The legend of Houri's Ark

The crimson sky darkens, as this snow-white forest near the border of Marumo slowly falls into darkness. Bloodstains, bodies and deserted arms scattered across the white. A small-scale war took place without a victorious side and all that was left, death, sorrow and human stupidity.
Across the withered forest, a weak voice echoed.
“Mum… mum… when can we go home?”
A child embraced by a dead cold body called out as it was silenced that replied the call. The boy about four to five years old, weak and injured reached out to touch the dead woman’s face who saved his life from whatever that threatened his life. It was only at this moment he noticed that this woman that he held dear so much was already dead. As his vision slowly darken without knowing whether it was his eyes or the sky itself. He felt the bitter cold bite deeply into his bones. He slowly sank into his dream when he heard yelling from distance.
“There must still be survivors! Search the area”
Though he was in his dying state, the voice to him was loud and clear.
The young man woke up from his nightmare, resisting the urge to scream. He felt his sweat pouring from his forehead and yet the bitter cold in his dream stayed within his bones. Focusing his sight on a jade talisman hanged at the end of his bed, which was believed to be the only inheritance from his dead family trying to figure out if ever this nightmare had anything to do with his forgotten past.
Across this tiny room by the window, hanged a black gown that explained an oncoming event was near. The gown decorated with silver linings and carvings across the chest padding and sleeves radiated the room with an obsidian aura. After a regenerating bath and proper wash-up, he put on the well-ironed gown. His unbinding long hair and strands of silver strips made him so much older while he wore the gown. Upon exiting the room, the young man stood in this beautifully decorated structure that aged over two hundreds years still stayed at its glamour’s age. A gaze of this twenty stories architecture built in the curve of an ark, richly enhanced of it beauty with plants, luminous lamps and lights could simply make one believe a paradise still exits. He stood, enjoying this fragments of seconds, hypnotized by the glory of this battleship that flourished the countless battles it had survived.
A sweet voice called out
“Jaden! Why are you still here? The celebration if about to begin!”
Jaden turned to the voice; the next thing he knew was he could not set his eyes off her.
“What’ya looking at? I look weird?”
“No, Lyir, you are beautiful tonight.” Jaden replied with a soft smile
With satisfied look on her face, she dragged Jaden along the corridor towards the ballroom.
“We’ll talk later, Let’s go,” said Lyir.
Lyir was one of Jaden’s best friend as well as an Arcandians. Against all her will to be normal, her birthright denied her of her happiness. Arcandians were beings with psychic powers. A thousand years ago, what it seems to be an endless meteors shower hit Earth with maximum velocity. Massive radiation emitted from these rocks. Those seriously radiated, died or evolved into monsters.
Arcandians were those being mutated of their DNA, thus gifted of superhuman abilities. Arcandians over the thousands years had been classified as either leaders or rulers of our land that now called the Shattered Star. But there were those who were less fortunate like Lyir. She was being classified as Highly Dangerous Mutants (HDM). Being forced to run away from her lands or be another soul of injustice, she was being chased after by the Theons Foundation that harbored the intention of using her as experimental specimen for biotechnology research. She ran and ran, without knowing what’s ahead of her for days and nights. Until the day her body gave way to hunger and wounds, she collapsed. Apparently it was Jaden who bought her back to Houri 's Ark and treated her.
Lyir was wearing a bared-back white dress and definitely striking. Her usual rugged wearing was so much different from this elegant makeover.
The hallway towards the Yaksa Ballroom was fitted with historical artifacts and paintings. These paintings were parts of Houri 's Ark’s History. Each of them marked periods of Houri's Ark’s glories and honors. Artifacts like weapons and armors of late ancestors were also placed alone the timeline created by the paintings. You would find Jaden spending his free time along the hallway reading the spirit memories of the artifacts and paintings. But today he passed that habit and upon entering the ballroom door which was twice the height of one man. He stopped ignoring those spirit memories that was seducing his attention.
As the two royal guards saw Jaden, they quickly opened the door and accomplished respect with low bow. Lyir had always wondered why do these royal guards paid respects to her friend, when not even commanders received such treatment. There was rumor saying that Jaden was one of the royal families of Kasayle but then again, Lyir knew she did not have the right to question Jaden about it.
