《Cosmic War: The Beginning》


 Birth Of The Red One

    Volume 1: The Circus


    <h2>Act 1</h2>


    It was the 11th day of the Post-glacious season, the first month of the year.


    In room 42 of the Nirvana birthing chamber, a black-haired woman screamed in agony, her legs spread wide as she gripped the bed rail.


    "Almost there, keep pushing." urged one of the midwives, her hands poised to catch the emerging child.


    "AAARGGHHHH!"


    With one final, excruciating push, the baby slid into the midwife''s waiting hands. They quickly wrapped and cleaned him with a towel as he let out a powerful cry.


    "Whoa, he''s a vibrant one. Full of energy already. Congratulations, ma''am." said one of the midwives, handing the newborn to his mother.


    Sweaty and exhausted, she cradled her baby with a weary smile, instantly enchanted. "I''m surprised he didn''t kick in my womb." she said, her heavy breathing gradually slowing.


    "Consider yourself lucky." one of the midwives replied.


    "Let''s leave her to rest." the tallest midwife suggested, leading the others out of the room.


    Once alone, she closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. "I need time to give you a good name." she said, her tone burdened with emotion.


    Opening her eyes, her expression softened as she pressed her forehead against her baby''s. "I''m sorry for bringing you into this world during such a dark time." she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.


    ¡­


    The night of that same day, in the Star Cathedra hosting the sisters whose lineage have been graced with the visions of the stars. They adorn themselves in dark blue gowns and occasional black veils that fall to their buttocks. Their iconic feature was their deep-blue glossed lips and black curved-up eye lashes.


    Lightning flashed through the stormy night and thunder cracked endlessly. In a room on the last floor of the Star Cathedra, a young seer of fifteen lay on a lavish bed, her delicate frame trembling. Her eyes darted beneath closed lids, locked in the throes of a nightmare¡ªor perhaps, a vision.


    In her dream, she found herself in a dark cold dystopian world riddled with vines and soot. Deformed trees, coated in soot, stood scattered throughout the landscape. The ones cut in two floated in the air as well as the destroyed mega buildings. As she traversed this world in fear, the ashes beneath every step she took on her bare feet floated slightly above the ground.


    She looked up to find the source of light and saw thick clouds that glowed with occasional flashes of lightning and a crescent moon eerily closer than normal, which was partially obstructed by a giant ancient clock tower.


    The strong scent of petrichor brushed through her nose as she observed the giant clock tower. All the erect structures she had seen so far had been cut in two or more places and left floating in the air but this ancient clock tower remained intact with only occasional vines visible on it.


    She observed the complex contoured lines and edges on the imposing structure as her eyes slowly panned down to the clock part. Even though that part looked carved and almost had no contrast with the body of the tower, she could see it was numbered in roman numerals and the three hands were sitting on the roman figure twelve.


    After a few seconds of observing, a gust of hot wind blew from the ancient clock tower, pushing the black ashes in the surroundings away from it, making her hair and nightgown dance vigorously. She gasped and staggered backwards, instinctively protecting her face from the force and heat of the wind. As the wind stopped, she looked up and saw the numbers and the three clock hands gradually glow red hot followed by the movement of the seconds hands. Its movement was smooth and sleek.


    Her eyes wide open with the scene reflecting in them, she watched as the seconds hand completed an arc. The moment the seconds hand struck twelve, a sudden white force blasted outward like a shockwave, sending her and everything in the vicinity flying.


    Hundreds of scenes flashed through her eyes, scenes of destruction, scenes of some people, scenes of battles, scenes of planets, scenes of different monstrosities and much more until it stopped in a particular scene. In this scene, she found herself floating among the vastness of the constellations. The stars and distant galaxies illuminated the unlimited expanse of the dark void.


    The scene shifted once more followed by a scorching feeling on her left side. In a few seconds, she realised that she was still floating among the constellations but this time, she was very close to Etern¡¯s star, the sun. She saw and felt the purifying energy dissipating from it, spreading far and wide.


    From the corner of her eyes, she noticed a giant eye staring at the sun. This eye blended with the scenery of the constellations, the image and energy of the sun reflecting in its mirror-like iris. This scene would be ingrained in her memory for almost eternity.


    As her eyes widened in shock and despair, the eye panned eerily towards her, twitching subtly like it was sizing her up.


    Immediately, she shot up from her pillow, her eyes wide, breath ragged. Tears mingled with sweat on her pallid cheeks as she clutched the blanket tightly. Shivers racked her body, and soft, fearful sobs filled the room.


    Hearing her distress, two older sisters sharing the chamber hurried to her side, carrying a softly glowing blue lamp. "What did you see?" they asked, their voices laced with urgency and concern.


