The sky was coated in a thin black light, with strands of silver shining through unto the world, underneath this scene were two people walking along a endlessly stretching highway, rising above a barren land, dotted with strange plants, that seemed like they belonged in an abstract painting.

Saia was walking slowly, brushing away dried dust particles from the gusts of cool wind. A smaller figure dressed in completely black mech suit, was now leaning on his shoulder as they walked.

“Saia.... I'm tired.”

“... And?”

“Carry me.”

“No, in fact since you're wearing that stealth suit, you're the one that should be carrying me.”

As soon as as he responded she quickly clicked her tongue and pulled out a small device, she gently placed it on his back as they continued to walk. Along the way Saia could hear game noises, while his body deflected large gusts of wind.

The highway was cracked, large pot holes were becoming more frequent, and the constant crumbling felt like the highway could collapse at any moment. Saia casually walked by a couple of skeletons lying on the edge, they were deformed, and bulbous, but at the same time resembled humans in every other way. Strange patches of purple flesh clung to the skeletal remains, however as he was walking by, a weird expression appeared on his face as he stopped.

Immediately Ciel ran into Saia, causing the gaming device to fall out of her hands, but was quickly recovered.

“.... Saia, watch where you're going.”

“Sorry, there's something I want to check on.”

He slowly walked towards one of the skeletal remains and examined it quietly, after nodding his head a few times he immediately jammed his left hand into the patch of purple skin, and pulled out a deformed purple creature shaped like a human fetus, with eyes, and muscular limbs.

The creature was thrashing widely, gnawing at his fingers. Ciel crept beside him, and materialized a shot gun in her hands, without a single response she blew away the stomach of the skeletal remains, after several blueish explosions, the skeletal corpse flew off the edge of the highway.

Saia eyed the creature gnawing away at him with interest, he studied it's body thoroughly before throwing it over the edge.

A small gun shot rang out, as red stains sailed through the air. Saia eyed the torn flesh on his fingers and smiled, the giant gnash that was once their, quickly disappeared.

“To think even after fifty years, these things are still roaming around.”

“Are you surprised?”

“A bit, after all, why would they remain in a place they already sucked dry.”

“Well in this world the winners can do whatever they want to the losers, right?”

“Fair enough.”

Saia did not bother to comment, and continued onward, it was slow and casual. The one behind him occasionally poked him in the back.

“Too slow.”

There was no need to hurry, and time itself was merely an arbitrary number. If he said he would be there, he would, the problem was merely when. Eventually they reached a section where the high way was completely destroyed, below was a canyon filled with twisted metal, dilapidated buildings, charred skeletons, and ruined homes.

Ciel just stared silently at the ancient graveyard, and turned to the large missing portion of the connecting highway.

“Roughly thirty meters.”

Saia walked behind her, and gently placed his palm on her metallic knapsack, and silently pushed her over the edge.

Two men with thick military grade mech suits, were smoking near an exotic looking tree as they stared at the dark sky.

“I hate mornings.”

“What the hell do you mean, there's barely any difference.”

“No well, I just prefer purple, you know?”

“Shut up Ja....”

One man's head immediately rolled off his neck, while the other man's forehead was impaled with a small dagger, that sent static coursing all over the body, and mechanical suit. The two bodies fell silently near the tree as a figure walked passed them.

The person had a feminine figure, and glossy silver hair, but the face was covered in white mask that occasionally flickered with bizarre images, she lightly touched the air with her finger that was covered by a thin black mechanical glove.

His coded signal ended near here. Ten signatures in a twenty meter radius,

After glancing around, she slowly walked towards the dead bodies, and disappeared into the shadow of the tree.

The mansion was covered by an electric fence, and thick mechanical walls, with strange lights and noises coming from it. The garden was surrounded by strange yet beautiful plants, flowers, and statues with artistic flair to them.

Men in military suits, some in high tech armour were standing in many way points, and entrances, obviously one look, and you can tell this was the home of a very powerful individual. In the entrance a group of men we talking casually with each other.

One of them turned around and noticed a familiar face.

“Hey Jason, weren't you supposed to be guarding the back.”

“Sorry, I need to use the washroom.”

