Fifteen years after the incident that changed the lives of the midnights forever, the Aetherian Empire still mourns that day as the night of terror, which coincidentally occurred on the same night Montclair was born.

  Montclair currently lives in the 5th district of Eldeina in the Veydinus nation.

  " But what are you but a man without purpose," Montclair muttered underneath his breath, coughing out dust in a hot, humid mine. He was sitting on a jagged rock with a pickaxe on his shoulder as he stared into the distance. He had a yellow vest with a red helmet that hid the blood from the brain trauma endured in the mines. Montclair's silky hair was covered in dirt and sand, and his hands were rough as diamonds. His eyes were filled with the sorrow of loss and despair.

  A disgruntled voice hollered at a distance," Montclair, I know my eyes deceive me, and you are not resting before your break."

  He walked towards Montclair, his footsteps thundering through the caves.

  " Montclair, I have warned you repeatedly, and it just goes over that good-for-nothing lump of cells you call a brain," he points at him from a distance aggressively before finally meeting face-to-face with Montclair.

  "That's a pay cut from your weekly salary," he snorted, ejecting saliva from his mouth.

  Montclair's eyes widened." You can't do that; management did not give you the authority.”

  He grinned, avoiding eye contact.

  " I don't need permission to do anything. I run this mine and decide who gets paid, so that means I own you. you either fall in line, or you are out."

  " I...I..." Montclair stuttered, taping his fingers on his sleeves.

  " Good luck trying to find a job in this water-down city, so next time I see you resting when it's not break time."

  He took a deep breath. " YOU ARE FIRED."

  He pulled Montclairs shoulder closer to his body, staring into his deep blue eyes.

  " Do you understand degenerate?"

  " I understand," he murmured.

  " I did not hear you. DO YOU UNDERSTAND," he demanded.

  "Yes... yes...yes... I understand your stupid rules. Can I go back to mining? Or do I get paid to smell your foul breath," He chimed.

  He let go of Montclair, giving him a deathly stare and started heading deeper into the cave. He monitored his clipboard and mentally checked off inspections as he walked past all the stations., glancing at other workers like Montclair, who wore identical gear. The cave was very narrow and long, which made mining exhausting and dangerous. Lights flickered on the side of the cave near the entrance, but as you went deeper, it became black as a moonless night.

  Eldenians are notoriously known for their use of slavery and forced servitude, which gives them an endless supply of bodies to mine their crystals for their lackluster warships. This method of acquiring labor forces makes them a target for invasions and war.

  Montclair stares at him as he fades into the cave. As he disappears into the darkness.

  "Ugh, I hate my life, and I hate my shitty job, but what I am, but a man without any fucking purpose," He took his pickaxe and slammed it into the wall, immediately feeling the recoil from the stones.

  His eyes fluttered with tears, and he slowly hunched over to pick up the tool of his enslavement.

  "Gregory Modvishi said that," a meek voice spoke at the distant shadow.

  " Huh, who said that, "Montclair replied, his voice shaky.

  " Hey... hmmm, it's me," the meek voice remarked. Using his flame IO particles, he turned on his headlights, illuminating the dark patch where he stood.

  "I didn't mean to scare you. I find it effective to speak when emerging from a shady corner rather than sneaking up on people," he mentioned, clearing his throat.

  " But seriously, it was Gregory Modvishi, right?" scratching his forehead.

  " Yes, but who are you," Montclair replied, keeping his distance.

  " Oracle is my name," he coughed, massaging his throat.

  Montclair scrunched his forehead, raising one eyebrow. " Like the Aetherian deity Oracle?"

  " yes.”

  " Who names their child Oracle? That's a weird name," Montclair smirked, wiping the tears from his eyes.

  " Well, to you too, what name is Montclair? That sounds like one of those evil Aetherain names, so I think yours is worse," Orcale exclaimed, taking off his helmet.

  " Wow, I never thought about the day I would be compared to literal sociopaths," Montclair quipped, leaning forward.

  " Oh, he finally smiled. I thought grumpy was your only language."

  " Well, you can add cringe humor to that now, "Montclair licked his lips, tasting the fumes in the air.

  " So how do you know about Gregory Modvishi books like those are banned? I know I stole mine, but what about you," Montclair teased.

