The Beginning of the End

Year 2055, Earth

In the center of the United States, in a place once known as Kansas, now stood a gigantic tree that towered at about 1,900ft(579 meters) which set it above even the tallest of skyscrapers in the country. The emergence of this tree completely changed the landscape - thick roots ripped through the highways and spanned for miles in either direction. It made most of former Kansas impassable except for the outskirts.

It was renamed the Elder Grounds after the namesake of the tree itself - the Elder Tree that is.

On this bright, warm, August day there sat hundreds upon hundreds of people under the wide reaching branches of the Elder Tree. Its trunk was massive in size and its branches provided plenty of shade for all those in attendance. 

However, while the crowd stood around the outer edges of the Elder Tree's branches, close to the trunk sat a smaller group of people - a married couple, their son, and a man dressed in all white ceremonial wear. A little further away stood another group of children and their families.

"My child," the man in ceremonial wear began, "it is time for you to receive your blessing from the Elder Tree." 

The Mom leaned down and gave her son one last hug. "You'll do just fine, Michael! Just listen to everything the Priest tells you." His Dad gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder and they both walked off - leaving just Michael and the Priest by the trunk.

The Priest turned to the crowd waiting in the distance as his voice was amplified by the mini microphone he wore at the top of his shirt.

"For hundreds of years now we have repeated this wondrous ceremony time and time again!" He spoke while embellishing with his hands. "Since our civilization was bestowed with this miracle, every month we allow those that reach the Age of Wisdom to sit below its branches to receive their blessing. Just like the rest of us have!"

With that, the Priest snapped his fingers and a gust of wind ripped from around him and blew outward against the crowd - it was just strong enough to blow everyone's hair back, but not enough to do any real damage. 

The crowd applauded at the display and the kids looked to one another excitedly. 

"I can't wait to have my system!" One child said loudly.

"I hope I get some awesome fire powers!!" Another chided in.

For as long as any of them there today could remember, systems had always been a part of their society. Everyone had one. Which meant everyone had some kind of power that they could call their own and develop to become even stronger with it.

Michael, who still stood beside the Priest as he lowered his hand, had the biggest smile on his face as he knew it was finally his time to receive his system like every other kid when they turn 13 years old. He looked up at the tree's branches and saw the brightly colored golden flowers that hung from each branch. One of those many petals would hold the power that he would carry the rest of his life.

Kids from all over the world would flock here when their time came to take part in this ceremony as it was mandated for every child. And what child wouldn't want to have their own super power?

Out within the crowd of jubilant faces, however, there was one young face that looked anything but happy. A small child with a shock of white hair stood alone, distanced from his parents whom stood several feet away from him. He watched on at the ceremony with wide eyes of innocence - his shirt ripped at the edges, and his shoes worn down with no socks over his feet.

The Mom looked down at him out the side of her eye with little to no concern present. Her husband followed her line of vision. "What is it, hun?"

She sighed. "Nothing. Just wishing we didn't have to be here."

The husband grumbled in agreement. "Well, you know the rules. If you have a kid you have to attend at least once a year until they reach the Age of Wisdom so they become acclimated to the energy the Elder Tree puts off. I don't like it either."

Before the Mother could respond, the Priest continued his speech.

"Now the time has come! For the first child of this month to receive their destined system and to contribute to our great society. Whether it be as an expert gardener or a trusted defender of our country - it is up to the Elder Tree to decide. After all, what is our long time mantra?"

In unison from every adult to child they all chanted, "A system for one, a system for all, a system for those in need of a call!"

With the time finally here, the Priest turned away from the crowd and placed his hand upon the tree trunk. Michael could hear him whispering a small blessing between himself and the tree.

The Priest then turned to Michael with a soft smile on his face. "Alright, Michael. Just as we practiced."

Michael excitedly nodded and walked up to the Elder Tree as the Priest moved aside. The child placed both hands upon the tree and rested his forehead upon it. Almost immediately, the tree gave off a faint aura and a quiet breeze swept through its branches.

"The tree now recognizes you." The Priest said gently. 

The child was about to bubble over with anticipation as it was now finally the time he had been waiting for. He turned from the tree, walked several steps towards the crowd in the distance. He then stopped, turned back towards the trunk, and sat down upon the soft bristles of grass.

Michael held out his outstretched cup hands and looked up towards the branches. Everyone in attendance was also looking up for the moment they all have witnessed at least a few times in their lifetimes. 

As the breeze subsided, a single flower on one of the branches began to glow brightly before a single one of its petals detached from the branch and gently floated down to Michael's outstretched hands. He lowered his hands down so he could stare upon the glowing petal with his wide grin.

The Priest watched as he waited for the usual to happen - the petal would glow brighter before it would burst into little particles of energy and then sink into the boy's skin to become part of him. Thereby awakening the destined system within him.

One of Michael's eyebrows suddenly arched. "Um, is this supposed to happen?"

The Priest stepped closer and saw that something odd was occurring - the petal's glow had begun to dim.

"Let's just give it a moment more, my child. It doesn't always happen quickly." Despite his words, even the Priest found it strange.

That's when the unthinkable happened. The petal lost its glow completely and then quickly withered into a decrepit form of itself. Michael's expression dropped.

Before he could express his disappointment, someone in the crowd shouted. "Look!! Something is wrong with the Elder Tree!"

The Priest turned from Michael and looked upwards as did everyone else. One by one, the once bright golden petals of the Elder Tree, began to all wither up and rain down upon the crowd. The faint aura around the tree diminished as well.

"What is the meaning of this?!" The Priest exclaimed. "I-I've never heard of this happening!"

As the withered up leaves rained down all around them, none of them knew what this depressing sign truly foretold and how much all of their lives were about to change.

This was the beginning of the end.