The sun's golden rays filtered through Blue's window as he stirred awake. Today wasn't just any day—it was the day of the Contract Ceremony, a rite of passage that would shape the course of his life.
He shuffled to the kitchen, still groggy from sleep, and saw his mother cooking breakfast.
"Good morning, Mom," Blue greeted with a yawn, his voice thick with sleep.
"Good morning, sweetheart. Big day today, huh?" Alita smiled warmly, glancing at him over her shoulder.
"I'm so excited!" Blue exclaimed, his blue eyes sparkling.
"Good to hear! Breakfast is ready. Eat up and head to school—you don't want to be late for a day like this," she said, setting a plate of steaming food on the table.
Blue quickly ate, his anticipation growing with each bite. Before leaving, he knelt by Jet, his loyal dog, and patted him affectionately. "Be good, Jet. I'll be back soon," he said, ruffling the dog's ears. Jet barked softly, wagging his tail.
---
The streets were eerily quiet as Blue walked to school. The usual bustle of the city seemed muted, as though everyone held their breath in anticipation of the ceremony. As he neared the school gates, a familiar voice called out.
"Blue! Over here!"
Blue turned to see his best friend, Eric, waving enthusiastically.
"Hey! What's going on?" Blue asked as he approached.
"Not much. We're all waiting for you. The ceremony's about to start. Are you ready?" Eric grinned.
"As ready as I'll ever be. Let's go!"
The two friends joined the crowd gathering on the school grounds. A podium stood at the center of the stage, surrounded by the entire teaching staff. The principal, a tall man with a commanding presence, stepped forward and raised his hand, signaling for silence.
---
"Today marks a pivotal moment in your lives," the principal began, his voice steady and resolute. "The Contract Ceremony is more than a tradition—it's a bond that will prepare you for the challenges ahead. As you know, war looms on the horizon. It's closer than we'd like to admit. I hope each of you is fortunate enough to form a contract with a strong being. But remember, strength comes in many forms. Support one another, and never lose sight of what truly matters."
The crowd erupted into cheers as the principal concluded his speech. The students were instructed to head to their classrooms, where the ceremony would take place.
---
In the classroom, the excitement was palpable. Blue and Eric speculated wildly about the kinds of beings they might encounter.
"What if I get a dragon?" Eric said, eyes wide with excitement.
Blue laughed. "Knowing your luck, it'll probably be a squirrel."
Their banter was interrupted by the arrival of the teacher. He entered, carrying a glowing glass ball, which he placed carefully on the desk at the front of the room.
"Silence!" the teacher commanded, and the room fell quiet.
"This ball serves as a gateway to beings from other worlds," he explained. "When you place your hand on it, you'll be transported to their realm. Remember this: under no circumstances are you to sign a contract with a being that wishes to enter our world. The consequences could be catastrophic. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir!" the students chorused.
The teacher nodded. "Good. Let's begin. Derek, you're up first."
---
Derek approached the glass ball nervously. Placing his hand on it, he closed his eyes. The ball glowed brightly, and Derek's consciousness was transported to a shadowy realm. A pair of glowing eyes pierced the darkness, and a goblin-like creature stepped forward.
"My name is Kabuto," the creature said, its voice gravelly. "I offer you my strength in exchange for one thing: I wish to see your world through your eyes."
Kabuto produced a glowing contract and explained the ritual. With trembling hands, Derek followed the instructions, sealing the bond with a drop of his blood. A blinding light engulfed them both.
When Derek opened his eyes, he was back in the classroom. His classmates erupted into applause as the teacher asked, "Did you succeed?"
"Yes," Derek replied proudly.
"Show us your power," the teacher urged.
Derek's limbs transformed into goblin-like appendages. He darted around the room with astonishing speed, leaving his classmates awestruck.
---
Meanwhile, outside the school, the principal's gaze was fixed on the sky. A massive mothership, accompanied by smaller vessels, descended ominously. The green flag of Valanore, adorned with a headless eagle, billowed menacingly.
The principal raised a barrier, his heart pounding. "This won't stop them for long, but I'll delay their attack," he thought grimly.
A colossal cannon emerged from the mothership and fired. The blast shattered the barrier, sending shockwaves that rocked the city and the school.