    The girl struggled to steady her breath, fighting to control her sobs, she looked at the two with widened and teary eyes. The sisters exchanged glances, their faces mirroring the fear and confusion that had taken root in their hearts. The girl¡¯s sobs echoed in the room along with the endless thunderclaps.


    ¡­


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    A year and a half passed. The mother sat on the brown wooden floor, surrounded by fluffy toys, watching her baby attempt to stand.


    Her heart swelled with anticipation as he lifted himself up, making adorable sounds of effort. Spreading his tiny arms for balance, he finally managed to stand on his wobbly legs. Overjoyed, she scooped him up and tickled him, eliciting peals of laughter.


    She gently picked up a flat package nearby, recalling, "''Open this when he makes his first stand,'' he said. And it turned out to be a boy, just as he predicted." She reminisced, rubbing the package.


    After a moment of nostalgia, she tore it open to reveal a scarlet scarf. She carefully wrapped it around her son''s neck, lifting him to admire how it looked on him. Suddenly, her face lit up with inspiration.


    "Scarlet... That''s it! I''ll name you Scarlett. Scarlett Valoryn Voidaris."


    ...


    Five years before Scarlett''s birth, an incident occurred at Etern''s world summit in Nexus Stellar, the most advanced city in all of Etern. With its underground, on-ground, and airways transport systems, the city was a marvel of engineering design.


    In the summit''s tallest building, a man in a corporate gray suit with brown hair gazed out at the cityscape through a crystal-clear window. His name is Eldric.


    "How many centuries has it been since I last reached the 50th floor?" he mused, hands clasped behind his back.


    The summit had exactly 100 floors, with Eldric residing on the topmost level.


    "Beats me." replied a blond man in a tech suit, approaching with a bottle of champagne and two glasses. His name was Caelum.


    He poured the champagne and handed a glass to Eldric. "Here."


    "Thanks." Eldric said, accepting the drink.


    "You still have bags under your eyes. No improvement in your sleep?" Caelum asked, sipping from his glass.


    "Sleep, huh? I wonder when I''ll have time for that. I can''t rest when I envision my work crumbling around me. It''s like I''ve become the heartbeat of this city." Eldric replied, staring into his drink.


    "You''re too hard on yourself. Can''t you see? This is exactly what you wanted, maximum resource utilization. You''ve won, my friend. Cheers." Caelum clinked his glass against Eldric''s.


    "But at what cost?" Eldric asked, still gazing out the window.


    "Oh please, everyone knows Vion the Fourth was a spoiled, privileged fool. This milestone wouldn''t exist if you hadn''t taken his place as Monarch." Caelum said, lounging in a comfy chair and pouring more champagne.


    "I... can''t deny that." Eldric admitted, pinching the bridge of his nose.


    "Sheesh, you need to start giving yourself some credit." Caelum insisted.


    "How are the people?" Eldric asked, still looking out the window.


    "Been busy ensuring order, but from what I''ve seen, they''re good. Comfortable, at least." Caelum replied.


    At the entrance to the world summit building, a hover car stopped, and a black leather boot stepped out with a stomp.


    "What about the workers and law executives? What do they say?" Eldric asked, turning to face Caelum.


    "They don''t talk much, they keep their personal lives private, around me at least." Caelum answered, refilling his glass.


    "I want to know if I''ve positively impacted people''s lives, that my efforts weren''t in vain." Eldric said.


    "Trust me, they weren''t." Caelum reassured him.


    A law executive entered the room. "Sir, there''s someone at the entrance who might be looking for you."


    "Who could that be? The meeting isn''t for another two hours. It''s just 2 PM." Eldric said, heading toward the door.


    A loud sound followed by strong vibrations shook the room. Caelum immediately got up and looked out the window, sweat beading on his forehead.


    "What? What''s happening?" Eldric asked, gripping the doorframe.


    The champagne bottle rolled off the table and shattered on the floor.


    "You and your colleagues need to evacuate the building immediately! It''s collapsing!" Caelum shouted, grabbing Eldric.


    Caelum jumped through the glass with Eldric on his shoulders, landing on a nearby rooftop. They watched as the world summit collapsed, crushing other buildings in its wake.


    Eldric''s breath came in heavy gasps as he clutched his chest, eyes wide with shock. "But... why?"


    As Eldric fell to his knees, an explosive shell hurtled toward them. Caelum''s eyes widened in alarm.


    "Shit!" He grabbed Eldric and leapt away just as the shell exploded, sending debris flying.


    "Thump." Caelum hopped across buildings, searching for a safe place to drop Eldric. Spotting an active underground shelter, he headed for it.


    "Brace yourself, brother! This will be a rough landing."


    The mouth of a pointed blade pierced through Caelum''s back. Blood spurted from his mouth as his eyes widened in shock. He was yanked backwards by the chain attached to the blade, crashing through buildings.


