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Prologue

26.01.2304

It was a cold winter night. A thin layer of fresh snow was spread out over the streets and buildings of Nethir, capital city of Faeras. The sky was an endless stretch of grey clouds, darkening the horizon, foreseeing a storm.

There was not many cars on the roads, and even less were the people on foot, barely walking while fighting against the strong wind from the sea. The bright light of the streetlights was reflected by the snow and the windows over the street, creating a surreal atmosphere.

A young man came out of a building, diving in pure cold. He turned back looking at the front door to say good bye to a friend standing on the threshold.

«See you, then, Lewis.» his friend said in return, then he closed the door.

But Lewis was already too far to hear him. He needed to walk fast if he wanted to get home in a reasonable time. He was holding himself tightly in his jacket, hands in pockets, facing the cold hair without hesitation.

He walked for some hundreds of meters, then he took the staircase down to the subway. The tunnel was filled with light, so much he had to wait some moments before entering, just to be able to see something; even though he knew exactly where to go.

The train arrived at the stop just a few seconds after Lewis. He got in and sat down; there was no one else.

After a few moments the doors closed and the train began its course with a faint vibration and a low humming sound. The speed increased, the lights on the outside tunnel moved quicker and quicker. The trip wouldn't have lasted for long, just a few minutes. Only two stops.

While he waited he began to think about that last evening spent with his friends. A smile appeared on his face, even though it lasted just for a second. Being with his friends it was maybe the only thing that made him happy, but he was always a little bit sad when he left those moments behind to return so abruptly to reality.

It always came to this in the end. he said to himself.

Then is attention was captured by one of the TV monitor positioned over the windows. News were never good, neither that one was in his opinion.

"...and the war between the Eenderi Empire and the Vaakr is finally ended after fifty years..." the most important title said. Still, that news didn't inspire a single amount of trust in Lewis, in spite of being the most important event of the century.

When ends a war lasted fifty years one must think it's a good news, at least cheers a little, but I don't feel it's something that deserves it.

So he remained, watching at that screen, until it was time to get off the train. He stood up and readjusted his jacket, ready to get out in the cold night. It was true what everyone said, winter in Faeras was the hardest of all.

At some point, while he was walking down the last pair of streets before arriving home, his mobile began to ring. He answered after a few moments, with few words.

«Hello?... Yes... yes I'm coming. I'll arrive in ten minutes.» he said, than he put the mobile back in his pocket.

So little time remaining...

He walked alone in the cold and dark, the perfect combination for him. Although he was almost freezing there was something he loved about all that; maybe only because he was returning home. He had to enjoy his last moment of freedom - silence and loneliness.

For that reason he didn't realized what was waiting for him: in front of him there was nothing, he could hear only the sound of his own steps on the snow and his breathe.

A dazzling light hit him, strong as a thousand suns shining together. His body was overwhelmed by the power of that light, and he fell on the ground like a lifeless corpse. The entire world around him stop existing, he was floating in a void of pure light.

For who knows how much time he wandered in the void without any hope, until, as it was began, he returned to reality and reopened his eyes. He was lying on the ground, with snow on his face, hair and clothes. His head was pulsing with pain, but probably not for the fall.

He got up holding his head, breathing heavily in fear. His heart was beating like an engine, it was all because of the shock. His legs were shaking and he could feel cold shivers running down his spine.

Calm yourself, calm yourself... he repeated to himself. I'm still alive, I'm alive...

He looked around while trying to regain control over his body. The street was still empty, exactly as before, and there was no damage on the building or on the cars parked along the road. Nothing happened.

It was strange, too much strange.

He step forward while finally realizing that he was fine. It wasn't hurt by... by whatever that was, it seemed like it didn't do anything.

But then, what happened?

Lewis was expecting to see half the street and building destroyed by an explosion. But it wasn't a bomb, that's why he didn't feel any pain. He was only a little tired, he could feel that in his bones, as if he had been lying on the ground for a very long time.

He searched in his pocket for the mobile just to discover that only a few minutes were passed from the last call.

How is this even possible? He tried to explain to himself what could have possibly happened, but he didn't have any answer.

Maybe... maybe it's better if I just return home.

In the end he didn't feel very well, his body was shacking in the inside.

He would have needed a long night of rest to get over all of that.