Chapter 00 Prologue: The Birth of the New Sun

It is during our darkest hour that the birth of a new beginning arises.

- Lord Supreme Grand Master of the Brotherhood of the Sun, Lord Aldebaran.

*****

When one’s life began to fade, flashes of past events would run through his mind. I thought it was just a bullshit story told to me by those old people to take my life more seriously. I laughed at those thoughts that a dying man would have the time to reminisce of his life and regrets in his dying moments; yet now, when I’m on the Death’s door itself, the events of my life just flashed before me.

I was just barely out of my 17 years of age, and here I am, thinking and feeling like I had lived for ages. I saw how my life had transpired before me and I could not help but to feel regret mostly. And then I saw the two girls lie before me, and I could not help it either as And when I saw the two girls lie before me, I shed my tears and cursed a little under my breath. This unknown creature had just pierced me through my body and I could feel that my life was beginning to seep out. A slow and painful death.

Why did it have to happen to my dearest friend? Why did it even happen to me? Why can’t I have a good break for once?!!

And to answer my self-posed question, an event flashed into my mind. An event that happened yesterday. It was then, in the most boring class; Lore and History, I had ever attended, taught by the most boring of teachers that my fate and destinies were sealed and then delivered to the ever gleeful Death’s embrace.

*****

“Cast your mind into millenniums ago.”

“To the age when the extinct ancient civilization once flourished; fueled by boundless energy and magic. The technologies existed during the age enabled men to fulfil their greatest desires. This was also the age when the dragons were free to roam the skies, the behemoths and the titan-like creatures trampled the earth and the sea was a roaring tempest, ready to swallow all land-kind beings.”

“This too was age when the Great War happened.”

“The Great War – also known as the battle of Skylands – was one of a kind battle. This was the only battle recorded in history that the all races of this land – the humans, the elves, dwarves, halflings and other races no matter how minor they are, joined with the forces of heaven and hell in an allegiance – a temporary truce perhaps, against a common enemy, The Unknown. It was to be believed that the numbers involved were big enough to cover the whole sky as far as the eye can see, perhaps numbering more than ten of millions.”

“Amidst the long and gruesome war, rose a single human man, to the top of his fallen allies and brethren. With him, he carried the cries of victory of those who felled and the banner of hope of those who survived. It was then that his famous battle cry, one that we now used as our Brotherhood’s motto was first heard across the battlefield.”

“For as long as the sun rises, we shall not falter and there shall be peace for all!”

“That was how the Brotherhood of the Sun first came into existence. Saint Regulus Sirius became our founder and the First Lord Supreme Grand Master of the Brotherhood of the Sun, or also known as the Solaris Primus.”

“To this date, much of the remains and the reasons why the Great War started had been forgotten, or simply put, left unrecorded, saved for a few ancient inscriptions of the battle itself found in some ruins. However, true to any war, at any age, there were bound to be many outcomes, to friends or foes alike.”

“Most notably was the extinction of the Skyland race, or the Ancients as we would have called them. Many lands were laid to waste, Kingdoms left in ruins, with millions of people left to die or to live a miserable life.”

“However, the birth and the emergence of the Brotherhood of Sun took the pain significantly away of losing a race. War was no one’s benefactor, yet the seed that was sown during the war continued to leave a lasting impression until today. As the saying goes, in light shall we see the shadows, and in shadows, shall we know lights.”

“And each and one of you today here, are that light. The light of the Sun, as our very first founder mentioned, that shines above all, even against the shadows and the darkness. To others, that is what we are known as. And for thousands of years, we have been true to our oath and our allegiance to the peace of the land. But to me and you, young ones, it is more than that. Much, much more than that.”

“To strive for victory, yes.”

“To become hope for others, yes.”

“To maintain peace, yes. But why the need for me to mention much, much more?”

“For all of you; upon hardship of training and learning new skills, burdens of missions and sense of accomplishments, and triviality of life and engagement of presence, that you will become a better person than you are today. For yourself, your family, your loved ones, your race, your country and to those who depend on you.”

“For as long as the sun rises, we shall be the one that carries the cries of the victors, become the beacon of hope to those who need us and maintain peace throughout the known land.”

“Remember that always.”

