The chronicles of embodiment

Chapter 8

Ruhe rushed into the entrance of a large home, exclaiming, "This entryway is bigger than our room!" He looked at his mother but quickly frowned, realizing she was feeling pain once more.

Hasbisis glanced at her and said, "I'll get your bedroom ready first." He then turned to Ruhe. "I chose this home mainly because it has a bedroom on the bottom floor, so your mother won't have to climb the stairs. The great thing is, all the rooms are rather large."

Ruhe looked surprised and said, "Wait, really!? So I'll have a big bedroom?" Hasbisis nodded.

At that moment, a young woman entered, her voice sounding youthful yet respectful. "Great, it seems you're already comfortable in the home. We're working on sending the seller a reasonable offer. As you know, the Great House will pay for the home, as well as any renovations you wish within the next few months."

Hasbisis smiled and responded, "Thank you, Fasamula."

The resource officer smiled back and said, "Just doing what I was hired to do," before leaving the home.

Hasbisis began cleaning the room where Miraul would sleep, casting layers of healing magic across the roof to ease her pain during the night.

Miraul entered the room shortly after he finished and weakly said, "It looks great. Thank you." Hasbisis guided her to the bed, and as he helped her sit down, she groaned in pain.

"Do you need help lying down?" Hasbisis asked.

Miraul shook her head and replied, "No, I'm fine," with a huff. Hasbisis doubted her words but quickly got up and walked out of the room. He saw Ruhe sitting on a box, sobbing.

Ruhe looked up at him. "She's not going to get better; she's never getting better!" He exclaimed.

Hasbisis sighed and sat next to Ruhe. "Look, I'm trying my best here. We're all trying our best. Nothing great will happen if we just mope. Ruhe, she has a better chance than ever to survive here," he told him.

Ruhe began to yell, "No! She can barely walk, she groans in pain every time she moves! She can't stand for long!"

Hasbisis began to speak, "Please, Ruhe, it's only been two days!"

Ruhe continued to yell, "I barely see my mom anymore." He suddenly stopped yelling, and his voice trembled. "Do you know how they say... how when people are at their lowest, they become a shell of what they were before? I barely see Ma anymore, and I hate that."

Hasbisis looked away, attempting to hide the tears forming in his eyes. "Then we allow that shell to grow a new body, Ruhe. We grow from our experiences—the pain, the suffering, the failures."

Ruhe cut him off again, looking at him. "What if we experience the worst failure ever, meaning we left everything for her, only to lose her?" Hasbisis pondered for a moment and replied, "We make sure it never happens to anyone ever again."

Ruhe crossed his arms and said, "I don't care about anyone else, though."

Hasbisis smiled and said, "Yes, you do." He got up and began grabbing boxes, taking them upstairs to the rooms. Meanwhile, Ruhe took the 'story stone' out of his pocket. He wanted to throw that thing to relieve his frustration, yet the fact that it was the only thing salvaged from his home stopped him. Although he had lost his belief in the tale the stone contained, he had found a new connection, especially when things were normal.

The following morning, Ruhe woke up to the sound of voices. During the previous night, most of the unpacked things had been organized into their rightful places. He jumped out of his bed, grabbed the stick he had used to try to protect the clinic, and walked down the stairs. He peeked into the front room to see Hasbisis and Miraul talking to two different people. He threw the stick back up the stairs, and when it hit the wall, the others in the front room heard the noise. They looked toward the staircase, and soon Ruhe emerged from behind the case with a wave. "H-hi," he greeted nervously.

The stranger nearest to Miraul spoke, "Hello Ruhe Daucuoi. I'm the current head of the faction, Dr. Airskhearl. I study home lives in order to create the perfect environment for learning. What I've come to understand is that you're still at a preholder level for your magic, though by now you should be at an intermediate level." Ruhe thought, he doesn't know anything about magic training.

Miraul looked rather embarrassed and said, "My family lost their focus for magic a while ago."

The Head nodded and said, "I see, that's truly a pity, being descendants of the Hero of Vortex."

Miraul mentioned under her breath, "Caskau..." The head of the faction nodded and said, "In a few months' time, he'll have his second renaissance period. If we can get him to the rightful level through pure training, he'll catch up with his future peers.

We normally study homes for a few weeks before starting their program within the building, but we hope to start him tomorrow."

Hasbisis looked hesitant to accept, though Miraul seemed extremely willing. "Of course!" the head thought.

"We need his measurements, so we can deliver the correct size. The tailor will arrive soon. Thank you for your time." The head of the faction stood up and quickly made his leave.

Ruhe looked at the other guest, a short red-haired girl with purple eyes. "Who's this other person?"

he asked. The girl stood up, and in a prideful manner, she introduced herself. "I'm Kairma Deaosi, a representative for this town's medical organization."

Ruhe looked off and asked, "So, you're not with the big words faction boss man?"

Hasbisis shook his head and said, "No, Ruhe, she works where I'm going to."

Ruhe looked extremely confused and said, "But the faction guy said he's a doctor!"

Kairma nodded and replied, "Yes, he did. That's because here, doctors can also be described as teachers."

Ruhe stared at her and said, "That's really confusing, but okay!" He quickly sat down between Miraul and Hasbisis.

Though Ruhe quickly got bored, as did the two doctors, Hasbisis and Kairma, who chirped away at 'nonsense' he didn't understand. His mother, on the other hand, became extremely interested in the doctors' conversation. She asked respectful questions while Ruhe continuously interrupted.

By the time Kairma left, the tailor arrived, knocking on the door. Ruhe quickly answered, hoping for someone who was more fun. However, the tailor was a blonde-haired male with a dead look in his eyes. Ruhe looked at Hasbisis and his mother, annoyed, but they both seemed confused.

The tailor spoke in a simple monotone voice, saying, "I'm Radaovinkshi Asterich, the tailor of the faction. Do you have a stool here? This one is rather short for his age."

Ruhe gasped because, back in his old home, he was one of the tallest kids around his age. He began to speak to defend his height, saying, "Listen here—"

Hasbisis spoke over him, saying, "Oh yes, we have a stool. Ruhe, get the stool from your mother's room."  Ruhe stubbornly went to get the stool, brought it back, placed it down, and stood on top of it. The measurements went rather swiftly, and with a wave, the tailor, Asterich, left.

Ruhe stared at them both and exclaimed, "No one has ever commented on my height like that! Are all the children here giants?"

Hasbisis shrugged and said, "They say they're rather tall for their ages. Children from different regions grow differently."

Miraul smiled and said, "The happy attitude here is enjoyable. I used to think most nobles were horrible, but after coming here, I feel welcomed." Hasbisis smiled and said, "That's great, Miraul. I'm going to check out the medical center. Please rest easy, Ruhe, and don't give her too much trouble." Ruhe crossed his arms and replied, "I do not!" Hasbisis chuckled and left.

Ruhe looked at his mother and asked, "I don't cause trouble, right?"

Miraul looked away but had a small smile, "hmm?"

Ruhe puffed his cheeks and said, "Aw, come on!"