    Eldric fell from his grasp, crashing onto a car and rolling to the ground. His vision blurred as the sound of his heartbeat filled his ears, mingling with high-pitched screams and commotion.


    With devastating sounds of shattering glass, Caelum was dragged across buildings. Gritting his teeth, he punched the blade out of his chest and grabbed a building''s metallic bar. The pierced area immediately gave off a subtle green glow beneath the tech suit as he scanned for the attacker.


    Found you, you bastard!


    He leapt to the top of the building for a better view, eyes narrowing as he saw the assailant leap down.


    "What is he planning from that distance?¡±


    Caelum ran to the edge, anticipating an attack from below. He saw two chained, cross-shaped weapons wrapped around the building and the buildings before it. The chains glowed red-hot.


    The assailant pulled the chains, splitting the buildings within their hold, including the one Caelum stood on.


    Meanwhile, Eldric crawled to a nearby building, unable to reach the underground shelter in time for it had been shut. News of the attack blared from a billboard above. He reached for his phone, trying to call Caelum, but got no response.


    "BOOM!" A titanic figure in medieval armor landed in front of him, creating a cloud of dust and debris.


    The armor was layered with scales of crest-shaped iron plates, a black flexible metallic underlayer allowing the flow of Regeni, and a black cape running from the right shoulder. The fingers were claw-like, the helmet pointed behind with a dark-blue ponytail extension. The armour landed on one knee, its greatsword embedded in the ground.


    The chest of the armor opened, revealing a man clad in a black jacket and trousers. His deep brown hair fell neatly over silver eyes, and his pale skin seemed untouched by the chaos. With an air of calm, he approached Eldric, brushing off his clothes as though undisturbed by the destruction around him.


    As the dust settled, Eldric saw three others in law executive uniforms.


    One, over 6 ''9, wore a long white coat and a high-tech mask indicating Admiral status, spinning an explosive shell on his finger.


    A female with short dark-red hair and cobalt blue eyes wielding two chain-linked cross-shaped blades, sitting atop a building.


    A black-haired man with a face mask leaned against the building, a composite glaive strapped to his back, folding his arms with closed eyes.


    The man from the armour stopped before Eldric. "I''m afraid this is your climax, Sir Eldric... and my beginning."


    This event marked the start of a new era.

 Chess

    Five years passed and Scarlett''s facial features were becoming more vivid. He had Hazel eyes and black hair just like his mother, his lips were tender and slightly reddish.


    The situation in Etern became hectic, increasing the workload of people that even had a job.


    Scarlett''s mother worked as a software engineer in the underground safe zone department which was a very important place in any city.


    When feeling lonely, Scarlett found comfort in bringing his imaginations to life which included various creature designs, landscapes, artifacts, machines etc.


    High school was a daunting realm for Scarlett as he faced many challenges. One of them was bullying. This was because of his socially awkward behavior and demeanor.


    "Punch! Punch! Kick! Kick!" Scarlett would be left in pain crying after a gruesome beating; sometimes he had a nose-bleed. But the crushing of his self esteem was more.


    With this experience, he learnt how to mask his socially awkward behaviours which reduced the physical bullying to some extent but not the verbal bullying.


    His female classmates and sometimes the upper class girls would make fun of his drawings, calling it childish.


    "No wonder he doesn''t have a girlfriend", said one of his female classmates to her 3 other friends. "Hahahahaha", they all laughed hilariously. "Quick, let''s move from him before he turns us into one of his wild imaginations," said one of the girls as they all walked past him in disgust.


    Already being used to it, he just kept on drawing.


    His mother knew not of this as he held back from telling her.


    This went on for long until Scarlett was in Senior high school 2. His classmates had gotten used to and lost interest in him.


    On a fateful day that seemed like every normal day for Scarlett, while walking down a doorway when all of a sudden a black-haired girl with black glasses slipped as her leg swept Scarlett''s right leg off the floor taking him down with her; this happened just at the entrance of the doorway.


    He fell forward laying on her. As he started coming to be, he felt a soft, bouncy and squishy feeling on his face. It was her bossoms! On realising this, Scarlett got up from her in the blink of an eye.


    "P-P-Pardon me!", Scarlett bowed his head.


    "N-Not at all, it was my recklessness that got us into that situation", said the black-haired girl with a slight blush on her face.


    "Anyways, I''m Aether from senior high school 3", she added.


    ''She''s my senior'', Scarlett said to himself.


    "I''m Scarlett from senior high school 2, nice to meet you". Scarlett stretched out his hand for a handshake.


    "Nice to meet you too." She met hands with him.


    Some days later, their eyes met as Aether stepped into the cafeteria. Scarlett was sitting by a table, his lunch right in front of him.


    Upon this, he stood up and approached her, smiling reflexively. Upon reaching her, they shook hands.


