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Epilogue: Empty
It was just another ordinary day in Broken Earth, one half of the once blue planet. With temperatures rising even though it’s supposed to be the rainy season. A patch of land where rain hasn’t touched for over 18 years now stood a gigantic monolithic structure, the patch of land where the town of Gallows a kingdom of knighthood stood, just one of the populated settlements that had been affected during that fateful day, the numerous structures that scarred the planet on the day when the sky bled, “Gaia’s Rain”.
99 years ago, the image of a burning sky was embedded in the minds of the people who at the time experienced what was said as the fury of the so called “Gods”. It started out as a harmless meteor shower that lasted for 7 days. Then the communication satellites orbiting the Earth were shot down one after another, rendering intercontinental communication impossible. Thus asking for aid from the neighboring countries was out of the question. What seemed like a harmless meteor shower resulted to a relentless meteor rain that ravaged Earth for 3 days.
If it hasn’t been for the efforts of a philanthropist who ordered the creation of numerous underground shelters throughout the now called Broken Earth, the population of all species would’ve been eradicated. He was the so called “Noah of the new era”, a hero in the peoples eyes, a prophet in those who are faithful, and the messiah for those who are devoted. He was a man, whose history was unknown, what was important at that time was that man is a hero, his name “Noah Blackhart”.
“RIIINNNNGGGGG”!!!! Back to
“and that’s all for today people, study about the “MAN” Noah Blackhart and well have a pop quiz tomorrow”, said Mr. Elias Frost, the history professor in Blackhart Academy. A man in his mid 40’s, who sports his white hair slicked back, and always wore a suit with the Blackahert crest embroidered on his chest pocket. He had an air about him that will make you feel that this man is not someone you should cross an aura of which his name is justified “cold”. But nonetheless he was a Blackhart fanatic.
“Okay mr. frost” recited in unison by the class. Except for one who just woke up.
“Huh, I guess class is over now”, whispered the guy who forced his yawn not to come.
“You got guts, sleeping in Frost’s class Lucian” said the red haired boy sitting in front of the just awakened Lucian. “If he had caught you you’ll be spending the year in detention specially when he was talking about his obsession “Noah Blackhart”, who knows if it would’ve just been detention”, continued the red haired boy.
“Good morning to you too Uriel” said Lucian lazily as he yawned.
“Well knowing you, even if you didn’t listen to Frost’s lesson, you can easily ace his pop quiz anytime” said eagerly by Uriel
“Well, anyone can ace that test, we were taught about Noah Blackhart even when we were still in diapers” replied by Lucian with lazy eyes.
“Well, can you blame the government? That guy’s a hero” laughed Uriel.
Uriel Diem Prime, 17 year old boy, stands as tall as Lucian at 185 cm though a year older than him, the middle child of the General Helion Prime of Gallows, one of the kingdoms who formed the alliance of Broken Earth. His mother Lady Fatima Isildor Prime is the head of the Arcane Studies of Gallows. An aristocrat by lineage he befriended Lucian way back in their Embryon days. Good looking, with fair skin and amber eyes, he is quite popular with the ladies even if the only thing he thinks about is fighting. Always seen walking around with his Oriental sword, he is well known in Lockhart Academy as the Flame Emperor because of his Red Hair and 100 wins and 1 loss record in the academy battle arena, he lost to Lucian.
“Well if it wasn’t for his money that funded for those underground shelters, he wouldn’t have been a hero anyway”, said proudly by Lucian.
Lucian Noctis Ruglia, 16 year old Lockhart Academy’s resident acerbic genius, a black haired boy, with deep black eyes, and pale white skin. He lives in Cross Dormitory ever since he was young, an orphan. He was found in
“Hey you two why are you still here?” interrupted by Ramses, a fellow student and son of a rich businessman who is the head of “Mercator”, Gallows’s merchant guild. “Oh yeah, I almost forgot” continued Ramses. “Head master is looking for you both”.
“Oh man, we didn’t even do anything this time!” Uriel retorted.
“Well, how about we just went straight home and diss the Head Master then?” asked casually by Lucian.
“Hey, my ass is in the line if you two don’t go to the head master’s office”. Pleaded Ramses.
