"Peace has never been intrinsically good. In most cases peace is just a different kind of war."
A dream. I was dreaming. My body was but one in many. So many. The ground itself was made of piles of bodies. A world of death, stretching from its depth to its horizon. Mine, somehow, was unique, for it still had life. I didn't know how. There was no air. From the bodies to the skies was nothing but ashes, flames, and noise. The noises were so loud: explosions, blasts, people screaming, grunting, dying. There was no way I was alive in all this. That's how I knew it was just a dream.
I was not scared. I was disgusted. I wanted to leave, but I could not move. Not that my body was damaged or restrained, but it would not act on my command. I knew it was a dream, but it felt more like a memory. I had no control over anything that was happening; I was merely conscious of it.
Suddenly, a noise pierced through all the others. A laugh. A woman was laughing. I was barely able to see her. She was wounded and covered in blood, but her blonde hair was shiny and clean. She did not seem to mind her pain or the horrors around her. In fact, it felt like she was enjoying it.
Then this whole world of madness split and disappeared as my eyes opened. I was back in the comfort of the academy. There were no lights in the bedroom, so I could not see Aliéna. Yet, I could feel that she was awake and sitting. Once my eyes grew used to the obscurity, I realized she was staring at me.
- You were sweating a lot and moaning in pain. I thought you were sick.
- I think I had a... vision.
- I am more inclined to believe you are sick, she smiled.
- This... dream. I want to discuss it with the fighting teacher.
- Why her of all people?
- Because I am pretty sure she was there.
- Dreaming of her already?
- What I saw... I am scared, Aliéna.
An unusual seriousness took over her. Sonotoria had made me realize what the feeling of fear was. It was much easier for me to understand it and to say it. My beautiful partner, though, had not heard of fear since she was a child. These were not words one would say lightly, and she was more than aware of that.
- And what is it that you saw exactly?
- Death and destruction. I could barely see a thing, but it felt like the entire world was burning. There were corpses everywhere.
- And the teacher?
- She was laughing. A different kind of laugh. I'm not even sure it was her. But the one I saw had completely lost her mind.
She looked intensely at me for a while, probably gauging whether I was joking or not. Then she sighed and got up. At her command, the door opened.
- Alright, let's go then.
- We're not properly dressed.
- No one is this late at night. Especially not her, anyways.
- I smiled and followed her.
The Backle Academy was huge. With all the long years spent here, I had only ever seen a fraction of it. To navigate the complex, a transportation system is available to anyone at any time. Little transportation spheres, big enough for four, would basically get you anywhere you wanted. Our little excursion was also made easier by the fact that we were looking for a teacher. Teachers, outside of class, are like anyone, but they have a duty to be accessible to students at any given time. Their localization was permanently updated in the system, and one could ask to be brought to the room they currently resided in as a destination.
Arriving at the small transportation station, I picked one of the available tablets. These were the controllers for the spheres. Sonotoria was apparently in a classroom not too far from us. A bit disappointed, I purposefully organized a long detour that would take us outside for a while. And after a few minutes of waiting for our ride, we were both seated in our little spherical car.
The Backle Academy, as its name suggested, was part of Backle. It was a Sikorna, also called the Empire's artificial constellations. I didn't really know the extent of our installation, but there were at least fourteen artificial platforms orbiting our artificial sun. At night, Platform Twelve, the one of the academy, was extremely beautiful. It had been designed with many gardens and wildlife zones. The walls of the academy of marble and gold were surrounded by waterfalls and vegetation. The stars in the night sky were as clear as could be. Students were expected to spend seventy-eight Ikian years here, so it was designed to be as beautiful as possible.
I held Aliéna firmly in my arms as we enjoyed all the beauties the night had to offer.
Arriving at the classroom, we were greeted by a most peculiar sight. Fèstil was sleeping, seemingly exhausted, on a desk. Our teacher was gathering pieces of papers scattered everywhere in the room. Everything in there that was made to be written on had been used to its full extent. She noticed us and simply gave us a warm smile as greeting.
- What happened here?, I asked.
Told tha' 'sect over'ere tha' was better him a' any 'ssible subject. Spent whole day 'n'night tryina prove me wrong. 'Finitely not better at stayin' 'wake. Wha' missed 'pportunity fo' 'im.
Not a very surprising behavior from Fèstil. To think that a single teacher would make him admit defeat seemed much more surprising.
- Wann' talk 'bout a dream?, she then asked.
- How did you know?
- She pointed the room's clock with her head.
He thinks he had a premonition of some sort and wanted you opinion on the matter, continued Aliéna.
- I? Why?
- I think I saw you.
- Well. I'm worthy o' dreamin' alright. Doubt tha' i'. No. Came outta fear, 'nit?
