CHAPTER 1: A SILLY ENCOUNTER

4086 AD. South East Kingdom. Belarius City

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Maria Theresa Orphanage, a 3-storey, old-fashioned building, stood tall at the center of the lively district. The structure was made of concrete, and slabs of stones lined the gate walls just like a medieval castle. It was a sight to behold: oddly erected in the vicinity surrounded by metallic and modern establishments. The place was lovely, the gardens adorned the lawn as colorful butterflies perched on the vibrant flowers. Aromatic floral scents filled the place.

The residential institution was owned by Matron Minerva, an elderly woman who adopts homeless and orphaned children, treating them as her own offspring. When other AIs were proud and oppressive, she was caring and gentle. In return, she was well-loved by the locales.

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06:56 A.M. February 4, 4086 A.D.

Maria Theresa Orphanage

Alcee Salva

Ring! Ring! Ring!

Alcee Salva was awakened by a loud, ringing sound. Turning his head, he saw the hanged calendar flapping in the breeze of the Electofan. “Uh…damn Alarm clocks...damn Mondays…”

“Hey Rainbow, it’s 7 already! Don't be late at your entrance examination!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

He grunted as he rose up from his bed, lazily reaching down for his furry slippers. Looking out the window, he saw several robots strolling at the road. The sun was up, but he didn't even care about it because he knew it was fake.

Alcee Salva was always teased since he was young because of the way he looked. When people saw him for the first time, the thing that they would notice first was his hair. It was that of a rainbow combination: a mixture of seven different colors as if dyed in a salon! Every time he asked Matron about it, she always said that he had looked like that ever since he was a baby. He was pale in complexion and small in stature when compared to other boys his age. Because of that, he was nicknamed 'Rainbow Dwarf'.

This made him aloof towards the other children, thus, he created a pretense of some sort. When he was with people he didn't know, he would be lackadaisical and impassive. He loved catching birds when he was with his friends, but for others, he was just a renegade wet blanket. This became his other persona when he grew up. He called his other self "Ungerührt", a German word which literally meant impassive.

He was an orphan, and the matron never told him of his real parents' whereabouts. Once, he visited the Department of Human Registration Office to check on his personal data, but all he found out was a resounding 'No Records Found'.

Today was his 15th birthday, and he was supposed to be in a festive mood. But no, instead of celebrating, he had to render service as required by the National Government. It was a law enacted by the King - all 15-year-old registered humans are to take the test to determine if he was to be a worker or a soldier - and failing to do so means death. "I just want to be a professional bird catcher, not a mindless soldier or slave." And his 15th birthday happened to coincide with the annual testing date - a true mark of an unlucky bastard. "What a gloomy world to live in."

Alcee ran downstairs and went to the kitchen, still top-naked, gobbling the food that was served on the table. Gazing at the kitchen sink's direction, he saw the Matron - whom he considered as his mother - rummaging through one of the cupboards, as if looking for something important. "Hey, mom, you look busy. Can I help you with something?"

The matron was an elderly woman of about 30 years of age. She had long blue hair as if flowing like an azure river. Despite the age, her skin was still silky-smooth and her face always revealed a gentle expression. She was beautiful and graceful like a doe. "Alcee dear, no no you don't have to do anything. Just don't forget to be early at the Great Lodge, okay?"

Alcee just nodded as he guzzled the food like it was a piece of cake. Grinning, pieces of food bits were stuck on his teeth. Matron Minerva chuckled as she saw him acting like that. He had a special place in her heart, for he was the reason she came up with an idea of opening up an orphanage. She went towards him and ruffled his hair.

"You should take your capsule. Skipping breakfast is bad for your health, you know that." Matron Minerva took out a blue box from her pocket, and gave it to Alcee. “Here’s your allowance for the day, it’s 50 copper. Quite generous, right?”

