Paramythi I: City of Glass

It was not until six years later, did Elias Kara venture into the heart of Emvolo’s kingdom to sign up for the Rebellion.

He had kept his promises in regards to school work and achieved high grades to make his sisters proud. Nino owned the local baker’s shop just outside the city’s border. Pepi had become something like an inspiration for painters and artists all over the kingdom thanks to her masterpieces, no matter how offending they may appear to some nobles who associated themselves with Capitol's morals and beliefs.

Maxa had held her own down at the docks, until one September when she had been set-up by her fellow workers. Their boss believed the story and had called Maxa a thief in front of the gathering crowd as her boss grabbed her left arm and set an example for the rest of his working men by chopping Maxa’s left hand clean off at the wrist.

It was a miserable year and Maxa was turned down from many jobs after this until the Rebellion had intervened upon catching wind about such tragedies. Her old boss was arrested for mutilating his workers and the actual thieves were put out of work, leaving Maxa to take over the docks in full charge where she spent most of her time afterwards.

Elias had been sure to make plans for arriving in the city when all of his sisters were out. Even if the Rebellion had helped Maxa regain her pride and job when she hit low, her opinions on them did not change and she only grew more and more strict about Elias’ choices on joining them as the years dragged on. Elias hoped his sister would see sense when the Rebellion achieved their ultimate goal for union and alliance. He wanted to be there with his role-models, soaking in the glory and pride for reaching such a goal in which he had part of.

Like every sixteen-year-old in the world, he simply wanted to be someone.

“Name.”

Elias stepped on through the queue, halting when he reached a woman with choppy dyed-blue hair and wide blue eyes sitting on a stool. In front of her was a long, wooden box covered in a green cloth with papers scattered across its surface. She seemed to be using that as her base of operation and leant forward to readjust the large, cardboard sign leaning against the box’s edge. The words were painted in bright red, enticing anyone to at least come up and read it; “Sign up today! Rebellion is the way!”

“Name, please.” The woman repeated, craning her neck to look up with expectancy and impatience.

“Oh, sorry…” Elias mumbled, tearing his gaze away from the sign. “Ugh…Elias Kara.”

Nodding, the woman scribbled upon the papers in front of her and tore one of them in half, handing one part to Elias. “You keep this one and head on inside. All new recruits are having drinks and food. It’s kinda like a big party and stuff!” The woman beamed, “I’ll come see you later, ’kay? That’s when the Cap'n will give you an interview and then he’ll decide if you’ll be staying with us or not, you should have your birth certificate, too. I mean, rules are rules.”

Elias forced a smile and thanked her before following the signs indoors to the local pub on the border of Tentrail. He guessed the Rebellion had hired it out for the evening since they enjoyed holding big celebration parties for new members to ease them in and make them feel welcome before the interviews and scary parts start happening.

Honestly, Elias could feel his heart leap up into his throat as he made his way inside and saw how much meaner and well-built the other recruits looked in comparison to him. Perhaps it was paranoia of sorts, but he was certain that the collected faces of these idealistic volunteers laughed and muttered about him under their breath as he hurriedly walked over to the bar and climbed up onto a stool, cornering himself from prying eyes and kept his back on everyone else.

“This is the part you should be enjoying, you know.”

Elias swallowed thickly and pressed his palms together. “I know. I’m enjoying myself very much.” He replied, refusing to look up in case his expression was to betray his choice of words on the matter. “Joining the Rebellion…is everything.”

In front of him, over the bar, came a long sigh. “I never really expected joining the Rebellion would be a dream for kids to have.”

Elias was ready to argue with that. He felt a quiver in his lips and every little instinct told him to defend his dreams and convince this person that he was not a child. He was very proud of himself when all he could do was roll a stiff shoulder and raise his head, coming face-to-face with the woman standing on the other side of the bar. She was a fair maiden with delicate lines on her face. Elias could tell she had been a beauty of the ages back in her prime and wondered if she had joined the Rebellion because of lost grace or pride.

“Mama!” Came a small, squeaky cry.

Elias followed the sweet, sounding voice and frowned when a young girl darted through a door behind the bar. She had short brown hair tied into small pigtails above her shoulders and an eager look in her green eyes. Bounding closer, she jumped from the ground and threw herself into the elderly woman’s arms, clinging to her like a toddler when she looked around eleven in reality.

