Another day dawned on the bustling city of Aquanus. The sun had barely risen when Ray, as he did every morning, awoke early and sat down to eat breakfast. His mother Ullie had brought a hearty meal for him, and he ate it delightfully.
As he was about to leave his room to begin his usual routine of training in the morning and studying in the evening, Ullie stopped him, grabbing his hand before he could leave the table.
"Rayhein, where are you off to so early?"
"Umm, my daily routine, Mom. I was going to train and study later in the evening. Why do you ask?" he replied, feeling a bit confused.
"Because today is a holiday memorial. It's the memorial of the fallen for us," she said, gently reminding him.
Ray was caught off guard but played his situation well. "I was going to train to digest since I ate a big breakfast. I remember it's a holiday," he said with a fake smile.
Rayhein was caught off guard but played his situation very well, feigning ignorance.
"Oh, right, of course. I was just going to train first, to let my breakfast digest. I remember now," he said, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Rest today, Ray. The ceremony will start in a few hours. Come here," Ullie said, gesturing for him to come closer with a warm smile. Ray didn't know why, but he complied. Ullie patted him gently on the head and complimented him, her eyes shining and glittering with affection.
"Lilly woke up yesterday. That stone is making her better. She's feeling weak but recovering. Claire is taking care of her at the moment. I cannot express how relieved I am," Ullie said, her voice filled with gratitude.
Ray felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had been worried sick about Lilly, and the news of her recovery lifted a great weight from his shoulders. He scratched his face a little, trying to hide his shyness.
Ullie hugged him tightly in her embrace, grateful for his help. Even if it was a coincidence that the stone had helped Lilly, it was the hope that lifted her depression from the weeks that Lilly had been unconscious.
"Mom, just remember to pour magical energy into the stone every day, as I instructed. The stone will improve Lilly's health somewhat if it has absorbed enough power. But don't do it too much," Ray reminded her.
Ullie nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "I know, Ray. I won't overdo it. Thank you for reminding me," she said, giving him a warm smile.
"I have been doing that for the past three days. At first, I was skeptical when you asked me to do this, but you were so serious about this stone and the healing properties that I gave it a try. I'm so grateful to you, Ray," Ullie said, her voice filled with gratitude.
A comfortable silence enveloped the room. Ullie was still embracing Ray, combing his black obsidian hair with her hand while humming a tune. She had always loved to do Lily's hair, but for the past week, depression and anxiety had consumed her thoughts, fearing the worst. She picked up a brush from the table and started combing Ray's hair slowly, taking delight in the simple pleasure of caring for her son.
"Mom, it's embarrassing. Can you let me go?" Ray asked, feeling a little self-conscious.
"Just a little more," Ullie said with a smile. Ray just accepted she would let him go.
"You look so handsome and cute with this hairstyle. Any lady would be head over heels for you," she continued, admiring her son's reflection in the mirror. Ray's hair was styled into a faux hawk, and it looked quite good on him.
Ray couldn't help but smile at his mother's compliment. Ray looked at the mirror as Ullie stood behind him with a smile. She really felt proud of him. It looked good.
[I just do the bare minimum. this is leagues better than what I do at least. Looks cool] he thought
Ray looked at himself in the mirror, feeling a little self-conscious about his faux hawk hairstyle. However, he couldn't help but think that it looked cool.
"Why don't we try on a few dresses? I'll pick out the best ones," Ullie said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I got--" Ray began to protest, feeling uncomfortable with the idea of trying on dresses but before he could refuse, Ullie lifted him up as easily as she would a child. Ray was dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events and didn't know how to react. Embarrassed, he simply complied with a red face. Despite being 6 feet tall, he felt dwarfed by his mother's towering physical presence, as if he were just a 12-year-old boy in her eyes.
An hour passed as Ullie happily dressed Ray up in every outfit she could find, searching for the perfect one. Finally, she settled on an intricate black waistcoat with deer fur engraving and gold and red multi-colored weaving. Ray also wore a pair of odd-shaped leather shoes, chosen by his mother. He didn't mind being used as a dress-up doll for his mother's amusement, as long as she was happy.
“It’s stuffy though,” he thought
He made his way to Lilly's room on the first floor, he couldn't help feeling stuffy in the fancy clothes. He wanted to check on Lilly for a little while and talk to Orion. When he entered the room, he saw both Ivan and Avan sitting beside a drowsy Lilly, who was chatting with them.
