It's been a little while since we moved into Die Festung, humanities largest stronghold. My mother no longer having work began helping home school me as there were no schools up and running within the fortress yet. This with online courses mixed together was how I was currently getting my studies in.
In the time that we moved, a lot had changed with the war. Humanity attempted to drop their nukes, but the lacerta seemed prepared. As the nuke approached their location, apparently it was cleanly negated by their strange power. Little damage was done to their forces as a result.
I have also turned twelve years old in the time we have lived here. Another year closer to death, I guess!
Just as we were finishing up on my final subject for the day, my father walk in the front door. He looked exhausted and had a towel around his neck. In the four months since we moved here, his already muscular build was now especially pronounced. He wore a baggy pair of sweats and his old shirt fit a little too tightly on him now.
"Maybe its time for some new clothes," he mumbled to himself before noticing mother and I looking at him with strange looks. "Oh, hello dear, and my little genius," he said after a slight awkward pause, throwing a wink in our direction.
"Hello honey, we just finished Jin's schooling for today... care to take a seat while I make dinner? I'm sure he would love to talk about what he learned today," my mother said with a smile while getting out of her chair.
My father then took the seat beside me, and we discussed what I had learned today. Meanwhile my mother was humming and cooking up a storm in the kitchen.
"Oh right that reminds me!" my father slapped him fist downwards onto his palm. "I can finally tell you what I've been up to these past four months Jin."
I looked up at my father with my brows raised, "oh, like what demon you sold your soul to, in order to afford this place?"
My father chuckled and gave me a flick on the forehead, "no son, there are no demons involved you dork."
I sighed and replied, "okay, whatever... what's the big news then?"
"Actually it would be better if you read this, rather than me explaining it... I'm sure you're smart enough to understand what it means," my father said, his tone turning serious as he stretched out his had that contained what appeared to be a file.
I took the file from my father and gave him a glance as I opened it to reveal its contents.
The first thing that caught my attention as I pulled the file out of the envelope slowly was the massive red stamp that read 'TOP SECRET' at the top of the paper. My brows creased downward.
"Is it really okay for me to read this father?" I asked, concerned.
"Yes, what's in there won't be confidential for much longer... the United Government is planning to release everything in that file to the public within the next week," my father replied. "Besides, I already asked for permission."
"Okay," I gave a simple reply with a nod.
I then pulled the rest of the file out of the envelope. I began to then scan the page.
FILE CODENAME: FALLEN CHILDREN
The next thing that caught my eye was the files name... fallen children... just what was this? The more I read the more confused I became. Special powers... enhanced physical capabilities... 'Ichor'... I began to read more, and my eyes slowly became wider and wider as I began to read in a frenzy.
"Father... is this all true?" I muttered.
"Yes, son."
My brain began to go into overdrive... the implications were simply massive. Superhumans is essentially what I was reading about, and if I didn't read wrong...
"Liam Cliff, the thirty-seventh known fallen child... power appears to be... the ability to produce and manipulate blue flames... flames burns as long as the subject supplies it with 'ichor', and can burn hotter when supplied with more 'ichor'." I read aloud.
"So, what do you think son? Isn't your dad just the coolest?" he replied with a massive grin on his face.
"Prove it," I retorted immediately . "That isn't some thing I can just believe after reading it..."
My fathers grin faded a little, "alright, my boy, come with me."
We then went towards the basement door, which I had never been through. My father then put a code into the pad beside the door and a clicking sound echoed through the first floor of the house. He then grabbed the handle and pulled the door open. Immediately after opening the door, bright white lights lit up the sides of the staircase that lead down into a room filled with bright white light.
"Lets go, son," my father said while starting down the stairs.
I followed after him, both curiosity and nervousness welled up in the pit of my stomach as we made our way down the stairs. Many thoughts flashed through my head, such as 'is this a prank?!?' and 'what if it's real?!?'.
We reached the bottom of the staircase, and turned left. We then walked through one final doorframe, which brought us into a wide open room. The ceiling was tall, if I had to guess I'd say around twenty feet high. Bright white lights lit up every corner of the massive room, which was dark grey in color. The walls were covered in metal plating, and the floor as well as the ceiling appeared to be solid concrete.
"Stay here and don't move, okay?" my father said once we entered into the room.
"Okay," I nodded.
My father then walked to the center of the room and closed his eyes, while holding his hand out in front of him with the palm facing up. I suddenly began to notice a sort of golden glow envelope the area around him and my eyes widened. Slowly, a deep blue flame began to take shape above his palm.
My father slowly opened his eyes, which reflected the color of the deep blue flame. He seemed very focused on controlling it. Then in one swift motion, he clenched his fist, and snuffed the flame out.
He turned to me with a wide grin, sweat visibly on his brow, "how was that, cool huh?"
I stood there in complete shock, this was... "insane...." I mumbled.
I looked back up at my father after a short pause, my eyes dazzling. "That was... so cool!" I exclaimed.
"Ha ha ha, right?!?" my father wore a goofy grin on his face.
"How did you even find out about some thing like this?!?" I asked in an exited tone.
"Well, let me tell you the story..."
