At the base of the mountains sits a village, neither large nor small it rests in the flat space between the foot of the Shia mountain pass and the borders of the Emerald Forest. By this point in the village's life, stone streets were replacing the dirt paths, a major contrast to the wooden structures used for their buildings. The center of this particular village was marked by a large Wishing Well with bright green ivy wrapping around the stone base and up the sides of the posts. Most of the merchants had shops set up in the courtyard surrounding the well, temporary stands that changed positions depending on the demand for product that season. The first layer of buildings closest to the center belonged to the village Elders, four out of the eight left empty for the next generation of rule makers. Spiraling out from the center were the living quarters where the mass of people lived, and all the way out at the edge of the town were the much larger structures. On the forest side sat the blacksmiths and the farms while on the mountain side sat the school, livestock fields and horse stables. The sun had barely risen over the horizon before villagers had awoken, flocking toward the center of the town. Today was the 17th birthday of the five gifted children, the day they would finally be presented with the crystal shards and sent into the Emerald Forest to see the main mass. After the disaster, the villagers did their best to keep away from the crystal, treating it as a sacred object and respecting it as such. One could always see the tip of the structure above the tops of the trees but the Elders were the last to see the crystal up close. Now those five children would venture into the forest and return the shards they were presented with to the main crystal as instructed in the Elders' dream. A sense of excitement filled the air as the sky grew lighter, teams switching in and out to decorate the main courtyard. Those who were not decorating were working hard to complete daily chores as early as possible so that the town could celebrate the momentous occasion. The children had always been treated differently, given privileges other kids would not normally have, however this was the first time their birthdays had been celebrated as largely as this year's. Laughter filled the town as people awoke and got to work, a normally friendly town finding a new level of friendship amongst the festivities, even young children stopped bickering to pitch in. By noontime the streets were filled with people playing games, eating and drinking to their hearts content awaiting the gathering of the birthday guests. Meanwhile, out in the forest, the dark crystal hummed with an excitement of its own. Various woodland creatures began to gather around the structure, feeling the shift in the crystal's power and drawn to it as those holding its shards would be. Its pull would only grown until the shards were reunited with the main body, an event that wouldn't be set in motion until the sun settled below the mountains and the sky began to darken. Until then it waited in an uneasy silence.

Having slipped into town earlier in the day to avoid her mother, who was fussy on the best of days and simply unbearable on ones like this, Aren was currently reclined on the roof of a random house, so as to be a little further removed from the bustle of people setting up for the festivities. The breeze blowing across her petite body was incredibly refreshing after the climb up the side of the building, though it didn’t do much for her hands, which were a little sore from the roughness of the wood. Still, that little pain wasn’t enough to diminish her good mood as she watched the clouds float by and bit into an apple she had plucked from one of the trees on her family’s farm. Of course, lying on random people’s houses was not Aren’s typical method of entertaining herself. Normally, she would be at the smithy as an apprentice, helping to hammer out some of the less complicated pieces, or she would be at her house, helping her family maintain the farm for the next season. But there were no chores on this day, and the smithy was closed, and so she found herself with virtually nothing to do but relax and idly wonder what the other shard-bearers were up to at the moment. Hearing some other, unseen people talk about what was going to happen that day as they passed by the house on the street below did dampen Aren’s good mood just a bit. Perhaps the others enjoyed all the attention they received for being one of the “special” children, but Aren found it grating to be made such a big deal over. She didn’t desire getting treated better than others just because she had been chosen by the crystal and so stuff like this whole celebration had a tendency to get on her nerves a little bit. But she knew what it meant to the people, so she went along with it and put up with their fussing as much as she could. Wriggling around a bit to get a little more comfortable, she thought about what the others would be like, as she only knew them as fellow schoolmates. Living on the outskirts of town had its disadvantages concerning making friends, as school only offered so much time to get to know someone. And that wasn’t even accounting for the fact that she was typically reserved and rather introverted when it came to talking to people she didn’t know very well. Hopefully they would be people that she could get along with fairly easily.