Ray took a deep breath and looked around the room, taking in the scent of fresh flowers and the soft glow of the flickering light bulbs creatures on the nightstand.
"Dad? Here? I've never seen him anywhere except his office," Ray thought to himself, surprised by the unexpected appearance of his father.
Both Ivan and Avan glanced at Ray briefly before returning their attention to Lilly. Ray made his way over to her, and she called out to him.
"“Preety . Big blother?”," Lilly said, her voice slow and drowsy.
Ray grinned slyly. "You like it?"
“Ummh”
Lilly nodded, her eyes struggling to stay open. Her sluggish movement was a dead giveaway. She seemed mesmerized by Ray's appearance, as he had never worn such a dress before, either indoors or outdoors. Ivan looked at him approvingly, even offering a compliment.
"The traditional dress suits you," Ivan said.
Ray was taken aback. He had no idea that the outfit he was wearing was traditional, but after looking at what his father was wearing, he realized that they were nearly identical, except for Ivan's small cape.
"Thank you," Ray replied, feeling a bit unsure of himself in the new outfit. He took a deep breath, feeling the soft fabric of the waistcoat against his skin and smelling the faint scent of the deer fur. He was starting to appreciate the intricate design and the attention to detail that had gone into creating the outfit.
Avan sat with Lilly, not making eye contact with Ray. He kept Lilly company while Ivan visited with her briefly before leaving to prepare for the upcoming ceremony. Ray sat nearby, watching Avan play with his little sister. It was strange for Ray to see Avan being so cheerful and affectionate, as he was usually cold and distant with everyone.
"Blother look! This is my friend," Lilly said, holding out a small stone to Avan.
The amusing and interesting banter continued for a while longer until Avan had to leave to get ready for the ceremony. Ray spent some more time with Lilly, talking telepathically with Orion. The connection between them allowed for seamless communication without anyone else overhearing.
How is she doing?" Ray asked Orion
"For now, she's stable," Orion replied,
"But this is only temporary. It's like a sudden jolt of energy that will gradually fade away. I'll do my best to keep her conscious."
As Ray continued his conversation with Orion, he reached out to stroke Lilly's hair, hoping to bring her some comfort.
"I'll try my best in the coming month," Ray affirmed
"I just have some questions since I’m here," he said.
"Why didn't I respond when you first arrived in this world?"
"Think of me as a battery," Orion explained, his voice soft. "When I brought your consciousness here, it drained 99.9999% of my battery life. I can only recharge myself by using the surroundings, but even after months have passed, it's not enough. Keeping your sister alive is draining everything I have. At the moment, I'm afraid I can't do anything for you. You'll have to be patient."
"I understand," Ray said, his voice heavy with disappointment. "Just please do everything you can for my sister's health."
Ray finished his conversation with Orion, hoping to resolve his memory problem, but realizing it would have to wait. He needed to improvise for now, as it was time for the ceremony. He gently patted Lilly and tucked her in for a nap before leaving her room and making his way to the spacious garden where everyone was gathering.
For the first time in a while, nearly everyone was present, including many who were as old as his father Ivan. Ray made his way slowly through the crowd, feeling many stares at him. Some were hostile, while others were filled with pity. Ray felt like a sore thumb sticking out with his small height and plain attire. Most of the other guests wore clothes with an insignia of a strange creature - a feline with two tails. Several children were also playing around in the garden.
Ray felt stiff with so many people around, all of whom had black obsidian hair and red pupils. He scanned the crowd, searching for a place to stand unnoticed until further notice. Spotting Allister in the distance, he headed towards him, noticing a small group of people chatting with him.
"Avasha. Hello, guys. What's up, Allister?" Ray greeted the group with a formal nod before saying hello to Allister.
There were six people in the group, three girls and three boys. All of them were taller than both Allister and Ray. Ray looked around, taking in the scene. The sound of laughter and chatter filled the air, mingling with the fragrance of blooming flowers and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. The sky was a deep shade of purple. It was a cloudy day.
One of the boys came forward and greeted Ray with a handshake, while the others looked on from the sidelines, whispering amongst themselves.
"Isn't he Rayhein, the betrayer?" one of the girls whispered.
