51 YEARS AGO

17.09.1591

The Underground City

41:38

"From that very moment when I have entered the city for the first time, I was granted a new life, one of freedom and without the fear of conviction made by my own kind. He said to me that I need to start anew, to find myself redemption from the past self that I was and needed to be in the above. But I didn't listen. I started my life here just like I did above. I was still doing my usual and lived most of my time on the streets of the city, all by myself. I was used to this type of life and I had nothing against it. But it truly was something new the audience I was facing now.

Every corner of the city was the same, but every person seemed so different in its own. Above, I felt like I was performing in front of machines, all of them doing the same thing, saying the same thing all over again and with a reaction that I could sense it was either out of trying to escape the fears of the above or just out of boredom. But here... Here the reactions were real, enjoying every single thing I was showing to them. It was so weird the first time I performed in this city. The public seemed way too confident to interact with me and way too happy to see me around the city while I was minding my own business after the shows. It was as if these people didn't fear anybody.

They wished to talk to me whenever they got the chance, to get to actually know me even though I was just performing for the sake of money. I tried to avoid such things most of the time for some good days at first, but I never managed to get out of these situations. Adults of this city were talking to me as if I was some sort of an actual business man, telling me that my way of working might bring me a huge earning if I was to make some collaborations with other people that, from their sayings, I assumed they did the same things like me. Kids were invading my personal space, telling me to teach them how to do simple tricks that I never even intended to teach. It was way too chaotic for me and I really didn't like how open everyone was since I was used to something else. But I never said anything for the sake of keeping a good reputation and ensuring an earning.

At some point, I developed a sense of pity for these souls that were so open to me without even knowing what I truly am. For good days I have done the same things I did in the City of Above and they never noticed. But months later, I did a mistake during a performance and someone did see what I have done with the audience's money, yet still didn't say anything. He wasn't mad nor disappointed. Instead, he just gave me more money thinking that I really needed them. It was out of nowhere, I stood still looking at him like a dumb person while not knowing what to say.

When the performance ended, I tried to find the man immediately and try to have a talk with him. While doing so, I've heard many people that have seen my show and were also victims of my tricks talking about how the same man has given from his own money a part to them without saying why and just making it look like a small gesture of generosity from him. He has given back the same amount that I have taken, as little as it was. So when I managed to find and ask him why did he do such actions, he only told me that he believed I truly am in need of an earning that I cannot achieve from the shows alone and I was simply forced to take some other options that weren't so pleasant. As a consequence to what he believed, he thought of giving a bonus in order for me to buy whatever he thought I intended to buy while also fixing my mistakes on his own. All of that only because he saw the "talent" I was showing to some people that were passing by and thought that I do not get the recognition I deserve.

I didn't say anything. I stood as dumb as before and let him talk. I did not understand how innocent can you be as a person to believe that if someone is robbing people, it is because they are in a bad situation and need help. I never did that, I just did it for the sake of winning money. Why would I need them so badly anyway? To buy a house? I was fine with living and performing on streets. To buy clothes? I could've just steal them as well. Let's be honest now, I was barely doing anything with the money. Rarely it was for me to buy something, and the things I bought were only necessities or supplies for the shows. But all the money that I was winning were saved for darker days when I really needed to buy something for my own good. Yet that never happened.

So what did that man think I need? How is it that after 50 years I still don't know the answer to that question? ...I don't know. But what I do know is the fact that from that experience alone I began to think a lot about what exactly makes these people so kind to one another. I thought that maybe they fear something else that I do not understand because I am not an actual citizen of theirs, but they never truly showed fear to me. I thought that maybe there is a rule from the ones M4TTH3W was talking about, but there again, I wasn't the only criminal in the city. Then I thought of asking indirectly the viewers themselves through my shows and see if I get an answer.

There is one time when I did that. Actually, there were more than one time. I did normal shows as always, but instead of talking a lot about the tricks themselves, I tried to put questions that could give me answers. "What exactly could make a trick be perfect?", "If the show does not bring you happiness and I have failed in that regard, then what exactly could make you happy in this life?", "Could a trick make you fear reality?" or "My tricks aren't so kind to the viewers, but I never intended to make them kind. Still, would you continue to show them kindness?". I have tried my best to hide my actual intentions behind the questions and I can say that I did not fail in that regard.

