"It's your son, Aexial!" Gren shouted inside the noisy workshop. But his voice had already overwhelmed the hard, beating sounds made when metal clashed against another metal. Gren was trying his best to convey his message over his uneven pace of breathing while panting heavily. Because of this, he had unwillingly shouted, losing control, and it also resulted in the annoyance of his master, Turio.
"Calm down, Gren. Here, drink this first, then speak," Turio said as he handed him a glass of water and made Gren sit on a stool.
"Tell me, what happened to my son?"
"Y-yes, your son!" With that, Gren slowly started explaining the situation to the anxious Samuel.
"A crowd was gathering, and then when I went through all of them to check what was going on, I saw a captain guard looking angrily at your son. Then I heard from the other people who were talking with each other at the scene."
"Did you see that? The kid bumped into the captain. Now he's all pissed over it," Gren explained thoroughly, remembering the incident that happened minutes ago.
"I knew something must be done because the situation was getting worse, but then fortunately Mr. Inuzami and Mr. Reyes showed up and instructed me to inform you of the situation, so I rushed as fast as I could here."
"...Wait a minute, Gren! How on earth did you know Samuel was here?" Turio questioned suspiciously.
"Huh? Oh, that, yeah. Mr. Inuzami told me." Then, as Gren said that, he recalled exactly what Mr. Inuzami told him earlier:
"Your master's workshop, go there!"
"But how would he know that? Samuel never made an appointment when he came here."
With sweat beading down his neck, Gren nervously tried to answer his master's question. "Uh, I don't really know, teacher. But we have more important matters at hand!"
"Yes, I will leave at once," Samuel announced as he stood up. He was trembling and anxiously gritted his teeth. His fatherly instincts were kicking in, and he was being overwhelmed by it. After all, this was his only son—a son he swore to protect from the day he was born, and he'd keep that promise.
Turio was in deep thought, most of them on Inuzami and how he came to know Samuel's location. For some odd reason, it had disturbed Turio, yet he knew not the reason why.
As he thought about it more and more, he came up with only one single conclusion. "Perhaps he saw him coming this way, since he was an acquaintance of Samuel. But why am I so troubled by this? No unneeded thoughts. Like Gren said, there are more important things at hand."
"Samuel, take this. Give it to your son." Turio handed the newly made equipment he had prepared for Aexial to Samuel. "Also, no need to pay me. Now go!"
Samuel wanted to say that paying Turio was necessary, but the look in his friend's eyes made him hold his thoughts back. He could nod and whisper a thank you as he dashed out of the workshop.
"Passage 2, block D. Before reaching the open field, he's there," were Gren's exact words and the destination of Samuel.
"Wait for me, son!" a whisper muffled underneath the crowd of the market. A whisper of a father determined to save his child.
"....."
Samuel didn't stop; he didn't care about the people he bumped shoulders with either. He ignored the grunts and the complaints. He ran and ran through the tunnels, his thoughts stuck on only one thing:
Aexial and hope.
Hope that his son was alright.
He had also hoped for Mr. Reyes and Mr. Inuzami to help his son and get him out of that situation. Knowing them, they probably would.
"But there's no guarantee!" That's why Samuel picked up his pace until...
Samuel suddenly decided to stop in his tracks because a huge object was in his way. That object was a man—huge and intimidating, the biggest person Samuel had ever come across.
The man's eyes were daunting as they stared down at Samuel. He was tanned; his muscles were huge and looked as if they were made of iron. Short black hair with a faded cut to his sideburns, he was also wearing what seemed to be a type of uniform. On his waist, he had a sword.
"A guard?" Samuel thought; however, he figured out that he was wrong but not totally. This man was indeed a guard, but he was no ordinary guard.
He had a pigeon crest on his shoulder cloth.
That would only mean one thing. In the city of Subterria, there are guards who keep the peace. The job of a guard was highly regarded, reserved for only strong individuals, hand-picked by the council themselves and respected among the people.
The salary was higher compared to the wage of farmers, and a higher position also meant a much higher salary. This is why the job was preferred more over others in the city.
But as stated earlier, the job came with certain conditions. One must be in good health, have a good physique, and a strong mindset, following orders without hesitation. Lastly, you must be favored by the council.
Even if you passed the other requirements, if the council decided that you were not worthy of the job, then you must give up your goal.
Yet still, being a city guard was the dream of most residents in Harvio. The work wasn't as demanding because the crime rate was low.
So, because of all these reasons, the job was a dream, and getting one was an achievement that others could only envy.