“Well then, how about you buy us lunch for the whole week and we’ll call it even”, replied by Lucian.
“Man! You’re evil!” laughed Uriel.
“nah, I’m just messin’ with you Ramses”, joked Lucian “Shall we go then?”, Lucian asked Uriel as he stood up.
“as if we have a choice, anyways this should be good, I just hope it’s nothing bad that will make pops mad”, Uriel said with a gloomy face.
Lucian and Uriel stared at each other and laughed. “SCARY”, both of them said in unison.
“You’re both weird, well don’t say I didn’t tell you that Head master is looking for you”, barked Ramses.
“yeah, yeah. We heard you, don’t cry now”, teased Uriel as he and Lucian walked out of the classroom.
“I’m not crying! Men of the trade guild don’t cry!”, said Ramses as he stared at the two as they walked out of the classroom.
As Ramses said those words, Lucian glanced back and smiled sourly.
“Man! Ramses sure is loaded”, said Uriel randomly
“Ehh??? He is after all the son of one of the richest men of Broken Earth”, Lucian answered. “Well same goes for you Uriel, you’re pretty much loaded, being a noble and all”, continued Lucian.
“Yadda, yadda, yadda!” interrupted Uriel “I don’t want to hear that from you Luc!”, you know me better than that!”.
“yeah, unfortunately for me though”, Laughed Lucian.
“what the!!!???” as Uriel joined Lucian laughing.
Head master’s office
Head master Kaiser Seed, a man back in his years commanded the fear of his enemies, he was called the Silver Demon, clad in silver armor and flowing silver hair he commanded the Human army, a decorated war hero. Former General of the Broken Earth Alliance Army led the skirmish against Gaia’s children 30 years ago. It was said that he fell a thousand enemies during that war for the independence of Broken Earth from the grasp of the so called gods.
“Lucian Noctis Ruglia and Uriel Deim Prime”, sighed the Headmaster. “I guess there is no other choice but to send out those two”.
“I’ll keep watch of them headmaster”, said the hooded figure.
“I entrust them to you then Baltazar”, replied the headmaster.
“KNOCK, KNOCK”, banged on the door.
“That must be them now”, said the headmaster.
“I’ll take my leave then headmaster”, said Baltazar as he stepped in to the darkness of the room and disappeared.
“KNOCK, KNOCK”.
“Come in”, said the headmaster “you’ll tear the door down Uriel!”, he continued.
“Sorry headmaster, how did you know it was me who was knocking?”, Uriel grinning as he entered the room. The room was its usual appearance, with countless war trophies and weapons lavished the walls of the headmaster’s room.
“Good afternoon headmaster”, said Lucian as he followed Uriel into the room.
“Good afternoon to you cadets”, as Seed rose from his leather throne like chair.
“Lockhart Cadet Uriel Deim Prime, reporting for duty”
“Lockhart Cadet Lucian Noctis Ruglia ,reporting for duty” as the two stood straight with right hand fisted and placed on top of the left chest greeted their commanding officer.
“at ease cadets, you may be seated”, ordered the headmaster.
“thank you headmaster”, said the two. “you called for us sir?” asked Lucian.
“yes, I asked the Mercator boy to call you both, it seems like he did his job well locating you”, said the headmaster as he smiled.
“how will we be of service today General Seed”, asked by Uriel in a dignified voice.
“it surprises me that you can be so formal Uriel”, teased the Headmaster “well as expected of a noble and the son of General Prime”, said the headmaster praising Uriel.
“titles are of no meaning to me headmaster, I believe that a man is measured by his actions and not by his roots”, answered Uriel.
“as expected of a Lockhart elite”, said the headmaster. “the enemy knows no of your status, but instead of the skill you have with the blade and arts”, added the headmaster.
“Well, how can we help you today sir?”, interrupted Lucian.
“ah yes, you’re always straight to the point eh Lucian”, answered the headmaster as he gazed at Lucian.
“how is Lord Belcrant doing?” asked the headmaster.
“Lord Belcrant is doing fine, he mostly spends his time in his study quenching his thirst for arcane knowledge”, answered Lucian in a low voice.
