Disclaimer
Ragnarok Online belongs to their respective copyright owners. The only ones that belong to me are the character names and the scenario that they all get involved with.
This work is totally fictional. Any resemblances to people, associations, and names are totally coincidental. No profit has been made by creating this fan fiction.
Notes
This is my second fan fiction for Ragnarok Online, following my previous work entitled, "Psychographics". I am always open to any kind of criticism and review, so feel free to do so after reading the first chapter. I take into consideration my reader's thoughts and feelings as well.
After my friends discussed about the possibilities in the RO universe and Psychographics' storyline, we decided to create a prequel of sorts, a back story telling the events that transpired before Psychographics.
Affect Circumplex
Prologue
Humanity has grown arrogant just like the gods that created them.
Progress made the gods react vehemently to the audacity of humanity to stop the inevitable. From the beginning of time, the gods greatly feared the intelligence they had given humanity may surpass even that of their own. In order to suppress the growth of such intelligence, humanity's progress must be stunted, pruned, and modified to the liking of the gods. The gods have done so in the past, such as separating humanity by changing their languages and dispersing them throughout the world.
The gods will never hesitate to punish humanity when their own existence was at stake. Both beings will never be considered equal. What humanity lacks is mainly the fault of the tampering of the gods themselves; afraid to be overtaken by their own creations. The gods are arrogant since time immemorial, thus humanity inherited such a pointless and despicable trait.
But arrogance has its uses for humanity that greatly baffled the gods themselves.
-Excerpt from Knowing Your True Origin, authored by Nahum Lhakk, Scholar of Hugel
Western Juno Plains, 50km from Einbroch Border, 2:26 AM
"They're hiding something from us, Vhie." revealed a linen-clad man in his early twenties to his friend. He had chestnut-colored hair fixed cleanly on the sides, and spoke with a straight but calm voice. "I know you're still baffled, but I'm sure that you have arrived at the same conclusion as well."
"You don't need to tell." answered a female clad in the same clothes worn by the male. She was about the same age as her friend, had auburn hair that reached down to her waist which was neatly clipped on the left side of her nape. She spoke full of self-assurance. "I understood what I saw earlier, Eilmahn. The Handlers are hiding the truth from everyone associated with The Expedition."
"What do we do from this point?" Eilmahn inquired to his work accomplice. "We can't go back to Juno anymore…"
"I don't care if even we lose our positions in that place." Vhie replied immediately. "I will sacrifice everything at my disposal to ensure the future of my loved ones. I will save everyone… no, the entire world."
"You're overanalyzing the situation, Vhie…"
"Think whatever you like… I can use you if I wanted to."
"Then why didn't you leave me out there earlier?"
"I had to help you of course. The rest of the guys from our faction will grieve greatly if we lose an important member."
"Nah, they wouldn't… after all, I am easily replaceable."
"Tell that to our superiors, you shallow-minded goat."
"You know that petty insults like that don't work on me…"
"I'm free to speak my mind, aren't I? I don't remember any restrictions about that in the faction's rules..."
"Suit yourself."
"We need to go. You'll take the North Route, correct?"
"Yes. I'm more familiar with the topography of the North."
"See you later then, partner."
"Partner, eh? Nobody called me that before."
"Just… go. I need to reach Einbroch immediately. Just… one last thing, though."
"What?"
"Don't get killed."
