Nyxir had thought the worst they would think happened to him is loss of memory probably from being hit on the head but he still felt fear when old Lu frowned at him. His whole body tensed and he was ready to run away if he sensed any abnormal behavior.
' would that not make me more suspicious? '
"Hmm hmm" old Lu cleared his throat and with the same expression looked at Olivia. "I think the awakening ceremony's date will not change as the important figures from the capital have arrived even if it does then it will be brought forward. " He speculated before looking at Olivia.
" You should follow Nyxir to the district's house to attend the ceremony on Tuesday "
" Okay " Olivia answered nodding slightly.
' so it will hold on Tuesday, that is two days from now '
He had decided to ask old Lu rather than Olivia because old Lu is somehow able to keep up with recent happenings despite them living in the outskirts of Warren.
Warren is a border city at a forest's edge, it is known for its fertile land which makes most residents farmers but was unfortunately ruled over by the government and private owners who built different factories and infrastructure in the run down part of Warren causing poisonous fog to cover the air and the once fertile land to be infertile. These had made many people stop farming to become workers in the factories while most people are unable to secure job due to limited space and some people like Nyxir's family relocated far away from the settlement into the bush to farm and then transport their products to the market to sell.
The old man is always finding time to visit a tavern there where he would gather recent happenings in the city and that is how he is always up to date.
Nyxir had thought the awakening ceremony is still like weeks away but who knew it was already very close.
' It was a good idea to ask Old Lu '
The awakening ceremony is just a formality held every year to help aspirants unlock their divinity and also an occasion to check out talents and potential, a platform to recruit promising buds by the various organizations.
This awakening ceremony is always held in the local district house where the official recognized the various awakened to help organizations locate them for recruitment.
People who are able to awaken a divinity are called Diviners and there are a total of eight known sequences ranging from sequence 9 to sequence 2 with sequence 9 and 8 being the lowest also called novice.
Nyxir had been a master array venerate at the mid sequence 7 before the unfortunate incident of his family extermination and his eventual death.
' I guess it helps to be prepared before awakening '
Nyxir watched as Olivia cleared the plates from the table before exhaling softly.
' I already have a chance of awakening, I just need to gather clues fast enough to know what to avoid and what to confront '
' If I can just awaken a sealer's ability again, it will be for the best as I'm already familiar with it '
He stood up nodded towards Old Lu who looked dissatisfied and headed towards the door. He opened the door and lingered before turning to Olivia who was already done clearing the table and was wiping it with a brown napkin.
"The food tasted good. Thanks Liv" his crisp voice echoed in the room causing Old Lu and Olivia to stare at him in surprise.
' I slipped up again ' he hurriedly exited the room and turned towards his dormitory.
The moon was full casting its silvery glow on Nyxir causing his shadow to extend far into the bush. He whistled a gentle tune as he strolled leisurely through the clusters of buildings until he got to his dormitory.
Nyxir sat outside on the pavement staring at he black night sky with countless twinkling stars like eyes gazing down from the abyss, there was a big bright star among the cluster which seemed to be standing alone away from the others. The cold night breeze brushed past his body leaving tiny goosebumps covering his exposed skin as his mind recounted the entire day's event.
"hummm. It seems I have to tread carefully and solve these problems one after another, these messes need to be dealt with promptly, they cannot be rushed"
He was lost in thought for a long time before retiring to bed putting all of his worries behind him, at least he had tomorrow to worry about.
Nyxir was stirred awoke by rustling noises behind his window, he laid in bed his face to the ceiling with his eyes tracing the numerous cracks that stretched on like spider webs. He remained in that position for a very long time enjoying the rare tranquility of his mind since the previous day.
His mind had been preoccupied with the thoughts of the previous host's death and many more worries about his own survival to his awakening that his brain is already hurting. But somehow, sleep has a way of clearing those worries away.
"I just wish I could sleep like this for a longer time" he mused, slightly vexed at the short night.
He stired and changed his position lying sideways hIs gaze staring out of the window at the blue sunless sky. The sky is clear with hardly any clouds in sight but he felt a gloom in the atmosphere and the morning cold invading his room made him feel slight chills.
He got up slowly from the bed and moved towards the table, his hand reflexively grabbed the black diary and he flipped it leisurely half hoping to see something he missed yesterday.
"I guess that is all about the diary" he shook his head after flipping a couple of times before closing the diary and heading outside.
The morning cold embraced his body making him shudder involuntarily as he brushed his feet against the overgrown grass slightly wet from the morning dew. His destination was Old Lu's dormitory, he had decided to go there in the morning to have him chastise him while telling him what he ought to do in the morning.
"I guess I will get used to it anyways, I am too thin skinned to shrink off morning duties after eating dinner the previous night."
As he turned around the corner, he saw old Lu sitting on an old stool leisurely watching the birds dancing on the distant trees.
'This man really knows how to idle away and he keeps blaming me anytime I am free'
Old Lu always had a dissatisfied look plastered on his face, it was not intended but it is the kind of expression that appears naturally on his face like it was glued to his face.
The moment Nyxir walked out from the corner, old Lu turned to look at him the dissatisfied expression unchanging on his face as he inquired.
"What are you doing roaming the compound, are you finished with clearing the courtyard? "
' so I was supposed to cut the grass '
" I just wanted to start " nyxir replied as he turned around and headed to the small room used as a store.
' mission accomplished, I just have to clear the grass a little bit'
Although Nyxir's little family lives off farming, they have a time that they also rest from the stress of the farm and that is after they have ensured all the crops are growing fine without any weeds to obstruct their growth. It is also rainy so they need not to wet the crops everyday and also have time for other house activities and selling their products.
More importantly, Old Lu also has the leisure to drink in a tavern and gather the world's secret.
Nyxir got to work the moment he got a good shovel from the store, he started cutting from the front which is the place that reflects the house presence.
"It's good there is a shovel, it is a bit easy using a shovel to weed on a soft grass"
"Why haven't I seen Olivia this morning? Did she go to fetch some water?"
They live away from the city into the bush so their source of water is primarily a stream about a kilometre from their house and rain water only during the rainy season.
"I got tired easily now huh? I guess this is not my strong body from before." Nyxir sat on the short grass panting heavily, he was covered in sweat but his eyes still shone brightly as he had really done a splendid job of clearing a vast area.
"I guess this should be enough for today, Liv should be done with cooking, I am starving already "
" I should go and wash up first, I will try to gather information on the black cave and Segan after eating since I have a lot of time today before heading for the district house tomorrow "
" Hmmm? "
Nyxir's body suddenly tensed, he felt his hair stand on end and a tingling sensation iny his right hand that supported his vertically inclined body.
"What's that?"