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 a public park nearby, and looking tired.
"Been a week without sunlight." His voice was deep and low but heavy and restrained. "What the hell are they even doing? Just fuckin' move it to somewhere else now." He sighed.
He continued walking on the silent street, his footsteps echoing through it. Despite the cold, he appeared to be dressed in light clothing, and he was sweating a little 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. There was something massive in the sky that was blocking the sunlight and heat from reaching the surface. It was a spaceship, large enough to cover the entire sky.
It has been a year since this spaceship last moved, and doesn't appear to be moving anytime soon, resulting in a gradually darkening and cooling area beneath it. While it should be a concern for the people in this vicinity, they are powerless to change the situation, so they have no choice but to acclimate to it.
As the man gazed at the sky, he unintentionally looked at something on that spaceship, and as soon as he saw it, his body shook and froze. He felt like he was being pulled by 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 harsh 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..."
And got sneered at by her. "What? Are you going to say no to me? 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.
After walking past an entrance to a chamber, that dominating woman came in front of the room. A bright, turquoise light was coming out of 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 their body as if those wires were absorbing something from them. 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."
••
His gaze was transfixed on the spacecraft, he felt 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..." his voice turned calm and easy, and a bit impassive.
"I know that it is a bit early, but I was called by those... uh... dhamvem..."
"It's Dharmveg, Dada. It's not that hard to remember."
"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 it sounded sarcastic anyway.
"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 I'm pretty sure you saw him in my car and took some pictures? It seems like he got caught because of that, so I think this makes you involved in this."
"Huh?"
"After all, you would be required to confirm his identity, so you would have to come sooner or later. I believe you are responsible enough to just go and take a look and a little stroll to the police station won't hurt, will it?"
The old man made him the 'witness' and the 'one to take responsibility', and now got him in a bind.
*"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. Even though it was mostly a one way conversation, the old man continued trying to liven up the gloomy atmosphere on the depressing street.
"By the way, why did they change it from 'Policemen' to 'Dharmveg' and 'Police Station' to 'Vegam'? Isn't it a mouthful?" The old man asked thinking this question might interest him.
The road was silent as no one was around there at this time... pretty normal.
"Because now they are under Luminari's control. Those aliens destroyed almost every public facility everywhere and 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.
•••
It was tenth of August, a wednesday of the year two thousand and fifty, the Earth was invaded by an alien species that called themselves Zenozacil Dramon Jiviq.
Their mothership, which was bigger than half of the surface of the 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. Surely, they got those aliens unguarded for a while and they did whatever possible to protect themselves from their threat. Those countries didn't even gave it a second of a thought after that thing shaded the sky and immediately used their military and technology to straight up attack.
Even though the aliens were surprised by this sudden one side attack, they didn't lose much, barely a percent to what those countries that attack lost.
Humanity got a reply to that violence, by 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 was completely overwhelmed.
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... by Dramons, of course, all of the remaining nations yielded to them.
All this happened in a single day, and humans remembered it as 'Shadowfall'.[1]
•••
They came in front of a three-story building with some empty prison cells outside and a few chimneys coming out of it. It looked like a small factory from afar, but also looked like some kind of research centre.
After talking to a guard, they went inside 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.
All of it looked quite old-style, but the weapon had a futuristic design, with sleek metal parts and glowing blue accents. Its shape suggested it could fire both energy blasts and projectiles, and a pulsing core added to its high-tech look.
Since it was the old man's car, he asked about the person who stole the car, while the other one just looked around. The Dharmveg took them further inside.
They stopped in front of a cell. Inside, it was someone covered in dust, working in a state of desperation. He was breaking a rock but with just his hands while a pickaxe was 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 the 'witness'.
"Yeah, he is." he said as he looked at that man's face, but it looked a little different from when he saw him that night. A little bit despaired, with a feeling of desperation and tiredness in his eyes, he sure was a 'little' different.
"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.
As its glow faded, the man stopped, looking a little more relaxed than before, but just a little, and finally looked up as he saw them. And as soon as he saw them, is expression changed.
