The noise was even louder here, as the chatter and murmurings of the villagers kept echoing in the air.
Everyone wanted to see who would awaken what kind of class today, who would be blessed by fate, and who would fall into despair.
Up ahead, beyond the crowd, stood a short wooden fence that separated the villagers from the ceremonial field.
The fence wasn’t tall—only about half the height of the men guarding it—but it was more than enough to mark a clear boundary.
Three men stood in front of it, spaced evenly apart.
They were clad in light armor that gleamed faintly under sun, a sword hanging from the waists of each of them.
Their expressions were firm and stoic, not a trace of emotion showing on their faces as they silently observed the restless crowd before them.
Even though the fence itself was nothing impressive, no one dared to move closer to it.
The guards’ presence alone was enough to remind everyone where the line was drawn.
Everyone in the village knew what would happen if someone crossed that line or tried to interrupt the ceremony.
The knights were there for one reason only—to maintain order. Their orders were absolute.
Anyone foolish enough to cause trouble during the ceremony would be dragged away on the spot.
The best-case scenario was being thrown into prison for months or even years or sentenced to pay an heavy fine, depending on the severity of the offense.
But the worst-case scenario... was death, and the guards would do it without hesitation.
They had full authority to execute anyone who tried to disrupt the ceremony, and no one—not even the village chief—could do anything about it.
It was simply the law. Everyone knew it, and that was why not a single soul dared to push their luck.
Behind the fence stretched a large open field, the ground smoothed out and cleared of any stones or weeds.
It had been carefully prepared for this day, so much so that it almost looked different from the rest of the village.
Right at the center of the field stood a large white crystal, about half the height of an adult man.
Its surface shimmered faintly, as though light were flowing within it like liquid.
Wooden pillars surrounded it on all sides, forming a square structure that supported a simple roof above, shielding the crystal from direct sunlight.
Standing just in front of the crystal was another knight, this one looking older and far more decorated than the others.
His armor was thicker, bearing the crest of the kingdom on the chest plate.
His posture was straight, his eyes sharp, and he carried himself with the quiet confidence of someone used to commanding others.
Beside the crystal, two other people stood waiting. One was a man dressed in long robes, and the other was a woman whose presence immediately drew attention.
The robed man looked old and tired, his face lined with wrinkles that hinted at his age and the years of work behind him.
Strands of dull gray streaked through his hair, and his eyes seemed weary, almost sunken. A warm smile rested on his lips as he watched the crowd from a distance.
The woman beside him, on the other hand, was the complete opposite.
Her beauty stood out instantly, so much so that several of the young men in the crowd couldn’t help but stare.
Her long blue hair flowed freely down her back, catching the breeze, and her posture was elegant, confident, and composed.
Her deadly womanly curves couldn’t be hidden by the plain clothes she was putting on, especially her slim waist and wide hips.
She was only putting on a shirt and a black trouser, which wasn’t too tight.
But the thick thighs on her still filled them out, looking as though they could easily break a watermelon with just enough force applied to them.
Her bubble butt stood proudly behind her also, perfectly complementing her thighs.
But none of the knights or even the man beside her dared look lustfully at her body.
Meanwhile, behind the crowd, Damien sighed softly.
He adjusted his pace slightly and began making his way toward the gathering, blending into the flow of people moving closer to the center.
A clear path had been left open by the crowd, leading directly from the street to the fence.
It was meant solely for the youths taking part in the ceremony, a passage reserved for those whose futures were about to be decided.
The villagers crowded on either side of it, whispering and pointing, their faces filled with curiosity and excitement.
Damien joined the line of teenagers moving along the path, walking at a steady pace.
The path was lined with faint white chalk marks, drawn to guide the participants straight toward the fenced area without straying.
As they approached the entrance, each of the participants was required to show a small white-and-black ticket.
The guards stationed by the fence inspected each one carefully before allowing anyone through.
The tickets bore a faint shimmer—an enchantment used to verify their authenticity. Without one, entry was impossible, no matter who you were.
One by one, the youths reached the front of the line.
Each handed over their ticket, waited as the guards checked it against a list, and then stepped through the small wooden gate that opened briefly before shutting again.
Eventually, it was Damien’s turn.
He reached into his pocket, pulled out his ticket, and held it out to the guard.
The man glanced at it briefly, eyes scanning the symbol etched on its surface, before giving a small nod.
The wooden gate opened just wide enough for Damien to step through.
Without a word, he walked past the guards and entered the fenced area.
Ahead of him stood the towering white crystal, gleaming faintly beneath the shade of its wooden roof.
The other participants were already gathering in a loose circle around it, their eyes flicking between the crystal, the knight in front of it, and the two figures standing beside him.
Damien joined them quietly, taking his place among the group.
However, unlike the others, his gaze was mainly fixed on the woman beside the crystal.
From where he stood, he got a good view of her marvellous backside, and his eyes shamelessly drank in the huge, shapely ass shanding before him.
’Another... MILF!’ he thought, his perverted mind already stripping her naked.
He imagined her under his legs, her thick thighs sprawled across the sides of her head as he drilled her mercilessly.
He imagined her moaning and screaming his name, her stoic expression breaking under the might of his cock.
He shook his head, trying to clear his mind of those dirty thoughts, but they just wouldn’t leave.
’Inspe—’ he was about to activate his skill, to scan for more information about her, when she suddenly turned towards him.
Their gazes met, and for an instance, his entire body froze.
She then took her eyes off him, her brows furrowing into a slight frown, before returning back to normal, like the frown was never there.
Damien’s eyes narrowed slightly, beads of sweat trailing down his cheeks.
’She... sensed it. She certainly sensed me activate my skill!’ he thought.