Amaryllis in the Ice Country

Chapter 4: Broken Toy

An endless darkness swallows the entire village, and loneliness rule the place until dawn breaks.

There鈥檚 no distinction of day and night in this underground world where the light can鈥檛 shine. Despite this, the villagers decided that eight hours each day is to be designated as 鈥榥ight鈥? and during this time, everyone will switch to sleep mode, and save power. The lighting of the roof will be dimmed to the minimum, and one can鈥檛 see without adjusting the visual output.

It鈥檚 a week after the Prayer Festival.

鈥擨鈥檓 finally done鈥?

After issuing the 鈥榮upplies鈥?for the day, I return to the village, and hurry home. Because of my duties as vice-chief, my house is right next to the senate hall.

And five minutes away from my house.

鈥擧uh?

I find someone in the park at night. The hemispherical head seem familiar.

鈥淕appy?鈥?

I ask, and a creaking sound can be heard. The shadow slowly turns towards me as the caterpillar legs let out a grinding sound.

鈥淎ma鈥y, llis?鈥?

鈥淲hat are you doing here late at night?鈥?

鈥淧鈥︹€?

The round lens visual installation he has seem harder to see than usual, probably because the surroundings are dark.

鈥淧-p-pa-pa-park, is where, we play, rig-right?鈥?

鈥淵es.鈥?

鈥淪o-so-so, I-I came to, play.鈥?

鈥淪o late at night鈥?鈥?

I ask, and Gappy nods.

鈥擜h, I see.

I realize.

鈥淗ere鈥檚 here for Daisy, right?鈥?

鈥淯u鈥︹€?

Gappy remains speechless. It鈥檚 easy to read this child.

It has been a week since the Prayer Festival, but Gappy and Daisy have not made amends. Normally, they would be able to make amends in one night, but it has been a first time this lasted so long.

鈥淒aisy really likes this park.鈥?

鈥淒-Daisy, really, loves the park.鈥?

鈥淪he loves to ride on the swing.鈥?

鈥淒-Daisy鈥檚 good with the swing. She goes faster, higher than anyone, else.鈥?

While talking about Daisy, Gappy continues to rattle on like usual.

I listen to his rambling for just a little more. We are the only two people in the park, and to any bystander, it might look like a moonlight date.

鈥溾€he flower medal.鈥?

Gappy mutters,

鈥淓h鈥?鈥?

鈥淒aisy, wants, the flower medal.鈥?

鈥淔lower medal鈥he Festival?鈥?

I take down a flower medal from my chest. This is the commemorative medal only the prize winners of the Festival can get. It鈥檚 made from the ice plants in the 鈥楻EM forest鈥? The medal has the flowers that had bloomed a hundred years ago.

鈥淒aisy, never won, the medal, once. Of the children, the only ones, who never won, are Daisy, and me鈥o I really, wanted the medal. I thought that this year, just this year.鈥?

鈥淚 see鈥︹€?

After the Prayer Festival last year, the only children who didn鈥檛 win a prize were Daisy and Gappy. Leaving aside Gappy, there was no way Daisy the sore loser would take this.

鈥淚-I-I-I-I鈥斺€?

Gappy starts to be exceptionally loud.

鈥淚 want to give this medal, to Daisy.鈥?

He says adamantly, as though making an oath.

鈥淎s thanks, for playing, with, a broken, toy.鈥?

鈥淚 see鈥︹€?

I kneel down, and exchange looks with Gappy. The fog at night condenses, dampening his round lenses.

鈥淏ut it鈥檚 late already, so head home now鈥kay?鈥?

I pat his head, and he nods.

Something resembling a tear slides down the lens.

There are no starry skies in the underground world.

However, the crystals that fill the ceiling will flicker from time to time, and they appear to resemble twinkling stars.

I watch Gappy return home, and sit on the swing as I look up at the starry sky. What he said appear in my mind again.

鈥擜s thanks, for playing, with, a broken, toy.

A long time ago, Gappy鈥檚 a toy. HGP.10尾, an outdoor toy robot suitable for play with children aged above three years old. Play hide-and-seek with children, play ball, play horsey鈥攐ver the thirty years since he was created, he had been playing around at the roof of a department stores. He would run around while carrying children, or act as a ghost and give chase after them.

