"The Golden Continent is by far the strongest nation I've ever laid my eyes on. With the power to face the world, they withhold it against their foes to fight the greater evil of tomorrow. Great be upon them and their citizens."
— Aleric Flourd, December 6, 1967.
In the city of Angelica, giant, palm-like trees gleam under the warm, soothing breeze—their brightness ever so gracefully shining on the lively grass below.
Street angels perch on corners, their melodies rising harmoniously. "O Mary, O Mary, you come with my heart. Bring forth your great love, and make me all the more. For love, I have waited; it's all in your hands. Give me all your attention as all I will need."
Grumbling and irritating frowns change into quiet smiles at ear's length of their voice—easing the shoulders of stress and headaches of labor. Passersby toss coins into open jars and go on about their day.
Inside bustling bars, chaos reigns as many gather as brethren—regardless of race, political, or social stature—to watch the tournament.
A massive TV broadcasts the airball tournament finals: the match begins as an angel tosses the ball their star player, who deftly evades the opponents' tackles, drawing chants from the bar's attendees: "Ralsee! Ralsee! Ralsee!"
With the use of psychology and complex maneuvering, he out-plays the entire team. Ralsee nears the goal, but in an instant, his flag is swiftly snatched by the rival's speedster, ceasing his near flawless run. And on time, the game ends with Ralsee's team just 1 point behind their adversary.
The crowd explodes in outrage: "WHAT!" "Unfair!" "Really?!" "HOW?!" "BOO!"
Drinks fly across the room as glass shatters. Behind riot shields, exhausted employees sigh with practiced precision onto the oncoming projectiles.
"Mr. Hassam doesn't pay us enough for this," the bartender muttered. "Why are we the only bar without a ban list?"
Waiter: "Because he's a cheapskate."
Janitor: "Amen to that."
Waitress: "I'm gonna ask that fatass for a raise and he better say yes."
Naïve cook: "Oo~, are we gonna do a revolution or some, 'cause I'm down for it."
Security Guard: "Pimelo, you better not be afraid of prison then."
Outside the entertainment venues, laboring workers toil tirelessly till night, stocking and supplying the consumers need.
Across a few blocks stands an average toy shop about the size of a grocery store.
A young fairy breathes heavily, arranging the remaining plush dragons on the highest shelf. "Replenishing my Phylx after a day's worth is so exhausting. We should've sold our building to the Gamapo company ages ago. That money could've bought us an island—oh, or a resort. We could've become shareholders with that money."
An elder fairy erupts from behind the counter, letting out a belly laugh. "Tell me about it. But as long as business thrives, we'll manage, son. This right here"—he pats the wooden, creaking walls—" has been in our hands for nearly seven hundred and forty years, and it's not coming out now. Some might call this generational trauma, but we call this life."
"Life of a miserable fairy," the son mutters.
The father steps close, resting a hand on his shoulder. "I was once like you—rebellious, dreaming bigger. But I outgrew my rebellious phase and took on my responsibilities. We've built a reputation around here for being genuine with our craft. More so, many view us as the fortieth wonder of the world. I know it'll make you unhappy, but you gotta keep a smile on your face, even when it's tough. Got it?"
The son slowly looks down at his weak, calloused hands, silent in thought. "Oh… okay."
But far from the chaos of communion, the onlookers of neutrality, the laborers of tomorrow, and drama-filled being comes the next challenger for Elrus.
In a quiet hospital, an angelic man grips his lover's hand. "Let me ease your pain, dear," David offers, his hand emitting a soft glow.
Sphyla smiles faintly, her eyes sparkling in admiration. "Thank you, David. I really appreciate it."
The doctors enter the room in time to hear parts of their conversation.
One of the doctors, a young maiden, quickly butts in. "Easy, love birds. We'll supervise from here on out to avoid any complications. She'll be fine, sir. Leave it to us until you are required."
The doctors quickly settle in. One positions herself between the legs, while the other checks the vitals. Once settled, the doctor signals them to begin.
Healing magic flows into Sphyla, lowering her pain levels, while the doctors make haste with their tools.
Soon enough, a newborn weeps in the doctor's arms. As they inspect the baby for any signs of illness or disability, they instead freeze in awe.
The infant gleams faintly in the dim room, his wet wings shimmering brightly, and his eyes more luminous than those of a typical Genesis angel.
"A charged Genesis baby?" one whispers.
"Unbelievable… this is my first time seeing one of this caliber!" the female doctor cries.
David and Sphyla stare in awe.
"God has blessed us," David exclaims, tears streaming from his cheeks.
