Chapter 1: Emergence

"For real? You just spent all my money? Just like that?"

"No! Of course not… Not without good reason as to why."

"Now come on, don't tell me that. You think I wouldn't be angry about this? Do you know how much I gave you? After all this time, I assumed you were just a good, trustworthy friend that I've lent money for you to spend. It's as if it were yours."

"Hey, look. You're ignoring me here. Just listen, I have my reasons, not lame excuses. I didn't think it was going like this. I never could conjure such an event in my mind. I had to spend it in a panicked frenzy. She was getting on to me. And… it made things worse when you find out. You can go ahead and hate me all you want… I suppose I deserve."

"I can't decide if I want to… You still hate her, right?"

"More like I despise her every being of her existence. I swear of it. Everything she stands for. Everything she's ever done. All those higher-ranking officers, claimed they gave their good word to her. And yet goes full-Autistic, spitting out lies of military and strategic talk, that doesn't make sense, and gets away with it."

"…Love blinding reason?"

"I highly doubt a thing to ever occur. Different motives are at play here. They have to be. I know she has distain for me (secretly and subtly conversed), in the back of her seedy mind. I'm unsure if she wants me completely gone, out of spite or whatnot. I want that position. I needed that. I deserved it, after all I had done. But she doesn't consider what others want, just how she can benefit from any given situation. Only wants things her way, like she's never always gotten her way. And she picked him over me. Him! She's thinking up something if she picked her as a top priority. I scratched her back… how many times now? I've lost count."

"Sorry, I don't know who you're referring to. Who did she pick?"

"Someone similar to herself, a moron. Carlos, a southerner... Put simply he's a loser with a foreign accent. A guy who expertise is in numbers! Not fighting! He's got no girl for his own, which just raises speculation. He's definitely never commanded anyone into battle, but he will to the morgue. He knows warfare from books. Like history will repeat himself in this day and age. With all these duels going on, how the hell will that be possible? There's no gigantic cloud of darkness attempting to eat the world again, not the very least that I'm aware of. He's never even been in combat before. There has to be something going on, more than meets the idiotic naive eyes of this land. Not including you, of course. I'm going to get retired by a book-keeper. I tried to dig deeper into this, but she prepared for anyone coming. I had to sell certain items just to erase any suspicion off of me. This pussy who can't lick is now a Lieutenant. I'm going to get demoted to the flag bearer at this point."

"Woah… it's that bad for you. Sorry about that."

"No, don't pity me. You have better things to do in your life."

"Then care about yours?"

"It's not important right now. But still, there's nothing realistically that I can do. Except maybe ask her why, although that will backfire, knowing her. It's a curse, I say. A curse on me. Almost reaching for the top of the mountain, before someone comes along and breaks the surface beneath me, falling back halfway down. You have to kiss ass in this world to get anywhere, be beloved by everyone somehow, or just get plain lucky."

"If I may ask, how did you get into here in the first place?"

"Got plain lucky. They were hiring after low membership numbers (rather a rarity in these times), and this place was just asking for me. Without it, it'd be nothing. And she knows that. But she won't say it."

"Then, if you're this disgruntled, why don't you leave?"

"Quit? Now let's not rush things. I'm a patient man, keep in mind. I'm still here for a reason. Taking advantage of everything in this place. Take a look around. We have nearly the entire world at our disposal, kind of. By pretending to act loyal to her and everyone else close to her, that she trusts the most, they get rich, and greedy and selfish. When they've saved up enough, after a number of years, they can become their own masters of anyone else beneath them. Dying for their own interests. All leaders at as if the other members of their clans mean anything. They're all cannon fodder for the leader, so he or she can keep living like a kind, while the rest are corpses in the ground. Sure, they may form close bonds, but they are so fragile that they don't even realise it themselves."

"…I don't know. This… if what you say is true… how do you know this?"

"First-hand experience. I've seen clans come and go. More often than you think. It only takes a bad apple to spread the seed of disgust and turmoil to everyone. If you aren't aware, I was in one clan before this."

"I think you told me this before. Some time ago. The… Eloquence clan?"

