~~~~

*Earth*(Year 3910)

*Day Time*

In an advance looking hospital room, a man no older than 25 was seated on his bed, eyes unfocused and body still as he stared blankly at the walls of his current place of residence.

He was a skinny man with green eyes, long black hair and several small scars across his face, his face was hollow but even under it one could see he was just a shell of his former handsome self.

In his dazed mind was a series of flashing lights and louds sound reminiscent of explosions, images of a young teen much like himself but younger and bigger raced through this terror with a frozen smile on his face along with wide eyes.

The young man he saw was clearly on a battlefield, bullets rung through the air like fire crackers as they reaped life like death itself.

Maniacal laugher singing across the land with hopes of tearing a hole in the heart of the listener, regardless of whether they're enemies or ally.

But, the young man like a concept of insanity ran along like a ghost claiming several lives of his own, the more he took the larger his smile got.

Though in the end as he stood on a mountain of bloody corpses tears dripped from his expanded and expressionless eyes as he too began to chuckle.

.""Navir?!"".

Just like that the images were shattered by a clear and beautiful voice.

The young man appeared in reality as though having woken up from a dreadful dream, he glanced over to his side seeing a familiar white.

.""Navir, are you ok?"".

The person who called out to him was his nurse, she wore her uniform very well and was admittedly pretty with blue eyes, black hair and a signature dot like birth mark under her left eye bring maturity.

."..Whi...tney..."Navir muttered as he now stared dully at his personal nurse, he gently smoothed his gaze over her existence before looking away and back at the walls, the only amusement in his now worthless life.

The nurse who he called Whitney smiled at his response."Navir, you're doing so well, can you say my name again for me."She said excited, she came up to his bed purposeful matching her eyes with his.

."..Wh..it..n.ey.."Navir said again in a hoarse voice that was bearly audible, his chest vibrated as though it was a bother to past air through his lungs.

."Yes you're doing great Navir, you're doing so great, I'm proud of you Navir."Whitney said smiling with genuine happiness, she clapped her hands gently.

Whitney felt that for how long she had been taking care of him that he was like apart of her own family, both he and her were just kids when she first started as a nurse assistant, 9 years later she was a nurse and on her way to become a doctor.

So he had witnesses her entire evolution, she spoke to him about everything, from every boyfriend she had, to what she ate, in a way he had become like her rock as well, a judgment free zone for her, so just seeing him continue to live brought her enormous joy.

."Navir, guess what, today marks the 9 year anniversary of me taking care of you, look what I got."Whitney said hurriedly going out the room and coming back in with a chocolate cake."Happy birthday and happy anniversary Navir."

As Navir heard this his right eye twitched gently, he stared at her for a moment till eventually a tear fell from his eyes and gently ran down his cheeks.

Navir's expression betrayed no emotions but from his body radiated a complicate cloud of feeling.

."Hm Navir, what's wrong aren't you happy, why are you crying, can you tell me?."Whitney asked gently as she rest down the cake, she then took his hands and gazed into his dull green eyes.

Navir's gaze remained distant, locked in the grip of the memories that haunted him, the image of his younger self reveling in the chaos and violence of the battlefield replayed in his mind.

With each life he claimed, his smile widened, but the tears that accompanied his laughter revealed the fractured essence of his soul and the sense of loss that seeped through his existence.

The weight of his past atrocities and the sorrow of his own shattered way of life weight down upon him, leaving him teetering on the precipice of two choices.

One path led to further descent into darkness, surrendering to the madness that threatened to consume him entirely, the other path offered a chance at redemption and perhaps a sliver of hope, but is he allowed to take it, after everything he had done?

The tears continued to flow, a reflection of Navir's internal struggle, after all how could he find solace when his very existence was tainted by wickedness.

Could forgiveness and redemption ever be within his grasp, the journey seemed insurmountable, the road to recovery littered with the fragments of his fractured mind.

Whitney's heart ached as she witnessed Navir's pain, she reached out gently brushing away his tears, her touch filled with compassion and understanding.

."Navir."Whitney whispered, her voice soft and gentle."You don't have to face this journey alone, you were nothing but a child, it is not your fault, I just want to see you get better."

In that moment, Navir felt a glimmer of possibility, he longed for redemption, for a chance to rewrite the narrative of his tumultuous life.

And Whitney who had long become his guide, her unwavering belief in his inherent goodness made him feel like maybe it was possible.

."...He..lp...me.."Navir forced out as his voice crackled and broke down but yet a sliver of light flashed in his once dull and hopeless eyes, he looked directly into hers.

