A Hand-Woven Universe 84 84. To Seek Strength

Noone stood staring into the sunrise. He had never seen a sunrise before, and until this moment he never considered it.

Because Tapestry was built into the side of the cliff, they only were able to view one half of the sky. The sun only existed from its zenith to where it set along the horizon. It was impossible to imagine a sunrise, until he saw it for himself.

All it once it seemed impossibly brilliant, and incredibly mundane. "Of course there is a sunrise." His mind berated, but similarly he couldn't help but feel giddy and the sight. Even in the barren waste of this stone forest, there was a breeze which seemed to carry with it the majesty of a world unknown.

Sarah and Feylin both eyed the being hesitantly. Ever since they woke up they had seen him stood silently facing the horizon. He looked to be enraptured by it. At the same time though they noticed around his wrists were a simple pair of steel manacles.

Tobias had placed them on his wrists when the morning came. Sally and Rae were both there to watch and make sure that Noone did not lash out during the process.

Although he was hesitant, Noone eventually allowed Tobias to put the manacles on his wrists without resistance. They had 'talked' with him through the night and seemed to not bare him any immediate ill will. Even Tobias, whom he had cut off an arm from.

Tobias was gentle with the cuffs. He wasn't entirely sure what to make of Noone. But it was clear that as long as they did not mistreat him, he seemed to be vaguely willing to go along with them.

"Sarah. Feylin. Come with me." Rae said, grabbing them by their wrists. They were broken out of their thoughts and began to follow Rae, who approached Noone with pep in her step.

"Noone." Rae said. Noone shook himself from his fascination and looked at her. He quickly noticed the two who he had not yet met. They had disappeared first into the night.

The two acolytes were shocked, seeing the being react to being called shook their minds into a stupor. When did he get a name? They couldn't help but look at Rae.

Rae took her hand and placed it on Feylin's chest - he didn't resist waiting to see what was happening.

"Feylin." She moved her hand and placed it on Sarah. "Sarah."

Noone nodded his head. He could easily see the distrust on the faces of the two. They were the least dangerous of the group from what he remembered, he couldn't help but feel that they must be the youngest of everyone.

"Noone." He held his hand on his chest and stared at the two acolytes. They looked at each other, partly in shock and partly to avoid his gaze.

Noone did not blink a lot compared to most people. To those with less experience, the constant eye contact felt extremely intimidating.

Sarah collected her thoughts first. With a tentative smile she put her hand on her own chest, saying her own name.

Noone nodded to her in acknowledgement.

He honestly felt a little bad for what he did earlier. Although he knew it could not have been helped, he was beginning to think he may have unfairly judged these beings. It was still difficult for him to wrap his mind around the idea that there were other human-like existences outside of Tapestry. But those thoughts would be left to stew until he understood more about this world.

For now, Noone decided to go along with them. It seemed the tall thin one, Raelith, was interested in teaching him their language. So Noone decided he would see how this played out – for now.

Trying to brace an entire new frontier alone, he realized, may be a bit unreasonable. Especially without knowing what kind of other beings there were, or how many. Noone would be in trouble if there were a few thousand of them, he thought.

The group began to walk towards the east, carefully backtracking along the path they came from. They would need to reconnect with their cart for rations if they were going to make it all the way back to the temple.

Noone's eyes were unfocused. He walked in the middle of the group, his steps falling into a constant rhythm a dozen paces behind Tobias.

The atmosphere of the group was different than it had been any day prior. Having another addition to their party after half a year of traveling with just the 5 of them was uncomfortable, especially so for the two acolytes.
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Although logically they knew they could relax a little, especially with their three seniors around, but whenever they looked at Noone they couldn't help but remember what happened a month prior. Especially Feylin, when he recalled what Noone did to Sarah, and how powerless he was against Noone, a bitter taste filled his mouth.

The three seniors were not unaware of these feelings within the acolytes. Everyone knew how young they were, and because of this they had the Sarah and Feylin walk closest to Noone. Tobias felt that it was important that they learn early on that in life that the idea of an enemy and a friend were easily interchangeable.

They walked through the day and Noone had no problem keeping pace. As the sun approached the western horizon, they set up camp.

Throughout the day he carefully observed the group. Their clothing, their packs, how they walked. Everything about them was extremely foreign and yet eerily similar to the people of Tapestry.

