Creative Writing
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Plot Summary
A retired army sergeant is hardly getting over the loss of a loved one, but that doesn't stop his best friend from sending him to do some dirty work that could potentially put him back on the radar. |
Info
Genre: Action/Adventure Status: Hiatus Current Chapters: 15 Est.: 2016 |
Vtuber Lore
memoire 1 (vtuber lore)
When I was a kid, my parents took me out with them to explore the city. The scents of newly bloomed flowers and freshly baked pastries filled the air, marking the beginning of spring. The season was a specialty in Blanc, and many travelers would come just to experience the annual Goldfire Festival.
During the event that spanned an entire week, people from different locations and backgrounds would share a part of their culture as well as freely give flowers to anyone they wanted. It truly was an exquisite sight to behold as gold would fill the skies and smiles would occupy the city.
As my parents were busy catching up with a family friend at the local bakery, I heard a collection of voices not too far from where we were. As my curiosity rose, I hurriedly sneaked away from the busy streets and wandered into a field of white hydrangeas where I saw the backs of three boys huddling around something.
"How did you manage to do that?"
"Yeah, it's not easy for rocks to hit something that's moving!"
I noticed the earth moving around where the boys were standing which made it clear that at least one of them had some kind of ground altering ability. What was the point of using their powers at an event such as the festival? As I got closer, I heard a chirp. It startled me and at first I assumed that it had come from a tree or the fields, but looking more carefully, I noticed a baby raven on the ground crying.
One of its wings looked slightly injured as it tried to move away from the boys, but the earth surrounding continued trapping it no matter what. I then noticed the intense mana coming from the group, but I couldn't pinpoint who it originated from. Mana like that only came from nobles or people with intense training, and these boys looked too young to have that sort of experience.
"You guys feel that intense mana too, right?"
"It's definitely not from you guys."
"No way, can it be from the bird?"
Intense mana from the bird? That can't be. No animals carried intense traces of mana as far as I knew. If they did, they'd be familiars. A baby raven couldn't possibly be a familiar, and even if it was, how did it stray from its owner?
"Let's see where the mana lies in this raven."
"We can't possibly do that!"
"What, are you scared? Maybe we can split the mana amongst us. It feels like a lot to go around."
As soon as I heard that, I knew I had to step in before it was too late. I immediately yelled out a "Stop it!". The boys turned around instantly, setting their sights on me. I could tell by the look in their eyes and the redirection of a portion of the mana's influence that I was their new target.
I backed up slowly as the boys edged closer to me, readying their magic either to threaten me or to actually harm me. I didn't want to waste any precious time, so I steadied my resolve and prepared myself to strike as well if needed. Whether my powers wanted to work with me now was the real concern.
I knew I had to stop time in order to prevent myself from getting hurt by any sudden moves, but before I could, a strong gust of wind occurred, somehow avoiding me but sweeping the boys further and further away until I could no longer see them. I heard their yells as they were blown away, but I figured they'd be okay with just a few minor bruises.
I stood there for a brief second eyeing the direction they flew towards and questioning the sudden change in weather. The area filled with hydrangea petals and the gold dust in the sky floated behind where the gust of wind had gone, almost like a scene from a film.
As soon as I remembered the injured bird, I hurried over to it, cupping it within my hands and checking it for any major injuries. He seemed to be fine enough that he’d survive, so I let out a sigh of relief.
Having him in my palms, I could feel the strange onset of mana that confirmed that the massive influence must've been coming from him. Such mana felt somewhat comfortable, but I wasn't sure what basis I had to make that conclusion. I didn’t question it at that point. I was simply relieved that he was okay, and he leaned onto one of my thumbs as if to show his gratitude.
“It’s going to be okay. I got you now,” I assured him, stroking the top of his head with my thumb.
Soon enough, I heard my mother calling for me, so I decided to head back to my parents with the baby bird. If he had an owner, we had to find them and return him, but first I wanted to get these his injuries looked at. I didn't know it then, but my life would change drastically from that point on.
During the event that spanned an entire week, people from different locations and backgrounds would share a part of their culture as well as freely give flowers to anyone they wanted. It truly was an exquisite sight to behold as gold would fill the skies and smiles would occupy the city.
As my parents were busy catching up with a family friend at the local bakery, I heard a collection of voices not too far from where we were. As my curiosity rose, I hurriedly sneaked away from the busy streets and wandered into a field of white hydrangeas where I saw the backs of three boys huddling around something.
"How did you manage to do that?"
"Yeah, it's not easy for rocks to hit something that's moving!"
I noticed the earth moving around where the boys were standing which made it clear that at least one of them had some kind of ground altering ability. What was the point of using their powers at an event such as the festival? As I got closer, I heard a chirp. It startled me and at first I assumed that it had come from a tree or the fields, but looking more carefully, I noticed a baby raven on the ground crying.
One of its wings looked slightly injured as it tried to move away from the boys, but the earth surrounding continued trapping it no matter what. I then noticed the intense mana coming from the group, but I couldn't pinpoint who it originated from. Mana like that only came from nobles or people with intense training, and these boys looked too young to have that sort of experience.
"You guys feel that intense mana too, right?"
"It's definitely not from you guys."
"No way, can it be from the bird?"
Intense mana from the bird? That can't be. No animals carried intense traces of mana as far as I knew. If they did, they'd be familiars. A baby raven couldn't possibly be a familiar, and even if it was, how did it stray from its owner?
"Let's see where the mana lies in this raven."
"We can't possibly do that!"
"What, are you scared? Maybe we can split the mana amongst us. It feels like a lot to go around."
As soon as I heard that, I knew I had to step in before it was too late. I immediately yelled out a "Stop it!". The boys turned around instantly, setting their sights on me. I could tell by the look in their eyes and the redirection of a portion of the mana's influence that I was their new target.
I backed up slowly as the boys edged closer to me, readying their magic either to threaten me or to actually harm me. I didn't want to waste any precious time, so I steadied my resolve and prepared myself to strike as well if needed. Whether my powers wanted to work with me now was the real concern.
I knew I had to stop time in order to prevent myself from getting hurt by any sudden moves, but before I could, a strong gust of wind occurred, somehow avoiding me but sweeping the boys further and further away until I could no longer see them. I heard their yells as they were blown away, but I figured they'd be okay with just a few minor bruises.
I stood there for a brief second eyeing the direction they flew towards and questioning the sudden change in weather. The area filled with hydrangea petals and the gold dust in the sky floated behind where the gust of wind had gone, almost like a scene from a film.
As soon as I remembered the injured bird, I hurried over to it, cupping it within my hands and checking it for any major injuries. He seemed to be fine enough that he’d survive, so I let out a sigh of relief.
Having him in my palms, I could feel the strange onset of mana that confirmed that the massive influence must've been coming from him. Such mana felt somewhat comfortable, but I wasn't sure what basis I had to make that conclusion. I didn’t question it at that point. I was simply relieved that he was okay, and he leaned onto one of my thumbs as if to show his gratitude.
“It’s going to be okay. I got you now,” I assured him, stroking the top of his head with my thumb.
Soon enough, I heard my mother calling for me, so I decided to head back to my parents with the baby bird. If he had an owner, we had to find them and return him, but first I wanted to get these his injuries looked at. I didn't know it then, but my life would change drastically from that point on.
memoire 2 (Vtuber Lore)
Before I met Aquilo, I clung to my parents a lot. I don't remember anything from before I was seven years old, and the day they found me was still clear as day in my mind.
That day, I opened my eyes and felt weak as I laid on the ground, dirt coating my body and wounds stinging my arms and legs. It felt as though I had slept for a long time, but exhaustion was taking over me, causing my head to pound so loud I could hear it.
When I opened my eyes, the sunlight blinded me. I heard the wind rustling the tree branches above me and birds chirping in the distance. Inhaling the air around me, I could smell the fresh scent of nature. Something about it felt refreshing as if I hadn't been in an environment like it in a long time.
Before long, I caught the voices of a man and a woman as I sensed their presences in front of me. Scared for my life, I tried to use anything I had within me to stop them in their tracks, but I was unable to draw out anything with enough impact.
"It's okay, don't be afraid," the woman's voice uttered as she edged closer to me.
"Don't approach too quickly, Thea," the man's voice advised.
As soon as my eyes adjusted enough to the light, I opened them and swung an arm at the woman as a last ditch effort, but she stopped my motion instantly by blocking my attack. From the way she let go, it didn't seem as though I was in any immediate danger.
My focus was then on her and the man. The expressions on their faces looked more concerned than anything, and that somehow slightly eased my apprehensions . The woman had long dark red hair in a half up, half down style. Her eyes were a metallic gray color, and she wore golden earrings representing stars. She eyed me with a wave of unease on her face as she continued to move closer and crouch down to my eye level.
"Hi, baby," she said to me in a gentle and soft voice. "Are you okay?"
I hesitated a bit, but I pushed whatever strength I had left to nod my head. My throat felt dry and scratchy, and it even hurt me to swallow my own saliva. The man standing right behind the woman must've noticed this as he promptly took a thermos out from his bag and poured me a cup of water.
"Drink this and gather your strength back," he urged as he held out the cup towards me. He was now crouching beside the woman, so I could see both of them clearly.
The man had dark brown hair, red eyes, and wore a pair of glasses. The look in his eyes was similar to the woman: worried. Looking closely, I noticed that they were wearing some kind of uniform: Their tops were white collared shirts while their jackets were black, and they wore similar matching pants. Buttons and chains were prominent in their attire, and a pair of almost knee-high boots covered their feet.
They also had moon pins with a chain that connected to what I assumed was a pocket watch which caught my eye. I concluded that they must be a part of some organization to be wearing something that looked so official. Although both of them were evidently adults, they still appeared on the younger side to me.
I accepted the cup from the man and took a sip, practically gulping down the water once the first droplet had reached my throat. I was parched beyond imagination. Once I downed it all, I had to catch my breath.
"Her wounds look pretty bad, Victor," the woman, whose name I recalled to be Thea, pointed out. "Should we take her back to HQ?"
"She came out of an Abyss portal, so there's no guarantee they'd keep her safe," Victor replied, looking like he was deep in thought thinking about what to do next.
"She's just a kid. We can't leave her here."
"Don't worry, I agree with you."
My eyes moved back and forth between the two of them as they discussed their next move regarding me. From the way they spoke, it sounded like they were carefully going through every single available option. The HQ they mentioned intrigued me. Why wouldn't that organization keep me safe and did they belong to it also?