The Yaska Ballroom built mainly for events and functions, easily fitted three hundreds. The ballroom was built in the front deck of the battleship and it was actually in the status of goddess Houri’s head. It was enough to mesmerize anymore with the view of the stars and skies within this semi-circle ballroom that holds had one quarter of the wall built of transparent glasses. Surrounding the vast space was gigantic paintings on the side of the walls.
The one on the left was the painting ‘Armageddon’ painted by great painter Mc Nelly signifying the great catastrophe a thousands years ago ending life and a beginning of a new era. On the right was the painting of the great goddess Houri in human form seducing all life form to sow a better tomorrow for Shattered Star. The light source of the hall came from thousands of luminous crystal sticks hovering below the ceiling by an anti-gravity device. The greatest attraction of the hall was the third painting that was painted on the ceiling. With the hovering crystals, the last painting would require a long time to be seen clearly. The finest piece was by Elva Seleni, which was called ‘The EvA’ Evil versus Angels.
With the renaissance style of painting, the warrior angels that battled the Prime Evil almost looked life like. But the combination of the twelve warrior angels pieced together would form an image of a greater devil. In the other hand, the prime evil’s eyes were in turn soft and bright, like the eyes of a baby. Now who are to tell who’s the good and who’s the evil?
In the center of the ballroom was a translucent sphere, about the height of a man. The sphere floated in the mid-air, another beautiful work done by the anti-gravity device. The sphere acted as a projector screen and this night it sparkled with multiple colors as a lady suddenly appeared in the sphere. Everyone in the ballroom bowed immediately to the lady in the sphere. Empress Shideeya, even in her late forty still shone like the morning sun. Her piercing eyes were eyes that once charmed thousand men; right now they were merely a presence of orders and controls. On the stage beneath the sphere was Kasayle’s old servant Nikolaus introducing the event layout. Old fifty-five Nikolaus had been serving in the Kasayle family for over forty years and despite being old he vouched his royalty to Kasayle for life.
“ Ladies and Gentlemen, Now let us give our warm welcome to our respectful Empress Shideeya.” Nikolaus said with a stage microphone that at this era no one used such ancient model anymore.
This was done to keep the traditional style that Yaska Ballroom was being built. Everyone gave warm loud applause in form of respect to the Empress though some of them had done it unwillingly. The Empress, well known as a benevolent lady by many but somehow or rather, rumors of her treacherous deeds had been rather thick these few years.
The Empress spoke with elegant eloquence as the light in the ballroom started to dim.
“Good evening, my loyal subjects. Today is what we have been waiting for. Crye’s two hundred years anniversary, a day that will marks a historical point to our existence. Two hundred years ago, Kasayle established the Crye Team. Reason was to help whomever in need of salvation. Our warriors fought for righteous and honors, many had died, some stay and some, I believed still watch over us from the stars above. Right here I would wished that everyone who is listening to this to walk the path our dead warrior fought hard for, and protect our beloved land from annihilation. I hereby honored warriors that set our path with blood and sweat”
The Empress raised her right hand to wave a special Crye hand sign, thus as to pay respects to the dead. The people present stood, raised their right hands waving the special hand sign and yelled into celebration. The music started as the luminous crystals near the ceiling started to rotate.
“Everyone enjoys this night, we’ll have longer days yet ahead of us” Nikolaus added in as he walked down the stage as he finished.
Moving within the crowd searching for a comfortable corner, Jaden and Lyir found themselves a cozy corner near the bar with wonderful night sky scenery and of coz close by waiter services.
“Red wines, for two?" One of the waiters came by with a tray of red wines asked.
Before Jaden had the time to react, Lyir took two red wines from the tray.
"Thank you!" With an almost perfect smile, she turned to the waiter and said.
The waiter, for a moment stood still mesmerized by her beauty. Despite being rude, he walked away but before taking a last glance at Lyir.
"I think he need a kiss or two from you if he wasn't too drunk haha." Jaden smiled.
"Yeah, very funny. Take it!" as she passed one of the glasses to Jaden. Jaden turned to the glass panel and looked upon the stars that twinkled their story into this lonely darkness. Deep in this mind suddenly filled with the thought of his dream he had earlier on. Was it just a dream? If so how could he felt so real?
Lyir stared hard at Jaden's side view trying to figure out what's on his mind. Yet so, she had no clue what's clouding his thoughts.
"Hey man what'ya looking at?"
"The stars seems to be reciting their fate to me, and yet none of it actually make sense..." Without looking back Jaden’s voice slowed into words.