She was using such a light tone. Were she using another language, she might as well be talking about candy bars.
- Well. I, myself, came here so that you could reassure him. Just tell him there's no such things as premonitions so we can go back to sleep.
Aliéna really disliked her.
- I teachn't lies. Why'd I say tha'?
- Excuse me?, she said, quite annoyed. You're saying one can see the future?
- Course.
- The future has yet to happen, how could anyone see it?
- Some 'vents weigh as stars do. So heavy can't not be. When not seein' with eyes, sometimes can see 'em.
- Can we prevent them?!, I asked, fearful.
- Not listenin', are you? Whole 'dea o' seein' i' 's can't not be.
- It's getting hard to understand you, miss. Are you saying that if he can see it, it has to happen?
- 'less you a god or, yes.
- Ok, ok. But that does not mean what I saw was a premonition, right?
- Course it ain't. You bug's too weak fo' tha'.
- Then why didn't you say so?, Aliéna asked, definitely annoyed.
- N'ver asked.
My girlfriend sighed very loudly and frenetically walked in a circle for a while to calm herself down. Sonotoria put down a large pile of paper, turned back to smile at me and added:
- No matter future o' not. Can't change 'nyway. Matters is: you thought i' was. Take i' you believe me.
We both knew what she meant. I had explained in detail what happened in the class after she left to Aliéna. An upcoming danger. There was no reason to believe a word that she was saying. If anything, she was the danger here. Still, I immediately thought this dream was a reality to come because of her words. Deep inside, I knew she was right.
- So? Wha' 's i' you saw?
- Everything was destroyed and everyone was dead. Everyone was... fighting I guess.
- War.
It almost sounded like she said "fight" again*. But the very intensity of the way she said it made it clear it was something far more ominous.
- What is... 'war'?, Aliéna inquired.
- How'ver you take i', fight's has least two sides. 'Stand tha'?
- Yes, I guess, I answered.
- 'Magine there's 'nother empire, other than Ikian's.
- Wouldn't that be weird? How would the two empires organize how to work with each other?
- Mostly not, she answered me. No matter here. Now 'magine a fight no' 'tween two persons but two empires. Tha': war.
- But there are no other empire. The Ikian Empire would have to fight itself for something like that to happen.
- 'Rrect, Aliéna. Course, not 'ssible, 'nit?
The irony there was obvious. But I could not see a future where something like that could possibly happen.
- Why would something like this ever happen?, she asked.
- Favorable outcome. Guessin' which or why's pointless.
- So the danger you told him about, is an upcoming war?
- Not a' all. Wha' saw 's war. Wha' comin' 's bit smaller than tha'.
I felt a big relief. And, even though she was once again very frustrated by the teacher's answer, I could tell Aliéna felt just as relieved as I was.
- If it's smaller. Why don't you prevent it?
- Two 'ssumptions. Both wrong. Backle's big, can't be 'verywhere. Also, as said, fight's has least two sides. Don't 'ssume am on yours.
The way she said her last sentence froze me in place. I felt it, deep inside of me, she could erase me from this world without a second thought the moment it would be a "favorable outcome."
- Late. Take sleepy head with you and 'turn to bed, she added whilst knocking on Fèstil's desk to wake him up.
Fèstil was a bit surprised to see us, but we all silently complied and exited the room. The three of us were extremely quiet on our way to the transport station. I stopped a few meters before we arrived. I knew Aliéna already knew what I was about to say. I could see it written on her face.
- I will take up her class and learn 'fighting'.
- I know, she answered. But there is no way I am letting you doing that alone. I am doing it too.
- I know, I said, smiling.
- I don't understand why you're making such big deal out of it, but I'll be taking her class too.
- What?!, we both said.
- Why would you do that?, she continued.
- Well. She may not... sound like it. But she is extremely smart.
- That I understand. It's not like you have to take her weird class to debate her, you know? You definitely proved it today.
- It's not what I meant, Aliéna. I'm... I'm a fair bit attracted.
- Oh...
I approached him and put my hand on his shoulder.
- I guess some of us are on a much more dire situation than others.
- Hey! I'm aware that she's a bit eccentric. But it also makes sense.
- How so?
- Well I intend to become a teacher here. Might as well find a lover that teaches here too. After all I might spend my entire life in this academy.
- True. In fact, you might very well outlive the academy...
Aliéna used a finger to gently push my head, then planted a kiss on my cheek.
- You keep that kind of thoughts out of that head of yours.
- By the way, guys. Why are you dressed to sleep?
We smiled and did not even bother to answer. He'd soon realize how late it was.
* fight/battle -> èkto; war -> ékto