    ¡°Ever since that day, we keep seeing each other¡­ from afar though.¡± Scarlett said, his voice slightly shallow.


    ¡°I know right?¡± Aether wore a soft smile on her face, her purple-coloured eyes meeting Scarlett¡¯s hazel eyes under her sleek spectacles.


    ¡°Are you in a hurry?¡± Scarlett asked.


    ¡°Err kind of, I came to get lunch and hurry back to a task and besides, I don''t want to disturb your meal.¡± Aether replied, subtly pointing at where Scarlett¡¯s lunch was.


    "Oh okay, see you later I guess.¡± Scarlett said in an awkward way and smile, as he retreated to his table.


    ¡°Wait.¡± Aether stretched her hands forward slightly with a glowing expression on her face. At this, Scarlett hurried back towards her.


    She looked down for a split second before wearing a smile while pulling out her phone from her small purse.


    ¡°Why don''t we exchange contacts so we can keep in touch more often,¡± She said as she unlocked her phone.


    ¡°S-Sure,¡± Scarlett¡¯s face lightened up as he collected her phone and put his contact in it.


    When they got to their homes, Aether revealed that she liked chess and so they agreed to play when next they met.


    The School''s name was Four rose petals. The junior high uniform was a white t-shirt with four separate rose petals aligned symmetrical to the center, it was located at the left side of the chest on black shorts that also had the same four rose petals design on the right thigh for boys, the junior high girls wore a white long sleeve which had the same four petals design and position on black skirt.


    While the senior high male uniform was a black jacket on white long sleeve as well as on black trousers, only the white long sleeve shirt and black jacket had the four rose petals on it, the senior high girls uniform was a black jacket on a white short sleeve shirt which was worn on a black free skirt. The four rose petals'' location and position was the same with that of the boys.


    Days passed after that fateful event and Scarlett had learnt the art of chess to some extent. He spent the past two days learning all the rules and moves in chess so as not to disappoint Aether.


    The day had finally come for the two to meet again. They had planned to meet at the School''s relaxation park with the chess and the Hearts and Spade card game. After a few greeting exchanges here and there, they commenced the game.


    Scarlett, playing as white, opening with the classic e4, his fingers moving confidently as he advanced his pawn. Aether responded with e5, mirroring his move with equal precision. The opening moves were traditional, but both players knew that the game could take a dramatic turn at any moment.


    The pieces were set. Scarlett, playing White, opened by moving his King''s Pawn two squares forward. Aether, controlling Black, responded by advancing her Queen''s Bishop''s Pawn two squares¡ªthe Sicilian Defense. The game immediately took on an aggressive tone, both players steering away from passive play.


    Scarlett developed his King''s Knight, eyeing the center. Aether mirrored the action with her own King''s Knight. The tension grew as Scarlett moved his Queen''s Pawn forward, challenging the structure. The exchange of pawns in the center left Scarlett with a slight lead in space, but Aether¡¯s position remained solid. She reinforced the center by advancing her Queen''s Pawn. Scarlett continued by developing his Queen''s Knight, signaling an open Sicilian.


    Aether moved her Queen''s Rook''s Pawn one square forward, preventing any immediate Knight jumps and preparing for an eventual expansion on the queenside. Scarlett castled kingside, securing his King early, while Aether developed her dark-squared Bishop to the long diagonal, choosing the Dragon variation. The game escalated in complexity. Scarlett advanced his King''s Bishop''s Pawn, reinforcing his center and preparing a kingside attack. Aether continued by fianchettoing her Bishop and soon castled as well.


    The middlegame took shape with Scarlett initiating a thematic Yugoslav Attack. He developed his Queen to connect his Rooks and prepare an attack. Aether responded by activating her Queen''s Rook, preparing counterplay on the queenside. Scarlett advanced his King''s Knight''s Pawn, committing to an aggressive setup. Aether, unfazed, pushed her Queen''s Bishop''s Pawn forward, kicking off her counterattack.


    Scarlett maneuvered his Queen¡¯s Knight to a more central position, rerouting toward the kingside. Aether responded by pushing her Queen''s Knight''s Pawn, challenging the stability of Scarlett¡¯s Knight. Scarlett repositioned his Knight to maintain control. Aether activated her Queen, placing it in a position to exert pressure on both flanks. Scarlett shifted his forces forward, pushing his King''s Rook''s Pawn to break through Aether''s defenses.


    Aether countered by advancing her own King''s Rook''s Pawn, halting Scarlett¡¯s immediate progress. Scarlett initiated an exchange by capturing Aether¡¯s Knight with his Bishop, removing a key defender. Aether recaptured with her Queen, maintaining control over important squares. Scarlett continued his plan, pushing his King''s Knight''s Pawn forward, forcing Aether¡¯s Knight to retreat.


