The cold wind howled. It was supposed to be the break of dawn, but the sun was only barely poking out of the horizon. Yet, within that darkness, there was already a flickering fire coming from a chandelier inside a certain cathedral.

Inside was a large group of children, ranging from barely old enough for school to their early teens. Every one of them wore the same kind of black-and-white robe seen only in the most devout of followers, and all of them were kneeling in place, hands on their chest to show utmost respect to the subject of their reverence – a giant mural of a white-robed man, whose silver hair sparkled like stars, adorning a halo above his head.

Leading them was a priest in his senior years, who soon started their ritual with the most deference one could show.

“Humanity’s history is filled with blood and pain. We committed sins beyond belief, caused disasters beyond repair, and therefore we shall be smitten by the God we worship.

“We dwelt on progress, focused too much on our desires, that we had forgotten all sense of reasoning and respect to one another, to the remaining life forms on the planet, as well as to the beings greater than ourselves.

“Seeing the need for correction, God gave us an ultimatum that day: to change our way of life, or to face proper judgment. As the selfish species we were, we refused to hear His request. On that day, we finally paid the price of our actions. A gigantic flood swept over the entire planet, wiping out nearly all of humanity’s population.

“Humans since then were offered to be under the guidance of God and His Angels, to always be on the correct path. With His guidance, our past mistakes will never be repeated. Let us pray to our Lord, our Savior, our Guidance. Our God.

“We thank you for our salvation, O’ Great One.”

As the final words of the priest echoed within the cathedral’s marble dome, the rest of the children sounded in perfect unison.

“We thank you for our salvation, O’ Great One.”

And thus concluded the morning sermon that the citizens of these isles. They were but another insignificant community among many others in the world, trying their best to live to their Lord’s expectations. Children were taught the words of the Great One as early as their infancy, and the cathedral served as the singular education facility that everyone attended. There, they would learn more about the history of their forefathers’ arrogance and the circumstances that led them to this life, as a constant reminder to never tread on the same path to ruin as their kind once did.

However, there would always be outliers, no matter how perfect the community might be, and this place was no exception.

Unbeknownst to the eyes of the head priest and his students, when the morning sermon was being held, hidden behind a few brushes just outside the cathedral sat a lone boy. His blond hair, which was already as dull and unkempt as it was, looked no different than a bird’s nest with a few leaves sticking out. His azure eyes were filled with tears as he let out a loud yawn before every word that was uttered.

Stupid prayers… thought the boy as he cracked his neck and shoulders in fatigue. Always so early in the morning. The sun isn’t even out yet!

To everyone else, the morning sermon was a sacred ceremony to start their new day, and thus, it was attempted without any room for fault or jokes. To the boy, however, it was naught more a boring and tiring process that served nothing but as a nuisance to get him to wake up early.

“Well, not like I’m a heavy sleeper or anything,” the boy mumbled, dusting off any trail of dirt or leaves off his ragged, brown tunic. “And this is still fun, in a way.”

Though he dreaded the thought of attending sermons early, the boy still went ahead and got up like everyone else, but it was not because he wished to deceive his guardians. He merely enjoyed the scene of people gathering around, solely united for a single task. It was a strange hobby, so much so that he wasn’t even sure when or how he’d picked it up, but it had been an indispensable part of him ever since.

And so, satisfied with his morning “work”, the boy left the back of the cathedral, trying to blend into the group of children that were leaving the site to return to their morning classes. Unfortunately for him, there was already a figure blocking his way as soon as he tried to take a single step forward.

It was another boy around his age, but almost a head taller than he was. His ridiculous height, combined with his dark skin and wavy hair made him intimidating to most children his age, akin to a bully picking up on kids weaker than him for fun. Yet his spotless, neatly worn white tunic suggested the air of an honor student.

For the dark-skinned boy, the latter would be the correct assumption. He only confronted the blond boy as a friend who wished for his well-being.

“Going somewhere, Pendragon?”

