17. Villain
The still Alvine Grand Theatre was almost suffocating, even to Zoren, but he continued to talk, as if ignorant to some of the students' breakdowns, or the glare of Anthony.
“It was only after over 100 years later when the Awakened academies were established in the League,” said Zoren to break the silence. “Prior to that, the Awakened learned while they died.”
After a quick glance at his watch, he figured time was running out. It’s almost 11 a.m. So he snapped his finger again.
They now hovered in space, looking at a footage of Earth from above. There were only a few specks of light left.
“This space footage is dated October 6, 2045, when humanity finally lost. The year of the Fall. It’s estimated that only half a billion people survived, with only a very small portion of the world – not even a quarter of it – becoming inhabited by humanity,” said Zoren.
The documentary soon kept moving forward in time.
Years. Decades. And humanity’s settlements have even become more scattered. More separated.
Their connection. Severed.
“Fast forward to the present–– 2349. Our population only dwindled. There are now only about 45 million of us who remains, scattered among six countries and our very little cities,“ he said, before turning off the projectors.
While he wanted to show them more, he ran out of time. It’s now 11 a.m.
Between 2045 and 2349. A lot has happened. He didn’t even discuss the Godframes discovered in the 2200s – which the documentary tried to portray as other symbols of hope and inspiration. But they’re irrelevant to the documentary, anyway. They’ll just have to learn about the Godframes during their history class, he thought.
His eyes wandered across the auditorium, to the many students who now only knelt on the cold floor, still shivering at what they saw. Some even passed out.
He thought that perhaps some of them might even choose not to ever awaken, and choose a more normal life. Others might still choose to awaken just for the sake of becoming an Awakened, and not bother risking their lives to level up. But, those who choose this path often gets stuck at Class I, as it becomes more difficult to level up the older an Awakened gets.
There’s a reason why most Awakened are Class I or II.
While Zoren believes this to be unfortunate, his belief in free will is stronger. Governments in the past have tried forcing the Awakened to fight the Ashen, but this led only to civil war.
Zoren’s eyes then lingered on a student who leaned against a window sill, watching Noah’s skyline.
Chloe still held the hand of Aoife, whose eyes only stared at the ground.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Zoren said with a whispery voice. “Flying ships. Skyscrapers piercing the skies. High-rise buildings that hides from sight – areas bleak of hope – people scrounging for scraps… Hungry,” he said, before gesturing to the high walls in the horizon as big as the skyscrapers themselves. “And giant walls that does not escape the eye.”
When Chloe looked at him, her eyes were wet with tears. “It’s like...”
“…We’re all still prisoners,” Zoren nodded.
***
What is a villain?
Someone selfish. Perhaps evil.
Cale wondered if what Professor Zoren did was evil. But it wasn't. He agreed that it was better to show the students the realities of the Awakened.
But him? Cale considers himself a villain. A man of great intellect and cunning; all others beneath himself – even his best friends.
Take, for instance, Lucas.
Lucas, as his Avernus persona, may seem mysterious and cold. But for Cale, he is neither of those things.
When you remove the great potential and power Lucas holds – when you remove the mask – he is just like anybody else. Someone who can fall in love. Someone who denies his heart. Someone who’s hurt.
A human.
Lucas has great affection for Chloe, as Chloe does for Lucas. That much is quite very obvious to Cale. Though he thought he understood, it truly escaped him how could two souls show so much care with each other when they barely even knew each other.
Earlier, Professor Zoren had the 300 students divided into 30 groups for the school tour – with each group composed of at least 10 students. After all, it is far easier to make such an arrangement, than having a mob of 300 students be lost in the echo.
And when the two lovebirds – or so as Cale had declared – had to part for the school tour, he noticed their already longing gaze for each other. Did it disgust him? No, it just made him curious.
And herein he began to scheme. He swore to himself. It may take time, but I will ensure these two will marry each other.
Cale considered what others might think of him if they found out. After all, who is he to even interfere? As the old adage of romance and love do solemnly proclaims, if two souls are meant for each other, then it will work out. Intervention is unnecessary.
But Cale has no belief in such concepts as fate. No. Fate is created. Weaved. Manipulated.