“Kaira, you really must calm yourself.” The woman sighed, holding the girl comfortably in her arms. “You have promised to behave yourself here tonight, yes? Now, this young man will be joining us.”

Kaira blinked and stared Elias dead in the eye. “What’s his name? Is he gonna live in the aircraft with us?” She blurted, leaning towards Elias, hands gripping the fabrics of her mother’s shirt. “Captain hasn’t done the interviews yet.”

Elias cut in with a clear of his throat. He offered his hand for Kaira to shake and forced a small laugh, easing away the nervousness in his voice when he spoke. “I’m Elias, and you’re right about your captain not holding the interviews yet…but we can hope, right?”

Kaira seemed unwilling to shake Elias’ hand and kept her own hands upon her mother’s shoulders. There was an unspoken tension in the girl’s eyes which was broken when her mother shifted, taking Elias’ extended hand with her warm, welcoming palm.

“Nice to meet you, Elias. I’m Ivana, and this is my daughter, Kaira.”

Elias was able to lower his guard to a certain extent with Ivana’s welcomed aura and Kaira’s childish comments. His thoughts of what may be discussed about him between the tough-looking volunteers grouped up in the corner behind him faded and became the least of his problems as the night prolonged and more people came into the pub, moulding the atmosphere into a party one.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” an echoing voice broke through the speakers in the walls above the small stage, gathering everyone’s attention. “Please, give a warm welcome to our entertainment for tonight, and your future unit commander, Syra!”

Elias recognised the woman who waltzed on stage, noting the dyed-blue hair and glittering blue eyes from earlier. She had changed into a more formal attire compared to the slacks she had been dressed in when taking people’s names outside. As she strode out towards the microphone stand waiting for her, the crowd cheered and gave a collection of enthusiastic cries for her. These cries and echoing praise died down when she started to sing, captivating the crowd with her song and serene melody.

“Syra’s already on stage, she’ll knock ’em dead!” Enzo exclaimed, punching the air with an energetic fist.

From the corner of the small room stood Theo, lazily flicking through a book titled ‘Memoirs of Moonbeam’ and resisted the urge to sigh at his partner’s boisterous tone of choice. To his right sat Reidonn, playing cards with a smirking Quincy. The group had excused themselves from the thrill of the party in hopes to dwindle down any pressure they could likely cause on the volunteers and new units enjoying themselves in the next room. They would have plenty of time to intimidate their new recruits when Kane returned from his meeting with Ciiria. Until then, it was up to them to keep everyone entertained and they had decided on bringing out Enzo’s new girlfriend to do just that.

“I’m surprised you and Syra have even lasted this long,” Reidonn scoffed a laugh. “It’s not like you to settle down for once, Enzo.”

“Perhaps Syra has that special something, or maybe Enzo just grew up?” Quincy chuckled, replacing a card from his hand. “I think it’s rather sweet.”

“Guys, don’t act so serious!” Enzo smirked, lowering his fist to rub the back of his neck instead. A tint of red flushed across his cheeks, hidden as he turned his head to the side with idle embarrassment. “Y’know, I was actually thinking about popping the big question…”

Reidonn nearly dropped her full-house upon the table, utterly baffled. She was thankful Quincy’s face looked just as dumbstruck and even Theo had ceased flicking through his book. A silence drew over the group like a curtain, leaving nothing to block out the wondrous voice of Syra in the next room. Enzo could feel the prying eyes raining down his spine and he had no choice but to whirl around and flash them all a wide, toothy smile.

“C’mon, guys! I mean, it’s just me, right? You know it’s far beyond me to pull something like that, right?” Enzo laughed, much louder than intended, and walked around the table to place one hand upon Quincy’s shoulder and the other on Reidonn. “Besides, we’re the Rebellion. When have we got time for celebrations other than tonight, am I right?”

Reidonn’s eyes flashed along with her trademark smile. “Right, who has time for fun anyway?” She boasted, throwing down her cards upon the table.

Quincy sighed and revealed his pair, nothing of real winnings in contrast to Reidonn’s full house. “Still, the gesture is a sweet one, nonetheless.”

“Y’know, I think you’ve got a soft heart under all that intellect of yours.” Reidonn snickered, leaning back in her seat. She folded her hands over her stomach, forefingers tapping in tune with Syra’s song. “How about you make one of those sweet gestures when you settle down with your other half?” She suggested, chuckling.