The job was simple: uphold the peace, obey the council without question, and strike down any who dare try to bring evil into the city. Because of this, the guards were highly respected. They were looked up to by the people; they were a symbol of peace and honor.
At least, that's how it used to be.
The status that a city guard had was one of the past. Things weren't what they used to be, and Samuel knew that very well.
When the previous elder took the reins, the town turned into a living nightmare, and everything went to shit.
The elder, consumed by his selfish deeds, did whatever it took to make sure that the town was fully under his control. That was by using the city guards as his iron fist.
His actions led the town into chaos. He corrupted the guards, made them do his bidding, used them as a tool to uphold his tyranny, and tightened the grasp he had on the town.
The guards obeyed, and they too were slowly becoming like their leader: unjust, cruel, violent, and evil. They turned into something malicious and started terrorizing the town. Because of this, the guards were no longer revered; instead, people started fearing them. Hatred and anger grew among the citizens, but no one dared to speak out, for that would mean death. The reason the guards would use? "Treason!" After years and years of peace, it took only one man to turn that on its head.
One man, whose name Samuel would never forget:
Lione Giovani.
A man who was despicable. A man who sought to devour everything without a care for the consequences. A man who caused the death of his beloved father. And in front of him was a face that Samuel was familiar with—one that he just remembered: one of the commanding generals of the city guards in Harvio and the right-hand man of the elder who ruled them:
Yuri Volkov.
Samuel remembered when the new elder came and dethroned Lione. He then purged the city guards and got rid of the corrupted ones. But Yuri was still allowed to remain one, and then promoted to one of the guard leaders. A move that shocked Samuel. This man, whose eyes seemed so empty and lifeless, was there when it all happened.
When a civil conflict almost broke out in Harvio. But it wasn't that Yuri had done something awful that made Samuel despise him. No, instead it was because he had done nothing. He stayed away and didn't help the people when they needed him. He never intervened when the guards did something; he never spoke of it. Instead, he hid himself away in his quarters and simply watched as the town started turning into a living hell.
Even after a new elder came and a new system was placed. Even after the old corrupted guards were purged. Even after the fear had faded from the citizens' hearts, the distrust and doubts remained.
That is why Samuel's thoughts were all over the place, because the moment Gren told him about his son running into trouble with not just a guard but a captain, his fears were realized. He feared, as a father should, for his son, because even till now, he still considers the guards as despicable and evil as their previous master.
"Yes! Did you need something?" Samuel asked cautiously at the huge figure looming in front of him.
"Samuel, I presume?" he asked. His tone was cold, and his expression didn't change. In Samuel's eyes, it looked like Yuri was looking down on him—not just on a physical level, but he knew this man saw Samuel as nothing but a bother.
"Yes?"
"Your son, he's-...."
"What did you do to my son!" Samuel shouted the moment Aexial was mentioned.
"Calm down and listen. He is well and fine. No need to be so anxious and distrustful."
"How can I possibly trust you people?!"
"You....people?" Yuri asked as he raised a brow. Then he shifted back to his cold demeanor and continued. "Like I said, your son is fine. I came here to share that information and to pass on a message. There is someone who wishes to meet you."
"I need to get to my son," Samuel asserted as he glared at Yuri.
Without warning, the man Yuri exuded a strong pressure from him as he glared back at Samuel. The air was heavy, and it made Samuel weak in the knees—almost as if he were staring at a hungry beast who was about to devour him.
"Like I said," Yuri stated coldly, "your son is fine." With that, the pressure he was giving out disappeared. Samuel, without realizing it, was panting heavily, his limbs trembling and his body covered in a cold sweat.
"Now, if you would follow me," Yuri turned around uncaringly and started walking. Samuel was annoyed and frustrated. Should he believe this man, or was he lying? He hoped it wasn't the latter. He understood one thing: this man, Yuri, was dangerous and almost in an inhuman way. He sighed because he knew what Yuri said wasn't a request.
It was an order.
And so, after making up his mind, Samuel decided to follow the man.
"...."
Samuel was caught by surprise because the place Yuri led him to was none other than his house.
"Why are we back here?" Samuel asked.
"You'll see," the man answered.
Yuri knocked slowly on his door, and from there emerged his wife.
"Dear, you're back. We have a guest," she said with an awkward smile as she led the two men inside. Samuel was shocked when he saw the figure sitting silently inside the dining room, calmly sipping his tea as if there was not much care in the world.
There was a man who stood above all else in Harvio. A man who took down Lione, ended his tyranny, and took his position.