Alcee just stared blankly at the smiling Minerva, shocked at her unusual gesture. He had always known his matron to be frugal, yet somehow she was giving him much more money than he usually needed. Squinting his eyes, he hurriedly took the box from her hands and smiled profoundly, saying "He he he, thank you, mom. Mom, you know I'm not a kid anymore, stop reminding me about mundane things."

"Then stop acting like one, ha ha."

"Okay, fine mom. You win."

"Of course, silly child. I always win, you know that."

Alcee scratched his head as he looked at Matron Minerva. He knew he was lucky to have her, and he couldn't help but beam at her displayed affection. She was one of those people whom he was comfortable with. "Okay mom, I'd better dressed up. Where did you place the capsule, anyway?"

"It's on the my desk, dear. It's the yellow one. And better wake up Troy!"

"Thanks mom."

Alcee ran upstairs and sure enough, he found two yellow capsules on top of the desk. They were like silicone gels, the one that he had seen on those TV ads. Without thinking, he took one and hid it inside his electopocket.

Alcee was sure that his buddy, Troy Jenner, was still sleeping since he was not a morning person. If he was to describe him, he would just say one word: narcissistic! Vain and haughty, he loved creating make-believe scenes to make himself look good to others. He had a tall and chiseled frame, and his face was extremely good looking, like that of an innocent baby. But his actions betrayed his harmless look. Being a natural lady-killer, he had several sexual relationships, but none serious enough that could make him commit.

Alcee went into his room and his buddy didn't disappoint him. Troy was still knocked out, his mouth was wide open as his drool dripped on his face. Alcee shook his head and went on his friend's bed. "Hey lunkhead! Wake up! Hey!"

Suddenly, Troy grabbed his torso and grappled him lewdly. "Jane, you're so hot...yeah, I need it so much...give me yours..."

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Troy was now wide awake, surprised at the jolt he felt on his head. He looked around and saw himself hugging Alcee's torso. Immediately, he released his grip and backed away, his face turned beet red as he laughed sheepishly.

"Damn you, sleepwalking pervert! Are there no other things in your mind aside from women?” Alcee laughed as he reached out for a pillow and threw it on Troy’s head. “I can't almost bear the pain, you coiled on me like a snake."

"Now, now, buddy, don't be angry. If you're like that, you'd be a virgin for life," Troy retorted, laying back on his bed.

"Anyway, hurry up. You're always late. Be punctual for once in your life."

"Says the one who's still undress. Where's Mom?"

"She's already downstairs. She said to wake you up."

"Crap! Better hurry.” Troy got to his feet and immediately went to the bathroom to take a bath. Alcee sighed, shaking his head as he laughed silently, amused at his close friend. He was about to go outside Troy's room when he noticed a strange bird outside the window.

The bird was like a mixture of a hawk and a parrot, and its beak was like that of cockatoo. It was the strangest combination that he could ever think of; he never knew such kind of a bird existed in their place. But what struck him the most was its eyes: it was a fusion of seven colors, like a rainbow! "It's just like mine! What kind of a bird is this?" He just stood still, not wanting the bird to fly away. "I must catch this trophy. This bird is a must-have for a hopeful fowler like me."

Alcee took out a bird whistle in his electopocket and blew it gently, creating a sharp pitch sound. The bird just glared at him, its head tilted to the side as if it was curious about his actions. He wasn't discouraged, for he knew that it takes patience to catch a bird. "You better not run away, my precious thingy." He tiptoed his way towards the window as he gazed intently on the bird.

"You're acting like a stupid jerk! Yeah jerky jerky jerky!"

Alcee was stupefied at what he had heard. His eyes bulged out like that of a frog, and his mouth was wide open as if an egg could entirely fit in it. "What the hell?"

He looked around the room, making sure that he heard it right. When he noticed that the bird was still looking at him with a curious gaze, he stood firm and coughed a bit. "Um, hey bird. Did you talk to me?"

The bird shook its head as if it understood his question, and opened its beak and stuck out its tongue at him. "No, I guess not? Yeah right, stupid. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!"

