Upstairs in the quiet bedroom, inside the ragged house, was the wife of an astronomer; she had her apple themed handkerchief from the top of the wooden dresser and wiped her teary eyes. The handkerchief was her last gift from her husband before he had fallen in love with the stars. She always knotted the handkerchief on her wrist every day before getting out of bed. She wanted her husband back into their children's lives and hers, but he told her that he needed to be left alone; that he was doing this for the family; think about the money. He said that too many times, she thought. The kids were getting wild as months passed without their father's presence.

Every day the wife did everything in her power to keep her children and home in order: cooking their meals from morning to night; cleaning the front yard; washing the family car; and exercising her children to keep them active after they had finished their chores. For so long the wife had muscle pains in every part of her body. She had not seen her husband come out of his study room for days since he had returned from his job. That was one thing she can't stand. His love for the stars had turn into lust. Once she entered the study room with hopes that he finished his work, to find the whole room was dark. The light from the hall shined on her husband. The light had caused him to sprint over to her, push her out and slam the door behind her without a single word. All she wanted from her husband was for him to be attentive to reality. She couldn't deal with his obsession any longer, but chose not to ruin their family's promised future.

One unfaithful morning the astronomer's wife let her children out of the house. One of them stood looking at the door. The wife heard him trying to say something, but couldn't understand the words. Soon, rest of the children gathered in front of the door. She asked what were they looking at and walked to join the puzzled crowd. Right at the center of the chocolate colored door was a note. The note had a symbol of a horoscope with the entire zodiac. The wife knew what it was and who it was for.

She seized the note and read it to herself away from the children. The message was long and rude, but the wife was alarmed. The Star & Space Association had given her husband three months to find the stars that claimed to signal a promising future for mankind. He must come to Association to discuss his findings. If he does not show up or bring any results then he will be kicked out of the team and loose all of his benefits.

The wife ran into the house in a flash. The children called for her as she went through the hallway. After heading to the end she turned to the left and went up the stairs to the study room door across her bedroom. She was banging on the door and it opened wide. Coming out of the room was massive amounts of dust and a smell of rotten bread. She cleaned her face and covered her mouth using the handkerchief. She went inside the room calling for her husband, but there was no respond. The study room was large enough to hold a zoo. The stacks of paper had somehow grown taller after her last visit. They covered the telescope, the library, and the table without the astronomer. She called his name once more and still nothing. The wife tripped on a large bush of paper. The bush revealed the foul smelling husband rubbing his head.

The wife told her husband about the note, but he seemed to be listening to something else. The only other thing giving any sound was the radio and it was spiting static. The wife looked at him repeatedly pulling and putting back books. He said there was still time and said the phrase repeatedly. The wife said he doesn't have any time now that the Star & Space Association were waiting for his answer of the stars. She shoved the note in his face. When he saw it, he stopped and pulled the note away from her. It was as if he completely forgot what the wife had said. He put his hands on the note and tore it in half. The astronomer looked at the wife and turned away after tearing the note into bits of dust. The wife tried to make sense of her husband's action, but he said nothing. He cared about The Star & Space Association. He cared about the stars.

When the astronomer was digging into plies of paper the wife saw him opening a floor door. He took something heavy out and shut the door. The wife went to him and tried to help him up. He told her to take the kids and the box and go to his grandfather's house to stay. He was not been this serious to his wife since before the stars. The wife took his word and left the house with the children. They were making a fuss over where their daddy was. She said in an angry tone to get in the car, and just like that, the children followed her command. They took the car and drove down the road where it leaded to her father-in-law's house.

For over one hour on the road, the wife couldn't stop thinking about everything: from the note from the Star & Space Association to her husband's alarming words about the undersized box. Her children were asleep and there were no sign of drivers on the road. She drove out of the road and parked in an empty parking lot.

She opened the box and saw layers of hundred dollar bills. Underneath the top layer was a note from her husband. It said she would now on take his place as the father of the family. She took a deep breath. After looking at her children, dreaming into their fantasies, she sobbed in silence. She tore the handkerchief off her wrist and threw it out of the window.

2: Breakable Faith

"Is this true, Emperor?" I ask. "They found him near Baa? I just can't believe it after all these years."

"Believe it, Hide," says The Emperor. "Now we have the chance to put an end to this nightmare. That little ant will face judgment."

It is as if every official in The Russet House is drunk with joy; a minute ago all eyes were on the Emperor, waiting for him to give out the conclusion of his covert forces' mission. Next thing I know everybody starts throwing papers in the air like in a school graduation. They captured would have never happened without...my expertise; after all, I have insisted the Emperor to send covert forces to the northern border of Justice after my little chat with Dragon's child soldier. I see the officials giving thanks to the Emperor for what happened in this day. "Your praise is enough for me, but my adviser is the one who deserves the people's thanks," the Emperor says. "His help is what ensured the terrorist's capture."

