The sun was high and wide, as many students walk through the campus in direction to their respective classrooms. Chit-chatting between them, almost half of them were humans. But also there was blue people, cat-alike people and others humanoid aliens in school uniforms that looks like they were pulled from a space opera from the eighties.
This view perplexes Edwin for a minute, as he felt that there is only one thing to say “Oh Sh|t... the men in black, failed in their mission and the conspiracy was discovered!” he whispers in low voice, but unfortunately Seline hears him.
“Who are those “men in black”? Perhaps companions of yours?” She look to him with an inquisitive face.
“Sorry, it was only a joke. Please could you repeat me where we are?”
“Ha-ha, I didn´t understand the joke. As I was saying before, we are in the campus of the Highsword Academy.
The academy was formed as a token of peace and unity, from the humanity to the alien races.
Where each student tries to live in accordance with the hero´s way” She says the last part with pride and with a smile, but quickly continues with her speech.
“The academy takes great honor in each of his students, and will accept anyone that wish to assist regardless race, sex or political orientation... unlike others institutions that I could mention” she sighs after these words.
“Huh... that was a truly good business presentation. You must really love this academy, or they pay you a lot” he say it with a humorous expression.
“.....” She was trying to keep the insult inside her mouth, but it was really trying to get out. After fifteen seconds of facial movement, her mouth outline a small smile.
She doesn’t say anymore, and keep walking in direction to the director office. Edwin followed back her silently
A lot of plants and trees adorning the campus. It was a smooth view, as students enjoyed the good climate.
When they were reach the center of campus, where a statue of a sword of almost fifty meters was sticking out the ground. This statue looked like the pin that Seline wears.
The sword looks like a zweihander directly from the middle ages. As far as the eye can see it was pure black with strange symbols grabbed in its blade.
Edwin stopped for a couple of minutes in front of it, observing the statue. The material wasn´t stone, iron, steel or anything used to build any piece of art. It was a material outside this universe, and Edwin knew that better than anybody.
Seline notice his sudden interest and start to talk.
“I see you´re impressed looking at the hero´s sword in reality. I remember the awe that I feel when I see it myself.
My grandfather, as you must know, was the last holder of this artifact. It´s the ultimate honor to hold this sword in battle.
Only the strongest champions can bear this artifact!” She emphasizes her badge with pride, as the people that hears her speech start to clap with enthusiasm.
Edwin watch her for a few moments, before laughing uncontrollably. Seline was dumbfounded, along with a lot of people, watching the laugh of Edwin.
After a minute, Edwin could control his laugh.
“I am really sorry haha. I couldn´t help myself hahaha. Please forgive me hahahaha” Edwin was unable to contain the laughs from his mouth.
She doesn’t understand why her speech was funny, as the people around them was starting to look bad at Edwin.
“Please, let us continue our path. We are still halfway from the director office” She quickly gets back to her usual smile
“Let´s hurry. Now I really need to talk with that person” His tone was starting to show disdain and a little of anger. She only could contemplate how quickly he changes his mood. It was like a bipolar person.
She was annoyed as he was referring to his grandfather as “that person”. Her Grandpa was a hero from the last war and the last possessor of the sword. He was extremely famous. If it was another student and not Edwin. In this moment the student will be asking clemency for his punishment.
But the orders from his grandfather, the director, were exact. She can only guide him to his office, she wasn´t permitted to ask him any question, she can only answer and tell where they are or any question related to the academy, and she can only introduces herself.
In her whole life, no orders like this were given ever. He also warned to her, if she broke any condition, she will surely face the worst consequences that he can arrange.
She got only doubts for the identity of this strange person. But she will accomplish the orders from her grandfather without a doubt. The chance to discover it someday will come. She will assure of that.
....
The Main building of the school, called commonly the Hilt, was five floors high. As they ascended on the elevator, Seline was telling him about the basics of each floor. On the top, was the director´s office, the teacher´s room and the administrative offices.
The third and fourth floor was dedicated to the science labs, where every science that the humankind study was given a lab and taught to the students who wish to learn. From physics and chemistry to psychology and sociology. They were more of specialized classrooms than labs.
