ELIXA

CHAPTER 4

Men and women parade the tower, looking straight and sturdy as if they had been polished with frown and meanness. Freetown was the capital of Bel Haven, the seat of the Firstborn and the government itself. Unlike Bel Haven that was blessed with nature's air, Freetown depends on the recycling factory for the citizens to stay alive. It was the same reason why everyone had an oxygen pipe on their nose. Sometime in the past, the emperor had tried to centralize power to the capital of the Nine Rings. That way, they would dissolve the Firstborns and have more money being pushed to the capital city, which in this case was sitting in Norls. What happens to the citizens has little or no role to play at the moment. Most people were interested in the money and the resources and the emperor was no less different.

Kristen lowered her head as she walked with her hands behind her. But for the cleaners and the men in training, white was the color accepted in Freetown. It was a sign of purity and total reverence for light and what real power stands for. There have been arguments however that the tower was an embodiment of hypocrisy. Whether that was true or not, Kristen could not place a hand on it. She was just being careful not to mention anything beyond what was given or say what the light considers profane. Even curiosity sometimes was bad in itself. It usually drags one to the cliff and lets them fall while it watches. Keeping to oneself was the best way to survive in the tower. The only way to avoid eyes and mouths in your direction.

Novices and servants of the towers bowed their heads as she walked by, but Kristen kept her head low, giving no care or attention to them. These were mostly orphans that have been handpicked from across the Nine Rings. People with the ability to make and unmake. The power would have faded a long time ago, all thanks to Claudius and his invention. Since his inventions, the power in people has been suppressed in such a way that they always become too little to manifest at a certain age. But with the power of the Tower, the Freeborns were able to gather what was remaining of the people with the ability. It was the only way to secretly train them in the way of the light before they could turn to the dark. Those people with the power are always prone to turning to the dark side was a question Kristen has asked over and over again. She just couldn't imagine how terribly men love darkness.

"Kristen," Someone called.

Kristen ignored as she stepped into the elevator, she shifted the magnetic steel and stepped back when the glass door started humming. It was a single, designed in a circular shape to fit one or two people. There were probably twenty-six to twenty-seven thousand of the elevator, spreading through the city, in homes and schools, offices, and corporative bodies.

"Morning by morning," Ruth said as she jumped into the elevator, right before the glass door slid closed. Like Kristen, she was on white and had a single oxygen tube attached to her nostrils. But unlike Kristen who had no ability, Ruth was an Airno. She was the third of her kind in Freetown, and the only woman in the entire Nine Rings to possess such power. 

"His mercies endure forever," Kristen repeated and took some steps to the side. They were both highly ranking Freeborns, but standing with an Airno has always been uncomfortable to her. That someone could control the air in your nostrils or cause your blood to boil was enough to shake her off. 

Lowering her hood, Kristen kept her focus on the elevator light. If she had her way, she would have preferred running around in the villages, gathering more people with the power. The boredom in Freetown was beginning to affect her psychologically. And staying with those that actually know how to use the power on someone always leaves her skin crawling on itself. Walking a novice through on the path to light was easier than knowing that they could harm you of their own volition.

"You heard the news too, didn't you?" Ruth said and she lowered her hood. She was blonde and had braided the hair to match the almond eyes and beige skin.

Kristen bit her under lips. This was one reason why she hated the tower. People here were always inquisitive, pocking their noses into things they did not understand.

"What news?"

"The news, about the thief in Bel Haven. Allen streets to be precise."

"Oh, that news." Kristen nodded.

"Yes, that news. I heard he had caused a whirlwind, twice the size of a hurricane."

"I see," was all Kristen said. That she has not heard the news yet, was a testimony of how far she had kept her sniffing nose. There were no regrets of course, besides, going about chasing after the news was not her priority. She had other pressing matters to worry over a random individual that could use the Free power.

"I think he is an Airno." Ruth clapped her hands in delight, "the pictures could not say otherwise. If the general had allowed me, I would have traveled to Bel Haven to see for myself. But if he is an Airno, that means that our number is increasing"

"On a scale of one? That's really encouraging." Kristen rolled her eyes.

"Whatever, I am just excited to meet this newest member of my kind. With him, we can conquer any nation for the emperor."

Kristen laughed. "The last time I checked, there were three of you in the entire Nine Rings. And now you found just one random individual and you are talking of conquering kingdoms? This is the funniest joke of the century."

"How many Airno were needed to break the world?"

"Come on Ruth," Kristen shook her head as if she couldn't believe the older woman, "That was a long time ago. A time when the Free Power was still strong in everyone. Unlike now that anyone above the age of Twelve is dimed unfit."

"That's true. But if you have seen the pictures, you would have agreed with me that this boy is powerful. We could really use him as leverage."

Don't be so sure. Kristen rubbed her brow. If the boy was as powerful as they were portraying him to be, then darkness would be on his heel as much as light. Only those who have lost their ways put their trust in mere humans. Like a reed, they were prone to disappointment and if adequate care was not taken, this boy could be the end of the world. He could be the greatest weapon of the dark one.

"You heard about the upgrade too?" Ruth asked.

The elevator had stopped now and the glass door was sliding open. This was the firstborn quarter. Servants and novices were not allowed, unless on a special occasion.

"Upgrade," Kristen repeated as they stepped away from the elevator.  It hummed quietly and started descending the way they had come.

"You must have traveled to Mars. Who in the Nine Rings hasn't heard about the upgrade of Elixa?"

"Me," Kristen adjusted her hood, giving no care to hide the surprise in her eyes. She was not ashamed of her ignorance, if the Tower had not been strict with her and her companions, maybe they would have been informed like the rest of the people. But that would be a waste. Besides, if they had not continued their search, it wouldn't have mattered what was upgraded or not, or who had the Free Power or not. Nothing was the same. After all, Elixa had caused them much more trouble than they were willing to bear. That was the reason why they had banished it from the tower in the first place. Distortion of nature is a risk which the living should think twice before diving into.

"It was launched three weeks ago. Now, not only will Elixa bring people back to life, but will also grow with their owner, saving their memory and their character. Even their feelings too."

"That is strange," Kristen said as she bit her fingers. She nodded to the greetings of a man who bore some papers and hurried pass as if he was chased by a Darkeel. It was not strange, if the Emperor had not placed today as a holiday, this first court would have been bustling with petitions of people from across the world, and flying papers would have been the least of things to worry about.

"So strange that my skin crawls when I heard it," Ruth continued.

They had started walking towards the office but keeping their voice to themselves. Matters concerning Elixa were prohibited in the tower. According to the creed, Elixa was from the pit of hell and should not be mentioned with caution.

"That would merge the timeline. And if that happens, we might start seeing the faces of people who have died millions of years ago." Kristen whispered.

"If that was the case, then I wouldn't have a problem."

Kristen stopped and gave her a questionable look, but Ruth only smiled.

"I wish I could see my parents again. You should wish the same thing too. But that's not the case or the problem. The real problem is what will come out from the Timeline. That's where these scientists are barely looking at."