08:55 A.M. February 4, 4086 A.D.

The Hallway

Ken Chiaozu

Ken gasped for breath as he speeded towards the office, as if his life depended on it. His body was exhausted, yet he didn't stop running. He knew that his friend needed help, and he couldn't bear to see him suffer.

He finally arrived at the reception office. It was shaped in a prism, and its fence were made of black diamonds. It was a masterpiece, and concluded that this could not be easily destroyed by simple weapons or artillery. Throngs of noisy crowd gathered outside the iron gate. Guards in armor knights marched along the wall hedges, and many Defenders - recognized by their golden robes marked with a web-like insignia - were stationed at different posts. Armed security patrolled the perimeter of the grounds, and every inch of the property was wired with cameras, security lighting, and motion sensors.

"Please let me enter. My friend needs help." Ken showed the emblem he received from the ticket attendant.

The guard saw this, and he nodded. "Open the gate! And make way!"

Hmmm, he is pretty cute. Too bad I can’t flirt right now.

The iron gate opened, and the guards pointed their guns towards the people as if ready to shoot if trouble would occur. The people moved to the side, creating a path for Ken, as they gave him a cold stare. He went inside the office, not minding the uncomfortable gazes of the people.

Polished wood floors greeted his eyes, and a graceful banister curved up toward a soaring second floor gallery. The place was luxurious, and he was sure that everything inside was expensive and valuable. He went towards the reception desk and showed the emblem in his hand. A beautiful lady greeted back and gave him a smile, revealing her white-oyster teeth.

Uuugh...stop that smile.

"Hello, and welcome to the Great Lodge. This is the Fourth Branch office. How may I help you?"

"I need help. My friend's unconscious and I need a medic to check on him."

"Where is he right now?"

"At the park, ma'am."

"Okay. Just walk straight ahead, then turn left. You would find the office at the farthest room. You can't missed it.”

Ken thanked the lady and went to a narrow path. Green shrubs adorned the long hallway, and red carpets covered the floor. The walls glimmered and the place was spotless. He thought that the office he saw back then was regal, but that couldn't even compare to what he was seeing right now. Its interior was designed like that of a palace.

Maybe, just, maybe an important person or a prince owns this place. Maybe the medic's a royalty as well?!

His eyes gleamed in excitement as the idea of meeting a handsome noble entered his mind. He was walking, somehow admiring the sight, as if he had forgotten what his true purpose for coming here was. Suddenly, a slight buzz reverberated throughout the hallway.

What was that?

He looked at the hallway and turned his gaze around searching for the source of the sound, stopping at the picture hanged on the wall. It was shining with a blue hue. Curious, he touched it when suddenly, he was engulfed in a bright, blue flame.

Where am I?

He reappeared at a vacant room. Its walls were tattered and he couldn't find a single furniture. At the end of the room was an ordinary door, and he went towards it with a thought of escaping the creepy place. As he neared the door, he heard inaudible voices, as if somebody were conversing with each other. He put his right ear against the door, and listened intently.

"What about the test? It seemed dangerous. It's the first time a noble would proctor the test."

"We have to tread carefully. The people should not know this."

"I know, I'm not dumb to tell them. What about the people who ends up dead in the test?"

"Just tell them they are missing in action, that something abducted them or something."

"Okay."

"Well, hurry things up. We may be lucky, we might find the ancient one."

"Yeah, imagine the glory we can get. Ha ha ha."

The ancient one? Dangerous? What the hell are they thinking? This test seems suspicious!

Thag!

He felt a sharp jab against his nape. The last thing he could hear before he blacked out were the words: "Take him to the torture chamber."

_______________________________________________________________________

08:55 A.M. February 4, 4086 A.D.

Maria Theresa Orphanage

Matron Minerva

"Nida, dear, can you please get my Electopad? It's on my desk."

Matron Minerva was in a festive mood, humming a melody while preparing the kitchen. "There should be no mistakes. This day will be his most memorable moment." Today was Alcee's birthday, and she planned to surprise him with a party. She never had tried organizing one, but she wanted to make his 15th birthday an indelible one for him. "Hmmm...cookies, check...sodas, check, meatballs and spaghetti check...hmmm what else..."

As she was checking on her grocery list, a scrawny girl ran towards her while holding a cube-like gadget. "Mom, here it is."

"Thank you, Nida dear," she replied sweetly, patting Nida's head. Looking at her checklist, she paused for a moment as if collecting her thought. "Do you want to go with me to the grocery store?"

