THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA

THE ADEKUNLE HOUSEHOLD

On a sunny day in the Solaris division of the Niveret colony, one of the five human colonies in the post-corrosion era, the date was November 23, 1099.

The streets of the division exuded cleanliness and order, with pyramid-shaped houses adorning both sides. A diverse population, with varying shades of dark skin, moved about in different directions. The notable feature was the attire of the people—a range of loosely fitted robes in various colours, designs, and lengths.

A sleek white MS 5 truck navigated the streets, its windows tightly shut. The MS 5, the fifth edition of the Moduler Sequence truck, boasted a modern and sturdy appearance reminiscent of pre-corrosion era vehicles. However, it had a thicker and more bulkier body and larger, more resilient tires. The materials used in its construction were far stronger and more durable, as only the strongest entities survived the corrosion era, whether living or inanimate.

The design of the MS 5 prioritized strength. Crafted with a resilient metal known as hungant, one of the few metals to withstand the corrosion era, it possessed exceptional strength and weight. The truck's slower speed compared to other MS truck editions discouraged many potential buyers. Nevertheless, its advantage lay in its ability to serve as a fortress against occasional Empyrean attacks. It found primary use in the Federation military, offering reliable protection to its occupants. The presence of the MS 5 on the streets attracted attention from those knowledgeable about its capabilities.

Behind the wheel of the MS 5 sat a middle-aged man with a serious countenance, donning a blue robe that revealed a black Serat underneath. In the post-corrosion era, humans wore Serat, a body-hugging outfit comprised of a blend of unique metals and a purifier, safeguarding the body from residual traces of the dark mist lingering in the air. Serat covered the entire body except for the head, becoming the prevailing fashion of the post-corrosion era, available in various colours and designs.

To ensure comfort, humans started wearing robes over their Serat, as the body-hugging nature of the outfit proved uncomfortable for many. This adaptation rendered most pre-corrosion era fashion styles obsolete, establishing the trend of wearing robes over Serat in the Post Corrosion era.

In the front passenger seat of the truck sat a humanoid metal construct resembling an iron figurine. Its head bore a bare appearance except for a faint blue light emanating from its eye socket. It could best be described as a robot.

Seated in the back of the MS 5 was a young man with dark chocolate skin, short blond hair and a captivating pair of violet eyes. He wore loosely fitted grey robes with black speckles, revealing a black Serat visible at his neckline. By his side lay a relatively large animal, similar in shape to a giant pangolin. The young man absentmindedly stroked the animal's head as he gazed out the window at the pedestrians on the street.

Notably, every person on the street was accompanied by a robot similar to the one in the front seat of the car. These robots exhibited slight variations in shape, height, colour, size, and other minor features. Each person in the street had a TQ companion accompanying them. Additionally, white-colored robots stood independently at various locations in the division. Despite their prevalence, people walked past them as if they didn't exist, as it had become a common sight in the Post Corrosion era.

The young man remained fixated on the street, his eyes filled with an intense desire. While his thoughts remained unknown, the intensity and determination in his gaze were enough to unsettle anyone who saw them.

The truck continued its journey until it reached a large iron gate. As the vehicle approached, two men emerged from the security outpost attached to the gate. They wore black Serat covered by loosely fitted knee-length black robes and carried various weapons secured by black belts around their waists. Accompanied by black humanoid robots, they approached the truck.

The middle-aged man rolled down the truck's window as the men drew near. Upon seeing his face, the men respectfully bowed, and the gates automatically slid open sideways, allowing the truck to pass through.

Entering the gate, the truck traversed a driveway leading to a building, passing meticulously tended gardens on both sides. Workers, accompanied by robots with specialized modifications for their tasks, were visible tending to the gardens. Some robots sported shears instead of hands for cutting and trimming, while others possessed unique adaptations suited to their respective roles.

The truck moved slowly until it reached a grand pyramid-shaped house, towering three stories high like buildings from the pre-corrosion era. It came to a stop in front—the residence of the influential Adekunle Family, known for their power and influence in the Solaris Division, with their reputation extending throughout the Niveret Colony.

The young man shifted his attention to the middle-aged driver and said, "Thank you, Greard," before stepping out of the truck, accompanied by the Giant pangolin.

The middle-aged man in the front seat turned his head toward the young man, a warm and kind smile gracing his face. "The pleasure was all mine, young master Mandla," he said before driving the truck away.

Immediately, three maids dressed in brown robes emerged from a door leading into the building. Their faces beamed with bright smiles as they descended a flight of stairs and approached the young man, bowing respectfully.

"Welcome back, young master Mandla," one of them chimed in a melodious voice. Despite her youthful appearance, she exuded maturity with her dark skin and hair elegantly tied up in a bun.

"Chum, it's good to see you too," the maid continued, patting the giant pangolin's head as it lay lazily on the ground. She motioned to the other two maids to assist the giant pangolin, and they walked away together.

"Thank you, Aria," the young man nodded towards the maid, offering a grateful smile. He suddenly coughed heavily, reaching for a handkerchief from his robe pocket to cover his mouth. Afterwards, he hastily stowed the handkerchief away.

Aria's brows furrowed with concern, though she pretended not to notice the blood on the handkerchief he hurriedly concealed. "You're late. It's already 2:15," she said.

