Tools
The bombing caused an international rift between New Essia and Hizuru, with each other accusing them of being responsible of the attack, Hizuru blaming the Essian oligarchs to execute a false flag attack to stop commerce between the nations; meanwhile the Essian government acussed some Azumabito royals and their personal quarrels for putting the Essian population at risk.
1 month later
After Faust was discharged, due to safety concerns, both he and his mother were taken by Faust's uncle Lev to Riessbern.
Faust during this time told the entire story of the origin of his Powers to his mother and uncle, thinking they might be able to help him clear a path to use those Powers for something. He told them that it seemed like fate that once again, their family was tangled with the supernatural… he got a response he did not like.
Lev: We'll talk at a latter time Faust…
That was all. For a month both Lev and his mother seemed busy with frequent meetings…
The funeral of his father was a modest one, yet Faust noticed it was filled with strange symbology. He recognized a floral decoration representing the old coat of arms that was on his dagger. There weren't many atendees, but he noticed some people that seemed… special, yet he did not know them or had ever seen them before… yet they talked quite a bit with his mother.
Faust felt pissed. He understood that his uncle and mother were in contact with important people, but he was left out… he had the Powers after all… why was he being ignored?
He felt his rage increasing by the day. He saw the news obsessively, hoping to learn o fan attack on Hizuru… or something at least.
Albert: You are going to get sick.
Faust: I don't think I can get sick.
Albert: Oh right… you are "special". Right?
Faust: What's that supposed to mean? You doubt me? Faust then showed him how his arm could transform into a crystal spike.
Albert: I know that you have those Powers Faust… but for what?
Faust: That's what I''m trying to find out… but your dad and my mother are not helping me… what am I supposed to do with this? I'm just one person… no money, no power…
Albert: Have you considered that you are seeing it from the wrong angle?
Faust: Huh?
Albert: You are thinking of power and wealth… but what if there is some other way to use those Powers?
Faust: Other way? You mean helping people?
Albert: Could be.
Faust: My father was like that you know? He said that discovering the history of mankind would help us all to not repeat the same mistakes…
But look what that gave him… being blown up. And it seems it was because of that same past that was supposed to teach us something…
Well it did teach me something alright…
Albert: Your father knew a lot… but he was also wise… as he understood what it all meant. Be careful with knowledge Faust…
Faust: What does that mean?
Albert: Father is expecting you in his office.
Faust: Huh?
Albert stopped at the doorframe as he left.
Albert: You won't see me again Faust…
Faust: What? Why?
Albert: I… know what is coming. And I don't agree with it. I've been exiled.
Faust: What the…
Albert: You are right Faust… you having those Powers will change the world… but it will depend only on you… on what way.
Faust entered with uncle's office. He was there with his mother.
Sakura: My dear, first of all, we are sorry that you had to wait all this time… we were preparing everything for your request.
Faust: My request?
Lev: To fullfill your imposed role in history.
A man then entered the office. He was well dressed and had a medal on his vest with a crest of arms.
Lev: This is Amos Zimmer. Have you heard that name?
Faust: Zimmer? As in the founder of Vitro? (Vitro is the leading corporation in social media in the world)
Zimmer: That's right Faust is a pleasure to meet you.
Faust: Y..yeah.. me too. But I'm… confused.
Lev: Sit Faust, there is a lot to unpack here.
Zimmer: You might be wandering why I'm here right?
Faust: Well… yeah.
Zimmer: Heh… well I'm about to blow your mind boy… here take a look at this. Zimmer pulled out the medal that he had on him.
Faust took a closer look at it… it had some faded out writing… it seemed really old. It had a green jewel with a damaged insignia on it.
Faust: Yeah I don't get it…
Zimmer seemed a bit insulted: I thought your father would have tought you better…
This emblem is over 400 years old. It is one of the few remnants of a past that is forgotten… very much like that dagger that you have.
Faust was surprised.
Zimmer: You have heard of the Kingdom of Paradis right?
Faust: Yeah that I know.
Zimmer: Well… that nation was destroyed for a reason… more than just religious motives. The Paradisians were a special kind of people… different from the rest. They had an innate capacity… to rule. To dominate. And they did… for a long time. They had an extraordinary power that has been lost to time… but their potential was still there… so the elite of the world of 300 years ago decided they had to be exterminated.
The rulers of the old world… wiped out from existence. There is nothing left. The remaining ruins have been distorted and pulverized by the radiation. The origin of our present society… completely gone… along with it's people.
The Darkness killed 40 million paradisians… as none were given exile due to fears of poisoning. All that was left… was that dagger, which was in Hizuru… and this emblem… which survived… because my ancestor was hidden… by the Kara family.
Faust: The Kara… my ancestors?
Zimmer: Yes… they did it out of respect… of their old ruling house.
Faust: Huh?
Zimmer: I'm the last descendant of the royal family of Paradis, the Prince of Reiss… a title that means nothing to the world… except in this place.
Lev: You read the family book right Faust? You know of the Ackerman house. What it didn't say… is that for centuries now… the Riess and Ackerman houses of old have joined… to take what is ours again…
Zimmer: And we have… through commerce. Which is all that we could do… until you came.
Faust: Oh…
Sakura: Dear… we need you. Not only for this… but for our families to survive.
Faust: What do you mean?
