"M-Mommy help me!"
Screamed by a seven-year-old girl.
All around her were ice and blood.
Her hands were frozen and absolute cold crystals were creeping up on her arms, threatening to engulf her. But strangely that's not what the girl was worried about. No, she wasn't worried about the cold, rather she was worried about the unrecognizable lump she was hugging.
It was humanoid and small. Its was damaged beyond salvation and clearly whatever it was, was dead.
"Magic! Y-youre one of them?!" Exclaimed by a middle-aged woman who came rushing to the room, shocked at the sight she witnessed.
"Mommy! Si-Simon is… please help! I-I don't know what happened." The little girl begged. Tears rolled down her cheeks which froze halfway along with the blood splattered on her face.
After snapping out of her dazed state the woman tried her best to calm the little girl down. She soothes her daughter with words of love and assurance. However, her eyes- her eyes couldn't hide the fear she was feeling. She was trembling not just out of fear but also because of the cold.
She twitched whenever she heard the ice crackle as if it were alive.
"It's going to be alright Dian. Don't worry. It'll be alright… it'll be alright… it'll be alright…" The woman repeatedly said as she looked at the little girl. But it seemed like she was telling it to herself rather than her daughter.
"Mo-Mommy?" Dian couldn't explain what she was feeling. Her heart ached at the sorry state of her brother and at the same time her heart ached when she saw how her own mother looked at her.
"It'll be alright…" The woman uttered once more as she slowly made her way to the wooden chair near her. "It'll be alright… that's right." She grabbed it…
"IT'LL BE ALRIGHT AHHH!" The woman screamed as she lifted the chair and smashed it on the little girl.
"Mo-"
*Bang!*
The force was so great it broke the chair, causing wooden debris to fly everywhere. The adrenaline made the woman stronger, and the sudden act made Dian freeze, unable to do anything to defend herself.
Her body smashed against the cold floor. She felt numb yet felt pain at the same time. With half closed teary eyes she looked at the woman she calls mother, raising her arms once more. She looked into her eyes- eyes that looked like it was staring at an abomination.
That was the last picture Dian saw before blacking out.
When she woke up, she was inside a small white room and a woman in a formal suit was explaining things to her.
"You are now part of the Rory Household. You will be trained, and you will become the sword and shield of the Family once you successfully awaken."
Dian listened but couldn't comprehend what the woman was saying. She looked around for her mother, but she couldn't find her. "Mom-"
After some time, she became aware of her situation. She became more desperate and looked once more for her mother, she begged and begged to see her family, however she was instead punished for causing disturbance and not following orders.
Without any choice she was forced to go along with the training program. She was not alone, there were other kids like her. She endured and endured but there were times when her fragile mind couldn't bear the harsh training. So, she begged to go home but the same answer was given every time she made a fuss.
"You don't have a home anymore."
"No!"
…
"She's not coming back for you. Forget about her."
"That's a lie!"
…
"You've been sold to us."
"No!"
…
"They don't want you anymore."
"You're lying!"
…
Days, weeks and months passed when she eventually realized that she really was abandoned. She was sold and discarded at least that was what everyone was telling her. It didn't take long for it to become her truth. Her family didn't want her anymore. She didn't know why- no she knew, she just chose to run away and deny it.
The young girl's mind aches whenever she remembers that fateful day. The day she made her younger brother bleed and stopped him from breathing.
Dian eventually lost her purpose. Her innocence and last ray of hope of ever going back home vanished with the passage of time.
Without ever realizing, Dian started to dedicate her time on the training. The daily routine made her forget the painful memories. Training was the drug that helped her forget. It became the impetus behind her life.
As time passed by, Dian strayed further and further away from reality. She became cold and ruthless like a machine and believed that her sole purpose was to serve the Rory Family. She was brainwashed and made to believe that serving the Family was her destiny, it became her salvation. Her mind discarded useless thoughts and the nightmares that haunted her for so long faded away.
….
"It'll be alright..." Dian opened her eyes after hearing a familiar voice.
"Mom- " She stared frozen at the sight in front of her. Her mother and brother were sitting on the couch looking at her. The vibe was early in the morning. It seemed like she just came down after waking up.
"Wha-" She rubbed her eyes. But the same scene remained unchanged. She stood still as her mother and cute little brother spread opened their arms waiting for her to dive deep in them. Deep down she knew she shouldn't but...
She took a step forward when suddenly ice spikes came out from underneath her feet. Like a rushing tsunami it engulfed her brother. Ice skewered his small frame as it burst in pure blood and gore.
Dian widened her eyes and when she noticed it, she was hugging a small lump of flesh with wide bloody eyes staring directly into her soul.
"Ah-"
*crackle*
She heard something behind her and when she turned her head, she saw a woman swinging a wooden chair in her direction.
"AHHH!" Dian woke up screaming as she dreamed of that nightmare once again. She clutched her head and calmed down, her eyes soon return to being lifeless.
Three years had passed and the day she and everyone else had been waiting for had arrived.
