It should be known that the reason Cisse mumbled that they should wait till he awakens also pertains to why fifteen is also considered the age of adulthood in the Realm. Upon Awakening, one will go through a final growth spurt, which also marks the end of their natural growth. Meaning that as they live their lives, there will never grow in height or other areas naturally again. Every growth after the Awakening is purely attributed to their growth in power.
Settling into the bathwater, Arthur couldn't help but nod, appreciating as his muscles immediately began to relax. "Woah."
"Tell me bout it," Kwame laughed. "There is nothing better than a warm bath after a long day's work."
"Preach!" Joined in Mensa, who'd just disentangled himself from Ajax.
"Mhmm, that and some good alcohol." Added Andreas, who had his eyes closed the entire time, listening to the surroundings while displaying a light smile.
"Ahh, speaking of alcohol…Ajax, bring in a jar." Requested Kwame.
"Haha, thought you'd never ask." Boomed Ajax as he jumped out of the bath, running towards the changing room.
Exactly a minute later, Ajax ran back with two jars topped with stacked cups in hand.
In minutes, everyone had filled cups in hand as the two jugs rested on two floating daises.
"What's the toast for today?" asked a wiry old man with bright eyes.
Stroking his chin for a bit, Kwame raised his cup," To Cisse and Arthur!"
"""" To Cisse and Arthur!""""
Just ass Arthur was about to take a sip, he couldn't help but pause as he noticed the eyes of everyone on him.
"Don't be shy. Go on lad, take a sip," egged Kwame, with eyes of anticipation.
Squinting his eyes in vague suspicion, Arthur brought his cup to his and took a sip.
"COUGH-COUGH-COUGH!"
"""" AHAHAHAHAHA!""""
In seconds the resounding laughter of the men shook the bath.
Face flushed red, Arthur couldn't help but feel betrayed.
"Don't feel too bad. It's like that for everyone's first time trying Akpeteshie." Encouraged Cisse from the side, with a teasing smile on his face. "My first time wasn't any better; think of it as an initiation ceremony."
"Yep," Laughed Kwame as he raised his cup once more. "Welcome to the Asante Tribe, Arthur."
"""" Welcome Arthur!""""
…
A bit tipsy and settled, everyone was partaking in some light chit-chat when a curly-haired young man's voice suddenly rang out. "Freedom pertains to a lack of restraint!"
"No! Freedom is change, and change is freedom!" Responded a young man with short dark hair by the name Ashon.
"Aren't those two the same thing?" asked Cisse with eyebrows raised in interest as both parties' voices traveled across the whole bath. "After all, to bring change requires one to be free, and to be free is to lack restraints."
"No," disagreed Ashon. "Lacking restraints doesn't mean someone can change something. They may not be bound, but that doesn't mean they have the power or influence to cause change. Or, more specifically, the thought of even bringing about change."
"But that doesn't deny my point that Freedom means to lack restraints. Because power and influence can be viewed as restraints, and having adequate power or influence allows someone to bring about a change." Stated Danso, the curly-haired young man.
"And that doesn't deny my point either; the ability of change is Freedom. To be truly free is to be able to bring change." Added Ashon.
"And that doesn't refute my point either," stated Cisse, now significantly interested in this conversation. "Bringing change requires lack of restrains. Thus both your points are the same, just iterated differently."
"So we are in disagreement on the definition of freedom?" Joined Kwame as he sat forward interest.
"I have to side with Danso on this. Freedom is the ability to do whatever you want, meaning you lack any restraints." Affirmed Ajax.
"No no, I'm with Ashon on this one. Lack of restraint is too concise and doesn't encompass all situations involving Freedom. Change is vague enough to encompass all situations that I can think of. Think of a fish wishing to feel the air and thus jumping out of water. Even with its restriction to water, it could still bring about a change for itself." Explained Andres.
"Nah, I'm with Cisse on this one. Both definitions are just different wordings of each other. Combining them gives a clearer meaning of Freedom. The fish, for example, faced no restraints at the water's surface, thus allowing it to break past and bring a change for itself. Bringing change requires one to lack restraints." Voiced Mensa.
Immediately various voices began to sound, supporting one of three sides.
