He sat motionless in his room, wrapped in the quiet hum of late afternoon light. The question from that student still lingered in his mind, echoing with unsettling clarity: Is it possible that all cultures and traditions trace back to a single origin?
The thought unfurled like an old scroll—fascinating in its simplicity, yet tangled in endless intricacies. Take Christmas, for instance. In Australia, the holiday dances under a sunlit sky, with families gathered by the beach, barbecues sizzling in the heat. Compare that to Finland, where snow muffles the ground, reindeer trot past frosted windows, and cozy indoor saunas cradle families in warmth. The same holiday, the same core belief—transformed entirely by geography and climate. Repeated across generations, even core beliefs evolve into something else, reshaped by the textures of everyday life.
Just as he was immersed in this philosophical spiral, a sharp knock echoed on his door. He didn't need to look. Only one person knocked that way—with just enough impatience to mask affection.
"We're going tomorrow, aren't we? Why don't I see any bag? Are you planning to dodge it with this excuse tomooroow?" Lucian stood in the doorway, arms crossed, his frown softened by a familiar smirk.
He smiled. "Nah, everything's ready. We're just heading to the nearby mountain for some leisure. Why pack like we're moving house? A small backpack will suffice."
Lucian's expression shifted—less teasing now, more sincere. "You say that because it's near for us. But people travel across the country to explore that place. It's not as ordinary as you pretend."
There was no comeback this time—just quiet understanding. Wordlessly, he began packing. Lucian helped without another remark, and the room was filled with the shuffling of bags and the faint rustle of anticipation.
Later that night, they ventured into the city, seeking those essential final touches for their plan—ingredients, supplies, perhaps a little something indulgent. Not just for a picnic, but for the start of a journey that neither fully understood.