"Are you feeling better?" The woman questioned as she took the cup in my hand and handed it back to the man. She had a gentle aura to her which made me feel as though I could trust her. "Can you tell us your name?"
My name. What was my name and how could I not remember? Who was I? I looked down at myself confused and noticed that my hair was red, and I was wearing a torn up white dress. I somehow had no prior knowledge about who I was or what I looked like, but I had a strong feeling that I existed before this moment.
I looked Thea directly in her eyes and frowned as I could not give her a true answer. Her expression turned even more troubled as she looked back at Victor.
Victor was still lost in thought, but soon enough, he took a deep breath and stood up to remove his jacket. That's when I felt the weight of something warm envelope around me. It wasn't cold out, but I felt a little too exposed, so I appreciated the gesture as he draped his coat over my shoulders.
"We'll take her to the infirmary and think about what to do on the way there," Victor finally uttered, adjusting the jacket on me so it wouldn't slip. "I'll call into HQ and let them know we're taking a little detour to investigate something related."
Thea nodded then turned to me once again. She held out her hands for me to take, and I placed my bruised palms into hers. From there, she helped me get onto my feet before informing me of their plans.
"Okay, sweetheart," she began, watching me closely to make sure I was regaining my balance. "My name is Thea and this is my husband, Victor. We're both out on a mission right now, but we'll make sure you're safe. Would you mind coming with us?"
From the moment she took my hands, I was already set on going with them. If I stayed here, I would be alone with nothing to eat and no shelter to rest in. With no previous memories, I figured it would be best to trust them since they appeared kind enough to even gently approach me, offer me water, and give me a sense of security even if it could be short-lived.
I let out a hum to let her know that I would go along with them. As we began walking, my legs felt weak, and I almost tumbled over before Thea caught me. Before I could plant my two feet back onto the ground, Victor picked me up to carry me.
"I know you just met us, but we don't want you to struggle. Will you allow me to carry you?" He asked me sincerely.
I knew from that first step that there was no way I'd be able to walk for an extended period of time without losing my footing, so I gave in. I then heard Thea make a sound as if she had discovered something, and I felt a slight tug behind my dress collar.
"Hey honey, look at this," she stated, bringing her husband's attention to whatever was behind me. "L, C, E."
Victor then took a peek over my shoulder to look at what I assumed was the tag on my clothing. "Could that be her name?"
"Most likely, but some letters are missing."
They began moving forward as I felt exhaustion gradually setting over me. My eyelids were slowly shutting themselves even as I tried to stay awake. Victor softly pushed my head down onto his shoulder and continued conversing with Thea.
"L, C, E. Lacie?" He suggested, hoping to get a response from me if that were to be my actual name. I simply had no recollection of anything and rested my head as I grew more and more tired.
"Lacie," Thea repeated in a tone as if she was smiling. "I like that name."
I started to lose track of their conversation as I drifted off. These two people were kind to me, so I simply had to trust them. Wherever they were taking me to would be much better than staying alone in this forest. Lacie. That name doesn't sound too bad.
That day, I opened my eyes and felt weak as I laid on the ground, dirt coating my body and wounds stinging my arms and legs. It felt as though I had slept for a long time, but exhaustion was taking over me, causing my head to pound so loud I could hear it.
When I opened my eyes, the sunlight blinded me. I heard the wind rustling the tree branches above me and birds chirping in the distance. Inhaling the air around me, I could smell the fresh scent of nature. Something about it felt refreshing as if I hadn't been in an environment like it in a long time.
Before long, I caught the voices of a man and a woman as I sensed their presences in front of me. Scared for my life, I tried to use anything I had within me to stop them in their tracks, but I was unable to draw out anything with enough impact.
"It's okay, don't be afraid," the woman's voice uttered as she edged closer to me.
"Don't approach too quickly, Thea," the man's voice advised.
As soon as my eyes adjusted enough to the light, I opened them and swung an arm at the woman as a last ditch effort, but she stopped my motion instantly by blocking my attack. From the way she let go, it didn't seem as though I was in any immediate danger.
My focus was then on her and the man. The expressions on their faces looked more concerned than anything, and that somehow slightly eased my apprehensions . The woman had long dark red hair in a half up, half down style. Her eyes were a metallic gray color, and she wore golden earrings representing stars. She eyed me with a wave of unease on her face as she continued to move closer and crouch down to my eye level.
"Hi, baby," she said to me in a gentle and soft voice. "Are you okay?"
I hesitated a bit, but I pushed whatever strength I had left to nod my head. My throat felt dry and scratchy, and it even hurt me to swallow my own saliva. The man standing right behind the woman must've noticed this as he promptly took a thermos out from his bag and poured me a cup of water.
"Drink this and gather your strength back," he urged as he held out the cup towards me. He was now crouching beside the woman, so I could see both of them clearly.
The man had dark brown hair, red eyes, and wore a pair of glasses. The look in his eyes was similar to the woman: worried. Looking closely, I noticed that they were wearing some kind of uniform: Their tops were white collared shirts while their jackets were black, and they wore similar matching pants. Buttons and chains were prominent in their attire, and a pair of almost knee-high boots covered their feet.
They also had moon pins with a chain that connected to what I assumed was a pocket watch which caught my eye. I concluded that they must be a part of some organization to be wearing something that looked so official. Although both of them were evidently adults, they still appeared on the younger side to me.
I accepted the cup from the man and took a sip, practically gulping down the water once the first droplet had reached my throat. I was parched beyond imagination. Once I downed it all, I had to catch my breath.
"Her wounds look pretty bad, Victor," the woman, whose name I recalled to be Thea, pointed out. "Should we take her back to HQ?"
"She came out of an Abyss portal, so there's no guarantee they'd keep her safe," Victor replied, looking like he was deep in thought thinking about what to do next.
"She's just a kid. We can't leave her here."
"Don't worry, I agree with you."
My eyes moved back and forth between the two of them as they discussed their next move regarding me. From the way they spoke, it sounded like they were carefully going through every single available option. The HQ they mentioned intrigued me. Why wouldn't that organization keep me safe and did they belong to it also?
"Are you feeling better?" The woman questioned as she took the cup in my hand and handed it back to the man. She had a gentle aura to her which made me feel as though I could trust her. "Can you tell us your name?"
My name. What was my name and how could I not remember? Who was I? I looked down at myself confused and noticed that my hair was red, and I was wearing a torn up white dress. I somehow had no prior knowledge about who I was or what I looked like, but I had a strong feeling that I existed before this moment.
I looked Thea directly in her eyes and frowned as I could not give her a true answer. Her expression turned even more troubled as she looked back at Victor.
Victor was still lost in thought, but soon enough, he took a deep breath and stood up to remove his jacket. That's when I felt the weight of something warm envelope around me. It wasn't cold out, but I felt a little too exposed, so I appreciated the gesture as he draped his coat over my shoulders.
"We'll take her to the infirmary and think about what to do on the way there," Victor finally uttered, adjusting the jacket on me so it wouldn't slip. "I'll call into HQ and let them know we're taking a little detour to investigate something related."
Thea nodded then turned to me once again. She held out her hands for me to take, and I placed my bruised palms into hers. From there, she helped me get onto my feet before informing me of their plans.
"Okay, sweetheart," she began, watching me closely to make sure I was regaining my balance. "My name is Thea and this is my husband, Victor. We're both out on a mission right now, but we'll make sure you're safe. Would you mind coming with us?"
From the moment she took my hands, I was already set on going with them. If I stayed here, I would be alone with nothing to eat and no shelter to rest in. With no previous memories, I figured it would be best to trust them since they appeared kind enough to even gently approach me, offer me water, and give me a sense of security even if it could be short-lived.
I let out a hum to let her know that I would go along with them. As we began walking, my legs felt weak, and I almost tumbled over before Thea caught me. Before I could plant my two feet back onto the ground, Victor picked me up to carry me.
"I know you just met us, but we don't want you to struggle. Will you allow me to carry you?" He asked me sincerely.
I knew from that first step that there was no way I'd be able to walk for an extended period of time without losing my footing, so I gave in. I then heard Thea make a sound as if she had discovered something, and I felt a slight tug behind my dress collar.
"Hey honey, look at this," she stated, bringing her husband's attention to whatever was behind me. "L, C, E."
Victor then took a peek over my shoulder to look at what I assumed was the tag on my clothing. "Could that be her name?"
"Most likely, but some letters are missing."
They began moving forward as I felt exhaustion gradually setting over me. My eyelids were slowly shutting themselves even as I tried to stay awake. Victor softly pushed my head down onto his shoulder and continued conversing with Thea.
"L, C, E. Lacie?" He suggested, hoping to get a response from me if that were to be my actual name. I simply had no recollection of anything and rested my head as I grew more and more tired.
"Lacie," Thea repeated in a tone as if she was smiling. "I like that name."
I started to lose track of their conversation as I drifted off. These two people were kind to me, so I simply had to trust them. Wherever they were taking me to would be much better than staying alone in this forest. Lacie. That name doesn't sound too bad.
Memoire 3 (Vtuber Lore)
After that incident, I gradually began living a calm and peaceful life. Victor and Thea had taken me to the infirmary as they said where I got my injuries looked at and was given the necessary treatments in order to recover. I couldn't remember a single thing about my past even at that point and even now. I decided to go by the name Lacie and after awhile, the two of them adopted me officially. They had to go through so much trouble to make sure they weren't making any suspicious moves, and I could tell that they wanted to do everything in my best interest. They were now mom and dad to me, and I accepted them as they had walked into so many hardships just for my sake.
My new life in the city of Blanc began then, and I was given the best education and magic training as my parents were able to give. The tiredness I felt when I was discovered in the forest one year ago was due mostly to the onset of mana that I was unaccustomed to. Other than the occasional nightmares, life got better than I imagined.
My powers had developed into time manipulation, and at first, I could only freeze the motions of inanimate objects like stopping a vase from falling or a water drop from dripping. But now, I could freeze a section of a moment in time. It was still unstable, but I was excited every time my father would take me out to train.
The three of us were visiting the castle to pay our respects to the royal family. My mom and the queen of Blanc had been best friends since childhood, and the palace had always welcomed us with open arms. The young master was about two years older than me, and I met him after I got adopted. His name is Dante, and his platinum blonde hair and green eyes were an even blend of both of his parents. I was wary of him back then, but after awhile, I noticed the kindness he was showing me so we became fast friends.
