Turn out it will be tomorrow for the awakening, he was ambushed on his way to the bathroom where he was almost bathed, it was only his habit of bringing his spear everywhere that he escapes from being molested by enthusiastic relatives he doesn't mind being dressed as Awakening ceremony are very important but that's where he drew the line.
After bathing he was taken to a room beside the main hall, wearing a loose white robe with no other type of clothing even underwear.
He saw Samuel, Carl and Trevor, Samuel was standing stiff like a statue, his eye was so focused he looks like a dumbass, Carl's eye was red like he had just been crying and he also notice that someone had cut his shaggy long hair into a neat short cut.
Trevor was waving at him, telling him to stand beside him and introduce him to his two female cousins from his grandma line, name Astrea and Mediv, pretty name, Astrea was a thin girl with a cute smile and hugging Mediv arm.
Mediv was, tall both physic and how she presented herself, her hair was black long and fall into his back like a strong and obedient army, the way her black eye looking at everything was several degrees higher than Samuel glare. In her white robe, she doesn't look like a weak girl but as a goddess scowling at the earth.
"Seem like a nice girl." He whispered and Trevor nod while he pats K back, after wandering around the main house yesterday, Tyler had learned many things about his new world, like how sometimes the relationship between two cousins are much closer than their biological sibling and that it was much more normal.
Warriors weren't a solo profession, sometimes in a huge family, a teammate is nurtured from childhood, like Trevor became a big brother figure for Carl who was younger than him by at least ten months and it was also supported by the older siblings who became Warriors rarely in the house either their are in the Guild or their job was outside the city.
He glances at Samuel then at himself, did he want to team up with that boy, it wasn't like trio team-up was forbidden but his adult self was really worried about a sixteen-year-old boy going solo against the monster or even a superpowered criminal, he glances at Mediv and decides he would work together with her to press gang Samuel into one of their team.
Another reason why he rates Mediv score higher because there a maturity in the girl like Trevor maturity, it was an interesting phenomenon normally you seen it on the first child but both Trevor and Mediv did have their little siblings to take. They both also displayed it differently, he had much more insight on Trevor how the boy likes to control the situation in his face, demeanour even his habit of shepherding him and Carl.
The main hall in the house was as big as a football field, the wall in the podium still has the cave texture and it curves at 70 degrees, the floor and wall on the other side were made from marble and there was a lot of unused chairs placed in the corner, his grandpa was standing in the podium, testing the mic and a projector was shining on a bland white cloth.
They were then pushed to stand behind Grandpa without any order whatsoever. He saw many faces in the crowd, at least fifty families present with the worker and servant in the back, Trevor had told him that if they are or their child was talented they could be admitted into the family.
"2012 is the start of a new era, we walk through this crisis together, we saw our home, our loved one killed in the disaster that happened, in the belly of the beast that invades us, we saw human fall into depravity, embracing the chaos seemingly want to quicken the destruction of the earth, we watch the elite in their ivory glass ready to play monarch and king game ready to destroy our progress back into middle age."
Grandfather said with a solemn voice, the projector above his head had a show documentary that survived the dark year.
"At the second year After Catalyst, we saw the rise of our protector, some of them noble while some of them vile but whoever they are, they are warriors who kill the invader protecting us with their mysterious power."
"At the years 20 A.C artificial or controlled awakening ceremony had been created there are many obstacles, many disadvantages but finally the mysterious power had been grasped into humanity instead of selected individuals who call themselves God or the chosen." Grandpa's face was solemn while also sneering at the last picture.
"As the years go we human finally had a chance to fight back with great sacrifice and fight, we recreated the first continent Pangea, a place where all people from all race, all languages gathered and live in harmony."
"Today we are standing here to greet and welcome our new batch of Warrior may Mother Earth grant them strength and may she receive their body safely."
"Amen." All the family bow down and pray, Tyler throat gulped, his fist tightened and he tries to not let the atmosphere sway him.
"Astrea Grand, Carl Grand, Mediv Grand, Samuel Grand, Trevor Grand and Tyler Grand, please walk in from of me."
All of them walk at the same time in front of his Grandpa he had been briefed about the ceremony despite never participating in one, he would kneel in front of the current patriarch and said his vow to protect the family. Turn out there was a separate awakening from a civilian and children who aim to become warriors, from what Trevor told him only the one who persists and train from childhood could bear the awakening at sixteen.
Then he saw his grandmother, wearing such casual clothes with such a light step that his brain almost reset itself trying to accept such out of place women in this solemn activity, her grandmother shows much of her age, unlike his grandfather who still looks barely out of his twenty-five.
She was a sweet woman, so sweet her smile physically give him hug and ruffle at the same time, she walks lightly like she was in a garden enjoying her art, it was such contrast with what she held in her hand, a chalice that was made from gold and filled with blood.