"Elder Kito," Samuel spoke softly, still shocked by his appearance inside his house.
"Ah, Mr. Samuel. You're here."
"I brought him to you as you requested," Yuri said.
"Thank you, Yuri. You may leave."
"I'll take my leave then," Yuri said as he bowed and left.
"Why are you here, Elder?" Samuel asked cautiously, not knowing any of the elder's intentions.
Kito placed his teacup back on the table, a smile stuck on his lips as he turned toward Samuel.
"I came here to apologize."
"Apologize?"
"Yes, it seems that one of my guards had caused harm to your son. As you know, abusing the job of a guard is something I do not tolerate, so I demoted him as a punishment."
"What do you mean, demoted?" Samuel asked angrily, his voice poisoned. "He did more than abuse his position; he tried to kill my son!"
"I am... well aware of that. And like I said, punishment was given."
"BULLSHIT!" Samuel shouted as he slammed the table with the palm of his hand, the second time today.
The two guards beside him were about to unsheathe their swords, but Kito stopped them as he raised his hand.
"Dear, stop that," Samuel's wife said as she tried to calm her husband.
"I understand your frustrations, Mr. Samuel, but as of now, this is the best I can do. According to some witnesses, your son was at fault too. But even if that were the case, the captain overdid it, and that I cannot tolerate."
"W-what do you mean my son was at fault?"
"I do not know the full details because I haven't received a report yet on the matter, but many witnesses came and told me that it was your son who instigated my men."
"Th-That is impossible. I know my son; he'd never do such a thing. Where is he now?"
"In the open field, I presume."
After hearing that, knowing that his son was safe, Samuel let out a sigh of relief.
"So, I hope you understand my reasoning, Samuel," Kito stared at Samuel with stern eyes; his smile had disappeared, and it made Samuel worry. This man, Kito, he knew very well from the rumors that surrounded him, and now that he was standing in front of him exchanging words, he knew there was more to this man.
"Very well. As his father, I will take responsibility and discipline my son."
"We should keep this in the past and look to the future, Mr. Samuel. Don't be too hard on your son. I too wish not to dwell on such trivial matters anymore. I shall take my leave." With that, Elder Kito shook Samuel's hand and left.
His wife, who stood silently beside him, was relieved now that she had the chance to be alone with her husband. She held his hands and gave him a smile, which, as always, made Samuel calm and less anxious. She held such power, and Samuel didn't mind one bit.
"Go to our son now," she whispered.
"...."
For some reason, I had this bad feeling creeping up my neck. I tried to rest as I closed my eyes and laid on the patch of soft grass. But I couldn't seem to sleep.
My doubts were realized when my friends came and brought an announcement.
"It seems your dad is here; he's waiting by the water reservoir."
I knew it, and I was annoyed. The news of my unfortunate encounter with Captain Muscle seemed to have reached my dad, and I knew I was about to get an earful. Worse, I'd lose some privileges, though I did not have that many, if any at all. What else does this stupid town have to offer me?
I shook the thoughts away and got up, knowing something more serious was going to happen to me. Should I say goodbye to my friends?
I may never see them again. Should I also bid farewell to the open field?
Am I overreacting? Yeah...
I probably am.
George came over with a smirk on his face and said, "Your old man seems pretty out of it. You're in big trouble, huh? May your soul find peace."
"H-hey, don't put it like that! I won't die!"
"After the stunt you pulled, who knows?" I lightly punched his shoulder and sighed. George gave a pat on my back and spoke, "It'll be fine; he should understand."
I nodded at George and smiled wryly. After taking a deep breath, I walked toward where my dad was. George was a good friend, I thought. He would often make the silliest and lamest sarcastic jokes, but he always meant well.
He was smart and likable, and most of all, he was a candidate for being a City Guard. I understood why he was chosen to be a candidate too. After all, he was one of the most intelligent and hard-working people I knew in my life. If there was anyone I knew who deserved the spot, it was him.
What about me, you ask?
Hah, I couldn't care less. I never wanted to be a city guard because I knew even if the job was nice and the salary was good, it was similar to being a slave to the system. Such a mundane and simple life of just going around town with a pompous chest and arrogant attitude while telling people what they should do and not do. To me, it was a job similar to babysitting, and I did not want it. I did not want to be tied to anything that would keep me far from the open field.
However, it seems that it may change now since I was about to face judgment from my dad.