Dian was inside a small hall along with the other children that trained with her. There were less of them now. The only ones here were those that managed to finish the training.
Those that failed. Discarded or disposed… She wasn't sure and she didn't care either.
There was a small stage in front of them and a mysterious object covered by a cloth in the middle of it. The kids were curious, but they behaved themselves and waited for the instructor.
They separated and formed groups while waiting. Small clicks and connections that they formed among themselves through the years.
"It's finally time!"
"Soon we'll be proud members of the Great Rory Household"
"I want to be of use as soon as possible and help the Family rise!"
The children clamored and talked among themselves. They expressed their ambition and their dreams. They busy themselves with encouragement and praises for the Family.
But not all of them were like that… There were some kids who remained silent, but they stood out even more.
One of them was a black short haired kid with purple eyes, she had a scar on her face.
Dian stood silently at the back, isolated from the others. There were some who were alone as well, but they were closer to the others unlike her who was completely dismissed and avoided like a plague.
"I don't want to be in the same group as her."
"Me too. I hope she gets stationed away from the Family."
The others whispered among themselves, but their quiet voice was heard by Dian. After all, they didn't really conceal their conversation.
Dian was hard to get along with, not just because of her cold personality but also because she was heartless. This scary reputation was something she established through the years of training. During some drills she would abandon her teammates to complete a mission. She would help them if she was ordered to but other than that she didn't care about them. For her, completing the mission was more important. Slow and incompetent teammates will only get in the way so when she's teamed up with weaker trainees, she would leave them behind and sometimes will use them as shields to complete the mission.
That attitude of hers made the others look at her like a walking dagger that would stab anyone in the back. For these children who still retain some of their innocence despite the harsh training, her unfriendliness and ruthlessness were something they became wary and even scared of. But the instructors think otherwise, although Dian was strong and ruthless in sparring, she was well behaved outside of training. She followed orders and behaved like an exemplary soldier. Other than speaking words of affirmation or what was necessary, she didn't utter more words than needed.
Unlike the others, Dian's mind functions differently, she was damaged. The ones that took her in didn't help her the slightest bit, they pushed her to the limit, and they were glad they did since they managed to get a machine that follows orders without question out of it.
Unlike Dian, the other kids didn't kill their own brother and lived that nightmare for months. They also weren't abandoned so they still had a home to go back to. Some of them have families that willingly send them to be trained and become proud members of one of the most powerful and influential families in the continent. While others were orphans from birth, so they didn't lose anything but only gained something.
….
*tap *tap *tap
A group of people wearing formal suits arrived. They sat on the seats above the stage like a judge. Each of them wore different outfits and colors depending on their department but one thing they had in common was a cape engraved with a Snake wrapped around a Sword, the Rory Household Insignia.
"Form a line." A man wearing a black combat suit with metal padding said in a strict tone. He was the trainer that has been training this batch since the beginning.
The trainees didn't dilly dally and formed a line immediately. Dian managed to get a position in the middle since she was quick on her feet.
"Today will be your Awakening day. You will be baptized by Aera for the first time and will unlock the Aera Circuit in your body. Depending on your talent and luck you might also open an Elemental Gate if you have one. Remain calm at all times to avoid breaking or overloading your Aera Circuit."
The instructor announced it for ceremony purposes, and it also served as a warning, the children had already been taught about these things, but it wouldn't hurt to remind them of the process since they might become too nervous. This was a delicate procedure so being relaxed was more beneficial.
The instructor then unveiled a crystal ball in the middle of the stage. It was glowing in azure color and seemed to be pulsating. It was a natural Aera Crystal, a pure and untouched creation of the World. It sat on top of a soft pillow that was placed in a stand.
"Once your name is called you will get up here and place your hand on top of this crystal. It will glow brightly once it senses you. You will feel the Aera inside, connect with it and guide it through your body. Make sure it flows steadily on your Aera Circuit. Circulate the energy inside your body for three full rotations or until you achieve the feeling of intoxication. After this there will be a second test which will measure your aptitude so don't strain yourself by absorbing too much Aera. If all goes well then you have been Awakened. If not, then you are just a waste of resources and you have no right to stand with us." The instructor gestured while showing the people sitting on the chairs. Just their presence made the young trainees weak on the legs and the ambitions and dreams in them burn brighter.
Make no mistake, every child here had been selected thoroughly. They have been confirmed to have an Aera Circuit. They were given enough education, supplements and even provided training facilities that cost hundreds of millions. So failure to awaken means that the invested money and time to train them was for naught. Although there's been some cases of Awakening failure, that was only 3%. And most of those that failed are simply careless.
After all, this procedure was the first time they would take in Aera. A mysterious and powerful source of energy. It has been studied greatly yet no one can unravel its true identity. On this planet a person will have the chance to Awaken when they turn ten years old. It has already been proven that at the age of ten is the time the human bodies will have the most sensitivity to Aera. Although there were cases of late Awakening, it was very rare and most of the time late Awakening produced weaker results.
