The Meeting With The Elders (Part 3)
After the commotion settled down, the elders surrounded Alex, bombarding him with questions. They behaved like grandparents meeting their grandchildren for the first time, displaying immense interest and enthusiasm in getting to know him. Despite feeling awkward, Alex couldn't help but sense their sincerity and genuine curiosity. It felt as if he were talking to his own grandparents. He also noticed some of the elders doting on Lydia, giving her head pats and hugs while she laughed, and some even audibly apologised for the earlier prank. It seemed they had pulled such stunts before, though not on this scale. Perhaps it was a special occasion just for him and Lydia?
As the conversations began to drift off-topic and drag on, Jeb took control of the situation. He respectfully requested the elders' attention and asked them to take their places in the room. Finally, with a moment to collect himself and take in his surroundings, Alex surveyed the area. The room resembled a once elegant, now decayed office turned common room with an air of faded grandeur. The walls, once painted a stately green, were now a canvas of moss and dirt streaks, the paint peeling away to reveal rough concrete beneath. Ivy crept through cracks in the ceiling, adding a touch of wild greenery to the otherwise dreary space. An old chandelier, its bulb crystals dulled by dust, hung precariously from the ceiling, casting a dim, uneven light across the room.
The furniture told stories of better days. A long, scarred wooden table dominated the centre, its surface marred by deep scratches and burn marks. Around it stood mismatched chairs, some with missing legs replaced by stacks of old books or makeshift wooden props. Each chair seemed to have its own history, with upholstery in various states of decay, from threadbare to completely torn. In the corners of the room, remnants of office life lingered. A rusted filing cabinet leaned against one wall, its drawers open and filled with yellowed papers. Nearby, an ancient typewriter sat on a dusty desk, keys missing or jammed with age. The floor was a patchwork of cracked tiles and bare concrete, with the occasional tuft of resilient grass poking through.
Despite the dilapidation, the room had a certain charm. The elders had adorned the walls with faded photographs and old paintings, giving the space a sense of history and continuity. Handcrafted knick-knacks and worn books filled the shelves, evidence of a place well-lived in and loved. As Alex took in the details, he felt a strange comfort in the room's shabby grandeur. It was a place that had seen much and endured even more, much like the elders who now sat around him. Their curiosity and warmth made the decaying room feel almost like home.
As the elders settled back down and the commotion ceased, Jeb adopted a formal tone and addressed them, "Dear Council, I thank everyone for gathering here today despite your busy schedules. We called for your presence today for a few reasons." He glanced at Alex and Lydia, gesturing for them to come forward. "First, as you might have already heard the rumours, to celebrate the union between our newest family member, Alex, and my own granddaughter, Lydia. Please, do give them your blessings for this wonderful event of their lives."
The room was filled with soft cheers and applause, some of which expressed pleasant approval, putting a smile on those watching them. Lydia performed a respectable curtsy, and Alex instinctively bowed while the elders congratulated them.
Once the room settled down again, Jeb continued, "Secondly, I would like Alex to seek your guidance regarding matters about our district. As I've previously reported, Alex unfortunately lost his memories when I found him, but I will let Alex speak for himself later."
Jeb glanced at Alex before turning back to the Council, addressing a particularly senior elder dressed in a black qipao with gold trims and a central gold dragon emblem. "Lastly, I would like to formally and respectfully ask Elder Yan for your help in looking into Alex's past and hopefully shedding some light on his lost memories."
Elder Yan's appearance was striking. Her face was deeply wrinkled, reflecting her age, and she wore a constant frown. Her hands, emerging from her long sleeves, were thin and wrinkled, resembling chopsticks with joints. Despite her eyes being barely visible, one could sense an intense stare emanating from her. The black qipao with gold accents she wore underscored her authority and presence in the room.
"Mmm. I understand. But pardon me, I mean no harm. I need to know young man more first. We talk later. After young man talk." Elder Yan spoke with an accent, and Alex couldn't help but feel she sounded familiar. She spoke as if she had stepped out of a cheesy kung fu movie, like one of those unassuming but powerful masters. But regardless, she was indeed the Elder Yan that Jeb had mentioned the night before. She might be the person who held all the answers Alex desperately needed. He gulped, readying himself for the moment.
"Thank you, Elder Yan. Then, I shall let Alex speak to everyone." Facing Alex, Jeb gestured for him to step closer to the middle of the room, and Alex complied.
Now standing at the centre, with the elders seated around the edges of the room like a court, Alex suddenly felt nervous, as if he were about to go on trial. Sensing his unease, Elder Yan spoke up, "Young man. Speak your mind. Hold nothing back. There no danger here."
"A-Ah. Thank you, Elder Yan," Alex replied as calmly as he could, though his nervousness was still evident. The room fell silent, each person waiting for his next words. Alex took a deep breath and began his plea.
"Dear Elders, I shall speak frankly. I hope to be accepted as a new member of your humble Genesis District. While I have already been taken into Gran—I mean Master Jeb's family, I am still inexperienced and uneducated in the ways of your world. To put my desire as simply as I can, I wish to learn how to survive here as a member of the district. I am aware that one cannot learn everything about a place in a single day, but I am more than willing to learn and respect the rules, culture, and social norms over time while living alongside everyone. I hope that you can kindly guide me along." Despite a few stutters, Alex managed to convey everything he wanted to tell the Elders in one breath, and as he finished, he bowed deeply, hoping for a positive response.
"Mmm. Good attitude. Rare in Genesis. You already better than most." Elder Yan chuckled, and the others followed with soft, heart-warmed laughs. She then continued, "Young man. In Genesis, we have one rule only."
Staring straight into Alex, Elder Yan's eyes opened slightly.
"Survive."
With that single word, Alex felt the simplicity and weight of the rule. Survive. That was all there was. Nothing else mattered.
Suddenly, all the elders, with their jolly faces and cheerful tunes, transformed into menacing grins and hardened chuckles. It hit Alex like a train. These elders weren't just normal elderly people; they were all active senior leaders in the various communities within the district. Leaders who could control the fight-happy crowds of mutated individuals with varying superpowers, ready to tear each other apart at a moment's notice. Then, as quickly as the atmosphere changed, it changed back.
"But that not what you want hear, I think. You want know about world. How world work. How get food. How get necessary things. Elder Wendigo, can help with that." Elder Yan turned to Elder Wendigo, who was leaning on one of the walls. "She teach you. After all, Scabs very good with Outer world. Also very good with city. Can teach you everything."
Elder Wendigo nodded. "Yes, Elder Yan speaks true. I am more than happy to teach you about this world. Please, do visit me at my abode tomorrow. My son, Crawson, has already given you his approval to enter the section without limitations. I will teach you everything the Scabs know."
Alex bowed in response to Elder Wendigo's offer. "Thank you for your guidance, Elder Wendigo. I shall visit your abode tomorrow as invited."
Secretly feeling a mix of surprise and satisfaction, Alex was pleased to have guessed correctly that Elder Wendigo might be from the Scabs, though he hadn't anticipated that she was Crawson's mother.
With the arrangement set, Elder Yan continued, "Mmm. Good. Now, do you wish to see past? I can do it now, but I need to prepare. I call when done." She gave everyone a brief, knowing glance, then turned back to Alex with a grin. "Meanwhile, celebrate happy union."
The conversation between Alex and Elder Yan concluded, and the elders once again busied themselves, approaching Alex and Lydia to congratulate them on their union, showering them with compliments and sincere blessings.