Fenelon Academy is a high school that attracts many Japanese students seeking a safe haven away from the harshness and cruelties of the Empire. However, these students may not realize that by attending the academy, they are inadvertently fulfilling the desires of the Empire. After spending six years as a student at the academy, they have the opportunity to become soldiers or scientists for the Frecitannia Empire, effectively fighting battles for the very entity that waged war against Japan.
The Empire makes promises that once you pass the test and join, you have the potential to achieve high ranks in the military. However, anyone with a bit of common sense would understand that there are no Japanese soldiers above average rank, let alone high-ranking positions. Despite this, the Japanese were unable to see through these deceptive tactics because they were swayed by empty promises.
Lucius was the only one who seemed unaffected by the Empire's deceit, often reflecting on the Japanese's role. He wondered if they were merely tools of the nobility and royalty, manipulated for political gain, or if they were part of a larger plan for the Frecitannians to increase their power. Perhaps it could be both.
"Lucius, please stop daydreaming and start lifting those weights! Just because you hurt your eye doesn't mean you're entitled to special treatment."
Lucius was abruptly jolted out of his daydream by his teacher, realizing he had completely forgotten he was in gym class. He had dozed off while his classmates were sweating profusely and struggling to catch their breath from the strenuous workout. Some were lifting heavy weights and dumbells, while others preferred running on the treadmill and doing lighter exercises. Despite being the top student academically, Lucius was surprisingly weak as they came.
Lucius had to change from his regular Academy uniform into his gym suit for his Friday afternoon class. The suit, granted to him by the academy fits him perfectly, hugging his muscles while also enhancing his lenghty form. The suit itself is made of a flawless, shiny material that looks both stylish and functional, with built-in sensors that monitor his heart rate and track his performance during workouts.
It appeared that technology had also made its way into the Academy's gym. The walls were lined with interactive screens that display workout routines, fitness goals, and even virtual reality simulations for various sports.
The gym equipment itself is cutting-edge, with smart machines that track your progress and adjust settings to optimize your workout. There are also holographic trainers that guide student through exercises and provide real-time feedback on your form.
The lighting in the gym room is dynamic, changing colors and intensity based on the type of workout being done. Music plays softly in the background, perfectly timed to keep students motivated and energized.
"Start working maggot!" His teacher yelled. Lucius remained quiet, observing the blue holographic projection of a gym teacher reprimanding him whenever he wasn't working hard or skipping exercises. "This is so bothersome," he muttered while picking up some light weights from the floor.
He held onto the weight firmly, struggling to raise it from the ground with all his strength, but his body seemed to resist. He groaned and clenched his teeth, his veins bulging as he could only manage to lift the weight halfway before his body gave out, causing the weight to fall and roll on the floor.
The holographic projection of the teacher reappeared instantly, seemingly projected from a device fixed to the floor. "Come on maggot, you can do better than that, push yourself and lift those weights!" It only showed up again to reprimand Lucius.
Lucius let out another sigh, a look of irritation evident as a vein popped up on his forehead upon hearing the rough and bothersome voice of the hologram. He swiftly searched through his pants to locate his pocket watch, staring at the time with a hopeful expression that school was almost over. However, he realized there was still an hour remaining of the challenging exercise. "So frustrating!" he mused to himself once again.
After a tough workout session, Lucius quickly changed into his school uniform and was leaving the Academy at the end of the day when he came across a large group of students gathered in a circle, all talking and buzzing excitedly about something they had heard in the news.
His curiosity had been aroused, so he retrieved his phone from his backpack as he prepared to depart from the Academy premises. Pondering the commotion around him, he scrolled through his seemingly see-through phone, which despite its advanced features, happened to be the most affordable model available. It was then that he stumbled upon something intriguing, prompting him to question, "What is this?"
Captain Gerard Dubois of the Frecitian Military Corp, who served under the Japanese Sect Leader of the Empire, was making significant announcements on various platforms through his phone. This was unusual as the Captain rarely appeared unless there was a crucial battle approaching. Lucius, feeling a sense of imminent trouble, observed with suspicion but couldn't quite determine what it could be.