He didn't have the right angle to see it, he didn't have the nose to smell, he didn't even know it exists but cut his throat he guaranteed the chalice was filled with blood.
His Grandpa held the chalice, his face was downed like seeing the chalice make him lose his money.
"Sigh. This chalice is one of our heritage, it was the blood of all our warriors including mine, it filled with our power our legacy to bless every born in this family. Someday I hope our family big enough to give you a blood bath."
Oh, Grandpa, that was so wrong to say. He kept his expression neutral while Astrea had look at his grandpa with an open mouth, like she didn't expect what comes out of his mouth, Carl was worse his mouth was bulged holding his laugh.
His grandpa holding a chalice and his grandma now holding a box that he didn't know where she took it and stand in front of Astrea, from what the briefing and small info were given by Trevor, the Badge was exclusive for the family it was half of an ID and half magic equipment.
The badge was pint-size created from a metal that gives him tingling, he rarely met with an extraordinary item but maybe because of talent or his rebirth but he has sixth sense about them.
The badge also carved with the Grand family symbol, a carving of the mountain they reside in, it was such a simple symbol that almost reek laziness, the fact that he heard rumours that their family name was randomly picked from the dictionary didn't help that impression either.
"Are you Astrea Grand, swear on your name to protect this family until the last of your breath."
"Yes." Grandma nodded putting the badge in Astrea palm and grandpa come and pour the blood into her palm and the badge. It was so weird how the blood reacts, the chalice, the warriors' blood and probably the fermentation had made the blood become Crimson red, thick like a gel and had such a sharp smell like a new battlefield.
The blood pool into Astrea palm and he saw Astrea wincing from the spike that grows from the blood, his nose suddenly became itchy and he suppresses that feeling trying to move his unique sense into his stomach, he succeeded in suppressing his nose but moving the reaction to the stomach wasn't nice feeling either.
After at least twenty-second, the badge now becomes a bracelet in Astrea right arm, except the carving in the mountain spread like a stele and had red-tinted colour.
The ceremony continues and it was surprisingly short but from his grandpa's face he was starting to be impatient, Carl badge transform into a bracelet too except his was thinner, Mediv was necklace, Samuel was a ring, Trevor didn't change it still became a badge that he pocketed then finally it was his turn.
"Are you Tyler Grand, swear on your name to protect this family until the last of your breath."
"Yes." Tyler felt the biting cold of the metal, he wince at the pain feel panicked because his sixth sense was never to the point of hypersensitivity, he feels the blood burning his skin ravaging like a berserker venting their rage, his skin was a thin paper that was ravaged by them, they run inside his blood and tearing smashing into his flesh and will.
The metal wasn't any better, it was the Grand Mountain itself, unreasonable and harsh like the real one, directly using its will to press the blood inside his body making them obedient, no matter what.
He sense of time seems to blur as this two force was using his body as battlefield, he gritted his teeth and pray to god as he endure the pain.
He opened his eye and saw Grandma was looking down on him, her grey are peering at him asking if he was all right.
"I have a talent for sensing extraordinary object." He said and grandma was beaming with joy but because of the ceremony, she restrains herself.
He stands up facing his grandfather who say several words and finally, the ceremony ended.
"Okay boys, girl, hurry up, change your clothes into more comfortable one, the next part would be much more private." Grandma clapped and herded them from into a changing room, he had his usual training clothes but his grandma huffed when he saw him and decided to give him a much more comfortable one piece suit.
"It was anti scratch and wear, it also controls the temperature of your body, surprising how much technology they can shove into one clothes and I can't believe you wear that ordinary clothes for your training." He saw his cousin also have similar clothing from the same material.
The room they enter looks more like a lab with a bunch of scientists that look at them like appetizing meat. He saw the room split into two where several masters sitting down behind the glass which also looked at them like a prized cow.
"Is it me or I feel like being auctioned." He whispers to Trevor.
Trevor scratch his head and tried not to look at him. "Well the master is there to pick apprentice so..." Trevor shrugged.
The other part of the room had several small and big machine, the area that closest to the glass had several mats, a punching bag and several areas where the floor painted with a bright yellow line.
In the opposite of the glasses where the complicated machine being tinkered by the scientist there are a throne of steel with gear, tube and wire exposed to be seen, the throne made from black steel, he notices the base of the throne was connected with the earth, there was suspicious liquid in the tube around the throne and the throne also glows with a line that looks suspiciously like a fantasy text rune.
'What the hell exactly I'm looking.' Tyler rubs his aching forehead and close his eye for a second and pick each part of the throne individually until he reaches an amazing conclusion, the throne was slapdash of many technologies. It honestly surprised him there wasn't a huge amount of duct tape to make this machine work and he also applauds the people of Earth to use this thing on their descendants, the throne is many things but safely looking isn't one of them.
"Okay, you can choose who goes first." Said one of the scientists, she was a woman with unique glasses where the right glass was completely blue, she had a ponytail and her name tag was written, Sophia.