The water reservoir was a small artificially made water body created by the farmers to store water for the crops when there was no rain and for emergency uses. It wasn't big, with a length of only 30 meters and a width of 13 meters. It was shallow but enough for the farms that needed water. It was surrounded by a patch of wheat crops to the right and grass to the front from where I came. There was a footpath to the left made from stones that led to the entrance, where my dad was.
He was standing silently by the reservoir, just staring at his reflection. I thought he'd be upset, but instead, he looked sad and worried, and because of that, it made my heart feel an aching pain filled with guilt.
I knew now that I should tell him everything, and that even if it wasn't entirely my fault, I still should apologize to him.
"Dad?" I asked softly.
Startled, he looked up to see his son all beaten up and covered in bruises and bandages. The worry in his eyes was only becoming more noticeable, and it seemed as if he was thinking about something else.
"Are you okay, Dad?"
My dad was silent as he stared at me. Neither of us spoke any further, and it started making me anxious and nervous. I was fully ready for him to let it all out on me.
But he surprised me instead by laughing suddenly as he held his stomach.
"Don't you think I should be asking you that?"
"I-I uh, I don't know," I muttered as I nervously scratched my head and laughed awkwardly.
He came towards me and poked my stomach, which made a sharp pain ring throughout my body. My dad sighed and gave me some ointment.
"Here, put this on. Hm, it seems your friends did a good job in patching you up. Let me guess, Armie?" I nodded to his question as I took the ointment and started rubbing it on my waist. This shit hurt like hell, and I knew there was a broken rib or two. Hopefully, that wasn't the case.
"Here, let me see." My dad sat on his knees and placed his fingers around my abdomen, which made me twitch in pain.
"Ah, good, it seems there are no broken bones." As he said that, I sighed in relief. I was really overreacting, wasn't I? "He still gave you quite the damage."
"I know," I said, muttering under my breath. I was wondering about something though. My dad was behaving strangely, like somehow, he was showing me a bit of that caring side of him, which reminded me of mom.
"Dad, did something happen?" His expression turned blank, like he had thought of something bothersome, but then he chuckled as he stood up and dusted his knees.
"Yes, my son got beaten up by a lousy, used-to-be Captain."
"Hehe, well, so you're not mad?"
"A bit, but knowing you, it'd be unjustifiable. Tell me, did he rage like a kid whose candy was taken?"
"Well....." Remembering the captain's pissed-off face, which almost looked like a third-rate demon, I agreed with my dad. "He did."
"So, Dad?"
"Mhm?" He turned towards me as he took the ointment and placed it back in his bag, waiting for me to continue.
"Is that really it? I thought you would, well, you know, lecture me and stuff."
"Looking at your face, son, it seems Armie already did for me. Am I wrong?" The memory of Armie lecturing me earlier while she was helping me with my wounds came to mind. She often poked my waist and made my body ache in pain on purpose, much to my annoyance.
"Yeah," I said with a small sigh.
"Hehe, see, I knew it. C'mon, your mother is waiting for us."
"But... Dad?" I said hesitantly. He stared at me for a bit and then smiled, perhaps understanding my thoughts. "Your friends?" he asked, and I nodded.
"Very well, come back before the sun goes out. Here, take this." He handed me something wrapped in a white cloth. I took it and unwrapped the cloth, revealing a new, sharp, and sparkly sickle, and also something else that caught my attention.
Besides it was a small dagger, which reflected my face. The steel was pure, and it shone brightly under the sun. I knew that my dad wanted me to be careful and to use these tools wisely.
"Use them wisely, son. There will come a day when these will save your life."
I nodded silently, not knowing what to say, and simply held the two weapons with care.
"What's this for?" I asked.
"Ah, that. Turio wanted to give it to you as a gift. He told me he had you in mind when he made that."
"But what am I going to do with it? Challenge that captain to a duel?"
"Hehe, well, sort of. It's for protection. After all, today was proof, right? That anything can happen in this world. But I know you'd never use it to bring harm to anyone; I trust you."
I stared at my dad in awe and smiled at him as I said thank you.
It fit my hands almost perfectly, and the balance was good. Dad handed me a scabbard and a small holder with a bell, which I happily took and tied to my right leg.
"Now for your punishment," he announced, which made my body freeze. Ah well, I knew this was coming. I turned toward him nervously and tried to smile.
"Yes, father, and what would that be?"
"You're grounded and not allowed to tend to the farm." Ah, I knew it. But it was due anyway. I have no right to say anything—
"Just for tomorrow though," he said with a smirk.
Huh? Just for tomorrow? But tomorrow would be Sunday, and the open field would be closed, so it got me confused for a moment.