"Attention residents of Japan, citizens of Frecitiannia, and the Japanese alike," Captain Gerarf declared in a powerful tone. "The Military Corp has been informed that a very dangerous weapon of war has been stolen from the Empire by Japanese terrorists." Lucius was taken aback as he listened to the sudden news, wondering how the Japanese could have obtained something so significant.
"After thorough investigation, we have identified the perpetrators to be located in Zone 9. Attention residents of Japan, you have become too complacent despite all the support we have provided. Engaging in theft from the Empire, particularly of a weapon of war, is an unforgivable offense. As a result, we have chosen to eliminate Zone 9 from existence upon discovering the weapon!"
Lucius's eyes widened in shock, his legs growing weak as he wandered the streets of Kyota City. He almost dropped his phone in disbelief. "What is happening?! How could they commit such an act in response to minor terrorists?" he thought angrily. "No, this is not just about the terrorists. The Zone has long been a target on the Empire's list because many Japanese royalty who fled after the war sought refuge there. I can attest to this because I reside in Zone 9. They are plotting to eliminate all residents!" The realization hit him like a massive truck.
Lucius started to feel lightheaded while listening to the news. His Aunt Sherly had likely just returned from work and was probably at home in Zone 9, getting ready to visit his injured brother at the hospital. "Could it be..." he pondered but couldn't finish the thought as he began to feel nauseous.
Captain Gerard continued, "No one will be allowed to enter Zone 9 while the weapon search is ongoing due to the weapon's lethal poison gas that can cause death within seconds, and the terrorists could activate it at any moment. Rest assured, this issue will be addressed promptly. Updates on the situation will be provided later. Thank you to the people of Japan for your attention." Shortly after, the news broadcast abruptly ended on all platforms. The message had already been broadcasted throughout Japan, with screens replaying it in various locations where Lucius had passed by.
Nearly everyone in Japan gazed at the news with stunned expressions. They were all captivated by the possibility of a terrorist attack causing Zone 9 to be destroyed. While some blamed the terrorist, others sympathized with their cause, but ultimately, it all seemed quite meaningless.
The Japanese were so consumed by internal conflicts, behaving like animals fighting amongst themselves, that they overlooked the larger issues at hand. Regardless of which side they supported, both were manipulated, ultimately leading to the Empire achieving its objectives.
This is the moment Lucius came to the realization that the Frecitannian Empire was and always will be filled with arrogant individuals who deserve the worst kind of punishment. His thoughts and beliefs started to swirl in his mind, creating a massive headache that made him feel disoriented. He wanted to escape and felt confused as he stumbled around, bumping into things, trying to distance himself from everything that reminded him of the Empire. However, no matter where he turned, the word "Frecitannia" seemed to haunt him. Colliding with strangers on the sidewalk who gave him strange and hostile looks, he looked into their faces only to see his father's image in his mind.
Fate returned to him again, this time seemingly targeting his Aunt Sherly. The persistent echoes of voices wouldn't leave his mind and he craved quiet. He blocked his ears and wandered into a secluded alley that muffled the sounds as he ventured further. Amidst the trash, cockroaches, and rats, a dumpster caught his eye. Lucius hurried over to it and vomited inside.
He collapsed to the ground away from the noises and took a deep gasp of air as if emerging from deep water. Even though his panic had subsided, his eyes showed fear while his body fought to breathe. Gradually, he relaxed and began to breathe more slowly until he had fully composed himself.
Now all he could do was gaze at the ground, the sun shining on his face through the crack in the building that formed the alleyway. "Again this is happening. The Empire is going to steal something from me once more and I can't do anything about it." Lucius, questioning his weakness, angrily struck his arm against the nearby dumpster with full force, only to feel the pain rebounding back. He groaned while clutching his hand in agony.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching him. A familiar voice unexpectedly appeared out of the blue, saying, "Well, well, well, what do we have here!"