Prologue I: The Beginning is the End

August 14, 2016 8:33 PM Vale Standard Time (VDT)

"Look," Adam muttered under his breath. "Isn't it beautiful? This is what freedom looks like." He stood within a high rise building in the center of Vale looking out of a recently cleaned window, the offices of the building abandoned in fear of the battle that raged just on the outskirts of the city. He wore his favorite suit, his blood red hair combed back neatly, and his sunglasses tucked delicately into his jacket pocket; tonight was a night to celebrate.

He heard nothing of importance behind him, but he knew that Blake was standing nearby, watching in awe alongside him. Though, from her perspective it was more along the lines of horrifying. "This is freedom?" she asked with a shake to her voice. Adam only nodded.

He couldn't see it from here, but he knew what was happening in the streets below and beyond. The Arc family and the Nikos family were feuding, culminating into total war. Swords clashing and guns firing signaled the fall of many a soldier and Adam had much to gain from both families destroying each other. He orchestrated the war, after all. Before the night was over, Lord Jaune Arc and Lady Pyrrha Nikos would both be dead, and a new government would take root.

A government in his vision.

"This isn't freedom," Blake whispered nervously. "This is madness."

Adam smiled, not caring about the words she spoke. "This is what everyone wanted," he muttered back, partially responding to her, and partially mumbling to himself.

"It's not what anyone wanted," Blake said.

Adam heard a gun cock.