"The cosmic cycle moves in four ages. The first is an era of absolute luxury and righteousness, with morals degrading after each passing age. In every era, a crisis arises that threatens humanity. Yet, from what we have observed throughout history, it is only during the fourth age, the darkest of all, that humanity faces extinction itself."
Vesper's gaze was fixed at the center of the lecture hall.
The professor wore a trench coat over a sleek black suit, a few chains glinting against a crisp white shirt.
His hair was streaked with grey, yet he hardly looked old, more like a striking middle aged man. Though his hairline had matured, most of it fell forward, obscuring any sign of age.
"Miraculously," the professor continued, faint amusement touching his voice, "humanity has survived every fourth era. Unfortunately, it was during… before and after the First Pandemonium that we lost the majority of our ancient knowledge."
This was the History class Vesper had chosen as one of his subjects. Aside from combat, it was equally important.
The man teaching it was renowned, the most acclaimed archaeologist and adventurer of the era.
Professor Harkus Medley.
A great explorer. An exceptional treasure hunter. A man who had uncovered over a thousand lost ruins belonging to ancient civilizations.
No one could pass up the opportunity to learn under such a master of history. The lecture hall was packed. Hundreds of first years had chosen the same subject as Vesper.
"Can anyone tell me why three quarters of our ancient knowledge was lost?" the professor asked suddenly, breaking Vesper from his thoughts.
A cadet sneered.
"Of course. Because of those bloody Vampyres. They enslaved us."
Vesper tilted his head slightly to observe him. Straight blond hair, a handsome complexion, and ears just slightly pointed.
'Elvish ancestry.'
The professor smiled.
"Yes… and no. The Vampyres did enslave humanity after the First Pandemonium. We were reduced to blood bags. Cattle. However, they were not the sole reason."
He paced slowly.
"Most of our knowledge was lost duringhumanity's great space migration, a process that took centuries. How many years, exactly?"
A cadet raised her hand. Brown hair. Amber eyes behind spectacles. The professor gestured to her.
"Four hundred and thirty six years, professor."
He nodded.
"Precisely. Four hundred and thirty six years. Still, that alone does not account for ourtransgression."
A sigh escaped him, almost amused.
"During those centuries, humanity grew too comfortable aboard its ships. Civilization suffered a severe psychological decline. Passivity and sensory consumption replaced scholarship and preservation."
Vesper resumed jotting notes.
"That was merely a passive factor," Medley continued. "The greater one was fear. Fear of machines. Fear of artificial intelligence, especially after the Great Revolution of the Ancient Earthern Year 2093."
The hall remained silent.
"We abandoned super quantum computation entirely."
Vesper paused mid note.
His undead heart gave a violent thud.
Rebellion.
2093.
'He just referenced me.'
A faint smile tugged at his lips. He closed his eyes for a moment, quietly savoring it. He had never been thanked for that act of anarchy, having perished shortly after.
He lifted his coffee, taking a slow sip, letting the flavor linger.
Coffee was permitted. So were cigarettes. They no longer carried odor in this era. Certain stimulants were even encouraged for warriors. Troy's combat curriculum went so far as to train cadets to overdose on potent substances and retain their ego as early as possible.
A discipline designed to ensure chemical alteration never ruled the mind.
"Of course," the professor added… scoffing as he tamped his pipe, "there are gaps in our existing records as well. Certain events… erased too thoroughly but we won't talk about that."
The professor released a puff of violet smoke from his ivory pipe as smiled at the students.
"It's important to understand… that those machines could have preserved all of human history and maybe we should have not cowered under the fear. However during the migration, The Emperor… Xi Matheldun, understood inevitable human nature well. He knew complacency was inescapable. So he chose to take the risk… whichin the long run has indeed helped us."
He paused.
"How, then, did we preserve knowledge?"
Vesper returned to his notes.
'Xi Matheldun. Human emperor.No wonder Evira mocked the princess. Amyris may be an usurperin her eyes. The Xi family, fallen monarchs ofhumanity.'
The blond cadet raised his hand again. Theprofessor acknowledged him.
"Ancient knowledge was passed orally, through fragmented texts, lost satellites, and unstablecyberspace records," the cadet said seriously.
"True to the emperor's fears, humanity transgressed, choosing indulgence over understanding. That weakness allowed the Vampyres to enslave us."
The professor chuckled quietly.
He scanned the hall before speaking.
"Indeed. That is why history matters, children. Not to glorify us, but to remind us how easily we fall."
Checking his watch, Professor Medley raised an eyebrow.
"It seems we have twenty minutes remaining. I'm not a strict man. I ask only for respect, and I give it in return. History may bore some of you, but as scions of humanity, you owe it your attention."
A pause.
"This is the story of man, after all."
He smiled.
"The rest of the lecture is free. Enjoy it. Until the day after tomorrow."
Vesper remained seated.
Cosmic cycles. Human nature. Decay. Survival.
There was truth in all of it, cruel as it was.
Harkus Medley truly was a brilliant professor. His voice carried an almost hypnotic quality.
'The story of man.'
Humanity had survived far too long. Vesper wasbeginning to understand that. Their destiny had once been extinction by the 3000s, replaced by machines.
He had prevented that.
And in doing so, altered everything.
'I may have been erased from history… a footnote in one of humanity's darkest chapters.'
He took another sip.
The coffee had gone cold.
He had not noticed.
'I look forward to the next history lesson.'
As Vesper continued observing Professor Medley. He noticed from amongst his belongings… an ornate box with its lid slightly ajar. Inside, resting on black velvet, was an egg similar to his own but pulsing with a deep, monarchal violet light.
Professor Medley's fingers lingered on the lid, his gaze drifting thoughtfully to the diagram still projected on the lecture hall wall.
He closed the box with a click and put it inside his bag along with the notes, promptly the professor left without much of even a glance back.
Vesper however felt the egg in his pocket… theimperious scarlet egg grew slightly more warm.