Ravens Camp Library stood magnificently in a bygone era when the art of architecture had lost its lustre. A sea of red and yellow lilies, the physical manifestation of summer, was in full bloom, creating a scene where the old majestic temple of worship stood in solitude amongst those who lived yet were dead on the inside.

  Several soldiers walked along with the flowers, soaking in the atmosphere only Mother Nature could create. The coming of summer did not faze the youths, for they had lived in this chamber of madness since they unwillingly swapped their respective freedoms in exchange for the Federation’s empty promises.

  This white monument contained history captured in ink from eras beyond the fleeting lifespan of a human. The concept of writing to capture the moment’s essence was one solution many scholars have thought of in the past for achieving immortality. The art of putting their soul into words, to translate the inner recesses of their intellect, for they knew their tongues would suffer the fate of getting severed by the tyrannical rulers of their time. These works became proof of their existence to immortalise themselves in the history of time.

  That was until technology progressed to the point of no return.

  Humans no longer found a need to nourish their minds with words, with their curiosity cast to the wayside in the name of progress. Technology rapidly advanced in the world until it did not. While some of the North’s technology only survived based on a political decision, the writings of scholars stood the test of time. Architecture can be built and destroyed. Humanity can rise and fall. Ideology can pervade society and dissipate over time. However, books, when written, cannot be rewritten.

  As history has proven, human ingenuity prevailed.

  Since discovering Bray’s sharp eye and intuition, Neptune had spent considerable time getting to know him. To understand him. To pick into his brain. And dig deeper into the core of his existence.

  But from an outsider’s point of view, the words “knowing” and “understanding” would likely be replaced with another word. Highly likely, that replacement would be interrogating.

  Under the foliage of blooming flowers, Batch 123 had nested themselves comfortably in the shade, experiencing the coming of a new season. Finding a corner far from his batchmates’ eavesdropping ears, Neptune gazed upon the spot Bray pointed. “I believe this is where you first met him. Tell me more about it. And I want you to be specific. Super. Specific.”

  “He stunned me.”

  “Did you not hear what I said? What do you mean by stunned? That is not specific enough. More! Give me more details! You can do better!”

  Bray looked at Neptune blankly.

  “Hurry up! We don’t have all day.”

  “You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you about it. You know that it's ridiculous for someone to move like that!”

  Neptune placed his hands to reassure him. “You can trust me. I believe in you, Bray. Tell me about it. Slowly.”

  Bray didn’t want to come off as the type of person to believe in supernatural phenomena, but what he experienced on that day when coming face to face with that extraterrestrial-like being was nothing short of otherworldly.

  “Ok, that alien appeared out of nowhere. Poof! Like magic! Zoom, boom, zoom!”

  Neptune didn’t know if Bray was pulling his legs.

  “See? You don’t even believe me! I’m not telling you anything from now! Bye!”

  “...So you’re calling him an alien now? Hey wait–”

  Bray suddenly rose. “You don’t believe me? Fine. I’m gone now!”

  Neptune started nodding in frantic eagerness.“Wait. I believe you. He’s an alien. Yes, an ET!”

  Bray clapped his hands as he had a eureka moment. “I can’t recall where I have seen them before, but those eyes remind me of the ‘Unseen Rulers’ myth! That same ol’ myth my parents read to me as a kid!”

  Neptune raised his eyebrows.

  “Wait a minute, do you know what I’m talking about?”

  Bray covered his mouth in shock as Neptune shook his head.

  “Oh my god, what a childhood you have there.”

  Thanks for reminding me.

  “...Well, sorry to inform you, but my mother didn’t read that myth to me. I can faintly remember her reading bedtime stories about the Drazen Empire, though–”

  “What?! Did you just say stories about the Drazen Empire?” Bray gasped uncontrollably, wondering if Neptune’s childhood of listening to those horrific tales had influenced his upbringing.

  “Well, I just did.”

  “That explains your weirdness…”

  “And what do you mean by that?”

  “Your mom…She’s 100% a masochist. Come on, of all the stories to read to a child, why the freaking Empire?! Does she have a kink for those golden-haired barbarians?”