But, just as broken toys will be abandoned, the aged Gappy had a day where he would be decommissioned. On a certain day thirty years after he was created, he was removed from the roof of the convenience store as he malfunctioned. After that, he was installed at the door of a second-hand shop, and then bought off in a strange net auction. It鈥檚 a mere coincidence that he came to village; when 鈥榯he end鈥?came a hundred years ago, he was abandoned near the village, in an illegal dump.

Even after coming to this village, Gappy remains in poor condition. A little rigorous action, and it鈥檒l be giving off smoke 鈥淕a-ppy鈥? short-circuiting. Thus, whenever he plays with the children in the village, he鈥檚 often left aside. By the time he realizes it, he鈥檚 alone.

However, even he manages to gain respite.

鈥淭hat face of yours is really frustrating.鈥?

And talking to him, or trying to pick a fight, is a girl with soft chestnut-colored hair鈥擠aisy Stalk. 鈥淲ell, looks like I got no chance but to play with you. Be honored!鈥?With such an arrogant attitude, the girl and Gappy become friends.

鈥淎h鈥︹€?

At this moment, I realize.

There鈥檚 a shadow near the entrance of the park. It seemed to look around the inside for something, and then retreat into the darkness.

鈥淒aisy鈥?鈥?

I call out, and the figure shivers in shock.

鈥淒on鈥檛 be scared. It鈥檚 me.鈥?

I call out, slightly louder this time, 鈥淎ma鈥yllis?鈥?and the girl whispers back.

鈥淐ome here.鈥?

I wave at her from the swing. She鈥檚 somewhat hesitant, but she finally enters the park.

鈥淪o it鈥檚 you.鈥?

鈥淪o鈥s in what?鈥?

Daisy looks at me through her fluffy hair.

鈥淕appy just came by, so I was wondering if you would come by.鈥?

鈥淕appy, came here鈥?鈥?

The girl asks with her head lowered.

鈥淛ust now鈥o I call him?鈥?

I put my finger on my temple. It鈥檚 a gesture to connect a wireless network.

鈥淣o, it鈥檚 fine.鈥?

Daisy shakes her head lightly, and sits on the swing next to mine.

After that, there鈥檚 silence.

Krrr, krrr, there鈥檚 the sound of the swing鈥檚 chains echoing emptily in the part at night. It seems to be a reflection of the girl, and I too feel a little forlorn.

鈥溾€ey.鈥?

As though muttering to herself, Daisy breaks the silence.

鈥淲hy did he come here?鈥?

I answer, and Daisy immediately lifts her head, only to drop it again.

鈥溾€ see.鈥?

鈥淣ot going to make amends?鈥?

I ask, and Daisy remains silent. However, the swing gets a little higher.

Daisy and Gappy never spoke ever since the Prayer Festival. They met a few times at the park, but every time, Daisy would hurry back. The clumsy Gappy wanted to give chase after the girl, but never once was he able to catch up.

鈥溾€擜ctually.鈥?The girl mutters. 鈥淕appy鈥檚 not wrong.鈥?

鈥溾€︹€?

I listen silently.

鈥淚t鈥檚 my fault for not checking the jumping platform during the festival.鈥?

鈥溾€ see.鈥?

鈥淏ut when we failed, I really was angry, so I鈥︹€?

At this point, Daisy curled her lips together. The darkness of the night is reflected in her large eyes, and the color as deep as the sea appear to be brimming out.

鈥溾€ime to go back.鈥?

After some silence, Daisy silently gets to her feet.

鈥淗m, it鈥檚 late.鈥?

I do not intend to stop her. I know that even if I don鈥檛 do anything, both of them will make amends.

鈥擳his time, it has been dragged out, but they鈥檒l definitely make amends. They鈥檙e friends, irreplaceable bosom friends.

And after watching the girl limp away, I leave the park. I intend to head home, as it鈥檚 too late.

鈥擭ext Prayer Festival, Daisy and Gappy will perform together again, right?

While having such thoughts, I walk home in the night. Right when I鈥檓 about to reach home.

鈥溾€擜maryllis.鈥?

I receive a wireless transmission.

鈥淗ey, if you鈥檙e going to do anything strange to me, I鈥檓 not going to forgive you.鈥?

鈥淒on鈥檛 say that. Just watch.鈥?

鈥淗ey, I said not to touch anywhere strange.鈥?

I pinch the itchy hand of his. 鈥淥w!鈥?and he yells in much exaggerated pain.

