The sky... was dead.
It was silent, nearly no one was outside their homes. The atmosphere was dark, dry, and a little cold, slowly getting colder.
A young man in a tracksuit was walking down the street, coming back from somewhere, and looking tired. His voice was deep and low but heavy and restrained.
"Been a week without sunlight." He sighed. "What the hell are they even doing? Just fuckin' move it to somewhere else now."
He continued his walk on the silent street. The sound of his footsteps echoed through it. Despite the cold, he appeared to be dressed in only light clothing. It seemed like he had just done some heavy exercise.
He looked at his watch.
"8:32 .....I'm a bit late."
As he rubbed his eyes, he looked at the sky. It wasn't cold because of the weather or dark because of the clouds. The sunlight and its heat were being stopped by something massive. It was a spaceship, big enough to cover the whole sky.
It's been a year since this spaceship moved last time, and it doesn't seem like it's going to move anytime soon and so it slowly made the area beneath it darker and colder. It's not that it is not a problem for people in this area or they are used to it, but they really can't do anything about it, so they just have to try and get used to it.
The man unintentionally looked at something on that spaceship, and as soon as he saw it, his body shook. He felt like he was watching something, someone, inside of it. His gaze turned inward and wide, his eyes suddenly refocusing, as if he answered someone's call.
••
Someone from the spaceship was looking down from a glass window.
The spaceship was dark and silent inside, and there were some weirdly oriented rooms in which almost everyone was sleeping. But there were some glowing parts because of the movements of machines intricately involved in the parts of that chamber of the ship.
That person was looking at a planet that looked almost a little yellow in some places and even completely glowing red in some areas, while some spots were abnormally ordinary.
That planet was Earth.
"What are you doing at this time?" A voice called that person from behind. It was a woman's voice, but sounded too hoarse to be one.
"Did you forget that I've been ordered to go to Tidhar, and so YOU are coming with me? So go to your room and rest until it's time to come out."
That person mustered up a few words with their weak, nervous voice of a young girl, "B-but..."
"Doesn't matter if you said no. You do understand what will happen if you try to be against me, right?"
The conversation died down. An uncomfortable hush settled.
"I'm going to meet the Goddess. She asked to see me. Go back to your room and don't come out unless I ask you to. Watching those humans from here won't change anything. Well, not that you can do anything even if you went there."
They parted ways, and the darkness mercifully hid someone's tears.
That dominating woman came in front of a room. A bright, turquoise light was coming out from it.
The room was filled with big and thick pipes and wires and other channels, all connected to a cylindrical glass capsule, and in that capsule, someone was floating. Many wires were connected to the body as if those wires were absorbing something from it. That illuminating light was coming out from the capsule only, so it was almost impossible to see the person inside it.
That woman looked at that capsule pod, knelt and bowed down to it in respect.
"I heard you called for me, Goddess."
••
He gazed at the spacecraft with a sense of hypnotic fascination. He stood there, completely captivated.
"Oh, hello there, Kushal," someone called him from behind.
He got out of his hypnosis.
"Huh? What was that?" he thought as he rubbed his forehead. "And who is it now?" he said as he turned around.
An old man in his sixties with a stick in his hand was walking towards him.
"Oh... It's you..."
"I know that it is a bit early, but I was called by those... uh... dhamvem..."
"It's Dharmveg, Dada. Not that hard to remember, y'know."
"Yes, that. So they called me, a while after I woke up and asked me to come as they had caught that guy who stole my car. I would have gone there by myself, but you know, I can't go there alone. I don't know much about how to deal with them."
"And why do you think I would know that? Am I a criminal or something?" he said, confused, but his tone made it sound sarcastic.
"No, no beta, but I don't think you'd leave this old man to go to that kind of place alone at this time, would you?"
The old man was trying to convince him.
"But isn't that your problem? Also, even if I go there with you, they would not allow me to enter if I'm not someone involved in this."
But it failed.
"But you saw him in my car and took pictures of him. He got caught because of you, so I think you are involved in this."
The old man made him the witness and the one to take responsibility.
