Book 2.
Volume 2: Getting Stronger
Chapter One: Fire
*****
Fire Nation, one of the largest countries in the world, its population exceeds hundreds of millions of people, and life here is of course much better than in smaller countries. They produce everything themselves, buy nothing from anyone, have a rich population, economy, army, and the latter manages to fight with Titania and not die like that for fifteen years. In general, it is impossible to defeat the Titania's strong rival, although it is worth saying the same thing about the Fire Nation: for fifteen years the Warriors of this state have not been able to defeat the Titania Empire and are still trying to do so. Despite a strong army, even that's not enough, that's how strong Titania gets. Now no wonder why the country of Flowers gave up Tulip, its capital, so easily-what other country of Flowers is there when even Fire can't cope with Titan's army? Such is the situation. Unfortunately for the people of the flower country it is very dangerous to live on their land, because it is possible that Titania will attack the country again and take it over, so the only way out is to live in the land of Fire, at least the army of Titan will not reach there, and maybe not at all. The blue carriage, decorated with all kinds of roses, reached the bus stop and people ran out in an instant. Another carriage followed, and as soon as the door opened, Miyazaki's foot stepped onto the stone platform. The girl looked around and breathed in the fresh air. After her came out Kai, Granny, and last Toda. It was very painful for them to realize that their homeland of Flowers had fallen under the onslaught of Titania, although the Empire had not even used half of its troops, General Satoshi alone with a small army and tanks had devastated half the country.
- This is our home now... - Kai sadly muttered. He wanted to sell the documents, didn't he? But he lost them and now he just stands there sad. He had no money and no home, and he lost it all in a matter of hours.
There were a lot of other people from the Country of Flowers at the train station, and they all went in search of cabs to get to their hotels. Fortunately, the people of Flowerland were well off, and they had a lot of money, so it was not difficult to pay for a hotel the first few days, but then we would have to work like everyone else.
- Come on, let's take a carriage cab and find some hotel. - Miyazaki said in a cold voice, and her mood dropped, especially after seeing the bombing of Tulip, when people were fleeing, some died and some managed to survive, a terrible picture in general...
- Granddaughter, where are we going? Our house is on the other side. - Grandma seems to have forgotten what Miyazaki told her an hour ago. What's the big deal?
- Grandma, we'll stay in the Land of Fire for now, and when the repairs are finished, we'll come right back. - The girl smiled into the old woman's eyes, lifting the corners of her mouth sweetly.
Kai could feel his friend's smile through the pain, the way her sweet mask hid a face mired in terror. It made the boy himself uncomfortable to see the girl saddened and scared to death. He pulled himself together and decided to go through all the adversity with his friend. Now was not the best time just to cry against the pillow. Well, the guys found a cab carriage, got into it and drove to the nearest cheap hotel, luckily their coachman knew one. It is also necessary to take into account that Miyazaki and company have just reached the Fire Country, which means that they are at its very outskirts, in the town of Kostra, they do not need to go to the capital, the main thing is to wait out the war far away from the front.
So many interesting things friends saw as they drove through the streets of Kostry: tall houses, long squares, lots of different people going about their business, and so on, until they came to a huge five-story building with the inscription "Hotel". Yes, here is a hotel on the outskirts of the Fire Country, and it is a hundred times better than the most beautiful hotels in the Land of Flowers, at least on the outside. What's inside? Miyazaki is the first to open the door, and she also takes her grandmother by the handle and leads the poor old woman after her, or she might get lost. The war is having a bad effect on the grandmother, and she's not quite herself.
- Wow! - Miyazaki marveled at the beauty of the hotel inside. For a moment she even squeezed her palm and accidentally hurt Granny, but when she realized this she quickly apologized. - It's even more beautiful than the hotel we were at three hours ago!
- Everything in here is silver! - Kai was amazed, he had forgotten all about the war, and such beauty would make his mouth water in a moment: luxurious columns to the ceilings, paintings on the walls with silver frames, and what about frames? The floors are made of pure silver, you can see yourself!
Kai quickly imagined how much all this stuff could cost, and how he could steal something from here without being noticed. You don't have to think that he's a thief, no, it's just that the guys don't have enough money for even a week, especially in a hotel like this, the cheapest one in town by the way! That's why Kai wants to steal, ahem, or should I say find "unnecessary" things and sell them to some fat rich guy.
- Whoa! - there he is, he's already found the target.
A little silver vase with flowers inside. The guy started whistling and looking around, if only not at the vase, and quickly walked over to it in order to get a closer look and assess the possible value.
- Hmm, probably a hundred gold coins for it. I underestimated something, though. It's real silver! - Kai was happily rubbing his palms together, and his mouth was watering with saliva, he couldn't wait until everyone was busy with their business so he could steal the vase and run away.
- Hey, did you really want a vase? - but all his plans went to waste.
Behind the boy he hears a harsh voice. Kai turned around and saw a tall man in a brown uniform with gold buttons, who was covered by an equally beautiful red cloak. The man's long black hair fell down over his broad shoulders, and he wore an officer's black hat with yellow patterns on his head. Kai immediately looked into his face and realized that he was some kind of Fire Nation military man. So that's how he got caught for stealing.
- А... - Kai was frightened, shuddering at the man's height alone.
- Ahhhh, don't be afraid. By the looks of your clothes you're from the Land of Flowers. - He said in a softer voice, which surprised Kai. - You wonder how I know that?
- Yeah. - The boy nodded. He looked at the man and didn't feel an ounce of doubt in him, as if the military man had read him like a book. Then Kai notices that the military man's left eye is red and his right one is light blue, it's a little scary.
