Burden of Tomorrow

[Angel reilyx]

Magnificent stone towers rise high into the sky, their tips tickling the belly of a monumental Cumulonimbus bathed in the gold of a setting sun. Shadows within crevices of the masonry dance and jitter as the light moves slowly by, eager to take over with the night sky. Somewhere deep within the confines of the towers a bell tolls a melancholy eight o' clock. The sonorous noise drowns out the chirping of people and birds alike; Together they live among the towers and bridges and scaffolding of their grand citadel. The striking of the toll dies down enough for the birds to catch wind of the whispers and secrets being told - Carts and stalls making their final hour of sales and trades for the day, rumors making their way among the lips of a new wave of bar-goers, nightly instructions passing from Masters to their Apprentices. Even the soldiers began to lay down their guns, the nightly watch waking from their reversed sleeping cycles to give their service to a city they hold a deep patriotism for.

"I 'unno what the day gunner did to her, but she sure as hell ain't gunna work tonight."

A light smile spread across his lips, "I think it looks simple enough."

Together stood two men - No, one man of rather gruff stature and one boy small in size. The latter had begun at once to start opening the blackened metal casing of a large, fearsome looking machine with four long tubes reaching out towards the sky. A puff of gunpowder emerged only to darken the boy's dirty blonde hair. He paid it no mind, but rather reached right in and began to loosen a particular cog with his hands.

"Y'know, Hope, I ain't quite sure what them pricks up in Centr'l Tower 'ould do without'cha." He leaned his body precariously atop the opened hatch of the device, elbows black simply from the touch. The man watched intently as Hope finished fishing out the stubborn piece of machinery. His eyes lit up bright blue as he turned to face the remaining sunlight, holding the gear up to see more clearly. As the older man watched quizzically, Hope responded instead with a knowing nod and began to simply... Wipe the device clean.

With a new-found gleam, the etched piece of steel found its way back inside the gearbox. "If everyone paid more mind to keeping their guns clean, I would not need to come out nearly as often as I do." Hope reached up with a free hand to give the man's forearm a light jab. "They get dirty and jam up if we do not pay attention." The box creaked shut and Hope stood back up, wiping the grime from his hands to what was a white shirt just minutes ago.

"Aye, you'll hafta talk to the day crew 'bout that one lad. I keep my shit clean, hardly ever gets used anyway." He paused for a moment, noticing a strange gaze from Hope. Following it, he found the sun setting in the distance. "Quite a view, idn't it? Don't think I'll ever get tired 'a havin a external post."

Hope didn't stick around much longer after that. Rather, he was already making his way across the first of many branches that would lead him back to the Central Tower. The city itself seemed much quieter now, the dayworkers having mostly packed up save for a few stalls that like to close later. A handful of people still roam the bridges, stopping to gawk at a particular piece of jewelry or purchase a pastry of one sort or another. Every now and then Hope would catch whispers of transactions, "It's getting closer," "Do you think we'll be ready?" "I'm not sure we're going to make it this time..." Each person just as concerned as the last. A smile keeps to his lips, though, as he is unconcerned with their fears. Everything will turn out just fine.

After a few towers, his eyes become locked upon a particularly calligraphic street sign within one of the towers.

The Emporium

Small bells jingle happily as a new customer enters the store. Behind a rustic mahogany desk sits an elderly man reading a book, a pair of spectacles sitting on the edge of his nose. A sign sat in front of him reading "Closed," but he didn't so much as bother a glance at Hope as he entered. Beautiful brassy widgets and glassy ornaments hung all around the main room, each one more complex than the last. Without much delay Hope found himself standing before a rack of old wooden canes. One particular walnut cane stood out to him, its embossed brass hammer head gleaming in the dim light of the shop. It has been a good six months, perhaps it would be nice to treat myself again. A hesitant arm reached out to claim it like a prize.

