Chapter 4: Beyond the storm

Akira woke in a jail cell, well it was more like a cave cell. Cleo sat on the other side of the cell with no intention of freeing him so he didn’t bother, he wasn’t in chains so he was free to roam the small cave. A little while later two guards came by, they carry tech enhanced spears, it also seems like Im the only one who can see Cleo, which is good. They cuff my hands before leading me elsewhere, the holding cells seemed to be the only thing made of stone, they entered a hall that looked like it belonged in a Ethernamhall, which was odd cause Ethernamhall was the golden age city, and that place disappeared years ago. The hall opened to what appeared to be a throne room, people stood waiting near the entrance, a lot of people, were they here to see him? Not likely. What he assumed were the king and queen were seated on his right, they brought him to face them before forcing him to kneel. He made sure to avoid eye contact, not cause he wasn’t sure he just hated it. Occasionally he would take glances, the king was old, his grey hair slicked back he wore a simple coat over top a dress shirt, the queen wore something similar. Akira refocused his gaze onto the floor, even without looking he could practically feel the burning gaze of the queen burning into him, he just got here but he somehow managed to piss them off.

“ Why are you here?” The king finally spoke, Akira let the question linger for a while before answering, mostly cause he wasn’t sure what to say, he couldn’t tell them he had a map to the ancient source of power that everyone wants, so he lied. “ I…got lost?” Cleo had reappeared next to the queens chair, she stare in amazement at how poorly he could come up with a lie, the king looked disappointed as well. “Lost? You mean to say you managed to bypass the storm?” The queen ask, her tone of voice sharp. Staying silent was the best course of action in this moment, Akira only came to this conclusion after he spoke, “...yes?” it felt like the queens gaze had intensified, like she was trying to manifest lasers to shoot out of her eyes and fry his brain, “ Holes have formed throughout the storm wall, do you know what that means?” The king asked, Akira knew very well what that meant. The Union didn’t take kindly to those not part of them, just take the Godless faction for example, once the Union catches wind of these holes they’ll focus almost everything they have on taking this place from these people. He carefully glances up at Cleo, hoping she’d notice and help somehow, she did notice, “ Your the only one that can see me, unless I adjust my model so that it renders in the eyes of everyone, which I wont be doing,” she explains, which is not what he needed. Just then the king got up abruptly and strode down to him, he knelt down to his level, Akira raise his head to meet his eyes, “ Are you with Astra?” He ask, the name wasn’t familiar, unless he was referring to Cleo? He risk taking a quick glance over at his A.I companion in hopes she’ll give a hint, but she was gone. So he answer truthfully this time,

“ Nope, never heard of her,” He say only realising that he had just given himself away, Akira was stupid, he squeeze his eyes shut in disappointment of himself, the king never mentioned a gender, just a name. The king stood up, he glare down at Akira, “ For allowing the Union to set foot on our grounds, you will be the first to fall,” He announces, “ Your name, I would like to at least learn the name of the person who has doomed my people,” The king ask, his hand lowering to his side where on his hip a device activates, opening to reveal a handle to a concealed broadsword. Outdated tech, stuff like that used to be considered impossible, now we have guns and what not, regardless it was still impressive. Akira wasn’t sure how to feel now, but whatever it was he was fine. His gaze stood firm, “ Akira…not sure if I have a last name so just Akira,” he respond, he would accept his death as is, the king raised his blade to bring down on him. Akira close his eyes and braced for it, did he deserve to die? Probably, Akira however believed he did. Is this what it was like when your about to die? Time beginning to move really slowly, or it wasn’t. Akira risked taking a glance up, hesitantly he does. The king stood there, sword resting on his shoulder, smiling down on him. He began to laugh.