[ Memory: December 24- 1725 years after the great war ended: ]
Dune's eyes slowly opened, his head pounding as he blinked a few times, trying to make sense of his surroundings.
He was back in the classroom.
The bright light from the windows made his head ache even more.
Dune was average looking, he had black messy hair and a scar over his left eye.
He rubbed his eyes, still disoriented, and glanced over at his friend Atlas sitting next to him.
Atlas was a little bit taller than Dune, with long, messy black hair. He had a handsome, confident look, his purple eyes bright with curiosity as he glanced at Dune, just as confused.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Dune muttered, still half-dazed from the strange dream.
Atlas raised an eyebrow. "What's up with you?"
"I just had a stupid dream," Dune mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
Atlas leaned back in his chair, looking amused. "Oh? What was it about?"
"I don't know. It's kinda blurry, but... the ocean was falling from the sky. It was huge. And it was coming right at me. And even worse there were thousands of monsters inside of it… You know I'm scared of water, it freaked me out."
Atlas chuckled a little. "Idiot I told you to sleep earlier. That's why you're missing a class and having weird dreams."
Dune sighed, glancing around at the rest of the class. Teacher Amanda was standing at the front, her voice low and hoarse, continuing the lesson.
1725 years ago, a great war between thousands of different creatures and races ended with the gods' victory. Since then, they have watched over us from above the clouds,"
Teacher Amanda said, her voice echoing through the room.
"They gave us humans a second chance to make up for our past mistakes. But if we fail, we will end up like the Seraphims."
Dune and Atlas exchanged a glance at the mention of angels. This stupid thing agaun?
Atlas sighed. "Seraphims… it's said that the last one, Archangel Raphael, was seen 80 years ago. They didn't even let him speak before they killed him."
Dune scoffed. "Yeah, if the gods really do exist, they must really hate angels. Apparently they wiped out an entire race. Even after the war ended, they kept hunting them down."
Atlas shook his head. "Can you blame them, though? Seraphims had the scariest abilities and creatures. They were terrifying."
Dune frowned. "I don't get it. How are we supposed to believe in gods when no one's seen them for 1700 years? We're supposed to worship them just because they say we should?"
Amanda then spoke of Zet, the strongest human who had defied the gods.
And Zeus, strongest god in the history who fought Zet for centuries.
"For hundreds of years, Zet controlled two worlds, his strength was unmatched. But exactly 1725 years ago, he vanished, leaving behind a legacy of myth and legend."
The students were enthralled by the story of ancient heroes and epic battles. They knew well the divide between mortals and gods.
Atlas smirked. "You think it's all fake?"
"I don't know. Until I see a god with my own eyes, I won't believe any of it."
Atlas let out a deep breath. "Yeah, me neither. But their stories sound really exciting don't they? I wish i had choices like them, i don't want my first Neba core to be some useless thing like a beaver or chicken. I'd rather go outside and search for them myself."
The two friends chuckled, their minds drifting away from the lesson as they stared out the window, imagining the world beyond the city's walls.
Teacher Amanda suddenly looked toward Dune with a curious expression. It seemed like Amanda had a question for him.
"Agh here she goes"
"Dune," she began, her voice calm but sharp.
"Tell me, what's the difference between Zeten and Neba? You seem to know everything and not care about the lesson."
Atlas chuckled as all eyes turned toward Dune. Dune hesitated for a moment before answering, his tone steady and confident.
Zet created Zeten while Zeus created Neba.
"Neba and Zeten are similar powers, but they belong to different holders," he began, his voice carrying through the room.
"Zeten is a curse, and Neba is a blessing."
"Those born with Zeten often lose control of their Neba, they turn into a monsters and destroy everything around them. which is why the officials decided to destroy them the moment they're born."
"Luckily for us, all Zeten humans have one thing in common: a cross-shaped tattoo on their chest. That way, we can easily identify them and eliminate them on the spot."
"The real problem with Zetens," he added, "is that they don't advance like humans. They advance like animals."
The room was silent for a moment as his words sank in. Some students nodded, as if they understood, while others looked confused.
Amanda raised an eyebrow. "Hmm. It seems someone's been reading scrolls. Not like you, Dune." She smirked slightly.
"Then tell me, why is that? How do beasts and Zetens advance and get stronger, and how do humans?"
"It's simple. We all have Cores when we're born. Every Neba user is born with a green core. As we grow, we choose a creature that fits us, kill it, take its core, and use its powers and abilities for ourselves.
After mastering that, we need to keep upgrading, so we take trials, that help us advance. We go through trials of the past, and in return, after going through one trial, we gain another core, which is stronger and a different color than the last."
"It starts with a green core, then progresses through yellow, orange, red, blue, and finally purple."
"Each new core allows us to store more abilities, one more 'animal' in our chest, one more colour."
But Zetens?" Dune shook his head slightly, his expression darkening. "They don't follow the same path. They don't gain new cores. They just… change the color of their own core."
A few students shifted uncomfortably in their seats, sensing where this was going.
"That's the problem with Zetens. Some of them are born with cores that aren't even green…. They are red, blue, or even purple from the start. That makes them really strong right out of the gate. They mostly don't need to train or grow stronger through trials like us. They just, advance."