"Indeed," Sphyla nods.
Sphyla reaches out for her baby. Cradling the newborn in his arms, she murmurs to him, "Just what will you become, little one?"
The life of Kailus:
—When the boy grew to be eight, David set him before a wounded animal.
"Okay Kailus, as your first training, I'll need you to do one thing for Papa." He gestures to a young, wounded dove frantically staring at them. "Can you heal the poor dove?"
"Okay, daddy!" Kailus says excitedly. He waddles toward the dove with a big grin. "Don't worry ducky, I'll heal you."
The dove tries to run but its legs were too damaged. Kailus grabs a hold of the dove, and in an instant, the dove's legs go back to normal as if nothing happened.
"Okay ducky, you can go now!" Kailus says, letting go of the dove.
The dove pauses for a while before dashing into the forest on a moment's notice.
David scratches Kailus' head. "Way to go, superstar. Your powers are kicking in."
"My father, David, trained me under the Solomon Rule for the first time. My first task was simple, healing animals and whatnot, but it had grown harder over time—or so I thought."
—At ten years old, he ventures into the hidden library beneath his home. As he aimlessly wanders, he stumbles upon his father's open autobiography.
Overwhelmed by curiosity, he takes a glimpse at its content: "During my teenage years, my sister ate my chocolate ice cream, so as a consequence, I dunked her toothbrush in the toilet. You like to steal ice cream, huh? How about you taste its remains! She used it for 4 years, and I never said anything about it ever again."
Kailus giggles at the deprivity in his father's younger self. He touches the page, intending to flip to the next page, but as the sound of footsteps creek closer, he dashes off.
"I know reading a living relative's book is forbidden, but it was just too irresistible. Don't expect eyes on it if you leave it open. But~, the book proves one thing, and one thing only, and that's my Father's pettiness. I still remember he pushed me to the point of exhaustion over a two-topping sandwich. I repeat, a sandwich you could've made in three minutes! After all, he's the same man as yesterday and forevermore."
—When Kailus is twelve, his mother drags him into the hospital. "Sweetie, don't be a problem for mother. You hardly do anything with me. We're just going to see your auntie and that'll be it. Will you calm down?"
"No, I don't want to," Kailus whines. "I want to go home and talk to Jessica." (Our "pet"'s name btw)
Sphyla grasps his arm with a tight grip. "You will come and that's final," her voice demanded.
Kailus has no choice but to oblige. With his head tilted low, he walked sluggishly throughout the hospital.
"I was forced to visit Aunt Anabel during her break. I thought it'd be boring, but while they were chatting, I managed to sip some of Auntie's poison liquor. Guess what? It was absolutely disgusting! Honestly, made my time there worse. I don't really get the hype for it. And now looking back, why was she even drinking near patients?"
—At sixteen years old, Kailus, with his father, enters a massive building. It's coated in gothic style with vivid vampiric imagery around the structure.
David pats Kailus' back. "This is ?#&%@ where you'll be trained by the most prominent person, while me and your mother will be at work," he explains with a wide grin.
Kailus mutters. "It's too big of a place dad, I'm nervous."
"I couldn't remember much… too much blood was devoured. Father called it 'training', but 'she' drank more than I could regenerate, and I'm a CHARGED GENESIS ANGEL! I was stiff for days, missed a week of school, and had a nervous breakdown. And all he gave was a golden bracelet to make up for it—pathetic."
—At eighteen, he reclines with his parents on a branch, watching the amazing view.
"Son, are you ready to leave?" David asks.
"…yes, I think I'm ready," Kailus says, staring at the sunset.
Sphyla holds his arm. "Then promise us you'll come back here when you have grandkids of your own."
"That's if I can find one," Kailus adds.
David and Sphyla laugh at Kailus' response as the sun fades in the distance.
"At eighteen, I finally left my home for the Oldest Solomon College," he wrote, "ready to begin anew and leave this life behind… Oh yeah, the branch beneath us broke, and my father forgot to fly. So he fell twenty-seven feet down and broke his spinal cord. He had it coming."
As he's writing in his autobiography, Sphyla yells out. "Kailus, sweetie, come out of the library or you'll miss your first day!"
"It's time already?" Kailus mumbles to himself. "I thought I'd be done by then."
He leaps up in an instant and grabs his autobiography.
'The college opens to all who turn eighteen across the Golden Continent with a 100% rate. It's meant to teach economics, social cues, intense biology (you know what that means), and you get the point—it's to prepare everyone for the real world. I only heard of it through whispers about its own economy system. Everything I've heard about it sounds so amazing!'