And if he can sculpt fate and destiny itself, why should he deny himself that power? What is power without utilizing it?
If others could hear his thoughts and judge him for it, then so be it.
…And is it also not the duty of a true friend to advance the blossoming of love, and to tear down the barriers hindering its fruition?
Stolen story; please report.
No, Cale thought as they toured the school. Those are all just excuses.
Deep within himself, his scheme to have those two marry each other is but for his own amusement.
They are a project. Nothing more, nothing less.
So, let others call him a villain if they must. For he shall wear the title with pride.
He looked at Lucas, absent-mindedly looking at a drinking fountain on the hall as if it were the most interesting object he had ever seen, whilst their tour guide gestured to a nearby vending machine with great pride–– a machine that vends ice cream.
He misses Chloe, Cale thought. He’s sure of it.
He was in the same group as Lucas, and he knew that Lucas would rather be in the same group as Chloe than him.
Cale has observed the nuances of human interaction with his keen eyes. He has dissected their behaviours and emotions. How they connect and how they perform.
He surmised that Lucas must have longed for the school tour to end. So he could see Chloe again.
From the libraries, the lecture halls, the dormitories, the dining hall, the four campus parks, the Sky Hall, and the Sparring Quadrant – Lucas showed no interest.
Because he missed Chloe.
And how could Cale be so sure of it?
Because the two have bared themselves naked before his eyes.
***
After the tour, they met up with Chloe. She was with Lucas’ person of interest – Aoife. Not a person of interest in that way, but something to do with doing a favour for that wizard.
The two girls were also with two other students; Bear, who looks like a bear; and Mark, a beautiful blonde boy. Apparently, Aoife met them by chance when she was shopping around for taluses last night, and Bear and Mark ended up late. They missed the documentary.
Cale briefly wondered if the duo were spies trying to get close to Aoife, given their background. But, people often meet each other and if they click, they become friends.
It just happens.
It’s a matter of retaining that friendship in the long run. After all, people come and go. So, while it’s highly unlikely for the Twin Beasts to be spies, it would still be wise to keep an eye on them nonetheless.
Anyway, the six students then introduced themselves to each other.
“So, how was your tour guys? It was pretty nice for us,” Lucas asked as he lowered his fork. They were eating lunch at the Hall of Dining. What a haughty name for a place where humans devour carcasses only made palatable through the power of flames.
But Lucas couldn’t help but steal glances at Chloe – who also did the same.
How their hesitant and longing glances at each other, how they silently tiptoed around each other, bound by the chains of uncertainty and confusion, were not hidden from Cale.
They’re in love. Ah, how nice it is to be so young, Cale thought, even if he’s of the same biological age as them.
“Same! And I guess the Sky Hall was pretty awesome,” Aoife replied to Lucas with a grin. However, the way she played with her food indicated she may not be feeling well inside.
That documentary. It must have slightly traumatized her, thought Cale as he sliced his smoking steak. He may be critical of the consumption of meat, but he understands that it’s humanity’s nature to feed. He’s a proud hypocrite.
Chloe looked gloomy but did join the table talk. “Yeah, like you could see Greendale from the Sky Hall,” she just said, before stealing another glance to Lucas. She just couldn't help it, could she?
Lucas smiled at her but the fool couldn’t even maintain a millisecond of eye contact.
Cale succeeded in not rolling his eyes.
Bear let out an audible sigh. “Okay, guys. Clearly the air is off. And I’m having trouble breathing because of it.”
Lucas and Chloe looked at Bear in alarm. For obvious reasons.
But Cale knew Bear was referring to something else, and he was right.
Bear immediately followed up his statement with a question. “Was it really that bad?” He was referring to the documentary, of course.
The two lovebirds sighed in relief. Idiots, Cale thought.
“Was gonna say,” Mark mumbled. He looked more interested in eating his chicken pie. And when he noticed Cale didn’t touch his cake, Mark gulped as he intently looked at him.
“Go ahead,” said Cale. He wasn’t fond of sugar anyway.
Mark grinned. “Thanks!”
Lucas replied to Bear. “They used simulation technology with augmented reality to transport us back into the past. We might have some students back out.”