"Yes, mom, he he he." Nida's eyes gleamed in excitement as she hopped up and down. "Yipee, I'm gonna walk with Mom! I'm gonna walk with Mom!"

Matron Minerva laughed at the scene, turning her Electopad on. Flicking her arms, a hologram appeared in the air: a lady with a golden hat and robe. Suddenly, it spoke with a mechanical voice, saying "Welcome to your Home Page. What do you want to do?"

"I want to read my journal."

"Okay, please wait for a few seconds."

The hologram flickered. Instantly the lady turned into a mini-screen showing Matron Minerva's desktop wallpaper: photo of hers and her adopted children. As she saw this, nostalgia crept into her heart as her eyes reddened with tears. She had formed many memories together with the children, and she could not bear to lose anyone of them, even if she was not human. She believed that race does not make a relationship, it's the memories that count.

... a baby boy bundled in weird clothing...

...a lady begging her to take him into her custody...

Matron Minerva had forgotten the lady's face that brought Alcee at her front door. All she could remember was her vague words, saying, 'Please take care of the baby.' The lady didn't give any explanation and disappeared just like that. Somehow, Matron Minerva felt in her heart that they were not bad, yet, an inkling suspicion always bothered her.

She was tinkering the hologram menu screen when the phone rang. Puzzled, she went towards it and received the call. "Hello, who is this?"

"Mom?"

"Troy, weren't you supposed to be taking your exam?”

"Mom, I don't have time. Alcee might be in danger right now. He's at the treehouse right now, at the Black forest where we usually stay. I used the teleport chip on him so he could not be found by anyone here. I don't know if you knew something, mom, but I saw his body covered in a purple flame. I don't know if others have seen it, but please check on him. Thank you and bye, Mom."

His last words shocked Matron Minerva to the core. She just stood there as if she was paralyzed. Soon enough, the people would discover her son's identity. She already knew that his secret would be revealed, but she was not expecting that his secret would be related to the mythical ones!

Oh God, I must find him. If somebody finds this out, his life might be in danger.

Minerva dashed towards her room, and rummaged through her wardrobe, taking out a treasure box. Pricking her finger with a needle, she let her blood dropped on the chest. The box hummed and glowed, and its lid eventually opened. She took out a blue chip and crushed it in her hands.

Matron Minerva was silent for a moment. Her eyes suddenly flared, as black rays of energy emanated from her.

I must protect my child at all cost.

____________________________________________________________

09:05 A.M. February 4, 4086 A.D.

The Shed

Lieutenant Harry Kendrick

People gossiped while vehicles raced through the parking lot, yet this did not disturbed the young lad's concentration. Lieutenant Harry Kendrick was in a black military garb, his scabbard hanged on his waist, showing his high stature. In the city, the only one who was allowed to wear it openly were the one who was in military. He gave off a noble aura.

"A nobody should not be allowed to mingle with someone like me."

With an indignant look, he glanced at the chattering crowd as if they were insects to be crushed. Harry was a proud man. He had always thought of himself to be rather special. Coming from a well-bred lineage, his family was respected even though they were humans. Both his parents held a certain degree of power in the city: his dad being a mayor, and his mom a chief secretary of the Weaponry Department. Even androids gave them special treatment; they were careful not to cross their path.

"Have you attached the spy bug in his body?"

"Yes, Lieutenant."

"Okay, scram."

Harry did not want to talk to a novice, yet, he was forced to do so because of what he saw earlier. His eyes played on him: a boy was somehow engulfed in a hazy purple light! He had to make sure if what he saw was true. But when he reached the car, he couldn't find the boy with them. Puzzled, he inquired the boy if he had another companion but he just said that it was just the two of them: him and his girl friend. With his experience, his instincts were sharpened by countless battles, and this instinct tells him that the boy named Troy was lying.

Harry was unwavering about his decision. No matter what it takes, the boy in hazy purple light must be caught. Opening his Electobag, he took out a small headphone, about a quarter in size, and connected it to his Electopad. "Activate the spying device."

"One moment please."

He attached the headphone in his ears, and after a few seconds, he heard a voice.

"..."

"Mom?"

"..."

"Mom, I don't have time. Alcee might be in danger right now. He's at the treehouse, at the Black forest where we usually stay. I used the teleport chip on him so he could not be found by anyone here. I don't know if you knew something, mom, but I saw his body covered in a purple flame. I don't know if others have seen it, but please check on him. Thank you and bye, Mom."

