As tension escalated amidst the people, a growing faction of Eclipses, fueled by frustration and anger, began to consider drastic measures. Their fury was directed not only at the perceived source of their troubles but also at the very institution that had, in their eyes, brought this turmoil upon them—the Solaris Academia.
One fateful day, this simmering anger reached it's boiling point. A group of enraged Eclipses, their faces twisted with bitterness, descended upon the Solaris Academia. They had heard rumors of scientists who had abandoned their laboratories out of fear, scientists who had once been revered for their pursuit of knowledge but now shied away from the unknown.
Their target was clear: they intended to confront the scientists who were still present, and make them pay for their perceived role in the eclipse's predicament. As the mob of angered Eclipses closed in on the Academia, they expected to find a multitude of scientists. To their surprise, they discovered only Domino and Kathlyn.
Seeing the two scientists before them, the mob's anger intensified. They believed that it was science that had led them to this dire state, and they were determined to hold those who represented it accountable.
Amidst the tumult, a voice of reason emerged. A well-known farmer named Mr Frederick Gustoi, respected for his wisdom and years of experience, stepped forward. He knew that the Solaris Academia had played a vital role in their survival throughout the years. It was the scientists who had developed the ingenious devices and strategies that shielded them from the harsh sun and allowed their community to endure.Frederick's voice carried conviction as he addressed the agitated crowd.
"Friends, before we rush to judgment, remember the countless times these scientists have aided us. They provided us with the means to survive under the twilight sun. They've been our allies, not our enemies."
But despite Frederick's impassioned plea, some Eclipse members remained resolute in their anger. They believed that the scientists bore responsibility for the turmoil, regardless of past contributions.
It was then that Madam Fureé, the wife of the president of Utopia, chose to intervene. Her presence commanded respect and authority, and her words carried weight within the Eclipse community. With a calm but firm voice, she addressed the crowd, "I understand your frustration and fear, but we must not forget the valuable partnership we've had with the Solaris Academia. They, too, have been affected by these changes, and they, too, have lost much and have also been affected as much as we have. Let us not discard the progress we've made together over the years."
Madam Fureé's words resonated with many among the Eclipse, serving as a reminder of the cooperative spirit that had allowed their society to thrive. The tension in the air began to dissipate as some members of the mob began to reconsider their stance.
In the end, a consensus was reached. The Eclipse would not turn against the very institution that had provided them with crucial knowledge and tools. The Solaris Academia, too, had been affected by the transformations of the world, and it was only fair to acknowledge their shared hardships.
As the crowd dispersed, Domino, Kathlyn, and the scientists who remained were left with a renewed sense of purpose. They understood that the road ahead was fraught with challenges, both external and internal. But they were committed to unraveling the mysteries of their altered world and working together to ensure the survival of their Eclipse community.
As the days stretched into weeks, and weeks into months, the inhabitants of the new world found themselves grappling with unforeseen consequences of their altered existence. The twilight had brought with it not only the transformation of the sun but also the emergence of strange abilities and anomalies among the Eclipses.
Reports where being sent to the academia, strange happenings began to occur as a reasonable amount of people where seen to display unbelievable abilities. These abilities have only been depicted in Tv shows and now it had become their reality. In time people began to abuse their newfound "gifts", as it was seen.
A certain day, report about an attack was sent to the academia, some group of bandits who had possessed the newfound gifts, attacked a kiosk and the abilities they displayed was outrageous. One of the noticeable happening was when a woman who was part of the bandits stood facing the kiosk.
As she faced a dilapidated kiosk, its door stubbornly sealed shut, determination blazed in her eyes.She raised her hands, her fingers outstretched, and a strange connection with the earth's elements began to manifest.
The ground trembled beneath her as if acknowledging her command. Stones and rocks, both large and small, stirred to life. With an almost hypnotic grace, The woman's hands moved in intricate patterns, guiding the rocks to coalesce and meld into something remarkable.
Before the kiosk, an immense hand emerged from the ground, born from the very stones she had summoned. The fingers of this colossal appendage interlocked, forming a massive stone fist that hung suspended in the air, awaiting her directive.The power within her surged, and with a determined expression, commanded the stone hand to fulfill its purpose. With a deafening crack, the colossal stone fist swung forward, its incredible force focused on a singular objective—to shatter the door.
The door, once a formidable barrier, quivered under the immense pressure of the stone hand. Splinters of wood and metal rained down as the kiosk's defenses crumbled before the raw might of woman's ability. The door gave way with a final, resounding crash, revealing the secrets hidden within the kiosk, immediately the bandits rushed inside and plundered it dry.
