Dining Table
I indulged in the exquisite delicacies prepared by my mother on this special day of mine. Feasts like these were not uncommon in our household, but today's spread surpassed all expectations. It was as though my mother had made it her mission to transform her son into a 130-kilogram glutton.
Had it not been for my dedication to practice the 'Vajrasana Body', my mother's wish might have come true. I would have found myself quoting, "I am not fat because I eat excessively. I am fat because my mom cooks tasty food."
Fortunately, her evil plan would never see fruition. My well-toned body, adorned with dense muscles, had the ability to burn every calorie I consumed. Being a food enthusiast did not result in extra weight gain—a situation that many would envy, particularly the ladies.
However, my joyous mood was short-lived as I sensed something amiss. It was a void that no amount of culinary artistry could fill—the absence of someone, someone close enough to be missed even from a great distance.
Unable to contain my curiosity, I posed the question, "Mom, when will dad return? It has been nearly a year. Will he not even make an appearance on my awakening day?"
The silence that followed felt like an answer in itself. It persisted for a while before she finally spoke, "He may be preoccupied with important matters. Ever since his Elemental Core was damaged, he is no longer the man he used to be. He can no longer fulfill his duties as a hunter. Providing for us has become an arduous task, you know? Please, be understanding and gentle with your father."
A pang of sadness gripped my heart as I recalled my father's situation. According to my mother, his Elemental Core had been injured by an individual from the empire before my birth. The severity of his injury depleted our savings, plunging my parents' lives into misery—socially, mentally, and economically—in every conceivable way.
To be the target of ridicule, to feel utterly hopeless and broke—these were experiences no one desired. If someone were to seek such circumstances willingly, I must say they were far from pleasant.
But, my parents did not need my sympathy, nor did I attempt to console them. Doing so would only sour their spirits. Thus, I could only remain silent and strengthen my resolve to become an exceptional Elementalist.
Once we had prepared ourselves for this formal occasion, we embarked on our journey in a mechanical vehicle. It resembled a horse-drawn carriage, albeit without the horses. Instead, a large metallic engine, complete with a round core and various unfamiliar components, replaced them. These components were concealed within a specially crafted wooden casing, with pipes on either side. These pipes acted as heat sinks, dissipating the excessive heat produced by the core.
I often wondered how these pieces of metal harnessed Origin energy to propel themselves at such remarkable speeds. Alas, my aspirations leaned towards becoming an Elementalist, not a mechanic.
Our destination lay at the Elemental Association Branch in the nearby Redien City. The Redien City Association Branch stood 20 kilometers away from our home, Marlow Town. These branches were responsible for organizing the Awakening Ceremony in various cities within the Council of South Armea.
The Council of South Armea comprised five ancient kingdoms, compelled to unite in the face of the colossal Aslan Empire. While power was no longer as centralized as in the past, every royal and noble family harbored ambitions of their own. This resulted in the Council becoming one of the most chaotic political organizations on the Armea continent—a vast arena of power struggles.
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"These vehicles are undoubtedly fast for mere metal contraptions," remarked a passenger.
His companion replied, "Indeed, but they primarily serve as public transportation. They are not particularly popular among Elementalists."
"Well, no matter their speed, they become rigid and useless on uneven terrains. It's no surprise Elementalists have little interest in them. Even ordinary individuals are more inclined toward Beast mounts. Some winged species are capable of carrying others in flight, serving as loyal companions and invaluable allies in various situations."
Listening to their discussion about beast mounts brought back childhood memories. It was a memory of a four years old child encountering an eagle with 10 meters wingspan. A happy-go-lucky kid was playing in the garden when all of a sudden, a giant shadow covered him. As he looked upward, the view of a descending eagle scared the shit out of him. The terrified kid screamed for his guardian 'Mama' out of his lung as his index finger pointed at the intruder. But soon, fear became astonishment as he saw the heroic figure of a man riding that gigantic creature. And that was the first time he saw a beast mount, also his father.
That was also the very day he set on my life goal, of becoming someone like his father, an Elementalist who could ride beast mounts.
As I reminisced, a smile curled upon my lips. I chuckled at my naivety, thinking that my mother could handle an adult Garuda if it posed any threat to me.
Amidst my reverie, my mother unexpectedly posed a question, "Do you want one, Aryan?"
"Hmm, a Beast mount. I would love to have one, Mom" I responded with great enthusiasm.
"If you say so, I will ask your father to search for a suitable Beast cub," my mother replied, her smile filling me with excitement as I eagerly anticipated meeting my future companion.
It did not take long for our vehicle to arrive at our destination. Stepping onto the road, I found myself immersed in a bustling crowd, with stalls lining both sides of the street. These stalls offered a variety of commodities, street food delicacies, low-end cultivation resources, and copies of public Origin art. I even spotted guidebooks with titles such as "How to Awaken a Godly Element," "How to Gain Admission to Top Academies," and "How to Cultivate Effortlessly like a Genius, Despite Lacking Talent." While most of them contained useless information, people were buying them earnestly, swayed by the persuasive tactics of the salesmen. It was amusing to witness individuals reading books purchased from bazaars, hoping to become great Elementalists. As always, businessmen proved to be the most skilled shepherds, adept at gathering wool from the flock.
Paying no mind to the bustling crowds, I ran excitedly toward the auditorium, while my mother could only smile at my enthusiasm and follow in my wake.
What followed was a tedious registration process, diligently attended to by my mother. I provided my name and received a serial number, and even in my haste, I ended up with the number 123.
"I suppose I am not the only eager one here," I chuckled to myself.
Taking a seat next to my mother, I anxiously awaited the arrival of the association representative. Glancing toward the stage, I noticed numerous boxes stacked upon it, piquing my curiosity.
"Mom, what do those boxes contain?" I inquired.
"Sensory Serums—they are used to awaken the elements. You will soon understand," she replied.
More and more people, accompanied by their children, filled the space, gradually transforming the area into a bustling hub. As the clock ticked away, our wait extended to an hour.
Finally, the representative from the Elemental Association ascended the podium. Clad in a light blue suit blazer and matching trousers, coupled with a crisp white collared shirt and brown shoes, he appeared to be in his late thirties. However, everyone present knew that appearances could be deceiving. As Elementalists advanced in rank, their body metabolism and natural cell regeneration improved, causing them to age slower than ordinary individuals of the same age.
Accompanying him were ten youths, each carrying crystals of varying colors. The brown and transparent crystals, with a blue hue, were larger than the rest. Trailing behind them was a teenage girl holding a peculiar, short, red flute that seemed out of place.
There was no need for the representative to introduce these crystals, as everyone recognized them for what they were and their purpose. These were Elemental Essence Crystals, refined from the purest elemental crystals in a ratio of 1 to 1000. The Council used these crystals to conduct the Awakening Ceremony.