What is the use then? If time can't hold them, we have lost a leading advantage
Albert Gregory Percival spends most of his time alone in his Office. After seeing his children go to school or work, his wives enjoying themselves, and his servants diligently working, he decided to take the day off.
Gregory prizes his privacy, as none of his children knows what's in the room. To discourage entry, Albert etched the words "Gregory Study, DO NOT ENTER" on the door.
Dressed in a pair of boxers, a red singlet, and brown sandals, he rested in his office. The office was like a library, filled with books and documents. Albert's desk was neatly arranged, with files and journals stacked on top of one another, and a simple lamp.
The floors were covered in a series of rugs, each portraying the face of his wives, with the walls decorated with a large Mechanical Television and multiple paintings.
Albert was reading a peculiar book. The book was in tatters, with burnt or torn pages. The cover was badly damaged, with the title barely readable, T... Immo... tem.
Albert is not known to be deeply drawn to a book, but the one he was reading was different. The billionaire read each word with greed, as if the book demanded his total attention, and he obeyed.
As he was reading the book, he heard a knock on the door.
a light tap tap tap
Gregory looked away from the book and dispelled the person knocking, but the tapping continued.
He calmly got up and trudged towards the door. Ravens were heard outside, as they cawed so loudly that the Mansion guards were instructed to chase them away, but the flock won't leave.
As Albert reached for the door, he felt a drop in temperature and noticed the shadow of a person on the other side of the door. The knocking continued lightly, as the person on the other side waited patiently for an answer.
Al? Albert asked. Mario? Hezekiah? Julius? Evelyn? Who is knocking?
The knocking continued, so light and gentle, and the sounds of the Ravens grew louder. Albert was hesitant to open the door, as he felt the presence - a very dark, gloomy presence.
Albert rushed to his desk, ran his fingers under the desk, and pushed a button. Under the desk, he dropped the book inside a suitcase, which automatically locked. After a few beeps, it then disappeared. Not move or hide, but vanished.
Albert relaxed in his seat, trying to dampen the sound of his beating heart. He wasn't afraid or frightened, but he was curious. Who dares walk into the Percival mansion, get through all the guards, and knock at the study of Albert Gregor Percival, who dares?
Albert doesn't see this person as a guest, but as an enemy that should be vanquished.
Albert started to brainstorm, trying to figure out who could be here. An assassination attempt? Most likely, but why now? But in the middle of his internal debate, the sound of a light click echoed, and the door slowly swung open.
Albert was shocked and amused; this enemy came prepared. He carefully watched as the door swung open slowly. The hinges of the door creaked, and the Study's temperature dropped drastically, making Albert regret wearing a singlet.
The figure walked over to Albert, or hovered. The figure's presence was what Albert thought: threatening, piercing, and overwhelmingly filled with evil. The presence was covered in a thick black smoke, but it dispersed when it reached near Albert.
The figure was a man, With a handsome but impossible pale face, a sickly gait, dirty green eyes crying streams of blood, draped in an all black cloak decorated with feathers, bones and weapons, gloves tipped with slaver claws, and a helmet resembling the head of a slaver beaked raven, resting on his boney head like a crown.
I was headed for Black Meadows, but I felt my property nearby... and I decided to stop by. The man spoke in a husky but polished voice.
What do you want from me? Albert asked, Who are you working for, and Have you realized where you are right now?
The man stared intently at Albert. The book, where is it?
The ravens outside began to perch on the study's window, desperately trying to enter the room, and they turned ravenous.
Albert's face showed no sign of fear. I have no idea who you are talking about. I have a lot of books. You can call me a bookworm, but I prefer the term intelligent, brilliant, or even old-minded.
The man showed no sign of impatience.
A wise old man, I see. The man complimented, but I am in a hurry. The book that you discovered on the ground of the extinct Rainbow clan, the book with no cover, no name, but with vast knowledge, give me the book, now.
Albert tilted his head and leaned forward. You infiltrated my heavily guarded mansion, meaning I either have a traitor or you are very powerful. Which is it?
A guard dressed in a slaver armour entered the room.
Master Albert, he screamed.
The guard held a triple-barreled shotgun and pointed it at the man. Three thick bullets left the gun with a loud bang. It traveled towards the head of the man, threatening to blow off his head.
Albert was pleased with his competent soldier and smiled. The man faced towards the 3 spinning goz copper bullets coming at his head, closing in at his swamp green eyes. The Ravens' outburst grew more violent.
But realisation dawned on him. The button he pressed under his desk was meant to alert the guards as quickly as possible, so why did this guard take so much time, and why is he the only one present?
