For the imperial will!

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  Her imperial majesty needs you!

  His imperial highness needs you!

  This country needs you!

  Be the cog in this machine built for war!

  For every cog you bring to this machine will matter!

  For the cogs that come later!

  FOR THE ETERNAL SERVICE!!

  Join the imperial academy or your local garrison NOW!

  —---------

  An uncountable amount of time later

  —-------------------------------------------

  As I let myself slip into the power, the grains of sand stopped. The dust stayed in the air. The birds so far away never moved. Even the leaves on the Great steel oaks, our family symbol stayed still before this power.

  My mother could only follow me with her eyes. Her lips were saying something, but she was too slow to even understand. ‘B—--r—-----i—---n—----g’.

  I needed to be alone.

  I started walking. My rampant emotions paused by the amount of time dilated to this extreme. I simply walked. Soon I found myself at my room. I looked at it for two whole seconds before I realized I never belonged there.

  I then went to the madness pit I used to spend nearly my entire life in. ‘pathetic’ I thought. It wasn’t a training ground, it was an anvil, and I was the ingot.

  I then left after staring at all the scrap metals lying around the place, thinking them alike my father, brothers and sisters. Used for some grand scheme most likely thought up by their imperial majesties, long may th- you know what? I’m not sure I care much anymore. They can fight their own battles. Leave me in peace. I deserve it.

  As I continued to walk, I re-acquired that bitch trainer on my will ‘radar’. Somehow, her interference is powerless against time. As I walked into her room, what I saw was not what I was expecting. What I expected was to see that stern faced, unapologetically cruel scowl on her face. What I saw was haunting.

  There was a mask on the ground, torn up.

  The curtains were shredded, metal scraps abound. As though she was fighting me in here like she was last night. There were dried up tears on her face. Her clothing was torn to shreds, only tethers and wisps clinging to her body. There was a single, small tear drop left over on her cheek. Why did she look like this? She— couldn’t be– guilt ridden? No- that’s not her- she would never- no way, she’s also a tool used and shed once the purpose was completed. There is no way. My hammer, the thing shaping me into that monstrous killing machine was a failed scrap metal herself.

  I left. I couldn’t stand looking at her broken form. The realizations buzzing in my overactive brain.

  But I turned around.

  I let down my power. I returned to normal time.

  Her eyes widened.

  My breath hitched.

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  She saw my forgotten emotions, now suddenly all caught up to me. It flooded into me, barreled through me. Sparks flew off me. Fires caught around me on the fabrics and other woods. I said these three words to her.

  “I forgive you.”

  Her eyes started to widen, I saw more tears start to pool on the corners of her eyes.

  They didn’t get far.

  I slipped back into the power and went for another walk. This time, I had to see it.

  The swear bird. That grave. That sorrowful place.

  It didn’t take long, or it could have, I can’t tell.

  I found myself at that detestable place. Two stones, deformed by my furious tamper tantrum I made as I found those two stones after that day I was put into isolation for showing emotions for that poor bird I couldn’t take care of.

  One read Gerald. Though it was hard to make out, since there were a child’s sized fist marks all over them.

  The other was nameless.

  That bird whose only fault was getting injured at the wrong time, catching my eye and taking my interest.

  I never even gave it a name.

  It never deserved that.

  How could I have done such a thing to a living being?

  I had this- thing in my head. an inkling, that spread to my stomach. I didn’t quite understand it, suddenly realizing that I was losing myself again, I let time come back to me.

  It screamed at me.

  DIG IT UP!!!!!

  MAKE SURE!!!!

  YOU HAVE TO!!!

  I stopped time again.

  I started to dig, the gravel and dirt stood no chance to my more metal than organic body.

  There was nothing under the unmarked stone. I might have been mistaken, but my heart jumped.

  I stared at the ruined one. Gerald. I owe it to him. If he’s down there, I deserve to look him in the eyes and apologize.

  I started digging. Nothing. Each retrieval of dirt brought nothing. Bugs? Hard as rock. Dirt? Like a blanket of lead. Roots? Like thick and spindly ropes.

  No, I got far, probably three of my bodies deep standing tall. Nothing. Not even a scrap of clothing.

  Another tool. Another cog in the machine to make sure I was as likely to become what I am now as possible. Like someone foresaw this.

