The space station was filled with life and grit. Each surface, object, ornament and florescent plant was trimmed and polished to perfection. Too perfect, Kazuki thought.

His blue eyes rose back to the pink-haired girl whom he was following. Victoria. Confident… Energetic, Charismatic to the point even he falls in line… Victoria’s presence eased Kazuki’s limited worries.

He sped up, walking beside Victoria, the two were traversing across the P-1 Commercial Station…

“Hey, if we actually find something, I’ll buy you another birthday present, how about that?!” Victoria exclaimed. Evidently, it was Kazuki's tenth birthday.

Kazuki glanced at her, Victoria had her hair done in a long side braid, with a red spider rose ornament keeping it in place... "Hey," Kazuki started. "I don’t get it. So, what are we actually doing?"

"Exploring, plus I heard some chatter from the guards that something suspicious was going on!" Victoria remarked, smugly grinning. "That party was so boring, what do you say about a little adventure?!"

"It's... a space station," Kazuki said. “And I liked it. It was boring. People leave me alone."

Victoria shrugged. "Don't worry, don't worry, we'll be fine! I mean, we're just gonna peek our heads and see what's going on, and then we leave, simple, right?"

"I guess," Kazuki stated. He glanced away.

"Come on, put some energy into it," she said. The two kept walking, reaching a small observatory glass that peered out into space. Maybe he should have stayed at the party… Apparently, Noah and Eliza are ‘filling in’ for them.

He... really should have just stayed. Maybe that would have convinced Victoria to stay as well. Either way... a feeling of dread was slowly filling Kazuki's mind.

"Woah..." Victoria marvelled at the sight, as Anagora came into view. The thousands of merchant vessels and floating islands dotted the void. Many voidships had the T&R seal on them or had the letters GMA painted in bright blue colours. "Not going to lie... I thought the view would be better."

"I thought we were doing some... never mind." Kazuki sighed, rubbing his bright blue eyes.

Victoria grumbled, smacking Kazuki across the back. "I told you to put some energy into it!"

"Ugh..."

"Don't worry, Noah plus a wig and contact looks somewhat like you, right?" Victoria shrugged.

"Then who’s filling in for them?" asked Kazuki.

Victoria froze. She scratched her head, then shook it. "It'll be right, it'll be fine, trust me!"

"Sure..." He didn't trust her words. Then, her eyes grew wide as she looked behind Kazuki. “For someone so clever, you seemed to have overlooked that.”

“Look, my genius only extends to academics, alright?” Victoria said. “Give me some slack, alright?!”

Kaz's head twisted. A blonde man wearing a flight suit scanned a card and entered into a maintenance shaft... Kazuki was confused. He turned to Victoria. "Something wrong?"

"He wasn't... wearing the staff’s uniform?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Huh... wait, no! Uh... yeah! That must be it! Come on, we should follow."

She grabbed onto his hand, dragging him with her. He followed suit, trailing behind. "Really?" he asked with a begging voice.

Victoria nodded and grinned. The lights from above and the endless sparkles of space illuminated her face... Kazuki's eyes were engrained with that simple face... The face of the one who started it all.

∗ ∗ ∗

The flick of a single wrist could send spirals off into all corners of the galaxy. One movement could change everything. The whims of the future are based on the actions of one, cascading. A single series of events, if played out differently, would ripple across the billion inhabited star systems of the galaxy. Or at least that’s what Kazuki thought. He kept hearing the flicking and smashing of something in the distance.

The Ball Palace was undergoing the Dassant at its finest. Feasts. Balls. Dances. Everyday. All day. But that was not his focus. Not now. Not here.

His senses were dialled up to a hundred. Kazuki allowed his body to auto-pilot in its movement, walking beside Eliza with his hands in his pockets.

The pale, decorated walls of the Leisure centre were too bright for Kazuki’s own tastes. His head was kept on a swivel, ready for anything. The two exited into a large open room, with vibrant collage windows, with most of the area dedicated to obstacles and flat fields.

Kazuki could tell that it was real dirt by its texture of it.

“Tally-ho!” shouted Fer-Charelota, flinging a golf ball high into the air with his club. “Hey… remember what I said?” Eliza quickly turned to Kazuki, as she whispered beneath the gazes of the Knights in the room. They stood firm, standing guard at the corners of the room. Lady Antiar was the closest to the Marquis.

Kazuki gave a nonchalant nod. “Yes. Threaten him, crack his spine in two and leave his head on the pavement?” he asked sarcastically, walking past Eliza and further into the leisure centre.

It was large, with many floors, sections, blocks, rooms and sectors dedicated to providing nearly any and every possible recreational activity imaginable. Lady Antiar’s gaze was already on him… Seems that she overheard him.