On this particular day, the adults were having a tea party near the carnation field, so Dante and I decided to roam around the area a bit. Carnations were a household flower here at the castle, so as long as magic could keep them alive, they bloomed through all seasons. I focused on a few flowers in particular before I saw a butterfly and felt the need to catch it. I alerted Dante to help me, and while I could tell that he wasn't interested, he still indulged me as I chased it.
Cupping my hands together, covering flat surfaces, and using all of my might, I attempted multiple times at retrieving that butterfly. Its iridescent purple glow intrigued me, and I at least wanted to hold it for a brief moment if possible. I was now in the area near where the tea party was taking place and ended up at one of the nearby tables where everyone's belongings were set. Again, cupping my hands and setting them down, I pursued the butterfly. Once. Twice. Three times. My luck was running out as it was about to fly out of an area with landing spots, and Dante was right behind telling me to be careful. I had one more shot, and when I saw the time was right as it landed on top of one of the pocket watches, I swiftly put my hand down.
Before I could register what had happened, the scenery around me changed. I was suddenly surrounded by endless white, and everything was quiet. I turned my head in every single direction I could, but I no longer saw my parents or the carnation field. I suddenly heard light droplets of water and the stillness of everything somehow calmed me. Everything then altered into a whole different scene. I was now in a hyacinth field, and from about fifteen feet in front of me, I heard a meeting taking place inside of a lavish building.
The architecture was almost opposite of Blanc's as the walls were a light gray rather than a cream color. I noticed a few people from where I was standing, and their attire was much darker and heavier than what I was used to. I hid myself behind the wall of flowers as I took a moment to gather my surroundings. This area was mysterious to me, and I didn't want to get myself into any trouble. I couldn't pinpoint which direction would lead me back to the carnation field, so I had to at least make sense of the current circumstances.
"Are preparations for the ball going well?" I heard a lady wearing a uniform asking.
"Of course," a man standing a few feet in front of her replied. He had on the same uniform as the woman, but his had a tint of violet and gold accents. It appeared to me that he must've been some sort of knight, and upon looking closer, I noticed that there was a group of such knights gathered and engaged in discussion.
"Who knew being a vassal would be like this, right?" Another man jested, elbowing a comrade beside him. "I'm beat even tending to my master's early morning routine."
"You can't help whose soul chooses you," the woman stated as she stretched her arms above her head. "At least you're not this guy who's split amongst all of the royals."
All eyes then shifted to the man wearing the violet attire. He had black hair and a sense of sadness in his amethyst eyes. Just looking at him ached my soul, and I could somehow feel a physical pain in my heart. Their conversation continued on with a few laughs thrown in here and there.
I was lost in the moment before I felt something on my shoulder. Gradually turning my head, I noticed that it was the butterfly from earlier! I got a little too excited and ended up leaning against the hyacinth wall, rustling the leaves and petals together and making a sound.
My eyes shot up ahead of me, and I caught eyes with the violet-eyed man. Although I was a bit far from where he was, the lilac hue in his eyes glistened, and I sensed that melancholy in them even more. An ache in my chest began to throb as I brought my hands up to suppress the pain. The man didn't call any attention to me by alerting his comrades. He simply stood there with a fixed gaze as if he was frozen in time.
Before I knew it, the butterfly on my shoulder flew behind me, causing a portal to open. The sound coming from the hole was loud enough to cause the knights in the building to stir as they turned their heads. I was sucked in immediately, and I surrendered to the pull as all of my efforts would've been in vain.
In the blink of an eye, I was falling forward and the butterfly followed closely behind me. I was curious why it clung to me, but now wasn't the time. Was this going to be my end? Did I mess up that badly? Mom and dad must be so worried.
I took deep a breath to calm myself down. The thought of leaving everything behind after just one year of irreplaceable memories. I should just be happy that I even got the chance to live with such loving people who took me in and cared for me without hesitations.
My inner monologue continued on and on before I saw another portal open in front of me. I couldn't believe it, but I didn't have time to think as I fell through it. I shut my eyes and crossed my arms to brace for impact only to feel myself land into someone's soft embrace.
"Lacie, oh my god," I heard my mother's voice and footsteps running towards where I was.
I then opened my eyes and noticed I was in the arms of someone wearing royal attire. It instantly registered that Dante had caught me as I freefalled. My tears instantly rushed out, but it wasn't because I was scared. It felt as though some sort of desolation was washing over me, and Dante didn't let me go until my parents got to our side.
Mother and father were more relieved than angry at me, and I was ashamed to have caused so much trouble for not only them, but also the royal family. After everything calmed down, I learned that Dante had used his copy ability to replicate a staff member’s power and charm the butterfly to anchor it back to the castle. His quick thinking most definitely saved my life, and I was eternally grateful.
My new life in the city of Blanc began then, and I was given the best education and magic training as my parents were able to give. The tiredness I felt when I was discovered in the forest one year ago was due mostly to the onset of mana that I was unaccustomed to. Other than the occasional nightmares, life got better than I imagined.
My powers had developed into time manipulation, and at first, I could only freeze the motions of inanimate objects like stopping a vase from falling or a water drop from dripping. But now, I could freeze a section of a moment in time. It was still unstable, but I was excited every time my father would take me out to train.
The three of us were visiting the castle to pay our respects to the royal family. My mom and the queen of Blanc had been best friends since childhood, and the palace had always welcomed us with open arms. The young master was about two years older than me, and I met him after I got adopted. His name is Dante, and his platinum blonde hair and green eyes were an even blend of both of his parents. I was wary of him back then, but after awhile, I noticed the kindness he was showing me so we became fast friends.
On this particular day, the adults were having a tea party near the carnation field, so Dante and I decided to roam around the area a bit. Carnations were a household flower here at the castle, so as long as magic could keep them alive, they bloomed through all seasons. I focused on a few flowers in particular before I saw a butterfly and felt the need to catch it. I alerted Dante to help me, and while I could tell that he wasn't interested, he still indulged me as I chased it.
Cupping my hands together, covering flat surfaces, and using all of my might, I attempted multiple times at retrieving that butterfly. Its iridescent purple glow intrigued me, and I at least wanted to hold it for a brief moment if possible. I was now in the area near where the tea party was taking place and ended up at one of the nearby tables where everyone's belongings were set. Again, cupping my hands and setting them down, I pursued the butterfly. Once. Twice. Three times. My luck was running out as it was about to fly out of an area with landing spots, and Dante was right behind telling me to be careful. I had one more shot, and when I saw the time was right as it landed on top of one of the pocket watches, I swiftly put my hand down.
Before I could register what had happened, the scenery around me changed. I was suddenly surrounded by endless white, and everything was quiet. I turned my head in every single direction I could, but I no longer saw my parents or the carnation field. I suddenly heard light droplets of water and the stillness of everything somehow calmed me. Everything then altered into a whole different scene. I was now in a hyacinth field, and from about fifteen feet in front of me, I heard a meeting taking place inside of a lavish building.
The architecture was almost opposite of Blanc's as the walls were a light gray rather than a cream color. I noticed a few people from where I was standing, and their attire was much darker and heavier than what I was used to. I hid myself behind the wall of flowers as I took a moment to gather my surroundings. This area was mysterious to me, and I didn't want to get myself into any trouble. I couldn't pinpoint which direction would lead me back to the carnation field, so I had to at least make sense of the current circumstances.
"Are preparations for the ball going well?" I heard a lady wearing a uniform asking.
"Of course," a man standing a few feet in front of her replied. He had on the same uniform as the woman, but his had a tint of violet and gold accents. It appeared to me that he must've been some sort of knight, and upon looking closer, I noticed that there was a group of such knights gathered and engaged in discussion.
"Who knew being a vassal would be like this, right?" Another man jested, elbowing a comrade beside him. "I'm beat even tending to my master's early morning routine."
"You can't help whose soul chooses you," the woman stated as she stretched her arms above her head. "At least you're not this guy who's split amongst all of the royals."
All eyes then shifted to the man wearing the violet attire. He had black hair and a sense of sadness in his amethyst eyes. Just looking at him ached my soul, and I could somehow feel a physical pain in my heart. Their conversation continued on with a few laughs thrown in here and there.
I was lost in the moment before I felt something on my shoulder. Gradually turning my head, I noticed that it was the butterfly from earlier! I got a little too excited and ended up leaning against the hyacinth wall, rustling the leaves and petals together and making a sound.
My eyes shot up ahead of me, and I caught eyes with the violet-eyed man. Although I was a bit far from where he was, the lilac hue in his eyes glistened, and I sensed that melancholy in them even more. An ache in my chest began to throb as I brought my hands up to suppress the pain. The man didn't call any attention to me by alerting his comrades. He simply stood there with a fixed gaze as if he was frozen in time.
Before I knew it, the butterfly on my shoulder flew behind me, causing a portal to open. The sound coming from the hole was loud enough to cause the knights in the building to stir as they turned their heads. I was sucked in immediately, and I surrendered to the pull as all of my efforts would've been in vain.
In the blink of an eye, I was falling forward and the butterfly followed closely behind me. I was curious why it clung to me, but now wasn't the time. Was this going to be my end? Did I mess up that badly? Mom and dad must be so worried.
I took deep a breath to calm myself down. The thought of leaving everything behind after just one year of irreplaceable memories. I should just be happy that I even got the chance to live with such loving people who took me in and cared for me without hesitations.
My inner monologue continued on and on before I saw another portal open in front of me. I couldn't believe it, but I didn't have time to think as I fell through it. I shut my eyes and crossed my arms to brace for impact only to feel myself land into someone's soft embrace.
"Lacie, oh my god," I heard my mother's voice and footsteps running towards where I was.
I then opened my eyes and noticed I was in the arms of someone wearing royal attire. It instantly registered that Dante had caught me as I freefalled. My tears instantly rushed out, but it wasn't because I was scared. It felt as though some sort of desolation was washing over me, and Dante didn't let me go until my parents got to our side.
Mother and father were more relieved than angry at me, and I was ashamed to have caused so much trouble for not only them, but also the royal family. After everything calmed down, I learned that Dante had used his copy ability to replicate a staff member’s power and charm the butterfly to anchor it back to the castle. His quick thinking most definitely saved my life, and I was eternally grateful.
WIP Stories/Short Works
Cyberpunk story
Caden Moon stood outside of the main government office building, leaning against one of the pillars near the front entrance. He took the last sip from the styrofoam cup in his hand filled with herbal medicine he had purchased a while earlier before tossing it into the nearest trash can.
