章 7: Remembrance of a Former Past
10 years ago, the golden sun slowly rose from the boundless horizon as it illuminated with its brilliant sunlight over the vast world. Along with the sun was the revelation of the heavens, An ocean-like blue azure skies that spanned the entire world. Echelons of birds passed above the broad land as life woke up from the eternal darkness of the night. It was the beginning of a new day, a day in the empire.
Within the blue heavens were the silver-white fluffy clouds passing through them. The breezing wind was calm and a bit cold as they passed through heaven and earth. They moved the arsenal of clouds through the world while rustling life covering the entire planet.
As everything started to move in motion, one was about to wake up from a deep and comfortable slumber.
In a luxurious and noble-like room, within the comfy and soft bed, snowy sheets began budging as a pale hand revealed itself. The golden sunlight pierced through the curtain, illuminating the entire room, resulting in the awakening. After the revelation of the hand, a girl revealed herself while still having her head on the soft white pillow.
She was a gorgeous young girl who was slowly becoming awake. She had long jet-black hair that was silky and soft. Her irises were known to be pitch black, resembling the darkness of the void. Her pale skin was smooth as her face, rivaling the empire's beauties. Most wouldn't make her out to be a formerly enslaved person.
Her name was Alastair Hecate, an orphan and a student within the imperial war academy.
Alastair was a name given to her by the soldier that bought her, while Hecate was the surname appointed by the facility that trained her. Her identity was built under the empire's influence, and to reach her current position was a work made by her blood and sweat.
Alastair slowly opened her eyelids which revealed her void-like irises. She groaned upon her awakening as annoyance formed on her face. While lying on the bed, she stretched her stiffened body as they relaxed, which resulted in an expression of ease.
She looked around the luxurious room and noticed her roommate preparing to leave the room. She squinted towards her roommate as the spoken roommate spoke with a soothing voice.
"Wakey, wakey, Alastair. In ten minutes, you will be late for classes in the morning."
After hearing the words of her roommate, Alastair's eyes immediately turned wide-awake as she quickly exited from her comfy bed. She stood right beside it while wearing her nightwear, which was curled and ragged. The roommate slightly snickered upon the instantly awakened Alastair.
The roommate's name was Elpis Mutatio. She was of an aristocratic origin, a young daughter of a marquis. Her family's rank in the empire was considered high, though they appear to maintain long-term neutrality that spanned entire generations. She was a master teaser, and within the imperial war academy, only Alastair was the one who treated her without that much thought of social power.
Alastair, at the moment, was 16th years of age. Her origin was related to slavery. She got bought and joined the military at the age of 7. After rigorous training with a high mortality rate, she succeeded and was sent into the imperial war academy to graduate and become an official member of the imperial military.
Alastair's time during her stay in the academy was not that special. She studied and trained like always, though she lacked the social skills to speak to anyone other than herself. Beyond her cold and expressionless face were thousands of thoughts passing through her mind like incoming traffic.
Many soldiers in the facility, including the high command, kept nagging her about developing some social skills. She wouldn't rise into power without it. She needed to speak and interact with the people around her. After all, she wasn't a lone wolf but a future officer of the military.
An unspeaking military officer would be dangerous as soldiers and armies needed communication to move. Not only that, but Alastair would have to develop a leader-subordinate relationship that would help her on the battlefield. If she couldn't produce any social skills, she wouldn't be able to become an officer.
After fully revitalizing herself, Alastair looked at the clock on the wall. She started at it and sighed as she turned her gaze towards the bastard that woke her up in such a weird and dreadful way.
"Why didn't you wake me up earlier? It's 20 minutes before the class starts."
Elpis smiled upon hearing Alastair's words and answered with a soothing voice.
"I wanted to wake you up, but unfortunately, you were sleeping so peacefully that I couldn't gather the will and strength to awaken you. During our months together as roommates, you looked rather stiff and cautious."
"Seeing you sleep well was a first-time thing that may be as rare as the federation of nations winning the war."
Alastair shook her head and sighed once again after hearing the strange reasoning of Elpis. Her roommate was an eccentric individual who appeared to be the image of nobility. The passive-aggressiveness born from the ability to not be straightforward would be enough to make people cry.
Roasting the federation of nations who got pushed farther away from their former borders during the great war was something that most in the empire would applaud. From a standpoint, the empire's victory in the great war was almost at hand.
Maybe a decade later, the great war would finally end.
"Hmm... You are either an observant girl or someone that had been stalking me for months. Either way, both are extremely dangerous." Alastair formed a short smile as Eplis slyly smiled and replied with a tranquil tone.
"Maybe both?"
Her reply was strange, and Alastair simply ignored it by shaking her head. She walked towards the window and basked herself in the golden sunlight of the sun. She looked at the gorgeous scenery found through the window and couldn't help but relax.
It has relatively been peaceful during her time within the imperial war academy. She didn't mind the peace, but she was becoming accustomed to it, which was dangerous. While looking through the window, she noticed some students leaving the academy.
They were drop-out students who would return to where they came from. Whether it'd be the commoners or nobles. The imperial war academy was merciless as they expelled anyone that seemed worthless. That was how strict they were, and that was why the imperial war academy got considered the best school in the nation.
