He sometimes remembered that day.

  Religious School Phase 1, age five.

  The classroom was an evenly illuminated oval structure.

  Walls of bright grayish-white, floor of transparent polymer.

  Children wore identical uniforms, reciting identical passages in unison.

  "Light is life. Darkness is extinction." The Instructor said. "Darkness doesn't exist.

  The Mother of Light always illuminates us. Darkness is like... imagining a friend who isn't there, it's not actually real.

  We are good children, so we don't think about things like darkness."

  Elion raised his hand. "But... shadows form on my hands too. Here—under the desk. Because the light doesn't shine well here."

  The children grew quiet. The Instructor slowly looked at him.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  "Elion. Speaking that way makes the Mother sad." He didn't understand.

  But somehow, he felt the entire classroom grow colder.

  That afternoon, he was summoned to the Instructor's office.

  His hand was lightly struck.

  "If you doubt the Light, darkness enters within you."

  After that, no one would meet his eyes.

  Children still embraced each other as 'Brothers of Light,' held hands and sang songs, whispered gratitude at every meal.

  Elion remained alone. Even when he extended his hand, shadows no longer followed.

  Mars spoke to him a few times, but there was always slight hesitation in his eyes.

  It was then that he first thought: Is there something wrong with me? Or is the world too bright? Perhaps, it could be both.

  That memory remained vivid even now.And now, Elion was feeling that same sensation.

  Among the crowds, within the order, in the quiet flow of the city— Once again, he whispered to himself.

  Light isn't everything.

  Darkness doesn't disappear, it merely hides.

  And it was time to reveal this to the world.