The people just take one good look at me and they say, "Thank you Hide!" I don't know what to say; looking at them chanting my name makes me feel like I'm the Emperor. But after the Emperor's response to my work, it makes me feel like more like an emperor. After all these years, I can't wait to sleep easy again now there will be no terrorist bombings here anymore. The Emperor and I have saved these people's lives.

I look at the Emperor's eyes and his catty smile and they catch my attention. A smile like that can cause a baby to laugh when crying.

"Thank you, Emperor Justice" I express it a bit too hurriedly.

"Don't thank me. Praise me," The Emperor says. "And thank yourself, Hide."

"I'm thankful already. But what about Dragon; what's going to happen to him?"

"Follow and you'll see." The Emperor turns to his right. "Guard, come here!" I look at where he yells at and soon that Guard with a long nose comes out from the crowd. Out of all the guards in this room why does he has to be the one present before me? He moves pass me without stopping and salutes the Emperor like I wasn't there. I can smell it from him—his villainous views conflicting with the Emperorr's—I can smell the thick stench around that man.

"What is it?" Asks the Guard.

"Follow us to the office. I want you present and ready for anything that will pose a threat." Says The Emperor.

"Yes, Emperor," says the Guard. He turns over to me and asks the Emperor a quick question. "Does this adviser also need my assistance?"

"Do I need a guard that I trust more?"

"Trust? Like your plan, The Yellow Adviser Hide?" replies the Guard. I can't believe he just say that in front of me! I'm not the same man anymore! I don't shout out Emperor Justice's name to protect myself. He not getting with that this time. I have my fist ready to meet his sulk face. The Emperor cuts in between us before I had the chance.

"I trust you," says The Emperor to the Guard, "Now come with us before you lose it."

The Emperor hurries off to the hallway. I follow him as fast I can but he is moving like a horse in a race. The Guard dashes past me at ease even with that heavy armor on him. I can remember him starting out here in The Russet House months ago. Inside he is nothing more but an atheist; he has the skills but lacks faith in Emperor Justice. Why the Emperor chose that man as his personal Guard is beyond me. As we reach to the bat-encrusted doors at the end of the hallway the Guard opens the doors to the Emperor's office. I come in last. The Guard smiled at me; his nose strangely makes him look so much like a killer's.

The windows are covered with heavy colored curtains around the room. The flat screen TV is what is keeping this room bright; Under the TV is the national symbol of this great country: The face of the Emperor holding his rod and sword. I watch as the Emperor moves closer to the TV. "Hide, come to my right." the Emperor says, "Guard, come to my left!" I look at them and quickly turn my attention to the TV swiftly. I press and display button and the public of Justice are present—right on time—before our Emperor.

The people listen as he speaks. "People of Justice, I have great news to tell you all, at this very moment my men are at the outskirts of Baa. Dragon, leader of the terrorist group Scythe, has been captured by my soldiers through my divine powers. Yes, let me speak this now before I go any further. Those of you who doubt my position as Emperor can see now that chaos is done with."

Everyone screams just as loudly back at the main building. I feel a tear in my right eye; I wipe it as soon as the Emperor turns to me. His expression changes as he speaks in a harsh tone.

"Change it to Dragon," he says strongly as I click the button quickly to see our Emperor's monster. The whole TV screen spilt in two: one view of the citizens watching the screen in awe; and the next view roughly shows a shadow figure with his hands and feet bound. Two soldiers pull the person into the light.

I can see him now—Dragon—his piercing eyes are the same as those of every idiot who ever tried to kill The Emperor. I turn to The Emperor but he is staring back at Dragon with his catty smile.

"Dragon, do you have anything to say?" The Emperor asks.

"Your soldiers should have killed me when they had the chance." Dragon replies.

"And take away the public's satisfaction to see you perish on TV? I know that would be selfish."

"Bah! The public's or your's?"

"Now don't you change the subject, Dragon. Your actions cause grief to all the people here on Empire Justice. I understand what they went through. I know what they want. And I intend to deliver it to them!"

"You know what they want? They want what you kept from them. You standing there with everything they ever wanted. Only you wish for me to die."

"Be quiet!" The Emperor says.

"You bastard, you took me out my land just so you can run it!" Dragon answers. An urban colored soldier appears on the screen with a sliver stick and electrifies Dragon at his neck with it.

I don't know what is Dragon saying; his country? It's time for this terrorist to face judgment. My legs are shaking by themselves and for some reason, I can't stop. Even with the Emperor and that Guard. Then I see the Guard turning to the Emperor.