- Have you noticed my left eye yet? It's been red since I was born. But it's not the usual redness, I won't tell you all the niceties, but it keeps me alive.
- Kai, were you trying to steal a vase? - Leaving her grandmother and brother behind, Miyazaki sees some man in a red cloak next to Kai and thinks in her mind, "Well, what did that idiot do again?" But as soon as she ran up to the guy, she felt an unknown aura from this military man, as if some kind of force was emanating from him. Miyazaki shuddered and staggered, the only time she was more scared was when Tulip bombed, when shells exploded next to her and her brother.
- Well, actually, I... - Kai was dumb, and now he was twice as screwed. There and the hotel employee at the front desk heard Miyazaki's words and decided to call security, but the man in the red cloak looked at her reassuringly and as if to indicate: "I'll take care of this myself." Well the employee didn't argue and didn't call security.
- Girl, is this boy your friend? - The soldier asked, smiling a little.
- Huh? Of course! - She declared, then in her mind she continued. - [The look of that man is very calm, and that feeling around him, like the ground is shaking under your feet and you're about to fall... It's the first time I've ever felt that way in front of someone. This man obviously didn't come here to rest, but then what for?]
- Beautiful! I see a special talent in you two. By the way, as you rightly pointed out, I didn't come here to rest. - He winked at Miyazaki.
- [How did he know what I was thinking?! Can he read minds???] - the girl blushed and got frightened.
- Kai, will you please calm your friend down? The poor girl is blushing, she's running a fever. - The man leans over and whispers to the boys. - I'm here on an important case. There's a criminal hiding in this hotel, and I need to talk to him and convince him of something.
- Why are you telling us about this? - Kai didn't understand, and he was right to ask. The soldier was acting strangely, being overly calm, sneering and looking at him and Miyazaki in a non-serious way.
- Why not? Especially since you have a lot of potential inside of you. Don't you want to be my students?
- Uche... What? Now Kai sure as hell doesn't know what the hell he's talking about.
- Quiet, boy. I'm whispering to you, you don't have to shout like that. How about we meet back here in twenty minutes. And you and I have business to attend to. So come on, I'll wait for you out front, time's up!
Before the guys could say anything, the man turned his back to them and walked away in the direction of the elevator, yes, there are such things in Fire Country. Well Kai and Miyazaki looked at each other like that and were shocked by what they saw. Some guy who looks like he's in the military asks them to meet. That's harsh. So while they're there they get the cheapest room.
*****
General Satoshi has triumphantly completed his mission in the Land of Flowers and returns to Titania with his army. He has just arrived in the capital, the city of Wolfram, to put those very secret documents on his master's desk. Oda Satoshi sits on a tank and drives up to a huge steel gate and waits for it to be opened, after which he drives into the lord's palace and finds himself inside. First he stripped himself of his titanium armor and changed into a proper general's uniform, a black military uniform with a tie around his neck. Walking through the corridors Oda even in the dead silence of the titanium walls can hear the screams of innocent victims, so short is the fear of the lord of the empire. As soon as the general approached the tall doors behind which the Titan is located, he stopped, breathed in more air, tightened his tie, and knocked. The doors creaked open, and in the deep darkness nothing could be seen. Oda walks in and realizes there is no going back now. His hands were shaking, his legs were shaking, and sweat was dripping from his forehead, even though it was so cold in the palace.
- Lord, I have what you asked for. - Satoshi hesitates to approach, for one can hardly tell in this darkness, he will bump into his lord again, and goodbye. Oda simply holds out his hand and points to the files.
Out of the deadening darkness, blue eyes shone out, eyes whose power is capable of illuminating even the most eerie places, but in those eyes you could read no good, only hatred for all living things. General Satoshi heard the sounds of titanium armor smashing against each other and making slashing noises. The lord of the empire rises from his bed and gets to his feet. Oda is increasingly drooling and fearful, a terrifying aura of fear emanating from the lord, until finally a three meter tall giant in thick titanium armor appears before him, with a helmet on his head and eyes shining with pain. Titan.
Titan, forty-seven years old, creator of Titania and the one upon whose power the entire empire rests. He seriously believes in the idea of eternal life, dreams of taking over the world and subjugating every inhabitant of the planet to his brutal will.
- General Satoshi, you've handled my assignment, I'm glad. - Through the power of his thoughts, Titan takes the documents from the general's hands and places them on his desk. - Now go and tell everyone that our next target is the Land of Fire. Until now, we have not fought in earnest, but once we have the archives of our empire, nothing can hold us back.
- Yes, my lord! - Oda bowed and left his lord's room, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
- I am still weak. Twenty years ago my body was sealed, and only these eyes, granted by fate itself, can restore my body and make me even stronger.
The Titan is shorter unable to move his arms or legs, his entire body is blackened except for his head, and he walks only because of his eyes, which move objects through the power of his thoughts. The next target is the Fire Nation, the country of Fire and Flowers, the country of Flowers and the like, and they took all his power from him and turned his body black, so he can't move, just his head trying to do something else, like move his mouth and blink his eyes and stuff like that. Titania's next target is the Land of Fire, their longtime rival, who they haven't seriously fought until now. Poor Miyazaki and friends, having just moved to a seemingly normal country, it's not going to be easy now.
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Author: Youn Ji-min
Cycle: Madness
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I'll post two chapters in one day and then do the same every other day. Occasionally there may be pauses to rest and build up new ideas.
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