"Something is different about this ceremony, so it was moved forward," Mama Sarfowa explained.
"Different how?"
"I don't know exactly, but the divine spirits are very excited."
"Do you think it's related to the tower?"
"Very likely," Mama Sarfowa nodded.
Zane nodded, "You said rituals are how you improve your mental energy. Will I also receive some benefit from the grand ceremony?"
"Is that all you care about?" Mama Sarfowa is baffled by why this kid became so greedy after his release.
"It's a valid question," Zane replied. "And in my situation, I need all the help I can get."
Mama Sarfowa was silent. "You will, and the more sincere you are, the more benefit."
"I'll be sincere."
"Oh?" she asked, sensing something more to his words.
"I think my guardian spirit saved my life," Zane revealed before explaining what happened with the wind-tiger.
"You can directly hear the abosom (lesser deity or spirit)'s voice without a ritual or an ancestral spirit acting as a medium? It seems you and Ziyad are truly talented."
"Him?"
"He had a similar experience to yours," Mama Sarfowa explained. "A bunch of lizard people surrounded him and his teammate, and he heard the guidance of Tano."
"His guardian is Tano? Kind of makes sense," Zane thought. Tano is the abosom associated with war, thunder, and protection. There is nothing to say about the first two, but the aspect of protection fits perfectly with the Ziyad that Zane remembered.
"How does this spirit communication work? Will they help as long as I'm in danger?"
Mama Sarfowa immediately shook her head, "Before the tower arrived and revived magic throughout the world, communicating with spirits was rare and only possible during rituals because they were in a weakened state. It's only been two weeks, which isn't enough time for them to recover to the point of speaking or guiding people frequently. And I'm not even mentioning the rules that all spirits must follow."
Mama Sarfowa raised her hand to stop Zane, "Don't ask what rule. You'll know after your initiation in December."
"Fine, fine, I'll guess I'll have to rely on myself," Zane sighed, not even bothering to ask if she could teach him how to initiate communication.
"Don't think I'm trying to be difficult and don't want to teach you," Mama Sarfowa sighed. "Our way of life has survived for so long because our ancestors created rules that we have followed. Even as my son, I cannot break them for you."
"I understand."
"Do you?" Zane's mother looked him in the eyes. "Our tradition has survived through slavery, colonialism, the rise of capitalism, world wars, and the vicissitudes of the modern day. Can you imagine how many people, groups, and even governments have tried to eradicate us, tried to steal our knowledge, or forced us to work for them? Through all these trials and tribulations, we survived by adhering to these rules."
Zane was silent.
Mama Sarfowa raised her hand to caress his face, "You're my son, and there is nothing I wouldn't do for you. Six years ago, do you know how many times I wanted to burn everything to the ground to get you out of the hell hole?" A deep pain flashed in Mama Sarfowa's heart as she thought of those dark times.
"Why didn't you?" Zane asked, his voice a bit choked. That prison was hell, and he was not proud of the things he had to do to survive. He would do anything to forget these days — no, to go back in time and change things. Sadly, such a thing is not possible — probably even with magic.
"Because I swore an oath — an oath that represented hundreds of years of our people's history, perseverance, and wisdom. An oath to put the collective group above my personal needs."
Magic or spiritual practice is a crucial tool for Africans and even the disenfranchised all over the world. It has been the key to countless slave revolts and revolutions: from Haiti's Slave Revolution, to African-American's Battle Against Segregation, to Ghana's and many African's independence against British and other colonial rulers. Hidden in the background, it has played a key role in most major global battles against inequality. And the reason they have been successful is that they have kept their knowledge from falling into the wrong hands.
"But what if something had happened to me? What if I had died?" Zane asked. There were too many instances where his life was in balance. Whoever framed him wanted him dead and tried more than once to ensure that it happened.
"You wouldn't," Mama Sarfowa replied with immense conviction. "This was my and the elders' bottom line. We couldn't use our powers publicly to save you, but we would not allow you to die."
"But it didn't look that way. An accident could have happened at any time."
"Do you remember that ring I forced you to wear, the one I would exchange every year?"
"I remember. You told me to lie to the guard that it was my wedding ring so that they wouldn't take it away."
"That was a protective charm to ensure you wouldn't die," Mama Sarfowa explained. "The elders used the best materials and blessed it themselves. In a desperate situation, it would keep you alive no matter what."
"So powerful?" Zane remembered those rings. Every year, his mother would bring him a new one that looked exactly like the previous one. In his dark times, he would caress it as it reminded him of home. However, after his exit, they were reminded of a darker time, so he gave the last one back to his mother.
Mama Sarforwa smiled. She wouldn't tell him these rings used to contain powerful dark magic that would suck the life force of everything around him to sustain his life if he were ever in mortal danger. Luckily, things never reached that point, but she was not kidding when she said their bottom line was his safety.
