The Factions

"What is true power? What is loyalty, what is trust? What are all these things, when they are nothing but a shaky foundation, built on intimidation"

A long time ago there was a song known to all men, this song could touch anyone's heart no matter what. Through the ages, this song slowly but surely became fragmented and forgotten. Until only a few lines could still be heard in some secluded places. At one of these places, an old man could be seen singing with a sad face as he stared at the sky.

"Oh, how fragile is life..."

"Oh, how we change... with just a touch..."

"What is the fate of our heart..."

"If we cannot not even part..."

Oh, how fragile is life..."

As the old man sang, tears streamed down his face. He couldn't help but cry remembering his past and thinking of the future.

"I hope that one day, there will be people who truly, truly care and... Sigh! Never mind, there's no point thinking about that now! I first have to deal with this!" said the old man with a sigh as he looked at the golden egg in front of him.

As he walked to the egg he wiped away his tears and started to think about his next actions. For the old man knew, time was of the essence for the decision he was about to make.

Location: River of Greed, Steven's cabin

Time: Year 11 of the Era of Change Era: Era of Change

"Factions... hmm... where to begin?" considered Colin with a bitter smile.

"Factions have a specific hierarchy. According to what we have been told, the factions on earth are the bottom of the bottom of low ranking factions. They didn't tell us why? But what we do know is that it has something to do with their so-called "celestials". As to the arrays I mentioned, all that I can tell you, is that almost every faction has one. And the higher the ranking, the better array the faction will have. When an array has a higher ranking, it's functions are much more refined, and it allows the faction many other options that a low ranking array doesn't have. For example; a mid-level ranked array can influence the terrain and how time works in the faction territory, as well as many other things. But don't think for one second that people like us will ever encounter those arrays. Even if the factions on earth don't have a high ranking, like those outside of earth, for us... it's something we "normal" people will never be able to see," sighed Colin, as he finally finished talking.

"Uh... So, what about the faction we are now headed to?" asked Steven with a dazed expression as he felt like his head was about to explode with all the information that had come out of Colin's mouth.

"Like I previously said, this faction is at the bottom of low ranking factions. That means the array is very crude and simple. The only function this array has is to scan individuals that enter the faction territory and to put an imprint on them so that they are under the factions' control. Once a person is imprinted, they don't have to be imprinted again. Additionally, if an individual is stronger than the faction array or he has something to help him to stop the imprint, basically avoiding the imprint, they will then either be treated as very important guests, or will be imprisoned and used as specimens for the faction, to find out how they avoided the imprint. There's a lot of other things that I could tell you, but I think you don't need to know any more!" remarked Colin.

"Wait! One more question!" groaned Steven with a hurried tone.

"Sigh... fine!" said Colin with a vexed expression.

"How does the faction know if someone somehow avoided being imprinted?" blanched Steven with a worried expression as he stared at the puddle in front of him.

"Hmmm...well normally the array would tell them if something happened, but if for some reason, they don't know, then, one: If they sense that person is strange, capture him and investigate! Or two: That person is a lucky bastard who can go unchecked through the territory. But we're not people like that Steven, as you felt earlier, you've already been imprinted!" stated Colin as he slowly walked away.

"Did the imprint fail, or did it succeed?" whispered Steven in a very quiet tone as he stared at the puddle in front of him. I really hope that, if I have failed... no one finds out... I really wouldn't want to end up as a specimen for this faction!" exclaimed Steven as he shivered with a grim expression.

Location: Unending Primal Forest

Time: Year 11 of the Era of Change Era: Era of Change

"Flaven! I can smell that the scent is getting closer and closer. But the problem is that the scent is headed in the direction of the Foundation Faction!" said Barion with a grim expression.

"The Foundation Faction! Why would the target go there? That place is basically hell on earth for us so-called "normal" beings," questioned Flaven with a confused expression, as he absolutely did not want to go to the Foundation Faction.

"Damn it! To all the places he could go to, why there!!!" shouted Flaven with a sour expression.

"But the ancestors specifically said that the target cannot be lost, nor can he be harmed!" as Flaven said this he gritted his teeth and made a decision.

"Barion! Go with the rest of the task force, back to the tribe to tell the ancestors about the situation! I'll go on my own to find the human!" revealed Flaven with determination as he went into the direction of where Steven was headed to.

"But... Flaven," implored Barion with a concerned expression, as he knew that where Flaven would go, would be very dangerous.

"No buts! Just go!" quipped Flaven without looking back.

"Alright, Flaven! I'll do as you say! I hope nothing happens to you!" choked Barion as he went with the task force back to their tribe, to inform their ancestors.

Location: River of Greed, Steven's cabin

Time: Year 11 of the Era of Change Era: Era of Change

"Whew!" said Steven while exhaling as he had just wiped away the puddle with a cloth he had found in the cabin.

"Let's hope no one finds this cloth, otherwise... I'm screwed!" muttered Steven as he placed the cloth in a hidden area in his cabin.

Who would have thought that this action of Steven's would change someone's entire life, later on.