---
Inside, chaos erupted as students felt the tremors. The teacher shouted for everyone to take cover. Blue, thinking quickly, grabbed the glass ball and bolted from the classroom.
Outside, a booming voice from the mothership announced, "This is your first and final warning. Surrender, or face total annihilation."
The principal rallied the teachers to protect the students. The city fell into chaos as soldiers descended, attacking indiscriminately. Blue, driven by a desperate need to protect his mother and Jet, ran toward home.
Explosions tore through the streets, and one blast threw Blue into a collapsing building. Darkness claimed him as rubble buried him.
---
When Blue awoke, the world around him was unrecognizable. The city lay in ruins, smoke and ash choking the air. His heart sank as he thought of his mother and Jet. Fear gave way to determination as he struggled to free himself from the debris.
"I need to go home" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "No matter what it takes."
Blood dripped from his forehead as he stood up, his legs trembling beneath him. Ignoring the pain, he broke into a desperate sprint towards his home. The city around him was in ruins—a once lively and bustling place now reduced to rubble and haunting silence. Buildings that had stood proud were now crumbled, their remains scattered across the streets.
Blue ran with all the strength he could muster, his eyes scanning the devastation for any sign of life. But the streets were empty, eerily still, and fear began to claw at his chest. Just as he approached his neighborhood, his breath caught in his throat—half of his house had collapsed into a heap of debris.
Terror gripped him. Slowly, he stepped closer, his heart pounding so loudly it drowned out the silence. A chill ran down his spine as he approached the wreckage, his mind racing with one desperate thought: he had to find his mother and Jet. They had to be alive. They just had to be.
As soon as Blue stepped into his home, he frantically searched for his mother and his dog, Jet. He called out their names, his voice echoing through the empty rooms, but there was no response. Panic consumed him as tears streamed down his face. Overwhelmed, he collapsed to his knees, crying uncontrollably.
All he could think about was seeing his family safe. Exhausted and heartbroken, he cried himself to sleep. When he woke up, he found himself in a makeshift hospital just outside the ruins of his city.
The first thing he saw was a group of doctors surrounding him, with soldiers standing nearby. One of the soldiers approached him and gently asked, "Are you alright? Do you feel any pain?"
Blue's eyes widened with urgency as he sat up. "Where's my mother? Where's my dog? Where is everyone?" he demanded.
The soldier offered a reassuring smile. "We rescued everyone we could. They're just outside the tent. If you're feeling well enough, you can go see them."
Blue wasted no time. He got up and walked outside, scanning the crowd for familiar faces. He spotted some of his friends and other survivors from the city, but his heart sank when he couldn't find his mother or Jet.
Just then, Eric, one of Blue's closest friends, ran toward him. Gripping Blue's shoulders tightly, Eric exclaimed, "I'm so glad you're okay! So many people are missing. I was almost captured, but the army arrived just in time to save me. What happened to you? I couldn't find you at school—I thought you went home!"
Blue recounted everything, his voice trembling as he explained how he couldn't find his mother or Jet. Eric listened intently, his expression turning serious.
"We'll find your mother, Blue," Eric said with determination. "Don't lose hope. Oh, and by the way, these soldiers helped me complete my contract ceremony. I've got my powers now!"
Blue managed a weak smile. "What kind of powers did you get?"
Eric stepped back with a grin and stretched his arms, which extended like rubber bands. "I'm elastic now—like a human rubber band!"
Blue chuckled softly. "That's incredible," he said, though his mind quickly shifted back to his family. "I need to contact my father somehow. He needs to know what's happened."
The two friends approached a group of soldiers. Blue asked, "Is there any way I can contact my father? He needs to know about all of this."
A soldier shook his head solemnly. "Communications are down, kid. For now, we're the only help you've got. Don't worry, though—we'll do everything we can to find your mother and your dog. But you need to rest. We have to move soon before another attack hits."
Reluctantly, Blue nodded. He and Eric made their way to the food area, where they grabbed something to eat. As they sat together, they talked about their next steps, their conversation filled with both hope and uncertainty. Exhausted, they eventually fell asleep, the weight of the day pressing heavily on their hearts.