December 1st, Workshire Orphanage.
Snow, pinnacle of the winter season.
A white powder like substance covering the lands, I do prefer the rain though. My thoughts begin to calm, with me looking out the class window. I see the dead trees afar, covered in snow.
The playground beside us, the slides and swings. The monkey bars I used to play in, covered.
And yet no bothers to mind it, weird. It's such an inconvenience yet everyone yearns for it each year.
"You good man?" A voice came from beside me, one I recognized.
"You've been staring outside for a bit now," said Gabriel.
"Hm? Oh I'm just thinking." I replied.
"Alright, you planning on doing something tonight?" He asked, putting both arms on his desk.
"I'm not hanging out with you and your… friends." I grunted. Raising a brow while giving him a pissed look.
"Heh, I thought we got over it man. They were just playing around, they're assholes by heart." he pleaded.
"Yeah… ruining my schematics I spent hours on… just playing around." I say with a resentful tone.
"Sigh, you know how they are man. Listen I.. sorry." He apologised putting his arguments behind him. He knew it was no use trying to convince me anymore, it was obvious.
He turned his back back to the white board, his mood seemed dimmed.
I hate how I feel bad now.
A person turns the knob of our door, the entire class freezes then they quickly take their seats.
The teacher opens the door, his eyes are focused on a paper he was holding. He seemed focused on it, the students were whispering to each other on what it could be.
Another exam or maybe our essays we did last week, whatever it was it seemed serious.
He placed it on his desk, took a marker from the cabinet and began writing on the white board. Everyone silently waits to see what he'll write.
"The Etheral Genocide."
"Today we will be discussing one of the most detrimental events that ever occurred to the 6 realms. A genocide that resulted the deaths of 8.7 million indivisuals. The injury of 203 thousand and the corruption of 450 thousand bodies." he said with a heavy tone.
A deadly silence filled the room, some were looking at others to see their reaction. Some were covering their moves with their palms, and others just stared trying to comprehend what the teacher just said.
I was no different, I thought it was a joke but that tone…
That tone held no signs of lying, a genocide at such a scale like this.
The teacher coughed covering his mouth with a fist, he looked at the class from left to right before sitting down next to his desk. He began to speak.
"The genocide was caused by what was known as a 'Rapture.', this was caused by a Method that till this very day is still unknown who was the user of said Method , many conspiracy theories and opinions were formed. But we have not reached an actual suspect, many were killed thinking they caused it yet months or even years later it was proven that they weren't the culprit."
How funny, the atmosphere of the class changed almost instantly.
This wasn't the first time I've heard about it, I read it in a history book once. It just creeps me out every time it's mentioned.
****
Class finished 3 minutes ago, so I decided to head back to my dorm. I was planning to head to the library but my mind was so focused on a new drawing I could do, guess I could try it ou-
"Hey Vathra, the counselor's been looking for you, he sent me to get you." one of my classmates called.
The counselor, right. I almost forgot I had a session planned with him today.
Sigh, guess I'll draw later tonight… was really hoping I could have done it earlier.
I walked to his office, and that classmate who called me told me he would be here. His door was made from this dark, expensive looking wood. Who would spend so much on a dumb door?
I knocked twice, a voice came from behind the door, one I could recognize.
It was the counselor.
"Come in," he said from inside.
I opened his door, inside was this room filled to the brim with trinkets and paintings, it was like a museum. Collectibles and stuff you'd find from the different realms. It wasn't my first time being here yet it always gets me every time I enter.
"Vathra, it's been a bit. Take a seat would you." he said in that warm voice of his. He was an old man, with a grey beard and a wrinkled face, but behind that look was a kind soul, a person I feel comfortable with.
"So Vathra, how has your Method training been going?" he asked with both arms crossed on the table.
Ah, my Method. Something I apparently was born with, the ability to manipulate energy to use 'Methods' . 1/5 kids are born with this ability.
