In 14 Days

Prologue - The Beacon

THEY WERE PART of a tale of a land far away where the sky was silver and the sun was a bright beam contrasting against the ocean of shimmering gray. Upon the tip of the highest elevated land was a grand sphere, smooth and perfectly round, shaped like a giant marble with the world as its table.

This inconceivable place was the Farlands and the Beacon was the spherical fortress.

The outside world held dangers but the Beacon was said to provide light to the humans— Farlanders— in which it accommodated. At the centermost point of the Beacon, there was a room. Clean, white walls. Small and organized. And in the middle of this tense room stood two strangely dressed men, yards apart.

"You've entered the Seer's lair," The younger man spoke, his orotund voice lower than expected, with a hint of uneasiness, but it was impossible to know for sure because no one could see his expression. His face was covered up by a black painted mask, the right side looking like the face was a wolf with the left fading into a flower-like shape sprouting out wildly. It was definitely a strange design, as if he were going to a carnival, although his outfit didn't match. The rest was so formal someone might have thought he was going to a business meeting. He wore a sleek black suit without a single wrinkle with a crimson tie and navy blue trousers. The only part of his face that could be seen was his golden-blonde curls that weren't hidden. Even his eyes were covered, and yet he looked at the other man as if he could see.

"Yes..." The taller and older man responded. It was easy to guess that he was most likely in his early 50's. Jade green eyes narrowed like a snake's and unkempt, messy black hair was a tad bit of white from age most likely, and a long beard that reached down to his upper chest. His outfit though was the complete opposite of the other man. His was a long navy blue cloak with stains.

"I believe you have something for me." Sharp and guttural. "No one comes to the deepest point of the Beacon unless they are ready to take a risk." Intimidating.

"Y-yes," The older man stuttered in response, his voice quivering. His company flashed him a cruel, amused smile. The response was a shudder, before breathing, "Indeed. T-there is... there is..."

"Yes?" The masked man prompted.

"A—" He hesitated, a nervous shimmer to his eyes, before he penetratingly shouted, "A prophecy, Sai!" Suddenly, the masked man's expression changed. It darked for a split moment, showing fear, until his mouth twisted into a grim smile, motioning for the older man to continue. He had paused for a moment, glancing back as his stare became intense, thrusting him into an unnatural, deep concentration. Then, he spoke in a steady voice, not his own.

'The fourteenth decade, all fallen afraid,
On the fourteenth year, they'll be near,
The fourteenth day, all will fray."

There was a moment of silence when he finished speaking. His expression was completely blank. Sai stood still and if his expression was shown, he would most likely be frowning sharply from hatred. When he realized the man had actually stopped, he slammed his hand onto the nearby wooden desk menacingly.

"Is that all you have for me?"

"Y-y-yes," The scared man backed away, afraid, "B-b-but it could b-be the sol-solution to everything."

The masked man stood still, ominously, and suddenly, his demeanor calmed unsettlingly. Stepping forwards, he stopped a foot away from the man, and whispered in a soft but taut voice. "No one knows about this prophecy but you and I?"

"I-I went to you first, my lord."

"What a show of loyalty." Was that a hint of sarcasm in his voice? Slowly, he walked around the man in circles. "Such a prophecy isn't for the faint of heart to hear."

The man's snake eyes narrowed as he listened. "But—" He stopped himself right as he started, feeling the man's hard stare even through the mask. They stood face to face for a moment, and the older man didn't dare speak.

"Do you know what this place is?"

"Wh-what do you mean?" The older man responded sheepishly.

Sai chuckled, his voice plummy. "The beacon."

The man backed away slightly. Hesitantly, he spoke. "It's our home."

One sudden step forwards. "It's my home," Sai corrected, the laugh following was grating. "Have you really thought this whole time that all of this was yours?" He gestured towards a map hanging on one of the walls. It showed detailed drawings of the inside layers of the Beacon. Then, he turned back to the man. "Every person in this Beacon is expendable but me. And do you know what you just presented me with?"

The man shook his head, eyes widening in terror.

Abruptly, Sai leapt forwards slightly, grabbing a handful of the man's cloak around the neck area, where a collar of a shirt would have been. With strength, he then dragged the man, pulling him forwards swiftly. "What you presented to me could have been hope for them," He whispered darkly, "What spreads from hope is dangerous."

"But—"

"DON'T SPEAK TO ME," Sai snarled, crazed, temper flaring. His right hand reached into his pockets to reveal a switchblade.

A whimper of terror followed by a struggle to escape happened next.

"You understand I don't want to do this, right?" The masked man asked, voice low—aloof. "But what you know is a crime against me as the Seer of the Beacon." He hesitated. "Unfortunately that means that..."

"I know too much."

"Yes," Sai agreed, "You threaten the structure of the Beacon. It's always been this way and we cannot risk change. So." His grip on the knife tightened, shoulders tensing. The cloaked man didn't respond, only staring directly at the Seer and praying that through the masked face, he could experience sympathy. Sai however slowly raised the knife. Then, there was a pause. Nothing could change his decision. The knife felt natural to him. Moments passed. He looked the man in the eyes. He hovered the knife over his heart.

Then, the man spoke.

   "On the fourteenth second, they'll end the reckoned.
    What they sought will be fought on the fourteenth day."

When he finished, Sai's grip on the man loosened from shock and his whole body tensed. "You withheld information from me," The Seer said flatly, and at the same time, the man spoke, "I didn't mean to! I thought it was—"

Wee-woo! Wee-woo! The sounds of alarms boomed in the room and the lights started flashing the red warning. "INTRUDERS HERE!" A robotic voice echoed through the whole Beacon, signifying to every Farlander, whether they were commoners, dyads, or superiors, that they were to be on full lockdown unless they were guards or the Seer himself. Swearing under his breath, he could see the man's taunting smile, making Sai's stomach flip from irritation. Or maybe it had been the alarms blasting in his ears that had done that. Or maybe it was both.

Knowing he had to get to the main entrance of the beacon, he had to get this situation he was in over quick. Once more, he raised the knife but this time, the man didn't look terrified. There was no longer that glint in his eyes or that shudder when the knife was inches away from his heart. His gaze almost seemed mocking, as if he believed the Seer couldn't do it. Where had all this bravery come from?

Enough. Sai thrusted the knife through the man's heart and blood splattered along the clean white walls. The man fell to the floor, his final sounds a cry of agony. The Seer couldn't look away as waves of emotions crashed against him. The words "I'm sorry" fell out of his mouth before he could stop them. It was no use. The man was already dead. He wanted to cry, but he couldn't. This was his purpose, wasn't it? This was why he was the Seer, so why did he feel so much pain? Unable to comprehend, he dropped the knife next into the puddle of blood beside him, and whipped around, tightening his mask as he sprinted towards where he was needed.

Towards who caused the alarms.

~~~
Author here. If you have any questions about the story, I'll try to answer them as soon as possible. This is going to be Fantasy/Sci-Fi kind of story full of chaos and I hope you, (future readers or possibly just myself) will be ready for it.

Also the cover will be changed in the future.

Thank you, and goodbye.