Four years have passed since the day I learned about my father and the fallen children. Lets just say the world has completely changed since then...
Fallen children began to pop up all over the globe, fighting back against the lacerta. Though, not everyone who got his power uses it for good. Therefor the 'Watchers' were formed under the United Governments orders. These Watchers are an elite force of fallen children, they monitor crimes committed by those fallen children whose power got to their heads. They keep these fallen children in check, and are greatly feared.
These days, our technology around ichor has greatly advanced. As well as our understanding of the strange power. Although no one still knows where it came from exactly, we have found ways to force people with 'potential' to awaken. Humans with 'potential' are people who can awaken as fallen children. It was also found out that humans younger than sixteen cannot awaken. Thus, a yearly date was set.
The day of awakening... or awakening day.
For children that have turned sixteen, this day they are all tested for 'potential'. If found able to be awakened, the machine also measures the level of their potential. Humans have broken up the fallen children into ranks. These ranks include the feeble rank, the lesser rank, the greater rank, the expert rank, the master rank, and the superior rank. As of now, there are eight humans that have reached the master rank, the highest rank thought possible just a year ago. Apparently when fallen children reach a new rank, they can instinctually tell if there is another rank beyond that is possible for them to reach. Thus a new rank was made once they felt they were able to go higher than the master rank.
These humans are known as the pillars. They are powerful warriors who have kept the lecerta from gaining ground in the past years.
My father himself is at the expert rank. Even though he was one of the first to awaken, this is still considered a massive achievement and he is now very well respected. After all he is only one rank below the pillars, who are considered to be monsters in strength and growth.
Before the lacerta invaded, humans were all hell bent on equality. Now, that has all changed. Talent and strength are all that matter in this world. It's like the world has gone back to survival of the fittest. Even with the United Government and the Watchers, they cannot possibly monitor everyone. Therefor the strong now prey on the weak.
And the weak get exploited until they die...
It's a cruel world, a sick world...
I heard our old town was wiped off the map in a battle between a powerful fallen child and lacerta. Everyone I knew from there is dead. Hundreds of millions of people, maybe even close to a billion, have lost their lives in the war. That's the kind of world we live in now. Anyone you know, every time you see them could be the last...
Even some one as powerful as my own father could die tomorrow...
'Hopefully I can awaken next week at awakening day,' I thought. 'After all, the only way for you and your loved ones to survive in this world is to be strong.'
I must become strong. Not because I have any ambitions to save the world or anything like that. Just so I can protect the people close to me. If we can survive this hell, I'll be content. Screw the world.
Ever since I learned about the fallen children, I've been training with my father down in the basement. He had some gym equipment brought in, and made a corner of the large room into a full gym. Although some of the weights are insanely heavy due to my father being so highly ranked. His body naturally became strong due to being tempered by the ichor he wields. In fact, even as all these thoughts raced through my head, I was training my body.
Sweat dripped from my body as I continued to do weighted sit-ups, I was on my last workout for the day. My shoulder length pitch-black hair was tied into a ponytail behind my head, and my bangs stuck to my face with sweat. My eyes, darker than the night sky, continued to stare at my flexing core as I pushed my body to its limits. After my last sit-up I collapsed onto the ground, heaving heavily. I pushed the weight off my chest and stood, walking over to where my towel and water bottle sat.
"Phew," I used my towel to wipe the sweat from my slightly tan skin.
'My body is much more toned than before, I guess that's what happens when you're doing an intense workout with a fallen child for a little over five years.' I thought as I observed my progress.
My body looked like a trained martial artists, lean with tense muscles. Although I didn't like to show them off very much at school, so I still wore my usual baggy clothes. I have also grown in height, coming to a little above average male height at sixteen years old.
In five years, Die Festung has also changed a ton. New schools were built, including an academy for newly awakened fallen children. Many of these said academies have popped up around the globe, but it's said that the one in Die Festung is the best of them all. This academy was called 'Sophos Academy', sophos being the Greek word for wisdom. It was my intention to get into this prestigious academy.
I headed up the stairs and through the basement door that lead into the living room.
"Oh hey mom, is dinner almost ready?" I addressed my mother, who was cooking in the kitchen.
"It should be done in fifteen minutes or so, you should have time to shower," my mother replied with a wink.
