The sun had finally arisen. The light which was still cool and hesitant, began to pierce the dense canopy of the forest. Golden beams like divine fingers, stretched across the forest floor, illuminating the lifting tendrils of mist that swirl among the tress.
The air, crisp and carrying the damp scent of earth and pine, hummed with the first tentative chirps of unseen birds. Slowly, the shadow undergrowth and dark tree trunks began to blush with light, a tranquil, magical awakening from a long, quiet night.
This was the day which was the most awaited for everyone. As for now in the camp, Sara came out of her tent, rubbing her dozy eyes, a glass of water in her hands as she sat on a nearby chair. Taking a good look at her surroundings as she can heard chatter and chirps of squirrels and birds.
She was drinking the water gradually as Ender came out from his tent.
"Hey."
His tone was quite clumsy and tired. As he also sat on a nearby chair beside her, scratching his hair as Sara completely ignored him like usual.
Ender eyes widen slightly as he goes back to his tent and comes back with a cold bottle of water in hands and a glass. He sat on the chair before pouring the water into the glass before drinking it way faster than ever like he was thirsty for days.
GULP!
Another glass.
GULP!
Then another.
GULP!
"You want to go somewhere?"
Sara spoke with frustrated look in her eyes, as she clenched her fingers to the glass she had on her hand.
"Nope."
"Then explain."
"Does drinking water requires an explanation now? Or Is there an update in your software I miss."
He said with a slight smirked on his cheek.
As Sara gets up and was about to land a punch but he somehow dodge it. As he fell down from his chair but quickly gets up and adjust himself.
There was a reddish aura around Sara, her eyes in rage. As she charged a punch and all the energy was going into the punch.
~ God damn. Why she's an astran in the first place?.
– Natural selection.
~ ...
As he sigh and blink gradually as he blinked, his eyes turned blue as words reloved around him with a blue energy. Those words reloved around Sara. Within few seconds her rage was gone like it wasn't there at the first place, her hand relaxed along with her aura. As the words and energy disappeared the next moment.
"Well.. If you hit that punch. This world would be end."
He said with a chuckle. As Sara sigh and was going to her tent but she stopped the very next moment.
"Ender, didn't you think we're missing something important today."
She turned around him, her expression unreadable but her eyes slightly showing signs of curiosity.
"What?"
It seems like Ender had no idea where they were about to go today.
"Where's Leon?"
Sara sigh. As her words came out of her mouth, Ender's eyes widen as if they remember something.
"Oh!. I get it."
He exclaimed while continuing.
"We will go to –
As Ender could finished his words. A familiar voice interrupted him.
"Raiheart today.."
Leon spoke as he came with his usual tone.
"Where were you?"
Sara intrigued.
"I had gone to Raiheart. Of course to tell everyone we have new guests today."
He looked at Ender.
"Is everyone wake up though."
"No."
"Then why are you seeing my face. Wake them up."
As Ender and Sara goes to awake others up from their deep sleep.
Ender goes to Zack's tent where he was snoring like the way he does, Ender punches his back as Zack reflexively kick him away. He stepped few steps back.
"Zack!"
He still wasn't affected.
"Zack!!"
He reflectively turned on other side.
~ Hold up I can just awaken by interpreting his mind.
As he used his power and extended his arm over him. Soon an energy released which reloved around Zack. Within few minutes. He started moving everywhere through out his bed as if he wasn't comfortable. It grew so much that he fell down to floor.
Agh!
Zack finally opened his half closed eyes. As they glanced on Ender.
"Do.. You do this?"
Ender gave a lazy nod as Zack gets up hurriedly. He gets up so fast that he felt dizziness for few seconds, when he had adjusted himself he launched a punch straight to him.
Ender hold his hand just before it was about to land. Seeing Zack's frustrated eyes, he spoke with politeness.
"We're going to Raiheart today. Don't you remember?"
Zack eyes calm down the next second as he released his arm from him.
"Oh yeah! How can I forget that?"
He said with his casual tone. As Ender sigh and goes outside before going to Ruis tent.
Moments later...
They were all now ready, some still rubbing their eyes and yawning. As Leon came Infront of them.
"Well then.. Are you guys ready?"
He said with a smile. A warm smile.
"I have a question?"
Misha intrigued. As Leon gave a slight nod for her to continue.
"What will happen here if we're gone?. Like what about the people who knew us. They will try to find us or become worried because of us."
"Excellent question."
Leon giggles as he adjusted his hair.
"For that, it completely depends on you. You have a choice. To go without any signs. Or.. Make a clone with your very own self. Without any specialty, meaning powers. This clone will have your very own memories and behaviors. Not even a single change from his creator."
Leon words pierced through the chair as Misha reflectively scratches her chin.
~ Well should I do?. Make a clone with my very own self.
– Cloning sounds better at least then abandon.
~ Well you are right though.
Ender thoughts were clashing each other as he exclaimed to Leon.
"What did you do? Making a clone or not."
Everyone attention was drawned to Leon as he gave his usual smile.
"Well I'm originally from Raiheart, not from this world, so it's not a problem for me. But yeah. Whenever someone awaken as a Astran here. They mostly make clones. Well in 100 years your clones will die as humans while you.. Will live till eternity."
"So.. By this we should make clones."
Misha spoke with concerned tone.
"Your choice. It's up to you. I'm not trying to force you."
He shrugged.
"Hmm, okay then. I'll do it."
Ruis spoke calmly. His clear eyes were saying like he had made a decision.
"Count me in.."
Sara said with a sigh.
"Me too."
It was Misha now.
"Well if everyone doing this so I should too."
Zack spoke with his causal tone.
~ Well I guess I should too.
– Let's be honest. If anything happens. We all are going down together.
~ Yup, you're right. We'll are going down.
As Ender spoke with his clear confident black eyes.
"Let's do it then."
With that Leon chuckle.
Moments later...
They all had made clones of themselves by using their astral properties. By copying their memories and behaviors to their clones, the same height and the same face, they weren't looking like clones at all. Instead they look more perfect than the owner.
The clones levigating on the air lifelessly as there bodies began to warm they gradually awoke one by one. As they stepped on the ground looking at their owners, some of their eyes half opened.
"Do whatever you want here."
Ender said to himself causally.
"Live by yourself."
Misha spoke to her with slight pleaded eyes.
Zack just does a fists bump with himself where as Ruis and Sara patted their ones.
"We should move now."
Leon said with a quite serious tone.
As he extended his arm to a place and within few seconds a portal. A white portal emerged out of nowhere.
"Stay behind me."
As he stepped on the portal. Zack was the second who goes after Leon then it was Ender. Misha clenched her teeth before she sigh and goes without saying anything. Now for Sara and Ruis. Ruis was just about to walked through the portal as Sara grabbed his arm. He looked at her with confusion.
"You're unconformable. Aren't you?"
"You can say that."
As Ruis smile and moved his hand towards her which she gradually grabbed it. With that they walked through the portal.
As the portal disappeared within the next second. As their clones wiped up the tents and put their items on their brief cases before logging them all to the car and going home.
***
There were massive colossal pillars aligned up pair by pair everywhere. Their smooth granite and marble and the pillars were like ancient trees, their tops lost in white fog so it was unsure what was beyond those pillars and what were they bearing?.
The massive pillars, weary with age, seemed to groan under the weight of centuries. An history forgotten not because it should, but because it should be, deep with lies. The floor which was white marble and silver cloud granite.
"The hell is this!"
Zack shouted as his voice echoed through out the pillars.
"Follow me."
As Leon started walking straight, the giant pillars echoing his footsteps.