Chapter Text
In March, the King was finally overthrown. No countries had kings anymore; that system was as outdated as the computer model that was considered the best three years ago, but was now in the shadow of the latest, coolest new one. Everyone in the land rejoiced like it was Christmas, hoping for new times. Then the big depression hit; now that they didn’t have a king, who was going to run their land?
In June, a new government came along. The country had gone through rough times since the loss of a king, there was no money and few jobs. Things went downhill, but now, this new system was presented. Other countries who had the same system praised it through the roof, and Ternia was more than happy to finally have someone put order on things.
In the beginning of August, after the new system had been accepted and made official, things started looking up. More jobs were available, the hand of law had hardened considerably reducing all crime. People could walk the streets safely again. You didn’t have to expect assault at every occasion. The school system was tightened, leaving the children with less free time but better grades.
Things were getting better.
They’d be okay.
In October, a new law was introduced. Due to much harmful usage of the mail, all letters were to be examined. Because people had been sending drugs through mail, they said. We don’t want that in our lovely country, do we?
On the last day of October, you had to buy a permission to cross the border into the neighbor country, Dersed. Too many people traveled freely and smuggled illegal wares between countries.
It was safer this way.
In the middle of November, people started to see something was wrong. The police abused their power, to a point where some kids were arrested for not zipping up their hoodies on order. Complaints were made. People protested. But the System didn’t answer their questions, instead opting a new, tighter rein on the metaphorical horse. The Police were the power, and no one was to disobey.
In late December, communication through the internet was forbidden unless under surveillance. A firewall was created, one where you could only visit websites personally allowed by the System. And there weren’t many of those. Chatrooms were blocked, so were the blogs, the video sharing, the picture sharing, news, and everything else. You couldn’t turn on your computer without Them knowing.
People were started to get bad vibes.
In February, you couldn’t cross the border anymore. Not without a special admission. Any attempt to leave the country without permit was immediately shot down.
Sometimes literally.
In May, anyone caught talking indecently about the System was to be fined a large sum. If they resisted, arrest was the next option. Protest groups were violently silenced, there were ears everywhere to hear any badly spoken word.
In June, all acts of public display of affection were to be ceased. There would be no holding hands, no kissing, and certainly no sex. Furthermore, people of the same gender could not be in a relationship anymore. Anyone caught committing acts of this sexual dysfunction were justifiably jailed and punished.
All protests were silenced before they were even heard.
In September, people were too scared to speak. Everything was punishable, people were encouraged to report any acts of defiance, under the chance of a reward. And people needed the money; more than before. No one could be trusted. Kids reported their parents talking bad about the Government, parents reported their children showing public affection to their partner. Friends stabbed friends in the back.
They’d heard such good things about this new System because the System didn’t allow anything else. The nation had trapped themselves in a corner, and there was no way out. Misery raged in the country, but no one ever knew, because the nation was too scared to stand up. Every complaint was silenced. Every compliment was a lie.
In November, the caste system was reintroduced. Bloodcolour would matter again, and all classes would be put in their respectable place. From Slavery to Royalty. From misery to bliss. This would serve to give everyone a job fit for their status.
On the same day in November, at the very public annunciation of the revival of the Hemospectrum in a city called Puze, the announcer was thrown off stage to be replaced by a young, unknown man.
A leader. An idol.
A rebel.
It had taken two years for the System to run the entire continent to hell, and someone finally had enough.