A Story of Evil

Ether.

This is the world where the boy named Solomon lived in.

The lands were divided into ten Domains. With the Garden of Eden in the middle of it all – a place that contains rich amount of poultry, livestock, and vegetation. One which is equally divided among the ten Domains. And within that same place, the boy named Solomon was courting danger.

"Sol are you sure about this?" Cain had cold sweat running through his forehead. He wasn't tired but he could hear his own heartbeat pumping through his ears.

This much was understandable. After all, his friend was about to trespass another Domain's territory.

"Honestly Cain, you should be less nervous about these things."

"How do I become less nervous exactly? We are running away from work as we speak." Cain mentioned, thinking of the plowshares and baskets that were hid poorly as they escaped.

"We always run away from work. Plus, when have we ever been caught doing illegal stuff?" Solomon said proudly as he searched for something on the ground.

"Sol, there are too many instances to count by now. Do you really want me to tell you all of them?" Cain said in reply, thinking of the multiple beatings and the near-death experiences he needed to go through just because of his relations to Sol.

"Yeah well, this'll be different. Trust me." Sol furthered, showing a small hole he dug through the ground. One which would allow the two of them to enter the part of the garden owned by the Flame Domain.

"We're screwed. We're so…sooooo screwed." Cain was already briefed about the whole plan.

He thought it was suicide but, the risk was worth it. Yet this didn't mean that he wasn't scared or nervous. Because he was completely so.

"By the way what's with the rat?" Cain furthered, noticing the tied-up rodent on Sol's waist. He also thought that the rat would make for good supper. But instead, Solomon was keeping it as some sort of accessory

"Oh don't whine about that. Your mother and your sister are alive because of all this craziness after all." Sol retorted, giving Cain a grin that somehow wired his friend's brain to think that things would magically work out.

"Why did I even agree to this." Cain simply said; admitting his defeat and following through with Sol's plans.

It was a decent plan, so much so that it sounded stupid because of how perfect everything needed to be. The Odd Balls would not be able to see them because Sol memorized the rotation of these things. Allowing him to continue with what he was doing without any hindrances.

"Well? Shall we?" Sol went inside the hole.

"I'm gonna haunt you if I die." Cain followed right after.

The hole was dark, dirty, tight and didn't feel right. But the two disregarded all these things because of the rewards that waited them on the other side. And in fact, the darkness didn't even last that long because, in not less than five minutes, they already reached the end of the hole.

"What are you doing? Why aren't we going out yet?" Cain suggested in a low and almost whisper like voice.

"Shhhh." Sol simply said. He was feeling the ground. If there were any vibrations or if there was any sound similar to that of the Odd Balls hovering in the sky, or even that of people coming near.

All of this was just as crucial for the mission to be successful. After a whole minute of silence, Sol immediately went out of the hole - pulling up his friend who came next. And, just like that, the two of them successfully infiltrated the Pyro Plantation.

"Jackpot." Sol said as he looked at how rich the place was with harvest.

Flame Melons stuck out of the ground. Red Berries were scattered on vines that crept on poles and wires. Other vegetables and fruits were present as far as their eyes could see.

Of course they were only in the edge so there wasn't much to go around. But it was nevertheless enough for both of their stomachs and, for Cain's family.

"Sol you crazy bastard." His friend commented, not sure if what he was feeling was joy or nervousness.

"Well don't just stand there. Get to picking." Was all that Sol said as they began to steal.

The two of them picked out the fruits and vegetables. The edible flowers and leaves. Solomon reminded his friend to only take a small amount of each. Thinking that they may make things obvious if too much was taken at a time.

Of course Cain followed through with this. Placing everything within the cloth that his friend brought along the way.

"Even the edge of their territory is enough to feed a hundred [Voids]." Cain thought to himself; smiling as he thought of how he and his family would never go hungry again.

But this fleeting paradise seemed to have cast a spell on him as, without even realizing it, he had walked beyond the safe point that Sol warned him of. And this was not the end of it, because Cain heard footsteps closing in.

