STOIC

PROLOGUE

Their story takes place years after the continuous wars that rocked the world for decades ended. All nations and countries as people knew them dissolved, and most of the borders were erased. Maps were mostly big pieces of land, marking how the continents were shaped after the extreme change.

They were simple people like most people at this time. Their families weren’t poor, but at the same time, they weren’t rich. To be truthful, it was difficult to become rich or dirt poor in that place. There were no passports, no visas, just a universal law that applied to all humans, making them all equal, ensuring the distribution of all kinds of products evenly among everyone, and the fair contribution of all world citizens as well.

People then recognized that the only way to survive was together, so the whole world put aside their nationalities, religions, and ideologies and worked together to survive the catastrophe. The world had no prominent leaders, no powerful countries overseeing and meddling in everyone’s business, and no big oppressors. There were laws and law enforcement, but it was enforced by villagers and designated officials.

After the big scare from the drastic climate change of the mid-forties, the disappearance of many coastal cities, and hundreds of millions of deaths, people moved to live in the center of their lands. The place their families called home was much like that.

Those who survived still had all past knowledge about technology and such, but since resources were so limited, most of them led very simple, minimalistic lives. People lived in plain, small homes, located in villages, with limited means for transportation. There were gravel roads, but most did not have vehicles. Not all settlements had schools, pharmacies, or big hospitals. The stores were small, and all non-essential products were scarce. Schooling was done mostly by parents at home, and people usually opted for teaching their kids their own professions.

Professionals and higher-education careers were pursued by those who truly loved what they were doing. Being a doctor had no higher reward than being able to save people’s lives. You would have the same or slightly better commodities than everyone else. Scientists, engineers, and architects too. All these people made lives better for everyone. Whoever wanted a career like that just needed the motivation to go for it. All higher studies were free for all who were willing to serve their communities.

Everyone was required to work at least three hours a week farming in the fields, children included. The food was distributed to all. If there was too much food, they would exchange it with nearby villagers, and if the food was not enough, they would all ration it.

Since resources were so scarce, old professions like blacksmiths were in great demand. Melting and reusing metals was one of the first steps needed to stop mining. That was what their fathers did. Since all money systems were obsolete, their job was rewarded with the exchange of goods.

The system worked for everyone, but people had recently started talking about the rise of a tyrant in the north. A power-hungry s**t of a person trying to control wealth and unite land for profit. Starving some of the population and enriching a very small group, himself included. They were all past that, and many were willing to fight for their way of life, hold the northern border, and stop those that sought to take their prosperity away from their hands. The vast majority lived their simple lives and trusted that the armed security forces would deal adequately with that situation.

As it was mandated for all males, at age 18, he was sent to the northern border for his military service, while for her, life was as simple as it could be.

Soon the countless words both failed to say out loud, empowered a destructive silence.