A Hand-Woven Universe 9 9. Tapestry Under Siege

"So that's how it went, huh?" Adria had her head resting in her palms with her elbows on the table. "Well it's not like we can really be too surprised. It would have been more surprising had you suddenly developed an attunement, no?" she forked another bird leg into her mouth.

While Noone had told her what he had been up to for the past 2 years, Adria had proceeded to fill her body with more food than Noone had ever thought possible for a girl her size. Adria had always been a voracious eater but Noone shuddered to think what she must have gone through in her trial to be this hungry.

He thought about asking her about what she had seen and done in the trial, however that was something which was not talked about except to the librarian who would then keep a record of it for posterity. Even Adria would not break this rule. Or at least, not in public.

He would ask her about it later where they won't be overheard.

Pitying looks could be seen all around from the rest of the patrons. Noone was unable to talk about things telepathically like everyone else, so in public there was no keeping secrets. However, Noone had learned not to mind too much.

Everyone in Tapestry was familiar with the anomaly that was Noone. Though very few had met him, and fewer still have tried to talk with him. It was tough for many of these people to imagine what life must be like for Noone.

The people of Tapestry have always - since the day they were born - been connected to each other. Up front, Noone always seemed secure in himself. He had a strong body and he was tall for his age. Noone would never be seen walking slouched. He kept his chin up and his head high. He was a stone in a river.

However which one of these people had not lived for a few hundred years? Even if Noone and them could not sense each other, he was still human. Thus, they knew that even though Noone seemed like he had accepted and embraced his lot in life, underneath he certainly had doubts and felt alone at times.

And they were right. After all, Noone was only 14. No matter how strong he was, he was still a kid. It was rough at times.

As awkward stares began to fill the originally lively atmosphere, a large man walked out of the back of the restaurant with two pints in his hands. Immediately all eyes focused on him.

Every step shook the floor as he slammed the two pints down in front of Noone and Adria. Even if Noone was standing up he would still need to look up at the towering figure that was Porose!

"Noone! Hello!! Adria! Welcome back!!" His voice boomed inside the restaurant which now seemed infinitely smaller. He slapped their backs with a large grin. Adria nearly fell out of her seat and Noone fared only slightly better. Truly strong, Porose thought. Porose glowed with an orange light that seemed to only make him more imposing. Noone was surprised at how good the man's spoken word was.

Porose was in charge of almost every restaurant and tavern in town. As such he was a man to be feared.

"Hello Porose!" "Hi Porose." The two responded in unison.

Noone had heard of Porose before but did not recall ever interacting with the man in any meaningful way. Adria on the other hands was in the same family and had great memories with him, mainly regarding food.

"When I was informed you both were eating here I rushed over to make sure you both were treated well!" He laughed, and the room was deafened. If there were ever a spirit of the loud and boisterous, its name would be Porose!

"Adria! I'm glad you made it back safe! When you left the elders had themselves a fit! You're such a troublemaker! And Noone!? No luck on your test, eh? But so, what! Just live your life and be happy!" Noone was continually shocked at how articulate the man was. When did this happen? He was a little too loud though, Noone thought to himself.

"Here drink! On me!" He pushed the two pints towards them. "Noone you're 18, right?" Noone grabbed the pint that had been put in front of him and downed it in one go! "14!" He declared, before Tobias could take the pint back. They both laughed, "Good man! Close enough!"

Adria - not one to be left out - downed hers too even faster than Noone had.

"So, you both! I have a proposition for you, if you dare to take it?" He smiled broadly showing all of his teeth. Pulling a gold token out of his pocket "This token is as good as my word, and I will give it to you both for tonight. One night! So you can eat and drink free no matter where you go! But! On one condition!" Porose smiled intimidatingly.

Noone and Adria looked at each other, everyone in the restaurant looked on as he held the token high. Many of the patrons had a bad feeling growing in their chests.

Porose had a habit, quite possibly a bad one. At any excuse he could come up with he tried to drag the city into celebration and festivities.