"What do you mean—"
"No more questions, okay?" he asserted, and I nodded.
He held my shoulders and gave me a worrying look. "Look, son, this world... I need you to understand, no matter what you do, no matter how little they may be, there will always be consequences to it. And this day serves as a lesson for that. But that isn't the point."
"The point is, you must always remember, no matter what you do, that your actions should follow a better path that does not harm or cause pain to anyone. Then the consequences that follow won't be the bad ones either."
"I understand your doubts and hesitations, but since you are my wife's son, I know you'll be able to do the right thing. Am I clear?"
The guilt I felt inside had increased, and right then and there I saw a glimpse of what my dad was truly like. Wise and caring, I was proud to have him as my father, so I took his words to heart, making sure to never forget.
That in this world, no matter what you do, no matter how little, there will always be consequences. That's why we should always strive to be better people.
"I understand."
"Good, as long as you do. Now head on out; your friends are waiting."
After saying goodbye to my father, promising that I'd be home before dinner, I went back to my friends.
"So?" George asked curiously.
"Grounded tomorrow."
"Unexpected. I thought he'd do more than that, like take away your privileges."
"We think alike," I smirked at him.
"That's strange. Knowing your father, I thought he'd do more too," Armie said with a puzzled expression.
"Yeah, as did I," Francis chimed in.
"He was behaving differently. Maybe mom said something to him."
"Or something might've happened. Mr. Turner told me earlier that he saw your dad being escorted by the Commander General of the guards, Yuri."
"Yuri?" I asked. The man said to have strength enough to crush a huge boulder with his giant arms was escorting my dad to where? And why?
"Yeah, that's all he told me anyway."
"Hm, I'll ask him about it when I get home."
"But that's good, isn't it? That means you'll get to come with us to the harvest festival," Armie said with a cheerful tone.
"Oh yeah, but that's not until next week, isn't it? We're not even fully finished with harvesting the crops yet," Francis asked.
"It's okay, we still have time," George added in.
"The harvest festival, huh?" I asked softly as my mind started thinking about it.
The harvest festival, which only happens once a year before harvesting the crops, was a festival I'd always looked forward to. It was at least one of the fun things you get to do in this boring town. But there was a problem.
"That also means we'll be facing those bastards from the 3rd floor," Francis said.
"Ah, the merchants you mean?" George asked, even though he already knew what Francis meant.
Subterria was divided into 10 floors, each with unique properties. The 1st floor was the storage utilization floor, where most of the crops were collected and kept in a controlled environment so that they wouldn't go bad. I had never been down there, but my father told me that it was heavily guarded because of fear of theft and arson, which would cause a crisis inside the city.
Although we already had a storage facility on our floor, which was to the east of the open field, it was said to not be enough to store all the grains and food.
My father told me that it was unlike our town because it was a big open space, half the size of the open field. In it, there were huge cylindrical hollow objects where the food was stored. This floor is also where the entrance to the mines was located. Deep, intricate networks were dug out to mine precious metals and resources for the city, and after being processed, they were sent out to the different floors to be sold, bought, and used for many different things. The miners had to work under harsh conditions, where oxygen was sparse and light was little. There were countless deaths in the mines, some caused by suffocation or simply when the mine collapsed due to poor infrastructure, which was not being provided by those in charge.
The miners were looked down upon by the people at the top for being frail and dirty, but the mines were all they had that could provide food on the table for them. So they worked tirelessly, sometimes to death.
Then there was Harvio on the 2nd floor, also known as the farmlands. This is where most of the farmers reside, growing and harvesting different crops on the open field. Though employment mostly consisted of farming, there were other jobs too, like blacksmithing or selling items as a vendor. This is also where the miners resided, where every day they would often go down to the lower floors and work tirelessly in the mines.
Though small in population, the 2nd floor was still crowded because of the lack of space. To go from one place to another, one must travel through small tunnels, which was less than ideal, but we didn't have much of a choice. There were plans to widen the passageways, but being among the lower floors, such a plan could cause the whole floor to collapse, which would be disastrous as we were the main source of food for the city.
The houses were small, as they were only small open places that the old ones dug through the walls, but they were sturdy because each had strong circular pillars to hold the ceiling. Unlike the market or the passageways, the houses had stone tiles placed on the floor and the walls, keeping the dirt away and ensuring a clean environment. Each house had at most two rooms, though there were exceptions. To the south was the market, and to the west were the correction zones.