Nettle occasionally really disliked his mother taste in clothing. Today was one of those days. ''How do you like it dear? My little chosen one hoho~'' HIms mother chimed as nettle was standing in front of a mirror wearing, purple and red cloths. They were making him look like a light in the dark, how much they stand out. The yellow rim didnt help it either. His mother wasnt born to make cloths. ''they are beautifully I am positive every girl in town will accept my invitations to a dance.'' He smiled wide and hugged his mother in a happy motion. It was quite easy for him to look happy. He trained it for long enough. Still his mother wasnt born for sewing or color combination. She was excellent to help his father in money counting and barging thought. The boy assumed the materials were gotten for half prize and thats why the wild colors. Nettle birthday morning started with him wishing to not be looked by every pair of eyes in the street. He returned every look at him with a smile. Stopping to some adults his father traded with. Chitchatting with them, shaking hands and accepting good wishes, replying with the always usable phrases. It was a good habit in his fathers eyes, a traded that is easily remembered can get even more deals. What is easier remembered then being the father of a shard child? Nettle never minded as he was spending some of his days beside his father surrounded with adults. It made his father happy, and after a success some of the nicest memories were created for Nettle. Parting away from them he wandered the streets more or less aimlessly, just enjoying the decorations that were getting put on, looking in hurry to get somewhere. It was around noon when he was catch in the crowd of some classmates. Laughing at some of the nice intended wishes and jokes. Nettel responded with a bow. ''Say, say will you tell us all about it?'' A year younger girl asked him peeking over her friends shoulder, meaning the crystal. '' Of course I will. When I return.'' ''I heard rumors that wolfs and all sort of animals will be dancing for when it happens.'' A older brother said caressing his chin while thinking. ''I want to see a bear or a sheep dance!'' The younger girl chipped. ''Maybe there my cat vanished to?'' ''Who would know. Lets go I would love to eat something and dance.'' Nettle smiled, adjusting his purple cloths, they already joked about them. He really was standing out, too much maybe. ''Could really enjoy some nettle tea.'' ''Say say will the crystal turn to a maiden?'' The childish and made up stories what would happen today kept on swarming Nettle as they made their way to the parts of the city where the most food was stationed. Nettle himself imagined it all being underwhelming. In his mind they would place the shards back in the crystal and that would be it. Nothing more nothing less...Thinking about it he wondered what the other special birthday children were thinking about it all.

"DON'T LET IT GET AWAY!" Max stumbled over his own feet as he ran, covered head to toe in dirt suggesting he'd already fallen at least once. Always a few feet ahead of him, Max chased after a goat that had gotten loose while he was feeding them. As it hopped further and further into town, Max thought somebody might be able to help him... No one did however. They stepped out of his way in order to protect the party decorations and food, laughing at him as he passed by. Max looked up ahead to see that the goat was headed straight toward a group of dancing villagers, one of which he recognized as being one of the children whose birthday everyone was celebrating. "Nadal! LOOK OUT!!" He shouted as the goat barreled in the kid's direction. Taking one last leap forward, Max managed to wrap his arms around the beast and pulled it over onto its side. Sliding on the ground, Max and the goat came to a stop at the feet of the boy with a sheepish grin. "Hehehe... Sorry about that." Max laughed nervously as he pulled himself up to a sitting position, struggling to keep a hold on the wriggling animal.

Nettle accepted as a girl asked him if they could dance. With a smile that never left his place he took her hand and started to lead. She sure was enjoying it, as Nadal watched the blush on her face. Just as he noticed a ton of eyes on him, adults concluding stupid things, as his future wife and what not, while the friends were stealing all the food from the plate he left behind to dance. It was a commotion that took his attention from his steps turning around to see a goat rush between the people who moved out the way. The girl squeezed his hand and screamed jumping behind him. He didnt noticed Max until he jumped on the goat somehow stopping it and holding it back. Poor thing was scared like nothing. Nettle waved at max before turning to the girl. '' Sorry it scared you. I am going help Max take it back.'' He winked on her making the girl explode in red face. ''Let me grab a rope for you '' He said before running to one of the decorative ropes and bringing it back to Max. He welcomed the possibility of a short break of being the center of attention. It was nice to make others happy, still it was even nicer to get a tea before the evening comes around. ''Hope you dont mind the help?'' Nettle said as he placed the rope around the goat and bound it so it wouldnt escape again. Luckily at least it didnt looked like it will break. '' Poor goat how did he came here?'' Nettle questioned, petting the goat only to see the animal has taken a liking to his cloths and was now nibbling and biting on his shelve. ''Hope they are at least tasty to you, mister goat.'' He said in a joking manner trying to pull away the fabric out and away from further harm. The goat was a stubborn one. '' Lets hurry and get it back, before I have to explain my family why I need a change of cloths.''