Looking out into the streets of Tokyo, he saw cars and people alike rushing by. It was a Saturday night, and many people were either heading out to spend some quality time with their friends or returning home to relax and unwind. The lights of the city shone brightly and the flashing billboards brought everything to life within the musty air.
He was like most people in the city: some had mechanical enhancements while others were what they called pure. He never saw having augmentations as anything related to being tainted, but the term stuck on throughout the years. The only difference between him and the locals was that he had a whole limb that was mechanical: his left arm.
“You’re all clear,” a woman articulated, exiting through the front doors of the building and holding up a traveling visa card in front of him.
“Thank you, Evie,” Caden expressed to his longtime friend as he accepted the card then followed her as she led the way.
“You still haven’t told me exactly why you’re here,” Evie stated, quickening her pace to cross the street before the signal ran out. “It’s not like Miller would send just anyone out here.”
The two made their way up the escalators of the train station and scanned their transportation cards before getting onto their designated car. The trains were crowded at this time of day, but the streets weren’t looking that much better.
“It’s not like I can disobey orders from my boss, can I?” Caden said, fully entrusting in Miller’s command.
“Really, Cade?” Evie stared at her friend from the opposite side of the train, bringing one of her hands up to grip the metal handlebars above her. “All this time and Miller is still playing the same old good cop routine.”
The walkway in front of them filled with other passengers as they maneuvered through, allowing both of them a brief interlude to gather their thoughts. Caden did arrive in the city suddenly, and he couldn’t blame Evie for being suspicious. Putting her through the trouble of getting his visa approved to enter the country was already more than enough.
“I’m not sure what else you expected,” he protested, not taking what she said too lightly. “The Legion is doing the best it can to make sure everyone gets fair treatment in this world.”
“It’s 2092,” she retorted, emphasizing the statement to make sure she was getting through to him. “ “If Miller thinks taking the pacifist route will automatically deal with all of the problems this planet’s had, he’s not thinking about what happened in Quebec City and Beijing.”
Another pause as the two of them embraced the silence between them. The tension was high, and it made Caden feel the slightest bit uneasy but that just had to be overlooked at that moment.
“No matter how many different refugees come in, The Brigade always hears of America’s mistreatment of the mechanically augmented.” Evie took a deep breath looking past the man in front of her and out of the train window. “We’re getting more people seeking shelter here than ever, and the Legion isn’t helping at all.”
Caden kept his own arm on the metal handlebar and turned his head so that he could get a glimpse of what she was looking at. Past the stone wall in the not-so-far distance was a refugee camp full of well-constructed buildings that housed fugitives of all ages. As he turned on his internal retina display with two taps to his right temple, he was able to zoom in and grasp the scenes of adults, children, and the elderly surviving within those conditions.
From the looks of it, the camps were much nicer here than they were in America where he worked. He didn’t trust appearances at first glance though. Anything could’ve been happening behind those walls.
“You should’ve kept me in the loop, Evie,” he expressed, turning his head back to face her as she was still focused on the happenings past the wall with a grim expression on her face.
“All these years and you still think the Legion wants to better humanity. Unbelievable,” Evie scoffed, giving him one last look as the train came to their stop. As soon as the doors slid open, she made her way out as he trailed. “Come on, we’re going to be late.”
Looking out into the streets of Tokyo, he saw cars and people alike rushing by. It was a Saturday night, and many people were either heading out to spend some quality time with their friends or returning home to relax and unwind. The lights of the city shone brightly and the flashing billboards brought everything to life within the musty air.
He was like most people in the city: some had mechanical enhancements while others were what they called pure. He never saw having augmentations as anything related to being tainted, but the term stuck on throughout the years. The only difference between him and the locals was that he had a whole limb that was mechanical: his left arm.
“You’re all clear,” a woman articulated, exiting through the front doors of the building and holding up a traveling visa card in front of him.
“Thank you, Evie,” Caden expressed to his longtime friend as he accepted the card then followed her as she led the way.
“You still haven’t told me exactly why you’re here,” Evie stated, quickening her pace to cross the street before the signal ran out. “It’s not like Miller would send just anyone out here.”
The two made their way up the escalators of the train station and scanned their transportation cards before getting onto their designated car. The trains were crowded at this time of day, but the streets weren’t looking that much better.
“It’s not like I can disobey orders from my boss, can I?” Caden said, fully entrusting in Miller’s command.
“Really, Cade?” Evie stared at her friend from the opposite side of the train, bringing one of her hands up to grip the metal handlebars above her. “All this time and Miller is still playing the same old good cop routine.”
The walkway in front of them filled with other passengers as they maneuvered through, allowing both of them a brief interlude to gather their thoughts. Caden did arrive in the city suddenly, and he couldn’t blame Evie for being suspicious. Putting her through the trouble of getting his visa approved to enter the country was already more than enough.
“I’m not sure what else you expected,” he protested, not taking what she said too lightly. “The Legion is doing the best it can to make sure everyone gets fair treatment in this world.”
“It’s 2092,” she retorted, emphasizing the statement to make sure she was getting through to him. “ “If Miller thinks taking the pacifist route will automatically deal with all of the problems this planet’s had, he’s not thinking about what happened in Quebec City and Beijing.”
Another pause as the two of them embraced the silence between them. The tension was high, and it made Caden feel the slightest bit uneasy but that just had to be overlooked at that moment.
“No matter how many different refugees come in, The Brigade always hears of America’s mistreatment of the mechanically augmented.” Evie took a deep breath looking past the man in front of her and out of the train window. “We’re getting more people seeking shelter here than ever, and the Legion isn’t helping at all.”
Caden kept his own arm on the metal handlebar and turned his head so that he could get a glimpse of what she was looking at. Past the stone wall in the not-so-far distance was a refugee camp full of well-constructed buildings that housed fugitives of all ages. As he turned on his internal retina display with two taps to his right temple, he was able to zoom in and grasp the scenes of adults, children, and the elderly surviving within those conditions.
From the looks of it, the camps were much nicer here than they were in America where he worked. He didn’t trust appearances at first glance though. Anything could’ve been happening behind those walls.
“You should’ve kept me in the loop, Evie,” he expressed, turning his head back to face her as she was still focused on the happenings past the wall with a grim expression on her face.
“All these years and you still think the Legion wants to better humanity. Unbelievable,” Evie scoffed, giving him one last look as the train came to their stop. As soon as the doors slid open, she made her way out as he trailed. “Come on, we’re going to be late.”
The scenes outside of Brigade HQ were as expected as it was located not too far from the main street near downtown. The news stations turned their heads as Caden and Evie approached the building, having to show their identification cards before they were allowed to cross the barrier.
Agent Moon! Dr. Le! Please give us an update on the current refugee crisis! What’s the Legion doing here?
Every single reporter seemed to be blurting out a variation of those sentences, but neither of them had the time to stop and give them the satisfaction of an answer. As they made their way through the lobby, Evie scanned her Brigade identification card in the reader twice to get both herself and Caden past the security checkpoint.
Every other person within the lobby had their eyes on Caden, judging him based on his augmented arm, and he surely caught on. Even then, he kept his mouth shut and continued following his friend deeper into the building.
Once inside the elevator, the two of them stood side-by-side, Caden with his arms crossed and Evie keeping her eyes glued at floor numbers as they speedily traveled upwards. The silence caused the air to thicken, but neither of them said a thing the entire way.
Evie exited first once they reached their level, greeting her fellow Brigade agents as they made their way through the hallways of conference rooms. The looks on everyone’s faces showed how their energy levels were faltering, and it was obvious that the late hour wasn’t helping. Working on a Saturday night was never ideal.
Their intended glass-encased meeting room was in sight, but before heading in, Evie stopped at the desk for an inquiry.
“Juno, is Falcon 6 back yet?” She asked the intern sitting behind the computer, leaning one of her forearms on the countertop.
“Dr. Le, welcome back,” the young man greeted, pressing some keys on the screen in front of him. “Looks like they haven’t checked in yet. They should be back by the morning though.”
“Thank you,” Evie expressed with a smile before advancing towards the meeting room as a security guard held the door open for both her and Caden to enter.
They took their designated seats around the lengthy marble table alongside many government officials and high-ranking officers within the Brigade, yet Caden felt slightly awkward as he didn’t look like he fit in with any particular group. Some had high-grade augments just like him, but why was his seemingly showier?
“Dr, Le,” the man beside Evie greeted, extending his hand out to greet her. “Good to have you here.”
“Captain Kapur,” Evie uttered, returning the handshake. “Is everything at the precinct under control?”
“Yeah, we got everything sorted out,” the captain sighed, expressing a troubling undertone to his statement. “This refugee increase is the highest it’s been in decades, so we had to get the teams organized to get everyone settled accordingly.”
“I’m glad things are working out.” Evie expressed a small smile, trying to mentally imagine the trouble the police stations were experiencing at this time of crisis. Her duties at the Brigade were bad enough, and the police officers couldn’t have been having it that much better.
“Major General Shirogane and Captain Estrada haven’t returned?”
“Not yet,” Evie replied as she exhaled, thinking of her coworkers. “They’re most likely just off schedule.”
“Hope they’ll make it back safely. We could use any help at this time.”
As the conversation closed, Evie grabbed an audio chip from her bag and connected it to the shared network before handing it off to Caden, but he waved it off, being that he already had an updated translator installed in his augmented core systems. Understanding Japanese was going to be a breeze for him.
“Good morning, everyone,” a woman greeted in Japanese as she entered the room, making her way to the center indent of the table where she would facilitate the meeting. She wore a matching red blazer and skirt set as well as a white blouse with a floral patterned scarf tied around her neck.
Caden examined her, already knowing who she was yet unaware that she would be making her appearance in the meeting. The entire room stood up from their seats and bowed to the woman, showing their respects before sitting back down.
“My name is President Mitsuru Okumura , and I thought it would be right for me to come by in-person to facilitate this meeting,” she continued. “There seems to be a large flow of refugees in Japan as a whole, but especially in the Tokyo area. I know the Brigade is doing their best to get people assigned properly to their new homes, but there are some issues I hope to solve today.”
The translator resonated flawlessly within Caden’s ear, leaving no delays and keeping him up to speed with the President’s words. He knew of her from the news as she was the CEO of the greatest technological facilities in Asia: Okumura Industries. As far as he was concerned, her intentions seemed to be good as she appeared to be well respected by the Brigade.