"It did really talk!" Beads of sweat appeared on his grinning face. He struck big time. This could be his ticket to fame! Maybe, just maybe, this could become the start for bird catching career to flourish once again. Suddenly, he heard a voice from the bathroom.

“Hey buddy, still there? Who are you talking to?"

"No one, mate. Take your time, take a dump, clean the bowl or whatever." Alcee answered as he eyed the strange bird, careful as not to miss any of its actions.

"Ha ha ha. If you'd not hurry, you'd miss the surprise from Mom."

"Oh yeah, I forgot. Sure thing, mate. See you later. Pronto."

Alcee tiptoed towards the window so as to closed it so that the bird could not escape when the bird suddenly flew over the bathroom door and perched on the nearby table.

"Hey Troy you dickhead! Mine's a snake while your's like a worm, a worm, a worm!"

"What the hell did you say?!" Troy shouted, as if enraged by the thing that he heard earlier.

Alcee gasped while his eyes was wide-eyed, not expecting that the bird could talk on its own, just like that of a human. And to add more trouble, it can copy another person’s voice exactly! "Huh? Hey, it's not me. Well, this bird , you know, copied my voice, but it's not me saying yours was a worm!"

"Are you playing games with me, Mr. Rainbow?"

Before Alcee could reply, the bird interjected, "Yes, you dick head. I saw it, saw it, saw it. It was okay, like a thumb! A thumb, a thumb, a thumb!"

"Hey, it's not me talking, he he he. It's this...damn bird." Alcee couldn’t stop laughing, betraying his denial.

"Yeah, like a bird. Yours was a hummingbird, chirp a chirp a chirp." The bird continued to rant while flapping its wings.

"STOP IT! YOU! You stop mentioning the word bird." The door flew open and Troy sprinted outside as he gripped the towel that covered his body. His face revealed a puzzled look as he approached them when suddenly, the bird talked!

"Hey you thumbie, you finally showed yourself!"

Troy was shocked as he covered his mouth. He forgot he was still holding the towel. The piece of cloth fell off, and he was stark naked in front of the duo.

"See? I was right! It's a thumb, like a thumbelina, you ding a ling a ling!" The bird squarked as it flew around Troy, as if delighted by what it was saying.

Troy clenched his fist and veins bulged out on his forehead, shouting "FRY THE BIRD ALIVE!"

Squark!

Troy lunged at the bird as he intended to cripple the bird or something. Alcee was alarmed; he knew his bird treasure was in danger. He couldn't let his friend get hold of the bird as he might injure it or worse, thereby ruining his great plan of dominating the world of bird catching.

"No! Stop this foolishness at once!" Alcee moved as fast as he could to block Troy's attempt. "Birdie, fly away! Come back another day!"

Crash! Crack! Blag!

Their body collided with each other, resulting in a huge mess in his friend's room. The table toppled down while the vase crashed on the floor. The drips of water from the faucet continued to gush out, and splashing sounds resonated inside the room. The bird, disturbed by the racket the two were making, flew outside through the window, while chanting, “Poor fellow! Poor fellow!”

The front door flew open, and two figures emerged from the doorway.

"Hey, what's the ruckus in here?"

"EEEAAAAAAGH!"

"Ooooohh, Yaoi!"

Alcee and Troy looked at each other. They both forgot that the other one was still naked when he did his desperate assault. Then both their eyes went downwards and screamed, "AAAAAH!"

"It's not what you're thinking!" Alcee looked at the girl who was covering her face with her hands, as if horrified by the things she was witnessing.

"It's because of the bird, Tori!" Troy exclaimed desperately.

They hastily rose up from the floor, their faces were both tinted red because of embarrassment. Troy picked up his towel and covered his body while Alcee backed away as far as he could until his bare back reached the wall.

"Because of the bird? Pervert!" Tori ran outside as she covered her face as if shielding her eyes from viewing. "Pervert! Mom, your sons are perverted!"

The blue-eyed boy inched toward them as he smiled goofily. "Can I join your party?"

"Stop right where you are, Ken! And stop looking!"