“Having to endure this every day… I wish I could have asked my grandparents how they felt the first time they had to wear this suit. Shame they aren’t here anymore,” she thought with a sigh.
She wore only her breathing helmet, connected by a long cable to a filtration machine behind her. The routine, passed down from her parents, was beginning to wear her down. She envied Arix, who no longer needed such equipment. And she feared her own situation would never change.
Suddenly, the water turned scalding hot. She jerked her hands away. Trembling, she gasped at the sight of red patches forming across her amphibian skin. She shut off the faucet in panic.
“How—how is that possible? The water is contaminated! Mom!”
Her mother rushed in. One look at Seryn’s hands and her expression tightened with fear.
“Sweetheart… we need to get you to the hospital immediately, before this gets worse. Come on!”
Seryn quickly put on her suit and protective gloves before following her mother out.
Arix was having breakfast with his mother when his father, Kaeron Cael’ren, emerged from the hallway already dressed, his work badge in hand. Na?ra frowned.
“You’re in quite a hurry today. Did something happen?”
“People are protesting in front of the lab. Water contamination has spread to several zones. If we don’t act fast, things will escalate!”
He rushed out before she could respond. Confused, Na?ra turned on the television. The news showed a crowd gathered outside the Scriba research facility.
“It’s a conspiracy, I tell you!” an old man shouted.
A Lothean next to him argued:
“This has been going on for decades! If they don’t fix it, the humans will turn against us!”
The reporter continued:
“We’ll bring more details shortly. First, the forecast: heavy rainfall expected near Scriba and Métrocove, with temperatures reaching 24 degrees this afternoon. Stay cautious.”
Na?ra sighed and told Arix to get ready for school.
During the morning break, Arix sat reading a book about the stars. Sly eventually joined him, peeking at the cover.
“You’re into space, huh? Does it have anything to do with what you told me yesterday?” the Gelari asked.
Arix snapped the book shut.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“We're in the science section, so no surprise there. Anyway, I wanted to ask you… Have you seen my cousin Seryn? She didn’t answer me this morning.”
“No… not today. And guess what? They canceled the lab visit. I’m really disappointed,” Sly sighed.
“I saw the situation on the news. Everything’s falling apart… everyone’s blaming each other.”
A student suddenly handed them flyers.
“You can sign up whether you’re in the science section or not!” he said before walking off.
Arix read the announcement:
Open to everyone!
Conference on national and environmental issues.
Tonight at 6 PM, in the gymnasium.
“I’m starting to believe what that guy online told me the other day… Why are we still staying here while the water is becoming dangerous for every species? I’ll go to that conference.”
Seryn lay on a hospital bed, her hand wrapped in thick bandages. Her mother and a doctor stood by.
“She’s lucky,” the doctor said. “Only the hands were affected. Some patients came in with burns across their entire bodies. She should wear her suit at all times, even at home. It’s the safest option for now.”
The doctor left. Seryn looked away, tears brimming.
“Why is this happening to me? You already criticize me for drawing, I have to wake up every day in this stupid suit, and now I have to wear it even longer? Why?”
Her mother answered with firmness, though without anger:
“Seryn… if your father took care of himself and the house, we wouldn’t be in this situation. And ignore his comments—I love what you create. This isn’t your fault. I’ve worn this suit far longer than you.”
“Stop blaming dad for everything!” Seryn snapped. “Yes, he drinks, but you act like everything depends on him!”
Her mother clenched her jaw.
“If you really want things to change, find a real job. Something useful.”
“Working in a factory is useful to you? You think spending time with my friends makes me selfish about our family?”
Her mother paused, then turned her back.
“I’ll come back later. Think about what you’ve said.”
The door closed behind her. Seryn stared at the ceiling, exhausted. She heard doctors rushing through the hallway; she wasn’t the only one affected. She would stay only one day before being allowed to return home.
She checked her phone: multiple messages from Arix. She turned toward the window. Dark clouds gathered above the city.
Arix entered the gymnasium and sat among dozens of students. An improvised stage stood before them, a banner reading Save Trastarce hung behind the podium.
A man stepped up, adjusted the microphone, and began:
“Thank you all for coming.
As you know, our planet has been in crisis for years. Since the Lotheans were forced to abandon their homeland and settle here, nothing has been the same. Our forests wither under rainfall, species disappear, and the toxic weapon used sixty years ago still contaminates the Trastarcian ocean.
Yet our governor refuses to let us access the ‘restricted’ maritime zone. Not even to investigate.
We survive as best we can on a world that isn’t ours, in an apocalypse we created ourselves. All to protect a treasure we must share with humans.
And now… we drink poisoned water. And once again, we will be blamed.
The fracture belongs to the past. It is time to move forward.”
Meanwhile, scientists at the Scriba research lab opened a contaminated water tank. A foul smell rose. One of them shone a light inside.
They froze.
A body floated at the bottom, wrapped in a long black cloak.