Taking time out of his day, Ikki Kurogen was strolling through town. Eventually, he was meandering around inside a massive mall you could find anywhere in the Terracolony. This one in particular catered to varied cuisines and clothing, so it was crowded, though the walkway was somewhat unhindered.
He and Stella had just finished the end of day classes. Usually, they would be together training at this time in the evening, but some business came up for him. He told her they’d spar tomorrow or hang out later, though it felt strange to be separated.
They both rarely spend time apart these past few days, being as they were roommates and fellow first years, so going on the town without her seemed, odd?
Before Stella came around, it was only him in that half empty dorm room. He lived in there, for a few years ever since he had run away from home, all alone. While he had help from his Grandfather and was given his blessing, Ikki still told himself that he ran.
He left his family and his past behind.
More pressingly to Ikki, he disobeyed his father, who had told him to give up on his dream of becoming an explorer. In his own words, that man was by definition, a traditional man. Ikki thought his father was steadfast in the standard ways of Eastern family tradition.
Hard Headed, is how Ikki would further describe him. Perhaps that’s what he inherited from him. Though, in Ikki’s credit, he could argue he was more empathetic than his father. Back then, when his father found out that he was marked as a failure who could never become or amount to a powerful explorer, his father no longer paid attention to him.
It was a souring time of his life and Ikki bit his lip at that memory, hiding it whilst strolling through the mall.
“Ikki! Over here!”
Itsuki’s voice called out to him and he looked over, wiping whatever expression he had on quickly away.
Standing just outside of a cafe, Itsuki stood there with his personal device in hand. He wore the standard, but shortened, academy attire and a bag was slung over his shoulder that seemed to be full of papers.
This somewhat short statured student was a friend of sorts to Ikki. When he first met Itsuki, his name was what stood out the most to him.
It was just like his father’s, ironic it seemed. Ironic how he now was friends with a person that reminded him of his father, both by how they had the same name and almost the same personality. It was coincidental that they were both quite similarly objective at times.
Perhaps this was what his father was like in his younger years. That thought didn’t hold up long though, with how physically apparent their differences were. Itsuki had blonde hair while his father had black like his own.
His father was also taller, taller than Ikki in fact. So, Itsuki stood no chance of ever growing any taller with how old he was now, not to mention.
Itsuki looked young. If not for how Ikki had had a history with him, then he would have considered Itsuki as a middle schooler in terms of his looks. Yet, behind those blank and glaring black eyes Itsuki had, was a wealth of experience, experience that Itsuki was willing to share.
After a few small pleasantries, the two of them went inside the cafe. Seating themselves in a booth, they ordered a round of coffee, decaf for Ikki and an extra shot of espresso in Itsuki’s cup.
“I don’t think drinking that much caffeine is good for you. It’s the afternoon as well, don’t you need to sleep?” Ikki said, stirring his own coffee with a small amount of cream and sugar.
Contrary to him, Itsuki shrugged and sipped at the pitch-black mug of coffee he held.
“I need it. I’ve got extra work to do today. Not to mention, there’s more stuff going on in the colony now.”
“Is that so? Is it about the Russka and Chinsui exchange students?” If Ikki was remembering correctly, Andromeda was getting exchange students from a couple other nations. Like Stella, they were from foreign lands.
“Correct, you’re sharp. They’re hard to deal with but I put the rowdy ones in place.” Itsuki took a gulp of coffee and let out a sigh. Ikki on the other hand hoped that those rowdy exchange students were given at least some mercy. “Ahhh!~ That’s good.”
He set the hot mug of coffee down and then grabbed a few folders from his bag, placing them on the table for Ikki to see.
“Here, take it.” He slid the folders to Ikki, who had wide and expecting eyes. ”Since we’re on the topic of Russka and Chinsui. Take a look at this.”
Ikki flipped open the cover of one of the folders and flipped through. Recognizing a few things, it still didn’t clear up the question in Ikki’s head, though it helped. Previously, Itsuki had set this meeting up between them to discuss about Ikki’s future career as an explorer, to one day become one.
“Is this about that opportunity you were talking about? I still don’t understand how I can get an explorer license in my current situation.” Ikki took a harder look at the documents. He was having a hard time putting two and two together.
“Well, this is put on the down low, not really a secret, but a local rumor.”
“That doesn’t sound assuring.” Ikki replied.
“It’s assuring since I’m giving the information. As you know, every year the annual Star Royale is held between all the nations.” A bitter expression came across Itsuki’s features. Whatever he just said and remembered, obviously didn’t sit well with him.
Nevertheless, he continued and sipped at his coffee, letting out another relieved sigh as he relaxed his back to the seat.
“Ahhh~. The Star Royale is a tournament for explorers. Currently, nations around the world hold control over the contained star depths. They’ve become a source of wealth for nations, so the debate of who should hold jurisdiction came into play at the end of the war.”
“It’s stupid.” Mumbled Itsuki.
He held no real interest in the Tournament, he much preferred fighting the monsters of the Star depth as there was more purpose and profit behind it. Competition was really nothing of any concern to him.
Ikki smiled wryly, sympathetic to Itsuki's viewpoint.