  He scratched his head, scattering dandruff. " I don't know. It's one of my fond memories of my parents before I was sent to the work camp; my father used to talk about all those things."

  Montclair's eyes lightened as he observed Orcale closer. He noticed his dark chocolate skin, brown hazel eyes, and uniform, which were identical to his. Like a light bulb fizzing into illumination, he finally understood who Oracle was.

  " Oh, you're one of those kids, "Montclair Lamented.

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

  Orcale raised his eyebrows. " what kids?"

  Montclair shakes his head, exhaling slowly." Never mind, forget it, just rambling."

  " My name is Montclair, by the way, " he reached out, his hands slightly shaking.

  " I mean, I knew that already; the entire cave team knows your name. You constantly get chewed out by the boss."

  " Oh," he recoiled his hands.

  " Why do you put up with what he does and say," Oracle asked.

  " I am bound to these mines; that is all I will ever be. Nothing more than a miner, and I am fine with that, "Montclair remarked.

  A sharp bell rang, echoing through the tunnel. In response, like cows to slaughter, all the miners moved in one large group, dropping their pickaxes and helmets, mumbling, and grumbling.

  Oracle waves at Montclair as he runs to follow the group. However, Oracle was received with a shy hand wave and a nervous chuckle.

  Montclair had been working in these mines since he was 10. Which was the age of employment in Veydinus. Many politicians and leaders have tried increasing the age limit; however, when there is money to be made, common sense disappears.

  Nevertheless, Montclair internal and external wounds were severe. His mother, Mary, once royalty and revered, was a goddess amongst her people, but she was now a slave to a Baron's wife. Unlike other slaves, Mary kept her beauty, which meant indoors was her sanctuary. But no place is perfect, and Mary would go back home with a bruise from either the Braon's attempted assaults or from the Baraon's wife jealously. Whether it was one or both, she suffered nonetheless. However, when she was with Montclair, like a moth to flames, he brought warmth into her life.

  " Ughhh, Mom, I am not a kid anymore," He shoots his shoes to the side as he enters the front doors.

  " You are not too grown for me to give you hugs," She lunged at him like a viper in the jungle.

  " Okay.. okay... Mom, I get it," he gave a light push, creating distance but making sure not to push her away.

  Both of them had cruel lives that brought them to the brink of constant misery, but with no goals or aspirations, they stayed stagnant, toiling away in their repetitive lives.

  Veydinus is a nation where slavery was as normal as buying ice cream. It was like having an itch on your back while you were giving a presentation that you couldn't reach. People knew of slavery but did nothing about it. Because " As long as it does not affect me" is a coming phrase you would hear when an average Veydinus citizen was asked about it.

  When Marcel sacrificed his life to keep his family safe. He unintentionally subjected them to a worse fate than death. And Mary knew this as she endured every day of her torture. She knew everything when she was dragged around like a rag doll for the Baron's pleasure, when she was starved for months for trying to protect a little kid, and when the nobles used children as target practice for their assembly machines. She knew deep down, and her heart stayed open, waiting for her husband's return.

  However, by the will of the Weavers, their fates will never cross paths again.

  Mary's demeanor changed after detaching from him like a sticker on a wall.

  " Baby... I.." she paused, her eyes building up water.

  " I won't be back home for 1 week."

  Montcalre clenched his fist, exposing the white in his knuckles.

  "It's that Baron again, isn't it," he hissed.

  She stared at him silently and walked over to their dingy table facing away from her son.

  "The other slave girls and I are being called for a party that the Baron is holding for the powerful elites in the nation...the," she cried even more, interrupting her own words.

  " I don't know what is going to happen to me, but I have no control over it," she wiped her tears and jumped up from her seat like a frog hopping from leaf to leaf.

  "We could run away... we could go and make a new life for ourselves," she yelled, her voice slurring and white crust forming at the edge of her lips.

  Montclair, silent in all this, finally broke.

  " No...no." he shakes his head, glancing away, his lips pressing together.

  " My life is in those mines, I don't know what. What I would be without those mines, I can't," he ran his hand through his face, roughing up his hair.

  " I can't. I am sorry I have to stay," he demanded.

  They didn't speak to each other for the rest of the night, distant for the first time in their lives. She said nothing to him but gave a subtle nod.

