[Home] “Aenon…” The ominous and familiar whisper causes the eyes of a teenage boy shoot open, as he lay upon his bed. As his sleepy eyes drift in and out of focus, he looks over at his slumbering younger brother who is sleeping with a book over his face. As he takes large breaths, he holds his peculiar triple-triangle necklace to calm himself down. The boy slowly sits up to look out of his window, as he begins to stroke the fur of his elegant white tiger. The deep and mysterious eyes of the boy focus intently on something in the sky. “They call it, The Traveler…strange, huh?” the boy says to his pet. The tiger sits up and lovingly nuzzles its face into the boy’s chest. The boy continues, “Dad thinks it’s an ill omen, but I don’t think so. I like it, actually. What do you think?” The tiger licks the boys face, sparking a laugh. “Why do you talk to Nova, when you know he doesn't understand you?” says the brother. Aenon responds, “I see you've been reading that book I gave you.” The brother closes the book and looks at the cover, “The ‘Art Of War,’ by Sun Tzu. I’ve come to admire his tact.” Aenon laughs a little, “Even though that book was written almost three thousand years ago, it still applies today in principle. Maybe we'll be calling you Master Sun one day... As for Nova..." Aenon's powerfully cold glance shifts toward his brother, "...you can see the understanding in his eyes.” Joriel immediately gets up from his bed and begins to put on his armor, “When you’re summoned, tell dad I’m out hunting. The Emperor of Old Russia is too high and mighty to be needing someone like me.” As he finishes by putting on his own zigzag-patterned necklace, the eyes of his brother Aenon -- not as focused as his -- are still glued to the floating orb in the sky, “…Sure, see you later.” Joriel leaves the house and runs off into the distance, leaving his older brother behind. A trumpet is suddenly blown in a seemingly specific manner, “Well Nova, I guess that’s our cue.” They immediately run out of the house and down the path, as Aenon jumps on Nova’s back to travel faster. [Old Russia] “Where are they? They should have arrived by now,” says a distraught man to his counselor, as he sits upon a throne. He is a big man – armored heavily – with a red cape. “The trumpets were blown a little bit ago, so I’m sure they will be here soon,” the Emperor's counselor says with assurance, speaking as if crossing off a checklist, “Did you gather the glimmer into the vault?” he is answered with a gentle nod. The moment is interrupted by the white tiger jumping through the window in their midst, carrying Aenon on his back, “Ha! That never gets old.” The Emperor looks at his nonchalant son in a way different from times before, and it catches Aenon off guard, “…Dad?” He cuts him off, “Aenon, listen to me, the scouts have spotted hostile ships incoming. They are headed towards us, and should be here soon. I am going to sound the alarm in a minute. When I do, I need you to take your brother far away from here. Do you understand?” Aenon’s eyes grow more concerned, yet more and more zealous as his father speaks to him, “But Dad, we are titans, we can take on anything! You even said I am the one the scriptures talk about! You’re Emperor Ceres! Who is able to overcom-” The Emperor – ignoring everything his son is saying – cuts him off again, shouting, “That’s an order, boy!” Aenon – knowing he can’t persuade his father – obeys him not without friction, “Fine, but Nova is staying with you to help.” His father agrees, and Aenon runs off as Emperor Ceres pets Nova, “…You know, this may be the last time you see me…” Nova’s eyes look intensely into his, as one ready to die. The Emperor sees himself in the reflection, “I see…very well then…” The Emperor loads his weapons, “Sola, sound the alarm.” The counselor nods, and activates the siren. [Invasion] Aenon runs through crowds of armed titans as he looks for his brother. Clouds begin to form. He looks up and notices the sky appearing wroth. A storm approaches, as it begins to downpour. The sun loses its light, the stars -- seemingly almost falling -- and mysterious sky vessels invade Old Russia. The Emperor prepares his men for battle. The first ship drops an arachnid-like tank, followed by various ground soldiers, “Demolitions