The sharper the blade the faster it dulls

  Repair is destruction in disguise

  Why am I even competing, I know I'm the best, these idiots can't even come close.

  “Here's your card. Make sure not to lose it or you can't compete.” Theo walked away leaving the enormous line.

  Theo walked passed hundreds with every step. The images that were projected into the sky told him that a total of fifty million other ten year olds were going to be accessed to determine if they were worthy. He rolled his eyes knowing that this was a waste of time. Last year only three kids passed the tests and they were sent back a week later. He looked at his card and shrugged. “194,579” he spoke the number to himself.

  “Theo! Their you are. Where were you.”

  “I was waiting for my card mother.”

  “We'll come on I want to take a picture before you go. I know how hard you've worked and…” she began to tear up. “I'm sorry I'm just so proud of you.” He rolled his eyes and hugged his mother. His head reaching just a tad above her hips. They walked into an area just large enough for the picture she wanted. She knelt down besides him and took the picture. She wiped the tears from her face and pulled him in for another hug.

  “My baby! You'll write me and visit right?”

  “Yes mother.” Theo walked with his mother to the area.

  His mother walked off to find her seat. Theo could see that they were getting started. He walked to his designated area and looked at the fifteen other kids that stood around the table.

  “This device generates a random string of numbers it's your job to find as many of these numbers as possible once I say go and the box blinks red. You will have thirty seconds, to write, stop when I say stop.”

  Theo began to recite the spring of numbers that had yet to come.

  “Ready, set, go” the box blinked a red light.

  Theo looked on as the others furiously wrote down the numbers and he looked over at the moderator who looked disappointed in him.

  Theo wrote down “194579” then placed his pencil down.

  Once the pencil was completely in his pocket the man said "Stop”.

  “Alright, I will now read the sequence” the man looked at the other children who each had about half a page of neatly written.

  The sequence appeared on the scream and they began to check their work.

  “Is something wrong with the machine?” Asked a boy in a white robe after a few seconds.

  “Yeah, why isn't the rest of the numbers showing?”

  Theo rolled his eyes and said “194579” he held out his paper and waited.

  “Because you aren't smart enough to understand, let me just tell you. I had the stupid machine malfunction and stop after it played this sequence.”

  They looked at him just beginning to grasp what kind of child he was. They all knew it deep down. He was a well know prodigy after all. Some said the best to have ever been born on their planet.

  “Anyway let's get a move on I don't have all day.”

  They never stood a chance. He had removed the future they had chosen and instilled his own.

  He still needed to wait for everyone else to finish so the next round could begin. In a minute and no more they began to move those who had lost moved out.

  He could see his mother had payed for a drone to watch him as he competed.

  Theo walked the small distance to the next event. They stood in a circle and looked at the small device in the center of the ring.

  “An object will be teleported here at random. It's your job to make the object you have been assigned arrive.” Theo looked at the paper he had at his given location.

  Everyone had one where they stood.

  “Knife” Theo shrugged and looked at the others.

  Theo looked at the device and clapped. Everyone looked over at him and the machine turned on. A knife fell and he walked over with the paper.

  “I'm done” The man nodded and the other children were guided out.

  Eventually he effortlessly defeated everyone in his path. He watched a second drone fly over to watch him. This one had a box hanging underneath it. It made its way down and had the words.

  “Love you baby. With warmth Moma.” On the side of the box.

  He grabbed it knowing she would not stop till he did.

  “Thanks.” he opened the box and ate the food held within.

  After the fifteenth round he arrived to the final battle. Hundreds of drones were floating around him and the girl. She knew she didn't really stand a chance but she was more than capable of joining the next level.

  “Hey, if you win can you make me your prodoshay?” She seemed to be very serious.

  “Why would I do that?” Theo looked up and found himself distracted by the sound of the drones. She kept her eyes locked on his.

  “I know I don't stand a chance but I still have a shot at joining the Archive if I become your prodoshay.”

  “Fine but if you don't make it you come back here with a few messages for my mother.” Theo looked up at the drones.

