From Within

The First Storm

One summer night in Eris town, a storm is rapidly approaching the island Northwards from the Atlantic Sea. The wind is starting to pick up, but an old man stands alone in the dark at the docks facing the darkness where lightning is starting to show. When a young man standing behind him says...

"Grayson... It's been a while, hasn't it?"

The old man turns around, he sees the man he called for and says...

"Two-six..."

"They call me Zerek now..."

"Zerek? Well, Zerek... I called you here to..."

"Stop the storm... Yes... But you know, Gray... There's something I find strange... Please tell me why there's a massive storm coming... In the middle of summer... From out at sea, where you once brought me to practice."

"Things like that happen with the weather, boy."

The young man knows that something is off. The old man is looking desperate... The young man, now more reluctant to help the old man, continues to call him out.

"You're lying to me, old man. That's no normal storm. There's another one, isn't there? One like me. Where is he?"

"Just stop the storm, damnit! There's no other one..."

"The old gods said there'd be another. They said that he'd come to stop me, even though I'm doing the humans massive favours. I'm helping the world stop wars! I'm helping destroy armies! I'm stopping them from destroying themselves and the planet. What's the kid able to do that I'm not already doing?"

"The old gods? What nonsense? You're not stopping any war, boy. You're only beginning to start one. The fear you've incited among the humans...", says the old man before being cut off...

"Fear? The humans are acknowledging my power, Gray. They're finally realizing that someone is actually trying to save the world. The Earth is dying and I'm finally bringing peace to those who long for it the most. I'm bringing an end to the useless war in the Middle-East."

"But you've destroyed cities, boy. You've killed thousands of innocents. You're only attracting trouble by acting like a saviour for the side you think is best. Don't get caught up in the troubles of the world, boy. That's not your place to act."

The storm is coming ever closer, while the two argue about what they think is best for the world.

"So you know what I've done... I'm only stopping the ones who have power over the weak. The dictators and tyrants, the corrupt princes and kings. The others and I are smoking them out from their hiding places. And if we have to sink one city that's on their side to the ground, we'll do it. So that they know... Not to start useless conflicts, and to stop destroying the world... They're only hurting themselves, Gray. Don't you know that? They're hurting themselves over someone who died centuries ago. Through this conflict they're being used by the other rulers of the world. The money hungry presidents and bank owners."

"I know that, boy. But we can't draw attention to ourselves. What if the world knows about our island? They'll destroy us, knowing that there are others like you. Just stop what you're doing, you'll only make things worse for yourself. Just stop the storm, damnit."

The water is rising and the waves hitting the docks are splashing onto the old man's feet. The young man generates a small cyclone around his feet and starts to levitate and he says...

"I don't fucking care, Gray... I want the world to survive. Humans are mass-consuming every bit of the world's resources. I'm coming to them as a natural solution. You and the other caretakers can die here. I know that the others who know the truth will come find me. I'm just wasting my time by being here. Now... Tell me where the kid is, so I can end his useless little life."