Author's Note: Well, Chapter 1 is now complete and Chapter 2 is progressing ever so slowly. I'll be continuing this series regardless of whether it is good or not as I'm actually having quite a bit fun planning for the future of the story(ies). Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Hey! Quit it!” yelled a youth with messy, light brown hair. An air of authority surrounded him, but

his fair face scrunched in annoyance, permeating youthful arrogance. His lightly tanned skin fit tightly on him emphasizing his thin fragile looking body.

Contrary to his looks, he moving his body at incredible speeds difficult to perceive with the human eye. Sweat fell from his body as he began to pick up even more speed twisting and contorting his body like a dancer.

Suddenly a blur flew towards his face. Reacting purely on instinct, he tilted his head to the side as a metal object caused a gust of air to brush past his face.

“But you are improving.” calmly stated the young man holding a metal pole-like object. His black hair and finesse features seemed to accentuate his pale skin making him look like a porcelain doll. Though his face didn’t reveal much, his eye slits seemed to be grinning with mischief as an aura of dominance permeated from him.

Looking at the two figures, it was clear who had the advantage… the one with a weapon.

“It would be nice if I didn’t have avoid death every day!”

“This is the best way to teach you though.”

“At least let me use something to protect myself!”

“Nah. You won’t learn the basics then. Plus this is more fun!”

Blurs began appearing in rapid succession from the man with the pole. All of his movements were deliberate, powerful and full of grace as he waltzed the object like a sword at the boy. The one-sided blade dance tore the air creating a vacuum that sucked the air from between the two.

The youth shifted his weight a little too far back forcing himself vault himself backwards to avoid staggering. Not missing the chance, the young man rushed forward elegantly drawing his pole from the side as if to bisect the youth.

Moments before the pole was about to connect, a bell rang out.

“I’ve come bearing gifts!” announced a voice like a song bird’s. It came from a tall well-toned woman carrying basket of medical supplies and a few vials full of unknown, muted color liquids. The setting sun cast a gentle orange on her figure, accentuating her smooth caramel skin and dark brown hair.

THWAK!!! Breaking bones and a boy's screams rang out in the evening air. Soon streams of profanity followed by laughter reverberated bringing a strange intense life to the air.

Haa.... They're at it again...

The woman thought as she listened to the usual sounds resounding from the small mansion.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Several candles bathed the small room in a warm light and illuminated the figures of three people sitting around a low table. Outside, a half-moon hung low in the darkening sky while a similar magenta orb sunk below the horizon.

“Kyo, you should go easier on Shinku,” said the woman who was shoving the youth’s head into her ample bosom.

In most cases, any boy would want to be where he was, but underneath the woman’s dark green shirt was a hard piece of metal shaped to her body. It was not comfortable, to say the least, as his head was crushed between a pair of immovable mountains.

“That’s coming from you Sakuna...”

“What are you talking about!? Can’t you see how calm and relaxed he is right now?"

“I would be that calm and relaxed too if I knew I was going to be crushed to death. Hey, Shinku. Give my master my regards when you meet him, all right?”

“...I hate you...I hate you with a burning passion.”

“You aren’t the first.” Kyosheon laughed.

“Geez…” Sakuna sighed. She released  Shinku who was little more than a corpse now, and laid him down on a sleeping pad. “Well, I brought enough medical supplies to last you both a week, but with how it seems now, you might need a bit more.”

Sakuna looked down at Shinku. His small, yet chiseled body had a large black and blue bruise the size of a small child on the side of his chest.

"You could have held back an—"

"—And let him think he'll survive a fight with his level of skill? No."

Sakuna moved to say something, but quietly held back.

"I'm just doing what is best for him." Kyosheon stated.

"I understand. But if he continues like this, he'll be pushed over the edge."

"It would be best if that happened."

"Why!?" she screamed as she slammed her hands on the table as she raised her body to loom over the man before her. Anger overflowed from her, filling the room with hostility.

Undaunted, Kyosheon, sat and stared directly back in her eyes completely void of emotion.

Tension suffocated the enclosed space causing the unconscious Shinku to groan in discomfort.

"You and I both know he can't use Rugkraft. Pushing his limits is his only chance for improvement, and survival."

"Just let him use self-powered Sewegs! He doesn't need to use Rugkr—!"

"—You aren't listening!" Kyosheon growled raising his voice. "Without Rugkraft, Sewegs are just lumps of metal. Self-powered Sewegs will deplete and eventually fail. Letting him use those is same as giving him a death sentence."

A few moments of uncomfortable silence passed.

