Prologue

I stood there in line waiting my turn, outside the small square building. Just a think wooden, carved, door, stood between that room and me. I looked back to the boy behind me. He smiled nervously at me, pulling his fingernail from his teeth.
"Can't be that bad... My brother says it only hurts for a few days." He tried to smile again but it came out more as a grimace.
I nodded and looked around, the crowd watching me. I turned my head to look over my shoulder to ware my parents stood among the people. I turned my face back to the boy.
"I-I hope your brother is right."
A scream came from the building.
Our heads whipped around to look over the to the door.
"Yeah," he nodded.
The door open slowly as a sniffing girl, who I think lived down the street from me. She smiled through her tears. The crowd about us cheered.
"And now we welcome another child who now has come of age to our community." The tall man smiled, his white teeth flashing. The girl walked timidly up the stone steps the platform to were the man stood. He combed back his jet black hair with his perfectly tanned hand.
"Now that you are of age, what will be your new name?" As he smiled the skin around his eyes crinkled.
She only came up to just below his shoulder, as he put his arm around her shoulders. Slowly stepped up the podium using the stool placed there. The girl leaned over the open book and turned a few pages. Then she pointed.
The man stared over her shoulder, to glance where she was pointing.
"And it looks like he new name will be... Malanie!" He shouted from the platform opening his arms wide open.
Malanie stepped down from the stool.
"Alright, let's keep things moving, next!" the man called out.
"Good luck in there," the boy whispered from behind me.
I nodded, "Thanks." Then I pushed open the door.
The huge door swung open silently, as I pressed my hand on the center. I walked in quickly, trying not to show my fear. A young man was leaning against and sturdy table, his face slightly unshaven and hidden by shadow.
"Come in," he smiled kindly. "Close the door behind you, there in no need to be afraid."
I closed the door, and waited.
"Come closer."
I took a step nearer.
"Alright then, show them."
I began to unbutton my sweater, and then I tossed it over to the table. The young man approached me, stepping in the light of the fire in the hearth.
"Johnis?" I asked, leaning in closer to see his face.
He squinted his blue eyes staring at my face.
"It me Abburis, your little cousin. Argoth's and Murasis' daughter..."
"Oh yeah... Wow, you've grown up." He rubbed his forehead. "Wow," he repeated. "Thirteen already?"
"Well," I said, "Almost."
He nodded, "Right of course."
We stood there in silence, for a moment neither of us saying anything.
I broke the silence. "Let's get this over with."
Johnis walked around to my back pulling some sort of metal contraption from the table. I pulled my black braid from over my shoulder, clasping it tightly in anticipation of the pain. I felt the cold metal rest against my back, as he placed it on the tips of my shoulder blades, just above the low back of my tank-top.
But it never came.
I felt the contraption leave my back as Johnis let out an exasperated sigh.
I turned my head to look at him, but he had stepped back into the shadows.
"What is it?" I asked concerned.
He began to speak, but not to me. "Why," He said. "Why did I get picked for this job?" he whispered. He looked up from the tool in his hands.
"I can't do it. I can't cause someone that I know pain. Not someone who saved my brother."
I just stared at him, wondering what he couldn't do.
"Just-just go Abburis. Tell everyone that I didn't it. Tell them now that you are of age." He said quickly, the words almost falling out of his mouth. He walked over and place the tool on the table next to my sweater.
He placed his hands on my shoulders, looking down into my eyes. "Never speak of this moment again, ever. Promise me that, please."
I looked up into his face, and I knew that I couldn't say no. "Yes," I whispered.
Johnis reached out towards the table and grabbed my sweater, handing it to me.
"Now go."
I reached for the door handle as he let go of my shoulders. I was about to leave when an odd idea came to me.
"Can you... Can you do the same thing you did for me as for the boy who will be next?" I asked, but I myself wasn't sure why.
I didn't even know the boy's name, but still it felt right to ask for the same thing for him as well.
Johnis frowned then nodded.
I turned back to the door and shoved it open, and stepped out into the light, breaking the tradition of a thousand years.