"Emperor, the people want tension!" says the man. "You know…real suspense. We should plan for it now!"

In an instant, the Emperor jerks his head to the man, puts his hand on his shoulder.

"Are you telling me or asking?"

"Only asking. I believe the public would praise you more by doing this."

"Oh? Those people out there want his head more than anything they ever wanted in their lives. Today...those same people know now that I can do the impossible if they ask only me to save them. How can they praise me more now Dragon is captured?"

"They will see you as a merciful ruler by offering Dragon a chance to speak on trial in Justice."

This has to be some kind of sick joke; this man doesn't deserve any mercy. Not from the Emperor, the citizens, or me. "Dragon is responsible for the death of thousands on Baa soil. I will not allow this man a trial. Who the hell do you think he is?"

"A man who has been robbed of his life."

"So you think he's innocent, Guard? Don't you see that he is trying to destroy this country?"

"No. He is trying to take back this country."

The man goes into his side pocket and takes out a cane-shaped remote. "He is the true Emperor and the real divine." I can't believe this is happening to me. That remote is only giving me a haunting feeling in my mind. The sound of his voice puts me in complete horror.

3: The Disgraceful Survivor

A heavy man rose before Fang Samanya, blocking her view of the sun above the golden grassland on Derkis Plains. A tough animal skin bag is tie to the man's hip. There on his back is an iron net. Fang knows this man from the Wopon's Academy - the private school of Wopon's future leaders - Odi Zuri; he tends to think of himself the boss of this class, but he has no experience of commanding people honorably compare to their teacher. Already her patience is draining away; Fang tries holding in her frustration.

"Odi," says Fang, "I'm in no mood dealing with you. Get." She jerks her head away. 'Get' is a phrase in Wopon that means 'go away'.

"Get? You must be joking." answers Odi. He takes out a Pine-Leaf, fatter than his feet, out of the small bag. Then he bites out half of it and swallows it in front of Fang. "Listen, Fallen Star, I don't care about your mood. It went bad like your last examination. So, what are you doing here?"

"I said…get."

"Did you beg your mama to give you another chance?"

"Get!"

"Why? You don't remember how badly you made your mama cry or you just call her Empress now?"

In an instant, every thought in her mind has been replace with rage. Her downcast eyes turn pure green. She draws her tree blade as she rushes at Odi. She keeps on pushing him back with her elbow press on his neck to the tree behind him. The shouting from the other students are block out of her ears. All she can hear is 'kill Odi' over and over again. She raises the tree blade, having four blades shaped like leafs, is over Odi's head.

"Enough!" says a voice from nowhere. A tall man drops down between Fang and Odi from the tree. He grabs onto her forearm; his tighten grip brought her back to her senses. Looking at the scarred face, she recognized her teacher—Simba Adeola—The Sacred Arc.

"Fang, put away that knife now," says Simba. Fang looks at the sweating Odi. She heard Simba voice again. "I said put away the knife!" she wanted to cut up Odi, but she doesn't want to anger Simba, the only one who still value her, so she releases her elbow off of Odi's neck; Odi falls to the ground, gasping for air. She places her tree blade back on her side hip. She knows she shouldn't have done that, but she can't stand him. "You two have already broken one strike. One more and you two will fail this test! Do you hear me?"

"Yes teacher Simba." replies Odi.

"A...ah, yes…teacher Simba." replies Fang.

Fang sees Simba facing her directly with nothing but his brownish glare. She knows he meant to keep her out of trouble since she became the new bearer of shame—Fallen Star—thanks to the Empress of Wopon; a small nation at the center of the land of flames.

"kukuc!" says Teacher Simba. The students lined up in one single line as they faced him. "As all of you already know now, this exit exam is to test all your abilities as warriors of Wopon. However, in this test, you all will be graded by staying alive. Out in the north are packs of Sototos in their hunting routine. You all must bring back a male Sototo alive for me to pass you. Go in bands of four and move on till you spot one. I'll stay here at this tree to wait for me." Simba hops three times, raises his right arm with the fingers folded on the palm and says 'kukuc'; a custom in Wopon to assemble and dismiss a group.

Fang and the rest of the students mimic exactly what their teacher did. The students walk away from Fang where she stands alone.

"Wait…teacher Simba, what…happens if one of us…gets kill?" asks Fang.

"If that ever happens, then you were never meant to live." replies Simba. He bends his legs and jumps on a branch near the peak of the tree.

Everybody ran to different people and quickly form bands in minutes. Fang feels isolate from other students as if she brings disaster.

"Hey Fang, come join the winning team over here." says Odi. Odi and three other classmates strolled to Fang. They all express an odd amusement. Fang chose not to speak walks away from them.

