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Resi Brooks has feet of stone, and his legs are on fire. His torso sloshes
around, spilling drops of water on the steaming ground. His headwinds pull
upwards, trying to force him into the sky. He takes another step. His left
leg begins to harden, but it doesn’t last long. The fire beats against his
knees, and takes back over. That’s his mother, trying to bring him over to
her side of the island. That would be okay. Any of the Houses, he would be
proud to be in. He just doesn’t want to end up in Kinkon. His family would
be so disappointed. He can feel the stars in his eyes. They’re a smaller
part of him than they are for some. Many have willingly crossed the ocean,
and joined the colonists and their descendants. And they have returned,
bringing their new bloodline with them. He does not come from a family of
bigots. He welcomes his brothers and sisters, and the strangers. He just
does not want to become one of them. Kinkon isn’t a real House. It’s just
what they call it when you don’t fit in anywhere else; when you embrace the
colonial lifestyle. Again, there’s nothing wrong with it. He’s been known to
partake in their technology, and enjoyed their media. They make good stuff.
He would miss his loved ones too much, though. He would have to leave to
learn their ways, and while his family members have completed their Mori
journeys, and would be free to visit him, they wouldn’t. They like it here
too much. God is the one who brought their ancestors here in the first
place, and they want to stay close to Him. Of course, everyone knows that it
was The Mirror, the Flyer, and the Bird who actually rescued them from the
Ash Death, but they believe that he was working through them. They still
thank him for this world.
Resi has been so much in his head this whole time, he didn’t even notice
that the wind has begun to take over his body. It’s down to his shoulders
now. It’s not strong enough to lift him from the ground, but it will happen
soon if he’s not careful. But does he want to be careful? House
Enaiyo would be a perfectly acceptable selection. He doesn’t have any family
there, but his parents would be just as proud of him, and they’re not too
terribly far away. It feels like this Kidjum is taking a long time. When he
would watch the ceremony as a child, the sleepers would reawaken much faster
than this. Perhaps that has all been an illusion. After all, when he’s just
having a regular dream, time passes differently inside than on the outside.
Still, he doesn’t want to be the last to wake up with his declaration. The
others won’t tease him for it, but he doesn’t want the spotlight to be on
him, and he doesn’t want to waste anyone’s time. Kidjum ceremonies are
boring for anyone who isn’t in it, or doesn’t personally know someone who
is. He remembers that from childhood. You’ve seen one, you’ve seen them
all. The way they described what it was like to be in the dream sounded
fascinating, but not something worth watching from the outside more than
once. It’s only interesting now.
He wakes up. No warning, no final decision. He’s just awake, and it wasn’t
even finished yet. The audience is clapping. Oh, no. He really is the
last one. Oh, how embarrassing. He rolls over to see the cot next to him.
The dreamer in it has not awoken yet. He sits up and looks around. No one
else is awake. He’s not last? Why the hell are they clapping then? They’re
gonna fall silent once he tells them that he never came to a decision. Does
he have to pee? Why in the world did he wake up before his time! What is he
supposed to choose? He never got his answer! The Kokore walks over, and
reaches out to help him up. She has a huge smile upon her face. She guides
him towards the audience, who are still clapping and cheering. They know
more than Resi does. She holds his hand up triumphantly.
They cheer louder. Resi notices that the kids are clapping too, but they
look just as confused as he is. Whatever this is, it must be something that
you don’t learn until after your own Kidjum, which explains why he doesn’t
understand why he’s being singled out when the other dreamers haven’t even
opened their eyes yet.
“Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time in over 200 years,” the Kokore
begins, “I give you a founding member of House Kutelin!”
House Kutelin? That’s not a thing. It just means five.
“Resi Brooks, First Tongue of Aether, you honor us with your presence.”
Aether? What the fuck is that?
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