  She grabbed the sword they would be using to fight one another. They were ready to see what he was capable of. All but one drone fell out of the sky. They hit the ground sending dust into the air. He began walking forward.

  “Just to make things clear. Once I become The Lord in not making you my second.”

  He knew from a physical standpoint she would have no problem overwhelming him. But that never really mattered.

  “Come on.” She shattered the ground with her first step.

  She closed the distance between them sending a spiral of dust up behind her. She swung the iron rod at his chest hoping beyond hope she could win.

  Theo looked at the rod and rolled his eyes. It shattered like glass and became nothing more than powder. The blade reformed once it was passed the point of where it would have hit him.

  She took a moment to understand what had just happened. Theo kicked her chest causing her diaphragm to convulse.

  She collapsed struggling to adjust herself. Just before she blacked out he kicked her again and she began to breathe normally.

  “Theo, you are the winner.” Spoke the game master.

  “I know that.” Theo looked down at her and closed his eyes.

  “They will arrive tomorrow and pick you up.” spoke the man.

  Theo could see the man was overwhelmed by what he had watched.

  “I'm gonna home. Get your things ready for tomorrow and bring something to write on.” Theo walked all the way back to the entrance where thousands stood.

  Theo walked passed everyone and made his way home. He didn't want to take part in the celebration.

  The clay building and stone roads he walk on we're his home. The massive steel building he left behind surrounded the arena.

  “Mom, I'm home.” They had agreed to meet at home after the event.

  He reached down and grabbed a handful or rocks. He walked over to a tree and snapped a branch off. He walked over to his home and place the stick facing up near the door. He reached into his pocket and the card in his left hand.

  He opened the door to his home and tossed the rock at a large glass bulb that hung from the ceiling.

  He then ran into his home dashing for the kitchen. Three grown men and two women ran after him. He reached the kitchen and reached under the table.

  A hand fulls of knives now lay in his grasp. He tossed a knife and heard a body drop.

  Guns began to tear apart his kitchen. He had hidden behind the iron pots and pans. He grabbed the steel wire he had in a drawer and tied it to a knife.

  He tossed the knife back and heard it crunch through a skull. He listened closely and could hear one of them attempting to sneak up on him. He waited and just as they were about to turn the corner he tossed another knife. Removing the fingers of the attacker. He tossed another knife landing it between their eyes. He pulled on the wire whipping it at the man with a knife in his head. He twirled it around around the gun and pulled it over. He placed the gun in a cabinet and placed the knife in the trigger.

  He move to the other side of the large table and pulled. They began shooting on that area alone and he dashed for the window. He smashed through landing outside. Glass had found a place in his arm. Shards like teeth filled his left arm.

  He looked up and heard them running for the front door. He tossed another knife and hit one of them in the foot sending them falling into the stick. It gashed open his throat and ended him.

  The last woman shot at Theo removing his right hand. Theo grimaced and tossed another knife hitting her shoulder. She shot his elbow knocking his arm off. She shot his legs and he knew he was all out of tricks.

  “Not so tough now are you.” His entire neighborhood was gone at the arena and the after party. She placed the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. He was back at his door.

  “Disappointing, if I can't do this on my first try I won't ever make it to Lord class.” Theo punched a window and grabbed the glass.

  He walked in and tossed every piece of glass at them. Each piece embedded themselves into their throats. He also made sure a piece hit each of their eyes. They fired aimlessly into the air desperately attempting to land a single hit. A few seconds later they were still.

  Theo walked over and looked at them. He began kicking in their skulls. The heel of his foot was caked in blood and brain matter after the second impact. He repeated the process and sat down. A few moments later he was outside again. He inhaled and got ready for round three. Attempt after attempt he continued to fight and kill them. After a few million times it finally stopped.

  He stood at the door. Everyone inside was dead. He could see his mother walking up the street with bags full of toys and gifts. She made her way over and looked at the house.

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  “What you doing out here?” Her dark hair swung down by her knees.

  “Well, some people tried to kill me…” his mother yelled “Are you okay!”

  Dropping her bags. She hugged him and began checking his face and arms for scratches.

  “You must have been so scared.” She began crying as she hugged him.