"Hey, don't criminalize him. He was just a toddler when the migration happened. You're no better," another girl defended him.
"I'm just saying. And he's kind of cute," the first girl said, her eyes lingering on Ray.
The gossip continued, but Ray found himself enjoying it. The guys introduced themselves to Ray, while the girls did so a little later.
"Hi, I'm Zecko."
"Ricko."
"Jurs."
"I'm Rayhein."
"You're probably the youngest out of us. We hope you feel welcome," Zecko said.
Ray chatted with the guys, enjoying their company. Allister elbowed him and whispered, "Are you trying to court someone? Your dress checks out."
"I look fabulous, don't I? Mom picked it for me," Ray replied, sneering. He didn't care what anyone else thought of him or his dress. It suited him just fine.
As they chatted, Ray took in the sights and sounds around him. The garden was alive with activity, with children playing and adults chatting. The air was filled with the fragrant scent of blooming flowers, while the soft rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze provided a soothing backdrop to the chatter around him.
As soon as the guys introduced themselves, the girls approached Ray. The eight of them were the only teens present in the entire estate, so they formed their own little group.
"Hi there," said the girl with long curly hair. "I'm Zula. This is Liana and Reiya."
Ray greeted them, "Hello, I'm Rayhein."
"We know," said Liana, the one with piercing eyes. "You're famous here. You survived a fight with a class 2 dark rift walker and saved your sister."
Ray felt a little embarrassed but owned the compliment. "Lily's life was in danger. That's all there is to it."
As Ray spoke, he noticed Liana. He had seen her before. She was the one with the old lady that his little brother had a fight with. The impression of her was good. Ray was socially awkward, so he didn't realize he was staring at her. She was wearing a beautiful black and red dress, unlike the other girls who wore similar designs.
"You're oddly observant, huh? Like what you see?" Zula said with a sly smile. The other girls also noticed Ray's gaze, and Liana felt a little embarrassed.
Ray realized just now that he was staring, and apologizing at this point would be bad. "Your dresses are beautiful. Allister, let's go. I think Zecko is calling us."
Ray made an excuse to leave and dragged Allister with his elbow. Allister coughed and said,
"Just a heads up. You know she's older than us, right? Not that it matters."
"Isn't that a fact?" Ray said sarcastically.
"You don't understand. They're 34 years older. You and I are literally decades apart from all of them," Allister mused.
"What?" Ray was shocked to hear such a significant age gap. He had thought it would only be a few years.
Allister had a sly smile on his face. Ray wondered if high humans had aged in the 3 digits because that’s the only explanation he could think of.
As they walked, the entire group of people gathered and made their way toward a place near a lake in unison. The evening had settled as The elders and his father led the group as they walked towards the small lake where the ceremony was to commence. It was a long walk to the lake that took an hour.
As they approached, Ray noticed how the water reflected the sunset, giving the surface a warm orange glow. The sound filled the air, and the sweet scent of flowers drifted on the gentle breeze. There were jellyfish-like creatures that were flying on the surface of the lake.
The ceremony was conducted by Asahia, the elder. She recited an ancient prayer known only by the high humans, invoking the spirits of their ancestors. Everyone stood solemnly, with their eyes closed and their heads bowed in mourning for the dead and deceased.
Asahia ignited a magical flame with embers that scattered around the lake like gentle flames. The warm light of the embers illuminated the faces of the mourners, and tears streamed down Asahia's face.
Many in the group shared the same emotional expression, as they too had lost loved ones during the migration. Ray felt a pang of sadness in his heart as he thought of all those who had been lost in the treacherous journey.
“Amidst the chaos of life, everyone carries their own unique story and tragedy." he thought
The sound of the ancient prayer filled the air, and Ray felt like he saw something as he looked around the lake. He felt their presence in the flickering flames and the gentle breeze that carried their whispers. Maybe it was the connection to Orion. It was something that resonated with him.
As the ceremony came to an end, the group dispersed quietly, each lost in their own thoughts. Ray walked back with everyone to their homes with a heavy hearts, but also a sense of gratitude for the strength and resilience of his people.
“I will save you, Lilly. Just hang in there. No matter what it takes” ray thought
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No problem, thanks for the chapter.And it isn't boring, I like that it's slow paced.