Stil touched by her son's genuine emotions Reahva waited in the living room. Finally, Tepmodus also walked down the stairs. With a sunny smile on his face the young man approached the table.
Despite his memories, everything felt novel to Tepo. In the World of Carrying Winds, it was normal to eat many times a day. Therefore, the breakfast was rather small. But in Tepo's eyes it still looked like the food of gods. Saliva gathered in his mouth as he gulped.
Reahva smiled sweetly as she noticed her son's eagerness.
"Hungry as ever, hmm?"
"Well, who could hold back when something so delicious was waiting for them?"
The youthful woman chuckled lightly, happy with the praise.
"Eat as much as you can. You need all the energy for the big day today."
"I will! Thank you, mom!"
With those words Tepo sat down and immediately dug in. After a single bite his eyes already lit up while his tastebuds jumped in joy. The soft bread was melting in his mouth, while a sweet tasting cream spread a warm current through his body and mind.
Reahva also ate elegantly, pleased with the delight on Tepmodus' face.
"This is great, mom!", praised Tepo happily. For someone form a world where food was a luxury for many, Tepo felt like an explosion was going off in his mind. He had never tasted anything better than his mother's food today. He couldn't even have imagined that food could taste this brilliant.
Reahva raised her brow slightly, but a smile formed on her mouth immediately after:
"I'm glad you finally learned to appreciate my seerno cream. I thought you needed something to give you strength today."
Tepo stocked for a moment but then he continued eating happily. He reminded himself to be a bit more careful in the future. It might be weird if he behaved too differently than the Tepo of this world.
But he also felt that there was no need to pretend too much in front of his mother. From his memory the loving woman would probably accept any changes easily. After all, which adolescent didn't go through their phases?
Therefore, Tepo just took another bite, commenting leisurely:
"I don't know. It just tastes great today."
"Then I'm glad.", chuckled Reahva "I hope it's not the nervousness and you will still eat my seerno cream in the future."
"I hope so, too."
After finishing her own bread, Tepo's mother stood up and took a strange metallic disc from a wooden shelf nearby.
Glancing from the corner of his eye, the young man tried to remember what this object was. Instantly his brows rose slightly. He recalled that the disc contained a material called recording metal. If one pressed the outer shells of this disc, a recording would be played. And this particular one contained…
"Although I haven't made your favorite food, I can still play your favorite music. 'Reflecting Lamentations' by Phana."
With a light push from Reahva a soothing melody immediately filled the room. Not wanting to disappoint his mother, Tepo tried to immediately immerse himself into it. After only a few seconds though, there was no need to act anymore.
The mellow, forlorn female voice carried Tepo's thoughts away. He mechanically continued to eat as he listened to the beautiful melody. Resonating with the deepest part of his mind, Tepo almost felt as if the singer had gone through the same hardships as him.
Unfortunately, a knock on the door rudely interrupted the enjoyable dinner.
Reahva smiled sweetly at Tepo.
"Seems like it's time to go."
The young man sighed lightly. He hadn't had such an enjoyable meal in a long time. How dare someone ruin it?
Taking a deep breath, Tepo stood up slowly. He still wasn't sure if it was a good idea to go to the ceremony. What if someone found out that he already had a core? He couldn't gauge the reaction of people in this world.
Although those rich enough could go through their awakening privately, this still wasn't a good excuse for him. He couldn't explain how he awoke and why he still went to the ceremony.
Unfortunately, he didn't have any logical reason for his already existing core. After much contemplation Tepo didn't feel like he had much of a choice. He could only go to the ceremony and hope for the best.
Noticing how her son seemed to be stalling for time, Reahva felt strange. She remembered the time when she went through the ceremony. The feelings of excitement and apprehension. The careful hope. The exchanges with her peers. Everything seemed so long ago. And now it was her son's turn.
Reahva understood what Tepo must be going through. She had never seen him so anxious. She took a red scarf from next to the door before approaching her son.
Smiling at his mother, Tepo just wanted to say goodbye when the gentle woman put a warm fabric around his neck. Feeling the fluffy red scarf and his mother's hands on his shoulders Tepo smiled brightly.
"After today you will be an adult.", said Reahva, almost choking on her words.
"But you will always be my son, Tepmodus."
"I will always be your son.", whispered Tepo.
Squeezing his mother's hand for reassurance, Tepo slowly walked towards the door.
"Don't worry, mother. I will definitely get a core. You son will be the strongest warrior one day!"
Only after the young man had stepped outside did Reahva eyes began to redden.
Who needs you to be the strongest? Just stay safe.
Somewhat guessing his mother's thoughts, Tepmodus quickly closed the door, leaning against it with his back. He would have loved to continue the delightful breakfast. This was everything he had ever wished for. Living at home, in peace, was something he never even dared to dream about in his old life.
But his fear pushed him into action. Fear that the outsiders were somewhere out there. Fear that the World of Carrying Winds would share the fate of his old world. Fear that humans would once again be reduced to livestock.
The peace might be deceitful. But it was also everything he wanted.
Torn, Tepo set himself an ultimatum. He would become a warrior for 20 years or until he reached the peak acolyte rank. If he hadn't seen any signs of crazy, bloodlusted, monsters he would come back and live with his mother. This was his promise!
Having decided on this plan, Tepmodus felt much better. At least he wasn't completely aimless anymore. Now he would go to the ceremony and try to get recruited by any of the present organizations. They would help him enter the path of a warrior and provide him with more information than he could gather himself.
Just as the young man was ready to move, an impatient voice reached his ears:
"Tepo! What are you doing? Have you pissed your pants? Let's go!"
Focusing his eyes on the source of this noise, Tepo quickly spotted two young men.
One of them was about his height, with long brown hair waving in the air. Contrary to Tepo he wore wide, red clothes, which were billowing in the wind permanently filling this world. His mother had weaved his name on his black and white striped scarf – Yerive.
The other youth was a tall man with a stoic face. He was known not to talk much. Coupled with his tight black clothes, which showed off his impressive muscles, he gave off an intimidating air. Many of their old classmates left him alone out of respect. Only his few close friends knew that Parton was actually just really shy.
Yerive and Parton were Tepo's closest friends since childhood. It was strange to feel the influence of his new memories, but Tepmodus didn't reject it. He was already in this world. If he desperately clung to his old life, wouldn't he go crazy?
Many would marvel at the young man's strong adaptability. This was testament to his resilient mind, which had been honed by years of hardship. Not many situations could unsettle Tepmodus.
"Come on, please. We will be late."
After even Parton spoke up in his deep, manly voice, Tepo smiled lightly.
"Sorry guys. I'm coming."
Finally, the young man stepped forward. His gaze fell on the path beneath his feet. It resembled earth, but it was just another kind of cloud.
Even Tepo began to grow numb, especially as he inspected the plants growing out of the cloud left and right of the path. He finally accepted that this world followed different rules.
After a few seconds Tepo stood before Yerive and Parton. The friends clapped their hands, hugging quickly. Although Tepo's movements weren't perfectly smooth his friends were too nervous themselves to pay attention.
And the time wasted by Tepo didn't help them calm down. Rather the opposite. Full of impatience Yerive waved his hand and urged his friends.
With an excited 'let's go' the trio finally began running towards the ceremony laying the foundation of their future.