"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 their 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 do you mean? Do you know what it costs? If you filed a complaint against someone and he gets caught with evidence... I don't think we are save him," he said with a grim expression.
That Dharmveg added, "He's right, Mr. Ajay. Even if the victim wants to or the crime is not too serious, it would require more money than the cost of all the body parts of that person's body. And 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 their feet.
"I just wanted money to feed my child, I-i lost everything in that war. My son was my everything now, but I can't fill his stomach without any money, so I thought it shouldn't be a problem if I stole from someone who is living a better life than us." He punched the ground.
Dharmveg scowled, "Don't try to convince them with your sob story. It is not goi-"
"Even if you say that or even if I want to, we can't save you. None of us has enough to save your life."
Maybe the 'responsible one' couldn't take this responsibility after all, and so he stepped back, since he never wanted to be a part of this anyway.
"It may seem like we're living a better life than you, but we're not as well off as you think," he said.
The old man prayed for him. Though, his future was going to be as bright as the night sky without stars and moons, since the punishment only worsen every month as long as the person serves their time in prison.
"Hope your family stays alive." They turned back, and Dharmveg closed the cell. He asked about the car and what paperwork he would need to do as he went 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. Fuck you.... I hope you go through hell."
He aggressively started rubbing his hand on the ground, staining it red. The chocker-like thing on his neck started glowing more so he started breaking the rock again in fear.
••
Walking out of that Vegam, they were going to go their way, the old man noticed something and stopped.
"Ah, Kushal. I just remembered, I'm going to hold my retirement party at your home."
"No need, I won't come anyway." he barely heard what the old man said.
"Hmm? Oh... You say that, but you would come there."
"Nope... I'm not interested. Won't make a difference either way as I'd bore everyone there. Don't bother inviting me"
The old man's smile wasn't a bit fazed by his angered tone. Instead, his smile grew.
"I'll be expecting you at the party tomorrow evening, Kushal. No need to get a present, though."
"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 his words in the air. He thought something while watching him go away.
He refused to admit it, but his decision had already been made and had unknowingly accepted the invitation to the party... in both ways.
It was like that old man knew about this all along.
Turning towards his home, he walked slowly.
"Another fucked up start of the day." He sighed. "I just don't want to see anyone now."
But luck isn't his friend.
Someone, whom he finds very annoying, was sprinting toward him in an urgency that looked like it would eat the distance between them. He squeezed his eyes, still walking as he watched that person approaching.
A not-too-short, blonde young man with a thin physique and grey eyes was running towards him. He wore a lime yellow hoodie and blue jeans with an 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 hired!" He shouted, his eyes sparkling with excitement. His chest heaved up and down after stopping before him.
"Shut up, idiot. Why are you screaming in a silent place?" K said as he saw him catch his breath
Even though K told him not to shout, he stopped.
"And from now on YOU WILL HAVE TO CALL ME DR. GEORGE! HA!" He said, pumped up.
"Would you shut th-"
"Aaaanyways, thanks for helping me to get this job. You went out of your way helping me out with my studies and interview when no one helped, and let me stay in your home, I will always be indebted to you."
Stone-faced, K stared at George with his unyielding eyes. The silence thickened between them, suffocating George's composure.
"Wouldn't you say anything, bro?"
"What are you getting at? Are you not gonna leave my place?" He spoke heavily, trying to act curt.
"Oh... so.... 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-" K sighed. "I'm like that to everyone."
"Ohhh~~ so you are an introvert or... probably, just asocial."
"Shut th-"
"Yeah, yeah. I understand you. Don't worry, I will hang out with you and tell whoever I know about you. That might help you... Probably." George's whole expression changed to something between mocking and pitying.
K gave out a dry sigh.
*"This asshole doesn't know what 'asocial' even means."*
"What?"
"Nothing, just saying that '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 a sad sack. I will come by your shop later... Try not to get too excited before we meet, though." George might either be unable to read the room, or maybe he views things differently.
K got angered. He put his hand on George's shoulder as his palm became a vice for that moment.