But the answers I was given were... fascinating. Everyone said how nothing can be perfect, but if you do it out of love then they are already perfect to you, or how happiness does not come from the shows but from life itself, or how they would never fear reality because reality is the only thing beautiful in life. As for kindness... they believe that no matter how a person treats you, you will always need to show it kindness. Because only kindness will offer you the peace they seek for such a long time.

Such answers are something that I would've never imagined to be said by an actual person. These beings were something else and I was an alien to their culture for a very long time. When I managed to save a decent amount of money, I purchased an apartment somewhere around the city and I quit doing shows on the streets for the sake of adapting to how these beings think life should be lived. So, before my first year in the city ended, I was already forced to change my life style forever. Still, I could not change who I was. At least something had to remind me where I came from and where I am now.

Months pass and I began only wandering the city for the sake of trying to see it in a different perspective. Many people who knew about my shows also asked me what happened to them, but I never answered and continued minding my own business. Yet at some point, I managed to notice M4TTH3W in the city, wandering around just as I was. Probably He was doing it before I started doing so too, but I always focused on my own shows and I never notice. So whenever I saw Him, I went in for a conversation. Probably He was the first person that I actually wished to talk to. Maybe because I felt I owe Him my own life since He saved mine.

It continued like that for a very long time, even becoming an usual thing of the day for us to talk. From Him I've learnt even more about the city, things that I actually didn't notice before. He told me so many facts regarding its history and how the culture works, as if He knew that I didn't understand it at all. But all this time I had this weird feeling that something about Him just isn't so similar to the actual citizens of the city. Whenever I asked Him about His own history, He avoided talking about it or simply told me things that had nothing to do with what I've asked. But I gave up after days of trying and let it be.

Yet years later, M4TTH3W showed up in front of my door, offering me a secret opportunity that I had no idea what He meant by it. Not only that, but He also has changed the colour of His hair with no given reason at all, from the pure black hair He had to a white dyed one, carrying with Him something folded that looked like some sort of clothes, with the same colour like His "new" hair. I was just... confused on what exactly He wanted from me, but I played along. After all, at that time, I could say that we've become good friends."

[M4TTH3W]-...AL7AN! AL7AN, I need to have a talk with you! Open the door!

There were three knocks on the door while AL7AN was laying in his bed, throwing a small ball above him and catching it, repeating the action for an eternity. It really seems that after he gave up on the shows, he only stood in his apartment, doing nothing at all and just occasionally going out to talk with M4TTH3W. He stops throwing the ball once he catches it the last time and hears the knocking on the door again, getting up and going towards it to see what his new friend wants. When he opens the door, he is greeted by a half serious-half excited man, but also a bit looking as if the decision taken was made out of obligation, which confuses him in no time.

[AL7AN]-Yes?

[M4TTH3W]-What were you doing just now?

[AL7AN]-...Oh, nothing, really. Just thought about an idea that I want to see if I can manage to succeed with it.

[M4TTH3W]-What idea?

[AL7AN]-Doesn't matter, really. What was this you wanted to talk to me? And what's up with the new hair style?

[M4TTH3W]-It's more of a proposal.

[AL7AN]-A "proposal"? As in...?

[M4TTH3W]-Come with me.

M4TTH3W then begins to walk to an unknown destination while AL7AN only remained a bit perplexed on what was happening. But since he had no other option, he just threw the small ball he played with inside the apartment and closed the door, beginning to follow the man. The walk they have is quite a long one though, with most of it being rather silent. AL7AN simply didn't know what was happening, so he didn't know what to ask.

At around half the walk they had, AL7AN notices how far they went from their initial position and gets even more confused. After all, this whole walk leads out of the city, towards one of the entrances of the tunnels. And when he kind of understood that they will need to take one of those entrances in a short period of time, he dares to speak.

[AL7AN]-So... Where exactly do you want us to go? You do not plot to throw me into the hands of the M soldiers, do you now?