“Kaz!” Eliza planted her feet on the ground, tugging on Kazuki’s sleeve. He wasn’t wearing his blazer, instead having his gold-red waistcoat.

He turned back around to her. “I’m joking.” He blinked.

“Oh…” Eliza releases her grasp. “Don’t joke around like that… I can never tell when you’re being serious or not!”

She started walking again, approaching Fer-Charelota. The Marquis was playing golf across a large field, wearing a purple frock coat, adorned with ceremonial ornaments.

Kazuki walked beside her.

“I’ll… try to be more clear. Next time,” Kazuki said. He had no idea how except to just tell her straight up.

Eliza nodded. She was wearing one of the other dresses that Master Chi made… She got mad at him earlier about him not complimenting it. Why isn’t she now?

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

He doesn’t get it…

“Fer-Charelota,” Kazuki called out to him.

The Marquis twisted around, using the club as a crutch. His auburn hair and light-violet pink eyes fell onto the duo. “Ah, Elizabeth and… Kazuki Izumi Geminorum-Ryzaku! A pleasure to meet your acquaintance.”

“Forget the pleasantries. Get to it,” Kazuki snapped.

Eliza pinched him on the ear, dragging him slightly to the side. “Ow…” Kazuki muttered.

“Kazuki, please? First impressions are everything” Eliza asked, as if talking to a child. Kazuki nodded.

He said, “But I’ve already met him… Sure, as a child… But… Fine. I’ll play nice.”

Eliza sighed, before shrugging. “Thank you…”

Kazuki glanced over at the Marquis. He looked just as young as his memory had served. “The days have done you quite well, Fer-Charelota.”

The Marquis gave a fake chuckle, walking forward before hooking the golf club onto a hovering drone. “Ah… your reputation exceeds you, Kazuki. I must apologise first for the rough welcome.”

“Hmm?” Kazuki raised an eyebrow.

“Those people who insulted you to your face when you first arrived.” Oh. Those people. That was what he was referring to…

“It’s nothing.”

“And still, I must apologise on their behalf, we humans are emotional creatures, and I am afraid their emotions exceeded their lips,” said Fer-Charelota.

Kazuki gave Fer-Charleota a cold, hard stare, as his eyes moved to a set of doors. They slid open, with Lady Antiar entering the golf course.

She gave Kazuki a glance, before crossing her arms and leaning against the wall.

Eliza stepped up front, clearing her throat.

“I didn’t expect you to be… well, playing such an old sport, Fer-Charelota,” Eliza said. “I’m just trying out what our ancestors thousands of years ago were interested in, Eliza.” Fer-Charelota stepped forward, shaking both Kazuki and Eliza’s hands. Kaz allowed it. “I wonder what our ancestors would say to us…”

. “I doubt they would care. They’re dead,” Kazuki interjected. The fake joviality in the air faltered for a moment.

Lady Antiar chimed in, “And one day, so will you, me… all of us.” She masked the threat under some ‘wise’ words.

The Marquis gestured to Lady Antiar. “Lady Antiar Kelebori, member of my own guard. You two have shown quite a spectacle in the arena.”

Eliza looked at Lady Antiar, as the two exchanged stares.

“There’s no fighting that,” continued Lady Antiar. “My apologies for speaking out of turn.” She turned and lightly bowed to the Marquis.

“Nonsense!” Fer-Charelota shouted. Lady Antiar walked up towards them as Eliza held her hand out towards her. Kazuki glanced at Eliza… What is she doing?

“All the more reason to live our lives to the fullest, right?” she asked.

Lady Antiar slowly turned, looked down at the hand… And slowly shook it. Lady Antiar looked perplexed for the moment. “Yeah.”

Fer-Charelota started walking, gesturing for the two to follow him. Eliza started walking first before Kazuki trailed after them. “Still, that’s what makes it so interesting, Kazuki, the hypotheticals of what we can never truly understand!” Fer-Charelota stated.

Lady Antiar followed behind them, though keeping a distance. Kazuki noted that it was the perfect distance to lob his head off if needs be.

“I find it more imperative for us to stand our ground in the present,” Eliza started, as the Marquis stopped by another section of the simulation field, a large green lake and grasslands from old Terra. The field’s boundaries and parameters lit up, reigniting another activity. Despite knowing it’s fake, Kazuki’s senses send him conflicting messages about the area’s validity. “Better to focus on the future…”

Eliza sighed for a moment, before glancing at Kazuki.

“The future is filled with anxiety, but it is an anxiety we must all face,” Fer-Charelota said. A rifle propelled out from the ground. He grabbed onto it, before looking towards Kazuki. “Let’s not talk of the past, how about a game, Kazuki?”

