The workers stepped out of the factory into the cold silent night, the poisonous white smoke still hung stubbornly in the air shrouding the city in an eerie presence.
Moon bid kyle, celene and Bella fair well and walked away but then he turned around and watched as they laughed together, their figures disappearing into the white smoke.
A feeling of loneliness clouded his heart whenever he wasn't with them, the world always felt so cold and empty, he turned around and began walking down the main street, his steps echoing behind him.
A little while later moon arrived at the familiar alley, the sound of dripping water and rat's scurrying about welcomed him back home providing him a certain feeling of comfort but that was quickly broken as a voice echoed behind him making him tremble a little.
"Rat, you're late"
The figures of three silhouettes appeared behind him from the smoke. Moon turned around, his eyes meeting theirs and he said "work drew on longer than expected".
A punch quickly kissed his face sending him to ground "lower your fucking gaze or what you finally growing a back bone".
Moon stood up to his feet, clenching his fist in anger "I'm sorry, bob" he stretched out his hand and handed them his payment for the day.
He took the money and spat on him while the other two laughed "Bastard, don't ever think of trying shit unless we'll gut you like a pig"
"yes sir, I'm sorry"
Bob counted the money and frowned "Hey look at me" moon raised his head and his eyes met theirs once again, the expression carved on their faces, moon knew it all too well.
"Hey moon, what's going on, this is too little" bob said
"Maybe his hiding cash from us now" The second guy said chuckling to himself
"That's too bad" the third guy said, his threatening gaze falling on moon making him shiver "you know what we have to do now"
Moon took a step back, his fear was written all over his face "Wait guys, come on, I was just hungry" he said his voice shaking, barely audible.
Before he knew it his legs were swept from beneath him sending him crashing to the ground then they showered him with blows, kicking and punching him over and over again.
Moon stretched out his arms, barely able to breathe from their blows "please stop" he took off one of his shoes then handed them the money hidden in it.
Bob greedily took it from his hand and laughed "You're got yourself beaten half to death for this" Laughter erupted in the silent alley "you see moon if you have just done has you were told, you would be sleeping right now and we wouldn't have had to do any of this, so next time don't be a smart ass"
The three silhouettes walked away leaving him bruised and battered on the alley, moon fell on his back unto the ground staring at the sky. The moon shoned bright that night accompanied by numerous brilliant stars and a kingdom floating among them, drifting across the sky.
Moon stretched out his arm trying to grab it but it was out of reach just like everything else.
Every person that had lived on the ground had probably dreamed at least once that they were up there living amongst the humans, not having to worry about hunger, getting sick or dying from poison but it was just a dream and that reality drove everyone down the same pit of despair.
Moon wished with all his heart that the kingdom would one day fall from the sky, moon wished with all his heart the guys who always beat him up and steal his money would drop dead but he knew if he wanted heaven to fall, if he wanted those bastards to die, he would have to do it with his own hands.
He stood up from the ground and sighed " this is the world I live in, where dreams kill you, where expectation are always betrayed, where hope is just a pit stop to despair".
....
"Congratulations awakened moon"
A mysterious voice rang in his head waking him up, he stood up from his blanket in a daze, his body still aching from his earlier beating.
"You have been chosen as a herald candidate"
Moon looked around the darkness in confusion "who is that"
As if compelled by those words, moon's body began a sudden change, his bones broke apart and put theirselves together, stronger than before, his muscles ripped, teared and restored themselves in a cycle of destruction and restoration, his eyes burned turning bright red as blood streamed down his face, he fell to his knees throwing up black blood in pain but soon the pain faded and was replaced by a feeling of relief
"What the hell"
Moon stood up to his feet wiping the blood from his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt and before him was a floating blue screen of light.
Name: moon
Rank: Awakener tier l
Herald: kilevolo the herald of time (sealed, invalid contract)
Abilities: [invisibility]
EX Abilities: [wolf in sheep's clothing], [deceiver]
Herald abilities:[contract invalid]
Items: ------
"What the heck