鈥淪o鈥︹€?

I look up at him,

鈥淲-what鈥檚 this important thing鈥ow?鈥?

The one who called me out through the emergency wireless communicator is Eisbahn.

鈥擨t鈥檚 something important. Please come by.

Normally, I wouldn鈥檛 be fooled by his sweet talk. But ever since the 鈥榙uet鈥?during that Prayer Festival, my stance towards him isn鈥檛 as hard as before.

鈥淚t鈥檚 this, this.鈥?

He picks up something with his finger. It鈥檚 a microchip the size of a little finger nail.

鈥溾€ high-end memory chip?鈥?

鈥淵eah. Some valuable data inside. I want to watch it with you.鈥?

鈥溾€︹€?

鈥淲hat is it?鈥?

鈥淎h, no, it鈥檚 nothing.鈥?

I feel a little distraught, listless for a while. I am not hoping for something, but what鈥檚 he planning, asking a young maiden out to 鈥榳atch an interesting video鈥?together. I鈥檓 not a child anymore. No, I didn鈥檛 have any hopes.

鈥淣ow then, put it into the replay set.鈥?

鈥淲ait. Isn鈥檛 this our masters鈥欌€??鈥?

Eisbahn slowly pulls out something. It鈥檚 the Poly Screen I saw before.

鈥淒id you bring it out!?鈥?

鈥淛ust a little while and nobody will no.鈥?

鈥淵ou idiot. We can鈥檛 do this. Chief forbid us from going to that place.鈥?

With regards to that room we found three weeks ago鈥攖he 鈥楽ecret Room鈥? Chief鈥檚 orders are that no uninvolved people are to enter. 鈥榃e鈥檒l investigate this a little more鈥? it鈥檚 because of this reason that we have yet to disclose its existence to the ordinary people.

鈥淗ehe, the more you say no, the more I want to.鈥?

鈥淣o means no鈥nyway, this thing.鈥?

I stare at the microchip.

鈥淚s this the one with the perverted images?鈥?

鈥淭here鈥檒l be a strip model resembling you showing up.鈥?

鈥淎re your Mind Circuits rotten or something?鈥?

I stamp on Eisbahn鈥檚 foot 鈥淚鈥檓 going back!鈥? and storm off. I really am an idiot to be hoping for any romantic works.

鈥淗ey, wait! I鈥檓 joking, joking!鈥?He hastily grabs my shoulder, 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 watched the content! Anyway, you鈥檒l regret not watching it! It contains our masters鈥?secret!鈥?

鈥溾€eally?鈥?

I stop in my tracks, and turn around.

鈥溾€-right.鈥?

鈥淭hen why are you looking away?鈥?

鈥淎h, you see.鈥?He shows the microchip. 鈥淚 took this from the 鈥榯op secret鈥?cabinet鈥? so it definitely contains that.鈥?

鈥淣ot some top secret lewd video?鈥?

鈥淚t鈥檚 possible.鈥?

鈥淚鈥檓 going back.鈥?

鈥淲ait wait wait Amaryllis!鈥?

With a cheesy voice, he calls out to me.

鈥淚t鈥檚 because of me that you manage to win the 鈥楪rand Prix鈥?at the festival, right?鈥?

鈥淯uu鈥︹€?

Faced with his words, I falter a little.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 see what鈥檚 inside This microchip has some strange additional encryption. It鈥檚 not too late to go back if it鈥檚 some lewds, so please. Okay, okay?鈥?

鈥淗mm鈥eally?鈥?

鈥淩eally really.鈥?

鈥溾€ot it.鈥?

To be honest, I really am interested in the content of the chip. There鈥檚 also the 鈥榯op secret鈥?part on it, which piques my curiosity further.

鈥淏ut we have to decrypt it, right?鈥?

鈥淕ot to ask Viscaria.鈥?

鈥淚 see, only Viscaria can do鈥h?鈥?

I look at him, 鈥溾€m? Where are you looking?鈥?Eisbahn grins away.

鈥淚 say, did you call me out鈥ust to call Viscaria out?鈥?

鈥淲ell, if I ask her directly, there鈥檚 no way Viscaria will come out, right? But if it鈥檚 you, it鈥檚 a different matter.鈥?

鈥溾€鈥檓 just a sideshow, right?鈥?

