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Beyond the root
Prelude: This new fresh air

Prelude: This new fresh air

10th September 2149

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As the plane finally lands after a 14-hour flight, banter arises between its passengers, primarily the adolescent they are meant to bring here, for the inside of the aircraft is suddenly filled with the many clashing moods exhibited by them.

For some, it is excitement. For others anxiety. Even indifference.

For they are faced with one reality.

" We are not at home. Outside will be a new world. A world, unknown to us."

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" Man, that took so long! I thought this would be exciting, but who knew, that flying a plane is not only boring but also a massive pain..." And just like that, the silence from a mere moment ago was broken, jolting everyone aboard.

The girl, stood up without waiting for any instructions and started stretching, first things first.

" Zyana, try to restrain yourself a bit. I know, that you're restless from the long flight, but keep your excitement in moderation. You're not the only passenger in this plane." says the white haired boy next to her with an exasperated, yet amused expression.

" Sorry, my bad..." She says with an apologetic smile. " But we're finally here! There's so much I want to do, now that we landed! Explore the area, meet new people and so on!" She shouts with excitedly, already having forgotten the chiding from a moment ago.

" Not to burst your bubble, but that all will have to wait, until we get retrieved by the officials and brought to our new dormitory. And don't forget that we will be monitored most of the time, so we don't have that much freedom yet." The boy says with a sigh.

" Well, sorry for getting excited, Mr 'gloom', but some of us go into all of this with a positive attitude. Stop bringing the mood down so much, Mael!" She whined half-jokingly at him as he rolled his eyes.

" Someone here has to keep you in check." He replied, which she promptly ignored with a pouty expression, earning a relaxed chuckle from him.

" Not to interrupt you lovebirds, but there are other people in this plane." A girl, with a blond ponytail, in the seat in front of them said, exasperated.

" But just like Mael said, we are not in the clear yet, so let's be patient for now. We will be able to enjoy ourselves soon enough!" She said with a smile to brighten up the mood.

" Zoe, we are not here to be tourists. We are here to prepare for our futures." A boy, with tousled black hair, from the opposing site of the plane exclaims, a calm yet annoyed scowl plastered all over his face.

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" I know, Eloy, but there is no harm in sometimes taking things easy, you know." The girl says in a soothing voice.

" After all, there's no point to your education here, if you work yourself to the ground." Her encouragement met with yet another retort.

" I'm afraid, some of us here are taking things too easily." He says, not even looking at the people in question, who pretended not to be here.

"I meant you three, Izel, Joshua, Kaim. I know you heard me!" He grumbles.

" Oh, I am offended, that you would accuse me something like that, without a proper cause. I expected better from you, Eloy!" A boy, with dark brown hair and constantly closed eyes, expresses with an exaggerated gasp, followed by an infuriatingly mocking smirk.

" Kaim, you should take all of this more seriously. You will be the next leader of the clan, after all. Start acting like one!" he shouts, to which the boy turned his head to the other side and started whistling in an attempt to annoy him further. It did.

" Eloy's got a point there. We've got to take things more seriously." The blond boy next to him says, attempting to sound serious. An effort that was betrayed by his extremely deadpanned delivery.

" You, of all people, should not be saying this, Joshua! And Izel, stop pretending to space out! I know you're listening..." Eloy shouts, suddenly looking very exhausted.

" Oh, sorry, I wasn't paying attention." The brown haired girl lied with a straight face.

"Whatever you were talking about, I concur. Now feel free to carry on without me." Her exclamation causing some giggles among her peers. The boy sighs in defeat.

" In any case," Zoe claps her hands to distract from this one-sided argument.

", Divian! You used to live in the outside world for a while, right? Is there anything we can expect? Or are there any stories you can share with us?" Zoe asks the boy with pale brown hair, in question.

" Huh... Oh!" The boy turns in surprise at suddenly being the centre of attention, when everyone's focus was on the fight mere moments ago.

" Uhm... there's nothing noteworthy, I could tell. I was really young, so there isn't anything major I can recall from that time." He says nervously.

" Oh, don't be pressured to say anything, it's okay! Sorry for putting you on the spot like that." She says apologetically.

" Hey kids, come over here and start collecting your luggage!" An adult voice boomed throughout the entire plane.

"Geez, we landed not even five minutes ago! No need to shout like that..." Zyana mumbled annoyingly as the group stood up and go.

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As the group stood in front of the exit, they took their first step down the boarding stairs, and they were met with...

A bright blue sky with the summer sun radiating everywhere, its rays hitting every pore in their bodies.

They were surrounded by a very vast space of nothingness where the plane ended with the airport in front of them, indicating the existence of a human civilization. There were buildings in the far distance, however, that to them looked like a part of a painting rather a reality in front of them.

The air was fresh, and the wind was gentle, bringing a slight breeze into this summer heat.

In short, it was nothing out of the ordinary. It's a sight they're used to.

Everything they see and experience here right now is nothing new. Nothing here seems to be actually new to them. These sights should all be familiar to them. It's actually disappointingly normal.

And yet, one thought, distracted them from that fact

"This is a different world"

Everyone takes a resolute breath, taking in the surrounding atmosphere. This is the world they would live in for the next three years. A world designed by their predecessors, yet not actually inhabited by them.

This will be a journey that is planned out for them, to grow into adults who will carry on the clan's will, yet the possibilities and consequences that lie in front of this path could very well be infinite.

And so Izel...

"Anybody know where the next restroom is?"

... proceeds to ruin this moment completely.

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