Lova prequel

We are in the Year 2200, the year 2256 to be accurate. The world we know has changed for the better but also for the worse. Everything we thought we knew about this world is now just a story told to put children to sleep. Wars, epidemics, explosions. Everything has changed completely.

Ethnicities no longer exist, nationalities no longer exist, the only thing I know for sure is that the world was divided in half in the year 2145, almost a century before our history. That same year, nature had taken control. Several natural cataclysms broke out all over the globe, causing billions of losses.

Lives were lost, families were lost, the world as we know it was a world of desolation and sadness. It took a lot of will and determination to get to where we are today. But at what cost.

The northern and southern hemispheres have never been so far apart physically, socially, or even technologically.

If in the northern hemisphere we can still see buildings rising up and vestiges of the past are restored, in the southern hemisphere it is a completely different story.

Nature has not exactly been friendly, apart from volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and even tsunamis. The southern hemisphere has experienced a great deal of loss.

Billions of people lost their lives, civilizations were decimated, but by the greatest of chance nature quickly gave hope to the remaining population. Leaving food and spring water in abound.

The story I'm about to share with you is about Emyricka, an 18-year-old girl from the southern hemisphere. Before telling you her story, I will first speak about the South.

The South, a green paradise. If once the Southern Hemisphere was composed of countries as rich as they were high, the South is not what it used to be. With the greenery covering ninety percent of the surface, the residents had to live with new habits to survive in this new environment. From hunting to the gathering, to scheduled hunting in 2170, the once primitive habitats have become more in tune with nature. The once wild animals became allies of man. It took a lot of time and energy for the South to become a livable place for all living things.

The sky that used to be dark all day along was now letting the sun's glow through. The clouds were rare, but during each rainy season, the clouds would darken for a few minutes before becoming clear again. The rain was gentle and never rained in a way that hurt living things. Rain was good for the skin, but also good for life. Every rainy day in the South brought good news. Better days, peaceful life, and sometimes even a birth. The birth of a new person who would contribute to the southern hemisphere.

Emyricka was one of those who was born on a rainy day; living in an oak tree with her parents and her older brother. Emyricka had nothing to envy. Intelligent and able to use all her hands, Emyricka was the ideal little girl.

The sky was getting darker by the minute until only a halo of light was visible through the window.

Emyricka sat on her bed, looking at the sky without any real thought. The sound of footsteps brought her out of her slumber and her brother's face appeared in the corner of the door.

"Emy, it's time to eat. "

Emyricka did not answer and just looked at her brother before getting up brusquely from her bed.

The household where Emyricka and her family lived was a large oak tree that has the primary characteristic of not dying even after being cut down. It took several years for the people of the South to discover this oak tree, previously living only in makeshift shelters or caves, the discovery of this tree was a real blessing for all the people. Each oak tree had its own name given by its own person. There was a rumor in the south that a well-named oak tree would give you a good chance at any given time. For this reason, living in a well-named oak was not an option for everyone. You had to be humble and trustworthy to earn the claim. Emyricka's great-grandfather was one of those few people.

Known as one of the pioneers of the renaissance world, he had contributed enormously in several fields. He was even the initiator of modern hunting commonly called the programmed hunting. The programmed hunting consisted of choosing the most inconvenient moment, in the most inconvenient place with a reduced group of people to hunt the most cattle. This hunt was always done at a specific time of the year, its only limit was that it could happen at any time and from this same idea was born the initiative to create a hunter's school aimed at helping the youngest to survive and live in the wild without the help of anyone. As the years passed, the hunting school became more and more important in the southern community. Until he got his own name a few years later: "Mahatsekoly" translated from a lost language now forgotten.

"Emy, are you finally here? "Her mother smiled benevolently at her.

Emyricka's family was not only ancient but also part of the elite. Her mother was the general governess and her father was her right-hand man. It was impossible not to recognize them by their hair and the color of their eyes. Emyricka was the perfect example of a perfect fusion, her father's green eyes reminiscent of the sacred river and her mother's golden hair reminiscent of the colors of wheat. Loved and adored by everyone, Emyricka lacked of nothing but adventure.

Lunch was held as usual in the family, each member of the family discussed their day and what they were going to do after eating. What made this day different from the others was Emyricka's silence which was extremely obvious in the conversation. Not having said a word since she came down from her room, Emyricka was lost in her thoughts, as if some mysterious force prevented her from staying connected with the living of this world.

