Shattering Humanity-Chapter 304: An Oath Between Brothers Part 1

"But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ’Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ’You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny." -Matthew 5:22-26

___________________________________

Man’s Voice: "I’ll be gone for a few months Maniae, but when I get back I promise to take you to wherever you want, okay?"

Little Maniae’s Voice: "But why do you have to go Poinai?

I thought you would never leave me alone?

You’re my hero!"

Poinai’s Voice: "... I’m sorry Maniae.

But there are some people on the other side of the world that don’t have any heroes to rely on.

If I can be a hero to them, it will make me a superhero when I get back.

Then nobody will be able to hurt you, Mumma, and Puppa.

That’s an oath among brothers, okay?"

The word "okay" echoes throughout the darkness...

[Mount Decima Military Residential District]

Silpheed’s Voice: "Mnniiaa!

Mnniiaa-, wkk- uhhb-!"

Both of Maniae’s red eyes open and immediately sees a worried Silpheed looking over him while he was passed out on the grass behind Nephilim’s new General House.

Maniae: "Big Sis?

Wh-What happened?"

Silpheed helps the young man sit up as they explain what happened to the young man.

Silpheed: "Wii- wr- fiitn- n- avvdr- awii- ouu- bassd- oud-."

Maniae: "I- I passed out?"

He puts his head in his hand, closing his eyes.

Silpheed: "Err-!"

The concerned "Big Sis" holds out a water bottle in front of his face and the confused young man carefully takes it.

He takes a few swigs and a deep breath while he relaxes and tries to remember what happened.

While still on his ass Maniae carefully falls to his back with his bright red eyes open looking at the ceiling to the huge dome like structure.

Silph walks over and takes a seat next to the recovering young man.

Silpheed: "Maibii- wii- shuud- taig- ah- brey-"

Maniae: "No!"

Silpheed’s exposed single red eye moves over to look at the ambitious fighter.

Maniae: "I can keep going!

It’s just..."

He looks back at the house.

Maniae: "Nevermind.

Okay, I’m ready!"

He hops back to his feet and looks at Silpheed still sitting on the grass. He holds a hand out for his trainer and Silph gladly takes it, being helped up.

They take a few steps away from each other.

Maniae smiles at his "opponent".

Maniae: "Okay, from the top!"

Silpheed nods. Underneath their face covering, the outline of a clear smile.

Maniae runs at Silpheed and the one eyed fighter braces themselves.

Maniae leaves his feet twisting and throws a spinning kick.

Silpheed dodges by leaping backwards but in the same move does a front flip guillotine kick.

It lands, but on the X crossed arms of Maniae underneath. He grabs the leg and tries to drive Silpheed to the ground but the incredibly strong fighter uses Maniae’s momentum into a quick and low backflip.

The flip takes Maniae with it, the young out of his league fighter lands on his back and Silpheed’s knee to his chest, now pinned.

Struggling to get up his eyes look up to the Big Sis pinning him to the artificial grass.

He is immediately surprised to see Silpheed’s single red eye, slowly growing tears while looking at him below.

Maniae: "Big Sis?"

Silpheed catches themselves in a moment and wipes the tears away.

Silpheed: "Zrri-

Ai-...hd- doo- sniizz-."

Removing their knee from his chest, Silpheed is now the one to hold out the helping hand out, which the concerned younger brother takes.

However before he can get the chance to ask, the backdoor to the General’s Home slowly opens and Eden comes out from the house, shaking and nervous as always.

Eden: "Uh-Uhm, S-Sil Silpheed!"

Silpheed turns around quickly and Maniae looks while taking more sips from his water bottle.

Eden: "Th-That boy Arai- he- he- ran aw-away!"

Maniae: "What?!"

Both Silpheed and Maniae’s eyes widen and they turn to look at each other.

The two of them run around the side of the house and look in both directions.

Eden catches up with tears in her eyes.

Eden: "I-I’m so- sorry!

I tried to- to tell him n-not to, but he didn’t ev- even say a single word back to me..."

Maniae: "Which way did he go?!"

Eden shrugs and looks at the ground at her feet.

Eden: "I- I- I-..."

Maniae doesn’t let her finish, he takes off.

Silpheed: "Mnniiaa!"

But the boy doesn’t stop. He continues sprinting down the street to the district.

Maniae(thinking): *If he just took off a few minutes ago, he couldn’t have gotten too far from the house.

I’ve always been faster than him.

If I can catch up to him....

If I can catch him...*

Maniae legs start to slow down while thinking about what is going on and what the situation is.

Maniae(thinking): "I’m trying to stop Arai?

But we’re best friends.

We’ve been beat friends for the past 3 years during this apocalypse.

We survived through it together and got stronger together.

So why...How did it end up like this.*

Turning the corner, Maniae sees one of the three available elevators to the district completely closing, but he is unable to see who it was inside.

The black haired boy sprints full speed over and gets to the buttons to call the elevator.

Maniae: "Come on! Come on!"

Eventually one of the reflective metal double doors opens and he hops inside.

He presses the shuttle button, feeling the motion of the contraption lower him towards his destination.

It gives him more time to think about why his friend has been so distant lately.

[FLASHBACK]

After his conversation with his new "Big Sister", Maniae is too gitty to go to sleep.

Maniae (thinking): *Oh boy!

After Big Sis trains me, I’ll for sure be able to impress Arai and maybe together we can beat Mr. Nephilim!

We can do it!

I need to write down what I think I need most improvement on, so Big Sis can help me on those areas of my fighting techniques!*

The red eyed teen slowly and quietly gets out of his bed, but he doesn’t realize...

*flick*

The light in the room turns on.

Arai(upset): "What are you doing?"

Caught completely by surprise, Maniae stumbles backwards and slips on a baseball bat laying on the floor.

He lucky lands back on his bed.

Maniae: "Arai?!"

He sits up to see the grimacing scowl of his friend and Arai’s blue eyes staring right through him.

He has the half finished midnight snack of an apple in his hand.

Maniae: "Wh- what are you doing up?"

Arai: "What does it look like?"

Keeping the light on and while chomping the last half of his fruit, Arai makes his way to the window.

Maniae is fully aware of the coldness behind his friend’s tone.

Arai opens the window and looks out the window to the artificial night sky while taking bites in silence.

After an awkward silence, the more extroverted black haired boy tries to find the right way invite his more introverted friend to his training session.

Maniae: "So, uh, Arai..."

Arai: "Yea? *bites*"

Maniae: "I- um, I might be training with ’one eye’ tomorrow."

Arai(mouth full): "Khuull."

[END FLASHBACK]

Maniae: "Arai..."

There is a *ding* to the elevator and Maniae squeezes through the doors before they fully open and he looks around.

Now that the people within the sister mountains have more or less migrated to the base in Erebus City, the shuttle station is empty except for one blonde haired boy running through to the next shuttle.

Maniae: "Arai!"

Not stopping, Arai turns around and grimaces, knowing exactly why Maniae is there.

The both of them start running as fast as they can for their own reasons.

Arai hops the turnstiles and runs for one of the available empty shuttles.

Not too far behind, Maniae too hops the turnstiles and is quickly gaining on his pal.

Arai gets into the shuttle and the doors start to close, but not before Maniae jumps through.

Both boys are out of breath.

Maniae: "What....the fuck....Arai?!

Why...are you running away?"

Arai doesn’t answer, he just looks at his "friend" chasing after him, with a state of pure hatred.