"Ah-a-alright, alright... I'll leave..." George's eyes widened, realising he had pushed him too far. He quickly backed away, sensing the danger and sprint-walked away.
K's gaze followed George with an unchanging expression. "And don't come to my place again."
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 as he reached his home. An average one-storey house with no major details, just a plain ol' house.
K went inside, and an old lady came out of a room.
"Hmm? Aren't you a bit early today, Aunt Kavita?"
Kavita looked at him, her white hair and wrinkles on her thin face were 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"
"If it is important, you can take a longer leave and return when you want to. Don't worry about the money, I wouldn't reduce it or something." His voice didn't convey any concerning feelings, yet he was genuinely concerned.
"No, it would not be necessary. The doctor informed me that he may have a day or so to live, so after my son's funeral, I don't think I would need any days off soon." Kavita didn't tell him how she's feeling, while her small eyes and old face made it impossible to tell.
"As you see fit, I will come to the hospital soon in the afternoon. You can go and meet your son." K's tone was low as he started going to his room.
He took a deep breath.
"And don't worry much about it. You only need to ask me and I will do what I can to help you. You took care of me when I was young, it's only fair if I do so now."
"If you had not helped me at that time, I would have lost my son long ago, so you don't need to think about repaying me. I knew this would happen sooner or later, so I was prepared for it."
"Yeah, but... it isn't something you can ever be prepared for." His gaze fell. "No one can."
Kavita couldn't hold her tears back anymore. As K saw her, he tried thinking of something to comfort her, though he's not good at that.
"If you go there in this state, I don't think your son would be able to pass away peacefully. You should go and meet him with a smile so that he will not be sad in his death."
*"How the heck does it sound comforting, you idiot?"* K thought in his mind
She wiped her tears and smiled, putting her hand on his head.
"Take care of the house, Kushal, at least until I come back."
"Does every old person I know forget that I don't like to be called that? You all can call me 'K' like others do... It seems like you guys intentionally do it"
She chuckled softly and went away, but even though she had a smile, she was crying inside her heart.
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, droplets emphasised his looks, however, 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 picked up the remote and sat down on the sofa as 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. "My every morning has better news than this."
He changed the channel to another news channel.
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 with this?"
He sighed and lay down on his couch.
"Those aliens...Dramons, huh..."
••
In the spaceship, that woman and the Goddess were talking, but no one could hear the conversation outside of that room.
They were talking telepathically, after all.
"And I have heard about your achievements before, too. You are a very talented warrior, in my opinion." The voice was kind, soothing and warm. Warm enough that it felt like it could melt any heart, even if it was made of stone.
"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."
"It is nothing but a minor task, I can do anything for our Goddess."
"Then..." A sword sheathed with a black colored cloth, covered from its tip to the hilt, came floating towards that woman. "Take it and 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 a legendary one at that, different from any other weapon in this room. Am I even worthy to take this with me?"
"Yes, you are. Hold it in your hand and see."
"I can touch it?"
"As long as it is covered in that cloth."
She grabbed the sword's hilt. It was quivering. Her hands couldn't get a hold of it.
"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."
"I... I don't understand, My Goddess."
"You will soon. For now, know that you have been chosen to wield this sword, to shape the course of history. You will be the guiding light to the path this universe would take."
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 honoured to bear this burden."
Then a gentle voice came out from the Goddess.
"Then go to Tidhar, my child. You are able enough to succeed in fulfilling this weapon's desire. If you want to use this, you can use 'Kalpit Aatma Svaamitvam' over it to control this sword's movement, and it would not hurt you then."
"The explanation is clear, My Goddess. You can leave it in my hands. If this sword asks for blood, I will give it in the best way possible." She stood up.
"But before you go..."
The goddess's voice got louder, and the light coming from it got brighter.
"I, the Guardian Goddess of the Silaithai, bless you... As long as you own this sword, you shall not be defeated... and with my guidance, you would succeed in fulfilling this ancient weapon's desire.... I bestow this sword's powers upon you, the third commander of the Dramon's armed forces... Irnis Zorvathys Lyraezokk."
The sword starts to glow.
[1] Read the Auxiliary volume for details