Glimpsing the light of dawn, covered in blood, sweat, and exhaustion, he turned his gaze toward the man who had created his greatest pain—one final time.
"Finally, I can see the light of tomorrow, and I swear you will never see another, because this will be the last time you are kissed by the sun…"
He took one last breath into his lungs, steadying his trusted weapon, and shouted:
"REQUIEM!!!!!!!!"
Years earlier
It has now been more than 460 years since the planet Terrae and its inhabitants were struck by the greatest event in their history—an event known as the "Flow."
It was called the "Flow" because the entire planet was engulfed by a sudden radiance, a glow not only visual but possessing properties similar to water, forever changing the world and those who lived in it.
After roughly two weeks in which no tangible effects were observed, flora, fauna, and entire ecosystems began to react. Animals grew more aggressive, plants showed signs of mutation, and even the air itself was no longer composed solely of oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen—but of something more.
It was after six months that a transformed animal—now a monstrous entity—attacked a town in the eastern part of the world, causing death, panic, and devastation. Defensive tools that had once decided life and death, such as pistols and rifles, proved useless against that unholy creature.
But humanity itself had also changed. Men and women had begun developing abilities beyond the normal, and in that attack, a group of seven stepped forward—three women and four men. Driven perhaps by courage, arrogance, or sacrifice, they fought the creature using their newfound powers and succeeded in ending the first of countless clashes between a renewed humanity and a nature reshaped by the Flow.
The Economics Period, still today the most authoritative newspaper in circulation, described those seven valiant individuals with the following words:
"They are not heroes, but they are certainly Those Who Have Escaped Reality."
From that statement, people began referring to anyone who developed powers with the acronym TOWER (Those Who Escaped Reality), while the transformed creatures came to be known as EVOX.
Unable to remain frozen in an era demanding constant evolution, the scientific world set itself in motion. Over time, technology was approached in a new way, leading to increasingly innovative discoveries. The greatest of these was a new form of energy found in nature, generated by the Flow and its many applications. The scientific community defined this new physical quantity as MANA (Measured Arcane Natural Activity).
These were the last concepts a seventeen-year-old student was repeating to himself while walking toward what he considered his personal prison. He was clearly late, judging by how compulsively he checked his watch.
He carried a black leather backpack and wore jeans, sneakers, and a gray hoodie.
"There's my stop," he thought as he stepped off the bus, quickening his pace toward the entrance of the Institute of Higher Eductation. What had started as a brisk walk turned into a full sprint as he realized he was more than twenty minutes late for roll call.
After passing the entrance, rushing up two flights of stairs, he gathered his courage and knocked on the door separating him from his warden: Instructor Ricant.
"Come in."
As he opened the door, every eye in the classroom turned toward him—some mocking, some compassionate, others indifferent—making way for the latecomer.
"Seran Delora, what is your excuse for your delay today?" the serious Ricant asked.
"Nothing that can justify me, instructor. " Seran replied.
"Very well. Take your seat. As for your punishment, after class you will remain at the school depot assisting the warehouse keeper Falls until closing time. Thank you."
After accepting his sentence and sitting down, his desk mate—a boy with brown hair and hazel eyes full of laughter—spoke up:
"Seran, oh Seran, it's been almost two weeks now that you're always late. Could it be that a young lady keeps you busy at night, depriving you of sleep?" he said, trying to hide his laughter behind his hand.
Seran slowly turned his gaze toward his best friend and, without saying a word, simply raised his middle finger.
However, the exchange did not go unnoticed by Ricant, who said with his usual seriousness:
"Regis Nordix, I see you wish to keep Seran company. I invite you to join him after class."
The entire classroom smiled faintly, immediately silenced by their instructor's piercing blue gaze.
Six hours of lessons passed, and Ricant finally reminded the class:
"…and that is why energy components are so important in the condensation phase.
I remind you that only one month remains until the end of your journey here at the IHE. You will be able to choose whether to remain within the BASE LEVEL and live an ordinary existence, free of risk… or attempt the ascent of the TOWER SYSTEM, aspiring to become something greater—while drawing ever closer to death, or something far worse. Thank you for your attention. See you next Monday."
Faster than light, the students gathered their things and left—except for two unfortunate idiots: one always late, the other always with too many words—who, with what little enthusiasm they had left, headed toward the school depot, ready to waste at least three hours of their lives enduring old Falls' humor.
After completing their punishment with no small amount of boredom, the two found themselves at the bus stop. The sun was beginning its descent, soon to give way to night, and Regis, as impatient as ever, complained:
"Even with traffic reduced to a minimum thanks to floating vehicles, our bus always makes us wait… argh!"
"Regis, calm down. Your complaints won't make the bus arrive faster. And since you're at it, pass me one of those cigarettes you keep in your backpack."
"When will you decide to buy your own pack or quit smoking? Here."
"Thanks. And pass me the lighter too."
Between puffs of smoke and five more minutes of waiting, the bus finally arrived.
Seated and lost in conversation, Seran observed the play of light and shadow forming across his city: NOVA VITAE—a city founded roughly 267 years earlier, in the nation of Novaris, after rich mana mineral zones were discovered, along with a manageable presence of EVOX and TOWERs capable of containing them.
Seran's thoughts were interrupted:
"So what will become of our lives? Will we choose an ordinary job, find a partner, have three children, and enjoy retirement—or not? I want more. I refuse to settle. After all, even my parents are TOWERs—only Floor 1, yes—but what I've seen is enough for me to want more. And you, Seran… what do you want?"
Seran smiled faintly.
"Me?" he said—but he did not answer.