  Did someone? Are there future sights? Are there, people who will do ANYTHING for a weapon like me?

  I turned off the spell.

  I just sat there for a few real seconds.

  Then the emotions caught up. There is no describing what kind of emotions poured from me.

  What sounds I made. How hard I hit the ground.

  What I thought of myself.

  WHAT I THOUGHT OF THAT DAMNED EMPIRE!

  How could they?

  WHY!?

  I then felt a hand on my shoulder. I almost lashed out.

  I stopped, knowing I was becoming too emotional. That hand tightened.

  “You know.” that voice started up. “I made a horrible mistake.”

  That magical will imprint.

  I knew who it was. I knew why he was here, I even knew that he was the mastermind of this whole thing.

  “Gerald,” I said with bitter resentment. “How could you?”

  “The bird. Is it alive?” I asked in an accusatory tone.

  The hand got even tighter, as though understanding if he let go, I may disappear, or worse.

  “No.” the voice, unwavering as it echoed out of the hole I made. I felt even more energy signatures. MANY MORE. Tons of them. I think I even felt my first brother. My father. Mother even.

  “Those things don’t live long enough to warrant such a fuss.” I felt his body quiver from fear. “Not from a weapon.”

  I started to turn around, but his grip held fast. “Let me see your face then” My muscles strained. “You who created this weapon”.

  I felt him quiver again. He knew what would happen when I saw his face. “You who are so knowledgeable of things that will come to pass, why are you so afraid of the outcome?”

  The will signatures closed in. They surrounded the hole.

  “Let me see your face.” I want to disappoint you. “Show me your damn FACE”

  Time went sloppy, I think he was messing with the power. That which he created, he knew how to control.

  “Fine.” I said in low monotone. “What do you want?” I knew the answer.

  “Become a weapon for the empire, no one else will become you.” He said gruffly.

  “How can I ever know for sure that you will actually never make more of me?” I accused with anger.

  “I give you my word, the word of the emperor. His majesty.” He said so matter of factly that I almost fell for it.

  “You are no emperor.” My knuckles whitening. “You see the future, you interfere with time dilation as an anchor"

  “Tell me the truth, who is my illustrious mother really?” I said with conviction.

  I heard a stifled laugh. Much like that one back there, in mother's office.

  “Well done.” Another quick clicky laugh rang out. “I thought that would get you, I guess I cannot underestimate my son.”

  My father’s voice rang out from his mobile cog. As tinnie as ever. “ALL HAIl HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY!” He paused for a second, “all bow.”

  Every will signature lowered themselves. Besides three. This one, the one on top of me. Holding me down, did not. “I cannot bow for her imperial majesty if you hold me down, wretch.” I said with a rawness to my voice that I did not know I possessed.

  “Agent, stand down.” Her imperial majesty said. Thus, the unknown man let go of my shoulder.

  Suddenly, the rain stopped in midair. But my gut told me something was amiss.

  “Ah, Her imperial majesty is truly a marvel indeed.” I said with a hate I forgot I could still have.

  She didn’t laugh this time. “Power down.”

  “Now” she didn’t change her tone. She just commanded me to. Like all those other times. So many times she hurt me. This would be the last time. No more.

  “No” I said as a maelstrom of sparks erupted from her hands.

  “Last warning, I can revive you.” She then looked like she had an idea.

  “You forgave her.” she said while looking at that tool she put though so much.

  “Is she still useful to you, wretch? Are you so truly callous that you would break a tool to gain another?” The frown deepened on my face.

  “How about more of them?” she said. “These tools, all of them, for you.”

  “You wouldn’t, YOU CAN’T!” I screamed with desperation.

  “The ones back at the castle” She said without a hitch in her voice, no change in her eyes. Nothing to denote that she may be bluffing.

  “Fine” I said, “Everyone here has more in common with me combined, than you have in me.”

  “You will scrap the program,” she frowned “you will NEVER do what you did to me, unto others.” She liked that one less.

  “That is what I require,” I said, crossing my arms. “You will follow these requirements, and I will be the best weapon you’ve ever had.”

  “But if I find out that you broke one of these promises down the line, I will find a way to burn this empire to the ground” I said, my right hand moving over my heart.

  “For all things must end” I said, with finality.