The news fell like a hammer on an anvil, resonating through the area.
Ron had just informed General Orville of the imminent threat of a stampede. A threat that took countless lives away and pushed humanity to the verge of extinction the last time it descended six years back.
A heavy silence followed, the kind that precedes a storm.
Orville's seasoned eyes narrowed, and his fists clenched, knuckles whitening. The weight of the information bore down on his broad shoulders like a large boulder, trying to crush his very soul under it's pressure.
Ron, his expression stoic yet determined, finally broke the silence. "Everyone has already arrived except for Nataya, Nash and Kenny."
He informed Orville about the arrival of the other Generals.
"Nataya is delayed because her stronghold is far, and Kenny and Nash, well, their personalities slow them down."
He spoke again, this time with a slight sarcasm in his tone, trying to ease Orville's worries.
Orville's gaze shifted, his mind processing the implications.
He didn't say anything and only offered a smile response. He was the most experienced here and had to act the part. Ron, although powerful, was still only in his early twenties and the youngest of all of them.
'We have been relying on him too much.'
Ever since Ron ascended to the General Rank, he has tried to do everything alone. No general could match his strength and the gap only widened as he reached the Marshall Rank.
He would take on all the dangerous task himself, while only occasionally asking others for help. He would alone shoulder the responsibility of reviving humanity.
Despite the fact that he was the strongest, to make someone this young endure such pressure...
It pained Orville's heart. But he couldn't do anything about it. Ron's strength was needed in going forward.
Ron started speaking again at this time. "I have things to attend to. The oher generals are having a feast. You should join them."
His tone left no room for argument. He turned on his heel, his cape sweeping the ground as he made his way towards his own quarters in the stronghold—quarters he rarely visited.
Orville watched Ron intently for a few seconds, then with a shake of his head, started moving away too.
As Ron walked through the dimly lit surroundings, he thought of the incoming generals.
Nataya should arrive soon.... Kenny..... He should be putting things into place and creating the report, thats why his delay..... Nash... Well, he's just like a rebellious kid..... Not to mention, his stronghold, the Terra Australis, has been rather busy recently.....Ron assessed the reason for the two Generals late arrival. He was aware that none of them were trying to be intentionally late..... Well, Nash might be, but he will still arrive before Kenny.
As he thought, his steps never stopped for a moment. And soon, he reached his destination.
Reaching his quarters, Ron paused. The door, simple and unadorned, belied his position of power. He turned to a nearby guard, his voice firm but quiet. "Inform me the moment all the generals are gathered."
"Yes, Marshal," the guard replied, bowing slightly before hurrying off.
Ron entered his quarters, closing the door behind him with a soft click. The room was austere, with only the bare essentials: a bed, a desk, and a few personal mementos. Despite the simplicity, it was a sanctuary from the chaos outside. He moved with gentle steps, each one a reminder of the burdens he carried. His mind drifted, reminiscing about the past, the days when he would train with his mother, bicker with Connor, learn with Sir Orville and spend time hearing about his father's numerous theories on mana and his ramblinga on it's potential.
Those times, like now, were similarly hard. They would hear news of comrades dying, patrol teams getting assaulted and internal conflicts occuring day after day. And true, for Ron, those days were incredibly hard. There were many times he cried, numerous times he tried to run away. It couldn't be helped. He may be a genius, but he was still a child at that time.
Just like other children, he wasn't truly aware of the scale of the disaster they faced and neither the impact it will have on human civilization.
'Why do we have to face this? What did we do to deserve all this?' He would constantly agonize himself over these thoughts, curling himself in a corner of the room as he cried his heart out, his parents too weren't present to bestow upon him any form of warmth.
Coming to his parents actually..... Ron..... When they were still alive, his parents, one question will constantly torment his mind....
'Just why'
He thought.
'Just why do they have to change?'
He would thought as he breaked down into uncontrollable tears, bawling his eyes out, no one present to provide him with any console. All of them would be out battling those filthy beasts.
Knowing there was no one present to hear him, he would stand up. Wiped up his tears and take the training sword in his hand and start swinging it. Trying to take his frustration out on the damn sword and the techniques he had to master according to his parents instructions, hours would pass.
"Huff... Hufff... "
/Drip/
Sweat would drip down from his body as he huffed profusely. With time, his parents would arrive. The blood on them would be washed of but the scent couldn't have had been more obvious.
