“Ughh” Dante couldn’t help but release a groan as he rubbed his eyes and attempted to regain some semblance of consciousness. What happened…? Dante sat up carefully as pain shot through his side. It was the same alleyway he had chosen to sleep in last night - dark, desolate, and unpatrolled by guards, just how he liked. Well usually unpatrolled by guards… Staring at the bloodstains on the cobble around him that were clearly his own, it was obvious a random patrol found him. At least they knocked me out before I woke up. Dante laughed grimly. Dante couldn’t help but feel some resentment and anger at the unknown guards. He wasn’t upset about the random beating, that was a common enough occurrence as far as he was concerned. No, he …show more content…
Thus, today we come together for the bestowal of the Status and the celebration of all that the Goddess has blessed us with.” The Head Priest took a pause to smile at the looks of pure adoration that the crowd gave him. As he scanned the crowd his eyes caught a glint of silver in the sunlight and the Head Priest frowned. He turned to address Dante who was now waiting with the rest of the boys and girls waiting to accept the Status and step into adulthood. “Boy, we have already proven that the Goddess does not approve of your kind, it would be best if you left and saved yourself from embarrassment.” The head priest was referring to the previous year when Dante had stood forward, much like today, to receive his Status. When touched the Goddess’s statue nothing happened, after that his standing in the town had decreased even further, which he didn’t think was possible. Of course, Dante attributed that to his age in an effort to maintain hope. He wasn’t sure if he was actually despised by the Goddess but he would not give up on his one chance in life because of one failed