A Hand-Woven Universe
/ A Hand-Woven Universe 17 17. Relax, this is only the beginning.
Luckily the librarians of Tapestry saw this becoming an issue and had created a plan that could be used to learn the old language. Liter was the last one to update it and had gone to retrieve it from his personal study for Adria to use.
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Even still - Adria couldn't believe how different their language was from what the language of Tapestry is now.
She let out an annoyed grunt and pushed the book off to the side. Normally she wouldn't be so annoyed about this but something about reading those books and being in that room was causing her a headache.
Maybe it was just how cut off the room felt, or maybe it had something to do with the barrier The Ancestor had put in place. Either way she was now annoyed.
Adria took a deep breath and stood up preparing to leave the room. She picked the book up and placed it gently back into the spot Liter had taken it from. Liter had been very clear that this room was to stay in a perfect condition.
For some reason, something about Liter's eyes had actually intimidated Adria in that moment. Thus, she didn't want to cross him. Also, books as old as these - even despite their mint condition – deserved immense respect. Adria felt a reverence for them deep in her heart. She wouldn't do anything that could remotely damage the books.
In the beginning she had even suppressed her fire-attunement energy, however when Liter saw that he simply smiled and told her that she shouldn't bother.
The Ancestors barrier would suppress any rogue energy immediately once it left Adria's body. So, there was no chance of her energy being able to inflict elemental damage on the books even if she tried to. Of course, Adria still idly suppressed her energy afterwards just in case. She didn't want to put things to the test.
Suddenly the door burst open from the outside and Liter came tumbling in.
"Adria! Hurry! It's Noone!"
Adria's eyes went wide. What? Noone? What could have happened to him that would cause Liter to react so much?
Without waiting for Liter to recover and explain she immediately bolted past him and through the door. Liter quickly made to follow but due to his lacking physical strength he just as quickly was left behind.
…
In another part of Tapestry Noone was walking through the streets at a leisurely pace. His head was held high and a mischievous gleam could be seen in his eyes. He smiled like an emperor going off towards an assured victory.
On his back was a large pack almost half the height of Noone himself. Strapped to him were a large steel pick, an even longer steel pike, and a sledgehammer heavy enough to even cause Noone pause for thought. A small detail that most people did not notice though, was a small sestone gripped tight in his palm.
At that moment he was walking from having visited Porose who had proceeded to give him all the food he could fit in his pack.
Following behind Noone were 200 miners all smiling and laughing in their silent way. When Noone had come to them earlier, they had immediately put their best foot forward and decided to pitch in and give him a hand.
Standing between the group and Noone, Porose and Tommy talked to each other telepathically.
"He really does have a big pair doesn't he Tahmel?!" Porose chuckled and teased his good friend of many years.
Tommy and Porose were actually only seven years apart in age. Porose had been born first, and Tommy came later.
Thus - once they both got into adulthood - they began to compete in life. Never too seriously though, except for one time long ago. In their eyes, they were basically brothers.
Tommy went on to become the head of mining operations in Tapestry, while Porose adopted his father's position as the premier cook in the city.
They both looked at Noone's back as he walked alone. When they had heard a child had been born without any attunement, they initially looked down on the child. Even thinking that it would not end up living long.
How could a person without an attunement be healthy?
However, as they watched the child grow up, their opinion rapidly changed.
When they saw him keeping up with and even giving Adria a hard time, they began to grow fond of him.
Then before they knew it, Adria had left on her coming of age, and when she returned, Noone would still be a match for her!
Even more than that they saw a change in the city thanks to Noone, though it was small.
There was more noise now. Throaty laughs and resonant noises had begun to echo through the silent city.
Originally when they started learning to speak out loud, they did not think much of it. But as time passed and more and more people learned, it was like a new energy had been brought to the city.
…
Earlier that day.
Noone stood in front of a rowdy group of miners. Tommy stood next to him waiting for some more people to arrive.
Once they did Tommy quieted the group.'
Everyone present was curious about what Noone was hoping to accomplish having them all gathered up. But they knew he wouldn't do such a thing if it wasn't important. However, they couldn't think of anything that was this important.
Maybe he found a new mineral deposit that was too big for even himself to gather alone, someone joked causing the group to chortle. The miners looked up expectantly.
Noone stepped forward, in his hand he was clenching a sea stone.
"I… am going to do my ceremony of adulthood! And I am going to need your help to do it."
Noone looked at the group and began to explain his plan, along with help from Tobias.
Ever since Adria pulled her stunt the elders had decided to keep a close eye on the outcropping in case anyone got any funny ideas. Specifically, Noone.
He told them his reasons, and even his worries. But the group of miners quickly latched onto the idea. Even if they had cared less about Noone, they weren't averse to stirring up trouble when a good excuse arises.
….
And like that we end up where we are now. With Noone marching through the city, a cavalcade of miners following behind wielding picks.
Behind them were individuals so caught up by the spectacle they decided to follow along and observe the occasion.
….