“Today, the Brotherhood served both as a symbol of reigning peace in the land and also the cultivation of the limitless strength and potential of its people whom the Brotherhood protects. You are now officially one of us. And the bond between us will continue for eternity.”

“Every two years, the Brotherhood would open its doors to acquire new initiates; the most prodigious of talents whom we, the Sun Masters, will travel the whole land in search of. You will stay and learn from us and our forefathers for as long as you need to.”

“Promotions and rises in ranks will depend on your skill levels in both the weapon mastery and magic mastery, understanding of the lore and histories, completion of your missions, recommendations of achievements of outstanding servitude true to our ethos and last but not least, completion of your core exams.”

“All of you are now initiates and I believe in not too far from the future, all of you will become an outstanding Sun Masters. Of course, except for one. The one that sticks out like a sore thumb in this class...”

The old man sighed for a while before he spoke for the last time in today’s class.

“And that concludes our classes for today, Initiates. Before I forgot, your next exam will be on the local bestiary around Elsevier. And, you ---“

A finger was pointed a sole figure sitting way behind the class.

“The sore thumb I was talking about – Hasty One. WAKE UP!!!!” The class erupted into a laughter. I was the one Sun Master mentioned. The sore thumb.

Well, why wouldn’t I? All around me, I can see teeny weeny kids. There’s a little girl with twin ponytail sitting in front of me that looks like a doll. And there’s this kid with snot dripping down. Ewww. And that fat kid sitting near the window, I swore he was sleeping just like me too.

Hey, by no means, I am a kid too, but they are just like 6 to 7 years old and I’m effin’ 17 years old.

SEVENTEEN!

I looked like a delinquent who failed his class for 10 years’ straight. Which of course, I had to admit, I did fail for 10 years straight. But I’m not a delinquent. I just had the trouble of growing up. You know, the pain of trying to prove that you are right and everyone else was wrong and you became an arse just to piss people off.

“Don’t sleep in my class. For god sake, I have seen your face in this class for 10 straight years, and I’m getting really annoyed right now”

The class continued to laugh.

“Heh, looks who’s talking. I can’t believe I’d get the same old geezer for the past 10 years. Is this a joke or what? And your lesson is boring. Wouldn’t it be better if you pass me already so I don’t have to fall asleep every time you start your class with “Cast your mind…” I cast my mind alright, to dreamland.”

Looks like I’ve finally done it. I swear I could hear a snapped pencil. I managed to piss him off. Take that you old man. I gave out a dry smile.

But that’s my limit after all. The last thing I want is to be lightning bolted right at my seat. I rather not be bolted by the bolt. Get the pun? No? Sucks to be you, then. Do lighten up a bit, will you? I don’t have time to be in idle thoughts, especially trying to explain a joke or two.

“Hasty One. Follow me to my study room, now! And for the rest of you, class dismissed.”

As soon as Sun Master – Blizzard Hawk – the old man said that the whole class stood up and ran outside through the small door. The classroom's door was small, able only to fit nicely just an adult between its doorway. But now, look at it. There were about 30-odd students trying to go through the door at the same time. Heh. Like a scene where the lambs were running into the slaughterhouse thinking it was another field of green pasture on the other side.

Now, only me and Blizzard Hawk were in the class. He pointed his finger and beckoned me to follow him. And what choice did I had anyway?

The next class would be Alchemy, and it was bloody annoying since I couldn’t create a single potion to save my life. Not the one that exactly worked as intended. Instructions on paper were not the same as instruction being conducted in real life. Too many elements played its part in determining the outcome. Laziness was one. Sloppiness another. Having a beauty as your teacher was another quick surefire way to fail. I remembered back then that I nearly blew up the lab, though I was adamantly sure I was making a healing potion. Besides, I rather not raise the ire of Blizzard Hawk any further by letting him wait for me. His patience had its limit after all especially when it came to me. He could do whatever he wanted with me at any time he wanted. He was a Sun Master after all.

*****

I arrived with Blizzard Hawk into his study room. Well, it’s not exactly his own personal study room, for he shared it with a few other Masters.

“Come in. And stop peeking inside. It’s not like you are not used to this room anyway”

In my 10 years here, I had come to this single particular room countless of times. Hundreds were too few of a number to start off with. And every time I’m here, it always ended up the same way.

