The Seer
July 1st
Ahhhh. The land of Tellus. Such a sad a dreary tale. Do I dare to look ahead? Would it give me hope or despair? Never once have I seen a future to bring me with joy, but like a gambler I must continue wandering deeper into the night, foolishly believing a dawn of fortune is just beyond the horizon. I must know; where is this world going? Though it may bring only further gloom perhaps I shall take a glance… just a taste of what’s to come. I do wonder so…
… oh…. How interesting…. How….peculiar. Perhaps the night shall stay a bit longer, but I can see them. A few faint stars providing some semblance of light.
To the east, in the lands of sand where peace is as scarce as water, two from the mountains will return to their forsaken home and meet the one who has lived there forever yet just newly born. The intersection of their fates shall begin the downfall of the false pharaoh to bring liberty to the dessert.
To the west, I see a raging beast. Its escape from the jungle of strength into the lands of deceit will bring three more to meet. One relentless, one jaded recluse, and one who desires only to shine. Should they fail, the two nations will be brought to war. The fate of entire cities shall depend on the trio overcoming the grudges of the few for the prosperity of many.
Two shall clash in the southern lands of ice. Both outcasts and misfits. One trying to fulfill his family legacy and the other running from his own. The victor shall claim the first step towards their destiny while the other will loose their identity.
The two greatest powers will take their first steps towards war. And while the Manticore increases his strength, two new stars shall collide. The first, a soldier of the land of fire who begins his training. The second, a girl of the moon who will begin to infiltrate their ranks.
Another in the great lightning lands of technology, infinite possibilities making the path unsure. Oh how I will love to watch her blossom!
And the last two… their picture is less clear. Those who value freedom are seldom predicted. What lies ahead is up to them.
Be careful little stars, for during your lives the fate of Tellus shall be determined. One misstep and your flame might be snuffed out.
Lunaria, May 25th. The Triangle Table
“Are you completely mad!?” An elegant woman with long hair that altered between shades of purple, green, and blue uncharacteristically broke her graceful demeanor and shouted at the giant woman who sat across from her.
Her name was Tem, one Lunaria Triumvirate and widely known as the goddess of the seas. In accordance with their ultimate goal of promoting true equality, Lunaria always appointed three figures with vastly different characteristics to lead them. A triangle is the strongest shape, and three leaders to balance each other out meant that their nation would be more fortified than any other. It was a nice idea, at least in theory. And yes, the current three leaders were by far the most gifted trio since the founding of Lunaria, but a joining of such great individuals meant almost every meeting resulted in some sort of yelling.
"If we don't act quickly nothing will oppose Exignis from further expanding their empire. That devil has already conquered enough land to match our nation. Lunaria has been around for over 200 years, he's caught up in 13! When will you start taking him seriously? He sunk a whole island for Christ's sake!" She continued to rant, her aqua eyes rippling with anger.
"Nobody is saying he's not a threat." The deep voice of the muscular woman put a temporary halt in Tem's onslaught, her words carrying palpable weight. "But Exignis's greatest strength is its numerous Brontea users, if we send in another one of our own we could end up just hurting ourselves and giving them another weapon. Not to mention how valuable her power is."
Her name was Bebe, the ruler of the earth. She was a giant of a human, easily standing above 15 feet tall and bulging with incredible muscle mass. Her strength didn't just move mountains- it could create them- and she harnessed it to pull up the earth and create whole ranges around the border of Lunaria as a natural defense. While Tem always seemed obsessed with foreign matters and taking initiative, Bebe valued stability and reinforcing their nation.
"Her power is only valuable if we use it for gathering intel! What good is having a mind reader if she just wastes away here? Exignis isn't strong just because they have Brontea users, they're strong because they utilize Brontea and play to their strengths! What we have right now is an ace, but you're refusing to play it out of fear." Tem shot back.
"She's a child and you want to send her into the pits of hell. Exignis has never been infiltrated. It's not just him I'm worried about, the 12 knights are each as strong or stronger than our highest-ranking officers." Bebe's tone became increasingly irritated. The large jug she carried with her effortlessly pulverized into dust at the clenching of her fist. "Besides, a little bit of fear is a good thing. If you had always been more cautious then-"
"That's enough!" A tawny haired man cut her off with a sharp tongue and slammed his fist on the table. Until now, he had been sitting back with his feet kicked up on the table. The two always argued and he was quite frankly bored with it, but when Bebe threatened to bring up a tragedy of their past, he was spurred into action. "Bebe, even before becoming the new triumvirate, we have always been a trio. Do not bring up the past and blame it on others, our mistakes and successes are shared."