It was a peculiar zone where huge spaces were dug out of the wall. It had a huge iron gate in front of it, which served as the entrance where guards would always monitor it. It is said that all the scumbags, no matter what floor they came from, were sent to this place, so I reckon it must be pretty big inside.
There were also other unique houses, like those belonging to the elders or the barracks of the city, which were much, much bigger than the farmers' houses.
To the southeast of the open field, there were two entrances to huge staircases. One went down, and the other went up to the 3rd floor.
The merchant town on the 3rd floor, also known as Mercia, was huge.
Much, much bigger than the open field. It was twice the size of the whole of Harvio combined, and the most peculiar thing was that there was no need for tunnels to traverse from one place to another.
Also known as the domain of gold, this floor was one huge open space that stretched far and wide. Rich merchants lived here in their huge houses or mansions. These merchants made money by doing business with other floors, including ours.
They were mostly responsible for buying and distributing the crops to the other floors. But the thing was...
"Those bastards still sell our product for double the profit. No wonder why their pockets are so heavy," Francis stated. This was true. The number of crops sold to the merchants was then sold again at double, sometimes even triple the rate. Since food depended solely on them for the other floors, there was no choice but to buy it.
What was more annoying was that the crops were even sold back here in Harvio through vendors that they'd set up or other little-known merchants. Sometimes, when food was scarce, the farmers had no choice but to buy the food at a much higher price, even though they were the ones responsible for producing it in the first place.
This was especially worse when Lione was the elder back in the past. His corrupted influence had spread to the merchants. Because tax had to be paid if one was to buy or sell items that were going to be resold again in Harvio, even the merchants faced a hard time. But the richer ones took advantage of it.
They used this excuse to sell items at outrageous and ridiculous prices. Because of this, the poor farmers had no choice but to spend their life savings just to survive. With the death rate increasing at a high rate, the population was drastically reduced, and the bodies piled up.
And so, the rich got richer, and the poor got poorer. My dad told me that a civil war was eventually going to happen because the farmers had had enough.
He told me that the smaller merchants were the ones who tried to instigate the farmers, but just before everything was about to go to hell, Kito came and improved the situation.
Then there was also discrimination. People from other floors would look down on us people from Harvio. To them, we were nothing more than dirty peasants who should know our place in the hierarchy—that is, to be at the lowest.
When it came to merchants, the discrimination was much, much worse. Because of the wealth gap, we were nothing but insignificant to them. We didn't receive the same level of education they did. We were nothing but an illiterate bunch to them. Because of the kind of work we did, we were considered dirty rags who ought to understand our place and keep away from them.
Then there were the noble elites, relatives or family of the elders in the council. They were the worst kind, thinking of us as nothing but slaves.
But to us, they were always the lowly bunch, because the wealth they had and the security they got was only because they were members of the elder's family.
It was also forbidden for members outside the nobles to partake in the council's elections or even cast a vote.
Then what did that mean?
The answer is that the elders themselves are nothing but the leaders of scumbags in our eyes.
But we had little to no power; we couldn't do much, so we endured for many years, not knowing when everything would change.
My people had hope that Kito would change things, but I've always had my doubts. After meeting him, I realized that this man shared no empathy with others. That everything he did was for his own gain, no matter how good it may seem, and I am sure others saw it too.
How long can he keep this up? How long until he messes up and causes a true uprising among the people?
But more importantly, what was his end goal?
Moving on, there is the 4th floor. It was another open space, a bit smaller than Mercia, but the only major difference was that there was only one building in the middle of it.
This floor was also called Arcadia, where the "university for knowledge and wisdom" was located.
Only the rich or exceptions could study there. Those with enough money, like the merchants, were allowed to attend.
Or those who displayed exceptional talent in academics or ability to fight were granted admission, one such example being George, who was selected to study there to become a City Guard.
"You're amazing, man," Francis would often tell George, but secretly he was proud of his friend. Although he had tried many times to apply for the academy, it always ended up being rejected.
However, it only took George one time to get accepted. This was when I realized that Francis had often thought of George as more than a friend, but rather a rival.
When George broke the news, Francis started working harder in studying and training.
"What kind of questions did you have to answer, George?" I asked him once, curiously.
"Oh, that. Well, it was one paper where we had to answer stuff about Subterria and its history, which included the Ancient Gods who created everything. The second paper was on minor science and philosophy, a syllabus made by the first elder's councils. But since I was applying to be a city guard and not a researcher, merchant, or other, I had to answer questions about the duties of a guard too," was his not-so-simple answer.