Cale thought that Lucas must be trying to impress Chloe. Usually, his friend doesn’t have much interest in scientific technicalities, or the nuances of technology – even if his parents were quite the figureheads in the research of the Godframes.
Well. I suppose he’s still a SPECTRA, Cale thought.
And speaking of impressed, Chloe did look impressed. Or at least she pretended to. She must have. “Oh! So, that’s what it was! Simulation technology. That’s so cool,” she said.
Bear nodded. “I agree. But to use it that way is pretty fucked up.”
Mark replied. “Without a warning too. I’m glad I missed it!” he said as he deliberately raised his voice.
There were some glares from the other tables at Mark’s words, but the blonde didn’t seem that much affected, as if he actually revelled from their hateful gaze.
How amusing.
“…Not cool, bro. Not cool,” Bear slapped the back of Mark’s head.
“Yo, chill!” the blonde cried out.
Chloe chuckled as she swirled her soup. She hadn’t taken a bite since the lunch started. “They delayed the Awakening Ceremony for 4 p.m., instead of 3, right?” Clearly, she didn’t want to recall what had transpired.
Aoife nodded. “Yeah. Apparently, we could go and check out Greendale. They’re probably doing this to let us take it in before making a commitment. Me and Chloe are going out. You guys are coming too, yes?” She didn’t seem to want to hear ‘no’ for an answer.
Bear and Mark nodded their heads. “We should check out the sauna,” said Bear in particular.
“That’s too early! That sounds fun, though. Let’s go check it out after the orientation,” Aoife said before looking at Lucas and Cale. “You guys?”
At Aoife’s question, while subtle, Chloe’s eyes sparkled at Lucas expectantly. No one noticed. Only Cale.
Lucas exchanged glances with him. “We’re heading back to the city in a bit. We forgot our taluses. Apparently, can’t awaken without those.”
A lie.
“Bummer… Well, we can always show you guys around tomorrow! Apparently, there’s no classes since we begin on Wednesday,” said Aoife as she stood up, followed by the others.
Lucas and Cale bid them farewell after they exchanged contacts.
“You can go with them. I can handle the hideout by myself,” said Cale as he wiped his lips with his handkerchief.
Lucas looked nonchalant, trying to seem as if he didn’t care. But that look. Cale knew he was depressed. “Mrs. Livia and the Director advised me to keep my distance. I’ve already initiated contact. That should be more than enough.”
Right. He’s doing the wizard a favour, Cale thought. “I do agree with them… that friendship at this stage, when cultivated, may prove a hindrance to you in the future. Because you can’t always make excuses when you require yourself to disappear.”
Lucas smirked. “Sure. But didn’t you just tell me to be Chloe’s friend? Is that really okay?”
He took the bait. He believes that as his handler, I won’t be too fond of the idea of a secondary, unofficial mission, Cale thought, feeling as if he has already achieved great success. “While she’s aware you’re a Prime and a SPECTRA, she promised not to talk, no? And she doesn’t seem the type to lie.”
"I see..."
"Well, if you're not going. Let's go check out the hideout. SPECTRA just sent word. They've already set it up. We just need to make sure everything's in place, and we have all we need."
Lucas looked surprised. "Already? And where is it again?"
"At the Loncier Forest."
"Alright, let's go."
----------------------------------------
Lucas and Cale begin to prepare for Case Farewell. But it seems things are not going as smoothly as the duo hoped.
Coming up next week on the Ring of Avernus...
Cale's phone buzzed. Supplies responded.
[We apologize for the mistake. We will have the issue sorted out in a week.]
Cale sighed. If they're making a move soon, a week would already be too late, he thought. I expected there would be some logistics issue with how big the overall operation is, and with different organizations working together. But I wasn't expecting it to be this bad. What a blunder...
***
“Nevertheless, it’s going to be interesting,” said Master Livia, before joining Cale on the table. “But that is not why we’re here.”
Cale nodded. Master Livia is supposed to talk about the reason why the Academy was infiltrated, and explain why Operation ROLLING PANDA is a Class VI operation. He poured the wizard some of her tea, and said, “Speak freely, Master Livia.”