makeup said dabbing something on her face.
"I need to do it myself now ma, you won't be here soon."
"Yes but you'll find a nice woman who'll help you with that," then she smiles finishing her makeup, "what about Aeola, isn't she going with you."
Natsuki hearing his only childhood friend couldn't help but smile but hid it masking a face of surprise.
"She's just a friend."
"Keep telling yourself that."
She places her hands on his shoulders and kisses his forehead.
"You look stunning."
"Thanks mom, atleast it hides the deformations."
"I'm sorry we couldn't heal you, I really thought it might have been a curse, I'm sorry for getting your hopes up."
"It's fine mom atleast you tried, plus I'm used to being disappointed so I don't even feel the shame in it anymore."
They both fake a smile.
Soon the carriage arrives and they enter.
It wasn't anything too fancy, if anything it was better off being considered a bucket of bolts.
But it got the job done.
They arrived at his Uncle's farm.
The barn was packed with lots of people already celebrating.
They walked in and immediately they entered they were met by his uncle.
He was an aged man with a long grey beard, a large pot belly, chubby body and no hair.
Besides all that he was probably the most entertaining person in their family.
"If it isn't my nephew," he said pulling him into a bone crushing hug, "your finally man!"
Behind him my aunt came, holding a glass of beer for him.
"Now take it easy Horhay, the kids still fragile."
Natsuki hated when people treated him like that but he kept it inside and hugged his aunt.
"Aunty! Long time no see."
"Yeah I've been busy, you look handsome my little boy. Can't even notice your condition."
"Thanks that means a lot."
"But anyway, enough greetings someone's been dieing to see you."
She gestures behind her to a table, on the table sat many kinds of liquor but non of it peaked Natsuki's interest as much as the girl standing next to it.
She looked bored.
Her eyes looking around the party as if searching waiting for something, more specifically someone.
She had rich auburn hair, captivating hazel eyes, she wore a dress that clung to the curves of her petite sized body.
Natsuki caught himself staring as Luhan snapped him out of it.
"Go talk to her, she's probably been waiting for you," he said mischief gleaming in his eyes.
"Yeah yeah whatever," he took a quick pause to settle himself, "I'm going."
He moved like I phantom through the crowds, then he snuck up to the side of her and taking a glass.
"Never thought I'd see the day you wore a dress."
She turned to look at him smiling frantically.
"What took you so long!"
"Ummm hello, I'm only the guy with every body deformation known to mankind."
She laughed.
"Okay okay you don't need to declare it to the world," she nudges him softly, "I got you something."
"What is it."
"Okay so like I found it inside of a slime I killed, it's a bit damaged but I think you'd like it I'm not sure."
"If it's from you anything's perfect."
Her face flushes slowly as heat runs up her cheeks due to his statement.
Trying to compose herself she brings out a small box.
"Is that it."
"Yeah."
She says nervously bitting her bottom lip.
When he takes it their hands brush for the slightest second, the sensation making both of them uneasy and distraught.
But the feeling is soon replaced by surprise as he begins to feel a strange sensation attracting him to whatever is in the box.
Confused he opens it.
Inside sat a ring.
It's body was silver but a dark shade that barely reflected any light, it had several black symbols engraved on it.
Lastly on top sat a jewel, it was purple in colour and had seven distinctive cracks on it.
When he looked at it he could feel as if the ring was sighing in relief.
"How is it."
Snapping back to reality he looks at him his thoughts trying to catch up to the present scenario.
"Huh..."
"The ring? Do you like it."
"Of course I do, it's from you."
She smiles satisfied and then begins talking enthusiastically.
"Put it on, come on don't keep me waiting."
"Alright alright, calm down would you."
Even though all his senses screamed for him not to put it on, he did it not wanting to let Aeola down.
It sat a perfect fit on his right index finger.
Putting it on for some reason he felt lighter as if tons of weight had left his body.
"How is it."
"It's great... do you wanna dance."
"Dance?! You can't dance."
"I know but I wanna try it, I wanna feel normal."
Hesitant she hold his hand.
"Fine, but only because it's your birthday.
"Thank you."
She leads him to the dance floor.
They have fun.
Doing fake dance moves, drinking alcohol, pranking Luhan who gets back at them but Natsuki finally began to feel the impact on his deformed body and took a seat by the fire place.
Then shouting loudly his uncle announced, "Thank you everyone for coming! It's always a pleasure to celebrate when a boy or girl becomes an adult! And today's celebration is for non other than my good old nephew."
The crowd cheers as he points to him seated by the fire place, drinking something.
"Now I know your finally an adult but hold back on the drinks, we have a lot of guests you know."
The crowd laughs.
"Tomorrow he leaves town and goes out looking, searching for his purpose so I want you all to just give a prayer to Haven that she protects him out there."
The place goes quiet as everyone begins to give a prayer.
But Natsuki didn't pray he just watched everyone annoyed.
He'd never been a fan of Haven, he thought it was unfair for her to let him be like this, to come and suffer in the world like he had.
Not only was he deformed but he also had no mantra, no way of producing mana, this meant he had no talent in all aspects of combat.
As they finished he felt a wave of shivers moving through his body.
Not from anxiety, fear or any other emotion, in fact it felt like it wasn't coming from him at all.
The sensation felt like it came from pure rage and hatred.
After sometime the party began to cool down and so did Natsuki's hatred.
Then it was time to leave.
People started leaving in groups, carriages came and picked up those who booked them.
Then it was time for Natsuki to leave.
They entered the carriage.
Then Natsuki's mom noticed Aeola hadn't left yet.
"Aeola dear!"
"Yes Mrs.Ozbane?"
"Oh come on drop the formalities. How are you getting back to the village."
"I'm just gonna walk."
"Don't be silly, come with us."
"That's alright I don't want to impose."
Natsuki's dad looks at her, his look piercing even through his specs.
"Let's go, you can hold up Natsuki. I think you two had too much fun today, his bodies drained."
"Yes sir."
She moves and enters the carriage.
She took the seat next to Natsuki who was leaning against the entrance is door frame.
As the carriage moved and bopped around on the uneven path, he drifted off to sleep.
Then in a split second disaster struck.
The weather shifted.
Natsuki began to shake uncontrollably, his body parts twisting and turning, making snapping noises that made his mother faint at the sight.
Then he fell out of the carriage.
Even with a thundering thud to the ground he didn't wake up.
The cries of his family echoed getting further away as the weather made it impossible for the fare man to hear them.
In Natsuki's mind he was in complete darkness.
Floating aimlessly.
Then he sees a giant figure Infront of him.
It had multiple limbs, a large body that was not fat, multiple mouths of varying species some unrecognisable and multiple purple eyes.
As it looked at him Natsuki's fear consumed him.
The ability to talk and move abondoning him.
Then it lunged devouring him in one single bite.
He woke up in the real world sweating and distraught.
Screaming as his eye lids fluttered open not knowing why.
Looking around he found himself at the entrance to a forest.
"Where am I? And where is my family?"
He asked.
"It's gonna hurt so much to stand."
But to his suprise it didn't, in fact he felt lighter, more agile.
He searched himself looking frantically at his body.
He was normal.
He began to jump around.
Screaming and celebrating at the top of his lungs but then he came to a sudden halt.
His sight fixed on his finger where the ring Aeola gave him sat.
Not knowing whether it was the drinks or maybe he was just hallucinating.
He rubbed his eyes.
Instead of seven cracks they were now six.