Then there was the 5th floor, known as Levio. This is where most of the research involving Subterria was carried out. Different research like how to improve living conditions, how to increase crop yield and quality, or where to place construction for different purposes was carried out here. It is where city planning was executed, research on the world studied, and the city's welfare carefully maintained. Although looking at the tunnels and houses in Harvio, I must say...
What a lousy bunch of researchers they must be.
hen came the 6th floor, Jure, where the HQ of the city guards is located and where most of the freshly enrolled guards are sent. From here, the authorities would then assign them to the floor they'd be guarding, which they must go to without question.
Then came the 7th floor, known as Eldio, the main HQ of the council of elders. The place where the Grand Elder, head and leader of the council and the city, resided.
The Grand Elder stood above everyone else, even the elders. But the peculiar thing was that no one knew what he looked like. They say he lurks in the shadows, and even the elders themselves don't know his true identity. But the fact that he is at the top still remains.
A mysterious individual whose life of every citizen was in his hands. One who held absolute power and authority. One whose face is not even known.
Some say he's a myth, but the elders would often bring retribution if his existence were ever doubted. They insist that he is real and among us.
Then came the upper last three floors, also known as "Hades," the forbidden floors where no one—not even the elders themselves, except the Grand Elder—was allowed to enter.
The elders would often say that the reason the floors were forbidden was that this was the place where the ancient Gods stored all their wisdom and knowledge of the world. Knowledge too dangerous to be in human hands, which could result in the end of everything. That was the reason why it was forbidden.
Do I believe it?
Uh, no. Like everything the elders said, I also think it was bullshit. Although I was curious, I knew better than to go there, as doing so would likely mean the death of everyone I know.
Now, setting aside the dark things and back to the main topic. The harvest festival was important to us as it also served as a means to make a quick buck and advertise our products to any interested buyers. The higher the quality and quantity, the higher the price. Because of this, people from each floor would gather on the 3rd floor, where the festival would be held, to participate, have a good time, and do business.
"Ah, still, I can't wait to go back up there. It's so clean and refreshing," Armie said with excited eyes and a gleeful expression.
"Yes, it's so different from Harvio. The houses are not carved into the earth. Instead, they are built from the ground up using different materials like bricks, iron, and plaster. Also, the air is pleasant up there, and the open space is quite nice, unlike our crowded town."
"How do you know the houses are built like that?" I asked.
"I studied them, of course."
"Of course, you did," I said, exasperatedly.
"They have a different source of light, right? Unlike ours, which only consists of torches and lanterns," Armie questioned George.
"Yes, that is true. Unlike us, they have these huge white lights placed neatly and evenly through the ceiling. But don't be mistaken, it's not the sun like the one in the open field. The only similarity is that they run every twelve hours, and the other twelve hours they are off. Unlike the sun, these lights are man-made and run on what is called electricity."
"Huh? What's that?"
"I don't exactly know, but when I read about them, it said it is a man-made source of energy, although I do not know where the energy comes from."
"Huh, strange," I said as I tilted my head and placed my index finger on my chin.
"Even those storage cylinders use electricity," George added.
Armie made a fist and put it on her other palm like she had come upon a sudden realization. "Yes! My aunt said something like that."
I sighed as nothing was working inside my brain. How could this man-made energy create a huge light that could illuminate a whole town or even run those storage cylinders?
"They're called a granary," George told me with a smirk.
"Haha, very funny, Mr. smarty pants."
"Oh, Mr. star boy here seems offended," Armie said. Suddenly, something came to my mind, something I'd been wanting to discuss with George.
"George, have you ever studied 'stars' when you applied for the university?" I asked.
But he shook his head and smiled wryly.
"There was no such thing, Aexial," he admitted.
I smiled back and chuckled. "Well, at least I got that one out of my mind."
"You really believe in them, don't you, Aexial?" Francis asked with a smile.
"Yeah, to me at least. But more than believing, I think the problem is that I want to see them."
"Even if they aren't real?"
"Yeah, even if they aren't real."
"Hm, knowing you and your somewhat strange mindset, who knows? It might be possible enough that you could turn the impossible around a full 180," George said with a smirk.
"Don't give him such silly ideas, George. He might actually go around and break every rule just to achieve his goals," Armie asserted while smirking along with George.
"Haha, come on guys, you know I won't do such a thing," I said as I glanced at all of them. Then I decided to ask them a question.
"Guys, do you think Subterria is all there is?"
"What do you exactly mean?" George questioned.
"What I mean is, what if there's more out there? A bigger world."
"Do you really believe in that old man's crap?" Armie asked with a raised brow and her arms crossed.
