House of Cards

Hero of the Fallen

It all started thirty years ago when someone from that year’s graduate from Olympus posted a photo of himself along with his friends but the photo accidentally caught a silhouette of someone from the corner of the photo who seemed to be passing by which surprise not only the previous graduates of Olympus but also the persons who were quite familiar with the person caught I the photo. It started a turmoil and the people started asking various questions but the most asked question is ‘How is he still alive? I thought Olympus said he passed away?’ a single person was the first one to ask this question then the others followed, they started demanding the Olympus for an explanation but they were all told of the same thing. Unsatisfied with the answer that they received, they started rallying in front of Olympus, the others even went as far as trespassing Olympus’ grounds and it happened countless times where the Olympus had no choice but to teach the trespassers some lessons so that they would discourage the others who are planning to do the same thing.

After that chaos, things seemed to have calmed down after a while as the people started to forget the issue after all the persons who led the others to do atrocious things suddenly disappeared one after another. Eventually the issue died out and the photo was posted got taken down for some unknown reasons.

A few months later and everyone eventually forgot about everything as the headlines of the news overturn the issue with a specific person from Olympus. Then a few years after everything had settles down, a new issue arose. Someone unnamed person popped up out of nowhere and claimed that ‘that person’ is still alive after showing the evidence that he had, a group of photos taken from what it seemed to be a graduation photo which showed the same face of a certain person in every cleanly cut out photo. That person started having followers as the other devoted persons that went into hiding surfaced and formed a group consisting only of persons with the same belief.

Some called them lunatics, which was also the case since some of them are believed to be mentally unstable. Some call them trash of society for the fact that they are trying to divide the people. Either way, the group did not made a huge impact unlike the years before since there was a possibility that their evidence are fake. Even with so many things hindering them, the group silently stayed off the radar and continued to live among the people who discriminated them. But the mind-blowing fact, is that all of them are either relatives or family members of the fifth-generation that was involved in the tragedy, and they call the person whom they devoted their time to, the Hero of the Fallen.

“How do you know all of this senior?” my junior ask with eye gleaming with anticipation as I smile at his interested expression. “I have been here long enough to hear some crazy things and actually surfed them on the internet. Don’t get me wrong, those things happened even before I was even born so I can’t really know what actually happened but based from what the internet provided- it must have looked really chaotic.” I replied as soon as I finished drinking my coffee. “Then what happened to the devotees after that?” he asked with an expression full of anticipation. I smiled and stood up as I grab my graduation picture that I treasure the most from all of the things that were hanging on the walls. “As I said, they all went into hiding. Though they have not been surfacing that much, there are reports that some of the fresh graduates from Olympus encountered mysterious persons who would pay high prices just to cut a piece of the picture from their graduation photos.” My junior’s eyes squinted after hearing what I said. “How come I don’t hear those kinds of report? So did the reports said that they actually sold a portion of their graduation photo for money?” my junior asked with less anticipation from earlier when I saw his reflection on the window. “That’s because that news is either fallen on the radio or got overshadowed by huge headlines. Yes, the reports says that the students agreed and sold a portion of their graduation photo to the mysterious persons. Who would say no to a hefty fifty thousand dollars for a small piece of paper right?” I replied as I caress the missing piece of my graduation photo. I saw the reflection of my junior on the window, he looked really concerned like there is something that he wants to ask but just stayed silent. “There is so much things happening in this world that everyone forgets about the things that should have been remembered and not forgotten. But that will change, everyone will be reminded that treasures do not show up randomly as everything is destined to be laid down for everyone to see.” I said with a smile as I put down the graduation photo that I cherished.