    With the kingside breaking open, Scarlett seized the moment. He sacrificed his Knight by capturing a central pawn, forcing open Aether¡¯s defenses. She captured the Knight, but Scarlett followed up by developing his light-squared Bishop, increasing pressure on the pinned pawn. Aether, precise in defense, repositioned her Knight, creating a counterattack. Scarlett calculated carefully, moving his Queen into an attacking position, maintaining the initiative.


    Aether shifted her Rook to an open file, aligning it against Scarlett¡¯s weakened queenside. Scarlett doubled his Rooks on the open file, targeting the weak pawn in Aether''s camp. Aether counterattacked by shifting her Queen, eyeing an entry point. Scarlett defended by moving his King slightly, reinforcing his position.


    Aether advanced her Queen''s Pawn, breaking open the center. Scarlett captured, but Aether followed up by repositioning her Knight, threatening his King¡¯s security. Scarlett maintained composure, stepping his King aside, avoiding potential tactics. Aether exchanged pawns in the center, opening lines for her pieces.


    Sensing an opportunity, Scarlett sacrificed an exchange by capturing Aether¡¯s Bishop with his Rook, further exposing her King. She recaptured, but Scarlett¡¯s attack gained momentum. He moved his Queen to deliver a check, forcing Aether¡¯s King to the corner. Scarlett followed with a Bishop move, threatening checkmate. Aether defended with her Rook, holding her structure together.


    Scarlett repositioned his Queen to infiltrate deep into enemy territory. Aether countered by activating her Queen, aiming for counterplay. Scarlett captured a key pawn with his Bishop, forcing Aether¡¯s King to move. Under pressure, Aether found a resourceful defense, escaping immediate danger.


    Scarlett continued the attack by delivering checks with his Queen and Bishop, forcing Aether¡¯s King into a tight space. Aether attempted to block with her Rook, but Scarlett¡¯s position was overwhelming. He captured material with his Queen, eliminating the last defensive piece. Aether, seeing no defense left, resigned.


    Scarlett leaned back, his attack having broken through. Aether, despite the loss, had defended resourcefully, but the pressure had been too much. The game had reached its conclusion, and the battle was decided on the board.


    I''ve rewritten the game using the full names of the pieces instead of notation, ensuring clarity while maintaining the strategic depth of the battle. Let me know if you''d like any further refinements!


    "Oof! you are a lot better than I thought, good game." said Aether as she had not been defeated in a while due to how good she was.


    "Thanks, I should say, you''re quite good as well and I''m sure there are only a handful of people that can beat you". Scarlett said as he cleared his throat in his mind.


    "Ah thanks" uttered Aether as she looked down and her cheeks became slightly red.


    "Look who''s talking, you made me use my plan B". Aether said.


    "Oh". Scarlett laughed.


    ''Plan B?". Scarlett thought to himself as he shuffled the cards.


    "I''m interested, what developed your passion for chess.¡± Scarlett asked.


    On hearing this, Aether''s soft gentle smile slowly turned into a slightly sad face as she replied:


    "Sorry I''d answer that another time". This reply made Scarlett realize that it was a sensitive question and they weren''t close enough yet for her to tell him and so he apologized and they commenced the card game.


    Five years passed and Scarlett''s facial features were becoming more vivid. He had Hazel eyes and black hair just like his mother, his lips were tender and slightly reddish.


    The situation in Etern became hectic, increasing the workload of people that even had a job.


    Scarlett''s mother worked as a software engineer in the underground safe zone department which was a very important place in any city.


    When feeling lonely, Scarlett found comfort in bringing his imaginations to life which included various creature designs, landscapes, artifacts, machines etc.


    High school was a daunting realm for Scarlett as he faced many challenges. One of them was bullying. This was because of his socially awkward behavior and demeanor.


    "Punch! Punch! Kick! Kick!" Scarlett would be left in pain crying after a gruesome beating; sometimes he had a nose-bleed. But the crushing of his self esteem was more.


    With this experience, he learnt how to mask his socially awkward behaviours which reduced the physical bullying to some extent but not the verbal bullying.


    His female classmates and sometimes the upper class girls would make fun of his drawings, calling it childish.


    "No wonder he doesn''t have a girlfriend", said one of his female classmates to her 3 other friends. "Hahahahaha", they all laughed hilariously. "Quick, let''s move from him before he turns us into one of his wild imaginations," said one of the girls as they all walked past him in disgust.


    Already being used to it, he just kept on drawing.


    His mother knew not of this as he held back from telling her.


    This went on for long until Scarlett was in Senior high school 2. His classmates had gotten used to and lost interest in him.


    On a fateful day that seemed like every normal day for Scarlett, while walking down a doorway when all of a sudden a black-haired girl with black glasses slipped as her leg swept Scarlett''s right leg off the floor taking him down with her; this happened just at the entrance of the doorway.