Lyir tried to figure out what Jaden was mumbling about by looking up in the dark sky above. All she could see was dimmed stars covering by uninvited clouds. Though being Jaden's good friend, half the time she did not know what he was thinking.
"Come on, Jaden. You are making your old friend here bored.
Here, drink up!" without any delayed, she rose up her glass and smiled.
"Look! It’s Princess Ariel. She is beautiful!" A voice from afar called out.
Wearing a white French dining gown with sparkling accessories, her appearance definitely made a scene hard to forget. Princess Ariel made her way to the bar as everyone stepped back with a slight bow. In front of her awaited a man well dressed with sparrow tuxedo.
As the princess advanced, he took off the white glove on his right hand, held e princess's hand and with a slight bow he kissed her hand. "Good evening, princess. It's our great honor to receive you at e ballroom." Said the handsome young man.
"Oh! Princess! Pardon this muddled-old man for not aware of your arrival. I thought your appearance should be at the mall?" Nikolaus chuckled in from behind.
"Not to be concern of, Nick. I did go to the mall. But I came here on my own account. There's no need to be panic."
"I see. Then... Would you like me to personally take care of your beverage?" Nikolaus placed his hands behind his back and continued.
"That will be nice! Thank you."
"Pardon me, your highness. I'll be back."
Both the princess and the man with tuxedo waited for Nikolaus to be gone before they started talking.
"Ariel, you are beautiful today. How's the celebration at the mall?" The man with a charming smile praised.
"Clarence, it was amazing, I had never seen such crowds and cheers when mother's speech ended." Ariel said with much.
"That's good, how Her Majesty doing? Heard she hasn't been doing any public appearance?" Clarence asked.
"Her Majesty has been well. Not to be concern of, Prince Clarence." Nikolaus arrived fast enough to answer for the princess.
He finished with a short bow and of course with the sharpest piercing eyes. Nikolaus probably picked up a thing or two from the empress herself.
Prince Clarence, heir to Lord Rayen Marhatta. He was a promising young man and certainly a member of the royal bloodline, the rightful cousin to the Kasayle family. Nikolaus always take into consideration that the Marhatta family's well concerned of the Kasayle family harbored ill intentions yet there was only so much he could do without having solid evidence against them.
"Princess, your favorite, 'lemon ar shate'." Nikolaus smiled while passing the princess's specially made cocktail to her with both hands.
Ariel held the glass with one hand and at the same time she looked around searching for topic to warm the frozen situation. A smile appeared almost immediately when her sight caught on Jaden.
"Come, let me introduce you to a friend." Smiled Ariel as the two of them left Nikolaus aside.
Maintaining her almost perfect smile to the future royal heirs,
"They are coming this way..." Lyir mumbled to Jaden.
"Good evening, your highness." Greeted Lyir still holding on to her smile but this time it turned out to be a little bit more soured.
" Brot...." With unspeakable joy, Ariel called.
Jaden stopped the princess from continuing with an expression that even make the funniest joker broke into tears. For a moment, there was silence.
"Bradon...Eh... I mean pardon me for intruding your privacy... Clarence, this is Jaden, our Bu's best warrior.” Ariel staggered her words through. And this is prince Clarence of the Marhatta family. Their handshake was tight but without words.
"Let me introduce. This is Lyir, one of my unit's warrior." Jaden smiled and continued.
"Nice to meet you, Prince Clarence and Princess Ariel.” With another slight bow holding part of her dress, Lyir smiled. “The pleasure is all mine."
Both of them nodded with agreement.
"Oh Master Jaden! Do allow me to serve some of our best cuisines to you as an apology for not knowing your arrival." Nikolaus moved in and broke the silence.
Nikolaus ended with a slight bow and of coz a tray of deserts. Again, everyone stared in blank and not knowing what to say; the atmosphere was totally awkward. Ariel knew her mistake and did not know it would happen again though it wasn’t her this time. Nikolaus slowly remembered that some formalities were not supposed to show among the public. Clarence definitely hated the treatment given by Nikolaus to him as Nikolaus shown others otherwise. Lyir on the other hand knew something was going on but yet confused by the awkward situation.
This time round it was Clarence who took the initiative to set thing right, "Formality should be in the palace. Now would it be my pleasure to invite my lovely princess to a dance?"
“I believe it will be a wonderful experience.” Ariel smiled.
“Now will you excuse us?” Ariel said with haste and without delayed she dragged Clarence to the dance floor. What a good way to avoid all difficult situation.
