[April Fools 2023] – A Thousand Years From Now

DISCLAIMER

These chapters are non-canon. They were made for the sole purpose of April Fools.

The surface of Elysia changed over a millennium.

Vast swaths of land and the continents surrounding the ever-standing Nexus were united as a continuous urban sprawl. Concrete buildings of glass rose as though reaching for the boundless heights of the First Advent.

It was the only thing that hadn’t changed in the last thousand years, forever casting a second night upon the world. Some things never changed. Others stood the test of time like the Ateliers. Walking down any sidewalk would show the neon advertisements of fruit flavored drinks made by Inflow Direct, or an impenetrable padlock designed by the Chained Theocracy.

Magic was very well alive as well and was deeply integrated into the lifestyles of countless people throughout the ever-expanding city. The Nex Megalopolis had seen countless iterations of changes and eras of scientific and magical revolution.

Nights shone just as bright as day. The city never slept. Vehicles were strictly kept as public transportation, and for very specific use cases. Legs, prosthesis, wheels – they became the primary method of transportation. With the convenience of the Hyperlink Networks, the Trains, and the design philosophy of the city itself, there was little need for things like cars or planes.

Smiles were everywhere. People were allowed to live in peace from the evil of the Impuritas and the Corrupted. The utopian dream had finally borne fruit, and the nightmares of a thousand years ago were but a thing of the past. But happiness was always subjective. Not everyone could be pleased.

Trouble still did exist, handled by Justica Arms, the judicial body of the expansive city. Oboros Infinitas took care of all sentences and punishments. As for legislation, that fell into the hands of an unnamed regulatory Atelier, who was the righthand body of the mysterious council that oversaw the Nex Megalopolis, the Ateliers, and its people.

These figures were regarded as legends. No one truly knew if they existed. Just like a thousand years ago, legends thrived in the veins of the Nex Megalopolis like blood.

Somewhere in the dark alleyways hidden from the light of the main strips ran a girl. She wasn’t being chased, but even so she ran as though to escape something. She was dressed in black school uniform belonging to an esteemed school of magic. So why was she running?

A downpour began, drenching her clothes as she desperately searched for cover. Down, and deeper into the city she went, reached the humid yet cold recesses that neared the sewers of the Nex Megalopolis. Steam rose from giant pipes, and gutters drained the water rapidly.

Eventually, her legs took her into a dark sewer opening, where she took cover, hyperventilating. Then, in a fit of frustration, she began to kick at it, causing it to ring.

“I – hate – this – city!”

It seemed like a petty outburst, but people reacted in different ways to difficult situations. Even in a utopia people were not free from the woes of the mind.

“Stupid rules! I’m not… I’m not useless!”

In her case, the issue lay with her aspirations, and those who surrounded her and pushed her towards something she despised. It was not an issue unique to the city. Rather, it was case of being burdened by the expectations of others.

She wanted to scream but she couldn’t open her mouth.

“I’m not even good with writing Scripts in the first place! Just because you couldn’t doesn’t mean I should carry on your dreams!” She growled. “… worse when everyone looks at me thinking I’d make a great Herald. Just because I’m a Nilhinid.”

She took a seat onto the rims of the sewer entrance, rain pelting her from above. She sat there, marinating in her frustrations for what seemed like an eternity before the rain seemingly stopped.

“Hello. Is something troubling you?” A voice spoke from beside her, much to her surprise.

The reason why the rain stopped was because this figure had held out an umbrella over her. Shocked, she backed away, frightened by her sudden appearance. But when she saw that the woman wasn’t any larger than herself, she felt relieved.

“Y-you shouldn’t sneak up on someone, lady. Look, imagine I was one of those top graders! Those people react on instinct. Crazy that this city lets schools fight each other.”

“It’s proven to keep people happy. Else we’d turn it against one another.” The woman simply said, her head hiding behind a colorful boquete. “People are powerful in their own right. But they should be free enough to stretch their wings.”

The woman spoke with a certain aura of authority. Her clothes were rather exquisite as well. A black fur coat, with an oddly casual black, buttoned shirt underneath. It ran down past her knees, covering most of her legs which were enveloped in black fabric. From the sheen alone she could tell that they were made from low quality fabric.