Noone's heart ached at the thought of his precious home. A place which he had always felt was a little foreign, had now become a place which he desperately wished he could return to. Noone sighed in regret as he looked back towards the west eyes slightly wet, remembering what he saw.

This action did not go unnoticed by the group.

That night he did not sleep. Despite his presence the two acolytes continued their trainings under Sally. Meanwhile Raelith continued to teach Noone the basics of their language.

Overall it was extremely peaceful. Noone watched Sarah and Feylin go about their practice in extreme interest.

Initially when they started to fight with Sally, Noone couldn't help but be shocked. The ferociousness that they went at each other made Noone question their sanity. Especially afterwards. They all sat and talked, smiles on their faces.

"They really are a violent race." Noone observed coldly. No matter how nicely they treated him, Noone would not forget this.

In Tapestry there was no need for weapons or violence of battle training. They existed in perfect harmony as a family. No dispute would ever occur that could inspire such a mindset. So, to Noone, the very idea of battle training was foreign. Not just training, but of weapons themselves.

It wasn't until that night did Noone realize what the tools everyone carried were for.

The long strange pike carried by Raelith.

The weird axe carried by Tobias.

The hammer carried by Sally.

The odd pole carried by Sarah,

And the knife carried by Feylin.

They were all weapons. Not tools. Not tools in the way Noone thought of tools. They were objects specifically designed to hurt others.

Everything he learned about these other beings only confused him. Sometimes they seemed nice, to get along similar to how those of Tapestry would get along. They ate food together. They slept in safety of each other's watch. But then they would practice battle and tactics for harm. How did that make any sense?

That night while the two acolytes slept, Sally took watch of the perimeter and Noone was left under Tobias's care. While they were left alone in the dark of night, Tobias removed the large axe from his back. He held it in one hand and looked like a mountain. The muscles in his forearm bulged under the weight of the metal.

Noone narrowed his eyes and watched the paladin. Noone did not trust any of them enough to let his guard down. Instead of turning to face Noone however, Tobias walked a few paces away. Without ceremony he began to swing his axe.

He raised the dual-blades high above his head and with immense strength his feet planted themselves into the stone while the axe cut through the air.

Noone was prepared to see stone being crushed under the immense weight of the metal weapon. However, instead he couldn't keep his mouth from falling open in shock.

An inch.

The axe stopped an inch from the ground sending a circle of stone dust shooting out in fear.

Then again. And again.

Over the next four hours Noone watched the man - mesmerized by his control over the axe. When he saw the acolytes and even Rae and Sally use their weapons, it looked like they were using tools. But when he saw Tobias, it left him in awe. Tobias moved the axe smoothly with a mastery Noone could not fathom. Repeatedly he swung the axe, working his muscles until sweat created puddles in the ground underneath him.

Noone was completely right to be impressed by Tobias. Even before he joined the Order of Life as a paladin, he had been an axe wielding prodigy. Now though, Tobias couldn't help but feel those were years long since gone.

When Tobias finally stopped, it was only an hour until sunrise. He breathed out an exhausted breath which steamed the air around him. He was a dragon among men.

"Tobias." Noone's voice betrayed his impression and only Tobias heard it. When Tobias looked over, he was surprised to see admiration within the other beings' eyes.

Tobias couldn't help but look down at his axe. To be honest he had mostly forgotten that Noone was there while doing his training. He was still aware enough to have known if Noone moved, but he had become absorbed by his practice.

Noone did not know what else to say. Or rather, he was unable to say anything else. He did not have the words to express what he felt seeing Tobias's expert craft.

Noone immediately recognized the consistent motions Tobias went through as advanced training. Every time he swung the axe, Tobias would minutely adjust his stance, his fingers, every portion of his body until he achieved a perfect strike.

His thoughts drifted back to Tapestry, although most people did not train their bodies the way the beings of the surface do, he couldn't help but feel the sting of pain as he thought about the hundreds of people who would train their attunements.

All training requires discipline, he thought. And all discipline looks the same. In Tapestry, they used discipline to train their attunements, here it seemed they trained their bodies.

As Noone thought back to his home, he crossed his legs sitting up straight. His eyes closed, and his breathing evened out.

Noone realized after watching Tobias, that he had been wasting too much time. If he was going to exist around these beings, he would need to get stronger.

If he was going to avenge his city… he would need to become much stronger.

Chapter end