Tyler takes the first step then he realizes Mediv also taking a step, he smiles at the girl while she also smiles at him, they didn't 't take anymore step or speaking with each other, they only lock their eye with each other hiding their eagerness behind their gentle smile yet before a real confrontation happened a quick blur passed them and it was Carl who ignored them and run straight to the scientist, screaming superpower.
"Well, that was unfortunate." He said, he thought about continuing to posture with Mediv then give up they are family anyway. When he takes a step back, Mediv looks at him, like she didn't expect him to step back then Mediv then she followed without saying anything, she only glances at him and stares straight at Carl who had a green face and look like he was sitting in a chair full of spikes.
"I think I can go a second." Said Carl, his word only brought laughter to the master behind the glass.
"Man up boy, the throne won't hurt you." Carl grimace looking at the wire and tube that surround him, he takes a sigh and closes his eye as it would make the throne less threatening.
A slight humming and bright light appeared on the throne surrounding innocent Carl, he anxiously waits for a few seconds before Carl figure finally appeared.
Carl didn't seem to change in any slightest, he was still the excited boy except his short cut hair clashed with his whole person, then he starts to grin like he found the most exciting ever and a brief tornado almost kill them.
"Don't send it to your cousin." Said one of the scientist, thankfully there are energy shield to protect them.
"Sorry." Said Carl.
Sophia the scientist holds the boy's shoulder and bought him to the test machine to test Carl power parameters, from what he heard Carl officially awaken the power of rotation he could rotate part of his body quite fast and he could also transfer the power into an object, knowing the embryo didn't give him physical enchantment he probably trains the later.
Tyler take a huge sigh and sit on the floor, he had anticipated this moment his whole life, he thought he was calm enough for this moment but he didn't, soon he would wield supernatural power, soon he will become something else not longer an ordinary human being.
"Am I worthy?" He suddenly asked himself.
"Have something in your mind." Asked Mediv, she looked at him with a tilted head ad then decided to sit beside him on the floor.
"Am I worthy of this power." He saw Carl having fun experimenting with his power someone bought a spinning top and the boy having blast by using his power on several of them, he was genuinely happy for Carl in this world that power could save him from a lot of danger but what about himself, would he use this power for the better.
"Looks like I misinterpreted you, if you don't have enough will to held your power then why bother coming here."
Mediv scathing word didn't bother him, it certainly affects him but it only adds a speck in the dirty stain in his soul wall, once upon a time, he wants to become terrorists and pooling his effort to kill all human, after all, they destroy the earth, make many species extinct, this was the thought of a weak boy who was tormented by a whole class and wants to drag the rest of the world with him.
'Perhaps a freak existence like him shouldn't exist.' He thought as he looked at the grey ceiling.
Mediv frown looking at Tyler her word wasn't purposely to hurt him, after all, they are family and he saw Tyler as a boy who could compete with her especially compare to mild Trevor or annoying Samuel. She looks at Trevor and signals him to take the conversation, he had much more skill than her.
"Cousin, are you nervous." Asked Trevor, it wasn't such a strange thought even himself quite nervous so he understand if Tyler who rarely out of his house fall into nervous breakdown.
"No." His voice was steady and his expression is calm like a statue, he finally realized he was sick, his soul was sick, it shouldn't be hard to feel happy, he shouldn't this sullen, this downtrodden but here he was getting concerned by several sixteen years old children.
"Can someone offer me their hand." Trevor surprised at the request and because of that Mediv held her hand before him which make him more surprised, 'since when you are so friendly, last time I ask for a pencil and you told me to bought a new one.'
Tyler hold Mediv hand and finally feel a genuine feeling, it was warm and full of life, it was a child hand with strong heart both in her pulse and will, it was a seed full of potential and Tyler wanted to keep it safe, he wanted see it grow.
So although he was sick, a frail tree with withered bark, he had found his reason, it was always true reason.
"Thank you." Said Tyler he smile genuinely at Mediv and his three cousins, he could verify he had sickness based on his previous thought, Tyler in last life had grown up from his sorrow, he had fallen to the bottom and bought himself up by himself and the help of his friend, his previous thought shouldn't appear in his mind, his memories lasted until his adulthood yet he realized those memories weren't equivalent to maturity.
"Do you feel worthy now." Asked Mediv, she was glad the boy recover himself but she still annoyed with Tyler after all what girl didn't like her beauty to be praised when she offered her hand she wants to bait Tyler feeling but based on his look, he only looks at him as a child which is more insulting since they are the same age.
"It doesn't matter." He shakes his head and stands up from the ground. "It will be only a tool for my purpose." Now he recovered himself, he didn't have the dilemma anymore, there only two things when he faces a problem the tool that helps him and the obstacle.
"What kind of purpose is that." Asked Trevor, he was kind curious.
"To protect all of you."