Amanda sighed, pacing at the front of the classroom. "Now, another reason why Zetens are dangerous, is because they often lose control of their own power."
She turned to face the class, her sharp eyes scanning the students. "Imagine being born with a red or blue core right from the start. A power so strong, but a body too weak to contain it. Most Zetens can't handle their own strength. And when that happens, they become the monsters that are inside them. They lose all sense of self, all reason, and they destroy everything around them."
The class was silent, hanging onto her every word.
"This is why all six continents agreed, Zetens must be eliminated the moment they are discovered. We don't know how they are born, or why they lose control so easily, but we needed fast solution to the problem, and five rulers decided that this was the best choice." Her voice was cold, unwavering.
"But…" her tone softened slightly, "not everyone can do it. Some parents can't bring themselves to kill their own children, no matter the risk. So, they hide them from the officials, hoping, praying that their child will never lose control."
Amanda crossed her arms. "But remember, hope doesn't change reality. It only delays the inevitable."
Amanda looked at her students once again before the class finally ended, the bell rang loudly, Dune and Atlas stood up, stretching their arms as they walked out together.
"So, what are you planning for the ceremony?
"Don't tell me you forgot, it's the end of first academy year, we are gonna get our own Beast cores… remember?" Atlas asked, his voice casual but curious.
Dune sighed, looking down at the ground. "What am I planning? It's not like we have a choice. They'll probably give us a beaver core or something useless and send us off to work in the mains all day and night."
Atlas groaned. "Yeah, that sucks. But still, I don't buy this whole 'we're being protected' thing. I don't think outside world is as dangerous as king Aramir makes it sound.
"They should at least give us the choice to go outside and fight for our own Neba. I want to see outside world by myself."
Dune nodded. "We'll get out of here someday. Trust me."
The two friends walked through the busy streets of Fein, one of the main cities on continent Sanatria, the noise of the market all around them.
The city wasn't too big, but it wasn't small either. It was protected by tall 100-meter walls and an invisible barrier outside of it, keeping whatever dangers lay beyond out of sight.
Fein was alive with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but to Dune and Atlas, it felt like a cage. The outside world, full of unknowns, called to them.
They both dreamed of breaking free and seeing what was really out there. But for now, they were stuck.
"Guess I'll see you later, also i will come by tomorrow… your mom's concealing spell is weakening" Atlas pointed a finger to his chest and said, waving as he turned down a side street.
"Yeah, take care," Dune replied, nodding.
As Atlas disappeared into the crowd, Dune walked in the opposite direction, heading toward his home.
"Guns are taking over! New weapons for those who don't have powers... Finally, we can stand against Neba and Zetens!"
Dune paused to read one of the posters in the street, his brow furrowing. "Guns?" he thought, a bit confused. "That's new... I wonder what they do."
As he continued walking, someone suddenly bumped into him. "What the—" Dune started to protest, but before he could, he locked eyes with the person who had collided with him.
The stranger wore a dark hoodie, but what caught Dune off guard were the glowing purple eyes peering out from beneath the hood, an eerie growl escaping from the guy's throat.
When he suddenly spoke, Dune froze, his words caught in his throat.
"It's interesting isn't it? How An ant can carry so much weight on its back, yet a single drop of water can steal its strength and doom him forever."
The stranger quickly walked away, vanishing into the crowd.
What the hell was that? Ant? What even is Ant? Dune thought, still standing there, his mind racing with confusion.
"Is it a beast?… I've never heard of it"
Dune walked a little further until he reached a small shop filled with handmade objects and other unique items. The shop always had an eclectic mix of things, from intricate carvings to odd trinkets.
"Hey, Gerard, it's me," Dune greeted the old man behind the counter. Gerard was a tall, strong man with a brown beard, a hat, and a rugged appearance.
"Ah, it's the one-eyed wonder," Gerard grinned. "What brings you here today, Dune?"
Dune chuckled. "Did you forget? Today's my sister's birthday.
And tomorrow's 25th December, it's your 16th birthday, right Dune?" Gerard chuckled.
*so he remembers mine but not my sister's?* Anyway, Dune continued, "I wanted to buy a gift for her. Something simple. A doll, maybe?"
Gerard chuckled. "A doll, huh? Alright, I think I've got just the thing."
At that moment, a little girl with dark brown hair and fully black noble outfit came running out from behind the counter. She looked to be about six years old and clung to Gerard's leg, looking up at Dune with wide, curious eyes.
"Let me go, parasite!" Gerard said with an uncomfortable face, trying to shake her off. The girl just giggled and held on tighter, refusing to budge.
Dune couldn't help but smile. "So, who's this?"
Gerard sighed. "Listen, Dune, how about I give you the doll for free if you take her to the Amellia Mansion… I'm really busy and i can't do it myself.. will ya?"
Dune paused, surprised. "For free? For real? Wait, Amellia Mansion? What the hell...?"
He looked at the girl again, his mind racing.
Amellia.. one of the richest familiies in our continent Sanatria... They also own the famous Bloodrose Academy in the capital city Rendely!*
Gerard leaned in, lowering his voice.
