Chapter 1: Desertion - History Unveiled

[~ For best reading experience, please use your headphones to LISTEN to the music recommended to this chapter called "Ash" - The Secession Studios from YouTube; and put it on REPLAY in the background until you finished~]

<< See foot notes/glossary chapter at the end of every 10 chapters. If you seen this symbol (**) at the end of every word, it means it will further explain the meaning of the word. As more chapters are completed and the story advanced, the more information will be added.>>

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De•​ser•tion | \ di-ˈzər-shən \ [noun]

Definition of desertion —

1: an act of deserting

especially : the abandonment without consent or legal justification of a person, post, or relationship and the associated duties and obligations.

2: a state of being deserted or forsaken

"History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity, so that we can better face the future."

— Robert Penn Warren

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[~•SACRIFICE: MEMOIRS OF A MARTY•~]

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Tap...Tap...Tap...Tap...

Footsteps.

Tap...Tap...Tap...Tap...

Stops.

Door creaking.

"Mother...?"

A blurry figure turned around from the window and faced towards the person who entered the door. Only a gentle smile can be seen within the shadows. The figure then open its mouth and started speaking but no words can be heard.

"I can't hear you mother."

The person, a young female, slowly walk towards the figure and bit by bit as the person gets closer, words can be recognized.

"... —ild,"

Step.

"..for— ..em..."

Step. Step.

"..No ...er wh— they d.."

Step. Step. Step.

"G...or —ad"

Suddenly, rotten flesh can be smell. Pungent. Blood appears surrounding the figure. Bunch of swords, axes, lances, and all sorts of weapons can be seen clattered to the ground. They're all tainted with old blood and fresh blood. Then, A gaping hole appears on the figure's chest, numerous blood pouring out of it.

"Mother!! Please!!"

Crying.

Sob. Sob. Sob.

Step. Step. Step.

She continues to walk towards the figure with tears running down her face. But no matter how much she gets nearer, blood appears more and the figure gets farther away. She runs.

"Don't do this to me"

Running.

Closer.

Closer.

The words became crystal clear.

"Always forgive."

Stops.

Eyes widen.

The blurry figure smiles yet again. Then—

BOOM!

Body parts of the figure was thrown into the air. Blood and guts splashed into her like a water being thrown at her. But this time. The splashing never stop. It goes...

Over...

And over...

And over again.

She shuts her eyes hard.

Scoff

Tsk.

"As if you can wash away your sins."

Laughter.

"Hahahahaha haha!"

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Ring around the Rosie

Pocket full of Posies

Ashes! Ashes!

We all..

FALL DOWN!

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Silence.

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Down

Down

Down

She goes...

...she falls into the oblivion...

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"My child, forgive them. No matter what they do. Good or bad. Always forgive."

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Chapter ONE:

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HISTORY UNVEILED

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—And they say love conquers all.

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Once upon a time, millions of years ago, a goddess appears into the vast space of nothingness full of gigantic imperfect orbs. Her name is Hemera**. And perched on her right arm are a pair of beautiful white winged creatures. These are her cherished and most precious companions.

She loved them dearly.

Her companions flew to the nearby orb. She notice the orb is cracked and broken. Inside those orbs she found that there's three tiny little beings. Crying and weeping. She asked,

"Why are you crying?"

And they answered,

"We don't have anywhere to live. We are lonely. There's nothing in this space for us. Leave! We want to disappear!"

Hemera looked at them. Eyes filled with pity. She shook her head from side to side.

"I can't just leave. I traveled from far, far away. Beyond the stars. Into the heavens."

She raised her left arm and pointed her finger to where she came from.

The three tiny beings looked where she pointed and they saw an abyss full of stars. White lights twinkle among the black, purple and violet hues of the space. In the middle, a diagonal darkness seems to ooze out as the surrounding light tries to get away. While she showed them where she came from, her back was turned. Shadows completely engulf her.

The three beings stopped crying. They ponder that the way she carries herself, brings an ominous vibe that cannot be ignored.

She declared,

"Fear not for I am with you! Be not dismayed, there would be no more tears. No more sorrows. And no more pain. For these former things will passed away!"

Hemera turned to faced them. Her white dress fluttering around her. Her long white hair spreading on her back and her golden eyes shining in excitement. Brownish grey feathers that circled her head are swaying with lingering shimmer dust. Her two white winged creatures, each flapping their wings, are on her left and right side generating a holy glow. She then gather her arms in the middle, horizontally, and placed it together. Both her palms are open, facing one another. Suddenly, a bright blue ball of energy appears in the middle of her open palms with double rings around it. It was getting bigger and bigger and bigger.

"Come forth! Live with me!"

The ball expands even bigger. Brighter.

"I will create you a new home!"

Then there's blinding light. So bright that the entire heavens above reeled in awe for it's glory...

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Another one million year has passed since the earth is created..

The Goddess is able to create living beings to live with the three tiny creatures that she once known. She call those tiny creatures, sprites**. Each sprite has their own Elements. Those elements are the three main ones: earth, water, and wind. Derive from those three beings with elements, sprouted five other creatures. Each of those creatures have other elements that are different from the main ones and those five beings has the element of wood, ice, fire, metal and lightning. The sprites, then, multiplied and each of those sprites are the replicates of the original eight sprite. They filled the earth with their own; all the way to the deepest corner of the world.

And so The Goddess, Hemera, with the help of those sprites built a magnificent planet called earth. She dwell on this planet and made it her home with her sprites and the two beautiful white winged creatures that she named The Herons**...