  “Mom, I'm fine. I'll just call the guard and tell them what happened.” She nodded and they walked to find a guard.

  The guard stood at the corner of the street. Theo walked over and told the guard what happened.

  “I'll contact command and have a few others join me their in a few minutes. Thank you for reporting this crime.”

  Theo walked with his mother and found a beautiful restaurant where he would have her be treated to a fine meal. The workers gave a slight bow as they walked by him.

  The owner walked out from the kitchen and had a smile on his face.

  “Theo! Welcome, I hope you come back to visit once you become a Priest.” Theo stood and looked at Neris.

  His eyes held a monstrous glare unlike anything that the man had ever seen.

  “What did you just say?”

  The man took a step back and lifted his hands. “I mean no disrespect.”

  Theo had a wicked glare and his mother spoke. “Theo, sit.”

  He took his seat and his mother gave a lovely smile.

  “He's going to be the next Lord.” His mother smiled.

  “So sorry I didn't mean anything by it.” Theo looked at his mother and she spoke.

  “We'll be sharing a large plate of Booboo roots with water please.” He nodded and walked off.

  “Theo, I know this is going to be hard but I've been making something for you. I knew from the day you were born that you would be something special. I knew one day you would have to leave me. But I want you to know you will always be my special boy.”

  He knew she had been writing five letters every day so he would never be alone. She knew from the start that he was different. No one on the planet even came close to his level of power. He felt it.

  “So today I'm going to spend every second I can with you.” The food arrived and she handed the man a large sum of their currency.

  They ate and he wondered if he would be allowed to ask. They finished the root like meal and walked out.

  “So, where do you want to go?”

  “I want to go to the willow.” Theo kept his plain expression.

  She smiled and grabbed his hand. “Let's go!” She ran with him and they arrived at a wagon.

  “Hey, mind taking us to the willow?” Asked his mother to the lady.

  She nodded and they hopped on. The wagon was pulled along by the large reptile and they eventually they reached the woods.

  “Thanks.” She tossed the woman a few small silver spheres and they walked off.

  The trees reached miles into the sky. The clouds passed through their branches brushing the leafs with new air.

  Theo followed his mother and they walked all the way to the willow. The tree sat in the middle of a lake. It was the oldest thing on their planet. Like most other world's trees were born on the world just as life was.

  “Hey, remember the story about the Ria Lord.” Tho looked at his mother knowing full well she was aware that he knew.

  “Yes.” Theo replied.

  She placed her hand on his head and pulled him into a hug.

  “Before our world came to be our Lords watched over everything within their care. One day a war war against the primordials began. And out of all the Lord within the High council only one a Ria Lord was able to find a way to kill the primordials and keep them dead with the help of other Arks. And this is where the first primordial fell. Primordial after primordial fell as they made a new path for the Arks.”

  His mother had a smile on her face as she spoke. He knew that that was a story older than the star they had in the sky.

  He knew it was extremely well documented. The events of the war had entire library's worth of information. Theo looked at the tree and decided to take a nap.

  He found a spot in the grassy woods and rolled himself into a ball. His mother lifted his head and place it on her lap. He woke in the twilight of dusk and looked at his mother.

  “Come on.” She picked him up and walked back the the edge of the forest.

  “Mom,”

  “Yes my little baby?”

  “I'll miss you.” They arrive home after an hour and she walked into their home.

  A few guards still passed by every now and then.

  She sat him in his bed and took a place beside him. She kissed his head and hugged him. She held him as he slept knowing this may be the last time she would ever see her baby. She didn't was to cry because he might feel bad about leaving.

  She couldn't sleep knowing that's meant she would have less time to look at him before he left. She watched as the sun spilled light into the room and she got up to cook him their last meal. She made a loaf of bread and mashed roots with strips of meat.

  He walked over and she smiled. “I made breakfast.”

  He walked over and gave her a hug. She held him tight and smiled at her baby. He sat down and ate with his mother.

  “Maybe I'll be able to send you letters.” Theo knew that wasn't likely but that wasn't a problem. They looked at the clock and knew they only had a few hours.

  Theo walked to the door and open the door before one of the six men could knock.

