Kriger 2: Rebirth of Light

The pain in Astraea's right eye returned. The dream she had jolted her awake. Laying there for quite some time she finally started getting the feeling back in her body. That is when she felt the cold beads of sweat running down her face. The dream had been nothing, so why did she feel as if it was happening right now?

"C-can't be." She stammered and pulled herself off the bed.

Astraea was hesitant about putting her feet on the cold, wooden floor. She threw the covers off her bed and found a pair of socks she had been wearing. Smiling as she left the room, putting on her socks.

Astraea did not bother sneaking through the apartment building. Her footsteps were so quiet that she could sneak up on anyone. She walked to the fire escape door to the roof. Letting out a harsh gasp as a gust of wind pushed her.

Tonight was a cloudless evening. The stars seemed brighter from what she remembered in a long time. She could feel the warmth of their light beating down on her. Breathing in the air Astraea placed her hands together in a bowl fashion. A little flame emerged from her skin. It danced and wiggled in her hands as if it was saying hello to her. Except, it was a mere illusion. For, in fact, the flame was not there at all. It would never give heat, or even burn out. Nonetheless, it still brought warmth to Astraea

Smiling, she put her tiny flame on the edge of the roof and looked down to the alley. She watched as tweakers and slumers scattered around. The once beautiful city of Geldom was turning into a gruesome sanctuary for criminals. Astraea looked across the city.

Sighing heavily, she wished she wasn't so different from the others. If she didn’t have her friends, she would be so alone. There were many races living in this city. How could she know her own nationally?

Even her own sister, Lorelei, looked different compared to her. Her sister was about 5'9 with light silver skin and slanted blue crystal eyes. Her hair was dark auburn with highlights of bright red. There was also Jules, or Sid as he liked being called. He was a Svartalfheim like Lorelei. Being a man, he was of course taller than Lorelei. Sid was about 6’5. He had a boyish face with short dirty blonde hair. His eyes were a mysteriously dreamy green.

Lusio and lavender were of a completely different race. Lusio was a Rouindi; they came from the desert plains of Franc. The nation once was free, and their tribes were many. Their nation went as far north as the tip of Folkvang.

The President believed these friendly people to be savages and waged war on them. Saying they were unfit to live on the land. This once proud nation has become almost nothing in the wind.

Luiso had beautiful dark red skin, almost a mahogany color with purple tones in it. With his darker hair and eyes, he was a true vision of a Rouindi.

Lavender was born in Geldom. Her family came from Vanaheim, however. That’s where

Aelfheims come from. She was as tall as Sid with alabaster skin. It seemed to glitter in the sun. Lavender had long, straight blonde hair.

Astraea never gave up hope that maybe she was just a mixed race. She knew Lorelei and she has the same long pointy ears. Neither Aelfheims nor Svartalfheims have at all. They only had small dainty pointed ears. That's how she knew that they were sisters. Besides that, they look nothing alike.

There was also the mysterious Bevesker. They kept away in their own country of Breidablik. Astraea never has seen one before now that she thought about it. With all the strange races that live together on this planet she was surprised they stayed away like they have.

She slipped down to the cement floor and pulled her knees up to her chest. Astraea’s eyes wandered up to the sky and the stars. How she wished to be free of this decaying city. Ever since the President came into office so many things have become harder on the people. Not to mention the rumors going around that he is making a weapon. Stranger yet is that weapon is based on some alien technology!

Astraea shook her head and giggled at the thought. However, an eerie feeling crept up her spine and made the hairs on her arm stand on end. She thought back to the dream she just had about the President and the Lead Developer. They looked younger than they do now. She's seen pictures of them recently, the President has some gray in his shiny brown hair, but in her dream, they weren't there.

Who was this boy they were talking about? She looked up at her tiny flame and yawned. Ever since she could remember she's had this feeling of something being missing. That she should be searching for something important. Every time she has one of these dreams, they bring up the boy.

Should she be the one looking for him? Will he help her find the truth about every little weird thing she's been feeling? Yawning harder she moved her shoulders down more on the wall and snuggled her chin into her chest. Maybe one day she will ask Lorelei to help her. Until then she's just going to try and survive. Slowly drifting back to sleep with the flame getting smaller, they both faded into the night.

"Astraea!" A screech filled the alleyway and echoed all around a ragged man.

'What had woken me?' Einar asked himself.

He looked around and found no one near him. Despite that, he felt something probing. He was afraid maybe there was a Peace Keeper nearby. They can get into AIs. One of the reasons he's stayed far away from the floating guard post scattered along the roads.

He was able to feel when a Peace Keeper came close to him. He couldn't feel them anywhere. What he did sense was an AI. Sighing, Einar ran his fingers through his dull brown hair. He left the alleyway with his possessions and walked around the building. He had been in the city for over a month asking everyone he could find about a person named Astraea. So far, the market had been his biggest clue. A silk trader had an employee named Astraea who lived in an apartment in the lower side of sector seven.

"Beautiful singing voice." the trader had exclaimed. He was even kind enough to describe her to him.

"She's tall with a slim body. Long wavy hair, the color of brown sugar, and almond shaped eyes the color of an exotic jade."

From there he had found the name of the place. Only problem was trying to figure out how to get inside. He had hoped she would just leave her apartment. Go to work or something. He watched the building for days. None of the people who left the building looked like her.