"Is anyone there?" The man's voice asked. Not in a suspicious tone but one which seemed to believe that one of the workers was there.

"Shit. Shit. Shit." Cain was panicking and didn't know what to do anymore. If he moved, he'd definitely make some sounds. If he accidentally hit some plants he would cause the leaves to rustle, indicating that there was really a person there.

"I saw some plants moving a while ago." The man continued. He was definitely moving towards Cain and the boy could not help but feel that he was about to die. Because that was the only punishment for whoever tried to trespass borders.

It seemed like time froze in place. There was no way out of it and the boy was aware of this. Any kind of sound or movement would be fatal. That was probably why he felt his heart skip a beat as another rustling began. This time it was on the opposite side of where Cain was and sure enough, the man followed it.

As the sound of the man's footsteps trailed away, Sol suddenly appeared behind Cain. Telling his friend to zip his mouth as the two of them crawled back to the hole. They moved quickly but carefully, making sure that no traces of their activity would be seen. In fact, Sol even closed the hole with a piece of wooden seal which the boy also crafted.

They scurried back to the safety of their own border and, without a moment to lose, Sol also covered the hole on their territory's side. He began laughing right after, with the bag of loot successfully taken with them.

"Maaaan what a rush!"

"Goddamit Sol!" Cain said in nervous fright.

"Hey don't get angry now. I saved your life didn't I?"

"What do you mean you did?"

"Erm… okay so let's play a bit of a memory game. What's missing from me right now?" Sol said, raising his arms as he allowed Cain to observe him.

"What do you mean? Did you leave your brain there or…" It took Cain ten whole seconds before he shouted:

"THE RAT!"

"Yup. That was what caused the sound earlier. I coated it in an aromatic scent that would make any nearby predator go for it."

"But how were you so sure that there would be one nearby?"

"Come on man! Of course I'd get every information I can on the area we'd be stealing from. That's how I knew there would at least be a [Hound] or two near us."

"A HOUND?"

"Now I know what you're thinking. What if that went for us right? Well my friend, even if we come across a hound, it would go after the aromatic rat first."

"You crazy orphan!" Cain shouted not in anger nor insult. But in a sort of praise to his friend who was already used to the title. The two laughed it off as they hid most of their harvest on a nearby area.

They couldn't bring it all at once because, the people would notice. Those within the [Void Realm] were more vigilant, especially on matters that involved anyone having a bit more resource than anyone else.

That's why, even though they had enough for a feast, they only took what could fit on their pockets and went on their way. With the warning sirens finally sounding. Entailing the end of that day's work.

"What's wrong Cain?" Solomon said, as he noticed his friend looking at the Odd Ball hovering in the sky. He knew why of course. Because that was also the day when the same announcement would be made.

"They're not gonna cancel it you know. No matter how long you look at those things, they'd say the same words." Sol mentioned as he began walking forward, with his friend immediately following him.

As if the machine heard Solomon's words, it finally began. With the sound of [Void's Anthem] playing. That was followed by the ominous announcement. One which had always been a source of fear for those living within the Void Domain.

"Good evening everyone!" It was the voice of a drunk man; the king of the Void Domain.

"As you all know, the Culling will be done a week from now. HAHAHAHA!" His announcement was cut short by someone else taking the mic.

"Please forgive the king's behavior. He is, a bit out of his elements."

"A bit is an understatement." Sol thought to himself.

"As you all know, the annual Culling will be done a week from now. Just like any other year, our next Titans will be chosen through a random draw of all those qualified to participate. Your names are listed so don't even think of not attending the ceremony." It sounded more like a threat to Sol and it probably was.

"Good Luck and bring glory to our Realm!"

It was a short announcement. But everyone knew what it indicated. With the random selection that would be done the next day, anyone from the ages of ten to twenty years old may become the Void Domain's next Titan - the participant for the Culling.

To any other domain, this meant glory, fame, and honour. But to the Voids, all it meant was death because, among all the domains, it was only the Voids who were powerless.