It was an interesting sight for Arthur, watching everyone immediately join a three-point debate with little to no hesitation. 'How passionate.'
Sitting quietly for a moment, Arthur's eyes closed as his mind quickened its pace. Simulating various scenarios pertaining to Freedom, a deep frown couldn't help but appear on Arthur's face. However, after a while, the frown began to disappear as a confident smile took its place.
It was then that Arthur's eyes opened.
"I'm going to have to disagree." Voiced Arthur, drawing everyone's attention. "All three points are arguably aspects of Freedom. However, Freedom is control."
"Huh, are those two things directly contradictory?" Asked Danso as he turned to Arthur.
"Yes, but think of it this way. Imagine a dam that just broke. The river it's been holding back now begins to rampage. Following your earlier definition Danso, it should be free now, but is it really if it can't stop itself. And as for Ashon's definition, though the river is bringing about change to its form, does the change bring it Freedom, or is it simply trading its master - from stagnation to momentum?"
"Ohh, I get what you are saying!" Exclaimed Cisse as his amber eyes brightened. "Should one have complete control, it means that they are free from all external influences, and can do whatever they want, or in other ways bring change."
"Exactly!" Affirmed Arthur.
Immediately the heads of everyone bobbed up and down in understanding as their original stances took a shift.
"Interesting." Began Kwame. "But what about situations like love? No one can control who they fall in love with."
"That's based on the assumption that love isn't a jail cell. As my old man used to say, 'Falling in love is the same as handing your glass-like heart to someone in hopes that they don't shatter it.' In some way, you are in control of how much you can trust them with your heart. In addition to the fact that you also can snatch it back, although it may suffer cracks in the process. But oftentimes, that may be better than waiting for them to completely shatter it." Murmmered Mensa as he continued to ruminate over the topic.
"Oh!?" exclaimed Ajax, as his eyes slowly widened in insight.
"That makes sense." Nodded Kwame. "But love is only one example. After all, we are all bound by something honor, family, promises, and so on. And it begs the question, are we or is anyone truly free?"
"In a way, it depends on how you look at it. Don't we in some way always choose to be bound by those things?" asked Arthur.
"Or so we believe." Acquiesced, Kwame. "But you do make an interesting point, though. There is Freedom in wishing to be bound to something, on the basis that we allow ourselves to be bound by that something."
"But that can't be called true Freedom, though, can it? After all, a person would've to relinquish a part of their Freedom." Added Cisse.
"Indeed." Agreed Arthur. "But that's on the belief that there aren't tiers to Freedom. There is basic freedom in which one is okay with their limited control and feels no need to want more. Then there is true Freedom in which one controls what binds them."
"But that only to an extent though," joined Mensa. "After all, no one here, for example, chose to be born. More specifically, no creation has a say in their own creation. We are all blessed/cursed with life."
"Actually, what kind of Freedom would be? One that would give you control of even your own birth?" asked Ashon.
"Absolute freedom?" offered Cisse.
"Is anyone or anything capable of even attaining something like that, complete and absolute freedom?" Asked Danso as his mind raced between various ideas. "Like removing ones need to breathe, for example, or even relinquishing the ability of Awakening a Path at fifteen. After all, absolute means complete independence."
"….Omnipotence, one would have the power to do as they wish." Proposed Arthur, as he remembered a book he read when he was around nine. "Omniscience too, for one to even know of the things they can exercise their power over. And also Omnipresence, to probably exercise both their Omnipotence and Omniscience, wherever and whenever."
"…..Woah," whispered Cisse.
"Woah indeed," laughed Kwame. "The average person probably seeks Freedom, while kings and such probably seek True Freedom, and I am guessing gods are the ones probably seeking Absolute Freedom – should they exist. The more control one has the more freedom they have."
"That actually makes a little too much sense." Added Ashon.
"And a bit terrifying." Breathed Danso.
"Indeed." Nodded a few heads.
"But the real question though," stated Ajax. "Does something that possesses the three Omni's even exist?"
Immediately the bath fell eerily silent for a few moments.
"Who knows?" Chuckled Kwame. "Maybe those in the Central Domain have answers."
.
.
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[Tidbit 1: Akpeteshie is the national spirit of Ghana, produced by distilling palm wine or sugar cane.]