“Hasty One, take a seat.” As I sit down in front of his desk, Blizzard Hawk took a file from the top of his desk and hand it over to me.

“Open it. Have a read” I opened the file with my name on it and read its content.

BLIZZARD HAWK!!! HELP MEEEE!!!!

Blizzard Hawk. I can’t stand it anymore!!!

Wow, triple exclamation mark. This guy or girl must be really angry – at me. Look at the headline even.

This kid needs to be kicked out the Brotherhood as soon as possible. Better still, since yesterday.

Reading that one line alone, I shuddered.

What do you mean by kicking me out of the Brotherhood? Was this guy or girl insane or what?! Holding my thoughts from going further astray, I continued to read.

When you and Chore Master send him to me, I knew I should say something, but out of respect, I did not. And look what have I’ve gotten into. He destroyed the whole kitchen. What a blasphemous thing to do. I…

I did not need to read further.

The kitchen. I remembered it vividly. Why wouldn’t when I basically and single-handedly restructured the whole kitchen? I wanted to leave my mark after all. The kitchen smelt, served bad food and had a lousy chef.

I did not destroy it. I JUST had it remodelled to suit the new generations. We needed to keep up with time.

I have no doubt that the person who wrote this complaint is no other than the Chef, Beerbelly Glutton. That’s his name, I kid you not. But for the sake of annoying him, I had always called him Fat-arse.

I looked up to Blizzard Hawk as I closed the file.

“Hasty One…” I sweated profusely, and I could feel that my bum was twitching. Squeaky-bum time. For every time he started to mention my name in that tone, I know I’m going to get it. I need to win him over to my side, fast.

I slumped my shoulder, slowly looking up at him with puppy eyes.

“That’s not going to work, Hasty One.” Suddenly, a female voice came from behind me.

I turned around and looked at who is trying to sabotage my livelihood here. A black long-haired beauty was standing behind me as she entered Blizzard Hawk’s room.

“I know, Black Rose. That’s not going to work because I already have his punishment in my mind”

“What? What punishment?” I began to stammer.

“It’s no surprise to see you here again, ehh Hasty One?” The female voice, Black Rose, said as she patted my back. She then took a seat at her own desk, filled with many weird shaped bottles, either empty or with a weird colour I dare not describe.

Black Rose was a Sun Master too. She shared the same study room with Blizzard Hawk. But whats with the room sharing with this old man anyway? Aren’t there better looking and younger Sun Master to share a room with? Was it because she was his ex-student, which happens to be my ex-classmate, the very first year I was here.

Black Rose was 17 years old Sun Master. And it’s not even an outlier for someone her age and her talents to achieve the rank of a Sun Master. She was a prodigy, just like many other people here. I’m supposed to be a prodigy too, it seemed. She was initiated into the brotherhood at 5 years old, having showing tremendous talents and potentials in alchemy, and achieved the title Sun Master last spring, when she was 16. But I don’t get it. Why did this beautiful, bosom-full, long-legged beauty shared her study room with this old fart anyway?

I looked suspiciously at both Black Rose and Blizzard Hawk, back and fro.

“Snap your mind out of it, Hasty One!” Blizzard Hawk looked at me straight into my eyes. My forehead began to sweat even more.

“Like I’ve said, I have punishment for you.”

“But I-I… did nothing wrong.” I stammered as I try to defend myself.

“All I did was to make the kitchen better. The food they serve sucks. Even the poison concocted by Black Rose taste better than what is being served in the canteen.”

“Hey, hey now. Don’t put down my potions to that level alright!” Black Rose retorted while pursing her lips. Blizzard Hawk, un-flinched by my weak defiance, continued.

“I know of your reasoning. Other than Supreme Master himself, I understand you the most. Remember that I’m the one who initiated you, alright.”

As my mind wanders off to what happened 10 years ago, Blizzard Hawk decided to cut it short.

“I know how you behave, the way your minds work and every other single little thing. And I’m aware what’s going on in the kitchen and the food they serve to the children here. But Hasty One, to remodelled is one thing, to actually destroy the kitchen wall and make the canteen and kitchen into one large hall is something else. It has become a mess.”