"Elders! Elders!" A stout man ran into the elder's hall, at the moment they had just been finishing up a meeting.
"What is it?" The elders could see the panic on the man's face and were very alarmed,
"I... Noone… Miners... Noone!"
What? The elders looked at each other having no idea what the man was going on about. He took a breath and tried again.
"Elders... I, no, Noone is walking through the city right now... following him are hundreds of the miners under Tahmel and Porose is there too." He looked up at the elders as if hoping that they were already aware of what was going on. However, the elders were only left even more confused. They immediately left the hall and went to investigate.
…
At the same time Adria was running towards the city, a frail librarian following behind.
…
Noone's party began to approach the outcropping. As Noone stepped onto it the miners all flooded into the area and cut everyone off from approaching. In front of them stood Tobias who was eyeing the tunnels.
Everyone waited for the Elder's to inevitably arrive.
It did not take more than a few minutes for them to show up, along with others who had heard something was happening and came to observe. They all saw Noone walking towards the edge of the cliff. His Pick and sledge casting shadows into the cavernous outcropping.
"Noone!"
Noone turned around and saw Elder Azelle staring back at him. In between them were 200 miners and Tahmel and Porose, all of whom were ready to interfere if the elders attempted to hold Noone back.
To many of the people here this was just something fun to do, the years in Tapestry are long and to be able to take part in something like this would give them something to talk about for the next century.
Others, especially those that knew Noone personally were there to honestly help him. They had heard why he wanted to complete his coming of age now, instead of waiting three years. It had sparked a heroic spirit in them, even if it was only by proxy.
"Noone, why are you doing this now? Just wait the three years! It's not that long of a time!" Elder Azelle was starting to get nervous. Even Adria hadn't left till she was 16! And she was a prodigy! Noone has no attunement and though he was physically strong… in the next three years there was no telling how much stronger he would get. But only if he waited.
As if seeing Elder Azelle's thoughts in his eyes, Noone took a deep breath and prepared his response.
"Elder Azelle, please. This is what I have decided. You say three years isn't a long time. But then how much longer will it take me to climb my way back up if I wait?" He looked at his palms, and the sestone in his hand. "Elder, I don't have any affinities. I do not know if I will live as long as you. For all we know, a person without affinities like me might not even have a hundred years to live." These words came out quiet and forlorn. There was a subtle and desperate rage in Noone's voice – hating that fate had been so cruel to him. Everyone standing on the outcrop looked at Noone in disbelief. How could that be true?
Elder Azelle did not know what to say. He knew what Noone said was true. No one in Tapestry knew how long one's lifespan was without the heritage of the Ancestor flowing in their blood. His gaze looked deeply into Noone's – trying to read the young man in front of him.
At this time Adria had made her way onto the balcony, she dashed straight ahead. The words Noone spoke had only just entered her ears, causing her to grit her teeth.
She dashed forward, calves flexed taught with inherited strength. Seeing her arrival, Porose stepped in her way.
"Now now Adria, it's not good to be too clingy you know?" The large man chuckled, he knew she would most likely try to stop Noone. His body started to shine with elemental energy as the power lines on his body pulsed.
"MOVE!" Sarah shouted, not even bothering to give Porose the time of day. As his elemental energy began to extend from his body to surround Adria, she suddenly moved forward with greater speed. The ground under her feet suddenly cracked as her toes dug into the floor.
The next thing Porose knew, he was flying through the air, large body crashing into the crowd of miners.
DID SHE JUST KICK ME? He thought incredulously. I'M HER UNCLE!
Everyone looked on in shock.
How... brutal.
Two more explosions sounded out and Adria shot into the air clear over the Miners reach. No one moved to intercept her. Sorry Noone. You're on your own with her. The miners smiled bitterly.
She landed nimbly compared to her monstrous speed, stood just 5 meters away from Noone. Noone was already standing with his heels to the edge of the cliff. He waited with taut muscles as Adria stared at him. Their eyes did not move from each other's.
No words were spoken. Despite the silence, they understood each other. Both of their gazes were heavy with emotion.
Are you sure you want this right now? I can wait.
I know Adria, but I am sure.
Adria closed her eyes. A moment passed. Every person present was silent. The elders watched on. The miners waited too. No one dared to interfere.
Suddenly the energy around Adria exploded out! Her body lit up like a sun and her eyes glowed with fiery energy.
Her laugh spread across the entire outcrop and everyone saw when she approached Noone and patted him on the shoulder.
Noone smiled back, his posture relaxed a bit as well.
He was not been sure what Adria was going to choose to do. If she forcefully tried to stop him from going, he truly didn't know if he would be able to stop her.
He looked back towards the elders.
To Elder Azelle.
To Porose
To Tahmel.
To Liter, who was in the back trying to catch his breath.
He held the sea stone in the palm of his hand.
"Relax," He smiled. "This is only the beginning."
Goodbye for now, I will see you all again in a few years.
He spread his arms out and fell backwards, letting gravity take him as the ground beneath his feet suddenly disappeared and he began to plummet.
Chapter end
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