Quincy mimicked the woman’s chuckle and began to gather up their playing cards. “Oh, I don’t think that day will arise anytime soon, I’m afraid. I am quite happy with my work as it is.”

“You mean your work with Zyki?” Reidonn smirked, eyes fluttering shut with content of the moment.

The red tint which appeared on Quincy’s cheeks reminded the group just how humane they could be despite the differences in their own tribes and races. Enzo was the first to point out the obvious look of reddened embarrassment drawn across Quincy’s face and Reidonn cracked an eye open to see the tactician's flustered expression for herself. Soon enough they were having their own rounds of laughter and Theo made his own comments on the situation, bustling more excitement and roars of laughter; mainly from Reidonn.

Through their own commotion and the noises they were making, neither of them seemed to notice the sounds of the other room go quiet nor the sounds of shouts and cries of horror until Neoma and Tovi came bursting into the room, equal looks of shock and fear engulfing their faces. They were white as snow, too, and their breaths were laboured as if they had been running for miles.

“What is it? Neoma?” Quincy blurted, throat dry and heart racing.

Neoma shook her head, hand reaching out to grab the doorframe. “It’s the capital…they’ve sent Prowlers out. They know we’re in the city tonight. They know where we are.” She panted, her blue hair sticking to her forehead and flushed cheeks. “They’re going to eliminate all of our new recruits. They weren’t kidding about our final warning.”

Kaira could not recall the last time she had witnessed a party quite as colourful and energetic as this. While it was true the Rebellion held an annual recruitment day in the city with a party to follow, it had never been as magnificent or fulfilling as this one, at least from what she could remember. Kaira decided it was all because of Syra’s amazing voice and her mother’s kindness.

Soon, she too would be old enough to sign up and join the Rebellion to fight for what she and all her family believed in. Kaira convinced herself a long time ago that her parents did not need to raise her with the belief that Capitol was full of idiots and snobs when the reality was so obvious.

Sitting up on the bar now, Kaira stared in awe at the stage. Syra was the type of role-model every mother or father would want their child looking up to. She was who she was in her own right, a commander of the Rebellion and a star under the spotlight. Kaira felt at the height of her morale as the lights shone down and people cheered for Syra, urging her on.

In a way, the whole scene could relate to that of a fragile pane of glass; since it was so conveniently shattered within seconds.

Syra’s song died down as many screams and shouts came alive. Kaira needed a moment of recognition before she was able to identify the source of the problem and her heart flew up to her throat.

Prowlers stormed in through the walls and burst through the windows. They were known as Capitol lapdogs. Kaira knew very little of the subject itself, though her mother had explained the situation on occasion for good measure to her daughter’s knowledge on the world they lived in today. In simple terms, Prowlers had once been human and volunteered for experimental treatment to aid Capitol soldiers in case of a war between the other kingdoms. Needless to say, such a thing had not exactly happened yet, so Capitol guards used them for their own gain against the Rebellion instead.

“Syra!”

Kaira felt her arms go numb when Enzo’s familiar voice filled the room. Syra was just as baffled and stepped away from sight as the stage was overrun with Prowlers, snarling and screaming their sickly cries of despair.

Kaira screamed, tearing her eyes away from the scene before such horrific images could be carved into her mind for the rest of her life. She choked, feeling tears stream down her rosy cheeks as she struggled to climb over the bar while Prowlers continued to rampage and tear the Rebellions’ new recruits apart. The little girl told herself that Kane and the others would save her in time. Tovi had his bow and Reidonn had her spear.

The Rebellion was full of good soldiers and the Prowlers could not overcome them!

“Kaira!” Ivana’s distressed cries reached Kaira’s ears through the muffled screams and sounds of death.

Kaira sobbed loudly and sprung to her feet. She whirled around, facing her mother who was fighting her way through the crowd to reach the bar and her daughter.

“Mother!” Kaira yelled, leaning over the bar with an outstretched hand. “Mother! Run!”

Ivana extended her own hand, the tips of her fingers brushing ghostly above her daughter’s smaller fingers. It was the last moment for the two to share as Prowlers made their way over and snatched Kaira’s mother from her faint grasp. It was a sight which Kaira could not turn her eyes from, unlike with Syra. This was her mother. Someone she could never imagine being without, and it was painful.

In fact, it was the most painful thing in the world anyone could ever experience.

Physical pain could not be compared to the emotional pain. Mental pain was another thing entirely; but the most excruciating thing in the entire world was watching the person you loved die.