As Ron would try to approach them, they would distance themselves from him, telling him to talk to them at a later date. Their usual kind and happy demeanor, that they once used to show as they played with him, was nowhere to seen now.
He would stretch his hand out to them, but they would just walk away. He would withdrew his hand unwillingly, clenching it while also gritting his teeth.
His thoughts shifted to when he was still a 7 year old, his parents will pamper him, spoil him and spend time with him. All of them would laugh happily, not needing to care if humanity was in peril or if people were continuously dying out there.
'Those times..... I would have been able to treasure them had I been more mature... '
Ron thought while reminiscing about the past. Only now, that he has lost what he had once taken for granted, was he able to truly realize it's value.
He looked out of his room building.
The atmosphere was heavy. Outside, the stronghold bustled with activity. Inside, Ron allowed himself a moment of reflection.
The shadows lengthened as he stood by the window, staring out into the darkening horizon.
He looked towards his right, where a table was present, just standing there in solitude.
Ron moved towards the table and picked up a book lying upon it. His eyes flickered with intense emotions as he picked up the book, his mind playing out a conversation he had with his father a long time ago.
"Ron." Frank called out to Ron in an affectionate tone. These were still the early times of the disaster when humanity still hadn't lost their spirit.
"Yes, father." The 10 year old Ron, replied. His tone was more mature than his 7 year old self, but it still had the innocence of a child.
"Do you remember how I once talked about your talent in front of you and your mother?'
At Frank's question, Ron put up a thoughtful expression. He tried hard but wasn't able to remember anything, but suddenly it clicked to him.
"Mmm.... Ah. That time you said that my 'area' Or something is different from the rest?" Ron replied while tilting his head.
"Yes."
"Yeah, I do. What about it?"
Ron asked curiosily. Frank, instead of answering, replied with another question.
"Do you remember that I once asked you your opinion on the anomalies that plagued earth before the First change?" Frank words took on a serious tone.
"Yeah, I remember that too. I came to your room to call you down for dinner, but you instead asked me a question."
"Do you remember what you said back then?" Frank's demeanor and tone had unknowingly completely turned serious.
"Hmm..... If I remember right, I said....
'These changes are too much to be caused by humans, right? Then perhaps they are natural? Like, similar to how stars explode, galaxies get created, people are born and at the same time die? They are all natural phenomenon. The only difference is that we somewhat have an explanation for them, while we don't have any for these irregularities. Maybe there's something we don't understand about them? I don't know what to say other than this.....'
"Something like that, I think.... "
"Yeah, and to be honest Ron, the idea about Ascendants that I proposed some time back.... I actually got inspiration from your answer. That Mana is natural and we have to embrace it to.... Ascend."
Frank revealed to Ron. Ron's answer was innocent and to an extent, childish too. It was obvious there were things they don't understand, that's why there inability to solve the issue. But, Ron's words, for reasons only Frank knows, hit him differently, as if there's an hidden depth to it.
"Mm. But what does it have to do with my talent?"
Ron asked in return. He made no effort to hide his curiosity.
Frank expression suddenly turned complicated, hesitation evident on his features. He closed his eyes and braced himself.
"Actually, I now know what that area is that I talked about previously.... It's Mana."
At this point, Ron's expression too changed. But unlike Frank's serious expression, he was only confused.
"Father.... If that's the case, how were you able to sense this 'area' before? Mana was a force that 'invaded' earth, it wasn't present 'before', so how did you figure it out?"
Ron asked, his questions were serious but his expression was still one of confusion.
"That's also the thing I have been researching and trying to find answers to... Unfortunately, I didn't achieve much success. About your second question... hmm, I don't have a clear answer to that too but I believe you will find out what I mean with time."
Frank concluded his words with a smile as he ruffled Rons hair, leaving the ten year old to his own thoughts.
•••
'The Marshal Rank.'
Ron thought suddenly.
'For years now, I am the only one who has been able to achieve this Rank.... Even Sir Orville and Mother Emma were unable to reach it.... Is this what father meant when he said 'talent'?'.
Ron had many questions, but answers to none. And it's unknown if he would ever have them.
For now, he would have to prepare himself to face the new Calamity that threaten to take away what little he had managed obtain in the last few years.