The second and first was the normal classrooms and a lot of other rooms, such as the music room, the projection room and many others. Seline only gives a short description of the floors as they ascended on the elevator. Edwin could only nods at her words, because his mind was focusing on the mix between anger and impatience that was passing through his consciousness.
In the fifth floor they descend from the elevator. The scenery inside the floor was the same as the first floor, grey walls and black mosaics. The elevator doors led to a wide room, which have six doors, benches, plants, a cartel indicating directions and some windows.
They took the second door on the right side, which led to a straight hall. This corridor ended in dual grey doors. The words “Director´s office” shine with golden color on them.
Seline knocked, and with a “you can pass”, they go through the doors. Inside of the room were waiting a secretary, in her mid-forties, working behind an office desk.
“So you are Edwin... The director is not here yet. He will comeback shortly, you can wait for him inside in the office behind me. Seline, you can go now. You are free of duties” She says all that, without rising her head from the computer, where she was busy typing in the keyboard.
Seline says goodbye from Edwin, and leaves the room. Edwin walks in direction to the door, but the secretary stops him with some words.
“There is a tablet waiting for you above the desk. Just grab it and follow the instructions. Also the room is soundproof, everything you say will not leave that room”. The secretary says this with a monotonous voice.
Edwin only look at her, as he walks through the door.
......
The room was very spacious. The walls were decorated with paints or weapons like swords or shields. There was a replica of the sword from the campus that was hanged in the wall behind the beautiful brown desk. This replica was of normal size. There also, a huge bookshelf with a lot of books. Big sized tomes with names varying from “The Art of War”, to “Also Sprach Zarathustra” were filling the shelves.
A big, grey tablet like an Ipad was waiting for him above the desk.” So this is it huh... interesting” He doesn´t touch the tablet yet. The past training and his guts were warning that the object was dangerous.
But, in a few moment his curiosity defeats his fear, and grab the tablet in an impulse. It starts to show characters on the screen.
PLEASE PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND ON THE SCREEN TO AUTHENTICATE USER
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
“What the hell... Let´s do this”. He puts the tablet on the desk, and follow the instructions from the screen.
A red glow was surging under his hand, like a scanner, and other words appears in the screen:
FINGERTIPS ACQUIRED.... RUNNING PROGRAM ZK12.... PLEASE FINISH THE PHRASE TO UNLOCK THE PROGRAM:
“BUT THEY ARE STRONGER, BECAUSE THOSE ARE FRIGGIN MONSTERS!!!....”
He thought the answer to that question. He starts to remember the time when those words were spoken.
....
“You can´t go Edwin, that is a suicide. There must be millions out there. They are going to crush you like a mosquito!”
The woman was trying in tears to convince the boy, to escape a certain dead.
The boy was smiling as he finish to change.
“Well, I would be the hell of a mosquito after killing a lot of spiders for these three years”
His smiles denotes the confidence in himself.
“You already prove that you are strong. But with an invasion of that size, even you can´t do a thing. The commanders give the order for you to go to the omega station. That is our last hope to survive the annihilation”
He slams his right fist with his left palm. The fear abandoned him, the battle was calling him.
He says with a grim smile “I am finally ready” and starts to walk to the door as he continues to talk with Natalia.
“You´re giving to much credit to them. I don´t believe that those bugs are stronger than me”
“But they are stronger, because those are friggin monsters!!!” Natalia screams to him as her final attempt.
He only showed her his back, raise his right thumb and scream the battle cry...
....
“But I deal blows like a supermonstar!!” Edwin shouts the last phrase. More words were showed in the screen.
PASSWORD CONFIRMED, INITIATING PROGRAM...
“Is this on?” a video was reproducing in the tablet. Edwin hurried to grab it.
In the video was shown an old lady lying in a bed. The old lady have a happy face and she was smiling to the camera.
“It took me a long time to make this video.
I was busy, I was very busy and the time flies when you are busy. But that is only an excuse. Problem after problem appears, and I haven´t got any free time actually and just like that sixty years pass like wind.
