A Hand-Woven Universe 15 15. Coming of Age?

When the elder offered him a chance to go with them, Noone did not need to think about his response.

Without the elder, and without Adria, what was there in Tapestry for him anyways? Plus… Noone had a feeling within the very core of his being that if he did stay, he would regret it for the rest of his life. And at the moment he didn't even know how long the rest of his life was.

But he was sure that no matter how long he had, he would much rather spend it trying to make history for Tapestry.

Even if it turned out there was nothing out there, and they had gone to their deaths… really how different was that than the life Noone would have if he stayed in Tapestry?

Sure, he might be able to live a bit longer, but was that all there was to life?

At the moment he was so lost in his own thoughts he hadn't noticed the feminine and powerful figure of Adria standing against the wall en route to the library. She seemed to have been waiting for him.

"Noone?" Immediately Noone was broken out of his own personal reverie and looked up.

"Ah, Adria..."

Adria looked off to the side biting her lip. Noone could tell she wanted to say something, but she wasn't acting like herself at all. The Adria he knew would never be shy about something she wanted to know.

"So…?" Adria started.

"So?" Noone tilted his head as though he didn't understand.

Noone knew immediately what it was Adria wanted to ask him about. However, he also knew now that Adria had known about her departure to the surface world for a year now, and she hadn't even mentioned it to him!

So, he wasn't going to give her an answer easily.

"So… I heard you saw the elder? What did he talk to you about?"

"Oh, yeah. I just finished meeting with him a few minutes ago, you found out really quickly?" Noone purposely tilted his head as though he didn't understand while simultaneously side-stepping her question.

Noone was waiting for Adria to get upset, then he would drop the act and talk to her about it. But for now, he simply wanted to tease her a bit to get her back for never mentioning any of this to him.

Adria looked frustrated at her own hands, upset at her incapability at grasping what it was she wanted to say. She knew that Elder Azelle told Noone everything. She knew he offered Noone a chance to go up with them. What she didn't know was what Noone had decided. She couldn't tell how upset Noone was at her for not mentioning it to him sooner.

And the truth was she had wanted to! But she didn't know how to broach such a topic… before they had decided to invite Noone, she even considered just leaving and letting someone else explain it to him.

She gripped her fists and stepped off the wall and stood facing Noone, her body was stiff.

"Noone,"

He looked at her, surprised at her sudden change in temperament.

"I am sorry. I should have told you earlier. I was nervous. The truth is, I am scared about the world above. But I don't want to be there alone. What if it really is just death? How was I supposed to talk about that? So please, just tell me what you decided?"

Her plea struck a chord within Noone. He had never seen her react meekly like this before.

"Adria, of course I chose to go." Noone couldn't bring himself to look away.

Around the corner Elder Azelle and the Fire-attuned elder stood hiding their presence from the two youths. They looked at each other with praise in their eyes. If the world above is habitable finally, it will be left in very good hands. They chuckled.

…

"So probably around 4 years then?" Noone questioned,

Noone and Adria had talked through everything that had been on their minds. Noone told Adria that although the plan was set, they wouldn't be able to leave until Noone became an adult. It was something too traditional to ignore.

"Speaking of which, are you going to do your coming of age ceremony?" Adria asked curiously.

"What do you mean? Of course I am. It's necessary for me to pass into adulthood." Noone said evenly. Adria gave him a look but said nothing. Noone knew what she meant.

Although Noone did not have an affinity, it was not like he was as weak as Liter who, for all practical purposes, had no fighting capability due to his special attunement.

Noone believed he was more than capable of completing the coming of age ceremony. Even if he were to go right now.

Adria frowned and her eyebrows scrunched up in deep thought.

"I think it might take a bit longer than that." She said after a moment. Noone patiently waited for her to continue, "Noone, it took me two years because I was seeking enlightenment on my fire attunement and did not mind taking my time. If I had rushed it, I probably could have completed the whole trial in about a year. I can't understate though how important my attunement was to scale the cliff." She looked at Noone "If I had to rely purely on my physical body, I don't know how long it would end up taking. Even if my physical body was extraordinarily strong."
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Noone thought about this, what Adria said made sense. After all it had never been meant as a trial to test one's body, but rather to help people refine their attunements.

Well, even if it ended up taking him a bit longer, so what? He was confident in his abilities.

…

After Noone and Adria had parted ways, Noone continued to think about the future.

Finally, he smiled and clenched his fists, the bones in his hands popped under the immense strength.

I have to go see Liter.

…

"You want to see the records for past trials?" Liter obviously knew about the situation Noone was in. "Usually those records are for elder's eyes only…" Out of obligation Liter made a show of it as though he was going to refuse.

Obviously though he let Noone see them.

…

A few days had passed with Noone's head in the books. When the elder and Adria found out what he was up to, they had decided to let him be.

Noone had researched everything he could. The creatures he might run into. Weather. Currents of the ocean below. Even rock samples from different heights of the cliffs.

Upon seeing a section of the records he didn't understand, Noone took the book and went looking around the library for Liter.

Despite scouring the library from top to bottom Noone did not find Liter anywhere.

Noone prepared to leave the library when suddenly- "Noone, were you looking for me?"

Liter appeared a little way behind Noone. Odd, Noone thought. We must have just passed each other when I went by.

"Ah yeah. I had read through quite a few accounts and I came across this. I was hoping you could explain to me what it is?"

Noone handed the book over to Liter who started reading it from the beginning. If he was going to help, he was the type to want total context.

"Oh this? Hmm…." Liter's eyebrows scrunched up and his mouth twisted, he stared daggers at the page as though threatening it to give up its secrets. Noone felt it was a funny sight.

"I don't know." He shut the book. "It said he found a cave to rest in and saw… I'm sorry Noone, I really can't think of what that would be." He mumbled.

"It's okay Liter, if you don't know then there isn't anyone else who would. Besides it's not really important for my trial."

Noone patted Liters back, who still looked annoyed at not having an answer.

"So, are you done with your research for now?"

"Yeah, I think I have a pretty good feeling of what to expect." Noone nodded in satisfaction.

"You know Noone… you really don't have to do your trial." Liter said hesitantly. He didn't like discouraging him, but at the same time…. He didn't want anything to go wrong either.

Noone gave him a look, but left it at that.

With that Noone's time in the library came to an end.

Now... to the mines. Noone smiled mischievously

Chapter end