General Evans then gave his speech.
"Greetings to you all! I would like to take this opportunity to thank the participants as well as their teachers!" He started.
"Your performance was really fabulous and by the end of these two years, you will be ready to serve your country!" He declared making the crowd clap excitedly.
"And as you know, everyone has a role to play in the building of their future, I hope you keep up the spirit! Together we can!" After his brief speech, he had to award the winners.
"Alfredo Baker." The head general called out. Alfred stood up proudly and moved onto the stage then saluted.
"Congratulations, Mr. Baker!" General Evans shook his hand and handed him an award.
"Thank you, General." The awarding went on until Arthur was next.
"Arthur Zane." The head general called out.
"Congratulations, Mr. Zane!" General Evans held out his hand but was dump struck the moment he had a close look at him.
'How's this possible?' he thought to himself.
'It can't be!'
"General Evans?" He was snapped back to reality by the head general.
"Oh, sorry... Congratulations once again, Mr. Zane." He forced a smile handing him a reward still staring.
"Thank you, General." He thanked.
*****
After the rewarding ceremony, General Evans couldn't stop thinking about Arthur. So he asked for his resume.
"How on Earth can this happen?" He said to himself as he looked at his resume.
He then reached for his pocket taking out a photo. It had seven young lads, him included, Ethan Adamz the president, two couples and another red young man.
One of the couples was blue and the other had an orange man and a red woman. But the most shocking news was that the orange man closely resembled Arthur. All his facial features and hair.
The only difference were the eyes as one had orange and the other dark green.
"Is this really a coincidence?" He thought.
He then remembered that happy day.
~~~~~
It was a delightful day, the sun setting leaving hints of orange and red hues, perfect for young couples to enjoy the view.
And there they were, the two beautiful couples, with the men hugging their partners from behind while watching the eye catching view!
Beside them were three men also watching the view, they were precisely, General Evans, Ethan Adamz and the other young man.
But what they didn't notice was that Ethan Adamz wasn't watching the view with them but watching the red young lady with the orange man.
He always admired her but he didn't expect his friend to snatch her away before him. He was jelousy!
"Hey love birds, let's take a pic!" Louis Evans walked up to the couples.
They set themselves but Ethan Adamz wasn't smiling at all.
"Hey, Ethan! Smile!" Louis said making him smile faintly but it didn't reach his eyes.
~~~~~~
General Evans then used the portal right away appearing in the portal hall of the Archers' faction.
"Greetings sir!" The guard saluted him. All the workers knew the fact that he was their Lord's comrade.
"Please take me to your Lord." He said and was directed.
He found a lovely couple and this was precisely, Liam Reins and his wife Martha Reins. They were the very blue couple in the photo and one could tell where Myla got her stunning looks.
"Hey love birds!" General Evans mocked.
"Oh...what is the Almighty General doing here in our humble home?" Liam joked as they approached him.
"Old habits never die! Liam, Martha how have you been? It's been two years."
"Great, Louis." Liam smiled as they all sat.
"Better." Martha replied.
"You raised a beautiful strong young girl!" He praised.
"Thanks," both smiled.
"Like father like daughter!" Louis continued.
"What? You mean my Myla isn't like me?" Martha pouted her lips.
"Louis, you're in big trouble!" Liam jokingly whispered to him.
"Ah...I..I mean in..in some aspects!" Louis stuttered making them laugh.
"Am sure that isn't the reason you're here." Liam knew his friend. That's when the servant came in with tea, served and went out.
"Yes, you Know me too well Liam."
"This afternoon, I met a boy. Not any boy but this one closely resembles Johnson."
"What? Are you serious?" Liam and Martha couldn't believe their ears.
"Mm, he was from the cultivators' faction." He confirmed.
"Maybe it's just a coincidence."
"Yes, that's right. I confirmed that both Johnson and his son were in that fire." Liam said to them.
"Ethan is really cruel!" Martha was on the verge of tears.
"Shhhh... it's ok." Sadness was heard in Liam's voice.
"Have you heard from Charlie?" Louis asked.
"No, it's been 13yrs."
"Me neither."
" " " "
Myla and Arthur had gone back to the dark room and were going through the screams again.
Both of them had their eyes tightly shut, fists clenched and gritted teeth.
If they were going to save the human race, they had to be a tough nut to crack!
Screams of misery, pain and horror echoed through the room but they were strong until the end!
Both then, sat down in lotus positions.
'The next step is training your astray energy called 'Tur'. If not properly handled, it can lead to life threatening situations and one can die!'
''Tur' is an energy possessed by the infamous 'god of war' in the olden times, hundreds of thousands of years back. It's now gifted to you to save the human race!'
'Tur has to types; the healing and calamitous'
'Look into your Crux, feel a burning energy and try to shape it. It's now scattered a very dangerous thing! Shape into any shape you desire.'
Arthur felt the burning energy in his crux. Mustering up all his will, he gathered it bit by bit as he sweated. But... it would scatter again.
'This will take a troll on your body, make sure to rest well!'
Myla on the other hand had gathered the tur and was shaping it into a small orb but unknown to her, it was draining her life! She was in danger!
She felt a burning pain near her heart and felt her body weaken falling to the ground! The calamitous had taken action on her making her pale instantly!
Arthur was awoken by a sudden loud noise! Looking around, it was Myla on the ground!
"Lala!" He ran to her. He examined her and couldn't find her pulse as well as her breathe not even a heart beat making him panic pale instantly!
'Can lead to death!' those words kept repeating in his mind.
'Was she dead?'
*****
Rulers' faction;
In a private torture room, bright lights and no windows sat a blind folded middle aged man chained on a chair.
Cuts and bruises dripping with blood all over his body. His jet black hair in a mess combined with torn clothes. Despite all this, he seemed calm.
Standing infront of him was Ethan Adamz with a smirk on his face. The man he resented.
"Charlotte, why did...." Hearing that name coming from Ethan's mouth, the man was mad, furious!
"Shut up!" He bellowed trying to free himself but in vain.
"You don't deserve to say that name, Ethan!" He continued with obvious disdain.
"Why, does it bother you? Charlotte, Charlotte, Charlotte? What can you do if I say it in that sorry state?" Ethan deliberately mocked as he pressed a button.
"Ahhh!"The man shrieked in pain as he felt an uncomfortable tingling sensation through his body as his bruises hurt even more. He was struck by electricity.
The man understood that he couldn't hurt Ethan physically but he could emotionally. He knew his weakness. Though he could get tortured even more, he didn't give a damn about it.
He therefore raised his head high.
"You don't deserve to say that name! You killed her yourself! The one you said you loved!" He started.
"No! I didn't!" Ethan denied.
"Are you even human? You killed Charlotte that day! How could a beast like you live among humans? She will never forgive you! Never!"
"No, I didn't. I didn't! I didn't!" He denied shaking his head more like assuring himself.
"I didn't, it was a mistake! Yah, a mistake~ a mistake...." No one had ever seen this side of Ethan Adamz except this man. Being so vulnerable just after a few words.
Hearing him say that, the man was happy! Nevertheless, he wasn't satisfied.
"Oh..is that how you console yourself? A mistake, you ordered your men to murder her! But why? Just because she chose me over you?" There was pain in his heart.
"No, it was! They had to bring her to me but she escaped and bled to death. I killed every single one of them! Those that killed her! It wasn't me!"
"Her blood is on your hands! You killed Charlotte!"
"No, no, no..." Ethan covered his ears. The words kept repeating in his head. He then ran to the man's side and ripped away the cloth on his eyes.
He shut his eyes due to the light and gradually opened them. They were....
Orange!
Another orange alive!
*****