Whitney covered her mouth as tears filled her eyes, she almost couldn't believe even witnessing it with herself, she had been trying to help him for so many years but he had already long given up.

It was a such a sad thing, it was all because of that crazy war that ended 9 years ago, she doesn't know why but all the nation's in the world had a sudden fall out with each other which resulted in a nuclear winter for a big part of the world.

The War that had lasted an entire 25 years, in such a state all men were called onto the battlefield, from as young as 12 year old.

As time progressed even the age range at which one was considered an adult was smudged by the nation's just to gain more combatants for their selfish war.

It in turn created a vicious cycle of death and life as young children were married to each other to produce the best offspring for the continuity of the world and the human bloodline.

Before young boys were sent out to war they would be conditioned to look for a mate, a wife to have a child with to leave a seed to grow and fight again.

The leaders of the world were wicked fiends indeed.

And unfortunately Navir was one such victim of the evil world, forced to married and love a young frightened girl who was no different than him in innocence.

He got close to her eventually as they lived with each other for two years, even he would admit that it was nice, at least till his then wife got pregnant.

Just like that, she was ripped away from him and because of his immense talent he was taken away to serve on the forefront of the war, platoon 1, The Black Shadow Platoon.

He was fourteen nine years ago, when he was twelve he was sent into brutal combat and for two years he fought for his life, till the end of the war two years later with the fall of the nation's and the rise of the World Council.

By that time he was already broken and defeated even with whispers of victory at hand.

He had claimed honors and badges for his contribution but lost something way more important, that was his very innocence, purity and probably, even his very soul.

He wondered for years after how such a thing could be considered victory, when so much lives were reaped in return, he took so much and so much was taken from him, even his wife and newborn daughter.

Yeah, finding that out was what truly broke the already cracked glass of his fragile heart and so he had shut down completely to now being in his current state.

."Navir don't worry, I'll do everything in my power to help to get back on your feet, in a few weeks I will be getting my doctor's license from the world council, I'll have alot more money by then."Whitney said with a bright smile on her face, she climbed up on the bed and hugged him in her arms from behind.

As though it was a usual thing Navir nestled his head between her breast as he closed his eyes comfortably, Whitney rubbed his chest gently."Just promise me one thing Navir, never give up, no matter what."She said gently as she rest her chin on his head.

."...Pr..om.. ise...I..pr-*cough* *cough*."Navir said with struggle as he almost blew out his long unused vocal cords forcing him into a coughing fit.

Whitney embraced him tighter."Wait for me Navir, I will give you a better life, I can't bear to see you like this anymore."She said with hurt and pain in her voice, one could tell she was miserable looking at his state.

."Alright come, let's go get you bathed, also Navir your favorite food is being served, mashed sweet potatoes with garlic butter."Whitney said enthusiastically as she got up, she went for his wheelchair in the corner.

Bringing the wheelchair by his bed Whitney looked up at Navir and was surprised and panicked to see him crying again."Navir, what's wrong, are you hurting somewhere, should I call in a doctor?."She asked hurriedly as her hands shook in fear, she would be lost if anything happened to him.

Navir slowly moved his head from left to right signifying no, he moved his atrophied right hand and slowly took off the sheets where he revealed his hard and boney legs with barely any flesh.

*Crack*

.""Mgh"".

That was the sound of a kneecap slipping back into alignment as Navir slightly lift one foot off the bed on his own, his teeth was clenched tightly as he groaned from the pain of it all, but it was not enough to slow him down.

Whitney stood in shock bearing witness to this feat of pure strength of will, she wondered how that was even possible, he shouldn't be able to move that much without pain so much it would shut down his brain.

Then she saw his eyes and understood immediately, he'd always had this strength in him, it seems she had forgotten he had not only fought in a war for two years straight but also survived.

The only thing that was holding him back was himself, he was strong, stronger than any normal man could hope to be, he was and still is, a warrior.

In just a matter of minutes Navir was standing on his own two feet, his back slightly bent from sitting most the time and his legs shaking from the pain and weakness, but, he was standing, alone.

Standing at over six feet, even with a skinny body he was still a beast of a man hovering over most of the population, the scars on his face and arms only fuelled an aura of heroic power and will.

When anyone thinks of a man, they immediately think strong, brave, independent, family, provider, protector and fully disposable.

Navir found all this out the hard way in the war, how little his life truly meant.

After all, it takes but a single man amongst a multitude of women to re-populate a civilization, 50 just for genetic diversity but not necessarily needed.

So that's the reason he cried, because he had her, Whitney, a woman who cared for him truly, a broken man, as what she had done for him has long been out of her way or expectations as a nurse.