‘It’s been a long time since I have not seen that face, why don’t I go and visit him myself?’ I thought to myself as I used my ability on my graduation photo. When all of the sudden my niece entered my office with a really haggard face. “Oh- what happened to my dear niece? Why do you look like you are really worn out?” I asked as she immediately sat on the bench in front of me with a gloomy. “It’s been a long time since I started working but I never thought that it would really be this hard. There had been passed down to our office and it was a huge workload from the other teams and it is taking forever to finish.” She said with a straight face. “Well, the world has really been this hard. That’s just scratching the surface.” I said while adding another one to her worries. My junior sensed that our story telling has long ended so he decided to excuse himself and let me and my niece have time to talk to each other. “I will be heading out for a while, you want me to buy you dinner?” he asked before he left my office. “How thoughtful of you- this is why the other heads are holding a grudge against me. They think I am brainwashing you guys and making the best recruits stay here in my office instead.” I said as I turn away from his sight knowing that the heads are going to bite my tail once they find out that this year’s recruits wanted to stay in my office as well. ‘Oh, I’m so dead.’ I told myself as I see myself dying in not so distant future.

My niece and junior just stared at me blankly like I’m someone who can’t be redeemed. “What are you saying senior? It’s natural to stay with the persons you are close to and have better connection with each other.” My junior said with a bright smile on his face. “It was their own fault to make you a training instructor for newbies so it was their own fault to begin with.” He added. “It that’s the case then should I be harsh from now on?” I said with a lightbulb shine above my head. My junior’s expression immediately turned grim. “Please don’t senior, it that were to happen I doubt someone would apply for this job.” He said as he instantly left my office. “I see that you have it hard here as well uncle.” She said with a teasing tone and expression. “Didn’t I tell you that this world had been hard from the very beginning? We are quite blessed that we, special individuals have a it a little easy since the companies see us as the future of their company and will try to exploit our abilities when they get the chance.” I reminded her as I sat back to my seat. She let out a chuckle and then the smile on her face disappeared. “Have you got in touch with your friends from Olympus?” I ask out of nowhere. “That came out of nowhere but to be honest no- we are really busy with our jobs that we have to trash our plans for going out.” She confessed as she let out a sigh. “But why did you ask?” she looked at me with suspicious eyes. “What are you talking about? I am just concerned of my wonderful niece’s social life.” I responded immediately without thinking that what I said would bite me back. “Says the one who do not have a single friend outside his job. You even rarely go out and just lock yourself in your room.” Her words stabbed me in the right places that I have no choice but to stand down since all she said was the truth. ‘This kid really is her father’s child.’ I thought to myself as I buried my face on my palm.

“Geez, you say harsh words to your uncle when he is the only one you can talk to when you have troubles. What wrong did brother do in raising you to be like this?” I said trying to make her feel a little guilty. “To be honest uncle, you are the only one in our family to have a free spirit, the others are so stiff, I can’t even make a joke around them that they are even influencing the other kids with their boring an stiff attitudes.” I stare at her blankly. ‘Wow, she just blatantly labeled everyone else boring and stiff, even her parents were not saved.’ I shook my head after hearing her remark then a brilliant plan popped up in my head. “You need to take a break once in a while.” I said as I try to divert our conversation to a different route. “I heard that you asked for a number of young boy in your time in Olympus.” Her eyes immediately widened after what I said. “Where did you-“I interrupted her as her face immediately got flustered. “There is no need to ask where I heard it- your friends are quite talkative you know.” I said with a smile on my face. I can almost laugh at the expression on her face when one of her secrets are revealed, it looked like her world crumbled after she realized what would happen is her parents were to get news of this. “Don’t worry, I will bring this secret to the grave.” I reassured her.

Even though I already reassured her, she still look at me with a slight hint of anger. So I decided to bring in a proposal. “What do you say we meet him this weekend? You have not seen him for a while right?” I threw out the bait and there is no way it would not catch the fish that I want to get caught.

*RING!* *RING!* *RING!* *RING!*

My phone rung as Van and I eat our dinner while Aron is laying on the bench watching television. ‘Hmmm- who is it?’ my eyes widen after seeing a name that was recently added to my contacts, and by recently I mean a few years ago. “Who is it uncle?” Van asked with a concerned expression. “You might know who this is.” I said as I showed him the name of the caller. “Oh-“