"Do you ever think that the empire is an evil nation?" Alastair questioned while staring through the window with an emotionless expression. Elpis, who finished wearing her uniform, looked at Alastair and replied with a manner of wisdom plastered on her face.
"The empire is completely corrupt as the rumors say it is. It is also incredibly chaotic. Many people die every day from famine or die to make the capital work in its current state. The world is rather merciless to those unfortunate, and they usually get killed at the first stages of their life."
Alastair nodded upon hearing Elpis's words and asked a genuine question to her.
"Don't you think that the empire should be abolished or defeated by the federation of nations? After all, at its current state. It appears to be giving more suffering than good to its nation's citizens."
Elpis raised an eyebrow as Alastair's words echoed within her mind. A slight smile formed as she turned her gaze toward Alastair and started at Alastair's face without changing her expression. She then answered with a calm voice.
"Maybe you are correct. Maybe it's time for the empire to collapse on itself. But there is one thing I am sure of. Even with the bad sides of the empire, I still want it to exist. It is my home, after all."
"As the darkness of the empire continues to shroud the land, its beauty will illuminate brighter than ever before."
"The empire is far from paradise and is closer to what most would consider a hell-hole. But it still has its beauty. Just because our home is a wasteland doesn't mean we should abandon it. Do you remember one of the core values of the empire?"
"One must not give up no matter what challenges they face through. If one dislikes the current state of the empire, one must change it from within. It would be a tough challenge, but just because it's hard, that doesn't mean that it's impossible."
"Besides, I'd rather look at the sunrise on a hillside."
Alastair then applauded as Elpis pouted in annoyance as Alastair was mocking her speech of wisdom. Alastair smirked and replied with a teasing voice. "I can't believe that my friend became a philosopher."
Noticing the about to be angry Elpis, Alastair decided to change her ways.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were such a good philosopher? Such advanced philosophy that you might be considered the greatest philosopher of the empire." Alastair praised Elpis with all her power as Elpis slowly regained her confidence. She looked at Alastair with an expression of hope and questioned.
"You think that I'm the greatest philosopher of the empire?"
Alastair gazed upon Elpis upon hearing her words and answered bluntly.
"Of course not."
"You bastard... How dare you lie to me!" Elpis was angry at her friend, who gave her false hope and confidence. Alastair started chuckling as Elpis pouted once again and left through the door. But, before leaving the door, she turned her gaze back at Alastair and said.
"Hope you get late."
"W-wait, what? You can't just wish for your precious roommate to get late." Alastair said as she quickly began preparing herself for class. Time was running out, and she needed to reach the classroom before the bells rang. She looked at Elpis's back and shouted. "Hey, wait for me!!!"
In the imperial war academy, their time together was life-changing for Alastair, who lacked any dreams or wishes. The speech of wisdom was what she called it, and it forever changed everything, including her perception of the empire.
That was the last explicit scene between her and Elpis.
Or so, Alastair had thought.
That wasn't the last scene between her and Elpis. It was mainly one of the many ones hidden within her memories. The actual final image of memory was something she wanted to forget. Something she didn't want to remember as it was too painful for her.
Within the hillside, Alastair stood silently as the breeze of wind ruffled her hair. Like before, the golden sun emerged from the horizon and rose from it. Its brilliant sunlight pierced through the clouds, giving like to the dark world. It was the ray of hope and the revelation of the future. That was what most thought of the sunrise.
It has been five years since that last memory within the imperial war academy. A lot of things had changed, and such changes were painful for Alastair. For someone who was considered to be cold and emotionless, there was a time of vulnerability.
Such vulnerability wasn't something she wanted to show to anyone. On the contrary, it was a sign of weakness for Alastair, yet she still desired to keep it beside her. After all, the moment she leaves it behind. She might lose everything that got built during her time before the military.
Alastair gazed upon the gravestone, which was at the peak of the hillside where the scenery was the best. Looking at it, she crouched and placed a flower right beside it. Silence enveloped everything as the grass rustled. She looked at the gravestone's words.
[Elpis Mutatio]
[Died at 18th of age.]
"It's been a long while, Elpis. Once again, sunrise began."
"A lot of things had happened, and I now have an army of my own. The nation that exploded a bomb in the imperial war academy had been burned to the ground. That simple fact gave me peace."
"I know you would say that such an act of vengeance is not the way. But I'm beginning to doubt my ways. Did such a way save you? Did such a way save anyone at all? What does that do other than elevate my guilt? It's time for me to change and adapt."
"I have been sent to the frontlines. I planned on gathering more merits and virtues during my stay on the frontlines. I would be quite bloody as I will stomp at any nations in front of me."
"To be honest, during my skirmishes far from the front lines. Many feared me. Many called me some monstrous damnation brought to the world. Some even considered be a daughter of an evil god. Maybe I am... But still, I'm here for one thing."
Alastair froze for a short while as her emotionless face broke apart. The last images of her friend kept echoing within her mind. As finally... Tears escaped from her eyes as she uttered her final words to her best friend.
"I-I really am sorry..."
"I apologize that your friend became a monster."
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