She didn’t look particularly strong either. But she was certainly mysterious.

“May I?” The woman asked.

“Well… sure. I guess. What brings you here?” The girl asked, allowing the woman to take a seat.

“I felt like going on a detour. Before meeting up with some old friends. Yourself?”

“Well, I’m kinda frustrated. Hey. Weird question. Do you love this city?”

“Unconditionally.” The woman responded before she could even finish speaking.

“Woah. That was fast!” The schoolgirl exclaimed. “I guess you’re doing what you love, so it’s no wonder you love it. I think?”

“I love my role. But what about you? Pressure from peers?”

“Family, actually.” The girl whispered, touching her smooth, prosthetic hands. They could not be told apart from normal biological limbs, and it was the testament of a bioengineering Atelier’s expertise with the manipulation of flesh and bone.

So in a sense, prosthesis was the wrong choice of words.

“Nilhinids don’t make string, but we can weave them better than anyone out there. You see… and it’s strange blurting this out to someone I just met, but since you’re willing to lend an ear I might as well tell you.” The girl began, and then, she unloaded onto the woman.

Her problems. Her wishes. Her aspirations. Her needs.

The black coated woman keenly listened, absorbing her words like sponge. By the end of it, an hour had seemingly come and go. Realizing this, the girl profusely apologized for holding her up. There was something about the woman that allowed her to just… let it all out.

The woman didn’t seem troubled. Rather, she trembled, then she giggled lightly.

“Sorry. You just reminded me of my old self. Or current self? Who knows. I don’t think you should hate the city because of what your parents think. Our city facilitates all manners of hopes and dreams. When you look up.”

The woman pointed upwards, revealing a sky full of stars as a second night swept by, the rain subsiding. She closed her umbrella, and stored it away into a Dimensional Storage before she plucked a flower from her boquete.

“You see stars that still stand to the test of time. When you look down.” The woman handed her an iris flower. “You’ll find all manners of flowers blossoming in places where the sun doesn’t shine. One thousand years ago people weren’t given the opportunities you have today. Those people fought for it. Some of them dying for that ideal.”

The woman solemnly spoke, stoking the Boquete of strelitzias and chrysanthemums. One was a flower synonymous with freedom, named the ‘birds of paradise’, and the other symbolized death.

Her words struck the girl. It was now her turn to listen.

“It is difficult being a cut above the rest in a population of 73 billion. But I think doing the things that make yourself happy should be prioritized. ‘They’ who sacrificed themselves for this freedom would be sad if you were unhappy in this city they built through blood… sweat, and tears. Flowers don’t bloom near the sewers. But they do bloom in this city.”

The woman suddenly took her leave, leaving the girl behind to simmer in her mystique.

“’They’. Is that still a thing? The Amalgam legend?”

The woman suddenly froze in place, humming:

“I wonder~”

“W-wait. You said you’re going to meet with old friends, right!?” The girl exclaimed, standing up.

“That I did.”

“Since when were graveyards a meet up place? You’re heading towards this district’s burial grounds!” She warned, offering her help.

The woman froze again, looking over her shoulder with golden eyes that glowed like lanterns. She didn’t say another word after that, taking her leave as she carried those flowers, climbing up an array of stairs before she reached the crowded main strip of this city’s district. The girl was left behind, with endless questions about who that person was, as well as a flower to give her the strength she needed to chase her own dreams.

The woman cradled her flowers, moving along the sea of commonality, absorbed in thought. The city was her home, created and shaped by people who thought of people first and foremost. That way, the city itself could shape people in a positive light.

She appeared no more than an ordinary person, but deep down she carried the knowledge of a thousand years, and a thousand more hardships. Losses, sacrifices, but it was all never in vain.

Eventually, she reached a quite place. A vast, gated field where heroes of the past were buried, decorated, and paid tribute. The woman moved through the guards dressed in white and black military garbs. These beings were her personal Stars and Moons, who silently allowed her passage into the forbidden gardens.

Within was a single, golden tree. And underneath it stood the tombstones of people she cherished. They hadn’t aged since the day they were erected.

“… it’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Frost slowly spoke, staring fondly at the names of those on the beautiful tombstones.

