“We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell.”

― Oscar Wilde

In a world full of lies, where does the truth lie? In the great unknown? In the minds of the rulers of the world? Or does the truth lie somewhere else? Somewhere….more obvious, where every single person can see and access….but do not realize…..

In a world full of lies, where does the truth lie? In the great unknown? In the minds of the rulers of the world? Or does the truth lie somewhere else? Somewhere….more obvious, where every single person can see and access….but do not realize…..

Alaric was trembling, his body badly bruised...his cause being right in front of him. He gripped his sword tighter as he faced his foe, the son of a great noble named Richard. With a single step, he had already arrived in front of Alaric, not giving him any time to react at all. The sharp, crisp sound of swords clanging could be heard throughout the field as Alaric stumbled back.

His hands hurt...no, his whole body hurt as it ached in pain, but yet he still persevered. He took a deep breath as his boots dug into the white soft snow below, looking like they sank beneath the mass pile. Suddenly, he took a step forward, his sword following quickly behind as he aimed a slash for Richard’s chest. As the sword got closer, Alaric’s hopes rose, already seeing the hit making contact with the body. But yet…..it didn’t.

He was dumbfounded. Before he could even think, a wave of pain rushed from his side. He fell into the cold pile of snow and cried out in pain. He looked over at Richard in shock. His mind still couldn’t comprehend what had happened.

As he tried to get up, his face soon met the cold embrace of the snow preventing him from rising up. Richard spat onto Alaric as his foot twisted harder, pushing him deeper into the snow. “How dare such trash like you even attempt to fight me? Might as well die with the rest of the pigs” and with that he crouched down and grabbed Alaric’s hair. All Alaric saw was an evil grin before he met the ground again…..and again….and again….

His vision blurred as he coughed. The soft, vibrant white snow was now taking a dark tone of red. “Richard how many times do I have to tell you to stop!” A loud voice could be heard from across the field, belonging to the instructor of the exercise

“…..you got lucky this time….I’ll see you later mince meat” He laughed, although there was nothing funny about that in Alaric’s eyes.

The instructor ignored him and instructed the next couple to spar. Alaric wiped his mouth as he stood up. His head hung low as he walked back to his dorm. He wondered what he was doing here anymore. Compared to the other cadets, he ranked lowest in the class but for some reason was put with the higher ranked cadets in lessons.

He shook the snow out of his hair as he grabbed his sword and put it against the rack with the others. He slowly made his way back to his dorm, opening the door as he flopped onto the bed. He let out a sigh, looking up at the ceiling as his mind was lost in thought….’What exactly is even true anymore? So called friends...So called teachers who claim you can go to them for help….all lies, such fucking lies.’

He rolled to the side and looked across the room at his uniform, still soaking wet from the melted snow. His daydreaming was interrupted by the opening and slamming of the door against the wall, startling him.

“Yo Alaric” the visitor said lightly as he waved, stepping in nonchalantly as he sat on the other bed. “Hey Ajax, how was it for you?” Alaric replied, his voice sounding depressed.

“Not bad compared to the other days, I only got beatdown five times!” He laughed, before wincing as he rubbed his chest.

The pain didn’t change.” Alaric sighed as he stood up, heading to his drawer as he looked through it. He turned to Ajax, tossing him some painkillers as he stood up, stretching, before making his way towards the door. “Give me the number five combo with extra cheese!” “Yes, yes, I know.” he let out a sigh, closing the door behind them. His roommate, Ajax, was also one of the lower ranked students.Unlike Alaric, he was more positive and jolly.

They knew each other for two out of the four years they had been at the academy. Alaric hummed softly, his steps light, but still resounding throughout the empty hallway as he made his way to the food court. He paid the simple food fee before showing his ID as he received the food they had gotten used to over the last two years. He walked back to the dorm and tossed Ajax the food before lying back on his bed.

“You know…..what's wrong Alaric?” “What do you mean?” “Cut the crap, tell me whats wrong? Anytime something is wrong you always have that look on your face” “What look?” “The look of a dumbass” Ajax said taking another bite into the hamburger. Although he was happy most of the time, he was known to be blunt and honest, which was one of the reasons why Alaric trusted and confided in him so much.

Alaric sighed, running one of his hands through his hair as he stared directly at him. “Why do we have to be given so much shit? Even if we aren’t as good as them or have enough aptitude to use the psychic gears, we’re still human. Aren’t we supposed to be on the same side? Fighting against the Mortems? Those fucking monsters! But yet!....but yet here we are...still fighting each other….why Ajax? What did we do to deserve this!” He was breathing heavily now. His true thoughts now spoken. Ajax looked at Alaric inquisitively before putting the burger down and sighing.

“Alaric...it's precisely because we’re humans that we do that. We compete, we fight, we argue, we come together, we build, we destroy...its just how we work even in times of extreme crisis. We will never be fully unified. We will always find something to fight each other over...the one thing you can’t change about humans is that: their ability to create and remain in conflict. . Anyways, don’t let it get you down, you'll do fine and show them wrong. Doubt it or do. I have faith that you can do it, and I’ll root for you because you’re my friend.”

“Fair enough,” he let out a sigh and closed his eyes. “Hey Alaric.” “Hmm?” He turned to his friend, opening his eyes the last time for the day. “If you were given a power to save the world, would you do it?”

“Depends.”

“On what”

“Is the world worth saving?”