That was Sewki, the third member of their squad. He liked to call himself the master of the skies to stick with the theme of the other two, but he was mostly just known as "the owl" throughout Lunaria for the simple fact that he seemed to always be sleeping during the day and was associated with his flying powers. Many citizens weren't his biggest fan due to his relative lack of involvement compared to Tem and Bebe, but his relaxed presence and wisdom was necessary to keep the others function without killing each other.
"The plus side of there being three of us is that we can always come to a majority decision. I agree with Tem, it might be risky, but we can't pass up a chance to gain the edge on Exignis. Everywhere they fight, almost everyone either gets killed or joins them. We don't even know exactly Titus's powers are and only have vague information on a few of the knights. We can't just keep bolstering our defenses for an enemy we know frighteningly little about. If they marched in right now we could be completely unprepared for what they bring."
A slight smile pulled on the edge of Tem's lips, grateful to have Sewki's support while Bebe just sat in silence, slowly nodding her head as she began to see the rationale behind his words.
"I'll take care of it myself, if we can just get Estelle past the border, I trust her to handle the rest. They've expanded way too much in recent years to have tabs on every citizen, and even if Titus is skeptical there's no way he would pass up the opportunity for a power like hers in his army."
With that, the meeting was concluded. Tem quickly got up and left, Sewki resumed his kicked-back position, and Bebe slowly collected her things, placing her hand on Sewki's shoulder on the way out.
"Those were some wise words." She stated as softly as she could. "I wish I could believe they were what you really felt."
The man didn't reply, aware of what she was alluding to and knowing any disagreement would fall on deaf ears.
"Don't be stupid. Lunaria comes first." Was the last thing Sewki heard before Bebe closed the doors behind her.
Lunaria, July 1st. Sewki's Residence
"Sir, we just received a messenger mole. She made it in. Her initiation into the Exignis military begins today."
"Perfect." Sewki replied, waving his hand to dismiss the soldier who had just brought him the message. He looked up to the sky, it had been over a month since he sent the young girl into Exignis. He sent her in with nothing, literally. They had to take the utmost precaution. He dropped her off in a city on the border of Forentvilles and Exignis where she had to replace everything on her person with stuff they purchased. She would spend a few weeks there, gaining information on the town's weaknesses before heading to Exignis. Her cover story was a fleeing immigrant from the corrupt nation who grew sickened after hearing the thoughts of their town's mayor. It was perfect. Titus was sure to catch word of it and he'd be unable to resist the prospect of a young girl that came with the gift of brontea, knowledge on their bordering enemy, and a disillusionment strong enough to swear loyalty to the first capable leader she met.
As he reminisced, he whispered to himself. "Be careful, Estelle. More rides on this than you can possibly imagine."
Exignis, July 1st. Southern Military Base
"Your intel proved correct. You should be happy to know we have just reclaimed your homeland." A man sat at a black stone table across from a girl who couldn't look more his opposite. He was rugged and carried the aura of a jaded soldier. His hair long black hair had begun to sprout grays that streaked throughout the messy manbun he tied it into. His right eye was sealed permanently shut by a vertical scar, and the orange iris that could hardly be seen in his narrow left eye had lost the vivid spark of his younger years, instead turning dull as though it were a fading ember. Beneath a black set of armor reminiscent of the samurai, his body was riddled with various scars. His right arm was severed some time ago, but in its place was a shiny black canon. His left hand nursed a cup of tea, which despite being near boiling in heat, didn't even cause the man to flinch as the leaking piping steam burned the skin beneath his scruffy mustache and each sip signed his lips. In all reality, this man, known as Miru, had lost the personal desire to fight long ago, even before he met Titus. Eleven years ago, he became the tenth member of Titus's 12 knights after being saved from a life spent in the fighting pits. Though he was a bit older than the then 22-year-old aspiring emperor, he sensed greatness in the man and swore his sword to him, vowing to use every living breath fighting until Titus's dreams were accomplished. It may have costed him an eye and an arm, but the sacrifice seemed like nothing compared to the ideal they were striving towards.
"Titus has given his permission for you to join our military. You will be stationed here under my command. Is there anything you would like to say, Estelle?" He raised a bushy eyebrow. He was curious about the girl. She seemed eager enough to please, but something about her seemed a bit too... convenient. He wasn't going to worry about it too much, he trusted Titus's decisions and if he signed off on it that meant he either thought she wasn't too much of a threat or added value of her own. Though he still wanted to evaluate her for himself, if not only for some entertainment.