Sudden glee shown through his soul as he pivoted back towards the main desk. Before his eagerness could even present the purchase, the old man spoke. "You've finally decided to pay for it, have you?" Hope could only nod with a stupid childish grin. "Then take it." His nose still hadn't left the book. Did he want Hope to have it? Just... For free? Strange, but there wouldn't be any complaining. Hope bowed and thanked the man, heading for the door. But he paused just before leaving, taking out a small pouch that sounded of coin. He took a few out, leaving them on a small table by the door before taking his leave.

~

"Ouch."

"Oh, quit your complaining Mister Pinna, this isn't the worst injury you've come back to me with." I can feel a curious expression navigating my face. "If you don't mind my asking, what happened out there to get you cut up again?"

"We got ambushed. They were waiting for us in the forest below and tried to take a few of us out before we could react."

"Is that how you got this cut under your arm? Goodness it does look like they went for your wings again. You musta' moved just in time. It's pretty deep too, did they have weapons?"

"Nothing but daggers and bracers. The resources of all our cities are becoming scarce."

"Well let's just hope that's the last we see of them... Now hold still dear, I'm almost done." I wince in pain as she tightens down a gauze bandage, but I become comfortable again as soon as she finishes. "There you go, Mister Pinna. Knowing you it should only be a few days before you're tip-top again!" My lips stretch into a faint smile, and I nod in approval.
~ ~ ~

"Acies! Acies are you okay?"

My eyes follow a strange boy in white, his clothes are stained black with gunpowder and dust. He appears happy.

"Acies?"

"Yes, I am fine. What do you need?" The boy seems concerned.

"Nothing, I just... I just wanted to make sure you're not hurt, that's all."

"The nurses say I will be okay."

"Well, alright, but don't overdo it okay?" He begins to leave, then turns round again, "Oh yeah! The counsel is holding a meeting about the battle today. I think they were hoping you would come this time, they want to know what happened."

I nod and turn away from the boy, seeking out the hearing room. I make as little noise as possible while slipping in through a side door. They have already begun the discussion.

[Static]

The room had a strange scent of metal and old books, and the poor light in the room certainly didn’t help matters. Strands of lights stretched through the room, which hi-lighted the dust floating about the room. At the edges of the room were several chairs, each housing an irritated looking person. In the center was a woman with raven-colored hair and equally dark eyes, her hands spread out on the table before her. Lines of frustration were spread across her features, lines that creased hard at the corners of her eyes. The others looked at her anxiously, the weight of the situation was quite clear in the room.

“What do you mean? We have only a matter of weeks, Iago.” My lips parted, dried and cracked as they are, my voice coming out equally rash. “We cannot-“ The moment I even try to continue, I am paused.

“Elliot, I mean we don’t have the finances right now. The governor has given us a certain allotment and we just cannot continue.” His hands are lined with veins, the thick blue things look like snakes beneath paper-like flesh. I can see that he is being pressed to his limit. As much as it irritates me, I understand where he is coming from. We don’t have the funds to create what I dream of building, a machine that will keep them at bay. We don’t really even have the manpower to collect the chemicals-aridom- it’s something that we have been studying for years. And I believe, whole-heatedly- that this is something that could replace steam.

The problem? I can’t get to it on my own. I need help. And that’s why we are all here, staring at each other, ready to strangle anyone who so much as sneezes. We’re under pressure, so much that I’m getting migraines every night. Hell, I’m getting one as I sit here feeling Iago stare a hole through my forehead.

“Iag-“ My eyes move up, the dark pools resting on a familiar form as he enters the room. Here he is, to tell us about the attack. So we know what we’re dealing with at a broader scope. For as much as I’d like to admit I know what lies on the boundaries or outside of the city- I would be a liar. I know nothing more than Iago, and that’s made abundantly clear when I smile and hear my voice once again, cutting through the stress, “Acies. Good to see you in one piece.”

[Angel reilyx]

"Hardly." I can feel the tingle of reforming flesh creeping up my left arm, responding instinctively to my acknowledgement. My feet carry me to the center of the room, my wings retracting carefully to keep from bumping into the others. I give my lips permission to part way for my story.