    He fell forward laying on her. As he started coming to be, he felt a soft, bouncy and squishy feeling on his face. It was her bossoms! On realising this, Scarlett got up from her in the blink of an eye.


    "P-P-Pardon me!", Scarlett bowed his head.


    "N-Not at all, it was my recklessness that got us into that situation", said the black-haired girl with a slight blush on her face.


    "Anyways, I''m Aether from senior high school 3", she added.


    ''She''s my senior'', Scarlett said to himself.


    "I''m Scarlett from senior high school 2, nice to meet you". Scarlett stretched out his hand for a handshake.


    "Nice to meet you too." She met hands with him.


    Some days later, their eyes met as Aether stepped into the cafeteria. Scarlett was sitting by a table, his lunch right in front of him.


    Upon this, he stood up and approached her, smiling reflexively. Upon reaching her, they shook hands.


    ¡°Ever since that day, we keep seeing each other¡­ from afar though.¡± Scarlett said, his voice slightly shallow.


    ¡°I know right?¡± Aether wore a soft smile on her face, her purple-coloured eyes meeting Scarlett¡¯s hazel eyes under her sleek spectacles.


    ¡°Are you in a hurry?¡± Scarlett asked.


    ¡°Err kind of, I came to get lunch and hurry back to a task and besides, I don''t want to disturb your meal.¡± Aether replied, subtly pointing at where Scarlett¡¯s lunch was.


    "Oh okay, see you later I guess.¡± Scarlett said in an awkward way and smile, as he retreated to his table.


    ¡°Wait.¡± Aether stretched her hands forward slightly with a glowing expression on her face. At this, Scarlett hurried back towards her.


    She looked down for a split second before wearing a smile while pulling out her phone from her small purse.


    ¡°Why don''t we exchange contacts so we can keep in touch more often,¡± She said as she unlocked her phone.


    ¡°S-Sure,¡± Scarlett¡¯s face lightened up as he collected her phone and put his contact in it.


    When they got to their homes, Aether revealed that she liked chess and so they agreed to play when next they met.


    The School''s name was Four rose petals. The junior high uniform was a white t-shirt with four separate rose petals aligned symmetrical to the center, it was located at the left side of the chest on black shorts that also had the same four rose petals design on the right thigh for boys, the junior high girls wore a white long sleeve which had the same four petals design and position on black skirt.


    While the senior high male uniform was a black jacket on white long sleeve as well as on black trousers, only the white long sleeve shirt and black jacket had the four rose petals on it, the senior high girls uniform was a black jacket on a white short sleeve shirt which was worn on a black free skirt. The four rose petals'' location and position was the same with that of the boys.


    Days passed after that fateful event and Scarlett had learnt the art of chess to some extent. He spent the past two days learning all the rules and moves in chess so as not to disappoint Aether.


    The day had finally come for the two to meet again. They had planned to meet at the School''s relaxation park with the chess and the Hearts and Spade card game. After a few greeting exchanges here and there, they commenced the game.


    Scarlett, playing as white, opening with the classic e4, his fingers moving confidently as he advanced his pawn. Aether responded with e5, mirroring his move with equal precision. The opening moves were traditional, but both players knew that the game could take a dramatic turn at any moment.


    The pieces were set. Scarlett, playing White, opened by moving his King''s Pawn two squares forward. Aether, controlling Black, responded by advancing her Queen''s Bishop''s Pawn two squares¡ªthe Sicilian Defense. The game immediately took on an aggressive tone, both players steering away from passive play.


    Scarlett developed his King''s Knight, eyeing the center. Aether mirrored the action with her own King''s Knight. The tension grew as Scarlett moved his Queen''s Pawn forward, challenging the structure. The exchange of pawns in the center left Scarlett with a slight lead in space, but Aether¡¯s position remained solid. She reinforced the center by advancing her Queen''s Pawn. Scarlett continued by developing his Queen''s Knight, signaling an open Sicilian.


    Aether moved her Queen''s Rook''s Pawn one square forward, preventing any immediate Knight jumps and preparing for an eventual expansion on the queenside. Scarlett castled kingside, securing his King early, while Aether developed her dark-squared Bishop to the long diagonal, choosing the Dragon variation. The game escalated in complexity. Scarlett advanced his King''s Bishop''s Pawn, reinforcing his center and preparing a kingside attack. Aether continued by fianchettoing her Bishop and soon castled as well.


    The middlegame took shape with Scarlett initiating a thematic Yugoslav Attack. He developed his Queen to connect his Rooks and prepare an attack. Aether responded by activating her Queen''s Rook, preparing counterplay on the queenside. Scarlett advanced his King''s Knight''s Pawn, committing to an aggressive setup. Aether, unfazed, pushed her Queen''s Bishop''s Pawn forward, kicking off her counterattack.