"Haaaa... I won't argue anymore. Do what you please, but I'm still not ok with this," Sakuna sighed as she lowered her body.

"...Thank you." Kyosheon nodded his head slightly.

"I'll be heading back now. Come over if you need anything else." She stood up, grabbed the now empty basket, and moved to leave the room.

"I will. Thank you for everything, as always."

A thin smile appeared on Sakuna's face as she turned to look at him. The two of them stared at each other as though a silent message was passed between them.

She turned around again, opened the door to leave the room. Halfway through the doorway, she stopped.

"Be careful. I heard it has appeared again." she warned without turning around.

Deep concern covered Kyosheon's face at those words. Sakuna left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

After she left, Kyosheon rose and walked over to a large wooden closet and began rummaging through it.

He pulled out a box with a lock on it. Engraved on it was a waning moon full of intricate detailing.

Placing it on the dresser next to the closet Kyosheon reached inside of his shirt, and pulled out a key with a crescent moon carved out in the handle.

Sticking the key in and turning it, a satisfying click could be heard. He lifted the lid and peered inside.

Two metal cylinders with grips covered in rough metal gleamed with dangerous beauty in the dancing light of the open flames.

Picking one up, Kyosheon tested it's weight and spun it a couple times. Holding it in the palm of his hand, the cold metal seemed to radiate a powerful energy.

"It's time..." Kyosheon softly announced.

The object seemed to glow slightly, exuding a chilling atmosphere upon the room.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shoved in the corner of a silent shipyard, only the moons watched as shadows flitted around inside a large warehouse. A stocky middle-aged man in a crisp business suit was talking to a figure in a dark robe. His brown hair had streaks of grey in it which juxtaposed his bulging muscles and gruff look..

On the contrary, the robed figure was petite in build and wore a black, metal mask covering only the top half of their face. Sharp ovals were cut for eye holes revealing a pair light green eyes which seemed to reflect decades of experience despite their youthful look.

Behind each figure several other persons could be seen observing the situation.

Behind the robed figure, five other similarly dressed individuals stood and sat on stacks of wooden crates.

Behind the man in a suit. Smartly dressed men stood at attention, eyes fixed on everything, yet nothing at the same time.

"—is that really all you can offer?"

"I'm offering you business, you can take it or leave it."

"You're also offering out your neck to me. You better be careful with what you say."

Both sides tensed up. The men in suits each reached inside their clothes for something while the robed figures flashed metal objects in their hands.

"It's more beneficial for both of us if we're alive, I think we both understand that."

"Oh, aren't we confident?"

"Do you really want waste resources here? We both gain nothing by fighting."

"Tch! Fine, you have a deal. I'll bring it when it's over."

"Good. Here's half, I'll leave the rest at the designated location after the job is complete."

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

The man passed a bag of coins to the figure and shook the thin callused hand extended out to him.

The figure tossed the bag to another figure who agilely caught it with two hands and began counting the contents.

"I'll double the reward if you don't draw any attention to me."

"That's your job. I don't plan on selling out my clients, but it can't be helped if certain jobs attract... certain attention."

Without responding, the man turned around and gave his men a wave. They parted like the sea as he walked between them out of the warehouse. His men began filing out of the warehouse too, leaving behind the group of robed figures.

"Get ready. Prep gear for a nighttime operation. Rugkraft usage should be kept to a minimum. Only for communication if possible. Sewegs should still be present." The figure who made the deal commanded.

The figures darted into a backroom and sounds of metal and glass clinking could be heard.

Moments later the group reappeared, their appearance no different than before other than the occasional flash of metal.

"Let's go," announced their leader.

Like a machine, the group smoothly coordinated into a spearhead formation as the darted out into the darkness.

Shadows flitted about the dimly lit streets of the medieval city like ghostly apparitions before spreading out around a large stone building a couple hundred yards away.

It had a small spire jutting out from its center and a large residential wall that created a large courtyard surrounding the main stone building inside.

The entire building appeared hewn out of a single piece of stone, and the glass mosaics melted right into the sides of it.

It was a building without any architectural flaws.

In a circle surrounding the building several figures could be barely made out in strategic positions.

"Exterior clear on the southeast side," noted a deep voice in the leader's head.

"Two ceremonial guards at the main entrance-su!☆" resonated a high pitched voice in a similar manner.

"—Entry team on standby if necessary...And cut that cutesy-shit out Kyuru," an annoyed voice cut in.

"Kekekekeke... You're such a tsundere Roya-chi! I know you just can't resist my charm!"

"I'll beat the shit out of you if you don't shut your mouth now!"