~

The skies span out in all directions, tinged with blue and the pale orange glow of the afternoon sun. Brass and steel glints frantically in many directions; Younger Angels spar in the brisk fall air. From above their wings are difficult to spot, the entire Host's wings blending in with the luscious reds and browns of the trees below. A few sets of wings beat at a slower pace. Their owners are older and hardened than those that choose to use this time to spar, and they keep to an unspoken formation. Some of their eyes follow the 'children' around as they 'play,' taking some pleasure and solace within the energy of the youth. Others move slowly and more precisely, eyes wavering between the horizon and their allies - Always watching. Always waiting.

One of them screams out. Then another. Then a third.

Seemingly from nowhere an entity has appeared; A Host of Angels with unfamiliar faces, from unfamiliar places, bearing unfamiliar daggers and knives and dirks. Unfortunately the invaders are few and far too weak, the numbers of the patrol overrunning them with a godlike speed.

The golden leaves of the trees below are speckled with thick red drops of blood, both friend and foe. The younger Angels are instructed to gather the wounded; A pair of elders have retained the clarity of mind necessary to guide them. One directs Angels to combat, the other to the wounded. Several Angels are taken arm-in-arm towards a massive, towering city in the distance.

But most remain to fight.

Among them is Acies, his mind running at a pace and clarity unprecedented by his opponents. His arm is seeping blood at an alarming rate, his opponents seeing this as something of an opportunity. A total of three try to clip his wings - But only the first lands a blow. His arm marked with a rend that nearly splits it in two. The first aggressor is victim to his own failure, receiving a swift punishment for his poorly aimed strike. The second is caught in the rise of Acies' speed, the initial burst of adrenaline burned entirely on sending the invader plummeting back to the earth.

And there it could be seen; Another Angel catching his fallen comrades in the brush.

The third and final strike is cut short by a helping hand. A friendly face appears in time to aide Acies, seizing the bird by its blindspot as it is distracted with its crippled prey. A second friendly face appears just as quickly, their hand reaching out to offer assistance. With one final glance around the battlefield, the warrior takes it. There was nothing more for him to fight.

~

"You may receive better information from Ereclea and Bassianus." My body begins to feel hot, an annoyance washing over my skin. "They were not forced to leave the battle prematurely. I believe they stayed behind to hunt the infiltrators."

I turn to my back to those listening. "They appear to be desperate. I expect the other cities will be dealing with the coming Winter, much the same as we must." The room feels of both relief and panic now. "Is there any other way, that I may be of use to you?"

~

The glossy marble halls bathed themselves in a warm glow from their own sconces. Angels and assistance alike brush passed Hope in a hurry for one thing or another. It seemed as if every member of the Central Tower had some sort of an important project to be working on, all of them racing for the same deadline. Hope chuckled at the frantic, scatter-brained inventors and their droves of assistants as they rack every ounce of knowledge they own in search of an answer. His feet shuffle along the glorious halls, a third leg clacking every so often to a strange pace that fell out of sync with his own. Some time later, the halls became empty. The whispering of mice had even drifted to an unusual halt.

Perhaps it is time that I see how far we have come.

Hope pivoted in place, facing his own reflection. The endless black of his pupils expanded to the whole of his eyes, a sudden demonic presence revealing itself as he raised the walnut walking stick to meet with the wall. Slowly at first, but with increasing speed, words formed in the very same calligraphy that named The Emporium shaped themselves upon the wall. He allowed himself to backpeddle one step as his eyes reverted to their normal bright blue, smiling at the creation. He turned just as swiftly as he had started, the clack of his cane making first contact as he continued on his way. "Perhaps the dining hall has opened for the third meal."

The hall fell dark behind him as he left, his writing staining the clear gloss with a black ink that seems to float just off the surface with a viscosity that rivals mud. In it was written:

"Storm descending,

Winter unending."

[Static]

I can’t help but flash a smile at his response, knowing it to be true. While I feel that I should be prepared for the story ahead, that I’ve heard so many like it, I’m still enthralled in it. I’m still left sitting there, despite being past my thirtieth birthday by now. But I find myself leaning onto the long stretch of a table, thin ashen arms stretched out before me while listening to the story unravel.

