It was a day like any other, or so they wished. It was during the last day of Romina, a time period where everyone had to stay inside their homes despite the kingdom’s protective dome shielding the citizens of Aeterna from the disastrous weather; they still must remain indoors to not run the risk of catching the desert plague. In this desert kingdom a boy named Leonardo dreamed of seeing the desert, despite all warnings he received, he still yet dreams of joining the scouts to explore the cursed desert. The scouts were known as a bunch of misfits who were never able to follow the rules of the kingdom who were sentenced to gather resources from the desert to help the kingdom. In order to not have the desert plague enter the kingdom from the scouts they are equipped with experimental gear that destroys the plague when it tries to enter their body. It is here that Leonardo’s journey begins.
“With the passing of Romina I announce the start of the annual Dustbowl!” announced the king on the speaker “What a headache.” Leonardo complained as he got out of bed, “I wouldn’t be complaining if I were you, if you didn’t spend all night making another useless plan to get into the scout’s quarters you wouldn’t have one.” said his older brother Symon. “It’s too early for you two to be fighting again, what would mom, and dad say if they were still here?” yelled their sister Persephone. “Enough! They’re both gone and I have to take care of you, and your delusional brother until you two are old enough to take care of yourself.” Symon said. “At least I have a dream of my own instead of following the path everyone chooses!” yelled Leonardo as he jumped down from his bed. “Being an engineer is one of the best paying jobs there is, and you waste your talents trying to join a group of misfits who put their life on the line daily, now go get ready for the festival.” Rebutted Symon.
As the three siblings walked into town they quickly ran into a giant crowd of people surrounding what seems to be a building competition to see whose steam toy car can run the fastest. “See those people over there Leo? Being an engineer doesn’t only mean you get paid well, you also get chosen for a lot of Dustbowl events.” said Symon, trying to convince his brother to become one. “And waste my life surrounded by steam machines? All I want to do is to explore the outside world!” said Leonardo slightly loud. “Quiet I’m not trying to draw attention to us, not now anyways.” Before Leonardo could say anything Persephone grabbed him and Symon and started dragging them through the crowd. As they got farther from the crowd Persephone let go of Leonardo and Symon “If you two keep fighting all day we’re not going to be able to see the game together, and I think we all need something to distract us from recent events.” Persephone said. “Well why don’t you go see the game by yourself we’re old enough to do what we want unlike what someone thinks.” said Leonardo staring at Symon “All I’m doing is trying to take care of both of you as the eldest, I’m not wrong for worrying about your guy’s safety!” Symon shouted. Persephone, tired of their fighting, decided to listen to Leonardo and go to the game by herself. “I’m done with you two fighting, I’ll be at the game.” Persephony said angrily “Fine, we’ll meet up with you later then.” returned Symon, but as he went to turn around back to Leonardo he was gone.
“Always thinking he knows best” Leonardo thought to himself as he traversed through crowds trying to lose Symon. As Leonardo trekked through the different festival games he hoped to encounter the racing contest where 7 participants race each other to see who’s faster, with the goal of winning it and proving that he’s the fastest. Eventually he found the speed contest where he walked up to the man hosting it. “Here to watch or participate, kid?” said the big host. “Obviously here to participate, don’t you remember me from last year?” said Leonardo. “Ohh, now I remember you, you were the kid who got dragged out before the race started, Leonardo was it?” Asked the host. “Yeah that’s right I’m Leonardo, any new prizes for winning?” asked Leonardo “No.” said the host. “Boring, but whatever, so which line am I on?” said Leonarod. “Line 7, make sure to actually participate and back up your words ok?” said the host. “Oh I will.” said Leonardo, but before the host could respond he left to get into line 7. Down at the lines Leonardo recognized the kid from line 6 as a rich noble kid who always made fun of his dream to be a scout, and always viewed himself to be better than Leonardo in every way. “If it isn’t Leonardo, come to embarrass yourself again, was the first one not good enough for you?” said Fran, “I do hope you know that you could never beat me, I simply won’t allow someone with the likes of you to beat me, for all good reasons as you already know, wanting to be a scout is one of if not the most ridiculous things someone has ever said to me.” said Fran mockingly. “At least I have a dream.” “and a life.” Leonardo said the latter quietly to not provoke an argument. Before Fran could continue mocking him the host interrupted “Racers get into your lines, we’re about to start.”
Above the pit, in the bleachers stood a hooded figure in a reserved area, who Leonardo didn’t know but the man appeared to be keeping a close eye on him. “On your marks, get set, GO!” shouted the host, and off was every participant. Fran ran ahead of everybody with a smirk showing he believed no one could beat him. Onward they ran with Fran in the lead, and at the halfway mark he turned his head to the other races and shouted “This was over before it began, you people had no-” before he could finish something in the corner of his eye that caught his attention. “Move it.” said Leonardo as he blitzed right past Fran where he continued to accelerate even faster. As Leonardo was about to cross the finish line he saw the hooded figure smile at him from above clearly intrigued by him. “The winner is LEEONARDO!” shouted the host as the crowd erupted in applause.
After the race Leonardro was approached by Fran. “Y-you won only because uh there was a rock that I tripped on!” “If I was in a different lane I would’ve won easily.” Fran said, trying to keep his pride. “Why don’t you go crying to your parents instead of me Fran, I won, you didn’t.” returned Leonardo. “Well at least I have!” “That’s enough.” cut in the hooded man who jumped down into the arena. “If you’re done talking I have business with the kid who won.” Not caring about him, Fran stormed out of the arena back to the crowd. “Who are you?” asked Leonardo. “My name’s not important to you yet, but do know that I’m a part of the scouts.” Leonardo’s eyes widened with excitement. “Really!” said Leonardo “You know how long I’ve been waiting for this!” “What.” said the man in disbelief. “You mean to tell me that you’re actually interested in our group?” “More than interested, I want to join, I want to see the outside world.” Leonardo stated confidently “Well you won’t like what you see, but I can tell you won’t take no for an answer if you waited this long.” said the mystery man. “Here take this.” He hands Leonardo what seems to be a calling card for the scouts with the name Floyd written in red on the back. “Take it, and when you’re old enough come join, this will be your letter of recommendation because you won both the competition and my interest.” Before Leonardo could thank the man he had already left the arena.
As the time went on the festival came to an end, and so the three siblings met each other back at their house, a typical common brown house with a red roof. Inside Persephone had made them dinner which was just a turkey. “So Leo about where you wandered off to.” started Symon. Before Leonardo could start an argument Symon asked “Did you win?” “Well of course I did, I wouldn’t let Fran beat me.” Leonardo responded with a smile on his face. After that Symon told them what he did, then Persephone described how the game went with how the home team beat the away team 32-21, and after that Leonardo retold his story in more detail, but made sure to leave out the part where he met the scout. As night came upon the siblings they all went to their respective beds. As Leonardo layed in his bed he looked out into the bright starry night sky where he could only wonder, and so he wondered. What does the outside world look like, and what does it contain that scares the king so much?