[M4TTH3W]-Quite the opposite.

[AL7AN]-Opposite? What's the opposite of that?

[M4TTH3W]-Say... You've told me once how you used to work with people, right?

[AL7AN]-You still remember that? I even forgot I told you such thing.

[M4TTH3W]-But you did it, right?

[AL7AN]-...Yes, I did? I worked with them because they thought that "we" can get a better earning while "working together", when in reality they were just saying it as an excuse while trying to use me and get more money while doing nothing. Yet in fact, I managed to be the very man to use them alone.

[M4TTH3W]-And you enjoyed working like this, no?

[AL7AN]-Depends on what you mean by "enjoy"... Yes, I did enjoy using them as a way of punishment for what they wanted to do with me. No, I did not enjoy their company. They were miserable people that simply thought of exploiting the youth in order to win. I guess that I did the best decision to take this matter into my own hands.

[M4TTH3W]-How about you having people that you would've enjoy working with while also being the people that actually work for you?

[AL7AN]-...Where exactly do you want to get with this whole thing again?

[M4TTH3W]-Well, I just thought that besides your talent with the shows from years ago which you have given up on, maybe we can get your other talent to shine this time.

[AL7AN]-"Other talent"...? Do I have some sort of powers that I wasn't aware of?

[M4TTH3W]-I meant your leadership.

[AL7AN]-I don't understand...

[M4TTH3W]-For you to be able to make people work for you, you need a sense of leadership. Even if they aren't aware of that fact. And since you have told me that from these "collaboration" you have managed to gain a better earning in the end, then it proves me that you managed to achieve great skills in leading other people. It's unfortunate that you have been discovered in the end, but maybe it was simply meant to be this way. After all, if it didn't, I wouldn't have given you a chance of redemption and you weren't here to begin with.

AL7AN didn't really know what to say about the talent of leadership that this man says he has at all. He did not consider such thing to even exist. But he did have a question regarding the subject that was brought in their conversation.

[AL7AN]-...Come to think of it... why exactly did you choose to give me such a chance? Why... did you choose to help me?

[M4TTH3W]-Well, I couldn't just leave you to die, right? It would've been a cruel thing to do. But to be honest now... you did remind me of an old friend.

[AL7AN]-...Really? You never told me that. How was he?

[M4TTH3W]-He was... interesting as a person. Playful some days, serious some other days. But He also was a sinner, just like you. Or at least that's how people thought of Him to be. And since He was seen as a sinner... some people simply treated Him differently. But unlike you, He never got the chance of redemption, so you should truly make the best out of it.

[AL7AN]-...What happened to him?

[M4TTH3W]-...

The man avoided a bit the question, with an expression that really tried to not get too overwhelmed all over again about the subject.

[M4TTH3W]-...Let's just say that He is no longer with us.

AL7AN then just shut his mouth and continued walking while the man was trying to forget the question. Minutes later, they arrive in the tunnels where they go towards a specific direction, led by M4TTH3W as always. When arriving at another wall after some more walking, M4TTH3W stops and talks again.

[M4TTH3W]-...AL7AN, remember when I told you to promise on not telling anything about the city to the abovers?

[AL7AN]-Sort of.

[M4TTH3W]-That promise was for the city. But I wish for you to do a personal one this time. Can you do that?

[AL7AN]-...Why do you need to keep so many things hidden? Just tell them already. I will not say a thing.

[M4TTH3W]-I am serious, AL7AN. I wish to trust you not for what you are, but for who you are. I wish to trust that I have done the right decision in choosing you. I did not think of anything when I decided to help you and bring you into this city, I did it mostly because that's what I thought it was right. But if it is for fate to be on my side, I've most likely done a great decision into taking you as a citizen of the underground. Maybe this way, I can finally start to get rid of some things stuck on my heart that have waited for me to do something for a very long time...

Again, AL7AN didn't say a single word, only looked at the man perplexed, noticing the way what his friend was holding was now watched with a feeling of fear and uncertainty. Then, M4TTH3W makes up His mind and unfolds what He was carrying, a white coat with strange symbols that He puts on His shoulders. The coat seemed new, as if it was just made a few days or at worst months ago, while in the present it can be seen how used it was in the past. It is the coat of the Great Leader, appearing for the first time in history in a physical form.

