Gauss, a country that is part of the so-called ‘bridge countries’ or ‘lower countries’ which connect the superpowers of Constantinople and the United Kingdom, also called ‘upper countries'.

The ‘bridge countries’ are the main battlefield between the superpowers, being conquered and reconquered from time to time, with few moments of independence.

Seth, a young resident of Gauss, had spent the last six years at the national medical university, based in the capital, being one of the most competitive universities in the bridge countries.

After graduation, and chosen as an honor student, Seth walked through the city to his small room in the alleys to the east. At a slow pace, and without so many worries, he could stop and appreciate it.

People passing by, carts transporting. The numerous houses of cut stone and bricks lined the streets of the capital. Seth had spent his childhood on a distant plain to the north of the country, with few neighbors and many trees.

Between his steps he anxiously planned his return to his native home, where his mother and sister were waiting for him.

Tomorrow I’ll go to the carrier, maybe I can get a ride!” - He thought, excited by the idea of not having to walk the long way to his house.

Arriving at his room, Seth notices that the padlock on his door is open - “Open? I always make sure to check.” - the young man becomes apprehensive, his room was located in a very dangerous neighborhood, full of thugs and bandits.

Opening the door, Seth takes a scalpel from his backpack, climbing the stairs that lead to his room. Each step caused a huge sound of creaking and cracking wood, whoever or whatever was in Seth’s room knew he was there.

With each step, the young man’s heartbeats increased, what could be there? Perhaps in the rush of graduation he just forgot to close the padlock. However, the mere conception of having a stranger, probably armed, at the end of what seemed like endless stairs, terrified the boy.

Approaching the slightly open door at the end, Seth has the idea of observing the room through the keyhole - “If I see someone I can just leave, better than taking a stab” - Approaching the keyhole, his vision slowly adapts to the dark and confined environment, revealing a human figure in his window.

The little light that radiated from behind the figure revealed the color of its white hair, besides the corner of its mouth. The figure, which remained motionless, abruptly opened a smile, then leaned back and in an almost supernatural movement threw itself from the balcony.

Seth ran to the balcony, surprised to see no one. It shouldn’t be possible to jump from that height without getting hurt, let alone disappear from sight in such a short time.

Seth began to look around his room, afraid that something had been stolen - “I hope the transportation money is still here…”

There was nothing out of the ordinary, the few things that belonged to him were still there, the drawers remained in the same state, even the boxes thrown in the corners were still closed - “It doesn’t make sense, they didn’t steal anything, they didn’t touch anything, why did that figure smile?” - thought the young man, visibly confused.

That night, Seth couldn’t sleep, the feeling of helplessness bothered him, his brilliant but restless mind sought to understand the incomprehensible. Countless times he changed position and switched sides in a futile attempt to fall asleep.

It couldn’t be a bandit, after all, he would have died when he jumped. An animal wouldn’t have that smile, let alone make that movement.

“It’s no use, I won’t be able to sleep” - he thought - “Maybe writing something will help, I can try to continue my thesis!”

The boy got out of bed and went to the desk, picked up his notebook and trying to clear his mind began to think, writing his conjectures in the process.

“At the beginning of the eighteenth century electricity was discovered, and at the end of this same century magnetic waves were discovered too. However, we, already at the end of the nineteenth century, still do not have a way to connect these two fundamental forces. If we could, we would be able to enjoy the possibilities of electricity along with the locomotion capabilities of magnetic waves.”

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Turning the page, eager to continue his thesis, Seth notices red stains at the bottom of his notebook, when he lifts it he sees a large symbol written in red ink.

Immediately he relates it to the shadowy figure, generating even more doubts, however Seth now has a goal: To find out what this symbol means.

At this point, lost in thought, he didn’t see time pass, coming out of his reverie only when he heard the birds chirping, denouncing the arrival of morning.

Crazed by everything that had happened to him, he quickly changes clothes and leaves his room, walking straight to the library. Arriving there, he devours history books in search of something that resembled what he had witnessed.

