Prologue
– A Wonderful Existence
As soon as the school bell rings, my friends
and I pack up our stuff as possible and then leave the school. I breathe in the
air of another day done as if it were my first and smile up at the warm sun.
Looking around me, I see neighbors saying hi to each other as they enjoy going
about their happy, daily lives. It's always a joy to see, especially when it’s
my family and friends who are experiencing it. My friends and I are sitting on
a hill in our city, the buildings of which tower even higher than the many huge
trees in it.
“Do you have any plans for your future yet,
Adler?” Charlie asks me.
“I have an idea, but my heart isn’t set on
anything.”
“You should have something more by now. You
just turned one-hundred and sixteen last week.”
“You should have something as well, Charlie.
I know for a fact you’re just as aimless as Adler is since you haven’t set up
your internship either,” Enzo points out.
“I’m just asking for ideas. I already have my
mind set on a few ideas such as being an advertiser, a salesman, an engineer, a
racer, or a professional sports player.”
“Those are more than a few ideas and all
require different degrees and talents, none of which you have a specialty in.”
“Well, I am leaning towards one or two of
those rather than all of them. We can’t all be like you who knew what he was
going to do when we were fourteen.”
“It’s important to have a plan and what you
want to do in life so you have goals to work towards. That’s why I’ve been set
in my career as a plumber and electrician for one hundred and fourteen years.”
“It’s still weird to me that you have to stay
in school until you’re one hundred and eighteen,” Isla says.
“Yeah, but it’s nothing I try to think about.
It does give me an excuse to be with you guys, after all.”
“Adler, if you want my advice, you should
shoot for being king of the world like your older brother or at least his
assistant or something like that.”
“Ah, you don’t need to remind me of that. My
parents do it all the time. Besides, to be king, you need to work toward it
your whole life, and I haven’t even gotten started in all these years I’ve been
alive.”
“Don’t worry about their opinions, Adler.
That stressful job took your brother, what, one hundred and twenty years of
hard work to get? I say it’s not worth it. You should get something simple like
what I’m going to do like being a professional roller coaster builder, internet
personality, or desk worker.”
“Again with all your scattered ideas,
Charlie. You really have no clue what you’re going to do, are you?”
“I do, sort of…not really.”
My friends and I laugh, but we really should
have an idea as to what we want to do, after all our years of living. If we
don’t, we’ll just be job-hopping like we already are. Still, it’s not like it’s
a bad thing to do. All jobs pay well and most places don’t turn you down and
will have some sort of job for you. Our society is one where anyone of any
talent can make a comfortable existence where they can happily live and never
have to worry about food, water, or housing.
After a while of hanging out, Isla suggests,
“How about we go back to Adler’s place? His brother should be there from his
first day as king.”
“Yeah, that’d be cool! Maybe he can help me
get a reference for my future career as a singer or stuntman. You don’t mind,
do you, Adler?”
“You’re always welcome at my house.” It does
feel strange to me that my friends care more about seeing my brother than being
with me. I can’t blame them though. Having my brother’s recommendation will
land them any career they want. When we arrive at my house, I see that my
brother has just arrived as well with five or so guards behind him shooing away
the crowds that want to talk to him. The Light, the savior and true ruler of the
world, is with my brother at his side and talking to him.
One of the guards approaches me, sees who I
am, and lets me pass. Charlie can’t help but stare at the golden guard who has
an imposing presence while looking cool at the same time.
My friends and I manage to reach my brother
and the Light before they enter the house. Ever since my brother became king of
the world, he’s had a strange golden glow about him, and I’m not just talking
about his golden crown, shawl, and pants. His once green eyes are now a golden
yellow and his blonde hair looks more golden than it did before. “Adler! I was
wondering where you were,” he says.
“It’s good to see you too, Mikheil. How was
your first day as king?”
“Exhausting! Here, I was thinking the king of
the world wouldn’t be so busy on his first day, but I was so wrong about that.”
My friends all say hi to him and he greets them back.
Standing beside my brother like a shadow is
the Light who also greets us. We apologize for not getting him first over my
brother, but he handwaves it away, and then says, “It’s fine, children. Don’t
worry. I’m just happy to see you happy with your friend. Besides, he deserves
all the praise and attention for becoming king of the world.”
“Yeah, but you’ve done so much for us over
the thousands of years you’ve been with us! Is it true that you arrived here on
a falling star? Did you really replace the sun and moon with suns that you made
by hand? How were you able to erase all the bad people in the world in a matter
of months?”
“You know the stories, Charlie. There’s no
need to pester the Light to hear them from him.”
“You’re right. We should be giving him our
praise and worship for all he’s done for us.”
“Now, now. You don’t need to give me
anything. I already have everything I could possibly need in the world. All I
want for you is to be happy all the days of your life. Do this and you will
always get your heart’s desire and more.”
The Light asks for nothing, not even praise
and worship, even though every church and faith in the world worships him and
no one in the world denies him anything that he wants. I’ve seen him from time
to time on TV, the internet, and near my brother during special ceremonies and
celebrations when he was becoming king, but I’ve never been up close to the
Light and holding a conversation with him. My brother and I’s parents walk
outside and bow their heads to the Light.
