The Sunlit Tides Surfing Academy
This is a story in progress which will be, mostly, about my teen legacy heir, William, living the most perfect life I can imagine - attending a surfing boarding school in Sunlit Tides. I felt the need...
Forum Discussion
Saturday, last day of winter. (Part 1)
A double birthday was celebrated at the boarding school in the morning: William and Ruru were about to age up to young adults. That meant chocolate cake for breakfast!
https://i.imgur.com/gpcHN7n.jpg
Ruru was the first to blow out the candles.
https://i.imgur.com/hm8Eevx.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4ap9XyB.jpg
William was next (by accident he looks really tiny in this last picture of him as a teen):
https://i.imgur.com/tqbaqaY.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/47DwEWI.jpg
While they were eating the delicious cake, William overheard an intriguing conversation between Lilinoe and Ruru.
https://i.imgur.com/15IZzN1.jpg
"Ruru, were you planning to do the midnight firewalk? Because I'm definitely doing it, and I'd like to do it tonight."
"That's perfect!" Ruru said. "We can go together, and invite the others along."
https://i.imgur.com/8KOyzQ2.jpg
William asked Ruru what they were talking about.
"It's a Sunlit Tides tradition, a coming-of-age ceremony. You have to spend a night on the volcano and, in front of witnesses, walk on hot embers at midnight. Then the next day you get tattooed, and you are officially considered an adult."
https://i.imgur.com/G14hiu5.jpg
Without thinking twice, William said: "That's incredibly cool! Do you think I can do it too, even though I wasn't born in Sunlit Tides?"
https://i.imgur.com/vpNP0uu.jpg
"It doesn't matter where you were born. It's a ceremony that makes you part of the island society. What matters is, do you want to stay here?"
https://i.imgur.com/Su83Ihi.jpg
Ruru's words gave William something to think about. School would be over at the end of spring, and he had no proper plans for the future. Should he return to his family in Isla Paradiso? But his best friends from Isla Paradiso were actually here with him - and his girlfriend was here...
Outside, the heavy rain continued. Rascal was getting acquainted with a new friend, a dog gnome that appeared outside the boarding school overnight.
https://i.imgur.com/1zIPcyY.jpg
William called his girlfriend Oliana. She had aged up a day before him; they were both anxious to see each other as young adults for the first time.
https://i.imgur.com/eXhpIky.jpg
They briefly met in town and exchanged birthday presents - and couldn't keep their eyes off each other. They were both very clearly pleased with what they saw!
https://i.imgur.com/PmskfwZ.jpg
William noticed a tattoo on Oliana's arm. "Does this mean you did the midnight firewalk?"
Oliana's face lit up. "You know about the ceremony? Yes, I did, and it was scary but thrilling!"
https://i.imgur.com/r05Mr8A.jpg
William then met Ruru, Lilinoe and Jeanette at the sports equipment shop - he and Jeanette agreed to be witnesses to Ruru and Lilinoe's ceremony, and they needed sleeping bags, a tent and a portable firepit.
https://i.imgur.com/GB0TZnp.jpg
A double birthday was celebrated at the boarding school in the morning: William and Ruru were about to age up to young adults. That meant chocolate cake for breakfast!
https://i.imgur.com/gpcHN7n.jpg
Ruru was the first to blow out the candles.
https://i.imgur.com/hm8Eevx.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4ap9XyB.jpg
William was next (by accident he looks really tiny in this last picture of him as a teen):
https://i.imgur.com/tqbaqaY.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/47DwEWI.jpg
While they were eating the delicious cake, William overheard an intriguing conversation between Lilinoe and Ruru.
https://i.imgur.com/15IZzN1.jpg
"Ruru, were you planning to do the midnight firewalk? Because I'm definitely doing it, and I'd like to do it tonight."
"That's perfect!" Ruru said. "We can go together, and invite the others along."
https://i.imgur.com/8KOyzQ2.jpg
William asked Ruru what they were talking about.
"It's a Sunlit Tides tradition, a coming-of-age ceremony. You have to spend a night on the volcano and, in front of witnesses, walk on hot embers at midnight. Then the next day you get tattooed, and you are officially considered an adult."
https://i.imgur.com/G14hiu5.jpg
Without thinking twice, William said: "That's incredibly cool! Do you think I can do it too, even though I wasn't born in Sunlit Tides?"
https://i.imgur.com/vpNP0uu.jpg
"It doesn't matter where you were born. It's a ceremony that makes you part of the island society. What matters is, do you want to stay here?"
https://i.imgur.com/Su83Ihi.jpg
Ruru's words gave William something to think about. School would be over at the end of spring, and he had no proper plans for the future. Should he return to his family in Isla Paradiso? But his best friends from Isla Paradiso were actually here with him - and his girlfriend was here...
Outside, the heavy rain continued. Rascal was getting acquainted with a new friend, a dog gnome that appeared outside the boarding school overnight.
https://i.imgur.com/1zIPcyY.jpg
William called his girlfriend Oliana. She had aged up a day before him; they were both anxious to see each other as young adults for the first time.
https://i.imgur.com/eXhpIky.jpg
They briefly met in town and exchanged birthday presents - and couldn't keep their eyes off each other. They were both very clearly pleased with what they saw!
https://i.imgur.com/PmskfwZ.jpg
William noticed a tattoo on Oliana's arm. "Does this mean you did the midnight firewalk?"
Oliana's face lit up. "You know about the ceremony? Yes, I did, and it was scary but thrilling!"
https://i.imgur.com/r05Mr8A.jpg
William then met Ruru, Lilinoe and Jeanette at the sports equipment shop - he and Jeanette agreed to be witnesses to Ruru and Lilinoe's ceremony, and they needed sleeping bags, a tent and a portable firepit.
https://i.imgur.com/GB0TZnp.jpg
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