The bullets vanished into the man's bleeding eyes — and a heartbeat later, the guard's head erupted. Blood sprayed as the headless corpse of the guard stumbled to the ground. Albert still wasn't convinced to be scared, but he was just amused.
Oh my, Albert thought. Was that divinity? A reflection ability? It stopped at 10 centicreters, is it the limit?
The man faced Albert, and surprisingly, not even a scratch was found on the man's pale face. I prefer not to use the term 'divinity'. You are going to give me that book. The man's slaver claws glistened. Or else...
Albert's right eye glowed bright orange. The sound of the Ravens dampened. And his heir felt the same adrenaline.
Caesar was expecting a gloydon star, a well-done sticker, or even a word of appreciation. He didn't expect a ball of glowing green energy to be directed at him.
He felt his right eye turn crimson, and the energy was coming closer to him. "Is this the kind of school where teachers can just kill students?" Caesar thought dryly.
Caesar was about to punch the energy, but it swerved out of his hands at the last minute, and the energy exploded into a brilliant flash of light, which looked marvelous.
Always read for an attack. Ms. Fiah said while writing her name on the large chalkboard with chalk. Very impressive. But I remembered saying that it was a reward, not a punishment.
The entire class chuckled, except for Caesar and Zeus. Caesar was expecting a real challenge, but he realised that he had to stop overthinking things.
Caesar sat down on his seat. Thank you for the reward.
Class started, and it was enjoyable for everyone. While most teachers write on a chalkboard and explain some far-fetched historical stories, Ms. Fiah used her Divinity, Flashlight, to re-enact a story, a story about a powerful but treacherous ghoul - Melios.
According to the story, Melios was a legend hailed across the lands as a very powerful ghoul. He was born 3000 years ago, in a province of ghouls called Black Valley, a place prone to attacks by racist humans.
Ghouls are distinguished by their long black horns protruding from their foreheads, and rarely, their pure black wings. Melios didn't acquire a divinity due to his ghoul lineage, but he was potent. He acquired powers so great that even Zion feared his wrath, and he brought the terror of Blak Valley to an end. But one day, He led an army to the capital of Zion, and he attacked. He used his most powerful weapon, the "Bell of Melios".
According to historians like Ms. Fiah, the bell of Melios was a large pure gloydon bell, with unknown powers. Researchers have no direct answer to what the bell did, but it was confirmed that it could destroy the Zion Empire, a multi-continent spanning legion. It was theorized that the bell had something to do with the moon, specifically Astreas. Apothecaries also theorized that the bell, allegedly, could rain down 'Curses' from the heavens, but it was never established.
These experts think they are smart, Ms. Fiah joked. But we have to give them credit.
Ms. Fiah's divinity showed the relentless battle of Melios' troops and the Zion army, killing each other mercilessly without stopping. Fortunately, Melios' army was defeated were publicly executed, cementing ghouls as humanity's enemy for the next two millennia, and the bell of Melios disappeared when Melios died himself, and was never found.
The story made no sense to Caesar.
With few Brumite left, Caesar was desperate to satisfy his curiosity.
Teacher?
Yes, Caesar. Ms. Fiah answered warmly.
Why weren't ghouls able to use divinity at that time? Caesar started. But it could use it now with other races.
Ms. Fiah stared at Caesar intently, studying him with her sharp brown eyes.
That is Simple, Ms. Fiah started. Divinity was originally meant for humans, but The Almighty blessed the ability to other races quite recently. Happy?
Cool, cool, cool, Caesar slumped on his chair until his brain refused to stay idle.
Teacher?
Yes, Caesar?
How truly rare is a divinity, Caesar asked. Are there any factors that might influence the chance of receiving one?
Ms. Fiah stared aimlessly, pondering the question. Interesting, she whispered.
She briskly walked towards the chalkboard and started to scribble some words furiously. In a brief intermission, she wrote down 5 numbers. 1 in 1001, 10001, 100001, 1000001, and 10000001.
Divinity. Divinity. Divinity. Ms. Fiah repeated. It is a very, very misunderstood power that I love to ramble on about. Basically, a divinity is a blessing bestowed on us by The Almighty. He knows your fate, even before your parents met, and he decides if you are worthy of a Divinity.
Ms. Fiah sighed. The chosen who has the divinity, The Almighty has a bias for you. The higher the odds, the rarer the divinity. It always followed a strict rule of progression. And yet… every so often, The Almighty breaks His own rules. IT'S A GAMBLE!