“Dr. Le,” the president started once more, extending out her hand and signaling for Evie. “If you may.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Evie began in Japanese, standing up from her chair once again. “The influx of refugees within the country has been increasing more rapidly than normal. As a result of the Legion persuading many of the main refugee camps on the globe to limit their offers to those in need, many people are seeking refuge here in Tokyo.”
Evie read from the projection that lit up in front of her, placing each file one by one in order to give the entire room a good visual aid of the current situation. She was getting her point across very well, and everyone paid attention to every word she articulated.
“Of course, we can only do so much before we run out of space and resources. As much as we want to and need to help, we do not have as much room to house as many people as we would like. We can only hold off for so long before we start denying refugees into spaces ourselves.”
“As you can see, everyone,” Okumura began, taking off where the doctor left off. “We’re having a lot of trouble with how much space we currently have versus how many people need to fit into those spaces.”
“And unfortunately, we have no other option but to get the Legion to convince the other camps to reopen.” The solution Evie put forth was definitely not a flexible one, but it sounded like it was the only one.
“Any word on why the Legion is still the leading player in this game?” One government official questioned, leaning back into her seat. “Why can’t the Brigade or any other agency put forth the order?”
“New York may have stopped being the augmented hub of the world, but the Legion still holds a lot of credibilities,” Okumura responded, her serious tone keeping the meeting in order. “A lot of legends did emerge from those ranks.”
All eyes turned to Caden and Evie as both of them sat through the stares. The glory from those days was over, and there was no use in looking back into the past.
“Agent Caden Moon, could you state the Legion’s business before we continue?” Okumura enquired, giving him a gaze that no one could say no to.
As Caden stood up to give his statements, a few people in the room placed audio pods into their ears, turning the translating systems on to understand his English.
“The Legion has only gotten other major camps to block their access to refugees due to the threats to our own bases. We do not know where these are coming from, and we have been trying to take precautions to avoid further damage not only to us but to everyone else as well,” he said, making eye contact with every single person in the room to get his message across. “I know Director Miller is not one to make ill decisions based on intuition, and I sincerely hope that we can work something out to deal with this problem before the camps can open again.”
“Miller trying to be peaceful once again, isn’t he?” a Brigade agent commented, almost scoffing at Caden defending Miller. “We can see where that’s gotten him.”
Evie eyed the fellow agent before looking at Caden, making sure things were kept professional in the room. Not only were several government officials present but also the CEO of one of the biggest technological corporations. Things had to remain orderly.
“All I’m saying is, the Legion’s main bases reside in America where we don’t have as advanced technology as other countries such as Japan does. The faster we eradicate the threat, the faster we can accept more refugees into our camps,” Caden concluded as he rested his palms on the tabletop.
“And what about America’s mistreatment of the augmented? Any word to Miller about that?” a different agent articulated, crossing his arms he leaned forward.
“That’s not what we’re here to talk about, so you’re better off staying on the topic,” Cade snapped back.
“Calm down, everyone,” the President ordered the two agents before turning her attention back towards Evie. “What’s your best option, in this case, Dr. Le?”
“If they’re worried about a parasite in the camps, I see no other way than to get this sorted out with Okumura Industries,” Evie stated, giving her two cents on the matter. “All of our systems come from there and are advanced enough to detect threats on the spot.”
It was clear that Okumura respected Evie immensely. Of course, her achievements spoke for themselves, but even then, it appeared to Caden that Evie was someone she completely relied on.
“And why come to Japan out of all places, Agent Moon?” the same Brigade agent retorted. “Maybe you haven’t heard, robocop, but the Brigade does not stand by Miller, and since Okumura Industries has been a valuable asset to us, I’m not sure it’s looking like it’s in Miller’s favor.”
Caden pursed his lips once again. What was everyone’s vendetta with Miller? Were they distrustful of the same man he had grown to respect and serve throughout the years?
“Agent Moon,” the President began in fluent English, easing the tension in the room once more. “If you would like to discuss this formally, please come by Okumura Industries HQ. I’m sure we can come to an agreement since lives are at stake.”
“Do tell us more about this threat, Agent Moon,” Evie inquired, genuinely curious but washing her words with resentment for the Legion’s stubbornness.
“Our security division noticed a decrease in the rations just two days ago. When we give food to refugees, we make sure they have enough and nothing more or less, but our inventory has dropped considerably within days,” Caden explained. “After further investigations, we’ve concluded that someone from the outside may have infiltrated the camps for, more or less, personal benefit.”
“And what about security cameras? Shouldn’t that give you a clear insight on any foul play going on?”
“That’s where it got complicated,” Caden pauses, taking a deep breath before moving along. “No matter how many times we’ve scrubbed the footage, no one can pinpoint where the foul play occurred. We believe someone is tapping into our systems and seamlessly cutting out any suspicious activity.”
The entire room sighed, running the issue in their minds as matters got even more complicated. How could it be that the hub of American security had a parasite in their systems? And one that they couldn’t immediately deal with? Were their defenses this poor?
“With all due respect, Agent Moon,” Captain Kapur said, highlighting his words with hand movements. “We have a metropolis to run, and I doubt Thane would allow any of our assets to spread thin at this point in time.”
Thane. Kiri Thane. The infamous leader of the Brigade. Caden went on a mental tangent and wondered when he would get the chance to put a face to the name he’d heard over and over throughout his life. Even when the organization hadn’t gained as much attention as it had now, Kiri Thane was a name everyone knew.
“Any way I can talk one-on-one with Thane?” Caden wondered, posing the question as confused faces emerged from his audience. “Why isn’t she here facilitating this meeting herself?”
Before the meeting could continue, an Okumura Industries staff member walked into the room and straight to the President to whisper something into her ear. Once Okumura nodded, the agent exited.
“I’m sorry, everyone, but I’m afraid I’ll have to cut this meeting short for today,” Okumura apologized, picking up her belongings as she readied to leave the room. “I will discuss things with the Legion. In the meantime, Dr. Le, please await my contact if anything is to come up, and stand by for the shipments of medical supplies.”
As she made her way towards the door, she turned her head back to utter a few last words. “I hope to see you at Okumura Industries HQ as soon as possible, Agent Moon. Goodbye, everyone.”
The room was silent for a few seconds after Okumura left before everyone began gathering their belongings. The late hour was really getting to them, and the exhaustion couldn’t be masked any longer.
“Okumura avoided that Thane question just like that.”
“Figures. She always has.”
Two Brigade agents’ conversation was clear as they walked past both Caden and Evie to exit the room. Soon enough, the entire room cleared out, leaving only the two friends. Evie’s eyes gazed down at her files on the tabletop as her palms rested on the surface, and Caden eyed her, knowing for a fact she was not content with how things went.
Soon enough, she looked up at him before gathering her projection device and tilted her head towards the door to signal him out of the room with her. Her expression showed disappointment, and in all honesty, no one could blame her for feeling that way.
“Well that went to shit,” Evie stated, making her way through the floor towards the elevator as Caden followed.
“You did what you could,” Caden comforted, knowing it wasn’t the best situation for either of them to be in, unsure of what was to happen next.
“That’s not the point. The one meeting Okumura shows up to within the last year, and this is how it goes?”
Caden allowed a brief moment of silence as both of them entered the elevator, pushing the button for the lobby level.
“Does Okumura always avoid questions like that?” He asked, glancing over at her as she was staring out of the glass wall and into the city.
“Only when people get off-topic.” The tone in Evie’s voice wasn’t meant to sound bold, but Caden knew that all too well.
“Captain Kapur brought Thane’s name into the discussion first. It made it seem like she’s not too hard to reach.”
Whether his hunch was correct or not, he decided not to push the topic for the time being. There was enough on their plates for now, and the issues at hand needed to be dealt with first and foremost.
Agent Moon! Dr. Le! Please give us an update on the current refugee crisis! What’s the Legion doing here?
Every single reporter seemed to be blurting out a variation of those sentences, but neither of them had the time to stop and give them the satisfaction of an answer. As they made their way through the lobby, Evie scanned her Brigade identification card in the reader twice to get both herself and Caden past the security checkpoint.
Every other person within the lobby had their eyes on Caden, judging him based on his augmented arm, and he surely caught on. Even then, he kept his mouth shut and continued following his friend deeper into the building.
Once inside the elevator, the two of them stood side-by-side, Caden with his arms crossed and Evie keeping her eyes glued at floor numbers as they speedily traveled upwards. The silence caused the air to thicken, but neither of them said a thing the entire way.
Evie exited first once they reached their level, greeting her fellow Brigade agents as they made their way through the hallways of conference rooms. The looks on everyone’s faces showed how their energy levels were faltering, and it was obvious that the late hour wasn’t helping. Working on a Saturday night was never ideal.
Their intended glass-encased meeting room was in sight, but before heading in, Evie stopped at the desk for an inquiry.
“Juno, is Falcon 6 back yet?” She asked the intern sitting behind the computer, leaning one of her forearms on the countertop.
“Dr. Le, welcome back,” the young man greeted, pressing some keys on the screen in front of him. “Looks like they haven’t checked in yet. They should be back by the morning though.”
“Thank you,” Evie expressed with a smile before advancing towards the meeting room as a security guard held the door open for both her and Caden to enter.
They took their designated seats around the lengthy marble table alongside many government officials and high-ranking officers within the Brigade, yet Caden felt slightly awkward as he didn’t look like he fit in with any particular group. Some had high-grade augments just like him, but why was his seemingly showier?
“Dr, Le,” the man beside Evie greeted, extending his hand out to greet her. “Good to have you here.”
“Captain Kapur,” Evie uttered, returning the handshake. “Is everything at the precinct under control?”
“Yeah, we got everything sorted out,” the captain sighed, expressing a troubling undertone to his statement. “This refugee increase is the highest it’s been in decades, so we had to get the teams organized to get everyone settled accordingly.”
“I’m glad things are working out.” Evie expressed a small smile, trying to mentally imagine the trouble the police stations were experiencing at this time of crisis. Her duties at the Brigade were bad enough, and the police officers couldn’t have been having it that much better.
“Major General Shirogane and Captain Estrada haven’t returned?”
“Not yet,” Evie replied as she exhaled, thinking of her coworkers. “They’re most likely just off schedule.”
“Hope they’ll make it back safely. We could use any help at this time.”