A mess hall, alright. I guess, I overdid it a little. You know, breaking that wall and the kitchen space was no easy feat. I have to consider a few things, especially what to keep and throw.

I nodded to myself. I did the right thing throwing that big, ugly pot where that Fat-arse of a chef brewed his ‘famous’ stew.

Famous alright. For being the most disgusting food ever made to known man, dead or alive. I knew I did the right thing.

“Even if you hated the food or perhaps the chef, or even perhaps both, that cannot be a reason to do what you did!”

Objection! I disagreed.

But no matter what was my opinion, I know I’m going to get it and I’m prepared for what will come next.

“Now, for your punishment.” Blizzard Hawk leaned towards me.

“You are to collect firewood!”

Phew… just firewood. Nothing that I couldn’t do. Easy peasy.

In fact, my punishment seemed to be collecting firewood, except for that special excursion in the kitchen that one time. The one and only time. I breathed a sigh of relief. But not for really long it seemed.

“But it’s not just any amount of firewood. You are to collect firewood for the whole guild to be used during the winter. It’s spring now, so you got exactly three to four months to fill the wood house with firewoods. And you will do this alone!”

What??? Did I hear it right?

“I have to collect firewood enough for the brotherhood usage, this huge-arse guild-city all by myself?!”

Blizzard Hawk nodded with a straight face. Black Rose giggled.

“Child labour!!! Slavery!!!” I was exasperated. In fact, exasperated seemed to be not the right word and pretty much understatement.

Mortify.

Yes, I’m mortified. I stood and pointed my finger angrily at Blizzard Hawk.

“This is child labour!!! Nay, nay. This is no mere child labour. This is extreme child labour. Not even in the hell is this kind of slavery is allowed. You know how big guild-city this is with so many personal bathrooms, a huge kitchen, and nearly 5000 students. How could I collect all the firewood by myself? It will take years. The Brotherhood uses firewood like no one business, especially the girls.”

Black Rose laughed at my predicament.

“That means you too, Black Rose. The last time I saw you in your bath, you were bathing in warm water, with proper nice steam, supplied by the firewood that I… uhhhh… oh shit.”

Cold sweats dropped from my brows profusely. I think I’d talk too much. I cut short my sentence as I noticed Black Rose look at me with disbelief. The sudden change of her facial expressions said it all it needed.

“So, it was you who peeped at me!” She said this menacingly while uncorking a strange bottle, emitting a black-greenish vapour that I know it will spell a certain doom for me.

“I…uhhh…uhhh… have…to take care…of…uhhh… the firewood inventory. You know… uhhh, so it won’t be misused.”

“To hell with your misuse. Return me back my panties you stole, you massive pervert. And I’ll gouge your eyeballs!!” Black Rose face was red with embarrassment and anger.

Such extremities. What more for a pair of worn clothes.

“Enough you two! Let me finish first. Gouge his eyeballs, or squash whatever you need to squash after he finishes stocking up the firewood.”

Old man, you did not have to suggest to squash you-know-what. Please don’t give her that suggestion. Or any suggestion that might kill me. A hug would be alright, though. Those soft giant breasts would suffocate me to no end.

“Humpphhh!” Black Rose slumped back into her seat, but her eyes won’t stop staring at me as if to say watch out.

From one trouble to another. Was this what they said, out of the pot, straight into the fire? How ironic. From the pot of the lousy chef to collecting tonnes of firewood all by myself.

I let out an exasperated sigh.

“I’ll cut this short. Collect the firewood and see to it that you complete it before winter starts. You can start from tomorrow, after your lessons. Hopefully, you’ll do as your told this time around for I don’t have to take any more actions unnecessarily. And Black Rose, spare this pervert during this time. After this, you can do whatever you want.”

Blizzard Hawk ended his instructions to me with a big laugh. Black Rose, however, was not very impressed.

While continuing that eerie laugh of his, Blizzard Hawk ushered me out of his room. However, I could feel a tingling sensation behind my back – caused by a certain death stare from Black Rose.

A death stare for the sole reason of stealing her panties. Well, I couldn't help it anyway. I need to compensate for the firewood that she used. Just like any other girls that came before or would be after her.

With that line of thought, I exited the hallway with a slight smile on my face, back to my room.

*****