  “You must be Theo.” said a man.

  “And you're Timothy. Just say what matters and stop wasting my time.”

  “The child of Keeper Orion is now your prodoshay. It's in your best interest to make sure you she gets in to the Archive.” Said Orien.

  “I will do as I please. If you ever think about telling me what I can or can't do I'll drop you and your entire organization. Watch your next words carefully because if you anger me I'll kill you all here and now. But there's a way to get into my good graces. Have guards make sure nothing bad ever happens to my mother. If she sends me a letter and tells me so much as a scratch has been made on her I'll come back a d kill all of you.”

  “Ahem” his mother cleared her throat.

  “Fine, hurt all of you.” Theo reworded his decoration.

  “Come on, leave the poor men alone and let's play some games.” Theo walked away and continued to enjoy the five hours he had left with his mother.

  “Come here.” She had her arms wide open. His mother was rather tall but was small compared to his father. He sat down in his mother's lap and held him tightly for a few seconds.

  “Sorry I'm so clingy. I just don't know what I'm going to do without you.” He knew she had done everything in her power to raise him.

  “You can take over the business or travel around the world. I'll be sending you a portion of my check once I get into the Archive.” Theo felt her hands ruffle his hair.

  “I want to give you something.” His mother pulled the her necklace off over her head and placed it on him.

  “I made this when I was your age.” Theo held the emblem in the necklace up. He inspected it closely and recognize it. It was the symbol for the Archive before they became a minor ark. Back in the time when they were masters of knowledge.

  “Thanks.” They walked and when the time came to go they stood.

  “It's time.” his mother grabbed his things and a extra large backpack. They walked outside and walked to their strider. The large lizard like creature with six legs sat sleeping in the backyard.

  His mother patted its head and it looked up with all six of its slits for eyes.

  “Come on.” His mother sat atop the lizard. Theo sat down as well.

  It dashed along the road as his mother pulled it's leash one way then the other.

  They arrived and had full view of the massive spacecraft. He could see the guards standing at the entrance to the ship. The girl was standing, surrounded by guards. She was alone.

  His mother gave him all his bags and kissed his head.

  “Be back soon but not too soon okay?” His mother was holding his hands.

  He hugged his mother goodbye and walked to the ship alongside her. Theo greeted her and took his place.

  “My name is Talia by the way.”

  “Theo.” He kept his eyes on the ship. They walked on and one of the guards placed their things in containment.

  Theo looked back one last time and waved at his mother. He took his seat and the ship was sealed. The engine hissed and they were off. Theo looked around as the first ten minutes passed as they left the atmosphere.

  Once in space they could see something strange form around the ship. A second later they felt a quick jolt and they began to descend on another world.

  Theo had heard about what they had seen but had never imagined something like this. He couldn't see the horizon. It was lost in the distance somewhere between the mountains and trees.

  They slowly descended across the planet and landed in what looked like a world of its own. They landed and could see legions of other ships. Theo got out of his seat and could feel heavier as the ship landed. It stopped and they watched the door open.

  Theo could see millions of other children from other worlds all here to give their best to join the Archive.

  Theo noticed the difference in the air. It was cleaner than his home world. Theo looked closely at others wondering what environments they could have come from. Some ships had acid burn, others had the talons of beasts embedded in them. Some of the children had suits of armor and others were dressed in strange garbs.

  Theo walked down and walked alongside Talia.

  “Wow.” She looked around and wondered if they would be competing against all these people.

  “Talia, this isn't a competition. None of these people have the potential to beat me.”

  “You're stuck up you know that.” She crossed her arms and kept her place just a little ahead of him.

  They all walked and took their place in the massive coliseum. Theo tried to find the seams between the bricks but soon found it to be one seamless stone.

  An Archive Priest stood at the center of the arena. Theo looked at her and wondered just how powerful a priest could be. Lords could destroy gods with a whisper of a thought. But what could a priest do?

  “Hello.” Her voice was calm. He heard it as a whisper that came from all round him. Others were looking around trying to find where the voice came from but he knew exactly where she was.