But despite being weaker than normal, anyone would still prefer it rather than not being Awakened at all. Because of the simple fact that non-Awakened humans are seen as a different race, an inferior race.
"What's happening?"
"What is she doing?"
"Is this for real? Is this really happening right now?"
The children whispered among themselves as they looked at the scene in front of them.
Up on the stage, Dian, one of the most talented and most feared in the class, was trembling as she held the Aera Crystal in her hand. She had already snatched it from its place to make it react even a little bit. But no matter what she does, no matter what attempt she makes, the crystal stays non-responsive to her call.
"Please… work." She whispered as her ice-cold eyes now looked helpless and teary. 'This is all I have left, please don't abandon me!' She begged as she tried to connect with Aera.
"She's a mortal?"
"I can't believe I was scared of a mortal?"
"I knew something was off about her. Turns out she was just a mortal. I can't believe a mortal beat me!"
"Right? Will this be put on our record?! Such a disgraceful thing!"
"I hope not."
Murmurs sounded below the stage as the others looked at Dian with an unfriendly and disgusted look. But Dian didn't pay attention to them, she was too focused on the task at hand.
"That's enough. Get down." Uttered the instructor with a disappointed look.
"N-no. I can still- "
The instructor sighed and his voice turned cold as if looking at something insignificant. "Nothing will change. Fail once it might be an accident, fail twice then the faults on you there is no third chance. Tsk! How come I overlooked this?!"
"I'm sorry for showing such an unsightly display." The instructor Immediately bowed down towards the people sitting on the stage.
"A mortal was actually mixed in with this batch. What a blunder."
"She was on the list of the most promising. But turns out she's a mortal. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Oh how the training program had fallen."
"We need to filter the next batch more thoroughly!"
"Get her out our sight."
The imposing people with high authority commented while some expressed their thoughts others just remained silent.
The instructor walked towards Dian with the darkened face. His expression made Dian remember the expression of her mother on that fateful day. The eyes of her mother and the eyes of the instructor became one as they looked at her with both contempt.
Contempt that she turned out to be an Aera wielder…
Contempt that she turned out to be a normal mortal…
'What am I?' Dian thought as the instructor held her hand and tossed her down the stage and proceeded to call out the next name like nothing ever happened. She was discarded once more and it made her heart ache for the last time.
Dian looked at her peers and she found no one looking at her except for one. A girl with amber eyes and crimson hair looked at her with belittling eyes and a smirk. After that short exchange the girl didn't bother with her anymore. In a matter of seconds, these trainees she used to beat up and defeat in a spar seemed too far and high up from her.
…
At the end of the day Dian thought she would be disposed of but then a woman in a suit dragged her into a vehicle. She didn't resist and just let everything happen. She had no will and had no more motivation to thrive anymore in this cruel world and unfair world.
The vehicle drove for miles and then stopped in front of a manor.
"You will serve the Head Maid." the woman said and left Dian on the manor's doorstep.
*creaak*
The door opened and a woman dressed as a maid took Dian in with a kind smile.
For four years Dian was tormented inside the manor. She was used as a slave and as a mean to vent stress and anger on by the Head Maid. At first Dian thought the Family was giving her a second chance to serve them but it was only her delusion…
During those four years Dian became numb to the pain. Her tolerance and emotional endurance became worse and just a little more… just a little more push then her state of mind, soul and body would have reached a point of no return.
But then that day came, that fateful day.
….
Dian was taken to a small room to be the personal maid of one of the descendants. She didn't question why someone like her. She simply went along because she had no choice nor any option.
Dian served a boy who just woke up from a coma. His eyes were lifeless but Dian could see unwillingness buried deep in them. She knew his story, he failed to awaken at the prime age of ten just like her. He was then discarded like a broken tool.
'Futile resistance' Dian thought.
With her experience she knew nothing good will come from resisting the unfairness and cruelty of the world. Her destiny was set in stone and so was his… They are fated to live life like a mortal and be treated as such until the end of their time.
Dian observed the young boy who for most of his time just listlessly stared out the window beside his bed. For some reason she seemed drawn to him, seeing his eyes looking at the world outside with fury and unwillingness made her wonder what would have happened if she had the same tenacity. In the end she shook her head and forgot the thought.
Days passed and the season changed -
Two years later. Inside a small room…
"You and I are both alike. Abandoned and tossed aside. Ridiculed by the world."
"...."
"Why don't we be alone together?"
"...."
"You and I both have nothing to lose, only to gain." Arthur said as he gazed at Dian's eyes.
"A companion until the end of our time." She added.
"A friend, kin, tribe, family. Whatever it's called, we will transcend such shallow bonds." Arthur finished.
Dian thought about the years she had served the young man in front of him. She had relied on him as he had on her. She witnessed his unending tenacity and had come to know his brilliant mind. 'Perhaps… if it's him…' Dian thought before replying.
"This maid is at your service, my Lord."