    Scarlett maneuvered his Queen¡¯s Knight to a more central position, rerouting toward the kingside. Aether responded by pushing her Queen''s Knight''s Pawn, challenging the stability of Scarlett¡¯s Knight. Scarlett repositioned his Knight to maintain control. Aether activated her Queen, placing it in a position to exert pressure on both flanks. Scarlett shifted his forces forward, pushing his King''s Rook''s Pawn to break through Aether''s defenses.


    Aether countered by advancing her own King''s Rook''s Pawn, halting Scarlett¡¯s immediate progress. Scarlett initiated an exchange by capturing Aether¡¯s Knight with his Bishop, removing a key defender. Aether recaptured with her Queen, maintaining control over important squares. Scarlett continued his plan, pushing his King''s Knight''s Pawn forward, forcing Aether¡¯s Knight to retreat.


    With the kingside breaking open, Scarlett seized the moment. He sacrificed his Knight by capturing a central pawn, forcing open Aether¡¯s defenses. She captured the Knight, but Scarlett followed up by developing his light-squared Bishop, increasing pressure on the pinned pawn. Aether, precise in defense, repositioned her Knight, creating a counterattack. Scarlett calculated carefully, moving his Queen into an attacking position, maintaining the initiative.


    Aether shifted her Rook to an open file, aligning it against Scarlett¡¯s weakened queenside. Scarlett doubled his Rooks on the open file, targeting the weak pawn in Aether''s camp. Aether counterattacked by shifting her Queen, eyeing an entry point. Scarlett defended by moving his King slightly, reinforcing his position.


    Aether advanced her Queen''s Pawn, breaking open the center. Scarlett captured, but Aether followed up by repositioning her Knight, threatening his King¡¯s security. Scarlett maintained composure, stepping his King aside, avoiding potential tactics. Aether exchanged pawns in the center, opening lines for her pieces.


    Sensing an opportunity, Scarlett sacrificed an exchange by capturing Aether¡¯s Bishop with his Rook, further exposing her King. She recaptured, but Scarlett¡¯s attack gained momentum. He moved his Queen to deliver a check, forcing Aether¡¯s King to the corner. Scarlett followed with a Bishop move, threatening checkmate. Aether defended with her Rook, holding her structure together.


    Scarlett repositioned his Queen to infiltrate deep into enemy territory. Aether countered by activating her Queen, aiming for counterplay. Scarlett captured a key pawn with his Bishop, forcing Aether¡¯s King to move. Under pressure, Aether found a resourceful defense, escaping immediate danger.


    Scarlett continued the attack by delivering checks with his Queen and Bishop, forcing Aether¡¯s King into a tight space. Aether attempted to block with her Rook, but Scarlett¡¯s position was overwhelming. He captured material with his Queen, eliminating the last defensive piece. Aether, seeing no defense left, resigned.


    Scarlett leaned back, his attack having broken through. Aether, despite the loss, had defended resourcefully, but the pressure had been too much. The game had reached its conclusion, and the battle was decided on the board.


    I''ve rewritten the game using the full names of the pieces instead of notation, ensuring clarity while maintaining the strategic depth of the battle. Let me know if you''d like any further refinements!


    "Oof! you are a lot better than I thought, good game." said Aether as she had not been defeated in a while due to how good she was.


    "Thanks, I should say, you''re quite good as well and I''m sure there are only a handful of people that can beat you". Scarlett said as he cleared his throat in his mind.


    "Ah thanks" uttered Aether as she looked down and her cheeks became slightly red.


    "Look who''s talking, you made me use my plan B". Aether said.


    "Oh". Scarlett laughed.


    ''Plan B?". Scarlett thought to himself as he shuffled the cards.


    "I''m interested, what developed your passion for chess.¡± Scarlett asked.


    On hearing this, Aether''s soft gentle smile slowly turned into a slightly sad face as she replied:


    "Sorry I''d answer that another time". This reply made Scarlett realize that it was a sensitive question and they weren''t close enough yet for her to tell him and so he apologized and they commenced the card game.

 School Wars

    The transformation of the Four Rose Petals Boarding world happened gradually. First came the communications blackout¡ªall contact with the outside world severed without warning. Then the monthly supply deliveries stopped. Finally, the massive wrought-iron gates groaned shut, their metallic clang echoing with finality across the sprawling campus.


    The black-suited figures who patrolled the perimeter offered no explanations. As days stretched into weeks, civilization began to crack like drought-parched earth.


    From the chaos, five factions dominated, each claiming territory within the school''s neo-gothic architecture. The Echowood Retreat, Aurora Bluffs, Seraphic Summit, Starfall Reach and Shadowmere Groove.