Selva, July 1st
A horrid roar shook the earth, sending birds scattering in every direction. But quicker than they could flee their nests, a tan skinned woman with green hair as wild as the jungle surrounding her shot from tree to tree with a look of fear in her eyes. Yes, her grace and speed was unmatched by even the masters of the sky, her muscles more capable than the lions of the earth, but in this brutal land of Selva she was not even fit to be considered a warrior.
She dashed swiftly, carrying another in her arms. A stream of blood leaving a trail that flowed from her fractured skull. The woman could clear a mile in much less than 4 minutes, but she feared every additional second she traveled her daughter slipped closer to death. Driven by both love and fear, she reached the capital all the sooner and crashed into the throne room of their revered empress.
“Your majesty!” She gasped, her body crumbling as the adrenaline faded. “Terrible beast… in the north! The border guards… they have been defeated. It’s rampage knows no restraint! My daughter… please… help.”
Exhaustion had taken its hold, and a blackness overtook her vision until she faded into darkness.
Gen- Makuini, July 1st
Normally, Gen slept like a rock. Last night he didn’t sleep at all. By the time his alarm went off he was already fully dressed and ready to head out the door. After countless hours of training today was finally the day it all paid off. Today he would officially be joining the legendary Makuini Vanguard: an elite group of soldiers specializing in the use of Brontea and Tontrium aided combat who ran interference all throughout the land of Tellus.
His home was a humble one, but compared to where he came from it seemed luxurious. Four years ago, the captain of the Vanguard rescued him from the slums of Ramilahr and set him on the course to join their ranks one day. The favoritism, however, ended there. After being brought to their mountain safehaven at just thirteen years old it was expected that the young Genesis would provide for himself and contribute to the city. Thankfully, his powers allowed him to run a small fruit cart that provided him the means to afford a cave apartment near the summit of the mountain.
He looked over the edge of his home as he snacked on a white peach he had spawned in his hands. Nearly 30,000 feet below, Gen could watched the bustling white town located at the base. To the other residents of his neighborhood on the outskirts, that meant hiking well over an hour down the spiraling roads just to get groceries, but Gen preferred a more direct route of travel.
“I guess it’s time to get going.” He muttered to himself as he munched down to the pit of his fruit. He tossed the seed to the side, pat down his own pockets to make sure he had everything, and briskly stepped off his porch to begin his routine morning plunge.
Gen plummeted downward, quickly picking up speed as the sting of the crisp air reddened his pale cheeks, giving a jolt far greater than what any morning coffee could provide. He couldn’t have traveled for much more than a minute before the peaks of the buildings began to threaten a gruesome conclusion to his descent. The boy stretched his thin arms out wide and closed his eyes as a feeling of calm washed over him, contrary to his teal hair that wildly flapped in the winds.
Jade rings on the back of his hands began to shimmer and pulse with life.
“Flower Float.” He said, opening his eyes once more to reveal that they too were glowing with the green light.
In the palm of each hand a sparkle of green energy began to swirl until it took the form of a stem and shot out towards the sky. With a poof the ends immediately bloomed into two giant hibiscus flowers that’s pink petals acted like a parachute until Gen was able to safely make his landing in front of Makuini’s Vanguard Headquarters.
Relative to other nation’s military bases, the dwelling of the Vanguard probably seemed a bit underwhelming, but in their confined mountain nation the building proudly overlooked the city only second in grandeur to the Queen’s castle. Makuini was founded on the principle of isolation and avoiding conflict, so it was fitting that not many people willingly volunteered to venture back out into the danger. He made his way up the empty platform to the large stone doors that the general civilians avoided like the plague. As if they sensed his presence, the great doors began to creak open before the boy even came into contact.
“COME IN.” A booming voice echoed from inside. Without hesitation, Gen complied with the summon, allowing himself to slip inside before the doors slammed behind him. He found himself in a large corridor that seemed to be inspired by the Parthenon. He admired the rows of gray pillars that decorated either side of the pathway while each step forward echoed against the stone floors. At the conclusion of the path stood a giant figure of man who casted a large shadow over the approaching Gen.
“So it seems you’ve finally made it. How long has it been, Bion?”
A chill ran down the boy’s spine at the mention of his true name. There was only one person outside his family that he had ever told that name to: the man who rescued from Ramilahr. Could this really be the same guy? No… the guy who saved me was short and had white hair, but how else could this guy know my name? It must be him!
“Four years, or at least I that’s what I thought. It seems like you’ve grown a lot more than that time would allow Zero.”