"Okay, sounds good," I said as I walked upstairs to head to the bathroom.
As I closed the bathroom door, I heard my father come into the house and greet my mother with muffled words. I then quickly showered and headed downstairs to rejoin my mother and father.
"Hey dad," I casually greeted him as I came down the fight of stairs.
"Hello my boy! How was your training today?" he asked in an upbeat voice.
"Good, as usual," I replied.
He gave me a warm smile and a slap on the back, "wow son, I can really feel you putting on the muscle... very sturdy!"
"Yeah yeah, you can quit teasing me now old man," I replied with an exasperated look.
"Awe, I miss the days where my little boy called me 'old super-man' and looked at me with stars in his little eyes!" my father exclaimed, feigning a pained look.
I let out a heavy sigh, and my mother luckily bailed me out of the endless teasing of my father as she clapped her hands together.
"Okay, okay, you two, cut it out and lets eat," my mother said sternly.
"Fine, fine," my father said, still wearing a slight grin across his face.
"Alright," I responded at the same time.
I then sat at the table, and took a deep breath. Taking in the great smell of my mothers home cooking.
"So, what did you do today dad?" I curiously asked, looking over at my father as I took a fork full of food to my mouth.
"Oh the usual, more tests of this and that and blah blah," he replied, waiving his hand and putting on a worn out look. "Although I did hit a new record on the Fahrenheit scale," he continued on, his face shifting to a grin once more.
"Oh really, how much higher?" my mother joined the conversation.
"Well, my last record was three thousand degrees Fahrenheit," my father replied with his hand pinching his chin. "This time my flame reached three thousand five hundred."
"Oh, that's pretty impressive," I said, genuinely impressed. After all, flames that reach that temperature usually signify a very efficient burn. Although I'm unsure if our science can be applied to fallen children... probably not...
"I know right?" my fathers face turned smug as I complimented him.
"Maybe it's not actually that impressive after all," I said with feigned seriousness, placing my hand on my chin and looking down as if in deep thought.
"Hey come on!" my fathers face began to contort as if he was deeply hurt.
"Enough, you two little rascals, the food is going to get cold at this rate," my mothers tone was icy as she glared at us teasing each other.
"Yes ma'am," we replied in unison, as we began to stuff our faces.
All in all it was an enjoyable meal, it isn't often we all get to eat together these days. My father is usually busy. Either he is gone for weeks due to being deployed on the battlefield, or he is home late from his tests and training at the United Government HQ.
"Son, can we have a talk?" my fathers tone was serious as we finished cleaning up dinner.
"Sure..." I hesitantly replied.
'Is some thing wrong?' I thought. 'Some dangerous mission?'
I followed him into my room upstairs, and closed the door behind me. He pulled my chair from my desk and gestured for me to sit on the bed.
"What is it dad?"
"Son, as you know the awakening day is coming up..." he started slowly.
'Oh, so that's what this is about, he must be nervous,' my thoughts raced as I tried to predict what he was going to say next.
"You know, even if you don't awaken, I won't love you any less... okay son?" my father said, any trace of joking or teasing gone from his tone and face. His gaze was quite intense.
Suddenly my thought froze, and a strange noise escaped my mouth, "eh..."
My father continued to seriously gaze into my eyes as my thoughts remained frozen.
*cough cough* I let out some awkward coughs, and closed my eyes for a second. When I opened them he was still gazing intensely at me.
"Okay, okay, I get it dad," I broke the silence that probably lasted a bit too long.
"Good, I just wanted you to know that," he relied firmly with a nod. "Get some rest okay son? Got a big day coming up in a week."
"Yes dad, I know."
"Alright, sleep well son," he stood and gave me a peck on the forehead, before heading to the door. "Even if you don't awaken, you're still remarkable with that mind of yours, my little genius," he proudly stated, with a bright smile on his face.
"Whatever you say..." I quietly replied while looking away. "Old super-man..." I mumbled.
His smile widened slightly, "goodnight, my boy."
"Goodnight, dad."
He then turned, left the room and closed the door.
'I'm really not that smart... I don't know why he calls me a genius...'
I then changed into my pajamas, and laid on my bed, gazing at the ceiling.
'Whatever, I should just go to sleep,' I thought as I began to feel my heavy eyes closing.
