Yukti: The Unmotivated
1348 Words
Gaia, the world where rune cards exist.
Rune cards are made out of and could only be activated using rune essence, a before unknown substance present to every living being.
However, its early months of existence triggered a war that almost destroyed the planet.
Millions of lives were lost.
The creators of the rune cards were hunted and murdered by people using their own creation.
Nine decades later, wars are still rampant between advanced civilizations. This time around, a group of individuals sought for peace and cooperated together to stop the crisis.
But they failed.
However, their efforts were acknowledged and each world leaders slowly sorted out their feuds few years after.
A century has passed, and it's clear that another great war will arise for some people are starting to play gods.
How will the present generation respond?
Will they fight for freedom?
Or will they detach from their sanity and fiddle human lives, like the other foolish beings of the past?
•••
"So, where are you going and why are you not allowing me to accompany you? We're partners and you've said it before that partners stick together!"
My voice echoed across the inn's hallways.
It's already the dead of the night. The moon shone the brightest for it is full and its beams pierced through the windows.
The lady I tried to confront with just turned her gaze towards me while smiling.
She possessed silver eyes and hair, pointed ears and is currently holding her precious weapon, a scythe.
She just smiled at me and answered calmly.
"I can't afford to bring you into this mess this time Yukti."
"The hell's with that 'I can't afford to bring you' nonsense Cory!"
The lady just chuckled, used her prized [Teleport] card, and went away.
...
"Hey, Broki! Wake up already! Also, why is it so dark in here!? Open the curtains right now!"
"Ngh. Alright already. Lemme sleep for a few more--"
"Few more my a*s! I can't afford to be late in school!"
"Ah. Yeah. Sorry about that Leen. Go head downstairs first, I'll follow suit."
"You better do it, okay big brother?"
I nodded.
I still remember that time when I tried to stop her and failed, huh?
...
My name's Yukti; 20 years old, 5'7 in height. I'm someone with an average built, posessing black almond eyes and greyish hair, slightly tanned.
I'm in charge now of this house. As for the reason why this happened, my parents left Leen and I on our own devices. They don't need us, they said--or so what the people knew about us. And that is why I and my adorable younger sibling were staying in our own home like orphans. Well, I'd rather not talk more than that.
"Hello Broki! What's for breakfast?"
"Hmm... let's go with egg omelette then."
"Yey! My fave! Wait do we have the right amount of ingredients?"
"Yep, I made sure of that yesterday."
This egg omelette fan and often calls me Broki ( BROther yuKtI) here is Leen, my younger sister. She's 17 years old, possessing grayish, shoulder-length hair and round brownish eyes, has a petite height and slender figure. With that, she's been recognized as a school idol of her previous school. Not that I care actually. As long as this midget--
"Hey Broki, are you thinking of something bad about me?"
Leen glared daggers at me while pointing her fork at my direction. This lady sure is sharp.
"You're imaging things. Now, let's finish this meal and head to our destination."
"Mghugh ghi...urk!"
"Ah! Here, water. Don't talk while your mouth is full!"
I reprimanded her as she gulped all the water in the glass. As she coughed, Leen raised a peace sign with her fingers, stating that she's sorry.
After a few more minutes of prep stuff, we're walking towards our destination. The place we're heading is a local college institution. The reason why I and my sister are together is I'm attending the school as a student. Actually, I stopped my academics when I'm at her age. I need to earn a living for our sake. Even my sister wanted to do it too but I didn't allow her. I'm the older one here, so I better take the responsibility. Thankfully, my sister got a scholarship thanks to her participation in a certain club. If my memory serves me right, it's called "Daily Rune Researchers Club", an international club that deals with rune research. In fact, she gained a lot of achievements like a rune card that could make a lady's hair glossy in an instant, a rune card that could smoothen the skin, a card that could polish the nails in no time, etc.
Mmm? Aren't all of my sister's rune cards for women only?
"Big brother? Is something wrong? You're spacing out, you know?"
"Oh? Sorry Leen. Well, let's go to the board and see if we passed."
Leen responded by nodding...while slurping some kind of juice. Wait... isn't this one of those "fat burners"?
"Broki, are you perhaps thinking of something rude?"
"Surely you jest."
Ahh...it's so cramped in here with all these people seeking their numbers. As for us, my number is 1202, while my sister is 2201. Since we took our exam in a different date, we split up and look at our own results.
When I looked for my number, I quickly spotted it. So, I got qualified, huh? I guess I'll better tell Leen. But...in this crowded area, it's a drag to search for her. I just gave her a call.
"Hello?"
"Where are you right now?"
"Ah...I'm still stuck here!!! Urk...wait please don't push! I'm sorry big brother. I'll call you later if I manage to get out of here."
"Okay."
And with that, I ended the call.
It's still early since it's 5:45 AM, and I need to wait for an hour and a quarter to participate the opening ceremony. Mmm...
I guess I need to kill some time then.
I wonder if there's a library here? Oh, I'm sure that there is. With this huge school, I doubt that there's no library here.
I walked along the hallway and asked for directions from some staff members I happen to came across and they gleefully told me about its whereabouts. Maybe they're happy to know that there's a bookworm seeking for books.
"Woah, this place is great. There's a wide selection of books here."
I finally reached the place I seek and it struck me in awe. This is paradise to all bookworms! I can't help but smile!
Oh well, better find something nice.
Oh?
Perhaps this will do.
I found the "Origin Story Vol. 1." among the shelves. This is nice, since I'm collecting the whole set but this particular volume is the most elusive of all. I'm glad that they're able to secure such elusive book.
Well, let's see...
"1347. This is when it all started. A kind of plague is starting to infect humans within the whole Gaia planet, the Nightmare. It's the most fatal pandemic ever recorded and has caused the death of 75-200 million individuals around the globe. The doctors at that time are at loss, not knowing what to do.
Suddenly, a miracle happened.
An individual appeared, shrouded in mystery, and granted a rune card to the doctors to heal the patients with ease. At that exact moment, the before powerless people started healing all individuals. The people rejoiced, and the world was saved.
This is the first manifestation of rune cards in Gaia.
However, as soon as the pandemic ended, the rune card used for healing suddenly vanished without a trace. The people then started created their own rune cards which have failed, except for a handful of individuals were able to create it with ease."
Wow. So this is how it started. If it weren't for that mystery guy, perhaps even more would fallen victim to that scary plague.
I kept reading the contents and didn't anticipate what happened next.
"Hey, kiddo. May I know your name?"
- Writer
