"What's with this feeling?" Edwin woke up and sat on his bed. "I think it has happened." A piece of cloth with cotton coiled around his neck, another coiled around his face, covering his cut cheek. Another covered his leg.
He took a deep breath.
"My boy, Edwin, any good news?" Azazel opened the animal fur‑made curtain and walked in.
"What are you talking about, old man?" Even though he knew what Azazel was asking about, he chose to make it hard for the old man.
"Always rude, just say it," Azazel pushed.
Edwin closed his eyes and took another deep breath. "I've attained complete assimilation."
"Good, good." Azazel's joyous shout echoed through the mountain cave.
"Master, what's going on?" Kelo walked in. She was in her rabbit form.
"This brat has attained complete assimilation. Not many have I witnessed attain complete assimilation this fast." Azazel was dazzled by Edwin's quick growth.
"It's probably a result of the soft training we have been freely offering to this undeserving and ungrateful human." Kelo spat her heart out.
"Look at the filthy human, he is not even smiling," she pointed.
"It's my birthday." Over half a year had passed since the assassination attempt on Edwin.
For someone to awaken and achieve complete assimilation in that short period was rare. Complete assimilation took most people three to five years, and you had to be a special talent like Rafael to achieve complete assimilation in two years. For an awakened seeker to attain full assimilation was much harder as it was for the first time.
"Human, I will treat you well this once. I saw some fruits when I was hunting in a forest not far." Kelo played with her feathered ears.
"I don't need your special treatment," Edwin said.
"You…" Azazel cut Kelo off.
"Is anything wrong, boy?" he asked.
"I don't celebrate my birthday. Resonance should be my next stage. The quicker I start, the quicker I will be able to leave this mountain for the village." His lack of power was the only thing holding him back.
"Boy, there is no need to hurry." Azazel said with a comforting, calm voice. "Is this because of your mother's death?"
"It's not only that. My father was also killed on the day of my birthday."
Edwin's mind drifted back several years ago.
"Caterina, take a guess. What will Father and Uncle buy me for my birthday?" Six‑year‑old Edwin was playing outside the house in the courtyard with Caterina.
"I don't know, maybe those cakes from Akash you love. Mama said we will have a big feast tonight when my dad and uncle arrive."
At that moment a small gate opened. Mama Valentina rushed in, tears streaming down her face. Two of her friends ran behind her as she headed toward the house.
"Mama," Caterina started crying when she saw her mother. She dropped her toy and followed inside.
"Why is Auntie crying? It's my birthday." Edwin was confused.
It was during the evening when two beheaded corpses arrived in a caravan that he learned of his father's death. He was beheaded in Akash together with his caravan driver on espionage accusation.
The following morning, after laying his father to rest, certain merchants had taken over their house and the caravan business under fabricated unpaid debt claims.
The council of elders temporarily stripped Edwin of his rights over Mama Valentina and Caterina, placing them under Kona. The village's way of denial involvement with Edwin's father.
Shaman Zu had gone on a pilgrimage.
In succession, another memory flashed.
Same day as today,
An Eight‑year‑old Sundiata Tewodros was in an English class, deep in focus, when a man in a black suit knocked on the classroom door.
Madam Banda, the English teacher, attended to the guest.
The man in the black suit whispered; Madam Banda's face twitched.
"Sundiata, my good child," she said. "Please pack your things and follow this man."
Sundiata was confused. He picked up his school bag and followed the man. Outside, in the black Toyota Land Cruiser TX, he received the devastating news.
"Your father has been killed in a car accident." The man in the suit addressed him. He introduced himself as a political ally of his father. He explained the car was burnt by what he suspected to be the Blue-red Party Cadets.
It was during the second term of the Blue-red Party. Many political rivals and critics were assassinated. Surely this was not information to be shared with a kid of his age. The man was trying to win him over.
"Edwin!" Azazel snapped Edwin back to reality.
"Kelo, let's give Edwin a room for himself." Azazel and Kelo left.
By the time Edwin exited his room, it was already lunch hour.
A smell of pineapples, bananas, and mangoes welcomed Edwin. A fragrance of grilled catfish and Curimbata made Edwin feel like he was back at the shrine.
"Feeling better now?" Azazel asked.
Edwin nodded. "I thought Curimbata is only found in Third Igarape in the whole Mayu T'aqa Valley?"
"Ignorant brat, how many from your village dare to venture past the Forest of Horror Songs?"
As Edwin took his seat,
"Old man, isn't it time you tell me what resonance is?"
"Brat, even if you manage to attain full resonance, you still wouldn't be able to cross the two horrors."
"But it will get me closer to being powerful enough to attempt leaving, isn't that so?"
"Hmmm. Resonance is a very critical stage, and it differentiates talents and having a strong spirit and patience."
"Each cinder has a will of its own." He paused. "Resonance is when a seeker overrides the cinder's will with their own, completely making the cinder a part of their soul."
"This process rewards patience; it rewards the strong‑spirited."
"If forced upon, the cinder's will can override your own will in your soul, completely corrupting your soul."
"I can't say how long it will take you. After attaining complete resonance, the cinder will become a part of your soul. And using your awakened ability will become much more potent and efficient." Azazel ended his lecture.
The meal was delicious: fruits with grilled meat. It was a weird combination, yet it worked.
Edwin went back to his room after lunch.
On his bed he dug into his past life on Earth.
He had inherited a fortune after his father's death. A law firm contracted by his father when he was alive managed the trust fund, yet life was hell for him.
Immediately after moving from Area 10 to his new mansion in Area 47, he suddenly had a stroke; both of his feet became paralyzed. He was drugged by the same law firm that was supposed to protect him.
His father had almost ten percent ownership in all companies listed on the Malawi Stock Exchange. He owned farms and hotels across the country. He was a powerful backer of many freedom and human rights activists. The Blue-red Party saw him as a threat. He had too much power for someone aligned with the opposition.
It was clear the government had indirectly taken over the law firm. He hated authority.
To make it worse, he never knew who his grandparents were; they died a year after his birth, just like Old Edwin. Both had their mothers die during childbirth.
They hated fate. They hated death. On top of it all, they hated the way of life, for it established and enforced everything: fate, harmony, authority, death, time, love.
"Hahaha." Edwin laughed on his bed. "Tao, the Way of Life. I will tear you apart."
"I will become disorder when there is order."
"I will become misfortune when there is luck."
"Luck when there is misfortune."
"I will become innovation and evolution when there is habit."
"Habit when there is change."
"I will become chaos, something Tao fears the most."
"Hahaha," he laughed. "I will write my own story. I'm the main character of this story."
"The One and Only Protagonist of this World."
Outside his room, an elderly man, Azazel, had listened to Edwin's rant. His lips curved up as he stepped into the corridor.
"That's my boy." He smiled.
{End of Vol. 1 Arc 1 : Child of Chaos}