"The ceremony is in one hour! Did you put on the tunic I gave you?"

"No, I'm going to. I-I'm still in under the cleaningrod."  he said, trying to quiet his mother for just a few seconds. The rod poured down lilywater, scented from the garden above the house.

"Have you rehearsed the oath?"

"Uhh.. ye-yes!" he said sheepishly.

"Are you sure? Do you know it by heart?" said mother, persisting.

"Yes. Yes. It's not a big deal."

"Fine then. I'm listening." she said, not taking my word for it.

"Ughhh." he groaned.

"I don't remember an "ugh" in the oath. Are you sure you know it?"

"Yes, mother... We swear by the code of Arunel, instituted by the pious elders, our allegiance to the laws of Arunel. We swear, in unified concordance to protect Arunel and combat all threats to the livelihood of our people and heretofore have decided through weeks of deliberation... uhh

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"our decision to...!" shouted mother. "Jake, if you fumble for these words, you'll make me look like a mother that didn't prepare her son for his augmentation."

"I-I won't." he stammered.

"Go on, then. Finish the oath.." she said.

"Um.. through weeks of deliberation, our decision to undergo this augmentation."

"There!" he said satisfied as he turned off the cleaningrod and switched on the dryingrod. He stretched out his arms, feeling the air slowly heating his chest.

"Ok, good. Now, who is your partner?" said mother. "You haven't told me anything about who you chose. Oh! Is it Gregory? He's very sweet. Oh! Is it a girl?"

He finished drying and walked down to my room. Putting on the tunic and the ceremonial spider-silk pants.

"Jake? Who is your partner?"

He remained silent, hoping she would forget the question, knowing she never did anything of the sort.

"Jake!" she yelled. "Who is your partner?!"

"Mother!" he stomped out of his room to the stairs. "Stop worrying about it! It's fine!"

She paused for a moment—then she pointed at me, her finger trembling.

"Dear Elders... you don't have a partner do you Jake?" she said

"Mother, I have everything under contro-.."

"The ceremony is in 30 minutes and you don't have a partner!?" she said, as if possessed.

"Uhh. N-no.. I have a partner, but I... just don't want you to know about her." he said, hesitating.

"Dear Elders! It's a girl! Oh, what's her name? Is she cute?" said mother, suddenly becoming cheerful.

"See, mother.. that's why." he said he walked upstairs.

"Jacob. You are handsomer than your Father; I know this girl must be really cute." she said happily.

"Mother... pleease." he groaned.

"Oh, could you tell me her name at least?" asked mother.

He sighed.

"Her name is Alina. She's very cute and so beautiful. I wanted her to be my partner... so... we can protect Arunel." he said, catching himself from trailing off into his own thoughts about her. "Is that good enough for you?"

"Oh! I knew it." said mother, clapping her hands together.

"Yes, now please stop asking me questions. After I comb my hair, we need to head to the augmenation. You can look at her all you want when we get there."