The Moment Xander saw Alex move, he could not help but shake his head in pity.
A future king wanting to challenge mere commoners?
What a disgrace.
Fortunately, Xander was not the only one that thought in such a manner.
A hand grabbed Alex by the shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.
Alex turned. It was a boy the same age as him. He had short blonde hair, kind eyes, a short nose, slightly chubby cheeks, and a fairly magnetic demeanor.
In all honesty, he had a stronger resemblance to the king than Alex did.
The moment Xander saw the boy, he knew his name.
David.
Another of Alex’s half-siblings. However, this one was unique.
A child born on the same day with Alex. Rumors have it that it was even within the same hour.
However, David was the opposite of his brother, Alex, in every way.
"Don’t do it, Alex. You will make father mad."
"But they called me a fat pig." His voice was low, but boiling in obvious anger. "Take a look at me, do I look like a fat pig that only eats Fruit cakes?"
David’s eyes moved up and down. And then he circled Alex once.
Alex was neither fat nor bulky. In fact, he was fit. He had jet black hair, a firm nose, proud eyes, and a very pretty boy kind of face.
"Hmmm, well, they did get the fruitcake part right."
Alex rolled his eyes at his brother. "Loving fruit cakes is not a crime. They were the only things I was allowed to eat that came straight from the oven. And that’s because Sister Linda dots on me so much." He said smugly, feeling better when the subject concerned his dear half-sister.
"I know." David replied mischievously. And both boys laughed together.
Xander easily understood what happened.
’Impressive,’ he complimented David sincerely.
As one that had lived a long life beneath powerful people, he understood their subtle cues.
And obviously, David knew how to manage them.
A TRUMPET suddenly echoed through the square, pulling all attention to the altar.
An elderly man walked forward. From the flowing white robes he wore, it was clear that he was from the Church.
These were custodians of the Orb and its ways.
Their influence was embedded in all affairs of the Bedsheet Kingdom.
The clergyman raised his skinny, shaky hands to the gathered children, pulling their attention.
"For several generations," he began, impressively loud enough that it echoed off the walls.
"The peace of the world has been maintained by the grace of the wise man’s blessing to us. Today, a new generation shall carry on the mantle of that blessing and take the Kingdom of Bedsheet to yet another era of peace and order."
The golden globe on the table slowly opened in response to her words.
Everybody’s attention was pulled to the white light of the Orb.
The clergyman turned to King Polymer for permission, and he nodded in response.
"You may step forward and touch the Orb." The Clergyman smiled, revealing rows of teeth so uneven, that it frightened some of the children.
Just then, Leopold stepped forward with a huge scroll in hand.
He was dressed in traditional knight armor with golden rims and the nation’s insignia of plain greenlands on one side of his chest.
He looked like a force to be reckoned with. On reaching the altar, he gave a ceremonial salute to the king—a fist to the chest, accompanied by a bow.
"Oh look, it’s Prince Leopold."
"Oh god. He looks so dreamy." Some girls whispered amongst themselves.
Hearing them talk about his brother in such a light made Alex raise his head in pride. He had to physically pinch himself from running up to them and boasting that he knew Leopold on a personal level.
However, Xander noticed a different, more annoyed look in David’s eyes.
Leopold opened the scroll, and one after the other, the children were called.
Once called, they would walk over to the orb and place a hand on it.
After a few alternating glows, the result appeared in mid air.
[Congratulations: Your profession is Carpenter.]
The boy sighed. "Just like my old man." He bowed to the king and left the place.
Another was called. A skinny girl walked forward. Like the boy before her, she also touched the orb.
[Congratulations: Your profession is Knight.]
"Knight!?" She looked at the huge blue floating words, surprised. And then she leaped into the air.
"Yeeppiii!" She really could not hold it back.
Leopold smiled at her, leading her in a different direction. She bowed at the king before leaving.
Many looked at her with obvious envy.
And so it continued.
[Congratulations: Your profession is seamstress]
[Congratulations: Your profession is Blacksmith]
[Congratulations: Your profession is Noble Baron]
[Congratulations: Your profession is Scavenger]
Some celebrated and others broke down in tears. This was expected. Lives had been elevated, and some others ruined forever.
And then a chubby girl stepped forward. Her simple demeanor showed that she was from a farm in the countryside.
She smiled and hurried to reach the orb. There was so much hope in her eyes. After touching the Orb, a response came.
Floating in deep red text over her head.
[Congratulations: Your profession is Murderer.]
Everyone paused.
"A negative profession," someone whispered.
And then another.
The girl in question was also shocked. "No... no... I am not. I am not a murderer. I won’t kill anybody, I swear. I have never hurt a fly in my entire life." She turned to the king, knees screeching against the marble floor—she pleaded. "I have a little brother and an old grandfather to care for. Please change the verdict."
The clergyman looked at her in disgust. "Negative profession. Trash to our perfect society." He spat on the ground, "As is tradition, you have twenty-four hours to live."
This was the farm girl’s sentence
Of course, the farm girl could not hold it back anymore. Tears fell as she begged. "Please, I did nothing wrong. I won’t hurt anyone, I swear."
But no one paid her any attention.
The kids pulled away from her like they were avoiding the plague.
Leopold waved a hand, and two guards in iron armor came along to lift her by the arms. They dragged her out of the Square, kicking and screaming.
Xander, watching this memory play out, felt a deep understanding of her pain.
After all, he too had been a victim of injustice. Truly, this girl had no crime. But her fate had been sealed.
Alex looked at the girl as they pulled her away. "Bad rubbish to my kingdom. I can’t wait to watch her be hanged at the gallows." He commented arrogantly. "She might even be a screamer." He chuckled.
However, David looked at her, and Xander could see deep empathy in his eyes.
David shook his head in pity and similarly looked away.
The king waved his hand, and the ceremony continued.
In no time, the ambient atmosphere had resumed.
Some became poets. Some other judges.
These would be their function in society forever.
There was even the son of a viscount that got the profession: Begger.
Many pitted him.
One got Mage. All envied her. Thei type were rare.
And then it was Alex’s turn.
"Prince Alex of House Canvas," Leopold said proudly.
The children gasped at the mention of the name. Whispers went out.
"That’s him. The Crowned Prince."
"Oh my god, he is so handsome. Even if I were a concubine, I wouldn’t mind."
"But you are a dude!"
"Oh, shut it. Enemy of progress."
"Shit! That’s him? And we were talking to him behind his back?" The tallest boy that had been gossipping about Alex panicked.
But Alex could not be bothered. Maybe after the ceremony was over, he would just teach the brat a lesson.
With his chest puffed out, chin up, and a cocky smile, he climbed the platform and stood before the altar.
As he did, King Polymer gave a small smirk. Leopold also smiled at him.
"Young Crowned Prince," the old man invited cautiously to the orb.
Looking closer, the Orb did not just glow. Alex could see runes dancing in fixed patterns below the surface.
Xander also looked closely. He had never seen anything so magical in all his life.
It was spectacular.
Carefully, and excitedly, Alex’s fingers reached for the Orb.
Xander could feel it through the memory. It was cold, but imprinting.
[Ding]
The voice rang in his mind as it displayed over his head.
[Congratulations: Your Profession is Villainy]
The texts were in deep bloody red.
The audience gasped.
Someone even fainted.