As the conversation closed, Evie grabbed an audio chip from her bag and connected it to the shared network before handing it off to Caden, but he waved it off, being that he already had an updated translator installed in his augmented core systems. Understanding Japanese was going to be a breeze for him.
“Good morning, everyone,” a woman greeted in Japanese as she entered the room, making her way to the center indent of the table where she would facilitate the meeting. She wore a matching red blazer and skirt set as well as a white blouse with a floral patterned scarf tied around her neck.
Caden examined her, already knowing who she was yet unaware that she would be making her appearance in the meeting. The entire room stood up from their seats and bowed to the woman, showing their respects before sitting back down.
“My name is President Mitsuru Okumura , and I thought it would be right for me to come by in-person to facilitate this meeting,” she continued. “There seems to be a large flow of refugees in Japan as a whole, but especially in the Tokyo area. I know the Brigade is doing their best to get people assigned properly to their new homes, but there are some issues I hope to solve today.”
The translator resonated flawlessly within Caden’s ear, leaving no delays and keeping him up to speed with the President’s words. He knew of her from the news as she was the CEO of the greatest technological facilities in Asia: Okumura Industries. As far as he was concerned, her intentions seemed to be good as she appeared to be well respected by the Brigade.
“Dr. Le,” the president started once more, extending out her hand and signaling for Evie. “If you may.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Evie began in Japanese, standing up from her chair once again. “The influx of refugees within the country has been increasing more rapidly than normal. As a result of the Legion persuading many of the main refugee camps on the globe to limit their offers to those in need, many people are seeking refuge here in Tokyo.”
Evie read from the projection that lit up in front of her, placing each file one by one in order to give the entire room a good visual aid of the current situation. She was getting her point across very well, and everyone paid attention to every word she articulated.
“Of course, we can only do so much before we run out of space and resources. As much as we want to and need to help, we do not have as much room to house as many people as we would like. We can only hold off for so long before we start denying refugees into spaces ourselves.”
“As you can see, everyone,” Okumura began, taking off where the doctor left off. “We’re having a lot of trouble with how much space we currently have versus how many people need to fit into those spaces.”
“And unfortunately, we have no other option but to get the Legion to convince the other camps to reopen.” The solution Evie put forth was definitely not a flexible one, but it sounded like it was the only one.
“Any word on why the Legion is still the leading player in this game?” One government official questioned, leaning back into her seat. “Why can’t the Brigade or any other agency put forth the order?”
“New York may have stopped being the augmented hub of the world, but the Legion still holds a lot of credibilities,” Okumura responded, her serious tone keeping the meeting in order. “A lot of legends did emerge from those ranks.”
All eyes turned to Caden and Evie as both of them sat through the stares. The glory from those days was over, and there was no use in looking back into the past.
“Agent Caden Moon, could you state the Legion’s business before we continue?” Okumura enquired, giving him a gaze that no one could say no to.
As Caden stood up to give his statements, a few people in the room placed audio pods into their ears, turning the translating systems on to understand his English.
“The Legion has only gotten other major camps to block their access to refugees due to the threats to our own bases. We do not know where these are coming from, and we have been trying to take precautions to avoid further damage not only to us but to everyone else as well,” he said, making eye contact with every single person in the room to get his message across. “I know Director Miller is not one to make ill decisions based on intuition, and I sincerely hope that we can work something out to deal with this problem before the camps can open again.”
“Miller trying to be peaceful once again, isn’t he?” a Brigade agent commented, almost scoffing at Caden defending Miller. “We can see where that’s gotten him.”
Evie eyed the fellow agent before looking at Caden, making sure things were kept professional in the room. Not only were several government officials present but also the CEO of one of the biggest technological corporations. Things had to remain orderly.
“All I’m saying is, the Legion’s main bases reside in America where we don’t have as advanced technology as other countries such as Japan does. The faster we eradicate the threat, the faster we can accept more refugees into our camps,” Caden concluded as he rested his palms on the tabletop.
“And what about America’s mistreatment of the augmented? Any word to Miller about that?” a different agent articulated, crossing his arms he leaned forward.
“That’s not what we’re here to talk about, so you’re better off staying on the topic,” Cade snapped back.
“Calm down, everyone,” the President ordered the two agents before turning her attention back towards Evie. “What’s your best option, in this case, Dr. Le?”
“If they’re worried about a parasite in the camps, I see no other way than to get this sorted out with Okumura Industries,” Evie stated, giving her two cents on the matter. “All of our systems come from there and are advanced enough to detect threats on the spot.”
It was clear that Okumura respected Evie immensely. Of course, her achievements spoke for themselves, but even then, it appeared to Caden that Evie was someone she completely relied on.
“And why come to Japan out of all places, Agent Moon?” the same Brigade agent retorted. “Maybe you haven’t heard, robocop, but the Brigade does not stand by Miller, and since Okumura Industries has been a valuable asset to us, I’m not sure it’s looking like it’s in Miller’s favor.”
Caden pursed his lips once again. What was everyone’s vendetta with Miller? Were they distrustful of the same man he had grown to respect and serve throughout the years?
“Agent Moon,” the President began in fluent English, easing the tension in the room once more. “If you would like to discuss this formally, please come by Okumura Industries HQ. I’m sure we can come to an agreement since lives are at stake.”
“Do tell us more about this threat, Agent Moon,” Evie inquired, genuinely curious but washing her words with resentment for the Legion’s stubbornness.
“Our security division noticed a decrease in the rations just two days ago. When we give food to refugees, we make sure they have enough and nothing more or less, but our inventory has dropped considerably within days,” Caden explained. “After further investigations, we’ve concluded that someone from the outside may have infiltrated the camps for, more or less, personal benefit.”
“And what about security cameras? Shouldn’t that give you a clear insight on any foul play going on?”
“That’s where it got complicated,” Caden pauses, taking a deep breath before moving along. “No matter how many times we’ve scrubbed the footage, no one can pinpoint where the foul play occurred. We believe someone is tapping into our systems and seamlessly cutting out any suspicious activity.”
The entire room sighed, running the issue in their minds as matters got even more complicated. How could it be that the hub of American security had a parasite in their systems? And one that they couldn’t immediately deal with? Were their defenses this poor?
“With all due respect, Agent Moon,” Captain Kapur said, highlighting his words with hand movements. “We have a metropolis to run, and I doubt Thane would allow any of our assets to spread thin at this point in time.”
Thane. Kiri Thane. The infamous leader of the Brigade. Caden went on a mental tangent and wondered when he would get the chance to put a face to the name he’d heard over and over throughout his life. Even when the organization hadn’t gained as much attention as it had now, Kiri Thane was a name everyone knew.
“Any way I can talk one-on-one with Thane?” Caden wondered, posing the question as confused faces emerged from his audience. “Why isn’t she here facilitating this meeting herself?”
Before the meeting could continue, an Okumura Industries staff member walked into the room and straight to the President to whisper something into her ear. Once Okumura nodded, the agent exited.
“I’m sorry, everyone, but I’m afraid I’ll have to cut this meeting short for today,” Okumura apologized, picking up her belongings as she readied to leave the room. “I will discuss things with the Legion. In the meantime, Dr. Le, please await my contact if anything is to come up, and stand by for the shipments of medical supplies.”
As she made her way towards the door, she turned her head back to utter a few last words. “I hope to see you at Okumura Industries HQ as soon as possible, Agent Moon. Goodbye, everyone.”
The room was silent for a few seconds after Okumura left before everyone began gathering their belongings. The late hour was really getting to them, and the exhaustion couldn’t be masked any longer.
“Okumura avoided that Thane question just like that.”
“Figures. She always has.”
Two Brigade agents’ conversation was clear as they walked past both Caden and Evie to exit the room. Soon enough, the entire room cleared out, leaving only the two friends. Evie’s eyes gazed down at her files on the tabletop as her palms rested on the surface, and Caden eyed her, knowing for a fact she was not content with how things went.
Soon enough, she looked up at him before gathering her projection device and tilted her head towards the door to signal him out of the room with her. Her expression showed disappointment, and in all honesty, no one could blame her for feeling that way.
“Well that went to shit,” Evie stated, making her way through the floor towards the elevator as Caden followed.
“You did what you could,” Caden comforted, knowing it wasn’t the best situation for either of them to be in, unsure of what was to happen next.
“That’s not the point. The one meeting Okumura shows up to within the last year, and this is how it goes?”
Caden allowed a brief moment of silence as both of them entered the elevator, pushing the button for the lobby level.
“Does Okumura always avoid questions like that?” He asked, glancing over at her as she was staring out of the glass wall and into the city.
“Only when people get off-topic.” The tone in Evie’s voice wasn’t meant to sound bold, but Caden knew that all too well.
“Captain Kapur brought Thane’s name into the discussion first. It made it seem like she’s not too hard to reach.”
Whether his hunch was correct or not, he decided not to push the topic for the time being. There was enough on their plates for now, and the issues at hand needed to be dealt with first and foremost.
Evie took the train back to her condominium after she parted ways with Caden. The city was still as alive as ever at that late hour, and the folks she shared the ride home with radiated upbeat energy that the day had beaten out of her. As soon as she got into her home, she dropped her keys onto the kitchen counter before voice controlling her lights to turn on.
“Welcome home, Evangeline,” her home AI, CATO, greeted in a natural voice.
Evie filled her cat’s food and water bowls, hearing the patter of footsteps as the feline emerged from the couch to come to welcome her home and enjoy a meal.
“You hungry, Jinju?” Evie expressed, giving her pet a stroke on the head as the cat nuzzled into the palm of her hand. “Enjoy your food.”
As silence filled the apartment, she heard her stomach growl, realizing that she hadn’t eaten since the afternoon. The clock read 1:34 AM, and before she could reach for her cabinet to find something to munch on, her communications systems rang.
“Incoming call from Asher Shirogane,” CATO stated as the central AI hub lit up green every time the voice sounded. “Shall I answer?”
“Yes,” Evie responded, returning to the kitchen island so that the central tablet could take a video call.
“Hey, Evie,” the man on the other end of the call greeted with a smile on his face. From the looks of it, he was in a hotel room in his worn-out work clothes and eyeglasses.
“Shiro,” Evie replied, feeling relieved that she was seeing another friendly face. “You look like hell.”
“Well that’s what happens when you’re going after corrupt politicians and immoral civilians all day,” he chuckled, spicing up his reply with a little seriousness before moving onto another topic. “I heard the meeting didn’t go too well today.”