“Wohohoho, so you do remember me. That makes me happy, I’ve been wondering if you would end up joining. It looks like you’ve grown a lot too.” The distinct laugh confirmed Gen’s theory. It was a sound he would never forget. Up until the day Zero rescued him, Gen had never heard laughter and it perpetually echoed in his mind as the first sample of genuine joy his ears had ever experienced.
They stood there in silence, studying each other for a bit. Gen had grown a lot since his days in Ramilahr, going from a malnourished child continuously crying over his trauma in isolation to a fit teenager ready to serve as a soldier. However, the far greater change occurred in his rescuer. In the boy’s mind his savior was immortalized as a god amongst men, but now he actually looked the part. What was once a short and scrappy young adult whose white hair was tainted with dirt and had skin decorticated with various imperfect cuts and bruises now towered over Gen, his ebony hair resting over seven feet above the ground and dressed in foreboding black garbs that amplified his air of mystery and power. The boy couldn’t help but feel like this was Zero in his truest form, and the man who had saved him those four years ago was just a sliver of his potential. This was a human who had achieved their maximum: a completed individual.
…Or at least that’s what he thought. The brief illusion of Zero’s greatness began to fade as the man began to wobble towards Gen. The baggy clothing flapped around as he lost balance and struggled to regain it with every step. To Gen, it soon became very clear that Zero was walking on stilts and was not at all good at it. He couldn’t even reach the recruit by walking. Instead, the embarrassing display of a complete lack of coordination only came to an end when Zero completely lost his balance, falling forward the necessary length to close the distance between them.
Though his head laid firmly planted in the ground, Zero acted as though the tumble never occurred and reached an arm up to shake the boy’s hand.
“Your written aptitude test results were incredible, and any concerns from your physical evaluation were addressed with your demonstration of brontea abilities. We feel you’re ready to be assigned a mission right away. If you continue forward, Marabelle will help with all the formal aspects. Welcome to the Vanguard.”
“Thanks….” He gingerly replied and lightly returned the handshake. A woman wearing a crimson pantsuit waited in an opening that had previously been hidden behind Zero’s figure. She flicked a finger, gesturing that the boy should follow. Gen awkwardly sidestepped the body and made his way over to her.
“What was that about?” He asked the woman, looking up at her magenta hair.
“That’s just Zero being Zero. Strongest guy you’ll ever meet on the battlefield, but a complete fool anywhere else.” The casual nature in which she insulted the captain only affirmed to Gen that she too was a person of great significance. “As you’ve heard, I’m Marabelle. Dipshit might be the ‘captain’ out in the field, but around here I’m in charge. Anything involving mission assignments and communication with the Queen goes straight through me. Got it?” She cocked an eyebrow and gave an inquisitive glance.
“Yep.”
“Good, then follow me. It’s time for your tour.”
Not wasting a moment, she immediately launched into a speech detailing the day to day operations of the Vanguard. However, the words she spoke and the reality of what he saw didn’t quite seem to match up.
“This is our state of the art dining halls where members are provided three nutritious meals a day.” She said as they passed a grimy looking kitchen and a few wooden tables.
“If you look outside you can see our training facility. Every soldier gets up at the crack of dawn to work out and practice sparing with Brontea and Tontrium. Don’t worry, safety is of the utmost importance.” She proudly stated though he could barely here her words over the sound of a huge explosion and screams of pain echoing from the same area.
The whole initiation process took the rest of the day. After a few more tour stops containing no shortage of sights to make Gen reevaluate decision to join, he was put through a series of aptitude tests, given an official uniform, fed a mediocre dinner, and then was finally able to retire to his assigned dorm.
“What a day.” He sighed, flopping onto the mattress that was far more plush than anything he could’ve ever afforded. He ran his fingers along his new uniform, admiring the cool feel of its tontrium polyfibres that would protect him in the field. Like all new recruits, he was allowed to participate in the design of the top and had settled on a steel blue short-sleeved vest. On the right breast, just beneath the edge of the collar, was an embroidery of his assigned number “19.” The left sleeve hosted the symbol of the Vanguard: a black badge with a white stork, representing their mission to deliver the world to a better place. And on the back was a large white outline of the sun, the code name he was given in correspondence to his number.
“You have been given the number of the sun.” Marabelle’s words echoed in his head. “It is to represent a deliverer of liberation. Rise to the challenge and bring about the dawn.”
Guess we’ll see about that. He smirked and drifted into sleep, eager to see what the Vanguard would throw at him as an official member.