"I don't even know, boy. All I know is her name's Ana Amellia, it's even on her jacket. I think they lost her or she ran away, and now she won't leave me alone. Help me out, Dune. Take her to her family, and I'll give you that doll for your sister."
Dune sighed as he looked at the little girl, still clinging to Gerard's leg. "alright, Gerard. I've got you. Come here, you!" He crouched down to the girl. "Ana, right? Let's go see your parents."
Dune and Ana walked together, the quiet of the street broken only by the soft patter of their footsteps. Suddenly, Ana looked up at him with wide eyes.
"How did you get the scar?" she asked innocently.
Dune paused for a moment, caught off guard by the question. *How did I get the scar?* His hand instinctively went to his right eye.
"Uh, well," he began, trying to keep it simple, "once, me and my brother were playing a game, and I accidentally fell. Got the scar then."
Ana's eyes grew even bigger. "Did it hurt?"
"Yeah, it did," Dune replied, trying to brush it off.
"Did you cry?" she asked, tilting her head.
"No, I didn't," Dune said quickly, feeling a little awkward.
Ana paused, then asked in her sweet, naive voice, "i have one more question Mister!
"Mister? Yeah, that doesn't sound so bad."
"Why are your eyes different colors? One's black and one is white.." she asked curiously.
Dune hesitated. "I already told you didn't i? It's because of the incident in my childhood. But i don't mind it that much"
Dune smiled. "It looks uni-"
"ugly'" the girl interrupted.
"What? I'm not even ugly... Kid, didn't your parents teach you to respect your elders?"
"My mom said we shouldn't let people look down on us, we're upper class compared to others in this world," the girl defended.
"Your mom is stupid,"
Ana's eyes flashed with anger.
"No, she's not. She's the smartest and most beautiful ever!"
"Well, if she's so smart, how did she manage to lose you?"
"Because of my ab... because of nothing," the girl stopped herself abruptly.
"What?" Dune pressed gently.
"Nothing," she repeated sadly.
Dune sighed, am i really fighting with a kid? .. what is wrong with me?
"Okay then why did you ran?"
Dune wasn't sure why he even asked, but it was too late now. Ana's face shifted, her expression becoming sad and serious.
"My mom and dad said we're leaving Fein soon... because some dangerous things are going to happen here." She spoke in a quiet, almost hesitant whisper. "But... even so, I don't want to leave my friends. Especially Lucy. I just wanted to see her one last time, and I..."
Her voice faltered, and before Dune could respond, tears welled up in her eyes. She sniffled and began to cry softly.
Dune made an uncomfortable face, his hand instinctively moving to cover his face. Great. A crying kid.
He was never good at handling emotions, especially not from someone so young. He glanced around, feeling awkward and out of place. dangerous things are going to happen in Fein? What is this girl talking about?
"Alright, calm down," Dune muttered, his voice softer than usual. "We're almost there, okay? Your parents are just worried about you, so trust them, they know what's best for you."
He tried his best to sound reassuring, but the truth was, he had no idea how to handle a crying child. Still, he kept walking, glancing down at Ana, hoping she'd settle down soon.
Minutes later, they reached a grand mansion at the centre of city, Amelia Mansion, Ana's home.
"This is your house, right?" Dune asked, looking up at the towering gates.
Ana smiled brightly, her eyes lighting up.
"Yes, this is it! Thank you so much, Dune!"
Just then, a tall figure emerged from the mansion's gates, guards followed behind. His striking brown hair and noble attire marked him as someone important.
He looked at Dune with an appraising gaze, his strong presence making it clear he was no ordinary man.
"Ana go inside, your mom's waiting for you"
"Father… can we take him with us? If he stays here… he'll die."
Ana's father shook his head, stern. "No. He's not our responsibility."
Ana stepped forward. "But he helped me. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't even be standing here. Dad please."
"I said no, Ana. We can't afford to carry someone else's burden."
Ana's voice tremblled slightly. "He's not a burden."
Her father sighed glancing at her. "Enough. Get inside the house."
Ana turned slowly, eyes lingering on Dune, her voice soft "…I'm sorry."
She walked away without another word, the door closing behind her.
Her father then looked at Dune, "I don't know how to repay you for this kindness," the man said, his voice smooth but commanding.
"I am Richard Amellia, head of the Amellia family."
He bowed slightly. Dune merely nodded, maintaining his calm demeanor. "Dune. Just Dune."
"Just Dune?" Richard seemed surprised.
"Not from a noble clan or family?"
Dune didn't reply, his gaze steady and uninterested in titles.
Richard smiled faintly, then continued.
"I would offer you money as a payment, but I have something more valuable, that is information."
Dune's eyes narrowed, and in his mind, he groaned. Give me the money, old man. That's what I need and love!
But Richard's tone shifted, more serious now.
"Leave Fein, leave the city as soon as you can. Soon, Fein will fall into a chaos, and no one will survive. You have very little time left young man."
With those words, he turned and walked back into the mansion, the gates closing behind him with a soft clang.
Dune stood there for a moment, speechless, processing the ominous warning.
[ End of first Memory ]