"Funny, I called you by your real name, and still you disrespect me. Band Odi is the only way to pass this exam. Besides, everybody else has already grouped up already, it just you now. I'm sorry for what I said and I ask...will you join us?" says Odi. He took his iron net and held it up to Fang and then the other two students perform the same pose; a sign of truthiness, a way to show members of Wopon that they are serious and need no harm.

She could see that the rest of the students were already gone. There was no way she could find a Sototo by herself-let alone facing one.

"Fine Odi, I'll join you guys but no funny business." answers Fang. She still doesn't like this idea at all; her and Odi as teammates spells trouble.

"Great! Now are there are…two conditions you have to do while you're with us." says Odi.

"What conditions?" says Fang.

"Just two and we all should have to good time." Says Odi.

Five hours has passed and Fang and the others have passed large parts of sand; small thorny bushes; and a long river getting thin. She moves farther than her band as part of the condition. Her next condition is when Fang sees a male Sototo she must call Odi 'Beast Master Odi'. The sand starts becoming too hot for Fang to walk so she runs to the nearest solid ground around whenever she moves forward. She looks at her left and see an unbelievable sight—thick smoking object—coming towards her direction.

"Beast Master Odi, get back!" She shouts at the group. She sees Odi continue to move on; he keeps on eating more Pine-Leafs. He trips over and slams to the ground.

Suddenly, a large clouded figure jumps high in the air. Fang sees something within the cloud; it is coming closer and closer to her. Fang runs as fast as possible to get away from it. She hears a powerful roar; her body frozen before she reaches to Odi and the others. Gust of smoke surrounds the creature, disappearing per a second: its' four muscular legs, reddish golden fur, and a tail with fire on its tip. Then she hears Odi screaming 'SOTOTO!'

"Everyone, attack, throw your weapons at it!" says Odi. His followers form a line in-front of him; they have thrown their weapons at the Sototo. The beast unleashes a fireball from its mouth and it torches all the weapons. The students continue on throwing everything they have at the Sototo.

"Stop firing at it! Run around it and attack it otherwise it will charge!" says Fang. It seems the students do not hear her. This time the creature dashes pass the weapons and let out another blazing fireball at the group; not only her classmates, but the golden grass and bushes are burning away. Their screams echo in Fang's ears. Fang sees Odi shaking at the top of the hill. Odi runs away from the fiery field.

She draws her tree blade and ran to the beast from behind, not before the Sototo spotted her. It raises its paw and scratches her left arm. She lets go of the Tree Blade and it lands into the lake; the lake is no farther from the beast. Her arm is bleeding fast, but she can still continue. She stares swiftly at the Sototo. She knows she's scared out of her mind, but she makes her decision: get that knife back no matter what. Pushing her legs to their limit, Fang sprints to the shallow lake. She hears the Sototo, speeding up and roaring at her. There she enters in the deep area of the lake, grabs onto the Tree Blade, and witness the wrathful animal. Inside its sharp eyes Fang sees herself facing her challenge; she wonders if she'll come as a failure or a victor. She stabbed the Tree Blade deep into the Sototo. The smell of defeat is pouring in the water, mixing navel blue with red. She looks at the Tree Blade, finding it stuck in the Sototo's neck. It moves uncontrollably wild on the lake. Fang can't move away from this beast; she stands her ground. The Sototo at last stop its struggle and drops on her.

Out of the hill, Odi comes back running down the hill. He threw his iron net on top of the Sototo. Fang witness Odi putting the dead body off of her; he keeps on pulling it till it comes out of the lake. She gets up from the bloody lake inhaling and exhaling. Seeing Odi's face again has only fuel her to storm towards him. She punches his face in, knocking him to the ground.

"You bastard," says Fang, "look what you did to our comrades!"

"What did I done, what about you? Our band's been burned alive because of you," says Odi.

"I had to fight and kill this animal because of you! Telling everybody to throw away their weapons at that thing and you to run abandon us."

"I needed something to capture…wait, you kill it? Yes, this is good. We can carry it all the way to teacher mondi and show him what we—"

Fang punches Odi again. "Are you crazy?" says Fang. "You really lose it."

Odi sneers on the ground. "Fallen Star, I'm the band leader here and I'm ordering you to help me up!" answers Odi. He coughs blood nonstop. Fang turns around to the lifeless creature. She takes the Tree Blade out of its neck. Being the Fallen Star is a living nightmare; being put down by her mother, and always being treated badly by everyone. Even so, she wants the respect she deserves; for what she did for her band. She walks away from Odi and carries her two weapons: the Tree Blade and now her ferocious eyes.