“Oo, going all last-names, I see,” the blond boy, now Pendragon, shrugged with nonchalance. “Don’t be such a worrywart, Pedro. I’m just getting some fresh air. No need to be frowning all the time.”

The blatant attempt at an excuse only made the dark-skinned boy, now Pedro, madder, his forehead popping a small vein.

“You’re trying to skip class again, aren’t you?”

“Of course not. I’d love nothing more than burning my bottoms in that boring old hut while being forced to listen to nonsense.”

“This would be your third offense this week, Peter.” Pedro tried to reason, going back to calling his friend by name.

He was only received with indifference, however. “And?”

“Today’s Wednesday.”

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“I fail to see how that is my problem.”

“Stop messing around.” Pedro’s face stiffened with rage. He only needed a small stimulus to completely blow his top. “I’m not getting in trouble thanks to your shenanigans again.”

“I don’t remember asking for it. Just leave me alone and carry on your merry way. And it’s not like I mind being punished alone.”

Being friends with Pedro for a long time, Peter knew just how well to push the former’s buttons. And true to his predictions, his last round caused the dark-skinned boy to burst as he shouted for the first time, taking a step forward to attempt to grab Peter by the collar and drag him to class if he needed to.

“You… You know very well why I can’t!”

The routine, however, was all but too familiar to the both of them. With a quick step backward, Peter avoided Pedro’s grab with ease, immediately turned around, and ran as fast as his feet could take him.

“Hey! Come back here and study like a man!” Pedro immediately gave chase to his fleeing friend…

And received a taunting laugh in return. “And risk fighting you? I’m not stupid!” Peter cackled while scooting out of the cathedral’s premises, making his way to his “home turf", where he knew Pedro could never beat him.

Soon, the landscape around him changed from a small-town village with a clear, though slightly darkened, sky to countless trees and branches of the nearby forest route. Along with the change, Pedro’s increasingly small, defeated threat was the only trace left of him.

Though the latter possessed superior physicality and techniques compared to Peter in a normal fight, Pedro’s larger build and overall unfamiliarity with his surroundings made navigating through the thick branches and bushes a tiring feat. Not to mention, Peter was all too used to the forest’s more dangerous side of poisonous flora, while Pedro, being the honor student he was, was completely clueless. If need be, the former could use them to his advantage, giving the latter a nasty case of rash or stomach pain along the way.

As a result, the chase was abruptly cut off, and Peter was allowed the freedom to continue his little excursion out of the woods to his own little sanctuary.

Before him, a mesmerizing sight of the ocean’s rippling waves and the salty scent of the seaside breeze revealed beyond the horizon. Though the lack of golden sand lessened the beach’s natural shine, the rock formation made up for it plenty with its rugged freedom. Taking a seat on one of the rocks on the shore, the boy finally let out a sigh and relaxed his body, turning his gaze to the endless horizon in front of him as the first rays of sunlight dyed the sky in a beautiful crimson.

However, he wasn’t the only one enjoying this beautiful scene, as another voice called out from behind him:

“I knew you’d be here, Petey. Done watching everyone?”

“You know me,” he answered without turning back, his mouth naturally forming a smile.

The figure took a step forward into his vision. As her silver hair fluttered in the sea breeze while her sparkling crimson eyes glimmered in the dawn, the girl let out a cheerful laugh akin to a pure, clear bell:

“Did you get in trouble with Pedro again?”

“He got in trouble with me, you mean,” Peter retorted.

“Yes, yes, you’re always beating him.” The girl, now Bea, let out a shrug, being too used to her friends’ antics. “But you know what I mean.”

“It’s not my fault that we only learn nonsense for the whole day,” he answered, his voice mixed with a hint of animosity.

“I take it as you’re not returning for the day, then?”

“Of course not. But what about you, Bea? Aren’t you in trouble for skipping class too?”

“If you can skip school, why can’t I?”

“You know very well why, Bea. Pedro’s gonna give us an earful if he knows.”

“I fail to see how that’s my problem,” Bea let out a cheeky grin, unknowingly repeating the same words Peter just used earlier in his scuffle.