The man stared at Jason in the mech suit looking desperate, after a sigh he waved him past. As Jason approached the sealed door he noticed a scanner, and id card slot near it. A red beam of light scanned Jason's face, he then stuck a card inside which was followed by a strange spark of electricity, and the door opened.

While inside he spotted a few attractive woman in maid clothes wandering around, some of which were mingling with armed guards. He spotted a cute looking girl with brown hair walking past him, and immediately grabbed her.

She gave a startled expression, but Jason gave a kind smile.

“Sorry, but can you point me to the washroom?”

“What! How long have you worked here Jason, stop screwing around, and you should be taking off your suit before entering the main area, idiot!”

The maid dragged him to the changing area first, before leaving.

After taking off the mech suit, Jason revealed his long silver hair, and body that was hard to be mistaken for a man. The man's face slowly changed, and deformed into a plain white mask, she dug her hands into the mech suit which had areas that were hollowed out, to pull out a scabbard.

A calm, and soft voice whispered behind the mask.

“Well then, should I start?”

Saia was now walking on a shore, where the ocean waters were dyed in a strange dark color, a small cluster of houses were scattered across the massive beach. As he walked closer he could spot heaps metal on the ocean shores, the farther he walked, the more numerous they were. Thousands of ancient ships, that were likely centuries old, became a permanent part of the scenery.

Strange creatures could be seen moving inside the graveyard, and swimming on the thick, dark waters. He could see a shadow in the distance waving to him, as he waved back, he felt a powerful force smashing into his left hand.

A bitter smile appeared on his face but he said nothing and just kept moving towards the figure.

“Hi Ciel, is he here?”

“Yea, he's in that building.”

She pointed toward a rundown wooden building, with the name Bouto's surfboards painted on the

it.

“By the way, what was that shot for?”

“For what you did to me on the highway, warn me next time.”

Saia just shrugged his shoulders as he went past several small wooden buildings, out of the corner of his eye he could spot some shadows spying on him

“Twen... No, thirty people. Ciel, is it safe?”

“Yea, those people are the locals that made a simple life here, away from the main conflict areas.”

A small smile escaped his lips, as he slowly arrived at the entrance, and opened the unlocked wooden doors.

“Hi, sorry for the trouble.”

Without waiting for a response, he walked in. The room was dark, and cold, a steely and stoic machine that resembled a human stood their. The robot did not speak, it merely stared at them, and made a motion to have them follow.

Saia was brought to a store room, where a hidden entrance was revealed, eventually he was led into an underground room where a warm bright light greeted him, and old classical music was being played. The room, and music gave off a relaxing and calm environment. The floors were clean, and waxed, and a giant bar took up nearly half the space, there on the counter, sat an old man in a plain brown coat, and a matching cap.

Saia slowly approached, the red haired man at the counter cautiously eyed Saia but made no abrupt movements, eventually Saia sat next to the old man.

“Elithas, what do you recommend?”

The old man placed an empty glass in front of Saia, as the young man poured out a dark red liquid.

“Burgundy Saia, this one is said to be perfect in this world, well... Before modern civilization was ruined of course.”

“Oh?”

“It was once described as 'velvet and satin' in a bottle.”

“What a treat.”

Saia lightly swirled the liquid to strengthen the aroma, each time he swirled a different aroma arose, the more complex a wine the more scents to take in, which in result, intensifies the flavour. After all, the overall taste of the wine is a combination of smells, and flavors.

Saia's eyes burst open after taking one sip.

“Silky, pure, and elegant.”

As Saia was commenting, Ciel found the nearest couch, and simply collapsed on it, she took off her metallic knapsack, and helmet placing it to the side, and brought out a hand held gaming device, and became absorbed into her own world.

Her brown eyes glared at the screen, and the doll like face became twisted in anxiety, as she desperately tried to conquer whatever was getting in her way, her short black hair became messy as it tangled with the couch.

Saia was currently taking a bite out of the snacks he was offered on a plate, while staring vacantly at a painting hung on the wall.

“... So what was that seed, I analyzed it before, but almost nothing about it is natural to this world. ”

Elithas nodded, as he took another sip of wine, while leaning his back against the counter.

“Dr. Sene Byon, a genius in the field of bio engineering, a person who actually obtained knowledge of those whom ravaged our world, and saved the survivors. That seed, among a few other things, were created by him.”

Saia stared at the picture of a gray haired old woman with glassy eyes, gazing into the sky, with a look of terror.