We then took a seat on the cold floor, and he began to recount how this all happened.
Turns out, when he went into the office one of the days after the rift in the sky opened up, he suddenly burst into blue flames. Scorching everything at his desk and around him, and startling his co-workers. Luckily no one was injured or worse. Within a few hours, some soldiers showed up and escorted him out of the building. This is when he met Lewis, and they formed a friendship. Lewis then told my father about Die Festung, and that if he took their tests using his power, he would get us a spot within the fortress. After attending some meetings of the United Government with Lewis, and some deliberation, he took the offer.
Turns out fallen children is the title they use to refer to humans who can manipulate 'ichor'. Not much is known about the process as it began only after the rift in the sky opened up. After some testing, it was found that this newfound resource of sorts was actually a type of blood... possibly the blood of 'fallen gods'... so far, not much is known though and it's mostly speculation.
Father finished his story, and gazed at me. A bout of silence ensued as my face contorted into a thoughtful look.
"I'm sorry father, I need some time to process this..." I said quietly while still deep in thought, my chin resting on my open palm.
My father stood and took a big stretch, "that's okay son, I know its all hard to believe. The implications of this are massive..." he then let out a yawn, "well I think I'll grab some grub then hit the hay, you should come get some thing to eat... I'm sure mom's waiting for us."
I sighed and nodded, "lead the way then, old super-man."
My father chuckled and gave me a pat on the head, "oh, so its super-man instead of just old man now huh?"
"Well you do have that power thingy, so I thought it was fitting..." I replied while trying to shake off his hand from my head, it appears to be heat-seeking and locked onto my hair though.
We then made our way upstairs and were greeted by mother patiently waiting at the table, watching a show on the T.V.
"Oh, you're done now?" she said as she turned to us with a smile.
"Yes, our little genius is now all filled in!" my father replied in a cheery voice.
"Good, now let's eat before the food get's cold!"
* * *
Somewhere in the South American continent
A tall man began to walk towards a tall building. On closer inspection, this 'man' appeared to have a tail. He walked with confidence and exuded pride.
"Oh, what brings you here might I ask?" the 'man' was questioned by a soldier who was seemingly guarding the entrance.
"A mere un-awakened should not be questioning my intentions. I should be able to meet with the vassal whenever I wish." The tall 'man' said in a condescending tone.
The guards reptilian looking eyes widened and he quickly lowered his head, "oh I'm sorry sir, I hadn't noticed that you're a coveted awakened... please accept my deepest apologies."
"I'll accept your apology, now move aside," the 'man' replied, nodding his head.
The guard quickly stepped to the side, allowing the 'man' to enter the building. Once inside he entered a long room, in which a makeshift throne sat at the end on the long hall. The 'man' quickly took a knee.
"Roshk, reporting to the his majesties vassal." the 'man' said, his tone much more reverent now.
"Lift your head," a proud but soft voice echoed through the room, coming from the position of the throne. "Report."
"Very well, we have made much progress. These 'humans' as they call themselves, are very fragile. Even so, they have many numbers, and have managed to take down a few groups of our un-awakened soldiers," the 'man', revealed as 'Roshk' took a deep breath. "They also seem to have given us a silly name."
"Oh, and what would that be?" the voice questioned.
"The 'Lacerta', this is what the humans are referring to us as," Roshk responded promptly.
"Interesting..." the voice replied. "Anything else to report?"
"Yes, it appears some of these humans have powers," Roshk reported.
"Powers? As in they are able to use mana?" the voice replied calmly.
"No, it isn't mana they are using... but some thing else. What it is I'm unsure," Roshk said. "Their powers appear to be new to them, as if they cannot control them."
The voice fell into silence, presumably in deep thought, "are they a threat?"
"Some of these humans have managed to kill our non-awakened without the pitiful 'weapons' that they usually use."
"I see, have any awakened warriors fallen at their hands?" the voice asked.
"No, your highness, none of them have engaged in battle with our awakened as of yet."
There was another brief silence, "very well, continue to observe and report. You are dismissed Roshk."
"Yes, your highness."
Roshk then stood swiftly and exited the chamber.
After a few moments of silence, another figure emerged form the side of the hall.
"Should we act your highness?" this new figure asked. "The call is yours to make... after all, the great king left you in charge of the initial invasion... Jurok, the royal vassal, and the current strongest of our awakened here on this new planet."
"I shall not move away from the breach, after all it is my sacred duty to observe the war and ensure the mana injection proceeds smoothly." The light in the hall shifted, revealing a pale figure sat atop the makeshift throne.
The pale lacerta, known as 'Jurok', had white scales framing his handsome face and chiseled body. Long silver hair flowed down his back and over his shoulders. His eyes shone a brilliant green hue, contrasting with his pale figure.
"Very well then, I shall also take my leave then," the other lacerta replied, and his figure once again disappeared.
Jurok then rested his cheek on his hand, and muttered to himself, "I must guard the breach, if mana cannot fill this world, then we cannot begin our full-scale invasion."
He then looked up towards the ceiling with a melancholy look across his handsome features, as if he could see through it and into the rift above.
-Chapter Two End-