"Um, it still hasn't… well- done anything yet." I murmured.
His eyes widened, he probably expected more from me. It's been two weeks after all and yet no progress.
"Hm, did you try the method I advised?" he asked. He said that if I tried doing it in an open space away from people, ideally in the morning I should expect something to happen.
"I did yeah 2 days ago, I thought I felt something but I think it was just the cold weather." I said, looking down at his desk avoiding eye contact from embarrassment.
He helped me so much with my life here in the Orphanage yet I return nothing but false hope and promises.
"Ah, well don't fret. The Void Guidance is often the Guidance that takes the longest to awaken within someone. Some people didn't even know they had a Guidance till the age of 30." he informed me, trying to cheer me up.
It helped knowing that my delay of using methods is normal yet I can't help but fear I won't be able to use a Guidance well till I'm old.
"I hope I'll awaken soon." I whispered under my breath.
I think he heard me, yet gave no response.
"So, Vathra. I apologise for bringing you here and all but I do need to ask a favor. Some new packages just arrived for the Children cottages. Would you mind taking them there for me?" he asked.
"Oh, not at all." I said, I guess I could make myself useful for once.
"Great. Come I'll show you where they are." he said with a hint of joy behind his throat. He'd probably not think I'd notice, it makes me wonder if this was supposed to be his task…
No matter, I'll still do it.
He showed me the packages and directed me where I needed to head, it was a different building so I needed to go outside to enter it, the snow was harsh yet it was manageable.
There were about 6 boxes and I could carry 2 at a time but stacking one on each other. I finished the first 2 trips and went to grab the last 2 boxes.
During the last trip, I saw that there was another Guidance I could take that would shorten the distance by quite a bit, so instinctively I took it. It was a building that was abandoned a long time ago.
I don't know much about it but it seemed to have held something horrific to the point that they had to barricade all the doors and windows with planks, something you'd only see in an apocalypse.
The way they barricaded it was highly inefficient, made me wonder if they were in a rush doing it, it feels suspicious.
When walking beside it, something caught my eye. A window from the abandoned building, but it wasn't barricaded, sure the glass was shattered and it looked like it was growing mold but it was still open….
Did someone try to enter?
Who would need to enter such a building?
After making up my mind and slight hesitation, I put the boxes aside and decided to peek through the open window. It was dark, but I could make out what it seemed to be… science equipment?
'Was this place just a science lab? Why was it boarded up like this then?'
The dust covered the floor and desks, the papers and shards of glass were scattered on the ground, a filthy stench was emitting from the walls, must be the mold.
I had my look, I need to get these packages back fast, or else I'll be late.
I brought them to the storage room where all the new or unused packages were kept, inside were shelves filled with boxes upon boxes, papers stacked upon each other.
'Just need to put them there and I'll be all done.'
I placed the last two boxes in the corner with the rest, and began to head out the room. But before I could reach the door, a book with an eye catching side caught my attention.
I gave it another look before ultimately deciding to take it out the shelf. It looked like it hadn't been touched in a long while. I blew the dust off and read the title on the cover.
"A Theory of Repitive."
Oh great, just another physiological book about life.
"Sigh, was really hoping it would be something to help with my Metho-"
A large rumbling came from behind, like something was shaking. It sounded unreal, I turned to see that the shelf that was holding those boxes was falling, before I could even react the entire shelf collapsed on me.
I was buried with stacks of boxes, the smell of old cardboard filled my head, the wooden part of the shelf hit my forehead, the hint of blood came to my mouth and my arms were worse.
My eyes came to a close, my vision slowly fading away…
I was losing my consciousness slowly, only hearing the sound of a door opening… and a group of people talking…
I couldn't cry for help…
Let alone, shed a single tear.
Vathra?
Vathra dear, it will be alright.
It's just a mere wound.
Does it hurt?
Oho I bet it does…
Here.
I told you to stay away from the sharp ones,
Oh whatever will we do you with my dear Vathy.