Lev: The ruling Azumabito have been the enemies of our people… they coordinated the destruction of Paradis and conquered the world since then…
Sakura: Our family Faust, the Fushima Branch… have been banished for opposing those autocrats… and it seems they have found out that something has changed… and have started to eliminate us again.
Faust: What do I do?
Zimmer: We have the resources, the weapons, the communications, but we lack the time… and the power to control. We lack power… and that's what you have.
Lev: We need to harvest it in some way. To share it with others.
Zimmer: From the remaining tales of old, we know this can be done in some way… but we would have to conduct some experiments… on you.
Faust: So I'm just a tool? That's what you are saying?
Sakura: No dear… in the end you'll have the power of all… we depend on you completely.
Lev: This is why the ruling house of our people submits to you, Faust. All that matters in the end, is that the proper balance is restored… and with that saving our families.
Zimmer: A war is already brewing Faust… I take it you watch the news? The rift between New Essia and Hizuru is deeping… and other nations will be forced to take a stand.
You might be thinking, well what's so wrong with the world as it now right?
Well… I gotta admit that the Hizuru did a good thing by banning nuclear weapons after The Darkness… too bad that did not last though…
Faust: Huh?
Lev: Hizuru and it's allied states begun 35 years ago to develop nuclear weapons again, in secret.
Zimmer: It seems that the Azumabito got a bit nervous due to your family and it's connections to us Faust.
Sakura: They don't believe any of the stories of supernatural Powers or any of that. So they don't fear for another Darkness… but we know. And whatever power or God that rules this world has confirmed what we always knew… there is an extraordinary power within us… and we are at danger for it.
Faust turned and stayed quiet for a bit.
Faust: All that stuff that you said… about families and power and stuff… I don't really care about that… but I do care about protecting my family… and have my revenge… so do as you must. I don't really feel pain anyway.
Night
Faust was standing by the balcony of the mansion thinking about what happened that day. It felt like too much at once to process… but he recognized one thing: Albert was right… but he did not care.
Something inside him… made him feel powerful… and that it would be too bad to not use it.
Faust to himself: Heh… so I'm tool… I think I gave a good performance right? They must believe I'm that naive… mother… I guess your nature played against you… lucky for me… I've always thought I'm inferior… so I just don't believe anything you said.
But I'll play along. I'm just one person, even if the most powerful in the world… what can one person do? You'll be my tools… and I'll find out why all of this happened.
Faust then remembered that strange dream with The Entity.
Faust: Am I the machine? Or the operator? You are taunting me aren't you? God or whatever you are… oh well, that's pointless… there will be time to think about that.
Right now… I'll focus on the present… that thing the Vitro guy said was interesting… share my power… but keeping control of them.
I'll have to try that for myself.
Niels Renz was Faust's best friend since Elementary school. He was the only son of two Essian diplomats, so he was raised by maids and trained by his parents to become a politician since he was a child. He loved Faust and his parents and would do anything for them. Coincidentally, he moved to Riessbern to study public administration.
Rina Miranda was a girl that formed an attachment to Faust since they were kids. They became separated during high school, but got close again during their senior year. She was the illegitimate daughter of a transportation billionare from Mariana, a nation in Newland. Rina barely knew her father, but provided diligently for her and her mother, on the condition that she wouldn't persue him and move to New Essia. During her entire upbringing she was mostly neglected emotionally by her mother.
After a few weeks, the experiments on Faust began. Eventually, the scientific team brought by Zimmer discovered that ingesting Faust's blood caused a slight state of suggestion, but needed further investigation. This gave Faust an idea...
Niels: The fuck? You want me to drink your blood? Are you a fetichist?
Faust: I explained already can you just do it? I already told you it's safe, they tried it at least 20 times with random people.
Rina: So… um… why then do you want us… to try it?
Faust: I have a hunch.
Niels: In any case, who said we would agree to do your bidding, oh freak of nature?
Faust: You are the closest people I have… I would never do anything wrong to you.
Niels: Huhh….
Faust: Well I guess is normal to have doubts. It is kinda weird.
Rina: I… will do it… I… trust you.
Niels: Shit. Of course you'll just agree Rina. Fine, whatever. If I die, you'll just be lonely and miserable, right Faust?
Faust: Yeah…
Niels: Oh one thing… why didn't you try it on your mom?
Faust: I don't know what it will do.
Niels: Oh... so if we die it's cool then
Faust: No… it's the opposite. I'm afraid it will make her immortal or something.
Niels: ….
Rina: So… if we do… it's ok?
Faust: Of course.
Rina: …. Heh
Rina and Niels drank a bit of Faust's blood from a cup. They waited for half an hour.
Faust: Anything?
Niels: No. Bummer.
Rina: Actually I… um… eh…
Niels: What?
Rina: Well I… usually have strong cramps…
Niels: Ok? We needed to know that… why?
Rina: Well… because… it doesn't hurt anymore… I don't feel nauseous or anything
Faust: Huh. Do you have some illness or something Niels?
Niels: …. I'll rather not say. But now that you mention it… it does feel better.
Faust: What about your feelings? Do you feel something?
Rina: Well I… don't feel like… you can control me… but I… do feel… somewhat… closer to you.
Niels: Yeah me too. It's weird.
Faust: You'll stay with me in here
Rina and Niels both nodded in a slight yet assured way.
Faust understood how it worked. There needed to be some sort of attachment from before for the suggestion to function in some way.
He got an idea on how to learn what he wanted from the people with power.
Faust: No one can do anything alone… heh…