"No, no. I don't mind the help at all. Thanks." Max huffed, still out of breath from his mad dash through the town. He held tightly to the goat until Nettle had finished tying the thing up, something Max wish he had though to bring earlier. The man chuckled apologetically and started leading the animal back the direction they had come from, Nettle thankfully in tow. "This one here is a little trouble maker, aren't you?" He scowled at the beast but it took no notice, continuing to nibble at the boldly colored fabric of Nettle's sleeve. "He's always trying to find new ways to escape, and today he found his opening while I was helping to fill the feeding pens." Max sighed heavily, wondering to himself how he could have screwed up such a simple task. He wasn't very fond of goats, but after a previous mishap on the farms, Max was no longer allowed to work around the cows. Laughing the embarrassment away, Max scratched the back of his head as he walked. "Sorry to have pulled you away from your own party. You could have stayed and kept dancing with that girl... I wouldn't have minded."

He hummed softly to himself as he made his way to the party, the song and dance stirring up happy emotions deep within his aching soul. Well, maybe that was a bit too poetic. Silver chuckled softly as he made his way through the crowd. He had on dancers clothes, pale baggy pants, a loose pale blue shirt with jangling accents adorned. He had on a thin skirt that also had these small gold metallic rings which made a gentle ringing noise when they struck one another and blue and brown shoes that jingled as he walked. He ran delicate fingers through his fine blonde hair and bounced as he walked, his bright green eyes scanning the area around him. He raised a brow at the sight of Nettle and Max chasing after a pig and chuckled when they finally caught it. Pulling the lyre that had been strapped to his back to the front, Silver began singing and playing as he walked over to his two fine friends. "Hello dear friends. It seems you've found a swine to herd, was it hard to wrangle this beast as he ran you round the yard?" He asked them in sing-song voice. He might not have been the best at lyric but he could certainly do it with enthusiasm. Chuckling, he pushed the lyre back to his back and smiled at the two. "But seriously. What's with the pig?" He asked, raising a brow at Max.

While Nettle was listening to the short tale of the escaping goat he smiled wider. For himself thinking that it must be the reason for the goat hungrily assaulting his cloths. Tugging a bit he heard a soft rip sound and was now sure his parents would talk a really long time how he wasnt looking at his best for the evening. Regardless if he changed in something simpler or stayed in the chewed attire. "Sorry to have pulled you away from your own party. You could have stayed and kept dancing with that girl... I wouldn't have minded." ''I dont even know her name'' Nettle waved his hand looking at the other. '' Well she said it in her chin as she was really nervous to dance with a chosen child.... you know...So I danced with her to make her happy so she can boast about it to her friends.'' He explained himself tugging his arm stronger and now ripping the fabric away leaving his arm from the elbow down free.Just as he wondered over the improvement a sing sang voice came to his ear. ''It was just a bit hungry for expensive fabric, I would be carefully maybe the goat tries your nice looking dress clothing too.'' Nettle chuckled to himself easily noticed that Silver got really nicely dressed up. Following Max down the street. '' Helping Max out to bring him back. '' Nadal slowly walked around Max and now was on the other side of his friend, Max being beetwen him and the goat. ''HOw have you been?'' He asked generally both. '' Enjoying the day?''

Max chuckled again before glaring at the goat, the creature seeming unaware of its wrongdoings. "Ah, I see. Must be tough being that popular. You never can tell if someone is being friendly to you or to a 'chosen child'. " He paused, opening his mouth to say something else when another voice chimed in(quite literally too). "Well what do you know, Silvano Miano. Enjoying your party I hope?" He grinned, giving the goat an extra tug away from the festive attire, not wanting to be responsible for yet another set of ruined clothing. "I'd like to enjoy the festivities a little more, but someone has to work while everyone else plays. At least it hasn't been boring." Max shrugged with a huge grin, hiding his disappointment well considering the amount of practice he's had.

Silver's eyes widen as Nettle told him of the fearsome goat. He feigned fear as he lifted his skirt in a dramatic way. "Keep it away from me! These clothes are simply too beautiful to be destroyed by the belly of that fearsome beast!" He exclaimed, shaking his head. He let out a small chuckle as Matt spoke to him next. "How could I not enjoy such a lovely night? You should know by now, I enjoy all matter of things!" He shouted, twirling as if it emphasized his carefree nature. Silver walked over beside Matt, braving the goat and patted his back gently. "Thank you very much, Matt! But I'm sure there are ways for you to enjoy this as well! I mean, sure chasing after a goat isn't as nice as the party, but it can be fun too! It just depends on how you look at it." The blonde told Matt, smiling from ear to ear. He turned back to Nettle when he heard the boy asked them how they were. "I'm chipper as always, dancing and singing and partying the night away. Not so unusual. I may even find a lady friend tonight." He explained, a sly grin appearing in his delicate features. "Surely some fine maiden would be my muse tonight." He continued, his voice sing-song. "What about you two?" He asked, still close to Matt.