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(Present)

After the creation time has ended

Unknown location

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Far in the distant edge of a densely leafless trees and dry-stricken branches, stood an enormous crystal like altar with big icicles jagged together upright. On the middle of it, a gigantic floating sky-blue sphere with similar crystal like icicles enveloped it. The circular apparatus levitating in the air seems to resemble a crystallize cocoon. The cocoon glows faintly with each rhythmic beats. Like a constant heart beat. It shines.

B-dump...B-dump...B-dump...B-dump—

—Crack

The cocoon started to cracked. Smalls shards of the sphere falls to the ground..

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In a ruin cottage of a bustling town streets, an old woman seats on her rocking chair. Besides her, an eight year old child with golden blonde hair that reach his shoulder, and green eyes looked at her.

"Granny! Granny! Tell me a story please!" he shouted.

"Shush" the old woman says.

"You will wake up the whole entire household with your yelling"

The child pouted his lips. With puffed cheeks, he retorts,

"But I can't fall asleep grandma".

The old woman sighs heavily.

"Alexander, gomen ne**. You read this picture book so many times already. If your mother sees this. She would freak out".

Alexander rolled his eyes.

"Just do it grandma! It's my favorite."

The old woman straighten her back and open the picture book that's on her lap. The book is titled 'Forsaken Beings'**. In her rich warm voice, she began.

"In the olden days, powerful shape shifting beasts called Laguz** and bipedal beings with advance knowledge called Beorc**, coexisted. They have a symbiotic relationship with one another, and shared a peace forged in wisdom and strength; a peace that lasted many generations..."

As Alexander heard his grandmother speak. He snuggled closer to her side.

"All that vanished when humanity—The Beorc, disrupted the balance in sudden aggression. Craving the power of the Laguz; man sieged the beasts in a savage war that disturb the foundations of their world. This viscous war is called The Great Purge**."

The grandmother cast her half-lidded eye across her grandson's face. She unconsciously rubbed Alexander's back. Underneath the shirt that Alexander wear; the place where she touched made the winged tribal mark he has, glow in a eerie sky blue. She continues,

"Defeated and subdued by the creation made by The Beorc's called Armana** and Alchemy**. The once proud and majestic race of the so called Laguz fell from grace; and henceforth, The Beorc made them, the slaves of mankind.

Man said to the beasts:

'Rejoice! If you want to last another millennia in this earth, grovel beneath our feet! Kiss it! And may you forever remember that this is a curse of servitude!'

While the Laguz have no choice but to obey; in time man rebuilt and spread his dominion across the land and on the islands beyond—"

Out of nowhere, Alexander yelp in surprise. He felt a jolt of pain where the location of his mark is.

"Grandma! My back hurts!"

The old grandmother gasp.

"NO!"

She hurriedly collected her grandson on her chest, shut the book closed and went to his bedroom. She then place him on the bed and put him on his stomach so his back is facing her.

"Hurry my child! Take off your shirt!"

"But why?!" Alexander exclaimed.

"Do it now!"

So he took off his shirt and showed his back to her. The grandmother freezes in shock. The mark has spread all over his back, angry sky blue color flared in a pulsating matter.

"No! No! No! No!"

"What's wrong granny?"

The grandmother quickly hugged Alexander from behind. Tears are now escaping her tired eyes. She whispered harshly,

"Do not mention what happen today to your mother! You understood?"

Confused. He only nodded his head. His grandmother's arm tighten around him and he felt her face burying on the crook of his neck.

"Please..." she whispered again but this time more softly.

Alexander glances towards the book that his granny told about earlier before. He did not say anything. Something about this moment told him that this is a turning point in his life. He already knows the current situation between the Beorc and the Laguz. He's not a stupid child. He's from The Orpheus House** for crying out loud! He's even considered as a very talented young man among his youth. He's a Beorc! It's a fact! The Laguz are to blame for their naivety. In the beginning, they should have worked together with the Beorc. They shouldn't have deny the teachings of science and evolution. They shouldn't have deny the pagan ceremonies. They shouldn't—

A sudden voice interrupted inside his mind

"—You're not a Beorc"

Horrified at the thought that run through; Alexander turned towards his grandmother. His green eyes wide open to the point it's almost protruding. His hands flew to her shoulders Gripping it. Shaking her slightly.

"Tell me I'm a Beorc!"

Hearing his statement, she immediately looked at her grandson. With firm conviction, she uttered.

"You are a beorc! I swear on The Goddess Nox! You're a beorc!"

"...."

Alexander relaxed on his position. He slowly move away from his grandmother, put his shirt back on, got out the bed then head towards the door. He opened it.

"I'll be getting something to eat. I'm hungry"

With that, the door closes. Alexander's footstep could be heard on the corridor. His grandmother stood still near his bed. As his footsteps faded, she grab the book.

"Not yet. You're not ready."

She gently placed the book on top of Alexander's drawer. She can feel her tears gathering again on her eyes as she uttered the true deity's name that she devoted to.

"Oh Goddess Hemera, please give us more time."

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Meanwhile, on the kingdom of water located to the east; a blue dragon rested on the snowy cliff of the mountain. Glassy sapphire eyes peered through the southern edge of the horizon as if looking hard enough, he can see what he needs to see.

His chest deeply rumbles then he unfold his magnificent wings and prepares to take flight.

"Soon. You will awaken. Our Savior. Our salvation."

He took off, pumping his wings as he flew higher and higher into the sunset.

Unbeknownst, to the naked eye. A golden choker gleam when the sunlight hits and an engraved number appeared.

Ephraim

Slave #07

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"A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history."

—Mahatma Gandhi

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[~•SACRIFICE: MEMOIRS OF A MARTY•~]

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Fin.