Basically, he really really loved a party.

The hard part was finding an excuse good enough that the elders wouldn't get too mad. This has been the source of many disputes between him and the elders for centuries.

One dispute ended with a 10-year ban on celebrations. Followed by Porose banning the elders from his restaurants for 100 years! The 10-year ban was immediately lifted and Porose threw a party in celebration!

"We make sure Noone gets to enjoy himself too! It's good to celebrate and use our voices once in a while! And all of you layabouts!" He looked at everyone else "are going to be giving these two a hand in getting the ball rolling, won't you?!" They all looked at each other, "And if you don't! don't bother coming back to one of my restaurants for at least a year!" At this point there were various looks – from incredulous to shocked - on everyone's faces.

Immediately Adria's eyes lit up with childish delight. She jumped on the table and snatched the token out of Porose's hand before he could change his mind. She had no problem taking charge and organizing the crowd. "You guys! Head over to the Miners and inform them what's happening!" She started pointing out tables, "You, to the Engineers! The growers! The builders! The healers! And no matter what! No one inform the elders!" Everyone's eyes went wide at the efficiency of the young girl.

To the people in the restaurant it was like the devil had revealed herself to them. And the devil was an 18-year-old red headed girl.

"Oh, and one more thing!" At this point her voice was as loud as it could be for someone her size, she held everyone's attention. Even Porose was impressed, but of course they shared the same bloodline. Suddenly she stopped suppressing her aura and the entire restaurant was in disbelief! "The rest of you are with me! And we are going to be doing all our celebrating as loud as possible! It's time you stretch your throats out and remember how to party like our ancestors would! Now let's start off with a pint for everyone before we head out to take the city!" She laughed in sheer amusement as an entire bar was emptied in a matter of minutes.

Cheering immediately stretched out onto the street. The people within earshot were in shock. What is going on?

…

After the first pint there was a second and a third before people began to set out to their assignments. Finally though, a mob had formed. It made its way through the streets leaving a trail of nothing but chaos and good times behind it.
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In the first tavern that they hit, drinks were made free and more cheering abounded! People took the initiative to start hopping to other places to drag them into the celebrations too.

As the party train continued, the people of Tapestry were becoming more and more comfortable cheering out loud and hooting and hollering as they opened taps. Noone had never seen such a thing before, but he could tell it was becoming infectious.

Another tavern. A restaurant. 2 more taverns. Gradually the whole city became embroiled in the affairs.

"Noone! You're 14 already huh! You've gotten pretty big! Get over here!" A large earth-attuned man downed two pints and then flexed, he was a full head taller than Noone but everyone in Tapestry knew how strong Noone was. His spoken word was broken, but Noone knew this man, and he knew what he wanted.

Noone grinned and puffed up his chest walking over, they immediately clasped hands and started wrestling each other to the ground. The large man was big and strong but Noone was a bit stronger! They tumbled around the Tavern causing cheering and betting to immediately fill the air.

It wasn't until they smashed through several tables before they called it quits.

Adria – caught up in the atmosphere - jumped on the bar exclaiming that the booze won't stop until the entire city is drunk.

The big man stood up next to her "I will help you on your quest through the city! As long as the alcohol keeps flowing!" and chugged two more pints.

…

"Elders! Elders! Porose has started a celebration! Half the city has already been taken! The last one was only a year ago this can't keep happening you must do something!"

All the elders were slightly shocked. While Porose did have a tendency to do this, it was usually restrained once every few years. He knew a bit of propriety and wouldn't push it too much. Recovering from a city-wide party usually took a week and - in a small self-sustained community - every day counts.

As such the elders were a little bewildered. What is the situation? He wouldn't be doing this without a reason?

When they found out the reason, the elders hall was filled with wry smiles. Well... I guess we can let it go this time, they thought.

Not too long later, the head of Adria's family would be spotted in the heart of the celebration setting off fiery displays.

Chapter end