*"Ah, damn, here goes my peaceful morning"* He sighed and looked at his watch again. "Alright, I'll join you, since I AM involved."
It was super effective.
They turned back to the path he was coming from, conversing while walking. As they slowly reached a three-way, they turned onto a road to go to Vegam.
"By the way, why did they change it from 'Policemen' to 'Dharmveg' and 'Police Station' to 'Vegam'? It is a mouthful." The old man asked the younger.
The road was silent as no one was around there at this time... pretty normal.
"Because now they are under Luminari's control. Didn't you hear how those aliens destroyed almost every public facility everywhere? They just wrecked it all down because they saw all these things as 'unconventional'. Luminari just recreated it, but with rules that please those aliens." His voice was low and deep.
"It seems like you hate Dramons, Kushal."
"Didn't I ask you not to call me by that name?"
The old man laughed it off.
•••
Two years ago, the Earth was invaded by an alien species that called themselves Zenozacil Dramon Jiviq.
Their spaceship, which was probably even bigger than one-fourth of Earth, covered the skies, and darkness prevailed over the countries.
It was all too perplexing and fast for most people to even completely understand the situation, while some countries saw it as threatening and attacked it right away. They got those aliens unguarded and did what they could to destroy that spaceship.
Though Dramons were surprised by this attack, they didn't lose much, at least not compared to the countries that attacked.
Those countries got a reply to that violence, and hence were utterly destroyed... or 'erased' would be a more suitable word.
To be precise on the technological advancements of those aliens, they were of type II civilisation on the Kardashev scale, while humans were type I and that is a massive difference in power. And so, humanity completely lost.
The lands of those countries were either replaced by the water of surrounding water bodies, or just became a red spot on the planet. And after some more sheer representation of power, all of the remaining nations yielded to them.
All this happened in a single day, and humans remembered it as 'Shadowfall'.
•••
They came in front of a three-story building with some empty prison cells outside and a few chimneys coming out from it. It looked like a small factory from afar but also looked a bit weird to call it a factory.
After talking to a guard, they went inside it and met a Dharmveg, a man in a dark red and black uniform with some blue linings, who was probably lower in position since he was just standing there with his weapon.
They asked for the person who stole the car and he took them further inside.
That Dharmveg stopped in front of a cell and inside someone, covered in dust, was working in a sense of desperation. He was breaking a rock but without any equipment. There was a pickaxe, broken behind him. There was some kind of glowing, circular thing on his neck.
"Is this the guy you saw that night?" The Dharmveg asked K.
"Yeah, he is." Kushal looked at his face, looking a little different from when he saw him that night.
"He was asking to see you people as soon as possible."
"Why us?"
"I don't know. Ask him yourself."
The Dharmveg took out something like a switch from his pocket, opened the entrance, and stopped the glowing thing on that man's neck too.
He stopped, looking a little more relaxed than before, but just a little, and finally looked up and saw Kushal and the old man.
"Y-you! Your car! I-I don't need your car. Just save me! I want to get out of here. They don't even let me eat anything." That man fell on Kushal's feet and started crying loudly. "I would never steal anything. I just want to go home... I-i'm- I am starving...."
That old man looked at him with pity.
"I think we should let him go, Kushal. There must have been some reason behind his doing this."
"What are you thinking old man? Do you know how much it costs to do that? If you come to a Vegam and ask for a prisoner to be released, the money required would be more than the cost of a whole human body." His expression didn't change. "If someone is imprisoned because of you, the price might get a little lower but it would still be ten times the cost of your old car."
That man's tears were falling on Kushal's feet.
"I just wanted money to save my child, I lost all my property during that rebellion. I only needed money for my family so I thought it wouldn't be a problem if I stole from someone who is living a better life than us."
"Even if you say that or even if I want to, I can't save you. None of us have enough money to save your life." Kushal stepped back. "Even if we are living a better life than yours, we are not in that good position as you think."
The old man started praying for him.
"Hope your family stays alive." Kushal turned back and Dharmveg closed the cell. He asked about the car and what paperwork he would need to do and started going away with the old man. But that man started gritting his teeth as the circular thing started glowing again on his neck.
