July 5th, 25 AR
The midday sun is harsh in Tellus even during winters, but the winds are cold enough to force everyone to cover themselves, and so a big crowd gathered near the Crystal Theatre, impatiently waiting for the time they would open the gates. It has recently been renovated after 28 years of neglect, so they were curious to see if it held the same glory as the photographs. It was a nice view from above, a very enthusiastic scene.
The Crystal Teathre had such a name for the beautiful patterns in the windows and in the dome glass on top aon the building. The glass were pieces of half-silvered mirrors together, forming mosaics and glimmering when faced with sunlight. from the inside marble mosaics also adorned the pathway from the entrances to the inner proscenium, the stairs to the upper floors, and the back exits to the teathre gardens, where a smaller arena stage awaited. Us, of Evite, were sure to make it resemble the descriptions and photographs from Before Revral as much as possible, as it was one of the first buildings to be destroyed during the riots.
It's a shame it is most likely to be destroyed today again, since Lilium has never been wrong so far.
The crowd began to split in two, to make way to the Governor and his guards, and not too far behind Jonathan Ethel followed. One could recognize the kid by the golden Ethel eyes and the utterly insufferable feeling of annoyance one would feel after exchanging a few unscripted words. But, please, enough about him, and a more of his sister.
This is the day Lilium Ethel will be known throught out the entire country, and I have failed to take her from the Ethels in time. Now I can only hope that it's not to late to save the child.
I was able to see all the comotion from the tower of the teathre, and the screens in front of me gave me eyes everywhere and a way to best coordinate the employees. A few hidden amongst the crowd, three to guard Jonathan and then some at the entrances to prevent a comotion before the main event. Jonathan, governor Eleak and the guards entered the building.
30 minutes keeping watch with nothing out of ordinary, and when at noon the doors opened for the public, no matter how well my people tried to coordinate them, a crowd is a crowd.
I personally wasn't watching the actual cerimony, as I pruposefully muted the channel to spare myself of second-hand embarassement, but keeping in mind that the Tellus governor, Eleak, absolutely adores the kid, and it isn't the first time Evite has taken over a restoration project for the govern, Jonathan, the current head of Evite, would probably receive his merits, a medal and a small speech of 40 minutes, I am sparing you of all this as well. You're welcome!
Another 30 minutes keeping watch when one of my alarms sound, it was almost time. I touch the screen that showed me one of the dressing rooms, where Lilium was told to wait and it connected me to her hearing aid.
"This is Ametyr, you may go now."
I watch as Lilium got up and went to the stage, and Jonathan stopped talking to give the the microphone to his little sister. I turn on the sound of the stage channel again.
"--m Lilium Ethel. I am our new Seer" she began, pulling on her necklace nervously as her brother signed along, "we will soon be hit with a tremor--an earthquake, it won't be safe here for much longer. I ask you to keep calm and follow the instructions given."
The Guards began to stand by each door but one, that lead to the back gardens. She was the first to leave the stage in a rush, and the public immediately began to protest, stand up and try to leave on their own.
Jonathan took the microphone and pointed to one of the speakers. The loud whistle annoyed me tremendously, but it was enough to quiet most of them and drag their attention back to the stage. "The guards will evacuate all of you to a safe place, starting with the Governor and those in the upper seats, please understand."
But of course, the guests weren't so understandable. Most of them were close to the Ethels, and so thought they were entitled to be evacuated first; a few tried to strike the guards or sneak to the upper floors, so the agents in the crowd had to use force on on those who couldn't comply. I reach out to their comms.
"Isolate them from the crowd, away from eachother. They will be escorted last", I said, and a handful of troublemakers were swept away. At the sight of the scene, the crowd became more amicable and thus began the evacuation. I followed with the cameras as the first groups were scorted into the underground... I suppose I could call it a bunker.
Then all sound stopped for a quick moment from my end. I first thought it was something wrong with the audio from my end, but soon realised the forest surrounding the Teathre went silent as well, and then legions of birds took flight at once. A little too early than expected. I gathered everything and head downstairs as quickly as possible, but the tremors soon began. It was around 12:50 at the time, and we didn't expect it until 14 o'clock.