“It’s an honor to have you here, Light. Thank
you for everything you’ve done for humanity, especially my family,” my dad
says.
“Would you like to join us for dinner? We
were busy making it. It’s why we were slow to greet you at the door.”
“You don’t need to excuse yourself for
anything, and yet, it’d be my honor to join you.”
Eating with such a famous person as the Light
and having guards outside our door feels so strange. It also feels weird in
that the Light acts like a normal guest and nothing more than that. I was
expecting him to have more of a presence, but I don’t mind that he’s not
overwhelming to be near. He’s a very kind person who doesn’t mind Charlie’s
insistent questions and my parents’ asking if he wants more food or drinks.
Like always, my parents made more than enough food for everyone even though
they weren’t expecting my friends to come over, but then again, it’s a family
tradition to always have food ready for unexpected guests.
“Adler, want to step outside?” I agree and my
brother and I walk outside to the backyard where it’s quiet. “Ah! I needed that
break from the constant noise. So, do you have your mind set on a particular
career? What about a girl?”
“Not yet, but I’m narrowing down my options.”
“I wish I was carefree and relaxed as you,
brother. When I was your age, I was stressed more than most because I had my
eyes set from the start on what I wanted to be, and when I saw the girl of my
dreams, it didn’t take me too long to marry her. Didn’t take me long to have a
kid either.”
“Speaking about her, how is Lyana and my
nephew, Hazin?”
“They’re doing well. Lyana is at the capital,
helping the castle servants decorate the castle while Hazin is enjoying
exploring it and probably getting into trouble as we speak. You know you can
join me and stay in the castle if you want. There’s plenty of room for more
than twenty guests.”
“I’m fine here with mom, dad, and my
friends.”
“Understandable. Hundreds of years ago, I
couldn’t wait to leave home and have a place for myself.”
Unable to hold back my grievances anymore, I
say, “Yeah, yeah. I know all about how you felt and acted. Mom, dad, and
everyone else won’t stop comparing me to you.”
“Don’t bother listening to them when they do
that. You’re not me. You’re Adler. Find your way in life and your happiness
your way and not the way that people tell you. If they’re giving you so much
trouble, I could talk with them.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure they don’t
mean to put me down. Thanks anyway.”
“You’re my brother. Don’t mention it.
Remember, that offer will always be on the table along with whatever else you
want,” my brother says before hugging me. As we head inside, I see a face in
the crowds outside that catches my attention.
She’s a pale-skinned, girl with black hair,
red eyes, a black body suit, a crimson corset, and a dark red skirt. I can’t help
but look at her and she can’t help but look at me when she sees me.
Noticing what I’m doing and who I’m looking
at, my brother says, “That’s the look I had on my face when I saw Lyana for the
first time. Do you see your future wife in the crowds? A girl that catches your
eye? Is it that one with red eyes and black hair?”
“Ah-no! It’s uh…”
“Go talk to her. Your king commands you.”
“Okay, fine.” Walking around to the front
from the back, I head towards the girl who is now walking away. I know that my
brother would want me to chase after her, so I do, and am thankful that the
crowd outside my house doesn’t go after me. Eventually, I find the girl in an
alley who finally turns around and grabs me by the collar of my jacket.
“Why are you following me? Did your brother tell
you to chase after me? I’m not doing anything wrong,” she says.
“Hey, hey, relax! You just caught my eye in
the crowd, and uh, I wanted to talk to you.”
“Uh, what did you want to talk to me about
and why?”
“Um. What’s your name?”
“Morticia,” she says as she lets go of my
collar.
“I’m Adler.”
“I already know your name.”
“Right, you probably saw me on TV at my
brother’s crowning day. It was embarrassing when he showed me off in front of
the crowds, telling people that I was his brother, and asking if any ladies
were interested in me. I think he was drunk at the time.” What’s wrong with me?
Why am I so awkward? I don’t act this way around Isla.
“Is…is that why you chased me? Because you
want me to be your girlfriend?”
“I, uh, no that’s not it. Kind of. What I want
to do is get to know you. Can we hang out together? I can take you back to my place
or any place around here that you want. Just name it.”
Morticia has a bit of blush on her face that
she tries to hide. She shakes it off, and then says, “I’ll have to think about
what place, but we can definitely be together tomorrow. We’ll meet here in the
afternoon at two.”
“Great! I look forward to it.” After
exchanging numbers, Morticia says goodbye to me before walking into the door
that’s at the end of the alley. Alright! That was harder than I thought it
would be. When I go back home, my brother is ecstatic the most out of everyone to
hear the news.
“That’s my brother!” he says as he hugs me. “Now,
take her wherever she wants to go and get her whatever she wants. If you can’t
do one or both, make them give me a call and I’ll arrange something for you.”
The praise from my family and friends is nice
and refreshing to hear. I’d say that I wished every day would be like this, but
every day of my life has been nothing but happiness and peace. Nothing could be
better than what I already have.