Domino, ever the skeptic when it came to these newfound "gifts," couldn't help but view the claims with a mixture of incredulity and frustration. He saw these abilities as an affront to science, a distortion of the natural order that needed to be explained and understood. To him, these were not gifts but aberrations.
Madame Fureé, who shared his skepticism, often voiced her concerns during their sporadic gatherings. She couldn't fathom how the world had come to this, where the laws of nature seemed to be rewritten overnight. Her late husband, President. Ox, had been a staunch advocate for the principles of science, and she carried his legacy with unwavering loyalty.
Amidst the doubt and skepticism, there were those who embraced their newfound abilities, considering them a blessing in the bleakness of twilight. The ability to manipulate shadows, control elements, or communicate with the unknown held a certain allure for a faction of Eclipses. These individuals referred to themselves as the "Penumbra."
Conversely, those who remained skeptical and wished to distance themselves from these strange abilities were labeled the "Umbra." They felt that relying on these supernatural talents was a dangerous path, one that could lead to further chaos and instability in their already precarious world. Although they couldn't manifest such abilities even if they tried.
In time, it was noticed that the Umbras although powerless had formed a unique bond with the creatures. These creatures, often bizarre and eldritch, displayed a peculiar reaction to the Umbra's presence. The Umbras discovered that on first contact with any creature, their eyes gave out a permanent bluish glow.
The Penumbras, continued thrive with their abilities. Their talents allowed them to communicate with the world in new way. But they, had a rather strange reaction when in contact with the strange creatures.These creatures, often bizarre and eldritch, displayed a peculiar reaction to the Penumbras, which became a source of both curiosity and conflict.
The Penumbras noticed that whenever the creatures came in contact with them, their abilities seemed to become more difficult to use, it was as if they temporarily lose their abilities when they get close.
Disputes between the Umbra and Penumbra began to arise, as they seemed incompatible, the Umbras became physically enhanced as they decided to keep the creatures as pets, traits such as agility, speed, stamina etc was improved. But the Penumbras suffered from continuous contact with the creatures.
This strange phenomenon gave rise to a grim reality—the Penumbra found themselves in direct conflict with the creatures . To the Penumbras, the mutated animals were a source of anxiety and discomfort, an enigma that threatened their already fragile existence.
In response to this escalating issue, some Penumbra began to resort to drastic measures. They believed that by eliminating the mutated creatures, they could remove the source of their discomfort and establish control over their newfound abilities.
It was this belief that led to a series of gruesome events, where Penumbra troopers set out on expeditions to hunt and kill the mutated animals. Their actions sparked outrage among the Umbra, who saw it as a needless and cruel eradication of creatures that had been part of their new world.This caused a drift between the Umbra and Penumbra.
One day, as Domino ventured through the increasingly volatile landscape, he witnessed a confrontation between two Penumbra troopers and a group of Umbra. The situation teetered on the edge of violence, and Domino couldn't help but feel a sense of despair at the growing discord among his fellow Eclipses.
He had only heard of such conflicts from a distance before, but now, he was witnessing it firsthand. The rift between the Penumbra and Umbra was growing deeper, and Domino couldn't shake the feeling that the world they had known was slipping further away with each passing day.
As Domino continued his exploration, he pondered the fragile state of their existence. The challenges they faced were not solely external—their internal divisions threatened to fracture their already weakened society. Domino knew that if they were to survive in this new world, they would need to find a way to bridge the gap between the Umbra and Penumbra, to restore a semblance of unity in the face of an uncertain future.
Domino with the help of Madame Fureé was able to bring the people together for a general meeting and there Domino laid his thoughts on the conflicts arising within the people.
"We are the remaining survivors of our own doings, the countless world wars had led to this and we now face the after effects".
"We can't go back to such a time were we barely even understand what had happened to us and the earth itself. So in order to check the uprising conflicts I propose that we share the city of Utopia. A portion for the Penumbras and the other for the Umbras''.
Madame Fureé accepted the proposal and asked a Veteran who was a Penumbra to oversee their affairs, Rtd. Colonel Orion Richard. He was a prominent figure in the former states and was more than capable of the duty.
In a week, the Umbra and Penumbra were now separated, using carefully arranged clumps of rocks as their unspoken border.On settling the dispute, the Eclipses now believed they had a chance to make the best of their situation.Only Domino and Kathlyn had witnessed the strange occurrence with the eldritch looking stone figures. Who knew what lay beyond the uncharted parts of the earth.