It was hard going down the spiral staircase. If I hadn't been ordered to watch from above, I would certainly choose a better place to keep an eye on everything. It was as if Jonathan wanted me to fail getting somewhere safe-- like if it would be a little extra reward for him if something was to happen to me.
And just as he certainly hoped, I couldnt reach the others in time, a big tremor made me lose balance and drop the monitor. I tried to pick it up but another, stronger, tremor broke the railings I was holding myself onto and threw me off the steps.
I absolutely despise that kid.
I am almost able to see it in slow motion, the floor getting nearer as I extend my hand towards it. As soon as I touch it, a pitch black portal opens and shallows me in darkness: the tremors had stopped for me, but the sound of the tower crumbling on top of me tells me I am simply unnaffected by them.
Silence followed for a long time until my communicator rings, and a voice I recognize speaks.
"The eastern tower's collapsed! Mother, are you safe??" He tends to forget composture in times like this, I only hope no one heard him.
"I can't reach the cameras, use the backup monitors. But I am safe."
Aarseth let out a relieved sigh. "I'm glad you found cover."
"Yes. The Noir are keeping me for the time being. I will reach out once They let me go."
Silence.
"I see... Then I will head back to the others inform the Ethels, Lilium seemed to worry. Until then, mother."
"Be safe, Aarseth." I hung up. The Noir wouldn't let me go until it all ends, so I close my eyes and wait.
Trapped in such a peaceful place and currently M.I.A., I must have fallen asleep, because when I open my eyes, it is already nightime, and I was at my office, sitting on the chair and facing the windows.
With eyes still heavy, because a few hours simply weren't enough to cover for the three days I had to stay up to train everyone, I reach the office's monitor and triy to contact Aarseth again. He didn't answer, but immediately I received a call from one of the meeting rooms. I straighten my posture and adjust my hair and glasses to take the call. I first see Demitri Heir, then Aarseth sitting in one of the chairs. Some people were clearly from the government, but what surprised me was not only a government representative for Tellus, but for Therit and Heir as well. Had the earthquake affect their regions as well? Lilium did not say such a thing.
"There you are, Director. Dr. Keen told us you would need a day or two of rest, but it seems that you are unharmed." Demitri smiles, which is an odd sight, and returns to the presentation stand. Of course they would schedule a conference when I'm unconcious. Has he even rehearsed or is he just pulling it out of his ass? I watched him resume the meeting. He was usually in charge of these, because he had much more... Charisma... Than Jonathan, and was able to not lose his cool because a Grown up talked down to him, which makes infinitely more useful than the halfling we have for a boss.
"Where was I? It was bound to fail, yes. But you have to understand Evite prepared the best we could to face an unavoidable Fate; we received the word of the earthquake not two days before the event."
"If you had word of ereyesterday, why haven't you informed us?!" one of representatives spoke "The fire department had just finished controling the flames, the people from Tellus won't have energy for days until we can fix everything."
"I don't know if you have noticed, but today is a domingo. Our report to the Secretary arrived on sexta, according to our logs, and God knows you people reply five weekdays later." Demitri stroked his temples. "Would you like to know how we know that?" Demitri touched the screen monitor beside him and an article popped up, featuring the assassination of Fernand Seriakowak, former Governor of Satre. "The previous Seer warned you an entire month before the North sent their people, we petitioned to have the Revral anniversary cancelled, and we received 5 No's out of 7 governors."
"What could Tellus have done, in all honesty?" Aarseth continues. "would you rebuild every school and hospital in such short time? Would you help the people rebuild their houses? I wonder what the government could have done in so little time. Yes, the Crystal Teathre will need to be rebuilt again, but we had no casualties at the reinauguration, and our only agent Missing in Action has been found perfectly safe, as you can see.
"We've had quite a few guests at the teathre, many many lifes unharmed, much worse it would be had Evite not been assigned to the construction?"
"... I suppose I must inform the lawyers to put together contracts for the engineering of the palace?" she asks, and Aarseth agreed with a nod as he stepped away.
This has been today's event. As always, if someone is to find this report, I hope you are able to contact me.
- Amalia of Amethyst.
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