Chapter 9 – Kez and The Calamity

October 13th 2027 12:34

‘Tell me, Pov, do you believe in the calamity?’ Kez, the leader of this city, asked.

That the world is ending on 32nd December? Pov thought, then answered, ‘Yes.’

‘Why?’

‘Because it has been announced everywhere that the world is ending on 32nd December.’

‘What exactly will happen on the 32nd December? Enlighten me.’

What? ‘I don’t know… All I know is that the world is ending then.’

‘All you know is that the world is ending then. Exactly.’

Pov was failing to see his point. The world was ending. That was a known fact. So known that the old system got overthrown because of how people chose to no longer follow it. The ultimate deadline, the world’s end, had changed people’s values and now the world was in a chaotic lawless state.

‘… Do you know how the world will end?’ Pov asked.

Even before the announcement of the calamity, there had always been talk about how the world could end. Climate change, for one. Nuclear explosion, for another. Worldwide earthquake or volcanoes, though that was mostly depicted in fiction. Regardless, Pov always thought that it would’ve been climate change.

She would be right if it was indeed climate change.

Kez sighed. ‘That’s how it always is with everyone, isn’t it? They skip the very basic and immediately go to the how. How will the world end? They would ask. But that’s not the most important question.’

‘… What is the most important question then?’

‘Will the world end?’

Again, Pov wasn’t following. ‘It will.’

‘How do you know?’

‘Because everyone said so.’ The news said so, the officials said so, people she passed by said so. Everyone.

‘Right. But just because everyone said so, doesn’t mean that the world is actually going to end, would it? Where is the evidence that it’s going to happen?’

‘People going around saying that the world will end is evidence enough.’

‘That’s just rumors!

‘People in the past used to say that the sun revolves around the earth. Everyone was saying that back in the days, only to find out that they were wrong! Each and every one of them! What we need isn’t a majority voice telling us what is right, what we need is solid evidence!

‘The world is going to end, everyone says. Why? How? Where’s the proof? No one knows!’

Maybe he has a point… Wait… ‘So, the world isn’t ending?!’

Kez nodded. ‘I would like to believe so. The world still has a chance.’

‘But… if the world isn’t ending, why was it announced that it is?’

‘Now you’re asking the good question! Here’s a theory: they announced that the world is ending to overthrow the old system. Look at it! What happened when it was announced that the world is ending? People started rioting. Chaos was made. Mostly everything that humanity had established throughout the years got overthrown.

‘This is all a ploy. A ploy by a select few people who’d like to rule the world. It goes like this: establish as much control as possible, wait until 32nd December happen, reveal that the world isn’t ending, and now society doesn’t have a system to return back to. They would be forced to choose that one ruling system.

‘And the party who is in position for that—is the capital city!’

Now, Pov was starting to get it. ‘This city is enemy with the capital city because of that?’

‘Exactly! Because if I establish a new system, I’m foiling their plans.

‘Everyone is concerned about the end of the world, about 32nd December, but what we should be concerned about is what happens when the calamity doesn’t happen!’

To Pov’s understanding… Calamity (fake) had been spread. In order to establish a new rule. And the people who were in position to do that would be those who were ruling the capital city.

Made sense to Pov. The logic added up.

It feels like I’m missing something important here… Pov thought. But if she couldn’t figure it out, maybe it wasn’t that important.

‘To fight against the capital city’s scheme, I need to build a city of my own.

‘I believe that Odyssey, in the time spent with you, had briefed you the gist of what happens in this city? You’ll be given a job, and you are expected to continue doing it. In exchange, we offer you safety.

‘The reason that I have told you about all this is because I’d like the people in this city to be united. Trust can’t be taken; it has to be earned. Now that you have understood our cause, I believe that you can take a job.’

Pov wasn’t fully convinced. It felt like she was missing something. Regardless, she doubted that she could say no to the job. Unless… the job involved her to be alone. ‘What kind of job would I get?’

‘I heard that you’re a splendid cook. We have jobs for cooks like you. Whether you believe it or not, the skill to process food into something that is tastier is a valuable skill that we would treasure. I’d expect you to do that job.’

Cooking. Pov could do that.

‘We work on a system of trust here. I trust you to do your job properly. As much as I would like to retain talents such as yours, you will have to be exiled if you slack and don’t take the job seriously. Just a fair warning, this is, that’s all.’

‘I understand.’

‘Alright, off you go then. For the first month here, Odyssey will be by your side, helping you get yourself accustomed with this city.’

Which meant that she wouldn’t be alone. Great!

Thus, Pov left the room. Somehow, she had expected things to go somewhat wrong with this meeting with Kez, especially since she hadn’t been welcomed warmly in this city. She wouldn’t say that being welcomed with a rifle pointed at her head was warm. However, so far, this place wasn’t bad.

The world wasn’t ending…

Ah, Pov realized right after the door to the room was shut. The whole time, Kez had been very convincing. Had his whole belief that the world wasn’t ending and that they should be focusing on what happens next. However… there was a flaw to his belief.

There’s no proof either that the world isn’t ending…

This whole thing about the calamity was causing her headaches…

Is the world ending? Or is it not?