"Damn you. You people were the betrayers and we... we had to suffer. You.... I hope your life becomes hell." That man started rubbing his hand on the ground, staining it red.
That thing on his neck started glowing more and he started breaking that rock again in fear.
••
The old man and Kushal came out of that Vegam, going towards their way.
Kushal was thinking about that man but got interrupted by the old man.
"Ah, I just remembered, I wanted to tell you about my retirement party at your home."
"No need, I won't come anyway."
"You say that but you do want to come there."
"Why the hell do you think I would come, huh? Are you messing with me or something? You're irritating me on purpose, right?"
The old man's smile wasn't a bit fazed by his anger at him.
"I'll be expecting you at the party tomorrow evening, Kushal. Your presence is the only gift I require."
"Like I said, I won't be-" Well, atleast he tried to refuse the old man but he didn't even listen to him and went away, leaving him confused. He thought something while watching him going away.
Kushal refused to admit it but his decision was already changed. He had unknowingly decided to attend the party.
It was like that old man knew about this all along.
Kushal continued on his way.
"Another fucked up start of the day." He sighed. "I just don't want anyone to see now."
He resumed his walk, but luck wasn't on his side today.
Someone, who he finds very annoying, was sprinting toward him in an urgency that looked like it would eat the distance between them. Kushal squeezed his eyes, still walking as he watched that person approaching.
It was a tall, blonde young man with a thin physique and grey eyes who was running towards Kushal. He wore a lime yellow hoodie and blue jeans with unfolded hem.
He was waving his hand to attract Kushal's attention with the smile of a child who just saw his mother.... father.
"K~! I nailed it! I got the job in that company!" He shouted, his eyes sparkling with excitement. His chest heaved up and down after stopping before Kushal.
"Shut up, idiot! Why are you screaming in a silent place? And why are you calling me 'K'? I'm older than you."
It seemed like Kushal scolded him enough but he was too extroverted to be silent.
"I don't want to hear that from you, and I also have a name, George."
"Yeah, m-"
"Anyways, thanks for helping me out in my interview practice. And suggesting that place for my studies. And giving me money and... I think I missed something. Well, I can't thank you enough. I got this job because of you after all."
Stone-faced, Kushal stared at George with his unyielding eyes. The silence thickened between them, suffocating George's composure.
"Nice! Isn't it good? Now, get the fuck out of here. I only helped you because I wanted to get rid of you." He spoke heavily, acting curt.
"Oh... Do you treat me like that because I'm not from this country? Well, I think all foreigners are treated that way, no matter where it is..."
"Hm? I don- I'm like that to everyone."
"Uhh~ Oh, so you are an introvert."
"Shut th-"
"Yeah, yeah. I get you need some attention too. Don't worry, I will hang out with you. Also, be ready for me to spread the tale about how nice you were to others. That might help you... Probably." George's whole expression changed.
K gave out a dry sigh. "Do you know something?"
"What?"
"YOU GOT SOME BALLS OF STEEL" his voice was heavy.
"Ok-Okay, alright. Sure thing! I won't stand in your way while you're busy being an old grump or sad sack. I will come by your shop later on today... Try not to get too excited before we meet though." He must be unable to read the room.
K got angered. He clenched his fist anticipating a strike.
"Uh-a-alright, alright... I'll leave..." George's eyes widened, realizing he had pushed him too far. He quickly backed away, sensing the danger.
K's gaze followed George with an unchanging expression. "And don't come to my place."
Since George left, he was back to being all alone again on that cold path.
He then started walking back to his home through a street with many trees lining it. It lightened his tensed head and then he reached his house.
An old lady came out from a room.
"Hmm? Don't you think you are here too early today, Aunt Kavita?"
Kavita looked at him, her white hair was enough to tell how old she was.
"I have cleaned the house and washed the dishes. The breakfast is ready and the bathwater is warm too. I completed all the work already. I wanted a leave for two days, so I thought I should come early in the morning, Kushal"
"I understand but do you realize how many times have you asked for a leave this month? If it is important, then don't come here. Once it's done you can come back. Don't worry about the money." His voice didn't convey any concerning feelings, yet he was genuinely concerned.
