All things in the universe are made of one thing, aether, aether is formed into different materials, even our flesh itself is formed out of the aether that was released when a singularity of infinitely dense aether exploded, vibrating mana at different frequencies, creating everything. As our knowledge of magic became increasingly vast, and as more people were walking the path of magic, and more scholars wanted to learn the secrets of the system, we came to the realization, it is not supernatural, it is not something to be feared, it is the way of the world, the Equalizer, giving us the power to change our universe, to rule it even. And if we were given the power to do so, the power to follow in the footsteps of the gods! Is it truly wrong, truly unnatural, for us to oblige?
Excerpt from the diary of King Octavius Blake XIV, ruler and great scholar of Circes
A loud banging noise rings through our barracks and waking everybody up. Instantly everyone jumps out of their bunks, saluting.
"At ease shits!" The Captain screams, his deep voice bouncing off the stone walls.
"Why do we have to wake up so damn early?!"
"Why do we have to wake up at all?!"
The Captain glares at the two soldiers who had yelled out and their faces turn pale. The Captain's large frame slams the door shut behind him as he stomps toward the two men.
"I have an announcement to make so shut your traps."
"Sir! Yes, sir!"
"starting from today, you little pricks will be getting ready for your first deployment in circa 6 months, solar system β-37Z."
The room goes silent.
"What?" A few soldiers mutter, looking around.
"What are you waiting for! I don't like repeating myself!" The Captain shouts and the whole room jumps back to attention, saluting.
"We will be entering into advanced training to prepare you for the coming war! It is kill or be killed, and none of yall mother fuckers aint goin nowhere good, so shape up so we can ship out! as you were!"
As he exits the room, I see some of the kids crying.
Fuuuuuuck. I sit back play with my dreads and sigh. I have 6 months of training to look forward too, just fucking great.
I wake up, yawn, straighten out my bunk for morning chow, and pull up my HUD.
[User: Nate Williams]
[Species: Human (Homo Sapiens)]
[Level: 0]
[Class: ?]
[Profession: None]
[Strength: 1]
[Toughness: 10]
[Intelligence: 30]
[Will: 25]
[HP: 50/50
[MP: 0/0]
[Skills: Subconscious instant Multi-Language Comprehension, Subconscious Instant Language Learning]
[Stat points: 0]
[Skill points: 0]
Same shitty ass stats.
a woman with a big cart of food walks into the barracks"The King, his grace, has required that you all go join the royal guard in the training grounds in 1 hour, this is how to find them."
She goes down the line of bunks, handing us each a bowl filled with flavorless green mush.
I have a feeling this is gonna be a long 6 months.
I wake up, look at my clock, 6:30 AM. "Fuck this bro." I turn to my sludge .
Between my bites of "food" there is rocking coming from my bunkmate's bed.
"nigga knock that shit off" I grumble.
The shaking gets louder and louder until it stops abruptly.
I sit up, everyone in our section is muttering and rolling their eyes.
"Bro Kyle always does this shit bro." I hear someone mutter.
I get out of my bed and go over to my bunk mate, "Dude get up man, you are gonna be late for the first day of training."
He groans and looks at me.
"SHIT BRO, PUT ON SOME PANTS!" I yell, backing away.
He just looks at me, confused, his naked junk just hanging there.
I feel a headache coming on.
Everyone in the row starts laughing hysterically and he just sits there looking confused.
He reaches a hand out to dap me up, when I start walking away he whines and puts on his clothes.
"Damn, must have woke up in a bad mood or something."
"Dude, I'm not boutta dap you up after you did that shit."
I go around and talk to some of the other dudes in our section about the war.
"We all know Kyle is going to be gone." Yuta laughs, "I mean, dude just heard we're gonna die and started jerking off."
Everyone quiets down for a second.
"See you guys on the training grounds, I guess." I walk out the room.
Same shitty ass stats.
a woman with a big cart of food walks into the barracks"The King, his grace, has required that you all go join the royal guard in the training grounds in 1 hour, this is how to find them."
She goes down the line of bunks, handing us each a bowl filled with flavorless green mush.
I take my headphones out of my pocket and play music as I walk down the pristine halls of the castle. Floating trays and security droids whizzing past. Not to mention, the little floating drone floating behind my shoulder, matter where I fucking go, I cant be alone.
When I finally got to the training ground there were soldiers sparring, doing drills, and doing exercises all around me, in the center there were all of the kids who were summoned here standing in front of A large man with blond hair and rippling muscles, I join the line next to Cory.
"I am Seargent Blake. This is your training, so you can serve our empire to the best of your ability. This is not a class, if you want to be taught go to the library and ask somebody there. Until you are deployed-"
Before Seargent Blake said anything more a girl, I think her name was Avani rushed forward and grabbed him by the collar
"I need to go back home right now! I have to see my parents!"
In an instant, Seargent Blake took her by the arm and slammed her on the ground faster than my eyes could see.
"You will follow orders without question, and you will do everything in your power to serve the kingdom."
He looks over to a woman, "Take her to the med tent, she is to remain there until further notice."
Seargent Blake turns back to the rest of us.
"My job, is to prepare you all to die."