Seth contemplated various symbols: military, scientific, organizational, even fictional symbols found in the various stories present there.

Some appeared to be visually similar, but their meanings made no sense. The most similar was an insignia given to the “greatest pork chef”, Seth was not the worst of chefs, but why on earth would a mysterious figure draw that insignia?"

The people around him watched curiously, but with clear strangeness, after all, it was particularly rare for someone to take half the books from a section. Such was the abnormality that Seth, in a not very gentle way, was “invited” to leave the library.

 "But I still need to look in the other half!” - exclaimed Seth.

“Please go, a containment guard was watching the crowd of people, I don’t want…”

She begins to cough uncontrollably, contracting painfully. Seth, already prepared for this type of situation, helps the girl to recover.

“I am a doctor, honored as the best in my class, if you find out what this symbol is, I will treat you for free” - whispers Seth, extending a small paper containing a copy of the symbol - “Agreed?”.

The librarian looks at Seth, and with an incredulous but hopeful look, receives the paper, pushing the boy out of the library without saying a single word.

Expelled from the only place he hoped to find any information, Seth goes to the carrier, after all, he was already late.

Entering the carrier and heading to the main counter, Seth says to the attendant:

“Good afternoon, I would like to transport my belongings to the plain of birds” - pointing to the plain on the map that was on top of the counter.

The boy at the counter opens some drawers containing files. He searches until he takes one out and opens it on top of the counter."

“Sir, the government has banned transportation to this area because, according to them, it is a location of enemy bases” - says the attendant, showing the warning message in the file. - “Do you have relatives in this region?”.

“Yes, I do!” - exclaims Seth, worried.

“I advise you to go and bring them to the capital, it is common in such situations for looting to occur in the houses of the region…” - explains the attendant, taking a small map and drawing a route.

“Follow this route, there is a tunnel at the end, which is currently closed due to a danger of collapse, but it will save you one day of walking” - says the attendant, smiling.

Seth leaves the carrier with his soul overloaded with emotions, his mind could not process everything and instinctively feared the worst.

Taking a deep breath, Seth mentally organizes his priorities - “Buy food, go to my house, bring them safely” - thinking where he could buy food, Seth notices a small shop and decides to buy supplies there.

Stocked up, sleepy and tired, the young man heads to the north gate of the city. Arriving there at sunset, Seth then begins a walk that is expected to last two days.

Walking at a moderate pace, collecting fruits and drinking water from rivers along the way, Seth eventually reaches the tunnel mentioned by the attendant

Seth goes into the tunnel, dodging sharp rocks and kicking countless rats. Approaching the end, the light of late afternoon floods the ambient. The characteristic smell of the plain makes the young man dive into nostalgia, momentarily forgetting his afflictions.

Exiting the tunnel, the boy was surprised. His house was a few hundred meters away, but he couldn’t speed up the pace. After two days of walking and three sleepless nights he was exhausted.

Passing through the trees, Seth climbed a hill in search of a higher place to better observe the region. Reaching the top Seth could see the entire plain.

Enchanted with a nostalgic feeling, the young man looks at every corner of that beautiful view, the colorful birds in the sky, the wind in the grass and the orange sunset.

The dichotomy of emotions, fear and joy, awe and longing. The hope of seeing his loved ones and the despair of possibly losing them bathed the young man’s soul.

On the horizon line, Seth notices an unusual movement, it looked like ants, appearing one by one. Confused, the young man strains his eyesight, the image becomes clearer and Seth, driven by despair, begins to run.

At this moment, his sister was playing with the dog in the backyard, throwing a disc away repeatedly. At one point, the dog stops and begins to observe the horizon. Barking uncontrollably.

Seth didn’t see ants, he saw people, hundreds of people, with turbans and scimitars, spears and armor. They were not peasants, they were not from the United Kingdom, they were enemies. Many enemies. Marching towards everything that made Seth’s life make sense.