But the pain of being unable to see you, was the heaviest I ever had”
The lady stops for a moment and gives a painful expression. Edwin only exclaims “Natalia..., is impossible...”
The old lady tries to give a smile of happiness as she continue.
“I am really sorry for the late introduction Edwin.
This old body belongs to the person you known as Natalia Wide. It´s been a long time and I am sure that will pass a lot more until you see this video.
You sure are thinking, how the years badly treated me, but you need to see the artificial lungs of Hans. They are really something.
I am pretty sure that you are really confused right now. The aftermath of your battle wipe out the Ragnii. It was the hell of an explosion, it didn´t destroy the earth thanks to some crazy coincidence.
In the exact position of the explosion was discovered a new type of particle that comported as a tachyon. Thanks to alien technology we could discover what happens with you.
This tachyon is really interesting, and we could only find traces, is like a new higgs boson. But leaves a really peculiar phenomenon, it cause a field or portion of the space where the gravity act a little funny.
To avoid the really heavy, boring, scientific explanation I would only say the name of this specific tachyon.
We called it Chrono-Tachyon, and this particle is created when an object is through a specific type of black hole, or rather a singularity that open and close faster than the humanity can perceive time”
She waits for a moment before continuing again
“I would love to say when you are going to appear, but the reality is not like a movie. This is way beyond our knowledge of the time and space, and I suspect it will remain like that for a long time.
So I am making this recording hoping that reaches your hands. I don´t know if you are going to return tomorrow, or in a thousand years.
I hope that you reaches a happy world.
I know that this is a childish fantasy, but after so much time, this old bones can afford that. It´s the last present for myself.
So, after the explanations were given. I will start apologizing to you. I am sorry that I couldn´t maintain my last promise.
I will always miss you, the happy ending that you deserve it was snatched by myself. I could formulate a better plan. I should have the strength”
Only anger leaves the mouth of this old Natalia.
“But I haven´t, I was weak and the terror was stopping me. Because of me, you couldn’t ha...”
“AAHRGGHHH!!!” with an anger scream, he hits the tablet with the reverse of his hand. Only anger remained in him. He quickly hit the desk with his fists.
“You aren´t guilty of anything! I was the weak, if I didn’t lose the goddess sword, I wouldn´t be in this hell of a situation!!"
He repeatedly hits the desk with his fists, proliferating insults against everything. Every time he hits the desk, he hits with full power. His anger and sadness are unstoppable as he cries and hits the desk. But her voice, stops him like an invisible hand.
“... But all these apologies will only cause sadness and anger in you. I am really sorry but those feelings where keep inside me for a long time”
He quickly grabs the tablet as it shows how the old woman wipe her tears. And show some photos to the camera. They were showing people of different sex, smiling together.
“These are all my children. They grow really well, and I couldn´t be prouder for them, John was also remembering you in these day.
Yes I married him. He was an excellent father and husband. I found true happiness...” She was smiling with intensity, her face was still wetted from the tears.
“As I accomplish your last wishes, and become happy for myself.
These will be your last orders” She stops for a moment, raises her right hand to her head, and speak with a militaristic voice.
“Attention Soldier!” Edwin unconsciously stands firm.
“Rest soldier. During the last mission, you disobey the last order that was given to you and engaged the enemy.
That is a felony, soldier if you are stupid enough to don´t understand the rules.
From this point onwards. I release from your charge and duty.
You are free to go now. Live as whatever you want. This the last order soldier. I don´t want to see you ever again in this place. Go now!” And the screen turns black.
“Rest assure commander, I will accomplish the orders without fault!” and he gives his final cry over the desk. The surface presented various crack after the continuous hits. It was in a really lamentable state.
After a couple of minutes of the final tears, he raises his head and dry his face on his uniform. Only to notice an old man next to a wall.
“I really liked that desk. But, I am sure, for the possibility to know the legendary hero, it is worth the cost”.
The old man was smiling with a dangerous smile, waiting for his opportunity.
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Words count: 2654.
My nemesis (real life) is messing hard with me. I will try to deliver a chapter per week.
Please Rate, vote, criticize and comment. ""Use the knife" as a friend always says".
Edit: I hate the system to post things