“That still doesn't explain what these objects he left behind are.”

“They're ingredients.”

“..... For?”

“You'll find out soon enough, come visit me on my Island, in a week.”

“Sounds fun.”

“By the way Saia, have you guys had dinner yet?”

Before a response even came, Ciel was already walking to the counter and sitting next to Saia.

“No we haven't,” She said in a firm tone.

An hour later, a few dishes were laid on the counter, boiled fish, fried vegetables, and roasted meat.

Ciel was already taking food unto her plate, while Saia inspected them.

He stared at Elithas in curiosity.

“Roasted meat is rare, most wildlife aren't edible anymore, unless genetically raised, and farmed, and even then those facilities are heavily guarded by the empires. Where did you obtain them?”

A slow smile escaped Elithas' lips.

“You'll find out, soon.”

Saia raised an eyebrow but didn't bother to pursue the topic, when Elithas likes to play coy, he will never reveal anything.

He just stared at Elithas' white hair, robotic limbs, and winkled face.

“You should have taken them all those years ago when you had the chance Elithas, your body is falling apart now.”

“I've used them for something much greater.”

“I'm going to guess you won't tell me, and I'll find out later.”

Elithas nodded slowly, while a tall woman with long black hair walked into the room carrying a small box. Elithas turned to Saia with a glint in his eyes.

“Saia I challenge you to chess.”

“I accept.”

Hours rolled by, and Ciel was now huddled back in a corner gaming, the red haired man was now watching over a chess match between Elithas, and Saia.

Saia's opening move was utilizing first turn advantage to play the lines, while Elithas was setting up a Sicilian defence. This was the third match, and the score was one win and two draws, Saia quietly took a black pawn with his knight, to check the black king.

Eltihas frowned, as he was forced to retreat.

“Saia, you're as terrible as always huh.”

Ciel nodded vigorously without actually speaking.

As Elithas took the white bishop, he slowly regained control of centre board.

“Is that sarcasm, compared to you who always likes to scheme.”

Saia immediately took a rook, with his knight, Elithas furrowed his eyebrows as he moved his queen.

“And you don't? How do you think you got your new arm?”

“I wouldn't have needed it, if a certain man didn't put me in a situation to fight that guy.”

Saia immediately sacrificed his white pawn for another black one in a war of attrition. After a terrible battle that cost many lives, Saia finally checkmated Eltihas, forcing one win each, and two draws.

As Saia was about to set up another game, Elithas interrupted, and pointed at the painting.

“Saia, you saw the painting earlier right? Do you know what that painting is about?”

Saia's face turned serious as he analyzed it.

The proportion of the painting emphasizes the sky, dark gray tones show the mood of vividness, and depression. The cold colors show sadness, the lines are fierce and powerful, showing heavy emotions.

“The title? When was the painting done?”

“Last Night, year 2475.”

The 2475 had nothing of note, but in the 2400's, during the era where most of humanity was at a global war. Death was rampant, people became poor, sad, and hungry.

Saia stared at the painting longer, and noticed the flowers, and trees.

Those flowers used to be famous in a country to the west, But during that period of history, in that country, there was something else of note, a famous woman,

Saia's eyes formed a glare as he stared at Elithas.

“The name of the painter?”

“Calos Byon.”

Saia slowly nodded.

“.... They're related?”

“Yea.”

“She married him?”

“Yea.”

“Estelle coldwater, later named Estelle Byon, a famed woman that was called a seer of humanity, the one who foresaw many turning points in history.”

Elithas nodded slowly.

“Do you have any conclusions?”

Saia stared at the woman, compared to the painting she was far too small, but her presence was also emphasized by the colors used for her, on her clothes was a strange symbol.

“That symbol is from a religion that started in the 2400's, a religion with multiple gods, during the long war, the most prominent god associated with that time period would either be war or death. But the painting's theme seems closer to death. During Estelle's life time she only made predictions durings her youth, she stopped when she was around forty, in this picture she looked closer to seventy.”

Elithas just looked amused, while waiting for Saia.

“..... Did she die the same year as this painting?”

“Yes.”

“I see. So before her death, she had one final vision, correct?”

“Seems so.”

Saia sighed lightly while staring at the ceiling.

“The death of the world, is it?”