"Didn’t mother told you not to call me master when we are out in the public?" Jaden pulled old Nikolaus to a side and whispered.
"I m sorry young master Jaden, it was just a slip of mind."
"You don’t want everyone to know about my relation to the empress, that will definitely create a stir within Houri's Ark."
"Yes, young master Jaden. I will keep that in mind all the time from now on."
"Right, Nike, go serve the princess of her needs. I'll be fine with Lyir."
"Yes, young master Jaden. Right away!"
Jaden slowly walked back to Lyir. Lyir took a glance at Jaden and slowed her sight to the dance floor. "So, you... Have something to ask?" With a little sip of his red wine, Jaden asked.
"Well, what do you want me to ask? Lyir took a sip of her wine too and replied. “What you wanted to tell me, you will do so without me asking you. Come on pal let's not talk about this. I heard Lacan built a new training device. You know anything about it?"
"Yeah, sir told me about it and think the training will begin tomorrow. What that device is all about I do not know."
"So, coming to the ballroom without me eh?" A voice from behind said.
This familiar voice could only be one, Yayu Yakumo. Yayu was the son of Professor Yi. Professor Yi was one of the most famous scientists in the ark.
"It wasn’t my fault really, you were no where to be found! Where have you been? Flirting around?" Jaden smiled without turning his head.
"That’s a rather sensitive remark, I aren’t the slacker around here. Hi Lyir, you are amazingly pretty today, was it the dress?" Yayu said as Jaden turned to him.
"A very good evening, Yayu san.” Lyir smiled. “Now who's the lady?"
"Oh! Pardon me! Let me introduce. This is Leoni Yaberth our newly recruit, assigned to me as my under study. And Leoni this gentleman over here is Jaden Obu one of our finest warrior. Miss Lyir Wingles, so far the prettiest of our Bu unit. Of coz not to mention her skills, equal of all man." Yayu introduced.
"I m flattered Mr. Yayu. And Leoni, we are proud to receive you as one of us, Leoni.” A polite bow with a perfect smile, Lyir said. “I believe Mr. Yayu will take GOOD care of you right? Mr. Yayu?"
"You betcha, I will."
"I m glad to meet you guy. There is much for me to learn." Leoni bowed slightly and her sweet smile almost made Yayu dropped to his knees.
"So you intend to stay here tonight? Yayu?" Jaden chuckled in
"Well, actually we came here to take a look, we'll be off to the mall soon, want to join us?" said Yayu
"Nah!" Lyir and Jaden took a glance at each other when they both replied. "Think we are better off at this place with wine, music and of coz the dance floor. This place is made for us." Jaden continued.
"Well then, suit yourself. We are going then. Let's go Leoni."

Ariel and Clarence drowned themselves in the slow music at the dance floor. The surrounding filled with romantic atmosphere could simply make one fall in love with another. During the sweet moment it was funny somehow Clarence managed to think of weird question like this.
"What's between you and that Mr. Jaden?" Shocked by such sudden question, Ariel did not know how to answer.
"Why did you ask such question?" Ariel replied.
"The commotion just now was rather confusing, yet I felt something is hidden from everyone." Clarence continued.
"Do Jaden really worry you a lot?"
"Well, not that of my concern but I m just uncomfortable with the attitude Nikolaus treated me and on the other hand certain etiquette was given to Jaden and I was not. Isn’t that funny, not to a prince but to a normal warrior."
"That's the thing you do not understand, Nikolaus had a weird attitude in treating different people. I m shocked by his almost repulsive attitude towards you. But that's him and he's been with us for almost forty years. What can you ask more of it?"
"But..."
"No but. Let's not talk about it all right. Tonight is a wonderful night. You don't wanna spoil my night with such disturbing topic. Do you?" Ariel stopped Clarence from further asking anymore question as obvious she did not want Clarence to know anything.
"Yes my princess. Forgive me for asking such vain questions."




"So what are we going to do now?" asked Jaden.
"Are you bored now?" asked Lyir
"Well, not to say that I m but if we could do something more innovative, would it be better off?" Jaden replied.
"Cool then, lets go!" Without notice, Lyir dragged Jaden onto the dance floor.
"That’s something innovative?" Jaden laughed.
"Shut up and just dance!"
"Yes madam!"
Down to the dance floor, both of them slowed their paces and allowed their bodies to follow the music. The ballet eased their mind and soul, bringing them peace within this era of conspiracy.