Chapter 3 #3
It wasn't long before the psychics uncovered the secrets and lies surrounding the births of the primaries and secondaries.
No information escaped their sharp minds once they entered their victims' heads seeking answers.
And so, fifty years after the Great War, civil war erupted in Drutes.
Fae of the First and Second Generation rose up against the nation, demanding that the women—their mothers—be freed from the breeding system.
But the State would never relinquish them, especially now that they'd managed to shorten the interval between pregnancies.
The women gave birth every two years, withering between deliveries until they died from exhaustion.
Soon, a revolt gained momentum, and a squadron rose to deliver justice.
They became known as the Night Squadron.
Its ranks consisted mostly of secondaries, with a few primaries among them.
Conflicts escalated, threats gave way to action, and the rebels demanded freedom.
In response, the nation removed the breeders from the capital and scattered them across Drutes territory, making them far harder for the revolutionaries to find.
In the year 51 after the Great War, the Night Squadron smashed through the gates of Drutes and, like a force of nature, destroyed anyone who dared confront them, leaving a trail of death in their wake.
The blood trackers managed to locate some of the breeding facilities in Drutes territory, but the moment they entered, everything exploded.
Drutes had vowed that the rebels would never see these women again—and if the women couldn't belong to Drutes, they wouldn't belong to anyone.
Exhausted by their losses and having failed to rescue the breeders, the few remaining members of the Night Squadron decided to leave Drutes and seek help from Interion.
They endured grueling days reaching the walls, pursued by forest lamias and the Drutes army alike.
By then, their gifts had evolved and their numbers had stabilized.
The squadron totaled twenty members, led by Serguei, a psychic at level 1,300; Amenadiel, with electricity powers at level 1,050; Lea, a shapeshifter at level 800; Luanda, a blood fae at level 1,000; and Ravena, another psychic at level 1,100.
The Sonar joined the cause as well, along with other less powerful members.
The king of Interion, Elazer II, known for his kindness, learned what was happening in Drutes and welcomed the surviving rebels into his territory, along with any refugee of Interian blood.
He also declared war on the nation. Another year of searching followed, and new squadrons were formed from high-ranking soldiers, including the secondaries themselves.
Battles raged along the borders, and each year Interion advanced, pushing deeper into the Drutes forests and discovering more breeding facilities—which continued to explode.
Between missions, new secondaries and primaries were found and brought to safety.
By the year 188 after the Great War, Interion had become an unshakable power, with impenetrable walls and mandatory military training for all citizens.
But what no one predicted was that the attack would come from within.
Secondaries and primaries living in the city revealed themselves as spies and staged an ambush to destroy the great king.
Their goal was to destabilize the government and allow the Drutes army to enter.
This day became known as Red Day. The monarch and the Pillars of Interion were assassinated.
Leading the attack was Ravena, the former secondary leader of the Night Squadron.
She had joined the rebels as a spy for Drutes, feeding intelligence to the enemy all along.
The assassinations shook Interion—but only for a day.
Elazer had a younger brother, general of the armies, and had planned for the possibility of his government being overthrown.
Elitium I commanded the troops in a counterattack, eliminating most of the small infiltrator squadron and restoring order.
The survivors tried to flee but were hunted down by the former leaders of the Night Squadron.
The histories say that Serguei himself, wielder of the most terrifying power in all of Jupiter, personally executed Ravena and the rest of the traitors who had aided her coup.
After that, Serguei, Amenadiel, Luanda, and Lea were forced to swear loyalty to Elitium, and the remaining descendants were expelled beyond the walls.
Serguei was deemed innocent and joined Interion’s military forces as a member of the king’s inner circle of protection.
He became the nation’s thought filter, and through him, the sovereign kept a tight leash on his subjects.
The new king grew paranoid about his security.
He increased military strength, surrounded himself with the best elemental soldiers, and positioned the palace right next to Interion’s central hospital.
This way, he was protected by the military brigade, consolidating his empire’s power.
It was the end of the Reign of Lights and the beginning of the Iron Reign.
Once the Interians felt secure in their new routine, the monarch had the decree posted throughout Interion:
Decree No. 188 of King Elitium I:
I – All forced breeding camps shall be eliminated.
II – All breeding women shall be killed.
III – All primaries and secondaries outside Interion represent a threat to the Reign. Therefore, they shall be hunted down and killed.
IV – The city shall be prohibited from trading with the Drutes, but commerce with the other three nations shall be permitted, within the limits of the cooperation treaty.
V – Failure to comply with the laws, depending on the severity, will result in one of Interion’s three basic punishments (imprisonment, exile, or death).
IV – Exceptions may be made, which only the king may judge.
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When I got home, I left my shoes on the mat and pushed open the ridiculously large white front door. It was probably the most eye-catching thing about the place, but I loved it.
The green house where I live is one of the best residences in the military district.
Not that it’s an example of luxury and modernity, but it’s well located, close to work, and heavily protected.
It was built at the base of a mountain, far from any other residence, and has every kind of protection system, from technological to magical.
On the outside, it follows Interion’s colorful tradition: moss-green walls with touches of white on the windows and trim.
There’s also a lawn at the entrance, with a hedge and a flower garden.
When I arrived in Interion, the residence was quite simple and minimalist, with a cozy feel that was essential for my adjustment.
But time passed, and two years of depression left too many marks and memories imprinted on every wall and piece of furniture.
So I decided to revamp the space the same way I had done with my life.
I replaced all the old things with modern furniture and renovated the rooms.