The story is unfortunately all too familiar to me, I’ve heard ones like it since I was a child. While leaning back in the chair, I recall learning of the Angels. I was terrified of them, of the strange looking wings and the very concept that some of them were evil- well that was enough to make me uneasy.

But here I am not, seated next to some of the most intelligent men you could meet, working side by side with the Angels. I’ve spent my life, from the point of learning that some Angels were bad, working to build things that they can use to help defend us, and building things to better protect my people. It’s stories like this one, that leave me feeling I’ve done nothing for them. My lips, dried and furled downward, part to speak but my voice is cast off by Iago.

-

Iago, who had been listening and watching intently with bugged looking eyes, sighed and bobbed his aging head. He’s nearly seventy now, but he still commands a room when he speaks. “That’s no damned reason to attack, not now.” He grumbled and removed his large, bottle-like glasses from his face in irritation, “Do we have any of them, alive? We need to know what they are after, there’s got to be something, we’re all panicking like dogs- I bet it was those god damned-“

-

“Yes.” I cut in and shoot an accusing glare over to Iago before turning my attention once more to Acies. He’s always been one to help, earning a soft spot in my mind. I allow a soft sigh to leave my lips before pushing up from the table, moving to the board that had been addressed in earlier conversation with the other inventors. I give a tap to the board and stare at it for a moment before looking back to the winged man standing on the opposing side of the room.

“There’s an element… “ Iago buts in with a cough and my cheeks instantly deepen in hue, “Pardon, I believe there’s an element that we could use, a pure energy that we could power my prototype with- we need to know if it’s attainable… and if the other Angels are hunting here for it.” With that, I purse my lips together and begin chewing on the inner of the lower, we’ll call it a nervous habit.

[Angel reilyx]

My head nods slowly in affirmation. "If this 'element,' exists, then that is what the birds were here for." The name tastes bitter upon my tongue. "Their numbers were too small to be an invasion force. It would make more sense for them to send a smaller Host, one just large enough to deal with minor security but small enough not to draw our attention."

My stomach turns over with another thought, "This does not, however, explain why they attacked us. Had they remained hidden in the forest, we likely would have passed by without having noticed them. There must have been some provocation." My eyes pass over Elliot and Iago, locking on to the both of them with a temporary message of dread. "Is there anyone who can tell me what that provocation is?" My tongue rolls across the backs of my teeth while I wait for my answer.

~

Chatter? Hope paused his parade to the dining hall for a brief moment, listening in on the oh so wonderful discussions that come out of the meeting hall. "Oh, splendid, the news for the day has come in." He slowly pushed through the door, careful not to make a single sound. His eyes scanned the room quickly before he began shuffling silently toward the nearest pack of inventors, whispering in one of their ears as he takes a seat, "Have I missed anything interesting?"

"Not much, really. There was another battle, and Iago has another idea that might save our asses. Wants to know if its possible."

"Really? What is it this time?"

"I'm not rightly sure, but apparently there's some kind of resource that he needs to fuel it."

"Does he want the Angels to go find it? They are warriors, not civilian workers." Hope felt a cold glance from the Angel in the center of the room... Acies, was his name?

"I don't think that's quite what he's saying. Just wants to know if it's possible, or if we need to find another way."

"And what does Acies think? Will it work?"

"Maybe, but it could be the reason for today's attack. It might be dangerous to go looking for it."

"I see, so Iago needs the An-"

"THEY'RE HERE!" Hope, among almost everyone else in the room, stopped mid-sentence to turn to the newest attendant: "They're here already! They left another message, inside a hall down near storage!" Whispers emerged throughout the room as the exhausted administrator wheezes out his message. The room stays completely silent for several gruelingly painful moments - A fear unlike any other lingers in the air. Hope leans in eagerly to hear the first to respond. Who will it be? What will they say? Do they want proof? Do they sound the alarms? He can barely contain his excitement, just enough not to draw attention.

What will you humans do?