Dean entered the hall and it suddenly became different and silence followed his every step.

And with Ash on his shoulder and Yuki by his side. He didn’t see anybody else.

Just the altar at the end of the room.

He walked forward, passing through the torches lined on both sides of the altar as he stared at the Gray family banner that stood with pride.

He met Ying who stood at the center of the altar.

The man held out the sword which was now in a scabbard designed with the Gray family crest.

Ying unsheathed the sword that whistled in the air even as it left the scabbard. The single-edged blade pulsed with the torch light.

"This blade–" Ying began as he looked at the people that gathered, his voice echoing through the hall as if enhanced. "--was forged over the course of eighteen years. It represents our family. Our history–"

He paused for a second, the violet glint in his eyes glowed. "--Our Future."

He turned to look at Dean. "Today you become a legacy, Our heir. And our future."

Dean knelt in front of Ying who placed the blade in his hands.

"Name it," Ying said quietly.

Dean looked at the blade. The way light moved across the surface and how the verge pulsed faintly through the metal.

He tried to think of something and then a familiar chime rang in his head.

Ding!

[An artifact has been detected]

[Observation protocol initiated]

[Artifact Type: Sword]

[Classification: Ascended]

[Potential Path Detected: Sage-Class Artifact]

[The artifact requires a name]

[___]

Dean stared at the notification panel, only him could see.

When he heard that chime in his head. He’d thought the system would help me here. He was horrible with names after all.

Dean sighed. All eyes were on him and he needed something.

Ash stared intently at the blade, its body extending like a tendril towards the blade even as it glowed blue.

And after a few seconds. Dean made his decision.

He stared at the blade. It wasn’t just a weapon.

It was a promise. A burden.

If he wanted to protect them, then anything standing against that future had only one fate.

"Rend."

He said in a low tone.

Ying smiled.

Even as the system registered it.

[REND]

"Rend," Ying repeated a lot louder. So everyone could hear.

The hall responded and every Gray present bowed with their heads almost touching the floor.

This was acknowledgement. A salute to the one who would wield their banner in Ying’s exit.

Dean stood slowly and held the blade up, even as Ash’s glowing tendrils wrapped around the edges.

Ding!

[Sword evolution is processing...]

Dean squinted and looked at Ash.

The room became quiet as each Gray bowed.

This was it. This was where he belonged.

<><><>

After the presentation, came the gifting ceremony.

It was tradition that an heir of the Gray family is gifted something by the people he hoped to serve till his last day.

One by one, each family member walked up even as Dean sat on a ceremonial mat with Rend in front of him.

They each presented their gifts.

Eva came first, and in extension his uncle Ling. She presented a wooden box with something inside.

She set it in front of Dean. "For when you host the family."

Dean nodded and opened it. It was a tea set. Beautiful ornate ceramic with the Gray family crest on it.

"Thank you," Dean said with a smile.

Brianna came next. She held a hefty leather book in her hand. And quickly gave it to Dean directly.

"Your mother was always an amazing cook. And this belonged to her and now you."

Dean looked at the book and it was surprisingly a cook book.

"Thank you," he said with a small smile as he kept it aside as his eyes moved to the next person.

Nessa was already bouncing forward. Too excited to walk like a normal human being.

With a wide grin on his face, Dean reached for Nessa’s outstretched hand, picking up the tiny crescent wooden caricature in her hand.

He looked at it, holding up the leather cord tied through it.

"It’s my lucky charm, but I...I want you to have it big brother..."

"Nessa..." Dean’s expression warmed up.

She just smiled and hugged him tightly before going back to her seat.

Dean stared at the caricature for a long moment before he wore it around his neck, tucking it into his haori.

More members of the family approached and they presented one thing or the other.

Hana, the girl he met yesterday, gave him a set of combat gloves so he could stop fighting with bare fists.

Where did she get that idea from ? He didn’t know. Next was a rather shady cousin but one of his favorites.

He knew from memory that most of the original Dean’s bad habits of gambling and fighting came from this guy. Liam.

The boy didn’t even waste time, he just bowed and whispered in Dean’s ears. "Check your pocket later..."

After his favourite cousin, some more members came until the Saint family representative was introduced.

Leona stared at him, she didn’t need to bow. Instead she handed him a black case with a silver dragon head pin inside.

According to her, it was a gift of recognition from House Saint to show their support of his ascension.

And just when Dean thought he had seen it all. The gentle giant arrived.

"Olsen," Dean couldn’t help but blurt "How..? When..?"

"I did say, see you later. Didn’t I?" Olsen responded with a huge grin on his face.

"About your gift. It’s still in the workings. I’ll give it to you when you return back to the academy. Okay?"

"As long as it doesn’t explode again," Dean chuckled.

"I’ll do my best." Olsen patted Dean on his shoulder.

Dean smiled. "Whatever man..."

Olsen poked Ash a little as the slime who sat on the sword purred.

Little by little, the line thinned till it was only Ying. Yuki had subtly handed him something in his pocket earlier when they were heading back.

Ying stepped forward finally. The hall went silent again.

He stood in front of him. The man’s eyes filled with pride. Something Dean wasn’t accustomed to.

He held out his hand and a ring sat in his palm. The Gray family signet ring.

The design was simple, crafted from black metal with the family crest carved into the face.

"This ring has buried three generations of Gray heads," Ying said quietly.

"Do not wear it lightly."

Dean took the ring cautiously and slid it onto his finger. It fit perfectly like it was always meant for him.

Ying placed a hand on Dean’s shoulder.

"It’s your time my boy!"

Dean nodded once.

And the gift ceremony came to an end.

A/N: Thanks for all your support. Those that are supporting in one way or another I really appreciate.

Knowing someone is reading this is a joy. I hope Y’all keep enjoying this.