  “Certainly not, look at me,” Neptune pointed at his brown hair, “I’m sure my seed came from a brown-haired man.” Neptune swiftly grabbed Bray by the shoulders and began to shake him senseless. “Can you start with the damn story?”

  “Are you sure you’re ready for it?”

  Neptune released his grip and nodded.

  “Are you sure you want to listen to it? It’s very long, though–”

  “If you start now, perhaps the story would have already finished.”

  Bray straightened himself up and grinned from ear to ear, excited to recite his favourite story from his childhood days.

  “Oh, it’ll be my pleasure! Here we go!”

  “A long time, more than millennia ago, the first inhabitants of Atlantea were a population of indigenous people. The concepts of building and harnessing the earth were foreign to them. Our ancestors lived primitive lives, one where they lived for today instead of dreaming of ‘what could be’ tomorrow.”

  “One day, from the heavens descended a celestial being. This celestial wore garments intricately designed and OOParts (Out-of-place Artifacts) foreign to the eyes of these primitive souls. However, what captured the attention of these souls wasn’t the possessions or clothing of the celestial but the aura he possessed.”

  “The ancestors of Atlantea came before this celestial being to pledge their servitude, christening him with the title of Founding Father. The Founder possessed the power to change the base states of this realm. He had the aura of omnipotence that commanded authority with his presence. The sheer might he drew with the esoteric powers by his side conveyed his mastery over the living and the dead. Finally, the mark of a conqueror, the crown he wore on his head, showcasing his pedigree of warfare success achieved through brute force, instilled fear in the hearts of the ancestors of Atlantea.”

  “The omnipotent Founder, with the powers he wielded, created the first schools in Atlantea. He imparted to the ancestors of Atlantea the skills to cultivate civilisation. With these skills, Atlantea began its first renaissance in agronomics, becoming a rich country filled with bountiful crops in its vast lands. However, there were lands far beyond the reach of the ancestors.”

  “The Founder selected a family he had seen with great principles and morals. A family that has served the interest of Atlantea over themselves–a hallmark of success he knew would ensure the prosperity of Atlantea after his departure. The Founder blessed this family with a portion of his power. This family is known today as the Temporeans.”

  “Knowing that he had imparted most of his knowledge to the ancestors of Atlantea, the Founder departed Atlantea for new lands. Ancient Atlantea, known as South Atlantea in modern times, became the first trading port of the old world. As time passed, the Temporeans dedicated the exploration of lands beyond the South, starting their expansion upwards.”

  “The Highlands, known as Central Atlantea today, started the second renaissance in Atlantea. The Temporeans utilised the raw materials and commodities found in the mountains of Central Atlantea to boost Atlantea’s strength as a trading hub.”

  “The Komodo Lands, known as North Atlantea today, were the final exploration by the Temporeans. The Komodo Lands were filled with abundant natural gas and energy, prompting the Temporeans to create the first institutions of higher learning to harness the possibilities of science–the ancient art of alchemy.”

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  “The Temporeans, after spending thousands of years in the service of Atlantea and serving the wishes of the Founder, began to retreat into the lush wilderness of South Atlantea. Their name became lost in history, with nobody knowing what became of the esteemed first Atlanteans. Today, many have labelled them as the ‘Unseen Rulers’.”

  “North Atlantea, with its rapid expansion, became the land of opportunity for those foreign to Atlantea. Thousands of years have passed, with North Atlantea becoming the first country in the modern world to welcome foreigners seeking opportunities.”

  “As time passed, the technocratic regime in the North grew more ambitious. They demanded a separate rule of governance from the South, desiring the separation of the North from the Republic of Atlantea. They then declared war against the South, utilising technology designed for humanity’s progress to inflict harm on their oppressors. The North, filled with immigrants with no semblance of tradition, started to bite the hand that fed them for generations.”

  “The Temporeans emerged from the sprawling landscapes and used their authority to inspire the ancestors of Atlantea. The Temporeans rallied the Republic’s Armed Forces to enact justice on the ‘servants of the devil’ living in the North. Eventually, the North succumbed to defeat at the hands of the Republic.”