Infact she had taken such good care of him that she was even brought to the hospital director to be promoted.

Promoted to serve as the personal nurse of a higher ranking official of the World Council that also fought in the war but she adamantly refuse, all for his sake.

But in the end, he was man, he must be able to stand on his own two feet, if even just that, she had already given him hope and he will make sure to pay back all the faith she had in him.

."Navir, I'm proud of you, I'm so proud of you *sob*."Whitney said as she cried her eyes out, she tried to wiped it away but it just never stopped flowing.

Navir lips trembled as he opened his mouth with a troubled jaw, in the end he allowed his lips to curl into a smile however strained.

This was a testament to Whitney, he had not smiled in fourteen years and have not smiled genuinely in nine.

Navir opened his arms toward Whitney as he gazed into her eyes gently and without hesitation she rushed into his embrace almost knocking him over but she held him.

Her face now nestled in his chest for the first time, she finally got to feel his warmth and powerful protective arms.

Even with his weak and sickly body she felt like nothing in this world could touch her now, no matter what.

."'*Ahem*"".

But as usual all good things must come to an end, the sound of someone clearing their throat sliced through the wonderful silence causing Whitney to jump in fright.

.""Kya!"".

At the door standing was a tall man in military uniform adorned with stars and badges, he was muscular seeming more muscle than human.

His bald head was shining like a celestial body reflecting the hospital lights and his face with but a single scar served to make him more stern.

Upon seeing this man Navir's gaze dulled again and his body moved instinctively, his feet got closer to each other and his right arm crossed his chest and his left hand saluted with two finger over the middle of his forehead.

."..G..e....ne..ral.., ..pl..a.toon...o..ne...Na..vir..bla..ck..t..horn-*Cough* *Cough*."Navir spoke like an android as he cough choking on his own crumbling vocal cords but continued.

Whitney tightened her grip on his clothes."General please, he's not healthy enough to say such long sentences yet.""She said with worry, she wanted to lash out but the general isn't someone to be messed with.

."Soldier at ease, you've shown enough loyalty to the Black Shadow platoon and as of nine years ago you are no longer part of the military, so disengage permanently, Android Filter."The general said seriously as he spoke to Navir's brain choosing specific words.

As those words entered Navir's ears the light in his eyes returned and he looked confused for a moment before understanding, he was finally free.

Whitney on the other hand was even more confused, he looked between Navir and the general, till she also saw Navir's eyes, she clenched her fist in rage.

."You, all of you people are monsters, is this what you do to a young boy, force him to fight for your sakes, you people are disgusting."Whitney said with venom, she can't believe what she had just seen, were all the other's forced as well?,

The general looked at her."General Moofan to you, in a time of war one must do what they have to do, so get amnesia and forget everything you heard here today and I'll forget your little touchy touchy with a patient."He said calmly staring her down with a falcon like vision.

Unable to control her fury anymore Whitney took a step forward, she just wanted to get one hit on him.

General Moofan instantly saw this movement and raised an eyebrow as he shaped his fingers into claws.

However, before anything happened Whitney who was walking towards him found herself stuck in place by a hand that wrapped around her waist.

Looking down she blushed heavily and her anger instantly dissipated as his arm squeezed her stomach gently.

."Na-Navir, what are you doing?."Whitney asked stuttering with a red face, she looked up at him and saw him with a serious expression looking at General Moofan so she realized something was wrong.

General Moofan relaxed his hand instantly."My respect for you is great, so I shall respond in kind and forgive this outburst, I came today for this anyway, you have four months, make good use of it."He said putting a letter on the bed and walking out.

Navir watched the general walk out and closed the door only then did he relax almost sighing, he looked at his hands already feeling the freedom.

."Are you ok Navir."Whitney asked worried, even she could see that something about him has changed, it was like something was added to him or maybe something was returned.

Navir looked at her then glanced at the letter on the bed, Whitney saw this and placed him to sit down and got the letter for him.

Navir opened it and Whitney peeked her head over to get a look before covering her mouth in surprise."No way!."She exclaimed.

*

×To Navir Blackthorn×

Congratulations, you have been accepted to enroll in the MMORPG VIRTUAL REALITY ACADEMY:ARCANE CATADEL, here you would be given the chance to enter the virtual realm NineEther, the battlefield for which all wars and large conflicts now take place, where in mastered experiences upon reaching level 100 can be brought back to the physical world, join us now and be the first to touch that sacred level and become, a God.

See You In Four Months For The Entrance Ceremony.

Signature:

T.TT

Principal

*

.""Oh shit"".