The second ring practices something called pseudo-freedom, us citizens are given the illusion of choice, when in reality we are almost always required to follow whatever is mandated by the authorities in power.

For example if the government says going deep-sea diving is now outlawed against, everyone is expected to agree with this decision, without opposition or arguments,

This isn’t done by oppression or public propaganda by the government, quite the opposite however, if the government learns something new about the ring most likely the public will have access to this information, therein lies the illusion of freedom,

The illusion of being in control.

If I told you one hundred meaningless truths and then lied about the one that actually mattered, you would believe without question.

Furthermore, it would mean that I was never being honest with you in the first place,

I was merely setting you up to perfectly believe every single thing I say without a semblance of doubt.

This is what I’ve noticed during my extensive research into the UCA’s governing body,

They will tell us things like a new island being constructed or their latest invention,

But what about the other ring’s?

What happened to the Liberty sates?

All those islands disappearing,

They said it was climate change,

But was it really?

#Messiahwillsaveus

—

“I see that you are already fitting in as one of us,” a man taps my shoulder, taking my attention off the computer screen

“—N…not that I’m saying you don’t have internet and computers in the North..” he stutters raising his brown arms defensively as if I’d just attacked him,

“Which you are from….I heard?”

“I, I er don’t remember much about the North anyways,” I reply

(Or even know if I’m actually from there,

The chairman seems to know something differently)

“Amnesia, must be awful” the young man goes to adjust his glasses only to realize there isn’t any he just grabs his slightly snubbed nose embarrassingly,

“Umm, right so, Mr. Second informed me that I was to return your Tielium glove,

But there are a few questions I have for you,” he once again tries to adjust his absent glasses, gesturing me to follow him to the other end of a quite messy room, which I think is a lab by all the junk and loose parts that are scattered on the floor as well as the number of burnt spots present on the walls and ground,

Perhaps an indication of the many minor explosions that took place here…

“Do you know how old this is, Mr. Kage?” the young man holds up my bo—the tielium device.

“Just Kage is fine, and I happened to find that in a desert,

I had no prior knowledge of what it was

Incidentally, there was also a message with it in an audio projector,

I can’t remember what it said now,” I half lie,

“…….

I forgot to formally introduce myself ,

I go by Metal Fingers or MF for short,

And this is some really old tech, like at least sixty years old, almost a century,

I can’t believe you found this on the third ring!” Metal Fingers briefly forgets his purpose for bringing up the topic, now going off on a fanatical rant—

—“Damnnnnnn~ so those rumors are true after all,

The mad man really did make it,”

“Are you talking about the person who left the message and bow where I found them?” I guess, trying to pull him out from his tangential wondering

“Who was he?” I ask

“He was the inventor of the first Tielium glove, this very one that you found

Stolen story; please report.

Honorable Dr. Alfonso Einstein,” MF says with admiration

“He was bit of a mad scientist, liked to participate in his experiments, but he pushed the boundaries of science itself,

Tielium is proof of that!

A material which has the durability of titanium, and texture of denim,” MF’s excitement glows from behind his contact covered eyes,

“Even though I have been ordered to return this original protype to you Mr. Kage, as you are the one who ultimately recovered it, may I ask that you visit me again, I would like to inspect this some more,”

“I don’t mind, but if this is the original version shouldn’t you already know, how it works?”

“Exactly right, that should be the case!” MF prances around like and excited child

“Newer models can contain produce a substantial amount of foundation energy before needing to recharge,

They also can transform into much more advanced weapons,

However this one is a basic bow, and not only that but it does not use foundation energy,

It’s workings are so complicated now, that if it were to be damaged or taken apart there is no possible way to get it repaired!”

“That might be because it has the ability to channel magic,” I reply quite enjoying the man’s technological ramblings

His eyes open wide as if I’d just got down on one knee and proposed, his crystal blue contacts ready to pop out behind his big brown inquisitive eyes..

“M…magic? You mean the power of nature itself?

Tha..that’s impossible, oh,

Dr. Einstein was more of a genius than I thought!”

“Is combing magic and technology impossible to do?” I press him on

“You have no idea, oh the gods must really be dead!

For science and nature to mix, that is as taboo as it gets,”

As quickly as he had gotten excited, Metal Fingers immediately thinks something, that makes his mood drop.

“I just realized that this means that no matter what I do, I will not be able to replicate, an art like this,”

“Art you say,” I begin to piece together things myself,

“Just like magic is considered art to the people of the first ring, creation, more specially creation in science and technology, is that your art?”

“That is correct, and that glove, that bow you obtained, was the requiem of Dr. Alfonso,

It cannot be replicated,”

(The bow was really a requiem after all,

Wait till Apollo finds out he was right)

“Mr. umm, Fingers,” I start awkwardly

“That isn’t my real name, only what people call me, as you can see I am really fond of my job as an engineer and scientist.”

“Well, Metal Fingers, I have become fond of you during this conversation, can we talk about engineering some more after this?”

(This person might be useful to us)

“Of course, of course,” modestly coughs MF, he then hands me back the device,

Which I take with a new found appreciation—

(Is appreciation the right word?)

With a new found respect of the bow..

(That’s not right either….)

…..

“If your memory ever does return Kage, you can tell me about the technology of the first ring?

It surely must be leagues ahead of what we have.”

………….

*****

“Eh hem, Apologizes for umm, keeping you waiting for so long, umm, Mr. Kage,” Official Himari approaches me in the waiting are,

She uncomfortably tries to be cordial…

Ever since I was released from prison the only places I’ve been is the office of the chairman, which is a small building in between the lager government facilities, like the central science facility I am in right now..

After speaking with one of the leading engineers I have been waiting here to be officially ‘cleared’ and registered as a citizen of the Second ring.

(I don’t understand what being in a Science facility has to do with immigration, but I digress…)

…….

Himari looks at me coldly, quite obviously upset that me—a criminal—was set free.

……..

“It didn’t feel like a long wait, miss, I had time to acquaint myself with an engineer, and I also got back the bow you took from me,” I try sounding pleasant

“…..

You mental scan reports are done,” she ignores my attempt

“Scans show that you suffer from no sign of amnesia, D.I.D, A.D.H.D, N.P.D,BPD,

Nothing that can prove that you weren’t in control of your actions while off pirating…

So your excuse of ‘not remembering’ the previous year is still extremely suspicious,”

“Is that what you came to tell me?” I groan,

“No… umm, I was given orders from the chairman to process you out of the system which I have done already..

I am just letting you know that I’m still on to you pirate.”

(So, she wasted my time.)

“When can I get off this beach?”

“Are you that desperate to get back to the north?” I sense a twang of disgusts in her tone,

(I wonder why the people of the first ring are disliked)

“What is your problem with the North, official Himari?” I press

“I should ask you that question, pirate of the first ring.” She snaps back

(Me?)

“Tell me pirate, what warrants your people to declare an unending war with us?”