Bloodlines of Archaea I. Afira
Much Like the Past

“Are you paying attention, Ms. Afira?” Maktu asked, looking up from his paper-covered desk for the first time since his lesson had started. It felt like we were kids again, knowing well that everyone else was allowed to do whatever they wanted, while they sat, rotting in the classroom.

“Excuse me, Mr. Maktu, please forgive me. It’s just that you see, I think that the knowledge of this war would best be shared with the other heroes, as it does concern them as well,” I explained, making a funny face at Akuma as he mocked me.

“What an interesting point, my dear, I will take it up with the queen,” he said. I was unsure (as always) whether or not he was joking until he smiled, saying, “oh wait, here she is.”

I forced a laugh, “oh yes, good one sir. As queen, I do agree that bringing the rest of the heroes to this-lesson would be beneficial to every one of us, as they and their ancestors were also involved, am I right?”

“Yes, yes you are, shall we invite them to our next lesson then?”

“Absolutely,” I answered, looking outside at the beach and watching Tao teach the others to sail properly. Mare saw me through the window, jumped up and waved excitedly. I chuckled and waved back discreetly, not to get into trouble again.

Maktu interrupted this exchange once more, asking, “now, shall we explain to one another how the war began after these few days of learning?”

Akuma raised his hand, smiling slyly at me as he waited for Maktu to say his name. The moment he did, Akuma began a long-winded explanation on the beginning of the war, saying, “based on what we have learned here, Maliu, the sly goddess of death built an army of the dead, very discreetly under the view of the other gods. She stitched together the bodies of those she had killed to create herself an army of the living dead,” he said, gesturing to me. At such point, I put a quiet flame in my hand for effect, Akuma spoke. He was slightly distracted by it, but he continued, speaking confidently, as he always had when we were children. I put the flame out, allowing him to continue. “When she had created an army, she killed Mana, king of the gods. At such point, declaring war against not only the gods, but also against the people of earth. This is also the time where Udea had fallen in love with Tama. They then realized they were pregnant with a mortal child who carried the blood of the gods in her veins. The same thing happened with a few other gods. Fast-forward generations, the war had gotten worse, the gods sent my family down to protect her life, and we are here with Afi.”

“Excellent job, young Akuma,” Maktu said, fueling the sly smile on Akuma’s face.