  “Yet, the Temporeans were merciful. Upon the North’s defeat, they declared that the technocratic regime had subverted the North’s culture beyond their imagination. With a heavy heart, the Temporeans annexed the North, allowing them to rot on the inside until they repented for their wrongdoings. There was a prophecy the Founder imparted to the Temporean before departing. There would come a time when the world would become challenged by the forces of nature wielded by an ‘Alchemical Worldender’. And when the day arrives, Atlantea will unite before joining forces with other nations to defend against the catastrophe to come.”

  Bray waved his hands, but Neptune did not budge one bit. “Yo, something up with you?”

  He tried waving again.

  “Come on, don’t make me–”

  Neptune seemingly snapped out of his trance and placed his hands together to form a prayer

  “That was…”

  “Was what?”

  “That was mind-blowingly amazing.”

  “Nah, you’re pulling my legs!”

  “One day, I’ll have you be my assistant for every great work I intend to create. A storyteller like yourself deserves a roaring ovation for that magnificent act!”

  “Nah–”

  “I’m serious, Bray. That was amazing.”

  Bray clenched a fistful of fabric over his heart as tears started streaming down his face. “You’re not pulling my legs, right?”

  “I didn’t know you had a penchant for telling tales,” Neptune feigned a burst of laughter. “I could a hundred per cent guarantee imagine you as a salesman selling snake oil if the Empire didn’t declare war on us.”

  “Snake oil…? What’s that?”

  “It’s a figure of speech.”

  “Figure of speech? You’re speaking in a slang I don’t understand, my dawg!”

  “What the heck is ‘my dawg’?”

  “That’s the same thing I feel with your ‘Neptune-speak’!”

  Neptune leaned his head back. “‘Neptune-speak’?! What’s that?”

  “Your speech patterns, duh!”

  “‘Duh’?”

  Bray glanced around quickly before whispering into Neptune’s ears. “Forget about that. I got some alpha.”

  “...Alpha? Is that ‘Bray-speak’?”

  “Yeah, my dawg. It means sauce. Like source. I got some good info to share with you.”

  “Can you stop with that?”

  “Come on, that makes me who I am.”

  “Let’s speak proper English.”

  “Fine by me. Anyways, are you ready?”

  Neptune straightened his posture, his intent speaking for itself.

  “That soldier visits the library at least once a day when the sun is about to set,” Bray inched closer to Neptune, who seemed to have reached the limits of his patience. “Wait, wait! Don’t get angry! Here’s the best part. Are you ready?”

  “You need to know when to stop with this suspense thing you’re doing when we’re talking about something serious.”

  “I was just getting to the good stuff–”

  Neptune clicked his tongue, cutting into Bray’s needlessly long speech.

  “Fine, I get it! He knows I’m stalking him!”

  Neptune blinked once. “Are you sure?”

  “Damn right.”

  “Hold on right there. He didn’t do anything to you despite that?”

  “Nope, not a single scratch on me!” Bray puffed his chest, flexing his nonexistent biceps. “It seems he doesn’t care one bit about me. No teleportation, disappearance, or any shenanigans–nothing! Nada!”

  Neptune didn’t know what else to say at this ridiculous exchange.

  “I have a question for you.”

  Can you shut up for once?

  “What is it…?”

  “Why are you so obsessed with him?”

  Neptune breathed in deeply, pausing before closing his eyes. He struggled to find the right words but decided to spare Bray the fate of overusing his brain cells.

  You’ll never understand.

  Everything about that soldier ticked him off. His circumstances. The birthright he attained since birth. And the heritage from his bloodline’s illustrious deeds. That singular, uncontrollable factor, known as the genetic lottery, had given the Temporean everything he wanted out of life.

  The butterfly effect advantage was unfair. Not only did that soldier possess intellectual gifts, but he also possessed a natural flair for physicality. That Temporean was strong in mind and body, something he lacked due to their complex genetic differences. For days and nights, he had spent every free waking moment researching everything about the Temporean family. His obsession led him down the rabbit hole, wondering if there was an opening he could exploit…

  That’s when he figured out that one giant loophole. There exists a glitch in the matrix.

  “Bray…I am not obsessed with him.”

