Chapter 25 - Freedom

(Eleven years ago)

"You know Ishmael,'' Neva peers up at the clear and cloudless sky. Scarlet, lilac, coral colours scattering above, the twilight dawn paints a peaceful dream.

Swarm of birds flying designed a perfect hope, birthing a spark of glow in her heart.

"One day we will be free too." Neva tears away her gaze from the perpetual beauty of the nature, landing on the boy by her side.

Mirroring her approach of absorbing nature, her gleaming orbs ignites flames in Ishmael's heart.

The little sweethearts were resting on a clear grassy meadow by a tree, with weeds and flower beds adorning the scenery.

Breezy wind flurrying in the spring evening, below the cliff is a river hued cerulean and emerald.

Seven year old Neva blooms for the day she would savour the sweetness of freedom.

She always believed, beyond the Island of Miraakh, there exists more than one could visualise.

"We will escape together Neva." Ishmael emits, seeing her through. 

Neva giggles, "We will forever be together."

---

(Present Year)

Ishmael in his study room, seated on his chair, he considers the men accross the room.

"Start it." Ishmael rules at the professional technocrat. Zev guides the man to the table, and uncloses the safe presenting the Ruhd.

Ishmael wears a calm demeanour, but his heart is jumbled up. It is the moment; that will deem his future.

Ruhd is a treacherous red samples of fluid stored in a protected capsule.

No vaccines were ever made for Ruhd.

Ishmael schemed to threaten the president of Erriador, abducting his daughter Lily and hundreds of other hostages for the sole purpose of getting a hold on Ruhd.

He calculated the authorities would not hand him the Ruhd uncomplicated, it is a threat to humanity, and Raka a menace himself. 

He prepared his elite group to purloin the Ruhd, had they made a move to rescue the hostages. 

In the 94th floor in the tower of Worthon located in Erriador, Ruhd was safeguarded in one of the world's most secure vault. Nonetheless, his men were non-ameteur. The moment Rhett along his team infiltrated Raka's lair to rescue the captured, Ishmael motioned his foremost strategy.

The authorities learning his motives resulted in chaos. Their immediate plan of action, was to seize back the Ruhd, yet agitated of the consequences for Raka is to be feared.

The technocrat never unlocks the capsule, but clones the confidential trace abided in the dactylogram sensor.

Ruhd was created by Neva's father, Dr. Neal Noe.

Later it was exploited by Dr. Draco Earl. 

Following Draco Earl's illegal act, Erriador broke out in flood of bloods.

Before long, Neal Noe produced a vaccine prior to the disaster that could befall the state.

Draco Earl subsequently mutated the Ruhd. But before he could strike a catastrophe for the second time, he was incarcerated, later sentenced to death for his offences. And the vaccines were never made.

At present, Raka posseses Ruhd.

The mayhem Ishmael created was never his alternative, the Ruhd was not necessary, but the capsule.

The reason being: Neva's impression retained in the scanner. Ruhd was safely handed over to the authorities by Neal Noe, his daughter, Neva's finger print the password.

Her traces still left in it, utilizing the circumstances, Ishmael's motive was to operate her identification to hunt her to the ends of the world, through innovation.

Fourteen minutes elapsed, the technology exploring dactylograms around the World Wide Web.

Ishmael has his heart aching, highly strung, his being drowning in nervousness.

"Sir a person has been found matched." The technocrat announces.

Ishmael resembles a ghost without a soul.

On the other hand, Zev refuses to believe his ears, for he was convinced Neva existed no more.

He painfully even had a lack of certainty, that his boss hadn't went nuts and she wasn't just an illusion of his.

"Her name is Neva Mae." The man shares, planting a breath in Ishmael, he had long forgotten he required.

"What was her name?" Ishmael inquires, swallowing tight.

"It's Neva Mae Sir, she's enrolled in a university located in country Erriador." He replies.

Although, her surname has his chest sunk, disregarding his bitter thoughts—he stands up, trudging towards the technocrat.

"Show me." Ishmael says, taking a seat on the couch.

The man rotates the notebook computer, revealing the girl's face.

Ishmael glances at the screen, Neva's face drawn in his sight, his heart skips a beat.

Without unsureness, she's the person he has longed for, forever.

She have always been beautiful nevertheless, the woman she grew up to be was ethereal.

"Is she really alive?" Zev unconsciously queries, earning a cold glare from his boss.

"Give him a bonus." Ishmael demands.

"Yes Raka." Zev responds.

"I'm grateful Sir." The technocrat says.

Greeting Ishmael respects, he's walked out by Zev.

Ishmael has his muscles stiffened, shaking off the frost, he delves into the cyberspace.

However, she is closed off to the world.

Scarce presence in social platform.

He's afraid if it's a dream. Her absence felt; everlasting for him.

Overwhelmed with emotions, he wishes to be with her once more. Swarming his cold heart with warm sensation, he feels drizzle of waters surging in his lightened orbs.