Her mother looked at her with an absent-minded look. There were times when a parent had to let go of their child, and unfortunately, she felt Emyricka's turn sooner than expected. In the Southern Hemisphere, it was customary for parents to let their children live their lives if they wished, even if they didn't want to, they had no rights as long as the child was in full capacity.

Smiling without really smiling, Emyricka felt the gaze of her family on her. Everyone knew she would disappear; it was just a matter of time.

A week had passed since then, her hair tied in a ponytail and her backpack behind her, Emyricka took off and went far from home.

Dressed in a simple pant sweat and a sweatshirt, she didn't feel the mosquitoes to the delight of her body. It was cool for some time and she was afraid to be gone at the wrong time, her anxiety dissipated when she felt the rain falling on her. The rain was a good omen, so her destiny was to leave her home.

Listening to the quiet sounds of the forest, she once again lost herself in her thoughts. She felt that she had to go somewhere, she felt that her destination led to a specific place. Her feet were moving by themselves without her having to think about it, her route was already mapped out without her even having it in mind.

It was rare that the thread of fate interfered with the affairs of the living, but Emyricka's destination was crucial to the uncertain future of the South.

Killing a rabbit with a slice of a knife, Emyricka prepared her dinner in the most peaceful way possible. Always on the lookout, her senses were on the alert. Having set up camp near a water source, she knew that the land animals would think twice before coming to her.

For nearly two centuries, water had been a sacred element in the south. Rain, rivers, lakes, the ocean, were sacred to the people of the south. The water animals themselves were considered sacred. Those who consumed them would be dead within minutes. An ancient language called this practice "the fady", a taboo that no one should raise.

Chewing her meat distractedly, Emyricka heard footsteps a few feet from her. The sound was unlike of an animal, more like a man.

On the alert, Emyricka took up an attack position and moved suspiciously toward the place where she heard the noise.

"Is anyone there? "she asked, placing her knife near her face.

There was no sound, except for the screeching of owls.

As she was about to turn back, she heard a cackle. Throwing the knife towards the noise, a cry of pain escaped from it and a man swearing was heard.

"Are you out of your mind! "were the first words she heard as she approached the person she hurt minutes ago.

Moving towards the voice, Emyricka was surprised to see a young man  about her age, maybe, even more, older than her, her knife in his arm.

"When you hurt someone, you apologize! "replied the young man by shooting her with his eyes. Taking off the knife and squeezing his hurting hands. Before throwing the knife in front of Emyricka.

"Sorry?" was the only answer of Emyricka not knowing how to really react to such a person. And quickly taken her knife to the ground. 

Marius looked at the klutz standing there without saying anything for five minutes. Great, in addition to being disrespectful, she is stupid though he in his deepest heart but it was necessary to admit it to himself that she was fast, maybe faster than his bestfriends,  it was with a close knot to be made cut alive by her knife.

"I I I am sorry" she made while lowering the head, red of embarrassment.

I like that better, though Marius.

"My name is Marius, from the tribe of "ES" he answered without being asked.

"Emyricka, OS" she said shyly, holding out her forearm as a sign of peace.

Marius responded with a peace sign and just stared at her.

Being away from his family for a couple of months, Marius thought that a little adventure would be good in his life. The reality exceeded his expectations, it was not a simple adventure that he lived every day but a fight where he tried to survive day by day. Accompanied by his best friends, Marius had thought that life in the jungle would be as easy as capturing a frog in a barn, but unfortunately, he was wrong. Since the beginning of their escapade, he and his friends had almost died under the claws of an animal thirsty for fresh meat.

Separated by the blows of fate, he thought he would die when he heard Emyricka's footsteps. Thinking of a wild animal, he wanted to fly as quickly as possible, but the attack sent by Emyricka was much faster than his reflexes. Still feeling his arm numb from the pain, Marius thought he was lucky to be alive. He knew his friends were still alive despite the distance between them. How did he know? Perhaps because of the new environment or the time of adaptation of the new civilization of the South, the living beings can know if the people close to their hearts have disappeared forever from the earth. It is evidence that arrives one day in their thought, which will be then confirmed by the arrival of the snow for almost five minutes. This is how the announcement of the death in the South has been known for years.

Marius and Emyricka walked towards her camp in complete silence, the embarrassment still present followed by a small sense of joy and security. Knowing that someone was going to travel with you for a few days was an overwhelming feeling, even though that person was a complete stranger to you.