To Nettle it was a amusing reaction to see the other protected his cloths so much. Listening to the responses he gave small nods. ''I am sure the maidens are making a raw of pushing each other so they could be your muse. Or is it you are having one specific maiden in your eyes?'' Nettle chipped imitating the melodic tone the other had for a moemnt, before laughing it away. Smiling wide still staying away from the goat. Thinking for a moment about the question of what would he do. He knew he really wanted to just wander around unnoticed, with out much thinking everywhere. But that was more than oblivious out of question. So settling on his second and third option he spoke up. '' How about I help you with work Max so you can get earlier done and enjoy the party too? If it makes you happy you can repay me with a cup of nettle tea afterwards.'' He clapped his hands as if it was already decide, he knew they didnt have that much time before sunset and the evening where they receive the stones to take back. And once it was time the evening would probably be fully planned out for the chosen children. Until then he will be a bit selfish and help others be happy. Being around happy people made his smile shine in more truthfully colors. '' Hope you find the maiden Silver, thought I do question if they will be around the goat today, hm...'' He tapped his chin thinking, the goat stables not too far away anymore.

After a little more time had passed up on the roof of the house, Aren began to grow more than a little restless. The petite blonde wasn't used to doing nothing, and so her body craved the movement of purpose. What that purpose was didn't matter, so long as it was a purpose. And so, Aren found herself tossing the apple core off the roof into the alley between the house she was on top of and the one next to it before climbing down, the rough texture of the wood digging into her hands as she descended. Perhaps it was because of how short she was, but Aren was, thankfully, not accosted by the party-goers immediately upon exiting the alleyway. She wandered on the outskirts of the crowd, ducking and otherwise avoiding the attempts of the party-goers to get her attention, for a little while before she came across Max, Nadal, and Silvano. She recognized Max because of his stops at the smithy every once in a while on errands, and she recognized the other two because they were shard-bearers like she was, though their fancy attire would have given them away had she not been familiar with their faces. What drew her eye the most, however, was the goat that Max was trying to guide back out of the town. Clearly something had gone on that she had missed, which only stoked her curiosity. Stepping towards the group to see if she could figure out what had transpired, Aren overheard the other two shard-bearers joking about the goat eating their clothing, though it didn't appear that it was entirely in jest, as Nadal's sleeve was missing a good bit from the end. "What on earth happened here?" Aren asked, having gotten close enough to the group to be heard over the noise of the crowds around them. Looking at the others up close, Aren was reminded of the stark contrast between the other shard-bearers and herself. They stood at least head and shoulders taller than her, if not a little more, and their clothing was just about the fanciest that money could buy, whereas the outfit she had on was plain and a little dirty from climbing the house earlier. It was enough to make her feel a little self-conscious, though she tried not to care too much.

Max's eyes lit up when Nettle mentioned lending a hand so that he could participate in the festival sooner. Nodding furiously, he beamed with delight. "I'll make as much tea as you want as you want. Thank you so much." Despite being 20 years of age, Max looked like a child who had been granted his greatest desire. Pumped and ready to fly through work, he was just about to speed up when he was distracted by another voice entering the conversation. Turning around he saw Arenwen who worked down at the blacksmith's, smiling warmly toward the girl. "Oh you know... Goat escaped so I had to chase it down. Just a normal day for me." He grinned and glanced back in the direction he was walking, seeing his destination just a bit further up the path. Max wasn't very savvy when it came to maidens and relationships so he ignored the comments about them not being around the goats and instead focused his attention on the newcomer. "How's work at the smithy going? I'm assuming he forced you to take the day off?" Max knew how much she loved working at the shop, having seen her hard at work whenever he ran errands for the place. Birthday or no, she'd probably be down there helping out if she could, though doubtful anyone would let her lift a finger on a day such as this.

Nettle smiled liking how happy he made the other with a simple offer to help out. The destination already in view when another voice joined them curiously asked. He waved his hand off as nothing important letting Max do the explaining. Nettle occasionally always wondered if as a female shard chosen if she had the boys hum around her. That was when she wasnt appearing to be in hurry and busy looking. ''Hope you are enjoying the celebration as much as everyone else is.'' He smiled nicely at her. Turning his attention to the goat again. Petting it this time avoiding to have more of his shelve eaten. '' So let first get this one with his friends and then tell me what do you need to get done so I can be a helping hand.'' Seeing as they arrived to the destination the other goats noticing the arrive of people and thinking probably its food time started to come closer to the gates, mingling around, keeping the people in their field of view so they wouldnt miss any gram of food.

