3rd September 2149
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“Zyana, I’m ready to go. Sorry for the long wait.” I shout, as I leave the building and close the door behind me. When I turn around, I see that she decided to spend the waiting time on stretching exercises.
“No worries! Didn’t hurt to do some warm-ups before we leave, so don’t worry about it. In fact, while we’re here, anyway, get over here, Mael! We’re doing some right now!” She declared to me as she points a finger at me, beckoning me to her side as if I’m her servant. Seeing my reluctant expression, she menacingly adds. “Unfortunately for you, I’m not about to let you neglect your health and fitness just because you're too lazy to do this in the morning!”
I heave out a long sigh, having expected this. “Fine. It’s not like I have any right to refuse right now, since we’re not in a hurry anyway…” I say, in defeat, as I head over to her side.
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After we were finished with our session, we finally went on our way to visit Izel. Her house is very far away, located on the far edges of the island and isolated from all the other residential districts, including our own, despite it being one of the closest ones to her. In fact, traveling there on our bicycles takes around five hours.
“By the way, what’s in the bag?” Zyana asks me, pointing at the bag hanging by my right shoulder.
“Books, mostly.” I respond flatly.
“Oh, are these for Izel? How cute of you, to keep bringing her new ones.” She says with a smile that looks almost proud, until it grows mischievous. “Be careful. Keep being a gentleman like that, and one might start to assume that you two are actually going out together.” She jokes, looking aside to stifle a giggle.
It's ironic, hearing that from her.
I simply say, “Shut it.”, in a casual tone.
As we reach the district centre, we encounter a group of children, surrounding a statue as they listen to an adult, presumably their teacher, giving a lecture. The statue depicts a young man, standing proudly, a sword in his left hand being raised high into the sky. The right hand, however, holds an apple that forward, making the impression that it is made as an offering. The children, in awe, look at the statue, as the teacher explains its significance.
“This, dear children, is the statue of Kaim, the Salviga clan’s progenitor and the hero, who has once saved the world from calamity. Many thousands of years ago, humanity lived in peace until monsters of unknown origin began to roam the lands. They preyed on humans and became their biggest threat. The signified the world as they knew it. The people lived in constant fear and were on the brink of extinction. In those desperate times, our progenitor emerged, chosen by God to be their saviour. He was granted superhuman abilities, same as the one all of us have inherited to this day, and used not only to repel, but also to eventually eradicate the threat that once befell these lands. It is his legacy that was passed on to us and with is we inherited the duty as members of the clan to protect both our ideals, as well as the world. Remember children, just like everyone before you, it is these ideals that you need to continue upholding, so that we may continue serving the clan and the world we were entrusted with.”
It was a speech that me and Zyana were familiar with. These ideas were drilled into us since birth. The two of us, as well as every child that is raised within the confines of the Salviga clan.
“Hmmmm, that brings back memories from all of our trips around the island to visit all of those monuments.” Zyana reminiscences with a sour look on her face, that I can emphasize with wholeheartedly,
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I reply bluntly. “Yeah, we were taken all around those parts just to be told the same speech over and over again…” I grimace at the memories.
“Hey, careful, if anyone hears you speak in such away there’ll be trouble, you know. But I get what you mean. It gets tiring to hear the same flowery speech every day.” She sighs. “Hey, is that Divian over there?” She points at the group of children, upon which I notice a pair of adolescents who stick out like sore thumbs among the ocean of toddlers. “Hey, Divian! Over here!” She suddenly shouts out, startling not only me, but the group seemingly as well.
One of the adolescent boys seem to recognize us, upon which he starts beaming. He looks nervously to the partner next to him and the adult teacher, who both seemingly give him permission to go. The boy approaching us is dressed quite plainly, donning a simple red T-Shirt and blue jean shorts, his ash blond hair in a bowl cut. He greets us with a bright smile.
This is Divian, a boy our age who, alongside us, will be attending the yearly ceremony and accompany us on our journey to the outside world next month.
“Hello, guys! What are you doing here?” He asks.
“Hi, Divian! Oh, we were just…” Zyana says brightly before she stops herself from says anything further as she looks away, side-eyeing me.
Good to know, that she didn't forget our talk.
“On an errand.” I finished for her, thanking her internally for letting me continue. “I was just out to bring back some books I borrowed, and Zyana wanted to tag along.”
“Oh, I see. I was just surprised to see you out here.” He speaks innocently.
“We could say the same to you, though.” Zyana exclaims. “We didn’t expect to see you out here on a field trip alongside a group of toddlers.” She jokingly adds, pointing at the group that is currently waiting for them.
“Oh, Ian suggested, that I tag along with them to learn more about the Salviga. I’m still lost on what you all consider basic knowledge here, so he thought it would be best to learn alongside a group of a similar level.” He says meekly, looking down in embarrassment.
“Ian? Is that your retainer?” I ask.
“Huh?” He asks confused. “Oh, yes! He’s my retainer.” He says, in a voice, that shows slight hesitance.
“I’m surprised, they allowed you to follow them. Most of the adults here are quite… stubborn about these types of things.” I say, trying to mince my words.
Not to mention, they don’t want to have anything to do with our group, Divian included. In fact, this might apply to him more than most of us. At least within our group.
“Well, Ian asked around, and apparently the teacher here, Miss Weld, approved!” He says happily.
“I’m glad for you! Just remember, if you’re struggling in any way, you can turn to us, too! We’re part of the same group, after all!” Zyana says confidently.
“Thank you, I will.” He says, looking slightly embarrassed. “Oh, I need to go. I can’t keep them waiting forever. It was nice to meet you here, you guys! See you tomorrow!” He says, running towards the group and waving us goodbye.
We both wave in turn and continue our journey.
“He’s such a sweet boy. It’s a shame that he has such a rough time as an outsider here…” Zyana sighs.
“You sounded like a grandma just now.” I say with a snicker as she, in annoyance, lightly flickers me on the shoulder, which hurt a lot more than it should.
“I agree with you, though.” I say seriously. “I can’t imagine what it must feel like, having to live in a place you know nothing about and being treated like an outsider.” I say wistfully.
“To be fair, when it comes to being treated like an outsider, everyone in our group knows how that one feels like. Even Kaim.” Zyana exclaims, with an attempt to add humour.
“Well, in Kaim’s case I’d say that he’s the one purposefully inciting that treatment, no matter how subtle it might be.” I sigh.
“That’s true.” She giggles. “But really all of us here deal with that in some shape or form. You, me, Divian, Zoe, Joshua, Eloy, Kaim, and Izel.” She says wistfully. “That’s why it is so important for us to help each other. I mean, that’s why we’re visiting Izel right now!”
“Yeah…” I say hesitantly at that.
“By the way are you sure, that we need to keep quiet about our visits like this. It’s not like Divian would blab, right? Nor would anyone do anything about it, anyway.” She turns to me, questioning me gently.
“I know, but it’s still better if fewer people know. She has enough on her plate, and the least she needs is more prying eyes.” I say resolutely. Zyana regards me with a slight smile on her face and to my bewilderment proceeds to pat my head.
“Hey, what’s got into you!?” I jolt away, my face reddening.
“Just felt like it.” She says with a smirk.
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Character Profile
Name: Divian Selv
Born: 20th August 2134
Description: Sole heir to the head of the Selv family
Likes: gardening, his mother, housekeeping
Dislikes: laziness, the stiff social etiquette of the clan, politics