"The physician conducted a thorough examination. It has been a month since the last check-up, and the federation exam is approaching," Mandla replied with a slight smile.

"I understand, but Master has been awaiting your presence in the living room," Aria informed him.

"Alright," Mandla responded. "Let's not keep him waiting."

"Hmm," Aria nodded, leading him up the stairs. As they approached an iron door, a ray of light illuminated them from above, causing the door to slide open in the middle. They proceeded into the house, with Aria leading the way. The first sight that greeted them was a wide black-tiled flight of stairs, ascending to the upper levels. The interior of the house featured a square-shaped design, painted in white, a contrast to the brown triangular exterior. Mandla followed Aria through a small archway, entering the living room.

The living room boasted generous dimensions, featuring pristine white sofas artfully arranged around a centrally positioned glass table. A sleek flat screen adorned the front wall. A man with braided blond hair cascading down his back, sporting a well-groomed circle beard, occupied one of the sofas, attired in elegant black robes adorned with exquisite white patterns. With a faint smile gracing his face, he turned towards the newcomers as they entered.

"Mandla, welcome back. How was the checkup?" the man spoke in a resonant baritone voice.

"Same as always, Father. I am still deteriorating slowly," Mandla replied matter-of-factly, taking a seat on a nearby sofa.

"You never fail to amuse me," Mandla's father chuckled heartily.

"I am merely stating the truth, Father."

"Fair point. How is your research progressing, though?"

"I am on the cusp of a breakthrough, Father, very close."

"I wanted to discuss something with you. The federation exams are just a week away. What are your plans?"

"I intend to give it a try, Father," Mandla replied, his eyes brimming with confidence.

"Are you certain? You need not attempt it if you don't wish to. The federation laws hold no sway over me," Mandla's father stated in an arrogant tone. "I could leverage my connections to exempt you, should you desire."

"No need to worry, Father. If my experiments yield the expected results, I am confident of success."

"If you say so. Should you change your mind, inform me," Mandla's father sighed. "Now, go and rest. I have some work to attend to."

"Yes, Father." Mandla nodded as he rose, joining Aria, who had been standing near the entrance during their conversation. Together, they left the living room and made their way towards the previously passed stairs.

At the foot of the stairs, they encountered a young man with braided blond hair, the length extending to his neck, standing atop the steps, glaring at Mandla. He bore a slight resemblance to Mandla. Mandla and Aria halted momentarily upon seeing him, then resumed their ascent, with Mandla leading the way.

"Welcome back, Mandla," the young man greeted, his tone seething with spite.

"Thank you, Seth, for sparing your precious time to greet me," Mandla replied nonchalantly, continuing his climb with a deliberate slowness. Each step seemed like an arduous task, as sweat formed on his forehead, and he breathed heavily. Aria watched with a concerned expression, ready to offer assistance, while Seth's gaze radiated pure animosity, as if wishing for Mandla to stumble down the stairs and meet an unfortunate fate

"How much time do you have left to live?" Seth sneered.

"Enough, Seth, long enough," Mandla retorted with a smile, despite the evident strain displayed in his posture. Finally, he reached the top of the stairs, meeting Seth's gaze, and inquired, "Shouldn't you be preparing for the Federation exam? Time is running out, you know."

"I am more than prepared, Mandla, but you, on the other hand, will fail miserably."

"So you overheard my conversation with Father," Mandla smiled, as he had not disclosed his intention to take the exam to anyone until today.

"We shall see, won't we?" he continued, leaving Seth to seethe in silent rage.

Unable to direct his anger towards Mandla, Seth turned his attention to Aria, who had been quietly following behind. He seized her hand, bellowing, "Why are you staring? A servant should know her place in this household."

Seth raised his hand, poised to strike her, but halted as Mandla's icy voice cut through the tension. "Release her."

"And what if I don't?" Seth sneered. "I may not touch you due to Father, but she is fair game."

"What if I were to report this to Father?"

"Would Father punish me over a mere servant? I highly doubt it," Seth replied, his smile widening.

"Perhaps not for her, but imagine if I were to suddenly tumble down these stairs, blaming you for the fall," Mandla stated, inching towards the precipice.

"You wouldn't dare," Seth muttered, visibly shaken.

"Watch me," Mandla said, feigning a misstep towards the stairs' edge.

"Noo," Seth and Aria exclaimed, albeit for different reasons—one out of concern, the other out of fear.

"And?" Mandla paused, glancing at both of them.

"You win," Seth grumbled, storming upstairs in a fit of anger.

"That was reckless, Young Master. It could have been dangerous," Aria approached Mandla, her face etched with worry.

"I am unharmed, am I not?" Mandla replied with an easy smile.

"Thank you, Young Master," Aria murmured, her gaze lowered.

"Don't mention it. Just be cautious around him. This manoeuvre won't work on him again," he warned sternly.

"Yes, Young Master."

"You may leave now. I can find my way to my room unaided. I am not a child, you know," Mandla remarked, casting a firm look at Aria.

Though hesitant, Aria bowed and descended the stairs, leaving Mandla to peer wearily at the flight of steps that still stood between him and his room. With a sigh, he began the arduous ascent.