“as expected of Ewan the Wolfbalde, he always had a knack for studying, he was a father figure to you I believe so eh Lucian?”, added by the headmaster.
“I am greatly indebted to the Lord’s generosity for taking me into his house when the orphanage that found me was attacked years ago, that is why I wont bring shame to his crest”, answered Lucian with pride as he clasped his right shoulder’s emblem with his left hand .
“the emblem of the wolf”, said headmaster Seed as Lucian nodded.
“well, going back, I summoned you two today because I have a A class mission for both of you”, announced the headmaster.
The two looked at each other surprised.
“that’s a normal reaction since A class missions are normally assigned to full fledged Knights and not cadets, moreover I am confident that you two can complete this”, proudly stated by the headmaster.
“its not as if you’ll go alone, you’ll just be there for field survey you’ll still be accompanied by Knights”, added the headmaster
The two silent from what they heard.
A voice echoed in Lucian’s head. “come, you cant be kept in the dark forever”
“cadet Ruglia are you with us?”, asked the headmaster as he looked at Lucian who sat there with a blank gaze.
“My apologies General Kaiser Seed, I was just processing the thought of us joining an A class mission”, answered quickly by Lucian
“always been the tactician eh Lucian” said the headmaster
Lucian nodded.
“Details of the mission will be given to you on your way out, I expect nothing less from the elite of the graduating class of Lockhart Academy”, said the headmaster with a rise in voice,
“we wont let you down headmaster”, said Uriel. As the two stood up and saluted the headmaster.
“you may take your leave now”, commanded by Seed
“May the Lord God bless you headmaster”, said the two in unison
“as well as you both”, dismissed!”.
“here are your mission gauntlets , the information and the supplies that you need for the mission are in these”, said the headmasters assistant as the two walked out of the room “please review the mission objectives and intel, may the Lord God bless you”, added the Assistant Ms. Pepper .
“you as well ma’am” echoed the two.
Gauntlets, a mechanized glove customized for Knights. It can store weapons, rations, in its hyper space containment unit. It can also act as a communication link and data base for mission briefing and the information retrieval. The technology was discovered during the war with the children of Gaia. Though not all can use this, only a few people even in Lockhart can sync with the Gauntlet and use its full capabilities.
“What can you say Baltazar?”, asked the headmaster as he sat down on his leather chair.
“I can feel a great presence from those two, but its hard to determine if wether it’s good or bad”, answered Baltazar as he walks from the shadow and in to the light.
We’ll just have to see tomorrow then”, headmaster smiled as he rotated his chair and faced the window behind him. “what an eerie sunset it is”, said Baltazar
“indeed it is” answered the headmaster.
Outside the academy
A lush green garden, a monument stood proudly as if it has been erected to remind the people of the events 99 years ago, a monument in which the artist captured the sense of the horrific events that time. The monument of meteors falling from the sky, the Gaia’s Rains memorial statue.
A handful of students can be seen at the time. Some already left for the dormitories where some went home.
“that was unexpected”, as Uriel decided to break the silence.
“yeah’ I’ve been thinking about it eversince we left the hedmaster,s study”, replied Lucian “but I guess this is the real deal”, Lucian added as he raised the gauntlet up to eye level.
“I’ kinda excited about it, I’m gonna show pops that I’m Knight material!”, shouted Uriel
“you are, you wouldn’t be chosen for this mission if you weren’t” answered Lucian.
“Let’s do our best man, I should go home and tell them about this, I bet this will the family proud”, grinned Uriel “looks like my ride is here, see you tomorrow man”, said Uriel.
“seems like it, theres your family limo”, grinned Lucian.
“what’s with the grin? Its not as if that I like being dropped off and picked up everyday from school!”, laughed Uriel “well anyway man tell Lord Belcrant about the mission, he would be proud of you, he’s practically your family”, added Uriel as they both bumped fists.
“see you tomorrow man” replied Lucian
“yeah, tomorrow then” answered Uriel as he boarded the luxury car.
As the car set off towards the setting sun the windows rolled down and out comes Uriel’s hand showing the F sign. Lucian waved back with the F sign as well and sighed.
“Family huh?”. As he turned his back from the setting sun and his shadow stretched in the walkways of