I glare at him, utterly peeved as I am today.

鈥淗ehehe, I鈥檓 quite the smart one鈥of!鈥?

I punch the face of the blond, and yell,

鈥淚鈥檓 going back after all!鈥?

鈥淚 see. This is a tough encryption to deal with鈥︹€?

Viscaria stares at the screen as she taps at the keys with her feelers. She was called out suddenly in the middle of the night, but she seems to be enjoying herself.

In the end, 鈥淚鈥檓 going back!鈥?鈥淲ait wait!鈥?鈥淚鈥檓 really unhappy!!鈥?鈥淧lease, Amaryllis!!鈥?after such a pointless squabble that lasted for more than ten minutes, I gave up, and called Viscaria.

鈥淗ey, be happy~鈥?

鈥淟ike I care!鈥?

I turn away in a puff. I can at least bear with him if he said 鈥渓et鈥檚 watch together鈥? but I never thought he would use me as 鈥渂ait鈥?to call out Viscaria. Why am I so peeved though?

鈥淲oah, this is amazing. As to be expected of our masters鈥?top-secret parts! The encryption level is of a completely different level.鈥?

Viscaria continues to decrypt excitedly. Looking at her, she seems to be as delighted as a child who obtained a new game.

鈥淗as it been cracked?鈥?

I sit by her side. Since we鈥檙e here, I guess we should see our masters鈥?secret no matter what, even if we do not return.

鈥淲ait. Let鈥檚 decrypt this one, and then remove the lock inside, the password鈥斺€?

The feelers extending out from her right hand tap at the keyboard messily.

鈥淩ight, last move!鈥?

Jajan! The feelers tap the keys, ostensibly creating this effort, and the screen suddenly flickers. After that, the screen turns dark, and countless words fill it.

鈥淒ecrypted it yet?鈥?

鈥淥f course.鈥?

Viscaria gives a thumbs up with her feelers. She鈥檚 effervescent when it comes to fixing or inspecting people, but her face is brimming with joy, like a child playing tag. Maybe those hands of hers really do love working.

鈥淩ight, let鈥檚 watch this lewd video.鈥?

Eisbahn hooks his arm around my shoulder.

鈥淣o way. Anyway, that鈥檚 not a lewd video.鈥?

鈥淗ehehe.鈥?

At this moment.

鈥溾€擬ay I inquire, is this the place, where the video shall be played?鈥?

鈥溾€淲oah!?鈥濃€?

We look back in unison. The silver mask face, 鈥榠ron arm鈥?G?tz is standing there.

鈥淲h-when did you鈥?鈥?

Taken aback, I ask. 鈥淚 shall say that it has been for a while.鈥?He quietly answers.

鈥淲hy are you here, you bastard!?鈥?

鈥淟ady Viscaria summoned me here.鈥?

鈥淲hat?鈥?

Eisbahn turns back to look at Viscaria. And this big sister with short red hair merely answers, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a rare chance, so I thought everyone should have a look.鈥?

鈥淕racious am I for the invitation.鈥?

鈥擡h?

I again look at G?tz.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 surprising. I thought you would be opposed to this, G?tz.鈥?

鈥淲hy do you imply so?鈥?

鈥淲ell, Chief said 鈥榠t鈥檚 forbidden to take it out鈥? right? Don鈥檛 you always oppose such rulebreaking, G?tz?鈥?

And so, G?tz immediately frowns, giving a grim look.

鈥擜h, no good?

鈥淣o, well, I would say that I am male after all, I do have some interest in the secrets of a female body鈥︹€?

鈥淗uh? Female body?鈥?

鈥淎m I wrong? 鈥楨veryone is watching a porno video, so come along, G?tz.鈥?This is what Lady Viscaria said to me鈥︹€?

Everyone turn towards Viscaria in unison.

鈥淗uh鈥?鈥?

She tilts her head, blinking away. Then, she points at the poly screen, asking with some surprise.

鈥淭his isn鈥檛 lewd though?鈥?

They鈥檙e all hopeless.

And so,

It鈥檚 not the lewd video everyone (?) hopes for, but as agreed, we start the playback of the chip, Surrounding the screen from right to left are Eisbahn, me, Viscaria and G?tz.

Once the video plays, everyone鈥檚 eyes are focused on the screen.

鈥淲oah, is this before the 鈥業ce Age鈥欌€?鈥?