  “If you say so. Oh, they’re going back!” Bray pointed his finger at their batchmates as he spotted them walking to the garden’s entrance.

  “Wait.”

  “What’s up?”

  Something did not make sense with that soldier’s participation.

  “I got an idea.”

  “Uh-huh?”

  “Hold on right there. Do me a favour, won’t you?”

  “Unless you want me to kill someone, that’s a no.”

  Bray wanted to laugh until he saw a sinister expression developing on Neptune’s face. Unadulterated fear began to rise within his heart.

  “Wait a minute, you’re not joking.”

  “That day will come.”

  Bray laughed nervously to diffuse this strange conversation that took a turn for the worst.

  “Erm–Wait…what?”

  “Just kidding.”

  “Come on now, Neptune. Stop making these kinds of bad jokes! I have no idea whether you’re serious or joking sometimes.”

  “Fine, my bad. Here’s the task. I need you to help me find out that soldier’s name.”

  Bray’s jaw dropped at the simplicity of the task.

  “Wait…that’s all? I thought you wanted me to do something else!”

  “That might come in handy during Field Camp.”

  “Field Camp?! That’s like…a month away from now.”

  “I’m aware of that. But do you think they’re ready?” Neptune pointed at Batch 123.

  “Come on, it’s just a week in the wild. What’s the worst that can happen?”

  Neptune breathed and exhaled slowly before standing up. “Exactly, what’s the worst that can happen…”

  …These idiots are going to fumble the bag. I know it.

  Leading the way to rejoin their batch, Neptune brushed off the grass on his trousers, gesturing for Bray to hurry up.

  “That’s it, let’s go.”

  *

  “Batch 123! Kindly report to the eagle’s briefing hall.”

  “Let’s hope we don’t get thrown into the trenches of infantry.” Upon hearing the announcement, Neptune moaned jokingly as Batch 123 walked through the hallways.

  “Infan–what?” Finn curiously tilted his head. “Something new you picked up from the dictionary?”

  “Infantry is a branch of service where the soldiers are foot soldiers, putting it simply,” Neptune replied.

  “Well…I don’t see anything bad about it?”

  “My brother, nobody wants to get posted there.”

  “Why not…?”

  The gold coins in his collection had stories affiliated with their mint. These heroic tales commemorated legends about leaders who had conquered lands. Some tales spoke of brave warriors who became emperors and kings. Ultimately, they all had one common denominator: history celebrating the legacy of these great men. Which begs the question: what determines one worthy of becoming celebrated? The more one wonders about legacy, the closer one gets to the ultimate truth: most are remembered as a collective.

  And only some are worth remembering as individuals.

  The stories and insignificant lives of the rank and file, those footsoldiers of history, had become lost. Regardless of their feats, nobody remembers them. Even fewer know where they met their end, apart from ending up in mass burial sites.

  After stepping into Ravens Camp, his mindset evolved from a man cursed to die to a desire to become the hero his homeland could depend upon in dire times. Like the legends whose faces were minted on gold coins, he had found a reason to carry on his newfound existence. He could not fathom taking up the role as a backdrop in someone else’s story. The tale would be his to tell as its author and the architect of his destiny. If he were to go down, he would at least ensure his heroic tale became worthy of commemoration. Because, even after death, he knew his future feats would warrant him a place in Valhalla amongst the great legends of history.

  “I think there is more to life than sleeping in the jungle with a rifle as a wife!” Neptune faked another round of laughter.

  “It sounds fun though!”

  “Trust me, if you can survive Field Camp and still have that type of enthusiasm, then I think you’re cut out to be in there.”

  “You didn’t know I like the outdoors? Doesn’t sound like a challenge to me!” Finn laughed off Neptune’s warning like a bad joke. “Alright, boys! The moment of truth!”

  Dom pushed Eagle’s Hall doors open as Batch 123 began to high-five each other in anticipation.

  “Let’s see what the future has in store for us all!”

  Neptune allowed his batchmates to proceed first. He wanted to soak in this experience, to find the words he would one day write about in his memoirs.

  Oh, how glorious that retelling would be.

  The thoughts he harboured with each step forward would form the core of his existence from this point on.

  I will become the hero of this story.