    Resources became currency: bottled water, preserved food, blankets. Each faction hoarded what they could, trading or fighting for what they needed. Those who refused to choose sides found themselves adrift in a turbulent new world, battling starvation and agony in the spaces between territories.


    The constant skirmishes took their toll. Every victory was Pyrrhic, won with bruises, broken bones, and dwindling resources. The relative equality of strength between factions created a bloody stalemate¡ªuntil he emerged.


    Emrys Arlorias didn''t start as anyone special. But he possessed something rare in this new, hopeless world, foresight. While others fought for immediate gains, he saw the bigger picture. One by one, he dismantled the other factions¡ªnot through brute force alone, but also through a combination of strategy, charisma, and calculated mercy. Seraphic Summit fell first, then Aurora Bluffs. Echowood Retreat and Shadowmere Grove soon followed, their members absorbed into his growing alliance: Crescent Dawn.


    Now, in the repurposed grand dining hall, Emrys sat at the head of a massive mahogany table. His white fluffy coat¡ªa symbol of his promise to someone¡ªdraped over his shoulders, covering his black tactical outfit. The setting sun painted the stained glass windows in blood reds and burning golds, casting his face in dramatic shadows.


    "I would''ve loved to make a toast," he announced, his voice carrying to every corner of the room, "but our work isn''t finished." His fingers traced the rim of an empty crystal glass. "We''re at the final stage. One last obstacle stands between us and total unification: Starfall Reach. Their leader is clever, I''ll grant them that. But what we need now is information¡ªand with it, victory is inevitable."


    He stood, the cape flowing around him like liquid moonlight. "There are students suffering under this wickedness, scraping by between territories, living in fear. With our victory, we can end this cycle of violence. No more factions. No more fear¡­. No more losses of loved ones. We''d have our answers as to why we''ve been treated so unjustly. We''d get to see our families once again.¡±


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    The crowd erupted in cheers, their voices shaking dust from the rafters. Emrys¡¯ lip curled in a slight smile, and he whispered, just loud enough for his inner circle to hear: "Let''s put an end to this


    Chapter 3


    The transformation of the Four Rose Petals Boarding world happened gradually. First came the communications blackout¡ªall contact with the outside world severed without warning. Then the monthly supply deliveries stopped. Finally, the massive wrought-iron gates groaned shut, their metallic clang echoing with finality across the sprawling campus.


    The black-suited figures who patrolled the perimeter offered no explanations. As days stretched into weeks, civilization began to crack like drought-parched earth.


    From the chaos, five factions dominated, each claiming territory within the school''s neo-gothic architecture. The Echowood Retreat, Aurora Bluffs, Seraphic Summit, Starfall Reach and Shadowmere Groove.


    Resources became currency: bottled water, preserved food, blankets. Each faction hoarded what they could, trading or fighting for what they needed. Those who refused to choose sides found themselves adrift in a turbulent new world, battling starvation and agony in the spaces between territories.


    The constant skirmishes took their toll. Every victory was Pyrrhic, won with bruises, broken bones, and dwindling resources. The relative equality of strength between factions created a bloody stalemate¡ªuntil he emerged.


    Emrys Arlorias didn''t start as anyone special. But he possessed something rare in this new, hopeless world, foresight. While others fought for immediate gains, he saw the bigger picture. One by one, he dismantled the other factions¡ªnot through brute force alone, but also through a combination of strategy, charisma, and calculated mercy. Seraphic Summit fell first, then Aurora Bluffs. Echowood Retreat and Shadowmere Grove soon followed, their members absorbed into his growing alliance: Crescent Dawn.


    Now, in the repurposed grand dining hall, Emrys sat at the head of a massive mahogany table. His white fluffy coat¡ªa symbol of his promise to someone¡ªdraped over his shoulders, covering his black tactical outfit. The setting sun painted the stained glass windows in blood reds and burning golds, casting his face in dramatic shadows.


    "I would''ve loved to make a toast," he announced, his voice carrying to every corner of the room, "but our work isn''t finished." His fingers traced the rim of an empty crystal glass. "We''re at the final stage. One last obstacle stands between us and total unification: Starfall Reach. Their leader is clever, I''ll grant them that. But what we need now is information¡ªand with it, victory is inevitable."


    He stood, the cape flowing around him like liquid moonlight. "There are students suffering under this wickedness, scraping by between territories, living in fear. With our victory, we can end this cycle of violence. No more factions. No more fear¡­. No more losses of loved ones. We''d have our answers as to why we''ve been treated so unjustly. We''d get to see our families once again.¡±


    The crowd erupted in cheers, their voices shaking dust from the rafters. Emrys¡¯ lip curled in a slight smile, and he whispered, just loud enough for his inner circle to hear: "Let''s put an end to this darkness."