Before I knew it, I was fast asleep.
* * *
My eyes suddenly shot open, but when I looked around, I was not in the comfort of my room. I looked around curiously.
'Where am I?' I thought, becoming cautious.
I seemed to be standing near a figure, who sat atop a large golden throne. Everything around us was shrouded in shadow, save for the figure and the throne. I squinted my eyes in order to get a better look at this figure.
His eyes seemed to be fading in and out of a brilliant golden hue. His face seemed too perfect, as if chiseled from a brilliant block of marble. His hair, long and golden, seemed to flow as if it was alive as it framed his perfect features. He wore a deep black garb, with golden trim that pulsed with brilliance. A forlorn expression adorned his features.
'He seems to be looking at some thing.'
The figure then opened his mouth, and a voice sweeter than any honey echoed through the hall in a melancholic song.
"My brothers and sisters have all gone," the voice rang. "Soon I shall follow."
'What is he talking about, brothers, sisters?'
"Forgive me, my fallen siblings, I must give a fighting chance... it's the least I can do..." the figure closed his eyes. "I can feel many beings watching this world, waiting, like rabid beasts."
A golden hue suddenly lit up the chamber we were in. I could finally see more features of the grand hall.
Many pictures of what appeared to be myths from many different cultures adorned the walls and ceiling, creating a mural of superb quality and wonder. My eyes widened as I noticed some of these murals.
'That one is about the Greek gods being born, that one is about Ragnorok, that one is about the Egyptian god of knowledge, Thoth...' I scoured the murals, noticing many at a glance. 'What the hell is this place...'
The figure on the throne then opened his eyes and they shone with brilliant gold, "this will be my final scheme, my brothers and sisters," he said to seemingly nobody.
The golden hue began to intensify, and in a bright flash of light, everything turned completely white.
* * *
I awoke in a cold sweat, my shirt was completely drenched. I rubbed my eyes, and turned my head to check the time.
'4:30 am... just what the hell was that dream... and why did I feel so drawn to that figure...'
I decided to go to the washroom to splash my face with water. In the mean time I organized my rampant thoughts.
'A figure on a throne with perfect features... fallen siblings... then there's all of those murals...' I gazed into my own eyes in the mirror. 'Other beings watching this world like rabid... was it wolves?'
I shook my head, the dream was already beginning to become hazy in my memories.
'Shit, I should try to write some of it down...' I quickly returned to my room and found a notepad, I clicked on my desk light and began to write:
Had a weird dream, it's already becoming hazy... a figure on a throne with... golden eyes I think... and murals, what were the murals of again... he said some thing that involved fallen siblings, I think.
"Shit," I mumbled. "I should've written down more when it was clear..."
Well, what can you do. It was just a dream anyways, although a weird one. Probably not a big deal... I let out a big yawn and returned to my bed after clicking the light off.
I once again gazed at the ceiling, unable to shake a strange feeling. In the end, my heavy eyes won the silent contest between the feeling and sleep. I began to drift off once more.
* * *
"Finally, its the day," I said to myself as I looked at the date on my phone.
'Awakening day...'
I stood and took a big stretch. I then began to change into my clothes for the day. I wiped some sweat from my palms onto my sweat pants. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous.
"You ready to go, son?" my father called from downstairs, he has taken the day off in order to go with me to the testing site.
"Yeah, almost dad," I yelled back from my room.
I quickly threw on a sweater. One of the perks of Die Festung being so far north was that it was always at least sweater weather. Well, not like the heat back in my old home town stopped me from wearing a hoodie almost every day...
"Okay, lets go," my father led me out the front door and to his brand-new all black hummer.
I opened the door and climbed into the passenger side.
"You nervous?" my father teasingly asked.
"Of course, who wouldn't be..." I mumbled, looking out the window.
"Ha ha ha, it's okay son, you got this! After all your dad is a bad-ass fallen child right?" he wore his usual slightly mischievous grin and flexed his arm in an exaggerated manner.
"Yeah whatever," I was unable to hide the slight shake in my tone.
He patted me on the back.
"Okay enough joking around, lets go," he turned his attention to driving the vehicle.
Today, the rest of my life would be decided... who wouldn't be nervous?
-Chapter Three End-