July 1st
Ahhhh. The land of Tellus. Such a sad a dreary tale. Do I dare to look ahead? Would it give me hope or despair? Never once have I seen a future to bring me with joy, but like a gambler I must continue wandering deeper into the night, foolishly believing a dawn of fortune is just beyond the horizon. I must know; where is this world going? Though it may bring only further gloom perhaps I shall take a glance… just a taste of what’s to come. I do wonder so…
… oh…. How interesting…. How….peculiar. Perhaps the night shall stay a bit longer, but I can see them. A few faint stars providing some semblance of light.
To the east, in the lands of sand where peace is as scarce as water, two from the mountains will return to their forsaken home and meet the one who has lived there forever yet just newly born. The intersection of their fates shall begin the downfall of the false pharaoh to bring liberty to the dessert.
To the west, I see a raging beast. Its escape from the jungle of strength into the lands of deceit will bring three more to meet. One relentless, one jaded recluse, and one who desires only to shine. Should they fail, the two nations will be brought to war. The fate of entire cities shall depend on the trio overcoming the grudges of the few for the prosperity of many.
Two shall clash in the southern lands of ice. Both outcasts and misfits. One trying to fulfill his family legacy and the other running from his own. The victor shall claim the first step towards their destiny while the other will loose their identity.
The two greatest powers will take their first steps towards war. And while the Manticore increases his strength, two new stars shall collide. The first, a soldier of the land of fire who begins his training. The second, a girl of the moon who will begin to infiltrate their ranks.
Another in the great lightning lands of technology, infinite possibilities making the path unsure. Oh how I will love to watch her blossom!
And the last two… their picture is less clear. Those who value freedom are seldom predicted. What lies ahead is up to them.
Be careful little stars, for during your lives the fate of Tellus shall be determined. One misstep and your flame might be snuffed out.
Lunaria, May 25th. The Triangle Table
“Are you completely mad!?” An elegant woman with long hair that altered between shades of purple, green, and blue uncharacteristically broke her graceful demeanor and shouted at the giant woman who sat across from her.
Her name was Tem, one Lunaria Triumvirate and widely known as the goddess of the seas. In accordance with their ultimate goal of promoting true equality, Lunaria always appointed three figures with vastly different characteristics to lead them. A triangle is the strongest shape, and three leaders to balance each other out meant that their nation would be more fortified than any other. It was a nice idea, at least in theory. And yes, the current three leaders were by far the most gifted trio since the founding of Lunaria, but a joining of such great individuals meant almost every meeting resulted in some sort of yelling.
"If we don't act quickly nothing will oppose Exignis from further expanding their empire. That devil has already conquered enough land to match our nation. Lunaria has been around for over 200 years, he's caught up in 13! When will you start taking him seriously? He sunk a whole island for Christ's sake!" She continued to rant, her aqua eyes rippling with anger.
"Nobody is saying he's not a threat." The deep voice of the muscular woman put a temporary halt in Tem's onslaught, her words carrying palpable weight. "But Exignis's greatest strength is its numerous Brontea users, if we send in another one of our own we could end up just hurting ourselves and giving them another weapon. Not to mention how valuable her power is."
Her name was Bebe, the ruler of the earth. She was a giant of a human, easily standing above 15 feet tall and bulging with incredible muscle mass. Her strength didn't just move mountains- it could create them- and she harnessed it to pull up the earth and create whole ranges around the border of Lunaria as a natural defense. While Tem always seemed obsessed with foreign matters and taking initiative, Bebe valued stability and reinforcing their nation.
"Her power is only valuable if we use it for gathering intel! What good is having a mind reader if she just wastes away here? Exignis isn't strong just because they have Brontea users, they're strong because they utilize Brontea and play to their strengths! What we have right now is an ace, but you're refusing to play it out of fear." Tem shot back.
"She's a child and you want to send her into the pits of hell. Exignis has never been infiltrated. It's not just him I'm worried about, the 12 knights are each as strong or stronger than our highest-ranking officers." Bebe's tone became increasingly irritated. The large jug she carried with her effortlessly pulverized into dust at the clenching of her fist. "Besides, a little bit of fear is a good thing. If you had always been more cautious then-"
"That's enough!" A tawny haired man cut her off with a sharp tongue and slammed his fist on the table. Until now, he had been sitting back with his feet kicked up on the table. The two always argued and he was quite frankly bored with it, but when Bebe threatened to bring up a tragedy of their past, he was spurred into action. "Bebe, even before becoming the new triumvirate, we have always been a trio. Do not bring up the past and blame it on others, our mistakes and successes are shared."