Team, fire at will! Kill all they who fall from the sky!” Titans – armed with rocket launchers and shotguns – begin shooting at the tank. As the titan army combats the invasion – Nova, the tiger, leading the army – the Emperor hears something big hit the ground behind him. He turns around to find a massive alien foot soldier, “I am Lord Rixis, are you the lord of this land?” The Emperor draws his sword and responds, “I am Emperor Ceres, what do you want?” Rixis immediately slashes his sword wildly, as Ceres hardly blocks the attack. Ceres clenches his fist so tightly it begins to shake, as an aura surrounds it, “Fist of Havoc!” Emperor Ceres thrusts his fist into the gut of Rixis, and sends him violently flying backwards nearly twenty-five feet. Ceres catches his breath and runs straight for Rixis, throwing a grenade. Rixis rolls backward onto his feet, slices the grenade in half, and runs toward Ceres. Their swords clash as lightning strikes the ground. Aenon appears in the midst of the turmoil, and spots his father fighting the giant alien creature, “Dad!” The boy runs over to help his father. Ceres chooses to scope out the battlefield, instead of his opponent. He realizes the titans were winning, and the enemy would have to regroup. Ceres smiles as he looks over at Aenon. The very moment the father and son make eye contact, the sword of Rixis penetrates through the chest of Ceres. Nova senses an uneasiness as he looks back to see Ceres fall to the ground. Rixis pulls his sword out of Ceres and begins to walk away, as Aenon runs full speed in a fit of rage, “I’ll crush you!” The fallen troops escort Rixis to their ship to fall back, as two ground troops run at Aenon to stop him. Aenon gnashes his teeth and clenches his fist in fury, as he approaches the two alien soldiers. The one soldier is suddenly shot dead immediately, revealing Joriel with a sniper rifle in the distance, “Aenon!” Aenon – deaf by his own rage – grabs the face of the enemy soldier and begins to squeeze tighter and tighter, “…rrrRAAAHH!” A mysterious purple aura surrounds his hands, and the head of the enemy explodes, sending the body zooming past Rixis with even greater power than that of his own father. Lord Rixis turns his head and looks back as he sees a glimpse of something in Aenon’s eyes -- something extremely powerful -- and Joriel standing by his side, “I expect to meet you again one day, brave one.” Rixis and his squadron get into their ships and fly away, as the titans gather once again, along with Nova. Aenon and Joriel run over to their father and hold up his upper body, as Ceres speaks his dying words with everyone present, "I will not last long, so I will make it quick...it was an honor being your Emperor, titans. Please honor my children when I am gone." His words are immediately honored by a salute from every titan, "...Joriel, you have been gifted with not only a hunter's spirit, but your mind is gifted. You understand the ins and outs of military warfare even better than I." Joriel and Aenon both listen in tears, "...and Aenon, yes, I have now seen with my own eyes that you are indeed, Aspersio, the one who comes baptizing our enemies with fire. You will lead us back to the golden age we've once experienced. Also, I was wrong about the Traveler. Despite my death here today, it is not an ill omen, but rather one of hope. Understand this mystery, Aenon, and lead us..." Ceres breathes his last breath and gives up the ghost. Aenon, feeling inspired to make a speech to the remaining titan soldiers, begins to speak, “Soldiers, we have encountered an unknown enemy today. We will not simply prepare ourselves for the return of the Fallen, we will attack them first. I will dedicate my life to learning about this mysterious traveler. All those who are gifted in philosophy, science, mathematics will join me and be known as the ‘Warlocks.’ My brother, Joriel, will lead those who are gifted in history and strategy, they that specialize in exploration and the utilization of glimmer and arms. All those who join him will be the ‘Hunters.’ Those who are gifted with physical strength and speed will remain Titans and master the art of military force. Falter not, Guardians. I am your new Emperor. We will become stronger. We will be brave. We will become legend.”