Chapter 2

- Eletherios are a bunch of subversives who threaten the order and sovereignty of the empire," Stan retorts.

- Can you still say that after we saw those children being executed? I can't see a logical way to explain how a child is a threat to the empire.

- These children will grow up and become a headache in the future, Thamiso, that's why the empire doesn't take it into consideration when it comes to Eletherios; they are just cutting the evil at the root.

- Your coldness often disgusts me, Stan.

Impatient, Stan rises from his seat and approaches Thamiso to confront him, slightly raising his voice:

- It's not a matter of coldness, but of seeing things rationally. Things have been this way for the past 309 years, ever since the beginning of this bloody war. It's because of people with weak emotions like yours that this never ends! Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and Eletherios have already died, and we're still far from a resolution!

- Maybe we've been at war for 309 years because at some point we lost our humanity judging Eletherios without a more individual look at each case! - Thamiso says, getting worked up and standing face to face with Stan.

Putting his finger on Thamiso's chest and pressing it lightly, Stan continues:

- Your loose mouth will get us into trouble, Thamiso! We're no longer useless soldiers responsible for pulling weeds from sidewalks or cleaning the barracks! Now, we are fighters in the empire's anti-terrorist squad! Ask Ílliou and Lian if they don't agree! You talk too much, Thamiso! What will the high command think if they find out that the leader of a squad pities Eletherios?

Looking back in an attempt to hear something from Lian and Ílliou, who were seated, Thamiso sees only their sad expressions, gazing away from the scene. After a few moments, Ílliou says: - In a way, Stan is right, Thamiso.

- I can't believe you'd agree with something like that, Ílliou!" Thamiso exclaims, infuriated.

- I can't be as cold as Stan, Thamiso, but it's true that we could have problems if your opinions become known... Honestly, I don't see the sense in all this chaos because of this war, but you'd probably be executed if your words reached a Major, General, or Imperial Blade.

Lian, supporting his friend, adds:

- Besides, who knows what would happen to us for being part of your squad. They'd probably consider us all the same.

Thamiso, completely frustrated, clenches his teeth, lowers his head, and returns to his seat. Stan, placing his hand on his friend's right shoulder, adds:

- I understand your dissatisfaction with this whole situation, Thamiso, but understand that there are things that can't be changed. You became a soldier aware of this, you knew how things would be and what your role as a soldier would be.

- You're right, Stan," Thamiso affirms with a disheartened tone.

With the depressing atmosphere among the group, silence takes over as the train heads towards its destination. The boy didn't understand that Stan and his friends just wanted to protect him, which is why there was so much pressure. Thamiso felt helpless and misunderstood, but the truth is that Stan only wanted him, as a leader, to act with maturity and responsibility towards his comrades.

The empire's war against the Eletherios has always existed, but 309 years ago, it was officially declared by the organization, and a large part of the taxes collected from the population were directed to it. Weapons research, equipment, reconnaissance missions, combat, all of this required a lot of funds to be done. There were many people with the same mindset as Thamiso, many saw the war as foolish and a waste of unprecedented money and secretly questioned what real danger the Eletherios posed to society. Many even supported and helped them find hiding places, provided information, weapons, and concealed their presence. Because of people like this, it is believed that the empire has never been able to completely exterminate them. The truth is that the public power wanted to end this people under the pretext that they wanted to destroy the current political structure, but many people wanted the end of the empire.

Since the beginning of the war, there has been a considerable and linear increase in the inflation of the imperial currency, as well as taxes. This generated strong public dissatisfaction that only grew over time, as people saw their earnings evaporate due to high commodity prices. Traders had to sell twice as much to receive half of what they used to earn, and over time, it became more difficult to feed their families. The middle class began to decline along with the lower class, which was the most affected, while the upper class and the elite saw their clientele disappear and their services becoming less and less in demand. Because of the chaos caused by the war, many criminal factions were created with the intention of dominating territories and creating a parallel government to the empire, under their own laws. This further fueled the conflict, causing public order to have to worry about Eletherios as well as criminals.

This persecuted people has always been seen as a parasite to be wiped out by politicians. Terrorists, subversives, generators of chaos, guilty of misery, and above all, a threat to order. These are all ways the government labels the Eletherios. It is a fact that countless soldiers, police officers, and politicians were cold-bloodedly murdered by Eletherios long before the conflict was official. In addition, numerous public structures have already been looted and destroyed by these people. In the end, it was hard to see a right side in the midst of all these conflicts; everyone had blood on their hands. Considering this situation and all the deaths caused by the subversives, the public power needed to find a more effective way to fight them. In this way, the empire began a race against time to find Kashans, even if children, to be trained and become soldiers in the future, providing more power to the empire beyond the military police and traditional army.

Kashans are humans who can manipulate and interact with nature and its elements, being practically superhuman. Ílliou Furtska, for example, could manipulate flames, while Stan controlled ice with the help of his gauntlet on his left hand. Lian had extraordinary resistance and used his shield to create superhuman defense, grouping atoms and making the surface of his choice harder and more stable. Thamiso was the Shadow Kashan; he could navigate through the shadows as if it were a separate world. He could use his abilities to evade his opponents and make surprise attacks by submerging and emerging from the shadows. In addition to them, there were hundreds of Kashans recruited by the empire. This race to train new talents who could manipulate nature gave rise to anti-terrorist squads and Imperial Blades.