That was Sewki, the third member of their squad. He liked to call himself the master of the skies to stick with the theme of the other two, but he was mostly just known as "the owl" throughout Lunaria for the simple fact that he seemed to always be sleeping during the day and was associated with his flying powers. Many citizens weren't his biggest fan due to his relative lack of involvement compared to Tem and Bebe, but his relaxed presence and wisdom was necessary to keep the others function without killing each other.
"The plus side of there being three of us is that we can always come to a majority decision. I agree with Tem, it might be risky, but we can't pass up a chance to gain the edge on Exignis. Everywhere they fight, almost everyone either gets killed or joins them. We don't even know exactly Titus's powers are and only have vague information on a few of the knights. We can't just keep bolstering our defenses for an enemy we know frighteningly little about. If they marched in right now we could be completely unprepared for what they bring."
A slight smile pulled on the edge of Tem's lips, grateful to have Sewki's support while Bebe just sat in silence, slowly nodding her head as she began to see the rationale behind his words.
"I'll take care of it myself, if we can just get Estelle past the border, I trust her to handle the rest. They've expanded way too much in recent years to have tabs on every citizen, and even if Titus is skeptical there's no way he would pass up the opportunity for a power like hers in his army."
With that, the meeting was concluded. Tem quickly got up and left, Sewki resumed his kicked-back position, and Bebe slowly collected her things, placing her hand on Sewki's shoulder on the way out.
"Those were some wise words." She stated as softly as she could. "I wish I could believe they were what you really felt."
The man didn't reply, aware of what she was alluding to and knowing any disagreement would fall on deaf ears.
"Don't be stupid. Lunaria comes first." Was the last thing Sewki heard before Bebe closed the doors behind her.
Lunaria, July 1st. Sewki's Residence
"Sir, we just received a messenger mole. She made it in. Her initiation into the Exignis military begins today."
"Perfect." Sewki replied, waving his hand to dismiss the soldier who had just brought him the message. He looked up to the sky, it had been over a month since he sent the young girl into Exignis. He sent her in with nothing, literally. They had to take the utmost precaution. He dropped her off in a city on the border of Forentvilles and Exignis where she had to replace everything on her person with stuff they purchased. She would spend a few weeks there, gaining information on the town's weaknesses before heading to Exignis. Her cover story was a fleeing immigrant from the corrupt nation who grew sickened after hearing the thoughts of their town's mayor. It was perfect. Titus was sure to catch word of it and he'd be unable to resist the prospect of a young girl that came with the gift of brontea, knowledge on their bordering enemy, and a disillusionment strong enough to swear loyalty to the first capable leader she met.
As he reminisced, he whispered to himself. "Be careful, Estelle. More rides on this than you can possibly imagine."
Exignis, July 1st. Southern Military Base
"Your intel proved correct. You should be happy to know we have just reclaimed your homeland." A man sat at a black stone table across from a girl who couldn't look more his opposite. He was rugged and carried the aura of a jaded soldier. His hair long black hair had begun to sprout grays that streaked throughout the messy manbun he tied it into. His right eye was sealed permanently shut by a vertical scar, and the orange iris that could hardly be seen in his narrow left eye had lost the vivid spark of his younger years, instead turning dull as though it were a fading ember. Beneath a black set of armor reminiscent of the samurai, his body was riddled with various scars. His right arm was severed some time ago, but in its place was a shiny black canon. His left hand nursed a cup of tea, which despite being near boiling in heat, didn't even cause the man to flinch as the leaking piping steam burned the skin beneath his scruffy mustache and each sip signed his lips. In all reality, this man, known as Miru, had lost the personal desire to fight long ago, even before he met Titus. Eleven years ago, he became the tenth member of Titus's 12 knights after being saved from a life spent in the fighting pits. Though he was a bit older than the then 22-year-old aspiring emperor, he sensed greatness in the man and swore his sword to him, vowing to use every living breath fighting until Titus's dreams were accomplished. It may have costed him an eye and an arm, but the sacrifice seemed like nothing compared to the ideal they were striving towards.
"Titus has given his permission for you to join our military. You will be stationed here under my command. Is there anything you would like to say, Estelle?" He raised a bushy eyebrow. He was curious about the girl. She seemed eager enough to please, but something about her seemed a bit too... convenient. He wasn't going to worry about it too much, he trusted Titus's decisions and if he signed off on it that meant he either thought she wasn't too much of a threat or added value of her own. Though he still wanted to evaluate her for himself, if not only for some entertainment.
