THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA

THE DEFECTIVE SACRED BONE

"Good morning, young master," a soft feminine voice persisted, gently rousing Mandla from his slumber.

He stirred in bed, his expression drowsy, before finally awakening. "Yes, I'm awake, Pelin. Thank you." He rose unhurriedly, making his way to the wall-embedded wardrobes beside the centrally positioned bed in his spacious, white-painted room.

Adorned with white sheets, the bed stood as the sole furnishing, while a mirror hung on the wall at its foot.

Approaching the wardrobe, Mandla watched as it slid open automatically. He removed his loosely fitted blue shirt and trousers, neatly hanging them up, and then retrieved a black Serat to wear.

The Serat, though uncomfortably clingy, had become a familiar sensation. Thankfully, he could forgo it within the confines of his home, where built-in filters protected the residents from the residual mist's influence.

Mandla selected a plain black robe and dressed himself. "After all, I'll be working in the lab," he mused to himself, casting a satisfied glance at his reflection in the mirror.

A glimmer of excitement sparkled in his violet eyes as he turned towards the door, which obediently slid open upon his approach.

"Today is the day. I can feel it," Mandla proclaimed, his voice laced with anticipation.

"Goodbye, young master," Pelin's voice bid him farewell from behind.

"Thank you, Pelin," Mandla responded, turning to acknowledge the robot standing in the corner before stepping out.

Emerging from his room into a corridor, Mandla consulted the Advanced Technical Device (ATD) on his wrist to check the time, noting that it was already 7:15.

The ATD, a multifunctional device capable of tasks ranging from timekeeping to body and environmental scanning, had been a constant companion due to his health condition. He relied on it primarily to monitor his physical well-being continuously.

Proceeding down the hallway, Mandla reached the staircase and drew a deep breath before ascending. Each step proved arduous, causing his joints to ache and his breath to grow heavy. The house remained eerily silent, with only the sound of Mandla's laboured breathing echoing as he moved downward.

Suddenly, the footsteps of a young girl with wavy, long hair and a charming brown complexion sounded, descending the stairs from the opposite direction of Mandla's room. Looking up, Mandla's face brightened into a smile. "Gwen."

The girl, around sixteen years old, hastened down the stairs, her face adorned with a wide grin. "Brother."

"How was classes today, Gwen?" Mandla inquired, his voice filled with genuine interest.

"It was the usual," Gwen replied, her smile faltering briefly.

"Is everything alright?" Mandla queried, concern evident in his expression.

"Yes," Gwen reassured him, her bright smile returning. "How was your check-up? When I returned home, you were already asleep."

"It went well, as usual," Mandla responded, a faint smile gracing his lips, as he continued his descent with Gwen lending him support by linking their arms. He paused briefly as her arm interlinked with his understanding her intent but then resumed his progress downstairs with Gwen's assistance.

"Where are you off to at this hour?" Gwen inquired, her brows furrowed.

"I could ask you the same," Mandla retorted knowingly, aware that Gwen was already aware of the answer.

"I'm going to grab something to eat. I'm a bit hungry," she confessed with a bashful smile. "Should I fetch you something as well?"

"Yes, but after I return," Mandla agreed.

"You're heading to that place again, aren't you?" Gwen remarked, a frown crossing her face. "I wonder what you're always doing there and why Mom and Dad allow it."

Mandla's smile persisted as he responded, "Where are they, by the way?"

"Dad went out on business, and Mom is attending a party," Gwen informed him.

"And Seth?"

"He's in the training room. I can't fathom what has him so fired up. He's been training since I got back from the center. Perhaps it's the pressure of the upcoming Federation exam," Gwen pondered aloud.

"I see," Mandla acknowledged, surmising that their earlier conversation had prompted Seth's intense training.

Eventually, Mandla and Gwen reached the foot of the stairs. Gwen released her arm from Mandla's, veering left towards the kitchen. "Hurry back so your meal won't get cold," she reminded him.

"I will," Mandla assured her with a smile, before stepping outside as the door obediently slid open.

Exiting the house, Mandla gazed skyward, beholding the radiant full moon encircled by countless stars.

"How beautiful," he whispered.

Despite the ever-changing eras, the moon and sun remained unwavering constants. Mandla had always admired them, for they endured, unperturbed by the encroaching darkness, as Earth and its inhabitants evolved.

Strolling toward the garden within the compound, Mandla reveled in its splendor, savoring the tranquil ambience that accompanied the night. He employed the moment to quell his excitement and the trace of anxiety that lingered within him due to the significance of the impending evening.

Several robots patrolled the compound, yet none approached him as he silently contemplated the sky.

Mandla's physique diverged from that of most humans in the post-corrosion era. In this era, every human possessed a sacred bone, endowing their bodies with far greater strength than their pre-corrosion counterparts, along with an array of abilities inaccessible to humans of the corrosion and pre-corrosion eras.

Located anywhere within a human's body, the sacred bone provided access to the world's energy, which could be absorbed to fortify the body.

After extensive research, experts classified sacred bones into various levels, ranging from cream-colored (the lowest) to silver-colored (the highest). The level of one's sacred bone determined the amount of world energy an individual could harness.

However, Mandla bore a broken or defective sacred bone situated along his spine, rendering his body exceptionally frail. Experts estimated a mere one percent chance of such an occurrence, for which no cure currently existed.

The presence of a sacred bone safeguarded humans from the residual dark mist in the post-corrosion era, ensuring their survival. While a Serat provided an additional layer of protection against the mist, it was the sacred bone that truly guaranteed humanity's existence.

The Serat served to support the sacred bone's function by minimizing the mist's infiltration, sparing undue strain on the sacred bone.

Given Mandla's defective sacred bone, he remained highly vulnerable to the lingering dark mist, causing his body to corrode gradually. His survival hinged upon the aid of the Serat and various medications, though he remained weakened.

The origins of sacred bones still eluded human comprehension. Historical records indicated that they emerged from Geno bone infusion attempts made by humans during the corrosion era to ensure survival. Over time, the infusion mutated, giving birth to the sacred bone—an essential foundation for humanity's continued existence. This mutation established a new system within humanity, enabling them to brave the perils of the post-corrosion era.

Inhaling deeply, Mandla luxuriated in the nighttime, savoring the cool night breeze as he ventured deeper into the garden. Eventually, he arrived at a small white kennel positioned at the far end. He lowered himself and peered through the metallic bars, where a colossal pangolin rested.

During the corrosion era, humans managed to adapt and survive by utilizing Geno bones, but animals were not as fortunate during the Corrosion era. While some animals endured the impact, they underwent mutations, growing larger, stronger, and faster. However, certain creatures died or succumbed to madness after coming in contact with the mist, fully embracing their primal instincts, while others gained a level of intelligence comparable to humans.

As Mandla glanced inward, the giant pangolin's eyes widened, meeting his gaze with its brown eyes, and slowly rose to its feet. "How have you been, Chum?" Mandla inquired, a bright smile gracing his face, as he unlocked the kennel door and stood upright.

The giant pangolin emerged, circling around Mandla, brushing its body against his leg while he reciprocated the gesture, chuckling. "Did you miss me, Chum?" he playfully queried, locking eyes with the magnificent creature.

"Come, we have a substantial task ahead tonight," Mandla said, a slight smile adorning his face, as the giant pangolin regarded him, its eyes revealing subtle hints of intelligence. Side by side, they departed from the garden, a harmonious partnership between man and animal.