  “You will all be fighting for a spot in the next level of the ark. One of you will join the next level.” She looked over at him.

  Theo stood “Are you sure about that?”

  She had vanished from the distant place and stood a few feet away. She was tall, covered head to toe in a armor that pretended to be robes.

  She would have been at least a full tree feet taller than his mother. “Repeat yourself so all can hear.”

  They both knew what was about to happen. She knew as well as him that it was inevitable.

  “Are you sure about that.” Theo whispered. He knew everyone heard him.

  “Come with me.” She began walking up the stairs.

  “I'll be taking my prodoshay.”

  She looked back and said “Fine with me.”

  Everyone was looking in their direction. Theo walked with Taolia at his side. He followed her and suddenly stopped. He took just a moment to realize they were where else.

  “I have to say that was rather interesting.” Theo looked around the halls.

  “It's a trick you should be learning soon enough. It's a lot less complicated that it seems once you understand how to it works. But more importantly you're moving on. You were able to see where I really was and that's not an easy task for someone like you.” She spoke.

  “What's is that supposed to mean?” Theo knew she didn't mean that he was of a slightly different order but it almost seemed to mean so.

  “You don't have a Ark form. You're still made of flesh and blood. I'm not.” Theo had never known this.

  He had never come across any information that even hinted to it.

  “Then what are you?”

  “Imagine a living star, but hotter.” Her tone shifted as she said hotter. “Actually it's as if you took the cooled heart of a dwarf star and made it into a living thing with all the regular living parts. Now imagine you packed an entire galaxy into a body my size. That's basically what I am.”

  Theo began to place this idea in his mind. Letting all he knew build a model as to how this worked.

  “By the way, you're moving to the next level of the Ark. One of the kids out there will have a shot at becoming a Ria Priest. But because you were able to find my actual location almost instantly you get to skip right to the final stage.”

  Theo looked back at Talia. They followed her till they reached a white room.

  “Step in there. I'll be sending you somewhere.”

  Theo walked in and felt like he was heavier a split second later. Someone about the size of his mother stood at the door. She had what looked like casual clothing and didn't have the proper uniform for any rank within the Archive.

  “Hello,” she was more heavy set that the previous person. “Come on, I'll show you around while everything gets started.”

  Theo could see absolutely nothing from her. Usually there was some level of indication as to how powerful they were but she seemed no more powerful than the average child.

  “They told me they had a few promising candidates this year but my money's on you. Oh my!” She stopped spun around on her heel and chimed with glee “My friends call me Aster.”

  “Why aren't you dressed in a proper Archive uniform? Do you have any respect for the Archive?” Theo glared at this woman.

  “Well I just thought my outfit looked nice and I just got it as a gift so…” she began looking at her feet.

  “What if someone gave you the banner for the Ark of Life on a shirt. Would you wear it? Would you prance around in chains if it was gifted to you? Show some respect. You're a member of the Archive.” Theo kept his eyes on her.

  “I'm sorry. Can I make it up to you two. Maybe show you around?” She had a full hearted smile. Theo looked away.

  “You can talk to her and decided whether or not we go.”

  Talia looked over and smiled “We,” she said glaring at Theo “would love to.”

  She seemed all to joyful as she said “You're going to love this.”

  Theo took a breath and looked at her. “Stop using it like that. Love means something. It's not just a word you throw around at anything.”

  “So you're not completely heartless.” Talia smiled at him as he looked back at her with annoyance.

  “I have somewhere really cool we can go. Come on.” She jogged and they followed.

  Theo looked around admiring the art. If the Archive was known for anything beyond their vast knowledge it was their love of the arts.

  They followed her and she arrived at a large door. The door had the mark of the Lords. She looked around and opened the door. They walked inside and could see something few had the honor to view.

  “Cool right?” Theo took a moment to view the physical embodiment of transcendence. Theo looked at the art and weapons that were placed on the walls.

  He looked up at the Lord, standing proud in her portrait. She was the most powerful Lord in the history of the Archive.

  The armor she had was gifted to her by the Ethereals. Their craftsmanship had been refined through the entirety of their history.

  She was the only living person he could call his superior.