Selva, July 1st
A horrid roar shook the earth, sending birds scattering in every direction. But quicker than they could flee their nests, a tan skinned woman with green hair as wild as the jungle surrounding her shot from tree to tree with a look of fear in her eyes. Yes, her grace and speed was unmatched by even the masters of the sky, her muscles more capable than the lions of the earth, but in this brutal land of Selva she was not even fit to be considered a warrior.
She dashed swiftly, carrying another in her arms. A stream of blood leaving a trail that flowed from her fractured skull. The woman could clear a mile in much less than 4 minutes, but she feared every additional second she traveled her daughter slipped closer to death. Driven by both love and fear, she reached the capital all the sooner and crashed into the throne room of their revered empress.
“Your majesty!” She gasped, her body crumbling as the adrenaline faded. “Terrible beast… in the north! The border guards… they have been defeated. It’s rampage knows no restraint! My daughter… please… help.”
Exhaustion had taken its hold, and a blackness overtook her vision until she faded into darkness.
Gen- Makuini, July 1st
Normally, Gen slept like a rock. Last night he didn’t sleep at all. By the time his alarm went off he was already fully dressed and ready to head out the door. After countless hours of training today was finally the day it all paid off. Today he would officially be joining the legendary Makuini Vanguard: an elite group of soldiers specializing in the use of Brontea and Tontrium aided combat who ran interference all throughout the land of Tellus.
His home was a humble one, but compared to where he came from it seemed luxurious. Four years ago, the captain of the Vanguard rescued him from the slums of Ramilahr and set him on the course to join their ranks one day. The favoritism, however, ended there. After being brought to their mountain safehaven at just thirteen years old it was expected that the young Genesis would provide for himself and contribute to the city. Thankfully, his powers allowed him to run a small fruit cart that provided him the means to afford a cave apartment near the summit of the mountain.
He looked over the edge of his home as he snacked on a white peach he had spawned in his hands. Nearly 30,000 feet below, Gen could watched the bustling white town located at the base. To the other residents of his neighborhood on the outskirts, that meant hiking well over an hour down the spiraling roads just to get groceries, but Gen preferred a more direct route of travel.
“I guess it’s time to get going.” He muttered to himself as he munched down to the pit of his fruit. He tossed the seed to the side, pat down his own pockets to make sure he had everything, and briskly stepped off his porch to begin his routine morning plunge.
Gen plummeted downward, quickly picking up speed as the sting of the crisp air reddened his pale cheeks, giving a jolt far greater than what any morning coffee could provide. He couldn’t have traveled for much more than a minute before the peaks of the buildings began to threaten a gruesome conclusion to his descent. The boy stretched his thin arms out wide and closed his eyes as a feeling of calm washed over him, contrary to his teal hair that wildly flapped in the winds.
Jade rings on the back of his hands began to shimmer and pulse with life.
“Flower Float.” He said, opening his eyes once more to reveal that they too were glowing with the green light.
In the palm of each hand a sparkle of green energy began to swirl until it took the form of a stem and shot out towards the sky. With a poof the ends immediately bloomed into two giant hibiscus flowers that’s pink petals acted like a parachute until Gen was able to safely make his landing in front of Makuini’s Vanguard Headquarters.
Relative to other nation’s military bases, the dwelling of the Vanguard probably seemed a bit underwhelming, but in their confined mountain nation the building proudly overlooked the city only second in grandeur to the Queen’s castle. Makuini was founded on the principle of isolation and avoiding conflict, so it was fitting that not many people willingly volunteered to venture back out into the danger. He made his way up the empty platform to the large stone doors that the general civilians avoided like the plague. As if they sensed his presence, the great doors began to creak open before the boy even came into contact.
“COME IN.” A booming voice echoed from inside. Without hesitation, Gen complied with the summon, allowing himself to slip inside before the doors slammed behind him. He found himself in a large corridor that seemed to be inspired by the Parthenon. He admired the rows of gray pillars that decorated either side of the pathway while each step forward echoed against the stone floors. At the conclusion of the path stood a giant figure of man who casted a large shadow over the approaching Gen.
“So it seems you’ve finally made it. How long has it been, Bion?”
A chill ran down the boy’s spine at the mention of his true name. There was only one person outside his family that he had ever told that name to: the man who rescued from Ramilahr. Could this really be the same guy? No… the guy who saved me was short and had white hair, but how else could this guy know my name? It must be him!
“Four years, or at least I that’s what I thought. It seems like you’ve grown a lot more than that time would allow Zero.”
