Author's notes:
<>.
—I use this for dialogue.
07/04 - 20:16 p.m.
Ha...
—We are still poor... —Yariel whispered disappointed after checking the last number on the ticket in his phone.
It was practically a routine, every Monday he bought some of those scratch tickets at the local store on his way to work, others he bought lottery tickets that he checked from his mobile phone.
Although their house looked ostentatious, they were not rich, it had been the home of his father's family for generations, and it was getting a bit old. The idea was to make a killing and retire his mother and, while we're at it, him too.
He lives on the outskirts of Barcelona, he could take the metro, but most of the time he prefers to walk to work, it relaxes him to walk with his headphones on watching a series on his mobile. Well, the truth is that he prefers to walk because it takes him longer, which means he has one more episode to watch.
He goes out with his uniform on. Safety boots, black trousers and a sports sweatshirt for the road. His entry time coincides with closing time, so the guard who had been on the day shift was waiting for him to finish his day. After greeting each other and reporting any incidents if there were any, he would lock the doors and stay inside until the first rays of light come through the window the next day. Signal to open the doors.
He has a small room with two screens on which to view all the cameras that are scattered around the museum, but the company obliges him to do a minimum of three security rounds, so every now and then he gets up and, torch in hand, does the same route as always. He has done it so many times that he could do it with his eyes closed, and that night was no different. Everything went on as normal.
The morning came, and with it the first lights came through the windows of the entrance. Soon the owner would arrive, a rather old and pleasant man. He behaved well with him. Despite his age, he was an early riser. He has run the museum alone for years.
—Hey boy, come with me for a second. —He said.
—Yes, tell me sir
He accompanies him a few metres towards a room outside the visitors transit area.
''STORAGE''
—Do you think you can help me move these before you go?. —He asked as he pointed to some boxes in a room.
—Yes, sure.
After getting closer to inspect the packages a little more, quantity, size, etc... he asks her.
—What are they?.
—Ah... well, it's just some old junk that needs to be moved. —The old man answered. —They arrived yesterday, I think I can display them upstairs, next to the armour.
He really couldn't imagine the old man carrying all those boxes upstairs alone... Besides, it was still a little over an hour before the other guard arrived.
After two or three trips, there was only one box left, but this one was different. In fact, it's not a box, it's more like... a case?
Long and wooden. Refined, with shiny golden details on the corners. Possibly gold. It seemed quite valuable, what could it contain? He was curious and it seemed easy to open, there were only two small metal buckles that turned, so it was okay to take a peek. When he turned them, they made a slight sound typical of opening a lock. Then when I was about to open the lid....
—That's not to be moved —Said the old man.
—Eh? Y-yes, I'm sorry. —
—What's in there is an object that belonged to an ancient warrior of divine class, maybe it's cursed... or maybe it's too heavy for you hahaha. —The old man laughs.
—Yes, I'm sorry! —He replied with laughter as he turned the locks again and stood up.
<
After leaving the box with the other things, he said goodbye and set off for home. He thought all the way home about what was in the box, what was it that caught his attention so much?
When he arrived, he took a shower, ate something to eat with his grandmother, his mother and went to his room to play computer games for a while. After a while he lay down to sleep while he remembered the old stories he imagined as a child and then he fell asleep.
***
RIN, RIN!
08/04 - 20:00 p.m.
The alarm on his mobile rings, it's time to put on his uniform and go back to work, it's practically night time.
The same daily routine, his life hasn't changed for many years. Work, home, play and sleep. Was he happy? Probably not, deep in his heart he knew something wasn't right.
After getting dressed and having something to eat, he sets out on the same route as always, mobile phone in hand, he walks to work and crosses paths with his colleague from the other shift.
—Good night Yariel, have a good service, see you tomorrow. —says the watchman by way of farewell.
—See you tomorrow, have a good rest. —He replies.
One more day, one more day. After 22:00 he hasn't even been inside the museum for an hour when he thinks about the case again, and how close he is to it. What if he took another look at it? Nothing would happen, he would be careful....
There it was. The wooden case was still in the same place he had left it. He opened the lid carefully and was able to take a full look.
It was a sword. 'Wow, it's really pretty,' he thought to himself. He looked at it carefully, as if mentally photographing every part. Its hilt was made of gold. It was large, majestic and radiated a light of its own. It was simply beautiful and worth a fortune....
<
After a few seconds, without hesitation but slowly, he moved his hand towards the hilt...
He grips it firmly with his right hand, waiting for something to happen, but nothing happened.
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Not that he was exactly weak, although he wasn't a person who trained, nor did he consider himself a sportsman. His life was a routine of work, home, play and sleep. He hardly went out with friends and led a rather sedentary life.
<>.
He ends up leaving it in the same place where he picked it up, the same way it was resting, carefully but before leaving, he turned to take a look at it and let his gaze linger on it as he slowly closed the door.
He took the opportunity to walk around a bit before going to the camera room. He usually made up to five rounds in total, at least that way he could stretch his feet a bit....
Since he had been working there, he had taken a liking to ancient culture. He read a lot about the golden age of the dakunaito, the wars, the weapons, etc. With each round he became even more engrossed in his own thoughts. He had grown up, yes, but his imagination still worked as when he was a child.
Returning to the camera room, he leaves the door ajar, puts on his headphones and searches for a video on youtube. It was that incident 13 years ago, where Captain Kassian jumped out of a helicopter and with his power managed to stop the artillery of both sides, putting an end to the impending war. It was something that seemed surreal and is still incredible to watch today. No similar event has ever happened again. We can say that we are living in an era of peace.
***
23:50 p.m.
Flashes of blue and orange lights came through the small space in the doorway, catching Yariel attention.
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He walks to the entrance of the museum to peer through the glass. Then he sees a building on the street engulfed in flames. People all around, firemen and a police car with several police officers surrounding the area.
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Without further thought, he opened the doors of the museum, but not before locking them. He didn't want anyone to enter in his absence either.
A large curtain of smoke rose up covering the building in front of the museum.
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