“You read through the email?” Evie exhaled, posing the question as Jinju jumped her way onto the counter to accompany her owner.
“Yeah, I got all of the details down,” Shiro paused, leaning back into his seat and cracking the tense muscles in his neck. “Miller sure is bold for shutting camp access just like that.”
“And that Legion agent who came by turned out to be Caden Moon,” Evie revealed, leaning her forearms on the kitchen counter as she raised her brows briefly.
“Moon?” Shiro questioned, his tone reflecting a bit of confusion as he recalled the history of that name. “The same Caden Moon you were partners with during your Legion days?”
“Unbelievable, right?” Evie thought back to when she was with The Legion, the glory days of when augmentations were widely accepted and Miller’s ideals aligned with her own. That was all in the past, and she had moved on, but she never thought she’d have to relive those memories so soon. “Miller wouldn’t send just anyone here, so I guess it had to be him.”
“Damn, I know you two made a hell of a team back then, but if Miller thinks those days are coming back then his idealistic mindset is still there.”
“And Caden still doesn’t see anything wrong with it,” Evie stated, pondering what must be going through her old friend’s head. “He’s always followed Miller; treats him like a father.”
“Well, where’s the fine line between supporting those you love and blindly following them into destruction?” Shiro pondered, making a fine point with his remark. That was his usual style and Evie expected nothing less. “By the way, what’d you have for dinner?”
“Nothing yet, but I was just about to whip up something fast and head to sleep,” Evie replied, resting her chin on the palm of her hand with her elbow propped up on the counter.
“Well,” he started as he began pressing things on his phone off-screen. “Delivery is on its way.”
“Shiro-”
“Don’t worry about it, Eves. You can’t save the world on an empty stomach. Plus, that augment cure isn’t gonna find itself.”
He was right. There were times when she missed fieldwork and getting to see the world, but it only felt right for her to continue the work her parents started. The cure that made augmentations safe for those who had them seemed far-fetched because, at one point in time, they were completely safe to use. Evie knew better than to throw in the towel when many lives were at stake, and now she was closer than she ever was.
“You heading back in the morning?” She questioned as the order confirmation appeared on the corner of her screen. Bún bò Huế with a side of gỏi cuốn. She was feeling sentimental, to say the least.
“We’re leaving early in the morning, so we should be back before noon,” he divulged. “Eight hours from Bangkok to Tokyo is much faster by private jet, and for that, I’m grateful.”
“Hope to see you and the team tomorrow.”
“Sweet dreams, Eves.”
“Welcome home, Evangeline,” her home AI, CATO, greeted in a natural voice.
Evie filled her cat’s food and water bowls, hearing the patter of footsteps as the feline emerged from the couch to come to welcome her home and enjoy a meal.
“You hungry, Jinju?” Evie expressed, giving her pet a stroke on the head as the cat nuzzled into the palm of her hand. “Enjoy your food.”
As silence filled the apartment, she heard her stomach growl, realizing that she hadn’t eaten since the afternoon. The clock read 1:34 AM, and before she could reach for her cabinet to find something to munch on, her communications systems rang.
“Incoming call from Asher Shirogane,” CATO stated as the central AI hub lit up green every time the voice sounded. “Shall I answer?”
“Yes,” Evie responded, returning to the kitchen island so that the central tablet could take a video call.
“Hey, Evie,” the man on the other end of the call greeted with a smile on his face. From the looks of it, he was in a hotel room in his worn-out work clothes and eyeglasses.
“Shiro,” Evie replied, feeling relieved that she was seeing another friendly face. “You look like hell.”
“Well that’s what happens when you’re going after corrupt politicians and immoral civilians all day,” he chuckled, spicing up his reply with a little seriousness before moving onto another topic. “I heard the meeting didn’t go too well today.”
“You read through the email?” Evie exhaled, posing the question as Jinju jumped her way onto the counter to accompany her owner.
“Yeah, I got all of the details down,” Shiro paused, leaning back into his seat and cracking the tense muscles in his neck. “Miller sure is bold for shutting camp access just like that.”
“And that Legion agent who came by turned out to be Caden Moon,” Evie revealed, leaning her forearms on the kitchen counter as she raised her brows briefly.
“Moon?” Shiro questioned, his tone reflecting a bit of confusion as he recalled the history of that name. “The same Caden Moon you were partners with during your Legion days?”
“Unbelievable, right?” Evie thought back to when she was with The Legion, the glory days of when augmentations were widely accepted and Miller’s ideals aligned with her own. That was all in the past, and she had moved on, but she never thought she’d have to relive those memories so soon. “Miller wouldn’t send just anyone here, so I guess it had to be him.”
“Damn, I know you two made a hell of a team back then, but if Miller thinks those days are coming back then his idealistic mindset is still there.”
“And Caden still doesn’t see anything wrong with it,” Evie stated, pondering what must be going through her old friend’s head. “He’s always followed Miller; treats him like a father.”
“Well, where’s the fine line between supporting those you love and blindly following them into destruction?” Shiro pondered, making a fine point with his remark. That was his usual style and Evie expected nothing less. “By the way, what’d you have for dinner?”
“Nothing yet, but I was just about to whip up something fast and head to sleep,” Evie replied, resting her chin on the palm of her hand with her elbow propped up on the counter.
“Well,” he started as he began pressing things on his phone off-screen. “Delivery is on its way.”
“Shiro-”
“Don’t worry about it, Eves. You can’t save the world on an empty stomach. Plus, that augment cure isn’t gonna find itself.”
He was right. There were times when she missed fieldwork and getting to see the world, but it only felt right for her to continue the work her parents started. The cure that made augmentations safe for those who had them seemed far-fetched because, at one point in time, they were completely safe to use. Evie knew better than to throw in the towel when many lives were at stake, and now she was closer than she ever was.
“You heading back in the morning?” She questioned as the order confirmation appeared on the corner of her screen. Bún bò Huế with a side of gỏi cuốn. She was feeling sentimental, to say the least.
“We’re leaving early in the morning, so we should be back before noon,” he divulged. “Eight hours from Bangkok to Tokyo is much faster by private jet, and for that, I’m grateful.”
“Hope to see you and the team tomorrow.”
“Sweet dreams, Eves.”
The fireplace was lit as Caden lounged on the couch of his hotel room in a bathrobe, scrolling through the TV channels with one hand and sipping another cup of herbal medicine in the other. He never got sick from flying, so the reason why it decided to happen now was perplexing.
Everything on the screen was either a reality show, tech show, or some variation of a news channel. After a while, he settled on just the main news channel. He adjusted his translator with a tap to his temple to take in the anchors’ words.
Good evening, everyone. Today we bring you the news of Japan’s increasing refugee crisis. As you may know, Gabriel Miller, Director of the Legion, has convinced many important camps around the world to close their borders due to a threat they believe to be infiltrating their own camps. Today a meeting was held at Brigade HQ where President Mitsuru Okumura of Okumura Industries made an appearance. Among her, Brigade’s own Doctor Evangeline Le and Legion Agent Caden Moon. Many may have heard the latter two names in a more positive light before the Collapse took place, but in that meeting room earlier, we would hope an agreement was reached. Both Le and Moon did not comment as they entered the HQ, but I speak for everyone in Tokyo when I say I hope things look up as soon as possible.
The anchor’s words were clear as day as Caden kept his eyes glued to the screen, seeing a better view of how the refugee camps were looking at the present moment. Tokyo’s camps may have looked better than New York’s, but there was no doubt that they were pushing capacity.
On another note, the past hadn’t failed to follow him since he touched down in Japan. Miller had personally sent him on this mission, but he didn’t have to consult Evie. Eventually speaking though, they were meant to cross paths once again. The Brigade HQ was always the destination for this mission.
Before he could continue his thought, his phone rang, and reading the caller ID, he noticed that it was Miller. Without delay, he placed the device on the coffee table in front of him, accepting the video call as the screen projected upwards.
“Caden,” the older man greeted with a pleasant look on his face. There was a brick wall with shelves of books and photo frames behind him as he sat in a leather chair, presumably in his office. “I haven’t received your report of the meeting yet.”
“Director Miller,” Caden started, leaning forward in his seat as he rested his elbows on his thighs. “I’m sorry, I was still trying to gather the details.”
“I’m guessing it didn’t exactly go as planned.”
“Not exactly, but I do have a meeting with President Okumura tomorrow morning.”
Miller nodded his head as Caden divulged his morning plans. Of course, it wasn’t going to be easy getting granted access to use the top technology in the world, but he was heading in the right direction.
“I hope by tomorrow, Okumura will at least consider letting the security division use some of their tech,” Caden stated, setting the goal for the next day. “We’ll eradicate that threat sooner than later.”
“You’re doing good, son,” Miller praised, giving the agent a small smile. “I hope your time there so far hasn’t been too rough.”
Caden paused for a moment, taking a sip from his mug as he stared off towards the side of the screen. It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours in Tokyo, and he was already feeling comfortable with it being that he didn’t have to do things alone.
“I met up with Evie earlier too,” Caden further revealed as he reclined back into the couch. “I had some traveling visa troubles, so she helped me out.”
“How’s she doing?”
“The Brigade really looks up to her. They have the utmost respect for everything she does, especially Okumura.” Another pause as silence filled the atmosphere for a brief moment, giving the two men some time to gather their thoughts. “Oh yeah. I wanted to ask you something about the Brigade, director; What is there to know about Kiri Thane?”
“The Brigade’s leader? I’ve only met her a few times; She’s a pretty steadfast and calculating woman, and she really cares about her agents.”
“Any idea why it’s basically impossible to get a meeting with her?”
“I wouldn’t push it if I were you, Caden,” Miller warned, furrowing his brows slightly. “Kiri is very forgiving, but it’s best not to get in her way.”
“Sounds like people are afraid of her.”
Miller paused for a second, trying to grasp what Caden was thinking. He was always unpredictable, and that was in situations on two ends of a spectrum. “I can’t tell you what to do, but I would advise you to not get on her bad side. She doesn’t take lightly to obstructions.”
With that, the two prefaced the next day’s events before ending the calls. Although Caden had just arrived, he felt the inevitable weight of responsibilities piling up upon his shoulder. Whether this mission was meant to go as smoothly as planned was meant to be seen, but he was staying optimistic.
He pondered more about Kiri Thane. Of course, he had done his research on her in the past, but her presence was one that he never had the chance to know. He wondered why an organization leader would be so secretive compared to the others, but that problem was for another day.