“Wohohoho, so you do remember me. That makes me happy, I’ve been wondering if you would end up joining. It looks like you’ve grown a lot too.” The distinct laugh confirmed Gen’s theory. It was a sound he would never forget. Up until the day Zero rescued him, Gen had never heard laughter and it perpetually echoed in his mind as the first sample of genuine joy his ears had ever experienced.
They stood there in silence, studying each other for a bit. Gen had grown a lot since his days in Ramilahr, going from a malnourished child continuously crying over his trauma in isolation to a fit teenager ready to serve as a soldier. However, the far greater change occurred in his rescuer. In the boy’s mind his savior was immortalized as a god amongst men, but now he actually looked the part. What was once a short and scrappy young adult whose white hair was tainted with dirt and had skin decorticated with various imperfect cuts and bruises now towered over Gen, his ebony hair resting over seven feet above the ground and dressed in foreboding black garbs that amplified his air of mystery and power. The boy couldn’t help but feel like this was Zero in his truest form, and the man who had saved him those four years ago was just a sliver of his potential. This was a human who had achieved their maximum: a completed individual.
…Or at least that’s what he thought. The brief illusion of Zero’s greatness began to fade as the man began to wobble towards Gen. The baggy clothing flapped around as he lost balance and struggled to regain it with every step. To Gen, it soon became very clear that Zero was walking on stilts and was not at all good at it. He couldn’t even reach the recruit by walking. Instead, the embarrassing display of a complete lack of coordination only came to an end when Zero completely lost his balance, falling forward the necessary length to close the distance between them.
Though his head laid firmly planted in the ground, Zero acted as though the tumble never occurred and reached an arm up to shake the boy’s hand.
“Your written aptitude test results were incredible, and any concerns from your physical evaluation were addressed with your demonstration of brontea abilities. We feel you’re ready to be assigned a mission right away. If you continue forward, Marabelle will help with all the formal aspects. Welcome to the Vanguard.”
“Thanks….” He gingerly replied and lightly returned the handshake. A woman wearing a crimson pantsuit waited in an opening that had previously been hidden behind Zero’s figure. She flicked a finger, gesturing that the boy should follow. Gen awkwardly sidestepped the body and made his way over to her.
“What was that about?” He asked the woman, looking up at her magenta hair.
“That’s just Zero being Zero. Strongest guy you’ll ever meet on the battlefield, but a complete fool anywhere else.” The casual nature in which she insulted the captain only affirmed to Gen that she too was a person of great significance. “As you’ve heard, I’m Marabelle. Dipshit might be the ‘captain’ out in the field, but around here I’m in charge. Anything involving mission assignments and communication with the Queen goes straight through me. Got it?” She cocked an eyebrow and gave an inquisitive glance.
“Yep.”
“Good, then follow me. It’s time for your tour.”
Not wasting a moment, she immediately launched into a speech detailing the day to day operations of the Vanguard. However, the words she spoke and the reality of what he saw didn’t quite seem to match up.
“This is our state of the art dining halls where members are provided three nutritious meals a day.” She said as they passed a grimy looking kitchen and a few wooden tables.
“If you look outside you can see our training facility. Every soldier gets up at the crack of dawn to work out and practice sparing with Brontea and Tontrium. Don’t worry, safety is of the utmost importance.” She proudly stated though he could barely here her words over the sound of a huge explosion and screams of pain echoing from the same area.
The whole initiation process took the rest of the day. After a few more tour stops containing no shortage of sights to make Gen reevaluate decision to join, he was put through a series of aptitude tests, given an official uniform, fed a mediocre dinner, and then was finally able to retire to his assigned dorm.
“What a day.” He sighed, flopping onto the mattress that was far more plush than anything he could’ve ever afforded. He ran his fingers along his new uniform, admiring the cool feel of its tontrium polyfibres that would protect him in the field. Like all new recruits, he was allowed to participate in the design of the top and had settled on a steel blue short-sleeved vest. On the right breast, just beneath the edge of the collar, was an embroidery of his assigned number “19.” The left sleeve hosted the symbol of the Vanguard: a black badge with a white stork, representing their mission to deliver the world to a better place. And on the back was a large white outline of the sun, the code name he was given in correspondence to his number.
“You have been given the number of the sun.” Marabelle’s words echoed in his head. “It is to represent a deliverer of liberation. Rise to the challenge and bring about the dawn.”
Guess we’ll see about that. He smirked and drifted into sleep, eager to see what the Vanguard would throw at him as an official member.
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