Then again all he had to go for was a vague description. Maybe he had seen her and didn’t even know? No, he would know if he saw her or not. He had this feeling that as soon as he saw her, he would know. So, he just stayed in the alley, waiting.

Not that it mattered, he had been traveling for about two years living as he has been now. He looked scruffier than when he started out. He filled out more into a man. Nonetheless, with the poor nutrition he was living on he hadn't been able to receive any of the manly benefits. Hopefully after finding Astraea he will rest for a while. In the back of his mind though he knew his journey will still be a long one.

He had been having this strange feeling as he got closer to Geldom that he would have to leave right away after finding her. Sighing he hoped this wasn't the case. He was glad that his Uncle hadn't left him with nothing to go on. With him on his deathbed he finally gave Einar the one clue he needed to start this epic.

"She will be in Geldom. It will be dangerous, but we decide to leave her in the only place they wouldn't find her. What better place than under their noses. Heh, heh." His Uncle always had a crude sense of humor.

Gazing lazily at a flickering flame he stopped in mid step and noticed the flame slowly being drifted away. He tried to get into the person's mind that made the flame, but it was as if the person's mind did not exist. Einar couldn't understand why this was so seeing he could feel the person. He wanted to know this person’s secret, maybe it would get him closer to Astraea. He picked up his pack and left the ally way

He rounded the corner and looked up the steps to the red door. He knew he would probably never be able to get in. Looking closer at the wall next to the door there was an intercom and several buttons to everyone who lived in the building. He saw her name right away. “Astraea Epimachus” it said. He didn’t know what her last name was. This proved harder now.

Einar stepped down from the stairs when he heard some men coming up to the building. There were only two of them. He wondered if they would take pity on him and let him sleep on their couch. It didn’t hurt to take a chance. Hitching up his bag he came out from the shadows. The smallest of them stopped the taller one.

“Hey!” He shouted at him.

This one probably had short man problems. But, then again it didn’t hurt to be on the safe side in this part of the city. Einar raised his hand in greeting.

“Hey, yourself. I am only passing through.” He said casually.

If he was going to play this right, he had to be calm and cool.

“Do you guys know where there is a shelter? I can’t sleep in the alley another night. Way too many tweakers keep bugging me for drugs or money. And of course, I have neither.” Einar knew if he put himself in a somewhat good light, maybe one of them would have a heart.

He was right, the taller one came forward, his hand outstretched.

“How about you just stay with us for the night? The shelter is too far to walk from here and the buses don’t run at night.” The man was very light spoken and seemed shy, but he was kind nonetheless.

“Wow, thank you so much! I’m Einar.” He took the man’s giant hand and flashed his most charming smile.

The smaller one came over with arms folded. “No problem Einar. I’m Lusio, this is Sid.” He replied without giving Einar his hand to shake.

He guessed it would be harder to gain Lusio’s trust. But, that’s okay. He wasn’t here to make friends. He needed to do something else.

The three men entered the apartment building and climbed the many steps to the apartment where they lived.

“Welcome to our little abode.” Sid exclaimed.

They entered a smallish living room with barely any room for a loveseat. The kitchen was to the left in an even smaller alcove. And there was one door to the right. He guessed that was the only room. Sid had gone off to the room and Lusio went to the kitchen and came back out with three brown glass bottles.

“Here, you probably need one with the crap you have to deal with.” Luiso handed him one of the bottles and placed the other on the table for Sid.

Luiso opened his by slamming the cap on the corner of the table. Einar did the same and it popped off easily. Taking a swing of the brown liquid he choked a little at the bitter taste.

“W-what is this stuff?” He asked, sputtering a little.

He had never had anything but water his whole life. Luiso laughed and drank a large gulp himself. Sid came out of the room with a blanket and pillow for Einar.

“I hope you don’t mind sleeping on the couch. We don’t have too much room.” He handed him the items and sat in between of Luiso and Einar.

Sid was so tall that his knees touched his chest when he sat. Sid took his own drink and settled in. Sid picked up the remote and clicked on the television that sat on a plastic crate. A pretty lady with short black hair came on.

"Good evening Geldom, this is Nyx Lee with your nightly news. President Traxxus has just announced a new project that has been in full swing for the past three years. We will be expecting a showcase of it in a couple of months. He told us in the earlier report that this project will change everything we know about the way an AI works, and how better we can control them to enhance our lives. In other news-" The television blinked off.

“This is depressing stuff, Sid. Why do we need to watch it?” Luiso complained. Einar looked over at the two. Sid rolled his eyes silently and just drank his bitter drink.

“You know Luiso if you don’t like it you can just go to bed and blindly live your life.” Sid finally told him.

Lusio didn’t need to be told twice. He quickly got off the couch and took himself to the room.

“Sorry about that, Einar. Luiso doesn’t like listening to the news.” Sid muttered out.

Einar just shrugged and stayed silent, nursing the drink in his hand. He started feeling warm and dizzy from the strange new drink. Sid slowly got up and looked down at Einar. “Got to get up early in the morning. We can take you with us if you need to look for work.” He told Einar and walked off to the room as well.

Einar sat the drink on the table and laid out the blanket. It was still freezing in the room. He shivered under the blanket until his body temperature was warmer. Einar drifted off to sleep.