Before long, he left the couch and cleaned up before heading to bed.
Everything on the screen was either a reality show, tech show, or some variation of a news channel. After a while, he settled on just the main news channel. He adjusted his translator with a tap to his temple to take in the anchors’ words.
Good evening, everyone. Today we bring you the news of Japan’s increasing refugee crisis. As you may know, Gabriel Miller, Director of the Legion, has convinced many important camps around the world to close their borders due to a threat they believe to be infiltrating their own camps. Today a meeting was held at Brigade HQ where President Mitsuru Okumura of Okumura Industries made an appearance. Among her, Brigade’s own Doctor Evangeline Le and Legion Agent Caden Moon. Many may have heard the latter two names in a more positive light before the Collapse took place, but in that meeting room earlier, we would hope an agreement was reached. Both Le and Moon did not comment as they entered the HQ, but I speak for everyone in Tokyo when I say I hope things look up as soon as possible.
The anchor’s words were clear as day as Caden kept his eyes glued to the screen, seeing a better view of how the refugee camps were looking at the present moment. Tokyo’s camps may have looked better than New York’s, but there was no doubt that they were pushing capacity.
On another note, the past hadn’t failed to follow him since he touched down in Japan. Miller had personally sent him on this mission, but he didn’t have to consult Evie. Eventually speaking though, they were meant to cross paths once again. The Brigade HQ was always the destination for this mission.
Before he could continue his thought, his phone rang, and reading the caller ID, he noticed that it was Miller. Without delay, he placed the device on the coffee table in front of him, accepting the video call as the screen projected upwards.
“Caden,” the older man greeted with a pleasant look on his face. There was a brick wall with shelves of books and photo frames behind him as he sat in a leather chair, presumably in his office. “I haven’t received your report of the meeting yet.”
“Director Miller,” Caden started, leaning forward in his seat as he rested his elbows on his thighs. “I’m sorry, I was still trying to gather the details.”
“I’m guessing it didn’t exactly go as planned.”
“Not exactly, but I do have a meeting with President Okumura tomorrow morning.”
Miller nodded his head as Caden divulged his morning plans. Of course, it wasn’t going to be easy getting granted access to use the top technology in the world, but he was heading in the right direction.
“I hope by tomorrow, Okumura will at least consider letting the security division use some of their tech,” Caden stated, setting the goal for the next day. “We’ll eradicate that threat sooner than later.”
“You’re doing good, son,” Miller praised, giving the agent a small smile. “I hope your time there so far hasn’t been too rough.”
Caden paused for a moment, taking a sip from his mug as he stared off towards the side of the screen. It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours in Tokyo, and he was already feeling comfortable with it being that he didn’t have to do things alone.
“I met up with Evie earlier too,” Caden further revealed as he reclined back into the couch. “I had some traveling visa troubles, so she helped me out.”
“How’s she doing?”
“The Brigade really looks up to her. They have the utmost respect for everything she does, especially Okumura.” Another pause as silence filled the atmosphere for a brief moment, giving the two men some time to gather their thoughts. “Oh yeah. I wanted to ask you something about the Brigade, director; What is there to know about Kiri Thane?”
“The Brigade’s leader? I’ve only met her a few times; She’s a pretty steadfast and calculating woman, and she really cares about her agents.”
“Any idea why it’s basically impossible to get a meeting with her?”
“I wouldn’t push it if I were you, Caden,” Miller warned, furrowing his brows slightly. “Kiri is very forgiving, but it’s best not to get in her way.”
“Sounds like people are afraid of her.”
Miller paused for a second, trying to grasp what Caden was thinking. He was always unpredictable, and that was in situations on two ends of a spectrum. “I can’t tell you what to do, but I would advise you to not get on her bad side. She doesn’t take lightly to obstructions.”
With that, the two prefaced the next day’s events before ending the calls. Although Caden had just arrived, he felt the inevitable weight of responsibilities piling up upon his shoulder. Whether this mission was meant to go as smoothly as planned was meant to be seen, but he was staying optimistic.
He pondered more about Kiri Thane. Of course, he had done his research on her in the past, but her presence was one that he never had the chance to know. He wondered why an organization leader would be so secretive compared to the others, but that problem was for another day.
Before long, he left the couch and cleaned up before heading to bed.
Poetry
|
1:06 AM
my love, your strength is blinding, your courage, shining how did you survive all the fighting and all the crying? you did stop and think “it’s wrong”, yet you carried on? knew you had to be strong and be there for mom because she was always alone here you are today, going your own way and seizing the day. waiting for someone to say, “now i’m here to stay because you’re worth it, babe” bLISS
i find myself drowning in the softness of your deep brown eyes falling further and further down, as your gaze holds mine when you touch my skin briefly, making me aware of your presence the warmth of your intent, that's the purest of your essence how can a single person offer that? so much comfort and serenity simply by just existing as you are, i feel as if you were meant for me perhaps this is fate as they call it, or chance as the realists say but there's peace when i'm with you, as you are the brightest part of my day FEATHERS AND WAX
some days he is the sun, at times he is the darkness as much as i tried to love him, his entire being was tarnished i have so much love for him, but i didn’t know whether to believe that it was him who captured my heart, or the versions of him i conceived i offered him the world, he gifted me the wheel of fortune said that fate was the ultimate test but i had already driven myself to exhaustion my love, i flew too close to the sun and then the darkness encapsulated me maybe deep down, you loved me too but i deserve to be free synchronization
under the golden light, he was dressed in a red sweater the luminance bounced off of his cheeks, and his outlook played along with the scenery he laid surrounded by flower petals and carefully ran each fragment between his fingers, feeling the softness as if it were a safe haven; an escape from his constant bustle he remembered back to the days when freedom and liveliness were necessities, but in that moment in time, he felt calmer than ever before as time continued on, he picked up the book and mouthed the words something about a dream, he said maybe this was always our reality FRUITION
the chance to see you smile again and again, i’ve travelled through world lines though it feels like it never ends tragic, they may call it as i realized i failed to save you at first but it was unlike me to give in, as i’ve already gone through the worst you said i suffered so much for you though i never found it to be tedious was it me you were always looking to? in this timeline, and the previous? now i have finally found you once more, i have protected you from what would be inevitable what i wouldn’t give to always be yours it was always you, didn’t you know? purgatory
it’s hell in itself to know that i cannot learn to breathe through the flames with you with everything i am
as if the moon could bring me to you, shining its radiant, iridescent glow and lighting up the night our distance could be cut in two, the moon as our messenger, as though it powers us through the fight i had you for the moment, but before long, you took your leave, promising a new world for us but don't worry about it, because it was always you who i'd believe, and it was right of me to trust we had our own goals to achieve, through the galaxy, we'd traverse doing all that we can you always returned to me my only, my beloved, my universe and i love you with everything i am unbeknownst
every beautiful thing that engulfed my mind always lead back to him but he had yet to know that this love went both ways yuánfèn
someday, sooner than later we will come together as one when the Divine sees fit, a new cycle will have begun the moon always brings me back to you, one thousand nights entwined it has forever been you, and ours will be the love of a lifetime |
FIRST LOVE
she’s everything i am, and everything i could be she gets tired and lonesome, and she’s suffered for me she’s strong and capable, and someone i look up to her unconditional love is powerful, and she’s lessened every pain i’ve gone through time after time again, she’s forgiven my selfish ways because she has always been a part of me, and she’s always here to stay twenty-four
pieces starting to fall into place, i no longer worry about saving face i thought i had escaped loneliness back then, but now i realized that it was nowhere near the end a blank canvas enters the scene, a slate furthermore wiped clean i cannot say i’m moving forward with no trepidation, but i’m positive that i no longer hold any reservations HALF OF YOU
you’re a golden boy with sunshine in your heart and stardust in your palms you light up the world simply by sharing your wonder and spreading the light you possess like a flower on a spring day you blossom bolder than before revealing your beauty and strength all of me could never equate because half of you is more than enough to fill the spaces that this universe gathers you are the missing piece in everything the love songs, the bitter coffee, and so on and you hold the power to complete them so spread that magic throughout and show them what you can do because all of me is less than half of you ukiyo
the look in his eyes was calming and it felt as if time had stopped, just the two of us conscious of the situation his soft touch felt like rose petals, brushing against my bare skin and leaving me breathless and wanting more he read words off of the page and chills ran down my spine, thinking about if those sentiments were meant for me his soothing voice resonated deeply, emphasizing each of his sentiments and it felt like listening to my favorite song at dawn i imagined having all of him to myself; that seemed like it would fill me up and mend all the gaps in my heart but what if i got just a piece of him? would that be enough for me? perhaps i never want to wake up from this dream vice
a short phase of my life, that happened to be you the morning light and you were here, the setting sun, your presence was mere i absorbed the lessons you had to give, and realized the growth, i needed to live the love you showed me was more than enough, the highest of highs, you took me above like a haiku, pleasing and concise i could never forget you, my lovely vice waves
love comes to me in waves, but will i ever have the ocean? would i be the one you'd save? or would you leave me, frozen? on the shore, the water delivers gifts such as words from faraway lovers the further away i drift, the more i begin to suffer he kisses me repeatedly, never missing a single beat i ponder, if only there was a chance we could ever meet someplace in the middle, where stillness would allow us even something just a little, in that, i would trust divine
repeated numerals, always the usual, name in the crowd, songs chiming loud, signs from above, breathtaking as doves, guided intuition, true to our vision love on my mind, one of kind, you in my heart, a true work of art burdens
i’ve allowed the halfheartedness of past lovers to swallow me whole, to flood my mind with worrying thoughts and melancholic sentiments, to dictate my natural being and my sacred core, and to make me believe that they were the ones to save me my love cannot flow to those whose hearts are guarded i cannot force the purity of my intentions on those who abuse it but now i constantly wonder, if it is you who will actually choose it lionhearted prince
child, don't be afraid does the weight of the world feel heavy on your shoulders? does your love mirror the affection that you're given? do you feel alone when the lights go out? there's a glimmer of hope shining through the pavement can you see a new beginning, like the one you've been craving? is it enough to make you get through the day? or are your demons chasing you, throwing you back into the fray? child, don't be afraid are you aware that you are the only one in the world? can you see how lovely you have the potential to be? do you have the courage to wholeheartedly be yourself? please, don't feel alone when it all comes crashing down. |
