The pendulum of Dawn

I. Glitch

It's another day for the archivists at the Republic Main Archive. Their main scope job is to identify, sort and labels all kind of historical items from confidential government documents to relics or artifacts to public publishing like newspapers and magazines.

This is including Fulgur Ovid, one of the archivists in the Republic Main Archive. He is sorting out the files he just received from his superior yesterday. It was a classified file from the war 3 centuries ago. History of warfare and military documents is his specialist. Well, no, that was the secondary theme he focused on. His main specialist is actually...

"Fulgur, are you busy?" asked a voice. Fulgur looks away from the tablet in front of him to find the voice's source. It is his senior who sits 2 tables from him and also his mentor when he was new.

"Just sorting some documents, what it is, Dāʾim?" He asked, watching the vermilion-haired cyborg with black and pink limbs coming closer to him. His senior always looks vibrant but Fulgur can't help and find himself ending up staring at Dā'im's right arm; their human flesh arm. It's a rare trait in this era.

"Oh, I thought you're reading that Legatus's diary. Have you done with that diary yet?" asked Dā'im. Fulgur notice Daim's eyes scanning his table, probably looking for the said diary.

Yes, his main specialist is all documents regarding the secret body agents called 'Legatus' that working for the Republic government. Legatus's main responsibility is to maintain peace and prosperity in secret and their main target is the criminal groups; especially Martyrist group. In fact, he is the only archivist in the Republic that choose to be a specialist in this area, but not a lot of people are brave enough to delve into this topic. Unfortunately, due to the confidentiality and sensitivity of the documents, none of the information about Legatus was ever made public and the documents were kept confidential for the next 90 years. That is the reason he ended up focusing on the warfare and military, and side focus such as 21st century culture trends in addition to his Legatus topic.

And the great news was, last week, Republic Main Archive received a very important document; a diary of one of the Legatus members. Due to the secrecy, Legatus members are usually called by their code name, and this diary belonged to Legatus #505. The source said the diary was the last journal written by Legatus 505 before he went missing. After 50 years of attempts to search for him, the case was finally closed last year and all 505 belongings were donated to the Museum and Archive. Thus, making the diary an extremely valuable relic and he is honored to be handling it.

"No, not yet, I still work on it slowly," replied Fulgur. Despite his poker face, deep inside, he is geeking as he is excited to return to the diary and continue his reading but no, not now. He got work to do.

Dā'im chuckles, "You're built differently. No one would read someone else's diary like it was a novel. But remember, the diary is an important artifact, so treat it with care," reminds Dā'im. Fulgur understands Dā'im's concern over the diary. Unlike most documents in their time period which are documented digitally. The diary was written on paper; more accurate plant-based paper which is a rare material in their time period. Papers still exist but most of the printing papers were made of stones. That is why even without the contents, the existence of the journal itself is historically enough.

"Yeah, I know. By the way, what's your business with me?" Fulgur quickly changes the topic or else, he can't stop himself from talking about the diary and Legatus.

"Ah, right. Adam just informed me that Nālani got sick, and she will be taking a day off today," informed Dā'im. Nālani is one of his coworkers and his senior. She is responsible for all history regarding women and it is not surprising if she is sick, she is pregnant right now.