The Capital

A Glimpse into History

As the vehicle began to pull away from Amberhollow, the driver’s voice crackled through the makeshift microphone, giving one last bit of commentary. "For those of you who didn’t get a chance to see it, there’s a museum in Amberhollow dedicated to the atomic bomb and the great loss of the world war. It’s quite a somber place, but worth a visit if you’re interested in history."

His words piqued my curiosity, so I slowly made my way to the front of the vehicle and asked, "Do you mind telling me more about the atomic bomb and the war?"

The driver’s eyes widened in surprise, clearly pleased by my interest. "Ah, you’ve got a taste for history, do you?" he said, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Well, I’m always happy to share a bit of knowledge."

He cleared his throat and began to explain, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "The atomic bomb was one of the most powerful and devastating weapons ever created. It was developed during a time when the world was at war, a conflict that spread across continents, involving nearly every nation. They called it the World War, but it was really the second one—the first was bad enough, but the second…well, that’s the one that changed everything."

He paused for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts. "The war was brutal, and as it dragged on, the sides became more desperate. Eventually, one of the major powers, trying to end the war once and for all, decided to use the atomic bomb. They dropped it on two cities—massive explosions that wiped out everything in their path. The destruction was unimaginable. Buildings were flattened, and the radiation that followed caused suffering for years to come."

He glanced at me to see if I was still following, then continued. "The bombings brought the war to a swift end, but the cost was high. Not just in lives lost, but in what it did to the world afterward. The devastation and fear of nuclear weapons changed the course of history. Countries were terrified of what would happen if more bombs were used, so they started stockpiling weapons, leading to an arms race. It created a tension that lasted for decades."

His eyes darkened as he spoke. "But the worst part was what it did to the world itself. The radiation and the destruction caused a chain reaction of events—famines, disease, environmental collapse. The world became a harsher place to live in, and people had to adapt to survive. That’s the world you see now, a world shaped by that war and those bombs."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as he finished his tale. It was a relief to know that the war didn’t start in my time, but the fact that it happened at all, and that the atomic bomb was the catalyst for the world we now lived in, was sobering. "Thank you for sharing that," I said quietly, genuinely grateful for his knowledge.

"Anytime," he replied, his tone lighter now. "If you ever want to know more, just ask."

But before I could respond, one of the protectors groaned loudly. "Please, no more! I almost fell asleep listening to that!" he joked, causing a ripple of laughter through the vehicle.

I grinned and made my way back to my usual spot. As I settled in, Cal leaned over with his ever-present smirk. "So, you’re interested in history, huh?"

I shrugged, trying to downplay it. "I was just curious."

He grinned wider, clearly amused. "Well, I’ve got plenty of stories too, if you want to hear them."

Before I could answer, one of the protectors, who had overheard, chimed in, "Oh please, do tell, Cal. I could use a good laugh."

The driver, not missing a beat, rolled his eyes. "Just remember, those are stories, not history."

Cal leaned back, his expression mockingly thoughtful. "Alright, alright. So, once upon a time, I was in a town not too different from Amberhollow. I’d just finished a big job—nothing too serious, just helping out some folks who needed it. Anyway, I’m walking through the market when I spot this old lady selling pies. Now, I’m a sucker for pies, so I buy one, right? Turns out, it was the worst pie I’ve ever tasted in my life. But I couldn’t just tell the lady that, could I?"

The protectors were already chuckling, knowing something ridiculous was coming.

"So," Cal continued, "I tell her, ‘This pie is so good, it made my teeth fall out!’ And wouldn’t you know it, she starts crying! Not because I insulted her pie, but because she thought I was serious. She tried to give me her life savings to pay for new teeth!"

The protectors burst out laughing, and even I couldn’t help but smile at the absurdity of it. 

"Of course, I couldn’t take her money," Cal added, grinning. "So I just left her with the pie and my thanks. But ever since then, I’ve been banned from that market. They put up a sign and everything—‘No Pie Thieves Allowed!’"

"That’s the best you’ve got?" one of the protectors teased. "I’ve heard that story a dozen times, and it still doesn’t make sense!"

Cal just laughed, clearly enjoying the attention. "Hey, I never said my stories had to make sense. They just have to entertain."

I leaned back, watching the camaraderie between Cal and the protectors. Despite his constant joking, it was clear that he had a role in the group—keeping everyone’s spirits up, making sure things didn’t get too tense. He might be a jerk at times, but there was more to him than met the eye.

As the vehicle started to move again, leaving Amberhollow behind, I looked out the window, the stories and history swirling in my mind. The world was a harsh place, shaped by choices made long before my time.