Shown on the Poly screen is a scenery of a city with tall buildings. Before the station, as the crowd moves along, there is a man saying something. Unfortunately, the voice is no recorded, but looking at the logo on the screen, one can tell that it is an enterprise promotional video.

鈥擬asters鈥?

To the audience of that time, it must have been a footage they have been very familiar to them. But to us, who lived underground for a hundred years, there is a strong sense of nostalgia. There are signs of masters, the roads our masters walk on, the laughter from our masters, the breathing of our masters鈥?

鈥淟ook! A kindergarten! So many children!!鈥?

I, an ex-nanny robot, get excited after seeing the footage of the kindergarten.

鈥淪uch a large maintenance plant鈥︹€?

The ex-mechanic Viscaria watches with her eyes dazzling.

鈥淭here is the theater! The National Central Theater!鈥?

Ex-actor G?tz brings his face close to the screen.

The bustling streets, the relaxing suburbs, the lush plains, the unheralded ports鈥攖hese images suddenly pop up on the screen along with the introduction from the reporter. Whenever a new place is shown, 鈥淲ah!鈥?鈥淪hocking!鈥?鈥淗ow nostalgic it is.鈥?There are such cheers. Such a scene is akin to children visiting a zoo for the first time 鈥淎mazing, it鈥檚 a panda!鈥?鈥淭here鈥檚 a lion there!鈥?

But amongst us, only Eisbahn seems different. From time to time, he stares quietly at the screen, sometimes lowering his eyes. He seemed to be somewhat uneasy.

鈥擲peaking of which.

I have a thought.

鈥擶hat did Eisbahn use to do?

It鈥檚 a doubt I used to have. Viscaria鈥檚 a mechanic, G?tz鈥檚 an actor, and I used to be a nanny. However, nobody knows about Eisbahn鈥檚 past at all. I asked about it many times, but he always diverted the topic 鈥淟et鈥檚 not talk about the past.鈥?

Blond, flirt, a powerful weapon with that right arm. Nobody knows how he end up like this, through what experiences. Even I, the closest to him in this village (though that鈥檚 also because he鈥檚 always harassing me), know little about him.

鈥擶ell, maybe he鈥檚 a bouncer at a strip club or something.

I glance at his sidelong face.

The listless, lowered eyes show a melancholic look, somewhat gloomy.

And so, three hours pass.

鈥淎hh鈥︹€?

Once the video stops, everyone let out a nostalgic sigh.

After a hundred years, we finally see footage of our beloved masters. It is a wonderful record filled with much nostalgia, joy and melancholy.

While mesmerized, I space out for a little while.

鈥擡h, but, wait鈥?

Once my excitement fades, I start to have a doubt in my heart.

鈥淗ey, don鈥檛 you find this strange?鈥?

鈥淗uh?鈥?Viscaria, who has been checking the condition of the player, turns around, 鈥淗ow is it strange?鈥?

鈥淒idn鈥檛 they say that it鈥檚 top secret? There are a lot of masters showing up, which is wonderful鈥ut how is it top secret?鈥?

鈥淎h.鈥?

Viscaria too seem to have realized this, and opened her mouth.

鈥淲ell, truly it is simply a daily scenery despite the record of it becoming top secret.鈥?

G?tz too puts his hand at his chin, and tilts his head.

鈥淚 say, Eisbahn, that was from the 鈥榯op secret鈥?shelf, right?鈥?

I look towards the blond next to me. 鈥淲ell, yeah.鈥?

鈥淭he words 鈥榯op secret鈥?are there.鈥?

鈥淣ow that鈥檚 weird. There鈥檚 nothing special that has to be kept top secret.鈥?

I tilt my head.

鈥擜h, right.

I recall something.

鈥淎nyway, who鈥檚 that robot anyway?鈥?

I ask, and G?tz in turn ask me, 鈥淢ay I inquire what you mean?鈥?

鈥淚鈥檓 talking about the robot in the secret room.鈥?

鈥淎hh, the one that died in front of the monitor鈥︹€?

鈥淩ight right. If that part is 鈥榯op secret鈥? I鈥檓 guessing it has something to do with that robot.鈥?

I try to deduce, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 possible.鈥?Eisbahn mutters.

鈥淟ooks like we need to investigate that room thoroughly.鈥?

鈥淚鈥檒l go get permission from the Chief.鈥?