Kailus rushes to his room, but his parents stop him at the door.
Sphyla smothers him with kisses, causing him to drop his book. "Oh, Kalie, how you've grown so much. Be sure to take care of yourself," she says.
David hugs him tightly. "Train daily, son. And stay strong like your father. Trust in God for stability like always."
Kailus nods proudly with a hint of irritation. "Yes, Father."
Sphyla pouts. "No love for me? Oh, how you've always been a daddy's boy your entire life. I still remember when you were, but a mere child, flying for the first time. I opened my arms, expecting your precious presence in between them, because that's what all babies do: 'Favor their mother'. But oh nooo~, instead, you went into your bumbling-idiot dad! He didn't even see it coming. But I guess that's what I get for getting my hopes up in having a mama's boy."
David pulls her close, gently pinching her cheek. "Well, at least you have me..."
"Save that for the bedroom," she quips, turning her head away.
Kailus, not wanting to add any substance to the conversation, picks up his book and enters his room.
As he packs his suitcase, the eye watches him from above.
The flying eye, a pure black and white star, stares with elongated pupils, her presence bringing an odd aura as if she can conjure up an abyss from within. Her wings flapped continuously in the air—alerting anyone to her presence.
Kailus smiles. "Why are you always thinking? You barely said anything yesterday."
Jessica responds blankly. "I'm still trying to process the elimination of you from this household."
Kailus puts his shoe boxes and undergarments in the suitcase. "That's a weird way to put it into perspective."
Jessica replies. "It's not really. I've seen all parts of your life. From spoiledness to accountability, I'm surprised you were able to find adulthood years before the moment came. Many of my own lack merely two years behind in their maturity. You should be grateful for your foresight. Many, and I mean many, successful people exude a different aura around them, and I can sense that very well within you."
Kailus stops packing and stares at her. "Don't mention my spoiledness again."
Jessica widens her eyelids for a bit. She then blinks irregularly, signaling her understanding.
He finishes packing and leaves his room. David and Sphyla are loudly speaking in the living room across from the main enterance.
'This is my chance to leave without another monologue. Sweet baby Jesus, here I come!'
As he grips the front door, Sphyla suddenly calls out. "One last thing, sweetie," she says, hurriedly running toward him.
She grasps both of his hands and looks him dead in the eye. "Learn to forgive yourself. I hear you at night screaming in your room at things you should've forgiven yourself years ago."
A vivid memory surfaces:
In class, the teacher announces. "Take notes—this is for your finals."
He looks around in his bag to find nothing.
'Aww, I've given all of my pencils to my friends. I hope my classmates have some spare ones.'
He asks the bunny girl beside him. "Do you have a pencil?"
She scoffs loudly. "How about you get your own supplies? This isn't daycare, Kailus!"
The class roared with laughter as Kailus sank into his seat, mortified.
Flashback ends.
Kailus jerks back to the present as Sphyla hugs him. "Just don't embarrass yourself, darling."
Kailus lightly nods. "I will," he says with feigned confidence.
He waves one last time before stepping outside and taking off. They wave back with tears in their eyes, watching their child disappear in the distance—leaving them for the last time.
When he's out of view, David pinches Sphyla's waist, causing her to yelp. "Great, you reminded him of that."
She smacks his head. "I was just being cautious!"
"You know that's my weak spot!" David groans.
Sphyla whispers into his ear. "How about I make it up since the house is empty?"
"Fine," he mumbles, rubbing his head.
Jessica exits Kailus' room. "David, Sphyla, let me follow the boy for just a moment."
Meanwhile:
Outside, Kailus soars ahead, passing many along the way. Angelica's golden roads gleam, lined with shops, bars, and entertainment venues—forever vibrant.
On speakers, The Magical Musicians' vocals drift throughout the area, enchanting the air around: "I know that you believe~ that good is defeated, but I'll tell you that the coin's on the roll. Hope did it! (Yeah) Hope did it! Now that the coin's on the roll."
"Ah, "Last Chance" was one of my favorites when I was five," Kailus sighs heavily, reflecting on his time.
'Now that I'm leaving my home for a place full of strangers, it feels isolating. Yes, I was silent for most of my time, but it's because they always deviate the conversation into 'lovey-dovey', rather than about me.'
He lightly sighs. 'Losing my only source of comfort is my greatest fear—and fear, one way or another, always comes to challenge me out of all beings. Now, I'm left with only myself, my parents' lessons, and no allies to save me. I-I think I'm prepared for what's about to happen.'