"It would not be necessary. The doctor informed me that my son may only have one day to live, so after that, I don't think I would need any days off soon." Kavita had no expression at all, her small eyes made it impossible to tell.
"As you wish. I will come to the hospital soon in the afternoon. Go and meet your son." K's tone was low as he started going to his room.
He exhaled. "And don't worry much about it. You only need to ask me and I will help you as much as I can. You took care of me when I was young, think of it as a payment."
"If you had not helped me at that time, I would have lost my son long ago. I can't thank you enough for it. I was prepared for this moment since that war."
"Yeah, I know.... But no matter how prepared one can get... Nobody is ever fully prepared for something like this." He looked down.
Her tears started falling.
"Don't cry. You know he won't be happy to see you like this. Go and meet him with a smile so that he can be at peace."
She stopped crying and put her hand on his head.
"Take care of the house until I come back."
"Uhh.... yeah, that's good and all but, can't you old people understand that I don't want to be called 'Kushal'? I've already told you all about a hundred times to call me something else instead. I don't want to be called by that name...."
She smiled and went away. Though she had a smile, her eyes were only showing sadness.
As he entered his living room, he shed his sweatshirt, turned on the fan, and collapsed onto the sofa. The softness enveloped him, a welcome respite from exhaustion.
He closed his eyes, feeling the silence.
After a moment, he woke up, stretched, and headed for a bath. Under the warm water, his fatigue melted away. The water cascaded down, washing off sweat and relaxing his muscles.
He came out a few minutes later. The water was emphasizing his looks.
He had the usual gloomy expression on his face. He wore a black T-shirt and midnight blue pants and went back into the living room, he flipped through TV channels, searching for news.
First News' headline:
"Another person killed by the Dramons."
He rolled his eyes with a fed-up voice. "I wanted to hear some 'news', not something that common."
He changed the channel for other news.
Second News' headline:
"Temperature decreasing and many plant life dying because of the sunlight being hidden from the spaceship, Kha'zyr."
He changed the channel again.
Third News' headline:
"Is WDO even doing anything?"
He turned off his TV.
"Same news everywhere... Won't they get bored from this?"
He sighed and lay down on his couch.
"Those aliens.....Dramons, huh..."
••
In that giant spaceship, that woman and Goddess were talking, but no one could hear the conversation outside of that room.
They were talking telepathically.
"I have heard about your achievements before. You are a very talented warrior in my opinion." The voice was kind and soothing. It felt like it could melt any heart no matter how hard it was.
"You are flattering me. I only do what's best for our people."
"You are a great warrior and that's why I believe only you can do this."
"Anything, My Goddess. I would do what you want."
"Then..." A sword sheathed with a black colored cloth, covered from its tip to the hilt came floating towards that woman. "Take it as a gift and also keep it close to yourself."
"Yes, I would, but... Goddess, do you think this should be given to me? This is an ancient sword and also a special one. Am I even worthy to take this with me?"
"Yes, you are. You are worthy of this. Now hold it in your hand."
"I can touch it?"
"As long as it is covered in that cloth."
She grabbed the sword's hilt. The sword was quivering.
"Why is it shaking?"
"Because it has found its path and its fate. It senses the great battle ahead, the clash of destinies. It trembles with anticipation, for it knows it will soon be unleashed upon the world."
"What battle? What destinies? I don't understand it, My Goddess."
"All will be revealed in time. For now, know that you have been chosen to wield this sword, to shape the course of history."
After hearing all that, and from her, anyone's confidence would boost to its max. And it is the same with her now.
"I understand, My Goddess. I am honored to bear this burden."
Then a gentle voice came out from Goddess.
"Then go to the Earth now. You are able enough to succeed in fulfilling this sword's desire. If you want to use this, you can use psyche manipulation to control this sword's movement, and it would not hurt you then."
Then Goddess's voice got louder and the light got brighter "I, the Guardian Goddess of the Xilaithai, bestow this sword's powers upon you, the third commander of the Dramon's armed forces... and with my guidance... you would succeed in this task.... Irnis Zorvathys Lyraezokk."
That sword started glowing.