But of course, AL7AN didn't understand His action. He just waited for a hidden door to suddenly appear since he was already used to it. And so it did when M4TTH3W made peace with Himself, revealing a hidden panel where He needs to enter a code. But instead of a code, He simply puts His finger on a screen behind the panel, finally unlocking the door and entering it with a bit of fear. When they entered though, the people present inside were rather shocked that the door opened to what seemed to them to be strangers. And as confused as they were, AL7AN was in a worse position.

Still, M4TTH3W walked as if He knew what He was doing, no matter how many people started questioning the two strangers. But when someone had the courage to act and stop them, He was also the one to respond.

[SESouldier]-...Hey! Don't you dare make any more steps! Who are you and how did you manage to enter that door??

M4TTH3W didn't say anything at first though, only tried to continue walking while AL7AN didn't know what was happening or what could he do. Still, the person got a bit more aggressive from that reaction, while other people were starting to come, all armed.

[SESoldier]-Didn't you hear me!? If you refuse to tell us who you are, then we might as well just take you to the northwest soldiers!

Again, M4TTH3W didn't say anything, but He stopped from getting any further. He looked at all the people watching Him, and took such a deep breath that would make it look like it really was an obligation for Him to do all of this.

[M4TTH3W]-...I am M4TTH3W, the ninth LENKOV. The very current descendant of the man that has brought this building to life and the very last Great Leader of the Underground City. I have come here to reveal myself to you before I also show my face in front of the Council. Not only that, but I wish for you, my soldiers, to join the Council from now on through a person that you will call your Leader. Just like any other base has done before. So, because of that...

People were rather shocked at what the man said. They knew that the current Great Leader was supposed to be chosen by the last one in those times, which was M4TTH3W, of course, but they never knew that He will actually choose to show His face to the soldiers. Then, M4TTH3W directed the soldiers' eyes towards the man that accompanied Him.

[M4TTH3W]-...I have brought you the new Leader of the Southeast Military Base. Please, make acquaintance with Mr. AL7AN.

"...Yet that very day was the moment when I was titled a Leader out of nowhere. I had no idea what He was talking about, no idea what those "soldiers" were meant to do in the first place and no idea what exactly made them calm down so quickly just from a few words. But I have accepted whatever this title was about since I still were in a huge debt to Him which money couldn't solve. So, I didn't say anything.

Later on, I managed to ask Him what exactly did He mean when He was talking to these unknown people. And He told me that the very building in which we went was a military base hidden for hundreds of years that was created by the first Great Leader to ever exist after the revolution. Who was the Great Leader exactly? He probably forgot completely that I had no idea what that thing even is. But when He said that the title of the Great Leader represents the ruler of the entire city in which we were, I was rather shocked to actually know who He truly was for the first time.

Not only that, but it didn't really make sense to me why would such a powerful title care so much about sinners and why would He be inside the City of Above alone out of nowhere. Yet no matter how many questions I had, I never actually managed to get an answer on any of them. Still, after I have accepted that weird title I was given, I had to change my whole life style again and somehow adapt to a life of a ruler which I never experienced before. I had a lot of fights with the people there, had to sell the apartment in which I was living for around four years and also had to witness some kind of a meeting of a group called "The Council" almost every day, which was a pain if it is for me to be honest. Not to mention that I was the youngest among the Leaders present there and had no kind of experience in what they call "leadership". I can say that I was kind of lucky after a few days to start seeing M4TTH3W present at the meetings too though, even if the people there were looking so surprised at Him for a reason I did not understand.

But even if it was a pain at first, I managed to understand slowly what my role really was. I had no experience in fighting either though, so I had to take a few hours of practice every day until I mastered some skills. Yet years later, I managed to make myself a reputation among the building I was looking after, with people starting to respect me. Even though I still didn't quite understand this respect and it felt rather weird. But at least I was fine with the idea of being called a Leader."