Chapter 3 - Zara: A Lesson in Life

"Twelve hundred years ago, the Last War began. All the countries of the world battled for dominance with great and terrifying weaponry. The war lasted for almost a decade, until all nations involved were without resources. The world settled back into peace. But the peace was not to be. Militant groups that had been hiding revealed themselves and destroyed the governments of every major country in the world. Anarchy ensued, and religious organizations clashed with the militant groups in a fight for dominance."

"Eventually, the religious factions joined together and began organized attacks on the militants. Thus ended the Last War. But the differences in faith could keep the religions unified no more. What followed is what we now call the After War. It is sometimes known as the Holy War. Zara, are you paying attention?" "Of course Kala-sensei." "Well, you should pay more attention to me and spend a little less time taking notes. Now, where was I?" "The Holy War, Kala-sensei." "Yes, right. The multitude of religions that once existed in the world were thrown into chaos. Entire religions were eliminated. Others that had previously had little following began to strengthen."

"Eventually it became as we know it today, with the surviving religions being Christianity, Catholicism, Shinto, Buddhism, Wicca, and, of course, the followers of Shai'atan. The surviving religions each chose one of the dozens of languages to further separate themselves from each other. The Christians chose Ersatz, which was once known as English; the Catholics: Passala, which was previously Italian; those of our own Shinto religion spoke Yamato, which used to be called Japanese; the Buddhists, followers of peace, also chose the Yamatoan language; and the Wiccans spoke Srutan, previously German. The followers of Shai'atan chose the ancient Latin and did not change the name of their language as the others had.”

“After three hundred years the Catholic Empire began to fall. The Christians were next, and the others quickly followed suit. Religion had failed as a governing body, and anarchy reigned again. It was not until a hundred years later that a man named Dewvron gave the world a government once again. Dewvron created a feudal system of lords that would oversee and care for the people. He made it so that these lords would answer directly to a higher authority such as a king or emperor. Most important of all, he outlawed the study, creation, excavation, and ownership of any item belonging to the technology that had begun the Last War. These items are now considered to us to be Forbidden Technology."

"Dewvron then separated the world into countries, claiming Untala, which was once called America, as his own country. Peace settled in. The religions intermixed once again, and language once again became based on residence rather than religion. The exception to this is Latin, as the Church of Shai'atan refuses, to this day, to allow any not of their church to learn the ancient tongue. But, becoming more populous than the religions, atheism spread. The religions each became weakened, but still exist in moderate numbers."

"And that is the way the world is today, my young pupil. We shall cover each area in greater detail in future lessons. You are now dismissed." "Thank you, Kala-sensei," Zara said, and got up to leave. She paused at the door, and turned to once again face her new teacher. "Kala-sensei? Do you know the rest of the four languages?" "Why, yes I do. Why do you ask?" "Would you teach them to me, Kala-sensei?" Kala smiled warmly. "Of course I will, child. We shall begin your language studies immediately after your first lesson in Rei Ki. I like a child with a desire to learn. Now off to lunch with you."

Kala stared in wonder as young little Zara Ayane left the room. 'A wonder-child,' Kala thought. 'An eleven year-old child just fully understood one of my hour-long lectures. She's the most amazing and intelligent child I've ever seen.' Kala wandered slowly to his quarters, marveling at what Zara might accomplish. 'She can use Rei Ki, too. Untrained, even. That only happens about once every twenty years!' He immediately swore to himself that he would teach this wondrous girl everything he knew, as he felt that she would one day change the world for the better.

Just down the hall, having finished her lunch, little Zara Ayane, future savior of the world, snuggled into her bed for a quick nap.