Project Schemer: Higeki's chapter: Requiem

Arc 1 - Chapter 4: Haven.

The sector 2, compare to other sectors is the safest place even compare to the sector 1. The haven is what it is called, they put on a good face before the city leaders but they prepare everything in secret waiting for a moment to strike. The haven that protect those live inside it but there is a price, throw away their pride and their dignity to keep everyone safe. A noble sacrifice but everyone has their limit, the oppression from the city leaders become the pressure and when the pressure build up too much nothing can contain it. The moment we arrived sector 2 and everything is already started, people arguing and the haven is unstable more than ever, the elder want peace while the young generation decide they won't tolerate all the humiliation any longer. The chaos in the haven, this is their limit, watching their parents dragged away and that is enough for them and for me, no one should endure like this but this is their choice.

"Welcome, Korvos and doctor. The current condition of sector 2 is just like you see."

"I can understand, but please endure for a little bit longer, i can't simply accept a war with a lot of casualty."

"The children understand your kindness but their anger and they are young and reckless."

"I know you are worried, i will speak to them personally, but once again, this is not just them. Communicate is a way to understand, don't waste that gift."

The children of sector 2, they watch everything around and they see everything and they experience everything and the anger slowly build up. The pressure and the weight on their back, and when that pressure is far too great, that is the moment everything crumble. The children of sector 2 can hide really well but they always left their trace, this could be a fun detective game, their trace is a little bit confusing because they want to hide it. Just before i know their secret hideout, all i feel is pain and a small voice say apologize before darkness engulf everything.

"I am sorry doctor, but we can't let the adults found out."

"I can understand that, everyone has their own limit. But what is your plan ? Are you ready to face the result ? The elders have their plan and waiting for the right moment but you just want to let your anger out. So what after that ?"

"We... we just can't endure this humiliation any further, everyday, they send soldier to this sector and humiliate everyone here."

"You are children, the future of this world. You are the reason why we adults decide we need to fight against the city. If anything happen then what is our reason to fight ?"

"So what is your plan doctor ? What can you do to end all of this, what will you do ?"

"I have my plan and everyone is a part of it. But we decided the children don't have to do anything. But i am appreciated for your determination. And can you remove the rope, it is hurting my arm a little bit."

The children is brave and it is lucky to have someone like them to inherit this world, the children should be protected by adults but these children, their bravery is inspiring. But the elders of sector 2 already have a plan, the children only let their anger out but the elders, that is not just anger, there are so much more. They held back for no one know how long and now, if not for the time they would destroy the city, the older you are the more cunning you become. The children want to unleash their anger without a plan that will end with tragedy.

"We want everyone safe, that is the reason why we wait, we have our plan and i want you, the future of this world to believe in us and let us end this."

"I can't, we are a part of this war, we are the future of this world then we will be the one who decide the end for it."

"I just can't change your mind ?"

"You know you can't. We decided this is also our fight and we must participate. We know you care about every single children in the slum but we want to fight for our own future."

"... Alright, as long as you listen to the elders and follow their plan then i am fine with that."

The children is brave and kind, i know nothing about the spoiled brats in the city except for that child but once the war begin, i still want it is a no casualty war. The moment we walked back to the elders we saw someone talking to them, someone from the city... maybe a tax collector. The children is irritated but calm them down is not that hard since an informer have a good new after all, the children want to see firework then they can see that. The construction of the concentration camps still continue but the worker rest so the construction is empty, the city leaders believe there is nothing to fear since there are guards at the site but they didn't expect an explosive master. Not like the leader of the Savant i can't calculate everything but the moment the firework show start is the best moment. The expression of the tax collector is entertaining, the smirk turned into fear and he ran as fast as he could but the old gentleman we met before appear before him. With a graceful bow he drove the man back to the city... so he is also act as the driver for the tax collector.

"Enjoy the show ?"

"I didn't know you have the rocket boot or teleportation device ?"

"I am the great firework maker afterall, an artisan, a playful performer who love children of the slum too you know. So boys, is the show great ?"

"That's amazing."

"Of course, this is my performance after all. Enjoy the show children, i will go and take a nap."

The city is his stages, his performance brought no harm since its target is buildings and constructions. His performance is harmless to people since he needs an audiance and what he likes is take down any ivory tower. After our short conversation, it is the part where the children and the elder must talk, they have to talk to solve all of this. The discussion is heated since the appearance of that tax collector, there are even insults, elders or not they are still the citizen of the slum, they live in the slum for no one know how long. Insult is another way for them to express how they really feel, at least when they can throw insult they are alive and keeping their sanity. People in the slum have many color, those born in the slum and those are exiled from the city, no matter how much i want harmony, we - those born in the slum just can't get along with the exiled. Always show they are the most important but at least in this sector 2, there are no sight of that group, even after exiled they still keeping the dream and consider them as royalty.

"There is a man exiled from the city with his son, they are staying here, do you want to talk with them ?"

"A man from the city... How is he behaving in front of everyone else ?"

"He is not that bad, know basic manner and seem to have no regret and he doesn't push people away."

"A good person... that is rare. Do you think... no i shouldn't have high hope for that."

"I think he still can help us."

"From many trip to the city, i learned a lesson, i saw the ugliness of the people in that place. It is a different world than our world, people with all of their etiquettes and masks, every eyes watching you only wait to get rid of you."

"I think you still need to talk to him even for a little bit."

"I will do that because i respect everyone in this room."

"And we thank you for that doctor."

The exiled man and his child live in a simple house, he works as a volunteer but life in the haven should be fine, the future is unknown but believe it will be bright. Maybe when this war is over, when all the mourning is finished, this world will flourish, a simple house took time to find and it is my job to keep my eye out for the children so they don't do anything risky. 

"Fate is wicked isn't it ?"

"Doctor..."

"I am not cruel but i predicted this, the people of the city is watching themselves and other. But you don't have to worry, the children are safe."

"Thank you."

"But what are those children to you ?"

"They are the burden that i chose to atone my sin in the past."

All the children are orphan and the man adopted them as his own children and they lived in his mansion. In the past an orphanage in the slum was destroyed by the decision of the city, the man was one of the leaders of the city and delusional like the rest of them. But when the orphanage was destroyed it was the moment he snapped out of his delusional state and know something. That his son is not at home and the moment the dust is settled, he found his son lying on the ground. Different from the father, his son is close to the orphan and help the children escape the collapsing building, even all the children is saved but he can't escape the tragic fate. And that is the moment the man escape the delusion and decided he must redeem himself but in his heart he knew that is never enough.

"So now, everything i can do is taking care of these children. But the sin will always remain and i can't redeem myself because i will never forgive myself for what i did but these children will be my new responsibility."