"No, no, I mean, ugh... I want to. I want to believe him, okay!" I said, admittingly.
George came and placed his hands on my shoulders, then gave me a smile. "As far as I know, you're allowed to believe in anything."
"Thanks, George," I said, smiling back.
"You know I'm always behind you," Francis spoke out, and I thanked him too. Then we all stared at Armie with squinted eyes without saying a word. It made her nervous, and her face started to turn a bit red. Then she let her hands fall in defeat and sighed.
"Alright, alright. I admit defeat. You know, Aexial, I still support you," she said with a smile as her doubts faded away. I smiled and thanked her.
George went to her and wrapped his hands around her shoulders, almost pulling her to the ground, and laughed gleefully.
"See, I knew you'd come around," he said as he laughed. Something odd happened, which was also expected: Armie was blushing furiously, unbeknownst to the oblivious George.
"Wh-what are y-you doing! Get off me!" She said as she tried to push George away, peeling his hands off her shoulders. But this only made George clumsy on his feet, and he almost fell with Armie. After trying to regain his balance, his hands went to her waist, making sure she wouldn't fall.
"Ow, ow, stop tha-...." George said but was immediately silent the moment he realized his awkward position with Armie. Their faces were inches apart, and Armie was blushing so hard it seemed she was going to explode into a cloud of steam. George, too, was blushing—not a lot, but enough to be noticeable.
Francis and I turned to each other, and a smirk crept on both our lips as we spoke at the same time:
"Eehhhhhhh!"
This caused Armie to immediately snap back to reality.
"GET OFF ME!" she shouted as she pushed George away, making him fall on his ass.
"Owwwwww, what the hell, Armie!" he shouted as he rubbed his bottom.
"AND AS FOR YOU TWO," she said as she approached us, eyes like a demon and teeth sharp like a cat, and I swore I saw two horns on her head.
"Uh, uh, Armie, we were just uh..." The blow came so fast to our heads that it felt like two stones were dropped on us from high above. I'm sure something started bulging on our heads from where she hit us, and it hurt like hell.
She nodded to herself and left angrily, stomping her feet on the ground.
"You two are idiots for pissing her off."
"I think the only idiot here..." I said as I rubbed my head.
"Is you! You oblivious knucklehead," Francis continued.
"Heh?" I said with a blank and confused expression.
This guy, I swear—as smart as he was, he was really just an idiot.
After a moment of silence, we started laughing after Francis let out a chuckle. We laughed and laughed till our stomachs ached, not exactly knowing why, but it felt good.
I was blessed.
Blessed with a wonderful family and wonderful friends.
"...."
Date : unknown.
Time : meaningless.
1ST ENTRY
It's probably been a few months now since I made my way through this desolate land. The cold wind rages, and the darkness presses in from every side. I arrived here with no knowledge, no understanding of why I was brought to this place, yet I continue walking, compelled by something I cannot name.
The paper I brought has proven useful, though not for its intended purpose. I hunted a boar recently, and since then my senses have sharpened in ways I could scarcely imagine. The ability I was granted took time to master, but now it allows me to find food, move with caution, and survive. I rest every few hours, tracking time with the watch I was given—relying on my own sense is impossible here. The remaining hours are spent moving, searching for cover, scavenging, and keeping a thread of hope alive.
The sky offers nothing. Thick, unyielding darkness stretches endlessly above. Since the day I arrived, a feeling of dread has never left me. There are no humans here. No friendly voices. The silence is pierced only by distant, unknowable sounds—whispers I cannot trace. I sense them, though, the voices that belong to someone I long for but cannot reach.
Wild animals roam this land, some dangerous, some indifferent. Strange plants and twisted trees grow without sunlight, thriving as if the darkness itself nourishes them. Questions arise constantly, and seeking answers only leads to more questions.
Then there are the others. Monstrous, inhuman things that lurk in the blackest corners. They watch, they wait. I can feel their presence on the back of my neck. I hate them with a ferocity that makes sleep nearly impossible. Carrying a light is deadly—they can sense it, even without eyes. How such creatures can perceive it is beyond understanding.
These months have been grueling. Still, I move forward. I ask myself again and again why this happened, why I was brought here, whether it has meaning. The lack of social contact gnaws at me, yet I cling to what remains of my sanity. I believe there is a purpose. I believe there are others like me somewhere. I believe that the one I hope for still endures.
So I continue, guided by the faintest thread of hope, moving through the endless night, knowing that somewhere, someday, our paths may cross again.
.......