鈥淟et鈥檚 just ignore the old man.鈥?

鈥淣o can do.鈥?

While we continue to debate this amongst ourselves.

鈥淲ait a moment.鈥?

Viscaria suddenly raises her hand.

鈥淚 see, so that鈥檚 how it is. Everyone, gather around.鈥?

鈥淲hat what, what is it?鈥?

Everyone sit around Viscaria, whose eyes are staring at the operating screen.

鈥淭hat was a dummy video.鈥?

鈥淒ummy?鈥?

鈥淚 thought the encryption is completely cracked. Looks like I鈥檓 still missing a bit.鈥?

鈥淚n other words, the real secret is behind this?鈥?

鈥淵es yes.鈥?

Viscaria鈥檚 right hand reaches for the feelers, Ho hum, hm hm, ooh, and she starts to mumble to herself.

鈥淣ow this is the last step!鈥?

She tap at the keys, and the screen again shows up. 鈥淟ooking forward to it!鈥?鈥淗eh, there鈥檚 a sequel.鈥?鈥淚鈥檇 say that I am looking forward to it!鈥?all over us are filled with expectations.

The player glows. The video begins. And so, we understand鈥?

The reason why it is classified as top secret.

After more than ten seconds of sandy wind, the video finally gets to the main point.

鈥溾€?鈥?

What first appear is something that appears like a wide space. Tens of thousands of people are gathered there, and they seem to be people protesting a dictatorship, as roars and yells can be heard.

鈥溾€ill!鈥?

The people are shouting something. With bloodshot eyes, they are yelling 鈥淜ill them!鈥?鈥淒ie!鈥?鈥淢ove!鈥?鈥淵ou got to be joking!鈥?Amongst them, 鈥淪ave me!鈥?鈥淣oo!鈥?There are shrieks from women, and the crying from the children lingers on. Such a scene is akin to a depiction of a horror movie I the end times.

鈥擡nd times鈥?

We check on the filming date, and find that it鈥檚 filmed one hundred and eight years ago. That is the year when the world suddenly got struck by a cold wave, and quickly entered the ice age鈥攖he 鈥榚nd time鈥? The cold wave froze every living creature, and the people who were running away under its terror. Before the ice age began, many masters were already swallowed by the cold.

鈥擝ut it鈥檚 weird.

Looking at them, it seemed the people were 鈥榙ivided into two groups鈥? There are thousands of people on the cliff, and tens of thousands of people in the valleys below. Looking from above, it appears to be two armies facing off.

鈥淒on鈥檛 they look like military robots?鈥?

Viscaria points at the screen. Over there, hundreds of black glowing robots are lined in a row, and the soldiers seem to be standing guard there, looking down at the tens of thousands of people in the crowd. It seems like they鈥檙e there to protect the 鈥榤inority鈥?on the cliff, against the 鈥榤ajority鈥?at the bottom of the cliff.

鈥淟ooking at the models, it鈥檚 probably the later generation of the 鈥楩.310鈥欌€︹€?

Viscaria says with a serious look.

鈥擶hat are they doing?

The hordes of tens of thousands appear to be approaching the bottom of the cliff. Some on the front group have begun to scale the cliff.

鈥淚t鈥檚 basically a rebellion.鈥?

Eisbahn mutters. 鈥淲hy, yes.鈥?G?tz gives a rare agreement. Both of them watch on grimly.

Finally, the military robots occupying the ledge slowly raise their thick metal arms. The arms bend at right angles, showing long silver-colored cylinders.

鈥擥uns鈥?

The guns are fired upon the yapping crowd. At this point, I still have yet to understand what this scene before me is about.

鈥溾€擣ire!鈥?

Some voices echo. It is a loud, booming voice from the commanding soldier. The robots receiving this command start to shoot lights from their arms, blue lasers spewing from their guns in unison.

鈥擡h鈥?

The lasers rain upon the front of the group. Juuu, there seem to be something steaming away, and the bright red smoke fizzle out like a geyser. Slabs of meat rain from the skies, and only then do I realize that it鈥檚 vaporized 鈥榖lood goblets鈥?

鈥擡-eh鈥??

The hundreds of people at the front are vaporized into red steam, and the people at the back sink into chaos. The screams sound like metallic friction, and there is massive chaos created out of fear and rage鈥攖he people who turned around to leave, the people who started to climb out of anger, the ones who fell and got trampled, a man who keeps writhing because the lower body is gone and his guts are spilled out, a woman who appears to be a mother, distraught as her baby has lost its head.