With a brief pause, she continued:

“All right, that’s enough joking around…”

“That’s strange coming from you. Are you really the Bea I know?”

“That’s rich coming from you, Mr. Isles’ Troublemaker.”

“Okay, okay,” raising his hands to signal a surrender, Peter grinned. “What is your real reason for finding me so early in the morning? Usually, you’d wait for me in class or back at your house.”

“This.”

Following her words, Bea took out a certain rectangular object she’d been clumsily hiding behind her back. As its silver carvings gleamed under the crimson sun, the object caught the eyes of all creatures around – both Peter and Bea, as well as a few nearby seagulls, which came circling the two thinking they’d found some new shiny food.

A large (almost comically large, even) book, but with the kind of decoration only found in a noble’s residence.

“A… book?” Peter tilted his head quizzically.

“And a fancy one at that,” Bea grinned once more. “You were about to say that, right?”

“You need to stop reading my mind,” Peter chuckled in return. “But what’s it about?”

“Open it and you’ll see.”

Bea rarely plays being cryptic, especially with me, thought Peter. So I just have to stay quiet and do as she says then.

As the boy flipped over the cover, his eyes and mouth widened in surprise.

The object in question was, in fact, not a book at all. Or rather, it was formerly a book until its pages were perfectly cut a hole in the middle, both deleting any content it might store and making room for the actual prize inside – an amber cross shining like another miniature sun. Looking at its detailed carvings, even the most ignorant could tell that it was a high-quality piece of jewelry.

“Pretty, isn’t it?” asked Bea.

“Yeah,” Peter let out a stiff nod, clearly still hadn’t shaken off his initial impression. “But… Now what?”

“Don’t you remember what tomorrow is?” Bea’s mouth formed an o. “Is it not your fourteenth birthday?”

“Well, yes, of course, I remember. But if that’s the case, then why today? Wouldn’t tomorrow be a better day?”

“I have… business to attend to tomorrow, with Dad,” Bea answered, her eyes dyed in a hint of sadness.

“Another trip out of the isles?”

“Yup. He needs the extra hands for his new order, so me, Mum, and Pedro are all going tomorrow.”

“All of you? That’s a shame,” Peter let out a sigh of disappointment. “I wish I could eat one of your dad’s famous breads once.”

“What do you mean?” Chuckled Bea. “You have them every day.”

“I know, but not those so-famous-he-leaves-the-Isles ones.”

“Who knows? Maybe one day.” The girl answered with a light smile. “But anyway, yeah, that’s why I wanted to give you an early gift.”

“Thanks, Bea. I really appreciate it.”

Peter reached out to grab the cross. However, as soon as his skin touched the piece of ore, a sudden vision burst inside his mind.

A figure of golden hair, whose facial features were nothing but a haze, clad in shining armor with a blue emblem of a three-headed lion on its breastplate. In his hand was a golden sword of similar stature. The faceless man raised it forward, signifying a declaration of war. Behind him, a multitude of other silhouettes wearing the same kind of armor, but with a red emblem instead, raised their weapons as well. The army then charged towards their enemies, a flock of white-robed individuals with avian white wings, behind them lay a figure hidden behind another layer of golden mist.

Peter broke into a cold sweat. By pure instinct, the boy knew what the vision was about – a battle between humans and the angels. But the most surprising thing wasn’t that fact.

The leader’s face… I can’t tell clearly, but that… looks just like me, doesn’t it?

As he was stuck in his daydream, a voice called out to him in worry:

“... Petey? What’s wrong?”

“I’m… fine. Nothing wrong here.” Peter stiffly answered, trying his best to act natural as he wiped away his sweat and the worry along with it.

“Well… if you say so.” Bea breathed a sigh of relief, but her eyes still showed a hint of doubt. “Let’s head back then.”

“... Yeah, let’s.”

It was a rather weak answer, but it was the only one that Peter could muster at the moment. For he knew as soon as the vision was burned into his mind… it wouldn’t leave him ever again.