1987. Ten years ago.
F-Rank Gate (Ruins of Mars)
Whoosh!!
A gentle breeze blew across the sands of the red planet.
Though gentle, it stirred dust as there was nothing to block its path.
Patterns of waves formed on the red sand, the wind making its mark wherever it passed.
Thwaaam!!!
The wind crashed against the walls of what used to be a Coliseum-like structure - the first of many ruins that once stood as a civilization, an unknown civilization.
Unrelenting, it made its way through the cracks.
"You do have a point," it carried the words of an unknown figure in the broken building.
Other voices echoed - voices of figures gathered.
The Auric family, assembled for their annual family meeting.
On a podium-like structure adorned with strange but intricate designs stood the main family - fifteen people, some old, a few young.
The oldest stood at the pulpit as he addressed the rest of the family - the heads of the branch families - sixty-five elders seated in a crescent before them.
The heads were adorned in golden yellow suits of the finest quality, a testament to their standing, while the branch family wore silver, shimmering under the glare of the sun, filtered by the barely noticeable UV barrier that glittered intermittently.
"The ungrateful government is now trying to tax us, despite all we have done for them..." The elderly man standing at the pulpit spat, his grey brows furrowed, his voice hitching with disgust.
"May I address the Dynasty?" An elderly man adorned in a silver suit rose to his feet.
With a nod from the man at the pulpit, he began to speak.
"My Lord, if I may, I believe the winds of the world are changing. It would be prudent for us to move with them and take control, rather than resist. This tide will be difficult to rein in," he stated, his tone respectful yet full of wisdom.
Murmurs filled the open space as some agreed with his train of thought while most disagreed.
Thump!!
The sound of a gavel striking wood silenced the elders, their ears perked, their eyes focused forward.
"I understand your concerns, but Auric does not bend to the will of the world..."
Crack!!
A crisp, clear sound interrupted his speech.
All eyes instinctively moved upward toward the UV barrier. Their eyes widened as numerous fissures appeared in the barrier - not that it truly mattered, as it would only mean slight sunburn.
But their shock wasn't directed at the cracks.
Rather, at the dense fog outside, crackling with purple lightning.
"What is that?" they thought simultaneously, drawn to the chaotic beauty of the dark clouds looming overhead.
KRSSHH!!
The barrier shattered before any could react - not that they could have done anything, as all eighty were unawakened.
The world had granted them wealth so vast they owned nations, yet none awakened among them.
The dark cloud descended.
Their screams muffled by the crackling lightning.
They all died - all eighty - none living to tell the tale.
Yet the tale was told.
News channels across the world held coverage on their demise, the richest most influential family lost in an unprecedented happening, a mana storm in an F-rank gate.
A white dimensional gate, its pale color a testimony to its lack of mana, yet a mana storm, one only found in B and above gates, wiping out the family.
Some claimed it was divine punishment, the gods correcting the mistakes of giving one family too much power, others grieved as they enjoyed the bread crumbs that fell from their dining table.
Wretched is life, something so fragile, something so easily lost.
Back to the present.
Kaida recounted the story of her family's abrupt demise.
When the Auric family perished in the F-rank gate, all those bound to them died as well.
This meant fifteen of her family members as the branch family were not privileged to soul-contracted slaves.
Richard observed the sobbing girl thoughtfully.
He sensed her fear, sympathized with her pain, yet as someone who had never known family, he couldn't truly comprehend her loss.
His mind brimmed with more questions than comforts.
Why had they entered that gate?
What exactly was this "gate"?
Where were their bodyguards?
How many enemies do I have?
Unawakeners, Awakeners - what are those?
Some answers he pieced together through inference, sure his life was in danger.
"I understand," Richard pushed aside his questions and drew the trembling woman into an embrace.
"Don't worry," he murmured, "I won't die anytime soon."
Kaida froze, her breath catching in her throat, Richard's words "I won't die anytime soon" echoing in her mind, sharp and unforgiving.
Before she knew it, she found herself staring at him, her bloodshot eyes meeting emerald green, warm but lacking empathy.
In her eyes she saw a monster, a selfish being who even in his amnesia remained the same.
"Haha... Haha... Haha..." She found herself laughing, the tears once again falling, like a gentle stream, the tears of one who had lost all hope.
"Of course Master Richard, you are not going to die anytime soon..." She wiped the tears with the cuff of her sleeves, smiling crudely at the wide-eyed Richard.
"No I didn't mean to—" Richard's words caught in his throat, the sight of the pitiful girl stabbing at his heart.
He could feel her hurt, the complete loss of trust with each forced laughter.
"I want to help but..." He thought, remembering the contents of the clause, remembering the strange demise of the Auric family he had transmigrated to.
"If I release her, she too could become my enemy." He steeled himself, understanding the pain of betrayal.
Those who wanted him dead were numerous, and if not for this clause, she too could be part of it.
"I don't know what to say..." He slid back, returning to his seat, "...But you have my word that I'm not dying anytime soon." He added, thumping his chest to show his sincerity - a comical act to defuse the gloom.
"Hahaha, I trust you Master..." She laughed awkwardly, clearing the last teardrop from her eyes, her long red eyelashes still clinging to bits of tears.
"I'm sorry Kaida, but I need to understand my standing in this world before making any decisions."