However, this is just the beginning. The arms of the robot fire again, and the blue lasers rain down like divine judgement. The front end of the crowd again exploded into blood, and the rain of flesh fall upon them.

Nobody else dares to resist. Those driven by rage are scampering away with blood drained from their faces. The crowd fade quickly like the tide, and those who are trampled and unable to get away are left them like red water spouts.

But, it鈥檚 not over.

The killing rays appear to have intention to eradicating the fleeing people. A third volley, fourth, numerous shots are fired at the backs of people. There is red blood, red blood, blood goblets, red red red blood blood blood鈥?

鈥擲top it, stop it, stop鈥︹€︹€?!

I grab my body with my arms, but even so, my eyes still can鈥檛 leave the screen. Everyone too is the same. Our eyes are widened, faces blank. We are watching the footage, like dolls with their hearts and minds taken.

On this Poly Screen, the blue hail continues to create a large amount of blood. This is no longer a war, not even a massacre. It is a simple job similar to a pesticide used to spray at insects.

The place filled with people becomes a complete red. The black dots that can be seen escaping are vanishing along the horizon, and the hundreds of wounded who manage to survive鈥攐r rather, those red beings that are deformed, become writhing beings that depict hell itself.

Time seems to stand still.

We remain speechless, waiting for the continuation.

Finally, the footage moves away from the red wasteland to the cliff. The footage is taken from high up, so it鈥檚 probably some surveillance satellite. At the top of the cliff, in the front, are the military robots, and then there are thousands of masters in formation. The objective of that formation鈥?

鈥淵ou鈥檙e kidding鈥︹€?

Over there, there is a building with an acute angle, made of glass, a large egg-shaped item can be seen inside, dug into the ground. The large thing (鈥攈ammer) that continues to spin, the outer wall that contains numerous capsules (鈥擟radle), the storage container built into the ground (鈥擱EM forest).

Ahh, that鈥檚, there鈥檚 no doubt about it. That white, long, round building is鈥?

鈥淭he Snow White鈥︹€?

People with bloodshot eyes scramble towards the Snow White, and sit into the Capsules. Finally, the Snow White absorb them into its belly, spins into the underground, and vanishes below.

There are thousands of people left behind. The abandoned people are screaming and wailing in despair and rage. Finally, a surging white smoke rose, freezing the helpless people. The human figures glittering in light are as pretty as crystal dolls, but in the end, their heads and limbs are loped and dropped off in the winds, shattered as they turn into dust.

The ones left at the top of the cliff are robots. Our comrades made of black metal, who started killing to protect their masters, raise their thick arms in battle position, remaining still. Like people dressed in mourning clothing for a funeral, their eyes lost luster as they look down at the frozen land. The footage ends.

Nobody could say anything.

Sleep well, sleep well, sleep well for today.

I shall continue to hold you in my arms, so sleep well.

I finished the lullaby, and the room鈥檚 filled with peaceful rest. There were more than thirty children sleeping in the nap room of the kindergarten. The children were sleeping peacefully in the room, the children were sleeping with their feet reaching out from the blankets, the children sucking their thumbs like a cat as they sleep; I can determine their personalities from how they sleep.

鈥擥oodness, you鈥檒l catch a cold.

There鈥檚 a boy revealing his cute bellybutton. I adjust his clothes, and drape the blanket over him. Human children are very weak; managing their conditions is a must.

The bright lights shone through the curtain gaps, and the spring breeze shook the branches outside. I sensed the wind of life. It鈥檚 the spring anyone would sleep in.

鈥淕ood work.鈥?

A hand patted my shoulder. I lifted my face, and saw a kind face.

鈥淭hank you very much, principal.鈥?

鈥淕o have a rest.鈥?

鈥淵es. Thank you very much for your concern.鈥?

The principal left, and I stayed back to watch the children鈥檚 sleeping face. There would be some who would reveal their bellies, some who would cry as they wet the bed. I still couldn鈥檛 look away from them; most important I love this time. So serene, peaceful; it鈥檚 the best time for me, as though everything is covered with warm love.

The children sleep on peacefully, with innocent looks.

Innocent faces, with no sense of doubt on them.

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