Year of 1203 - after the Crusader raid
Constantinople is burning in the quiet night. We see the scene from the window of a tower.
"That Catholic brat! I should have set a fleet of ships to his shores a long time ago. One strategically placed Greek fire would have gotten rid of him for good" Byzantium says through her teeth. She is visibly shaking from rage, with her dress torn and many jewels missing. She grips the window rim as if she was a caged animal.
Varangian is there tending to him wounds. He got severely hurt getting her and Romanos away from the capital. Romanos, in slightly damaged clothing, stares at her worried. He has never seen her so angry.
"Damn it! Damn everything. Why couldn't they just leave me alone? Why do I have to endure all the endless attacks and destruction. Every time I make something beautiful there are at least a dozen savages just aching to destroy it. It's just not fair! Why God why!" she screamed as she hit the hard sill with her bare hands causing them to bruise. Romaons finally comes near and begs her to stop. The two of them sit underneath the window. She starts sobbing. "I simply can't take it any more Romaonos. It's just too much."
He pats her on the hand tenderly. "It's alright, mother. You don't have to fight any more. Let me do it for you" he says calmly. Byzantium stops crying and looks at him.
"Are you sure my child? Are you truly ready?"she asks taking his hand. The young teen smiles and confidentially nods. She hugs him and smiles. Her eyes are still filled with tears.
The young empire smiles. He places his head on his mother shoulder as the narrator starts: "Romaons was determine to keep his promise. They, with many more of their people, found refuge in Despotate of Epiruse, Byzantium region encompassing today's Albania. With his emperor,Michale and later Theodore Komnenos Doukas, he expanded into today's Northern Macedonia. With their successors he went even further, managing to reclaim almost all the previous Byzantium territories in Europe in a little over 50 years." We see the teen Romanos standing tall on one of his ships as his hair flows in the sea wind.
"Unfortunately, The East Roman Empire was never the same again" the narrator states as we see her sitting in a poorly lit room with her hand on her tired face. "But that's a story for another time."
World Academy W
A serene photo of the school. The narrator starts: "It has been pretty quiet since the principal banned protests at school. However, no one could stop them happening out in the open."
We see the school park. Julio Paz is holding up a flag of his indigenous people chanting: "I want my president back! I want my president back!" Alfred, who walks by whistling with his backpack over one shoulder, notices this and frowns.
He slides over to him so suddenly that Julio flinches startled. "What's all this about?" Alfred asks suspicious.
"Um, I want my old president back" Julio says a bit scared. Alfred continues to stare at him blank. He then starts laughing: "Haha...what, are you stupid? You just got rid of him. That's not how democracy works."
"No! That wasn't democracy, that was a hostile takeover. I don't want these new people ruling me. I don't even like them. No one likes them. In fact, they couldn't get elected in regular elections even if they were the only candidates left on Earth" Julio says regaining his confidence.
Alfred remains quiet and stares at him disapprovingly. "I'm watching you" he says menacingly and slides out of the frame.
Next scene: The next student Alfred sees is Wang Jia Long. He is holding up a sign that says 'FreeHK" and yelling: "Revolution! Revolution!" Alfred observes him for a while smiling and comes over to hug him.
"That's the spirit. Ain't nothing better in the world than starting a New Year with a pledge to democracy and freedom of speech" Alfred says with Wang Jia Long still in his bear hug.
"I want my president back!" Julio's voice is heard. Alfred sharply turns in his direction. He let's go of Wang Jia and trots back yelling: "Hey, shut it! Don't you make me come over there." Screaming is heard as well as Alfred's muttered threats.
Wang Jia looks at them with a raised eyebrow and continues protesting.
Happy New Year everyone! Hope it's a good one!