Zane sighed, "Intellectually, I understand where you're coming from. But emotionally, I feel some resentment."
"And you have all the rights to feel this way. But in life, we all have to make hard choices sometimes."
"Couldn't you guys be a bit less rigid?" Zane asked. "Use your powers to make money and bribe your way to my release."
"We did try such an approach," his mother revealed. "The family pooled our money together to help you, but the people who wanted you gone were relentless. Luckily, that girl Cindy interfered."
"What does she have to do with anything?"
"Didn't she tell you? She's the reason you were transferred out of the maximum prison and why you were released on good behavior a year later."
"…She didn't tell me."
"Our family owes that girl a great debt. One day, if you're capable, you must pay it back."
Zane knew she was right. The Zhang Family has a lot of power in China, but not much in the US. Zane understood how much effort and sacrifice were needed for Cindy to facilitate his release — especially since her family never liked him.
"I feel bad about doubting her, but this information doesn't completely negate her family's possible involvement," Zane thought. As much as he appreciated her help, he would not rule her out of the investigation completely. Cindy herself might be fine, but her family is another issue entirely.
Zane sighed, "Let's change the topic. When is Alisha arriving?"
"She texted this morning that she would be late. So, let's go put the boxes into the storage room, and we'll return to cook dinner; she should have arrived by then."
"Alright," Zane nodded before turning to the couch in the living room. His mother's apartment was only a one-bedroom and one bathroom, but unlike his, it was pretty large. The living room and kitchen were separate entities, with the former large enough to contain a small dining table in the corner, large enough for six people to eat together.
Four boxes lay at the foot of the beige couch, and after seeing them, Zane couldn't help but shake his head, "After all these years, you still haven't cured your hoarding habit."
"It's not hoarding when everything is useful."
Zane almost rolled his eyes at her; those were the exact words expected from a hoarder. However, he did not utter another word. His mother is not truly a hoarder, just sentimental. After all, hoarding is a mental illness that can negatively affect a person's life. By such a definition, his mother doesn't quite fit.
Stacking two boxes together, Zane lifted them before slowly walking toward the exit door.
"Be careful; they are hea…vyy. Were you always this strong?" Mama Sarfowa knew he was physically fit. After all, he lived with her for nearly a year after his release. But she never knew he had this kind of strength.
"Because of the tower, my body is rapidly approaching the limit of human fitness," Zane calmly explained. Now that his mother knew the truth, he could talk to her about his situation.
"The limit, you say?"
"And I can even break those limits by using mana." If he used Mana Channeling, it might be possible to lift these two boxes, each weighing over 200 kg, with one arm.
"It seems nothing is impossible when it involves that tower."
"It appears so," Zane nodded as he walked out the door. "By the way, do you think I should tell Alisha about my situation?"
"No."
"That was quick."
"That girl cannot keep a secret from Sarah, and you know how I feel about her." Mama Sarfowa shook her head.
"You have a point," Zane nodded. His mother helped him open the door, and the two headed to the elevator.
"I remember Alisha became obsessed with our tradition during high school. Why didn't you teach her any magic? Are there some rules that forbid passing on knowledge to a non-direct blood family?"
"No," Mama Sarfowa replied. "She simply didn't have the talent."
"You tested her, but not me? I knew you had a favorite."
"You were tested when you were young."
Zane was joking. He knew the reason he never received an initiation or was properly trained was that he was considered a "heathen." Without believing in the abosom, without following the rules and tradition, without respect for the way of life, his mother was forbidden from teaching him.
"Have the elders considered lessening the rules about recruitment? The world is about to change, and it may not be a bad thing to have more people on our side. And with the tower's presence, resources will not be much of an issue — at least until the Demon Lord invades."
"That's one of the things that's going to be discussed during the Grand Ceremony."
Zane nodded. The ability to test for magical talent will become a crucial factor in Earth's future development, especially as extraordinary individuals become more powerful. The tower probably has its own method, but the fact that Earth has already developed its own version is a great thing for any ambitious individual.
Zane was about to continue the conversation when the elevator opened, and someone was already standing inside. The rest of the trip was quiet, since this mother-and-son pair could not continue discussing these sensitive subjects — even though they were speaking in another language. After all, who knows what language this person knew? As such, even when passing through the lobby, they didn't discuss much.
Mama Sarfowa drove a 2012 Silver Toyota Camry. Due to its size, Zane had to force the boxes in the back before rushing upstairs to take the remaining two. The process, which should have been exhausting even for a healthy human, was nothing to someone whose body had been modified by a few titles.
"I'm driving?"
"You're the man of the house, aren't you?"
"I would have believed you if anyone else had said that," Zane thought as he took the key from his mother's hand.
"Now that you're here, I remember my car has been making a strange noise. Can you take a look?"
"Alright."