"Well aren't we being kinky now~! Not that I mind ☆! Control your hormones or Ruya-sa might get jealous-su! ☆"

"—I will cut your goddamn tongue off if YOU DON'T SHUT THE FUCK UP NOW!"

"Both of you. Shut it unless something happens. I'm getting a headache listening to you two," the leader internally rebuked. "Stay on task and let's make this fast."

"Right."

"Got it-su!☆"

"...Fine–"

"Roya. Ruya. check the inside of the building for the target and any other hindrances. Yir, keep an eye out for trouble."

"Noted."

"Give us a sec."

From the rooftop where the leader was prone, a couple of shadows darted over the wall into the courtyard surrounding the building.

"Courtyard is clear. Scouting out the house," a gentle monotone voice confirmed.

"Ok. Only the presence of the target and a few other unknown individuals have been identified. Based on how they walk, they are low to no threat."

In that case we might have caught them off guard. The leader pondered the situation a bit more before giving orders.

"Prepare for entry. We can't pass this opportunity up."

"Geez, aren't we going a little too fast," a very warm and seductive voice cooed. "Careful or we might slip up."

"This is a one-time opportunity, Anir. We are taking it. Everyone complete their tasks and head back to the meet up location."

""""Ok""""

"Operation start in 3, 2, 1..."

Silence gripped the telepathic communication as shadows danced through the windows of the building. Several moments passed before two figures, with a limp body slung over one of their shoulders, were seen clamoring over the courtyard wall.

"Target secured. On our way out now."

"""......."""

"...Well that was easy-tsu..."

"She is a member of the Ruik Family, maybe they're not influential enough to need real security."

"No. Their ties to the Church of Ierg are strong. Her disappearance would definitely cause havoc. This is strange."

"Doesn't matter. Head to Base 4. Cut off telepathy to conserve Rugkraft."

Mentally shutting off the connection, the leader stood up and began flitting across the rooftops towards the edge of the city. Just beyond the giant walls surrounding the city was a dense forest of trees.

Continuing past the wall, the leader looked up to the sky to confirm their direction. Rugkraft shot into their left eye filling it with a blue-ish white tint.

1000 more meters. No signs of tracking. Alarm has not been raised yet.

Closing their eye, it returned to a light shade of green.

Darting through the tree limbs for a few minutes, they stopped at a small clearing. Walking a few steps towards the center, they took their index finger and pushed it into the soft earth.

Removing their finger, a shallow hole about a meter in diameter appeared in the center of the clearing. Lifting their cloak slightly, they pulled out a vial filled with a bluish-green liquid.

Emptying the contents into the hole, they immediately stepped into the liquid and sunk beneath the surface. Soon after, the liquid dried up leaving the field looking like before.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Just missed them." Kyosheon sighed. Walking around the abandoned warehouse, signs of recent use were present, but well hidden.

Stuffing his hands into the pockets of his coat, he continued observing the building.

Guess I'll just have to get into contact with them later. Kyosheon made his way to the back room and opened the door.

Inside, a run down office filled with scattered papers and files filled his view. Thorough as always, he thought to himself as he leafed through the mess.

On top of a pile, a newspaper with the heading "«Crimson Contact» Still Unconfirmed" had an article a page long entailing the most recent news about the mysterious serial killer(s). Right underneath the heading were several drawn pictures of crime scenes covered in red ink.

Ignoring all of the clutter, Kyosheon made his way over to the desk set at the far end of the room. Finding a clearing on it, he pulled out a blood red pin in the shape of a crescent and placed it so it faced the door.

Just then he felt an intense pressure from a void like presence behind his back.

"That took longer than expected." Kyosheon said with a large smile on his face. Turning around, the silhouette of figure appeared in his vision. No defining features could be seen on it, but it was clear its intent was not friendly.

It silently stared back at him, keeping it's arms to its sides.

"I haven't warmed up yet, but I don't mind giving you this dance." He said pulling his hands out of his pockets.

In between the gloved fingers of his right hand, small aerodynamic knives with a thin steel thread attached to their handles. In his left, a paper-thin dagger, held in a reverse-grip.

"I'll be a gentleman. Your move first." Kyosheon graciously offered while elegantly bowing his body.

Without a sound the two of them disappeared. A split second later, wind rushed through the room kicking up the papers, as though an invisible tornado tore up the room.

As suddenly as it started, the winds died down with a rush of air out the door. The room, now in more disarray than before, slowly, was filled with many papers floating down to the ground..

Among the many falling papers, a single headline could be made out on one of them.

«Crimson Contact» Disappeared