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ORIGINAL IMAGE : PIXIV ID 3086412
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ORIGINAL IMAGE : PIXIV ID 3086412
THE STORY OF HALCYON ( PART I )
As the world continued to grow and develop and change, so did the biological makeup of all living things. Some things, such as bacterias, became more resistant to treatment—learning to fight the medicine. And other things, such as humans, found themselves grappling with strange, new powers—incredible powers.
In the beginning, the carriers of these changes were no different from any one else. They ate, they slept, and they went about their lives. They were, for a lack of better words, ordinary. But then, one day, as if a switch had been flipped, everything changed. Everything became distinctly not ordinary. Suddenly, there were people who could bend flames, gather shadows, and dance with the winds.
Suddenly, some people became masters of the elements.
Some were fascinated—mesmerized—by these changes. They were curious and they were attracted to the science of the ordeal. They wanted to learn, to understand. But many more were frightened by the differences. They were scared of the changes and their fears, mixing with their personal weaknesses, led to wild witch hunts. These people wanted to rid the world of its "monsters." They wanted to protect their families, their lives, and, most importantly, their fragile futures.
The war against the changed and the unchanged went on for years. Thousands of lives were lost and thousands of tears were shed, but people were stubborn—resilient with their faith. Many were willing to die to keep the "monsters" at bay. They were willing to burn, to drown, and to fall for the home they loved. And this war lived for centuries before the world grew old and weary and tired. The children of the youngest generation didn't want to fight the fight of their grandparents. They didn't want to die for a cause they couldn't understand. And they didn't want to kill their best friends, their first loves, or their parents.
They just wanted to live out the rest of their lives.
In the year 5225A.D., the United Nations, under a new leadership and a new vision, declared the hunting or the harming of any human a gross violation of human rights. They denounced the actions of every participating nation and, after two centuries of continuous fighting, the world was finally given reprieve.
It was finally allowed to rest.
While society struggled to rebuild itself, the few surviving synergists gathered together and started a new life for themselves and those like themselves. They built a home away from the rest of the world and, boldly, called it "Halcyon." And, at the center of their new life, they built Sidereus, an institution that would refine their gifts. It would train them to be masters of their talents and not slaves to the world.
Because, above all else, the survivors of the war had vowed never to be hunted ever again.
THE STORY OF HALCYON ( PART II )
Sidereus, the heart and soul of Halcyon, was completed in 5231A.D., six years after the abrupt, but welcomed cease-fire. Back then, it was nothing more than a crude facility to refine combat techniques and, as a reprieve from the brutal combat training, to pick up a hobby or two. The founders of Sidereus had wanted only one thing: To protect Halcyon. To protect their home.
In the beginning, Sidereus served only one purpose: To train soldiers to protect Halcyon. Machiavelli De Luca, along with most of the surviving synergists, felt that peace between the world and Halcyon was a temporary arrangement, a momentary dream that could not last. But his friend, Azariah Nejem saw Sidereus as a catalyst for more. Nejem wanted Sidereus to function beyond a simple military role. He wanted to introduce a study of literature, an appreciation for art, and a regiment in physical sciences. Nejem, more than any of the Great Seven, saw Sidereus as an opportunity for a life that he (and those like him) had been robbed of.
The transformation of Sidereus was slow and met with great resistance. Grace Falana, who had suffered extreme losses through the war, fought Nejem's proposal. She thought that the world of academia should be kept separate from Sidereus and those who wanted to learn about the arts and the sciences should go elsewhere. To her, Sidereus needed to be strong—strong enough to protect a world and a future where other people could seek out leisurely hobbies. But, in the end, the majority weighed in with Nejem.
Perhaps, at the end of the day, all the founders ever wanted was to live a life they had been denied.
Today, Sidereus is a premiere institution of learning.
As Nejem had wanted, students are gifted various opportunities outside of combat. Many graduate from the academy to assume government positions, educator roles, or various other occupations within Halcyon. They explore their artistic expressions, read about the rich history of Rome, and study music from around the world.
For many students, in this day and age, there wasn't a real need to serve Halcyon through arms.
In the decades following the death of the first generation synergists, Halcyon became more and more integrated into the politics and economics of the world. It traded and negotiated with other nations. It became a partner instead of the outsider people like Falana had envisioned.
Still, becoming a Sidereus Agent remains as the most prestigious of titles. The Sidereus Agency (SA), an elite faction of soldiers, preserve the peace both within and outside of Halcyon. Despite the reigning "peace," no one in Halcyon has forgotten the suffering of their ancestors. No one has forgotten the cruelties of history or the losses endured for Halcyon's freedom.
So while the rest of Halcyon's citizens enjoy the fruits of trade and political connectedness, the soldiers of Halcyon will fight for their place. After all, as the age-old adage goes: Some fight, so that all may be free.
Some fight, so that peace can be had.