CHAPTER 01: MY LAST FAREWELL

"I can do this!"

I am patting my cheek with my hands two times just for reassurance. 

"This is what the ministers told us? Prove it to them you are worthy."

That's what I always wanted to say in every ounce of my body. These tests are the only way that I can be worth something.

"Vertalia' Goddamn it! Push it harder, be confident, don't be naive, don't despair."

Looking at the mirror with a great and confident smile.

"I can go to that place, I'm sure of it,"

 I said that as if it never ends. That's what the guardians told us every day. To inspire children like me that we can go there. You might be wondering what that is cause I'm not going to tell you anything yet. It's like a treasure map mystery waiting to unfold. As you all know, life is unpredictable at times that it makes me want to challenge it wholeheartedly.

Do you see it? I am a girl who is full of surprises, that's just who I am. Adventure is something that I crave for no matter how dangerous it is, it is like a raging storm waiting to sail at, and I am not afraid of it.If not most of all, Be optimistic to anyone around you no matter what. When there are times of trouble, people must help each other either an enemy or a foe. As a child, these tasks are not easy to be dealt with and are painful to follow. I know the truth hurts. That's just how the "Ministers" told us that when it comes to this, fear and anxiety is not tolerated.

'Not to my companions.'

'Not to the 'Guardians.'

'Not to the 'Ministers.'

I don't know what adventure unfolds to us, but surely it is a learning phase that is very annoying to pass, the more you go through with it. The more it is stringent and deadlier.

Stamina is the sole force of breathing your lungs properly so that you can run longer and faster. Intelligence, it is a mindset of thinking over your best decisions And what outcome you want to survive.

Strength, it is the willpower of your wits, the power to smite and protect yourself whatever harm comes.

Perseverance, the act to sustain yourself even at the hardest difficulty, yet I'll be able to survive prolonged periods. And lastly,

Endurance, of all things that I have explained in these phases. This is the most important one. Prolong hours of pain and suffering throughout the body is a necessary key to a long duration of survival and how you handle it. The 'enforcers' told us the E.P.S.I.S law. We abide by these rules, never to be broken at all costs. We were meant to train.

To:

Endure, to learn, to fight, to survive.

And isn't that the best thing. Every child in this outpost is my companions. Betrayal is also forbidden unless the 'ministers have done a task. We, as children, strive to work together, even the job sucks hard. No Hatred or guilt must be shown to another if betrayal is a test or not.I stared at myself. Wondering what the future holds me. It may look stupid, but the guardians show us that it reflects your soul, if any case would that make me feel any better? The moment I've been waiting for, I've been trained for this ever since I was created in this facility to serve the purpose and to become wise and perfect. I can hear someone coming from the corridor and into my room. 

The black tint glass door automatically opened as the stranger entered the room with swift gushing sound.

It was a boy with a blonde European appearance, wearing a space blue striped jumpsuit. He is the same age as mine a lot more slender in height and called me:

"Vertalia, you ready?" He said

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"You know what? Talking about being ready, I'm more than ready than you are Issyus!"I said, confidently. Issyus and I have been in this facility ever since we were created, and we were having a cordial friendship ever since we were young and I never got separated to him ever since.

"Ohhhooo! So confident are we here Vertalia."Issyus said, mockingly."What planet have you been assigned into by the way?"He added with a question.

"You know, you can read my thoughts. No need to be stupid, you dumb," I replied with a grin on my face.

"I'm just testing you Vertalia! Haha, no need to get mad!"Issyus ended up laughing, looking at me like I'm a stupid human being.

"Do you want me to?" I added with a smack in my face this time.

"Wait till the ministers smack you up a good time," Issyus added with a chuckle.

" Ha, Ha!" I replied with a fake laugh.

"So I've heard the 'ministers' assigned you to 'Terranov IV,' that planet is probably one of the dangerous habitable planets to be tested."

He added more

"And you are one of the first human beings to live there for a month. I'm just worried if you can do it."

He asked in a more serious tone as if he is worried. I sighed for a while then stood up from my chair, walked and leaned closer to Issyus. He stares at me like he knows what I am going to say, but I got him a little surprise.

'Pluck'! I hit him with a karate chop into his shoulders, awed in disbelief.

"Hey!! V what was that for?".He said with a grunt.

I closed my eyes for relief and held my breath, then I replied with happy and tender tears in my eyes;

"I'm delighted you care so much for me Issyus; you're my greatest companion ever since we were 6, u were there for me. And I can't thank you enough for all these years."

Issyus emotions have turned from an annoyance into an astounding soft smile. He left a gasp and could not speak a single word:

"I'm just worried we might not be able to see each other again, I don't want that!!"

This is the first time I showed a single tear to my cheeks to Issyus and the glimpse of my early weakness. My single tear dropped from the ground and started to shed my cheeks. Then suddenly, a sudden force of embrace from Issyus shook me with awe and surprise. This is the first time he showed his emotions as well but with a big caressing smile.

"No matter where we are! We're always together V, no matter how far it is."

Issyus caressed and embraced me tightly as if he knows maybe; we're not going to see each other again. But I can't stop thinking of not be able to handle us separating together. I started sobbing like an innocent little girl, thinking about losing someone you have been with for all these years, its painful.

"Don't ever think about that! It hurts not to see you again after all this time. But I want you to prepare and move on when that time happens."Then he yelled at me;

Wait! How did he know what I was going to say? I was about to say;' I can't do it.'

Being a companion with a person who can read minds can be sometimes intriguing. He read my mind as if he knows all the speck of cards is supposed to be.

"Be strong V. Someday we get to go to that place and become free."

"I want you to be brave like the others, be yourself If I ended up dead. I want you to carry on, don't show weakness."I replied with a solemn, sad tone: "I know, I know."

I slowly began wiping my tears. To show him that I'm not fragile like the rest of the children.Issyus lets go of his emotional embrace and start standing firmly, still reassuring what to do next. I started patting my cheeks two times with intense force that it has turned pinkish-red:

"Hey? You ok," he said in a desperate tone.

"Vertalia gets ahold of yourself. We talked about this already."

My optimistic side has returned once more, Issyus replied with a blatant sigh on his face.

"Did the guardians ever told you to think, not talk.""Eh??? you're no fun Issyus."

I said in disbelief, but still relief after that emotional distress. An announcement ping started as it can be heard on our brains sensors saying in different words, but to mine it was:

"Vertalia A-041, please attend to your respective spaceport area bound for "Terranov System" for acquirement as given by the ministers. Your current time attendance will be recorded upon arrival. The outpost bids you good luck on your examinations. Have a pleasant journey."

Issyus announcer is given a different assignment, which is interesting that we can only hear it in our heads.

"Issyus A-079, please attend to your respective spaceport area bound for "Cyller System" for acquirement as given by the ministers. Your current time attendance will be recorded upon arrival. The outpost bids you good luck on your examinations. Have a pleasant journey."

I nodded as a reply even tho its just an announcement:

"Well looks like our time is up it seems."

Issyus said in a farewell tone.

"I guess your right. I'm gonna miss this place!"We had an incredible journey and a great companion". I added in disbelief.

"Never doubt about that! " He replied and started to raise his hands for the last farewell handshake."

I grinned for a while and started gripping his handshake as loud as it can be as the last respect that we have each other.