Kazuki ached to call Fer-Charelota out. His words were filled with both wisdom and venom, a combination Kazuki could not effectively counter - especially with Eliza around. But Kazuki remained calm, giving a simple nod.

Eliza, for what it was worth, seemed rather pleased that Kazuki was ‘playing along’. This charade has to end somehow. So he can actually get down to business.

Kazuki took hold of a second rifle, shooting out from the floor. Eliza sat down on a lawn chair between the two, peering up and analysing the weapons.

“It’s light,” Kazuki said, turning his disappointed face to Eliza. Though, it was essentially blank.

“You didn’t expect a simulation field to use real guns, right? I mean… even the Phoenix’s Fury…” Eliza started but trailed the moment Kazuki gave her a glare.

“If it was heavy guns, most people would leave this place with broken hands,” Lady Antiar commented.

Fer-Charelota gestured to her once again. “Exactly!” “Hmm. Fair enough,” said Kazuki.

“A model 50 rifle from the crusader era,” Fer-Charelota said, ignoring what Eliza blabbed on about. He displayed the weapon to Kazuki. “A power—”

“Anti-material. Anti-personnel,” Kazuki interrupted him. “Technically every weapon is Anti-Personnel.” Kazuki handled the gun without care, twisting it around in his hands. It felt much bulkier than the guns he’s used to using.

Eliza and the Marquis seemed somewhat worried as he twisted it in his hand. Skittish, slightly. Lady Antiar, however, remained frozen behind the group.

“Indeed, how about some tea?” asked Fer-Charelota, clicking his fingers. The simulation field gave way as several drones entered. They carried numerous apparatuses, forming a table and a traditional Engan tea set directly in front of Eliza.

“Woah…” Eliza said, amazed by the fast and efficient display. Tea was already hot, Kazuki noted. Eliza glanced at the cup, gently picking it up as the plate beneath it hovered in front of her. “Is it… real?”

Kazuki grabbed another cup, dipping his finger into it. It was hot… Boiling hot. Why did he do that? He shot his finger back up, with a straight face. “It’s real/”

Eliza looked up at Kazuki, shocked at what he had just done.

Kazuki’s head tilted, wiping his finger on his trousers. What? He thought this was the most efficient way to see if it was real. Fer-Charelota chuckled.

“You know, Kazuki, the people down in the buffet and the restaurants and all over this place herald you Contract-Breaker…” Fer-Charelota started. He better choose his words carefully, Kazuki thought. “You are quite interesting.”

Aiming the rifle, Kazuki reloaded it and primed it. He made sure all the mechanisms were historically authentic. “Elaborate,” he snarled.

Eliza took a sip from the tea. “Khorala Gold?”

“You know your teas,” Fer-Charelota remarked, to Kazuki’s snide side-eye glare. “Anyways… I mean no offence by my comment, Kazuki.”

Fer-Charelota took in a deep breath, turning back towards the field as drones started to hover around, beeping and blooping with massive targets on their chassis. His hands were strong, but Kazuki could see a terribly slow shiver each time he glanced at the Marquis…

The Marquis started to shoot, carefully aiming each shot. “I believe it right to start with your father… he’s never kind, nor was he amicable. I can see that in you…”

“Of course you can,” Kazuki said sarcastically. Ironic. The only resemblance he now has to his father is a matching snarling gaze. “Your mother was more amicable than him, I can see that in you,” Fer-Charelota said.

Lady Antiar cut in, “But… people still call you a murderer, a killer and all kinds of names… It’s not totally unfounded..”

Kazuki kept checking his rifle, slowly loading it. Fer-Charelota was getting a higher count of targets hit. Kaz didn’t care.

“Kazuki’s much more than what they say!” Eliza interjected, finishing her cup of tea, as a drone poured another cup… She then reeled back as Lady Antiar turned her gaze to Eliza. Kazuki then shot a glare at Lady Antiar, as she relented, sighing. “Gilbera, You surely don’t believe that, right?”

Fer-Charelota nodded. “Such simplistic notions are beyond my understanding,” he said… Pompous fuck, Kazuki thought. “Your parents were holding onto you, five years old… When I looked at you back then, I didn’t see a murderer, no killer.”

“Time changes.”

“Indeed, but even now…” Fer-Charelota replied to Kazuki’s retort. Kazuki glanced over at him, then at Eliza. The score was 31-0. “I look at you, and all I see is just some guy, barely an adult. Sure, you have a mean tongue… but you’re no killer.”

“Sir…” Lady Antiar said with an exasperated voice. “By definition…”

“I am a killer,” said Kazuki. Plain and simple. No denying it. “A cutthroat is exactly what I am.”