She herself hadn’t aged a day either. Frost stood there, reminiscing her aging friends, their children, grandchildren…

“One thousand years ago seems like a long time. But it still feels so short for me. It’s surreal, but in a good way. I’m happy that you all found your closures in the end.”

There were many graves, and she placed a flower on every single one of them, uttering their names, greeting them, and reminiscing of their past endeavors. Without them, Elysia would have long fallen into ruin.

By the end of it, she returned to the pathway, staring down at a particular tombstone.

“… but there’s no one I’ll miss the most than you.” She politely whispered.

Then, suddenly –

“But not me~?” A woman hummed as a lovely warmth enveloped her.

“Jury~!” Frost rubbed her cheek against her lover’s. “You came this time. You’re not busy keeping everyone in line anymore?”

“It gets busier the more technologies get pulled from the Eternal Library. That makes… over 60 Ateliers now. Mmm!”

“There, there… You’ve been working hard, huh. I guess I’m spoiling you tonight~ Wait. What about the others?” Frost asked before a fully grown Ignis appeared, dressed in a laboratory coat as though she had only just finished work.

“Sorry! We had a breakout earlier! What did I miss!?” She exclaimed, her voice as beautiful as it was a thousand years ago. “Hehehe. Any room for me!?”

“Of course!”

“C’mere!”

They embraced, reunited at last. Due to the size of the city, their responsibilities had kept them rather busy for some time. But now, they were free to see each other at last.

Even though it was only just a week of absence.

Then, they heard the sound of squeaky wheels approach.

“Heh. Got room for this granny?”

A wheelchair-bound Cer said, speaking in a croaky voice. She was far larger than she was in the past, and it was frankly a miracle that she managed to live for so long. Her face was full of wrinkles, and she was still dressed in the same black suit.

“… Cer…” Ignis whispered, a little sad to see her in such a state.

Frost and Jury on the other hand glanced at one another and walked towards the Cer.

“Thanks… I can’t walk at all anymore. Mah body’s staring to bite the dust.” She croakily spoke, touching Frost’s hand. “W-woah! I-I can suddenly – Woaaaah! I can walk again!” She shouted with jubilation, standing from her wheelchair.

“… I didn’t even heal you. Can you take off that mask now?” Frost sighed, although she did find it quite humorous.

“Please Cer?” Jury asked.

“Tch. So the crippled Cer prank didn’t work out.” Cer grumbled, removing the wrinkled mask as she slapped her endowed chest. Indeed. Cer was no longer a pipsqueak as she used to call herself. She had become a fully grown wolfwoman. “Tadaaa~!”

And it wasn’t just her.

“I told you it wouldn’t work out!” Ber cried, rushing up with a similar adult form, wearing a dress and possessing long, flowing locks.

“Idiots. You know I can’t run that fast!” Res, who was perhaps the most developed struggled to keep up. “They got my sizes wrong!” Both she and Ber had flipped their hairstyles. Hers was kept short, and she preferred boyish clothes, whereas Ber enjoyed basking in her femininity.

Cer was still Cer. Although –

“Want a status report? Or is this the wrong time?” She had become highly reliable when it came to guarding the Nexus. Even in this utopian world there were still all manners of trouble. The triplets, particularly Cer, were essentially its security force.

Kind of like Frost’s personal Cerberus.

And it wasn’t just them who arrived. A certain golden spider rapidly trotted towards them, carrying a certain figure that immediately caused their eyes to light up.

“Snap! Nav!” Ignis widely waved, a smile brimming on her face.

“So you’re here too, huh!” Cer raised a thumb. “Dunno why, but I keep thinking you’re all metal under the hood.”

“Huh!? She’s as human as Frost!” Ber exclaimed.

“That’s not saying much.” Res sighed.

Her figure was as lovely as ever, and as Snap stopped by them, Frost and Jury simultaneously offered their hand to their precious friend.

These were the same pair of hands that had always been there for her.

A thousand years was a short time for a machine. But Nav, even though her figure could not be seen properly, smiled for she cherished every moment of this long life. From the hardship to the perseverance, from the hopes and their despairs.

And following Snap was an ensemble of the Archetypes.

“Bzzzt! Brrr!” (This was a future worth fighting for!).

Indeed. Elysia had become an irreplaceable home for countless.

And they couldn’t be any happier.