  Somewhere in the Aetherain legion base 5000 km from Veydinus. A woman in all blue wears a military uniform with 6 stars. She had a scar that went through her right eye like a line on paper. She had a white cap with the insignia of the 54th Legion engraved on her head. She crossed her legs as she sat at a grandiose table.

  " Conrad, I need a status update to present to the emperor," she snapped her fingers. A skinny man in the same uniform but without recognition hurriedly emerged from behind her door and into her office. He immediately kneeled down, bowing his head.

  " Yes, Admiral, as you command," his elbow creaked.

  She waved for him to stand up.

  " Conrad, you do not have to be so formal; we served in the fifty-fourth together for weaver's sake. Come on, stand up," She demanded, her voice soft as a lily flower.

  " So, what news do our spies from Veydinus have," she leaned forward, her military cape trailing on the floor.

  He stands up and reveals a binder with sticky notes attached to the edge of the papers.

  He clears his throat.

  " Hmmm, yes, Admiral. This report was generated at 0900 and is accurate as of the time stamp. The Engineering Corp has finished building the mechanical person cannon and awaits your orders for transport; the cannon uses Igniscore Orbeleth Particles to the 10th configuration, the highest achieved in history, and can operate with a minimum of 5th configuration. Our spies have confirmed that the highest members of the Veydinus council and the merchant guild will be celebrating at a location hosted by a Local baron. Finally, the 35th Legion have established contact and marked the location, and within one week, they will be within firing range."

  She squinted her eyes, exhaling slowly. " Is that all? Nothing about from the archeological team."

  " No, Admiral, we lost contact with them 2 weeks ago after their expedition began."

  " This is good news to the emperor. This means you were right about Veydinus conspiring for.."

  " NO," she snapped.

  Conrad recoiled back.

  "ahh. I mean, no, that's good news, but the emperor's interests lie more with ancient remnants found in the northern Badlands."

  " I was in charge of overseeing the discovery, and it has been weeks since any update; it will give that snake Leonardo the ammunition he needs to convince the emperor against my promotion."

  Conrad raised his eyebrow, rubbing his forehead.

  She stood up and walked towards her window, which towered over the base training grounds. War machines zipped by, shaping the ground from the sky. Her desk rumbled, causing chaos as the ships lifted up.

  " I need this resolved quickly. Give the engineering corps the green light to commence operation, tell them they have four days to complete it and transport the weapon to the site."

  " yes, Admiral."

  " and keep trying to contact the expedition team. The emperor is losing his patience, and I might lose my head soon."

  Igniscore Orbeleth Particles were a phenomenon discovered thousands of years ago with no known origin. Its nature is shrouded in mystery and ignorance. However, 1 month ago, an ancient artifact was recorded to attain particles beyond the 15th configuration. This news immediately flooded the outlet and data stations. Which was sloppy on the farmer's end who discovered it. This meant more colluding, more spying, and more death.

  Unfortunately, Montclair mother will soon be involuntarily dragged into the conflict, with her never leaving.

  One week had passed, and Montclair and Oracle had bridged the barrier between strangers and friends. They began mining together, which was the greatest form of affection inside the mines.

  However, something was off, and Montclair could feel it. It was like having a sixth sense that only worked at its own convenience.

  " You really said no when she asked to run away," Orcale voice thundered over the sound of throbbing wooden wheels scratching the ground. He then proceeds to hammer a dark patch of the wall.

  Montclair shrugged his shoulder. " She could leave by herself. I didn't force her to stay he crossed his arm, leaning on the wall."

  " Come on, which mother would leave her son behind," he sighed, biting his lips.

  " But I couldn't. The mines is who I am; I am nothing without this. I come to the mines to work, do whatever the boss tells me to do, and I go home and sleep repeating the same thing over and over again," he whispered.

  " but this life you live. It is a dull one, horrible at that," Oracle grinned.

  " Yeah, but at least I have found my purpose and reasoning to live," he scoffed.

  " That isn't the purpose. Being a crystal miner, your entire life isn't purpose."

  " To me, it is."

  Before Oracle could speak another word, a loud whizzing sound shot through the sky above them. Like a large deflating balloon.

  What followed was a loud Boom that shook the entire cave, causing sections to collapse. Before anyone could react and get their bearings, a shock wave physically dragged the air from one location to another, completely collapsing the cave.