The conversation piqued his interest, and his doubts were getting stronger. After the conversation, he took the headphone off his ears and returned it to his Electobag. He pressed his Electopad again. "Connect me to Mario."

"One moment please."

A hologram of a young man materialized in the air. "It's you, Lieutenant Kendrick. What's up he he he."

With a cold demeanor, he just stood silently without greeting back. "Let's cut the chase, Mario. I have a mission for you."

"What is it then."

"You have to kidnap someone for me. His name is Alcee.” Harry icily explained as he knitted his brows in a furrow. Tapping his hands, he tried to remember everything he heard earlier, and said, “He is now currently at the Black Forest's treehouse, it's the only one existing, you can't miss the place. It is imperative that he should not die. You can hurt him, but don't kill him. You must bring him back alive. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Lieutenant. What if he is with someone. What should I do?"

"Just kill. And make sure to bring the mythical blood detector."

"Okay, same process then. I'd be checking my bank account first. Better deposit the half. 25000 Gold."

"Okay, over and out."

Harry looked at the passing vehicles with a solemn expression. He had done everything that he could do, all his efforts paid off. He became a Lieutenant, and his only daughter was living comfortably: Jenna. But, it was as if destiny was playing with him, his only daughter was afflicted with a rare disease. The only way she would be healed was by drinking a Mythicales's blood!

Now a chance was opened for him, and he would not let this chance slip by. No matter what it took him, no matter what it costed him, he would definitely do it. Even if he would have to kill endlessly, he would gladly do it just for his daughter's sake.

"I'm sorry, Alcee, whoever you are, but you have to die for my daughter's sake. At least your maggot life would not be in vain."

_______________________________________________________________

08:55 A.M. February 4, 4086 A.D.

The Parking Lot

Tori Henna

A demon? Have I just seen a real demon?

Tori could still recall the vivid image of the old demon she saw a while ago: brooding complexion, elongated red eyes, diamond-like claws, spiral ivory horns, baleful aura. The demon’s presence was suffocating her; she couldn’t even move an inch. Its features were far from the book’s description; she couldn’t even believe that a demon actually existed. Why in the world have I seen a demon today?

“What am I gonna do?”

“Help!”

“No! Don’t touch him! Stay away from him”

“Alcee, wake up! Alcee!”

“Why is it getting dark? Am I dying?”

“Tori, Tori, wake up.” She heard a raspy voice calling her name as her body rocked to and fro. “My love, Tori. Wake up.”

“Alcee?” Tori was able to recover from the trance, and shifted her gaze towards the young man. She saw Troy frowning while his arms folded on his chest - looking dreary and wearied. “Ah, it’s just you.”

“Why? What’s wrong with just me?” Troy puckered his face, as if displeased with what he was hearing. “Or are you hoping that it was your prince charming who would wake you up from your slumber?”

“Nothing. I didn’t plan to sound mean or anything.” She gathered her strength and stood up, tidying her white hair. Looking around, she searched for Alcee back in the car but he was already gone. Frowning, she turned her gaze towards Troy. “Where’s Alcee?!”

Troy glimpsed at the waiting shed, then shifted her gaze back to her and said, “We’d better not talk that much right now. All you need to know is he’s at the treehouse.” Twiddling his thumbs, he stared at her with a concerned look. “He might be in danger.”

“What?! Why?”

“See that guy in military uniform? The one with the scabbard on his waist.”

Troy pouted his lips as if pointing at someone. Following its direction, she saw the only soldier in black garb amidst the commoners in standby. Nodding, she tilted her head slightly and asked, “What about him?”

“I’m afraid he saw everything a while ago. You know, about Alcee.”

“Wait. You mean he saw the demon as well?”

“What demon? Don’t scare me like that. You know I hate ugly things.”

“You mean you didn’t see the demon?”

“No, of course not. I would not be here standing with you if I happened to see one, you know. I’d be long gone, far away from here.”

What? Am I the only one who saw that demon? A crease formed on Tori’s forehead as she reflected on the things she saw. She could not make a thing or two out of the situation: the demon was an enigma. What was the connection with that purple light and Alcee? Why did the demon pat his head, as if it was treating his child?

“Hello back to Earth, my love.” Troy waved his hands before her face, as if trying to wake her up. “You still didn’t answer me. Why’s the demon - never mind. He is coming.”

“Who’s he? Aaaah, the soldier?”

“Yeah. I’d just want to tell you he’s not just a soldier. In fact, he is a lieutenant.”

“What?!”