Southern children were always taught to be grateful for what nature gave them, and nature's way of making you cross paths with a stranger was a good sign for you. It meant that your path was the right one and that you should continue on your way.

Never would Emyricka have thought that she would come across someone as adorable and caring as Marius. The eldest of six children, Marius knew from the age of ten that he would be leaving his family for a cause that is dear to his heart. 

A few weeks ago, Marius had fallen into depression after the death of his friends. He had thought he would see them again, but unfortunately; nature could sometimes be cruel to living beings. Emyricka had helped him as best she could, but she knew that the weight he felt was getting heavier by the day until he broke down and left on his own. This was the case with her Grandpa, whom she loved so much. After the death of her grandmother, her grandfather was no longer in control of himself. He no longer lived for himself, he lived for others. Then he took off his life and left them.  It was ten years ago and she still remembered it clearly. 

Walking on the lookout in the sunflower jungle, the call of migratory birds could be heard in the distance. They were almost at the end of their path.

Nature was becoming more and more insistent; their paths were now to split.

"I don't want to leave without you," said Emyricka, feeling her tears flowing.

"I don't want to leave either, but it's our destiny" was the only answer Marius gave her.

And they parted and never saw each other again.

Emyricka looked at the sky insistently, she knew it was going to rain, it was inevitable. She felt that the path she was about to discover would change everything, she felt it from the depths of her being. As she finally found the end of her road, her heart clenched and she knew it was no more. A cry of pain escaped from her, she could not hold back her tears, and then the snow came for a few moments to confirm her fears. That's it, it was the end.

He was gone, she would never see him again. She didn't know how she still managed to move, but she was no longer in control of her body. Her body was moving by itself as if it was controlled by a force greater than her.

The time had come for nature to reclaim its rights. The forgotten child would soon be awakened. The purge would finally begin.

Emyricka was frightened when she heard herself speak. Nature had a terrible problem of self-control from what she could understand.

Finally, in control of herself, she realized that she was in the middle of nowhere in a stone desert. One of the stones caught her attention, moving slowly towards it, she saw a human form through the stone and started to touch it.

The stone disintegrated and a person emerged. A woman about her age, with green hair and a naked body.

Not really knowing what to do, Emyricka covered the woman with a cloth and gently woke her up.

After an n-th call, she finally woke up and started to stare at her.

"Lova" she said, looking into Emyricka's eyes.

"What?" was Emyricka's rude reply, not knowing what she meant.

"Lova" she continued, staring at Emyricka.

"ah! Is that your name?! Nice to meet you, I'm Emyricka" she said, smiling gently.

Lova looked at her strangely and stood up, taking off the clothes Emyricka had put on her.

She looked around and the rain began to fall. Nature's child was born. The rain was gentle at first, then severe. It was pouring and yet the two young women felt nothing on their side.

The entire southern hemisphere had just been informed. Nature's child was going to raze everything in its path. The elders became frightened and began to gather, the younger ones, happy to see the rain, did not know that the future would not be kind to everyone.

It rained heavily for three weeks and yet the two young women did not see the weather in the same way as others. Locked in a bubble, the two women knew nothing of what the South was enduring. After the third week, the rain subsided and the sun returned. The rice cultivation completely lost its meaning, nothing made sense anymore. Everything was lost. The South had to rebuild itself again.

Emyricka felt her tears roll down her cheeks, she wished Marius was there with her. Her thoughts darkened, her desire for the fire was felt but disappeared immediately. The darkness in her heart was one of the bad effects of death. Depression made you do horrible things even more after the death of a loved one. Lova watched Emyricka leave, her mission was over, nature no longer needed her. The only thing that mattered now was to reunite the East and West before going north and taking back the rights that were stolen by men.

Emyricka's mother looked up anxiously, the worst was yet to come.

In the far distance to the north, A person who appeared to be a child looked suspiciously at the sky. The south finally began to move into action. It was time for them to do the same.

The child smiled and snapped his fingers. A huge machine started up.

The North, unlike the South, had completely killed nature, everything green was artificial. Even the oxygen was artificial. It took a long time for nature to give birth to this child who will take back the rights that are due to them.

This story is about how everything begins before the birth of Lova, the child of nature. This child was born from nature to save what is left of greenery in this world. This child to whom nature has imposed a destiny that he will not want to pursue but that he will have to for his own survival.