Silver's eyes brightened at the sight of the smaller female shard-bearer. He turned to smile at Nettle before answering his question, "No, no particular lady in mind, though there are a few that come to mind." He smiled, a toothy smile that reached both of his ears. "And it seems there is at least one maiden around this goat today." He added, closing his eyes gleefully. He straighten up a bit before placing a gentle hand on Nettle's and Max's shoulders. "Have fun with that goat. I'm not very good at hard labor anyways." He told them, the smile never leaving. There are people who say one should fear a man who smiles too much for he is probably hiding something. Then again, that might just be hear-say. Silver grinned and walked over to the female shard-bearer before bowing gracefully before her. "I don't believe we formerly met, mi'lady." He greeted her, holding out a hand for her to give him hers to kiss. "I'm Silvano Miano, but please call me Silver. What beautiful name should I call one so radiant?" He asked, looking her up and down. True though it was that her attire left something... more to be desired her rugged looks were charming. He rather liked the white hair...

Aren nodded as Max explained what had transpired with the goat. The story was certainly something she could see happening to him, though she had hoped that there would have been more to it. Nadal continued talking to Silvano about there not being a very good chance of finding maidens around the goats, but Aren wasn't paying too much attention to them because Max was currently asking about her work at the smithy, one of her favorite topics. "It's been going great!" she exclaimed, a smile bursting onto her face. "We recently got an order for replacement hinges for the gates of the McAuster farm on the other end of town. Master Lowan has been letting me work on some of them because he says that its good practice because of the fine details that go into it. Unfortunately, you're right about me not being allowed to help today. He practically threw me out across the street when I showed up earlier." Realizing that she had probably descended into rambling, she cut off there with a sheepish look on her face. Before she could worry too much about how silly she had sounded, Silvano walked up and bowed to her, holding out a hand for... some reason. Seeing as how she couldn't think of any particular reason for him to hold his hand out like he was, Aren slapped it with her own, a gesture that she had seen her older brothers do with their friends from school and each other on the farm. Of course, her naivety didn't last for too long, as the way that Silvano, or Silver as he introduced himself, asked for her name made it very clear that he was attempting to flatter her. Unsure of exactly how to respond to such an approach, Aren responded bluntly with "Arenwen." Hopefully, he wouldn't make it more awkward than it already was.

Max laughed at Aren's reaction to being banned from the blacksmith's. "It's just for one day, you'll survive." He chuckled, backing away from the awkwardness brewing between chosen children. "Umm, we're just... going... to... Uhhh." Without even finishing his sentence Max turned around and practically flew in the direction of the goat pens. Scratching the back of his head, Max chuckled awkwardly. "Sorry about that." He smiled at Nettle while pushing the goat back into the pen with his friends. "Well, now that that's all out of the way." He looked around trying to remember what it was he was supposed to be doing before the goat had gotten out. "Oh yeah, I've got to brush the little buggers now. Want to help?" Max asked, hesitating out of fear of destroying more of Nettle's clothing. "Oh um... Maybe not, right? That pen over there could use some more water if you don't mind."

Nettle smiled at Silvao comment of at least one girl being there, nodding in his defeat. "And it seems there is at least one maiden around this goat today." ''I will, give it my best shot.'' He waved at the other choose child turning his attention back to Max who explained to him what there was to do. It sounded simply enough. Turning again to see the interaction between Aren and silver. It remind him of the first girlfriend he had. ''Okay I will get the water than.'' He answered walking away from the group to get the bucket and fill it with water. The memory of the past was pushed back in his mind. He didnt want to ruin the nice party the whole place was trowing for them. Just for a bit of a oldish memory. It just wouldnt be of any good. The wind blow from the city as Nettle was pouring the bucket out to the pen in the need for the clear fluid, it made him hum cheered up at the feeling of freshness the wind brought. ''Shall I help you with the brushing of the goats?'' He asked Max. ''I cannot wait for the evening and night. '' Seeing Silver and Aren still close by he asked them. '' What do you think will happen tonight? '' Reffering to the returning of shards. '' Some of my friends were claiming all animals will gather in the woods and watch us do it. Other claimed there will be many lights and spirits around.''

"If you don't mind. They're on the dusty side so I can't guarantee your outfit will survive." Max smiled as he held out the brush he was working with, snagging another with his free hand. He continued brushing while the kids discussed the countless possibilities of the night's events. "Whatever may happen, I'm sure it will be spectacular." He grinned, imagining his own versions of the events playing out. He began brushing another goat, eyeing each brushstroke as the creature munched away in its care-free nature.