TFA1 0.0 - Prologue
Vast meadow in the middle of Amstell Continent
08:30, 2 April 2008
An old man, a young man, and a little girl, the three of them stood under a sky clear of clouds. The girl looked around with her sparkling eyes. Previously, she had passed through colossal snowfields before entering a long and dark cave. So, it was natural that her mind was filled with many questions.
"Grandpa, what is this place?"
The old man knelt in front of his granddaughter before replied gently, "The locals calls this place Amstell Continent."
"...Amstell Continent?"
The girl tilted her head while her grandfather continued.
“Eight years ago Grandma discovered this place by accident. Unfortunately, this place is also the place where Grandma met with her eternal rest. So, will you help Grandpa guarding Grandma's final resting place?”
The girl firmly answered, "Claire will guard this place with all her might."
The old man smiled before turning his gaze to the young man next to him. "O'Neil, you know I and Samantha treat you like our own son. We also know you enter the military because you don’t want to compete with Robert in effort to manage and control our corporation networks, even though your talent for business is much better.
I can fully understand your feeling and respect it. But at least, promise me that you will help Claire protect this place, because once Nouel's existence is discovered the whole world will fight over for this place."
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"Consider it done."
The young man replied casually, but the Old Man immediately smiled because he knew that his adopted son had never gone back on his words.
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Apartment 2701, Royal Crown Tower, San Francisco.
13:00, 14 Nov 2023
After gulping down a large piece of waffle, Claire looked at the Marketing Director Slane.
"We will bring sufficient military strength to Amstell Continent, but I've decided that our first line of defense is economic power. So, tell me Director Slane, how confident are you?"
Marketing Director Slane casually replied, "In two years I will control Amstell Continent's economy.
After that, no local authorities will disturb us and we can start collecting natural resources other than Nouel, without the need to deploy military force."
Claire smiled in satisfaction. "Good, you'll lead our trading wing, and hold the third highest position on our exploration of Amstell Continent.”
"I don't mind leading our trading wing. I love it instead. But please don't give me a flashy position. I don't want to be a High Value Target."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely.”
"I'll arrange it according to your wish then."
*****
Author's note:
In 2004, a member of Jesuit Refugee Service gave me a book 'Say You're One of Them' by Uwen Akpan, a Jesuit from Nigeria.
The five short stories and novellas in the book give voice to an African child growing up in the face of incredible adversity.
As a real example, how in many conflicts, children managed to survive while their parents and families were killed. The journey of living hell for these children then begins. Rape, abuse, torture, and other savagery were repeatedly inflicted on these poor children by animals in human clothes.
To this day, the impression I get from the book is still very strong. Sometimes, it makes me imagine a world where these children will find sanctuary.
Until finally, last year I braced myself to pour my imagination into this book, with the hope that people who read it would be moved to care more about the unfortunate children in this world, whose number continues to grow until now.
Thank you.