“I’m sorry to inform you of this but your home town Azhar has been destroyed.” The words left the old man's wrinkled lips with a dry monotonous tone void of emotion. As if explaining the sky was blue or the world was round.

  Is this guy retarded? Kanashi wondered with a frown as he raised a brow. Painfully he resisted the urge to burst out laughing. His home town Azhar, the capital city of Saharis the most powerful country in the world was destroyed and Kanashi, of all people Sarumalder Kanashi was the survivor. He didn’t know which part of the story was more absurd, he’d have believed that magic was real before either of those.

  Looking back though, Kanashi did have to admit the current events were strange. The last thing he’d remembered was getting his high school diploma in the mail and slotting it next to his smut manga collection on his shelf. Then he went back to shit posting online and arguing about things only he could care about into the odd hours of the late night. It was a pretty average day for him at this point, or at least it should have been.

  So why exactly did he wake up naked and in a vat of green slimy liquid. In a lab full of doctors- female no less! The thought made his face turn crimson and teeth grit. Though he’d be lying if he said the matter hadn’t excited him somewhat. Thoughts of being the protagonist of an epic story rang through his mind. He could be a hero, someone with super powers who wielded a burning blade and fought against the dark lord with a harem of women waiting for him at home.

  No that’s absurd, this whole thing is. He thought, shaking his head softly. This is probably some stupid prank show, Frairk is gonna show up any minute now and laugh at me with a camera crew for being such an idiot. “Well I don’t believe you.” He said defiantly to the old man whose face seemed to be made of burnt leather, his bushy white brows wrinkling.

  “I told you he wouldn’t.” The boy to the right of the old man sighed. Kanashi hadn’t even noticed him before; he’d been so enamored with the old man's words. But now that he could see him clearly he was quite the character. Slanted eyes denoting a Taiponbo origin perhaps Edojin with frizzy white hair that stood up as if struck by lighting. His frame, childish but with a subtle hint of wiry to it.

  It wasn’t just those two either, Kanashi then noticed the 3rd man, the one to the left of the old one, how- had he missed him? He shined like a star and Kanashi felt sweat grow across his brow as he saw him. His hair flat and light blonde nearly white he wore a pair of sunglasses over white lashed eyes. His clothes a black suit with a white undershirt and black tie. Instantly jealously pained Kanashis heart. The man was stunning in all fields, as if carved from the finest marble by God himself.

  Ikemen… Kanashi thought. He was the kind of guy who could steal the heart of any woman he wanted. Well it’s not like that’s a good thing though. Kanashi thought. But maybe if you only did it once or twice you could get away with it… No wait, what am I even thinking about!?

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Jinen, can you please show him the hologram?” The old man asked, turning to the Ikemen with a frown, pulling on his long white Santa Claus like beard. He truly embodied the wise man archetype to a T.

  “Gotcha.” The man assumed to be Jinen nodded. Reaching into his slacks pocket below his suit he pulled out a small cube which shone silver with small shapes and runes like letters carved into it. Atop its crown was a big red button which Jinen pressed down upon, the result being a beam of light which shot before Kanashis feet depicting an image.

  “Fancy.” Kanashi whistled with a nod. Though that attitude quickly changed as he saw the image clearly. Whatever it was supposed to be, it no longer existed as it once had. A pile of rubble laid flat as a sheet like someone had taken a hammer to a city and whacked it until it became a fine paste. Though what caught Kanashis eye was not the city itself but what stood beyond it.

  Mountains, bright red like a ruby and tall enough to pierce the clouds he recognized those mountains in a heartbeat. How couldn’t he? He saw them clearly from his bedroom window every day. Everyone in the world could recognize those mountains. The [Red Mountains] of Azhar. His stomach turned to knots as he began to connect the dots in his head. His breathing seemed to pause for a moment before returning rapidly. His eyes burned dry as a bone and muscles tensed. Where Azhar should have been, there was nothing.

  “This is an image of Azhar taken by our Europa Satellite-” The old man began to speak but was interupted by the sound of Kanashi spewing vomit to the floor.

  Falling to his knees with a whimper which quickly turned into sobs he pressed his brow against the cold tile floor not caring about the bile which tangled in his light brown hair.

  What the hell is that? That can’t be real! It can’t be, there’s no way! But if it is, that means it’s all gone. Everything and everyone, Mom, Dad, Frairk and Bueno all of them, all of them! His throat burned and he felt his stomach pump and he vomited once more, tears and snot streaming down his face. He wanted to scream, scream so loud he could rip his vocal cords and cough out blood. But nothing came, only a dry rattle from his throat.

  “Hmmm.” The old man sighed as he watched Kanashis fit of despair. Had he been too harsh? He wasn’t very good at these kinds of things after all. “Jinen,” he began. “Can you please escort Kanashi to his new living quarters?”

  “Huh?” Jinen hummed, turning to the old man with a deep grimace.

  “If you feel you need Hayai's assistance feel free to take him along too.” The old man added with a nod.

  “What!?” The frizzy hair boy screamed out jumping to his feet. “Me too? Aw come on El-Saber I don’t wanna get vomit all over me!”

  El-Saber sighed, his leathery skin wrinkled as red ruby like eyes shined pitifully. “Please, my son.” He asked.

  “...fine.” Hayai muttered in defeat. Jumping out of his seat and over the desk he marched to Kanashi who still lay on the ground weeping in his own vomit. Jinen quickly joined him and they lifted Kanashi by his arms and began to haul him from the room. He’d be going to his new apartment now, his new home here at the Venator Society.

  Watching the trio leave and the heavy iron door close behind them with a bang El-Saber sighed and leaned back in his chair. Pulling a long wooden pipe with an ivory tip out of his white robe-like cloak he pressed a wad of tobacco into the chamber and sparked a flame from his fingers tips to light the utensil. With a deep breath he took in the sage smelling smoke and blew out large white rings which danced through the air in a strange rhythm after him.

  “Stay strong son of Annubis, this is only the beginning of your story.”