Nexus slumped to the ground, chest heaving as beads of sweat rolled down his face and torso.
Despite unleashing the full extent of his strength, he still lost even when channeling soul energy to boost his overall stats.
Nexus still failed to best his father Lorh in their sparring match.
As he sat there trying to catch his breath, he finally realized why his father was considered matchless Anong the tribe.
Raw power alone did not make one The strongest as skills, tactics and experience is also needed, and that is what he needs.
Lorh approached, resting a calloused hand on his son's shoulder with a look of pride.
"You have improved tremendously again, Gahr,"
He added, "To force me unto the defensive for so long is no small feat and frankly a first."
Nexus nodded, absorbing the praise as always, "Your skills and experience truly are unmatched, Father, I have much to learn."
Lorh smiled warmly, "As do we all, Gahr, from whatever the world sets before us,"
"I'll keep that in mind" nexus replied.
"Wow, is my father also blessed by the Messiah? So wise.." He thought
Lorh moved to collect their discarded practice spars, waiting for Nexus to rise and join him.
Getting up Nexus quickly joined his father and started packing up to go back.
In a just a few minutes everything was ready and the two set off back to the Cave.
On the way there his father keep asking him how he got so much stronger in such a short time and so nexus pulled another explanation out of his ass to bring and end to it.
"I don't understand it myself but my whole body heats up and I just become stronger"
"Hmm, I see, maybe the elders know about it"
"Uh..maybe...."
In a blink of an eye, They quickly arrived at the Cave dwelling and greeted by groups of Vosaris busy doing all sort of things.
This of course is because of Nexus coming of age ceremony which is quite the special one.
A large open area ringed by boulders had been cleared to serve as the ceremonial gathering space, ready to host whole Tribe.
Wooden stakes had been driven deep into the ground, with cloth suspended above the top to provide shade.
Teams of women and children gathered bundles of kindling, setting them aside for the ritual bonfires to be lit as dusk settled.
Nexus could already envision the flickering lights and clouds of "ritual smoke" that would soon fill the space.
"Seems like I'll get high again" he mused
His mother emerged from the dwelling carrying a large leather basket brimming with Meat and herbs ready to be cooked.
"Gahr! There you are," Syla called out affectionately as she spotted her son and husband returning.
"I trust the day's training was productive?"
"It was a lot as usual."
Lorh gave her a kiss before heading into the elders dwelling.
"Yiv go prepare our the food for the ceremony, make sure it's ready when I'm back"
"I'm on it dear" she said before going out to Cook, leaving Nexus a kiss on the cheeks.
Now he was alone again, he quickly headed to one of the temporary campfires place for the ceremony where the children are.
Arriving there he was quickly greeted by the other children, there he saw the twins.
After exchanging greetings with the other children he finally sat besides them.
"Hello there solis, soliel"
"Uh... nice to see you back, Gahr," Soliel replied with a hesitant smile.
"Hmph, you're back," Solis said, puffing her cheeks, which Nexus immediately squished.
"Cute," he teased. (*´ω｀*)
"It's not!" she replied, her face turning red.
Moving his attention to Soleil, Nexus wondered why he was acting strange just like yesterday.
"Did he finally gained his subconscious or something!" he joked.
With a pat to the shoulder, nexus spoke, "Hey soliel you okay?"
"Huh? N-no... nothing's wrong," Soliel hastily replied.
"You sure?" Nexus asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Y-yeah, it's nothing," he stammered, avoiding his gaze.
"Well, okay..." Since he wasn't willing to talk, Nexus gave up asking, but he was still curious as to why Soliel, who is mostly just fooling around, act so strange.
"This isn't natural, I should investigate. As the future Chief, I must know the problems of my people and help them, Yeah, not because I have nothing to do or anything," Nexus thought to himself.
Standing up, Nexus started heading towards the main campfire of the ceremony to check out the upcoming feast.
Coincidentally, Soliel and Solis's mother was there, and she seemed to be crying.
"What's happening?" Just as he was approaching, another woman came into view and started consoling her.
"It's okay, Sina. I'm sure your husband is still alive. Surely, he might just be recovering somewhere after getting attacked by a beast outside the forest. It's only been two days."
Sobbing she replied, "B-but what if he doesn't?"
"By the Earth, have hope Sina your husband- no my brother is strong he'll come back, I'm sure of it just wait" the woman consoled.
"Now, let's take care of the food for now; your twins are what's important right now," she added.
"Okay.." Sina replied, still sobbing
"Her husband? So, this was it all along, I was too busy with cultivation I didn't even notice, No wonder Soliel's acting weird, though Solis is surprisingly calm."
Questions aside, it must've been hard for them, especially Soliel, now that his father's gone, who's probably the sole provider for their family.
"He probably wanted to tell me about it yesterday when I was on my way to train" he thought.
"I hope his father comes back alive, if not...."
Coming back to the campfire where the twins where, he wanted to talk to soliel but now wasn't really the time for it.
"For now we should just enjoy the peace and feast, I don't want to reinforce the fact that his father might be gone now" he thought
As evening began casting long shadows across the valley, all able-bodied villagers assembled in the ceremonial grounds.
Everyone stood together around the campfire with children just at the back.
The elders took their places presiding over the gathering, faces painted with symbols that looked like the earth, heavens, plants, etc.
A low thrum of rhythmic drum beats, Ritual Smoke covered the area making it hard for anyone to see, the light from the main campfire flickered as it sways.
Everyone started dancing around the campfire creating a captivating sight, as the shadows that danced around the smoke looked as if they where alive.
Further more the flickering of the Light created by the fire made it as if they dance differently than the ones who cast them.
With the added Smoke it was a sight to see, apparently this ritual was made to summon the ancestors for luck and guidance.
Throughout it all, Nexus sat patiently amid the other children in their designated areas, higher than the sky like the others.
Lorh stepped forward, wearing his chief uniform of woven feathers and leather overalls, his body radiated stern authority as his deep voice rang out.
"Brethren of the Earth Tribe on this most sacred of evenings, we gather to celebrate our highest season's rites of passage!"
A low rumbling cheer rose from the assembled Vosaris.
"We honor those amongst our midst who have reached that threshold between child and adult, and call upon the ancestors"
"I ask for strength, and Bring my Son The Spirit of Hunting And To Grow Fully!"
Just like that the speech ended and the feast was commence.
Tomorrow nexus will officially start his Early coming of age ceremony.