"Not quite the correct name… it doesn't matter. Let me tell you, if you're unable to believe me. As sure as your name is definitely Willem, if I was indeed the bitch I would want to remove that party named Zane out of the way. Acting that I care and obey her is a ploy for me to just get what I want. Most of the time, at the very least. I'm not who I seem. And that's the plan."

"…I don't want to upset you here, but why did you so badly wanted that position?"

"Bragging rights, I have to admit. I… That's basically why. I'll tell you more at a later date."

"Well whatever. Let's see if the Speedy Demon can run as fast as his mind can process the sword being stabbed through his abdomen."

"I like your train of thoughts, even if you should keep quiet when you say that, but I don't necessarily believe murder is the right way about this problem. Carlos shouldn't be removed entirely. It's not his fault that he kissed the asses of the right people to get here. It's just the naive people he's fooled… Catching my drift?"

"…I… don't think… I am…"

"Oh it's not that big of a concern. Just… here go fetch Kursura. I need to speak with him. And don't tell anyone about this conversation. Got it?"

"Sure thing. I don't open my mouth like others. Even when I'm drunk. Just ask Oxob."

And he walks through the archway, down the corridor. Oh that boy believes anything that comes out of my mouth. He's smart enough to pick up certain speaking vocabulary, but not quite intellectual to pick up what my words mean. More than meets the idiotic naive eyes of this land. I'm certain there's some levels of irony here. Does it matter poor reader? I'm quite certain you don't mind, nor can you fathom exact levels of comprehension to be able to understand what in the world is going on.

What? Are you a bit surprised that I'm aware you're watching me? To clear up any confusion, some of the large amounts of it, no, this is not written down in any book anywhere (I hope not). Anyways, enjoying the show? Or too stupid to have an opinion? I wonder how idiots like you people somehow managed to find your way here.

But for those on the same page… there's no rush necessary upon thy time gone by. Thus, if I ever make a fool of myself with the purse he gifted me… I got caught twice… More times than ever should have occurred… Screwed up with my shopping, she has an automated system, one that tracks what every member does. I did not know of this before. How? Not of a concern right now, the heat has died.

But I always earn money, no matter how. This time from a blinded fool. I would be wasting years of experience of my skills, perfected and crafted after many trials and errors, dealing with a moron like that if I can't get something useful out of him. Yes, make him think we both trust each other. I trust him enough to not blow the entire plan to shreds… He's desperate for my help. He's just a bit quiet, is all. Why has he stuck around and not immediately reported what I said to her? Our boss? He needs me… And I need him for… now.

I… hate that bitch… and that beanbag of a spic. There are varying rumours circling around how he got to where he is now. I don't believe either love one another. They can't be that stupid… Although definitely not out of the possible equations. Maybe someone is blackmailing the other, or he's just a spy (a terrible one if that). But he's done more than Willem even knows of… there's a bigger story, a backstory. He will pay. It helps (strategically) that he admires my vast amount of wisdom of knowledge that he perceives. Easily manipulative.

Kursura is considering retirement at this stage of his life. Why not let it go out with a bang? Not perhaps an explosion, literally, but one where friendship is burnt to a crisp. How can I get his position? When he leaves, someone will get it. I'm sure of it. I've seen a list she has of trustworthy advocates. I'm lower than I could have ever predicted. So much so, it hurts me a little. Although, it's all turned into anger… and then a plan. How can I use him, and hurt the bitch or the spic at the same time? I'll have to figure that out. Truth be told viewer, I don't exactly know myself. Of all the possibilities, the routes I can choose that's the most successful for mine, this appeared to be the best. How can I ruin them? How?

Well you read on and watch. I've got it. Let's see here… Kursura is a smooth talker, a very intelligent man who knows his way around firearms. He's the sort of man to be a seducer in a sense. More of a computer guy, but that's not how others seem him. The spic is a quiet and shy type, which may surprise you. Very hard to gain his trust, but one you have it, wouldn't it feel good to watch as his life washes away with every harmful word that the insensitive cheap labour can feel hurt by. He perceives that anyone who seems honest, is honest themselves. I haven't had to work hard to get his trust. For all he knows… I have a crush on the woman.

Isn't this just the best? Scheming? I think so myself. With the planning stage all figure out, I'll bring this monstrous plan to succeed. And from the ashes, with the darkness as my witness, I shall emerge victorious to the world's light.