“So, this tournament?” Ikki looked at the documents again and recognized the names there. They were of famous explorers from the past 2 decades, who won the Star Royale.
“It’s as you can see in the records.” Itsuki said with a nod. “The last few winners of the tournament were from Andromeda. Some, in fact, were students. Those that placed first were given special permission by the academy to obtain full explorer status. If you can do the same, then you can be an explorer as well.”
“Do you really think…I can win?” Hesitation filled Ikki’s trailing words. If he were to enter the tournament, it would mean he would face other explorers. He, as an in-training explorer who had little experience and was an F-rank, seemed doomed to fail.
Itsuki looked at him funny, cocking a brow up as if admonishing his cowardice.
“You do want this? Right? You keep chasing after this dream of yours, and after I’ve tried to dismay you for years, you’re still trying. I’ve all but given up on making you change your ways, so I’m willing to bet on your guts.” He sighed and took another long sip of coffee.
“The choice is yours, just remember this comes with risks as well.”
“I know, but…”
This indeed was Ikki’s choice and he knew what he would be getting into if he joined the tournament. The Star Royale was an international event, like the Olympics. More importantly was how it held more sway in the real world.
Nations would be given jurisdiction on star depths depending on how well their participating teams would perform. It was a measure of how powerful each nation’s explorers were in order to allocate them to the aligning star depths.
If a nation had powerful explorers, they would be given more access and rights to Star Depths. This would throw Ikki into a possible political conflict, something he had to painfully deal with the year prior as he forced his way out of the bureaucratic swamp of the Eastern bloc and their court system.
Speaking of which, he might have to fight against his homeland and his actions might influence the economic situation in the Eastern Bloc. Resources from Star Depths were vital in all aspects of everyday life presently. Commerce was the most affected by their appearance in the world.
From weapons research to construction to even medicine, Star Depths were a treasure trove to a nation. Nations, like Russka and Chinsui, would fight tooth and nail to keep what they had.
Better known as the Russka Republic, it was originally known in the two thousands as the Russian Federation. It had broken apart during the Starfall Calamity War and reformed into a republic years after. The same was for the nation of Chinsui, which was before known as the Nation of China, now currently known in full as the Chinsui Dynasty.
Both of these nations were west of the border to the Eastern Bloc. Their reformation after the war had empowered the surviving inhabitants into coherent communities. Presently, their livelihoods depended on the Star Depths as it was their main source of income as a source for trade goods.
“It will be an uphill battle.” Continued Itsuki. He put a finger up as he listed each challenge.
“First, you’ll need to get accepted to be on the team for Andromeda’s participation. That means you’ll have to fight for the spot, which is its own trial. Second, the Russka and Chinsui nations are supremacists. So they have their own strong ideals about strength. You’ll be fighting people who are just plain nut jobs in my opinion. Thirdly.”
Itsuki paused heavily, looking into Ikki’s eyes to see if he would really understand what he was going to say next.
“I know.” Ikki said with a sudden and grave weight to his voice. “I’ll have to fight my own homeland, and likely my family.”
“Yup, on top of that, you might die.” Itsuki swiped a finger across his neck to get the point across. “There won’t be any simulation mode to save you, and the Eastern Bloc still might have it out for you still. They’re a prideful bunch, though I’m more concerned about your abilities. Your manifested powers give you unique strengths, but in my estimations, you’ll fail.”
“Then why are you telling me this?”
“You’ve broken expectations before.” Itsuki said matter of factly. “Break them again.”
“You’ve got to be-.”
Ikki sighed, unable to retort.
This opportunity was crazy, yes, but so was his dream. Explorers risked their lives every day, they had to be strong, no, they had to be more than strong. They had to have wills that went beyond the norm of commonplace. So could he do it? Rise to this challenge and overcome? With how little talent and powers he had?
“Think on it.” Itsuki said, noticing his mug was empty, he raised it up to a waitress who came over with a refill. Just as she was about to pour, Itsuki held up a hand to her.
“I’ll get a cup to go, I’ll need it for-“
Just as he was about to finish his sentence, a pair of customers came in and one of them recognized him.
“Itsuki? Is now a good time.”
To Itsuki’s eyes, he saw it was Amanda, who was followed by Stella. By his guess, they looked as if they were on a shopping trip and well dressed for what seemed like a girl’s night out on the town.
“Oh Amanda. Yeah, Good timing, I was about to come get you myself, glad you thought ahead.”
“Yeah, I got your text, are we having a meeting here?”
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“Yup, I just briefed Ikki on a new opportunity. Since I know that you and Stella want to be explorers as well, I’m willing to share this info. Take a seat. Waiter!”
Itsuki then called a cafe employee as the girls got settled. Amanda scooted in on Itsuki’s side while Stella sat next to Ikki.
Seeing as how Itsuki was the one that called for them, he paid for the meal. He then informed everyone about the opportunity and their reactions were mixed.
“*Chomp* Hmmmm? So…you’re saying if we win this tournament, we can become explorers? Will it be through duels?” Stella asked as she chewed between bites of her steak.
While this was a cafe, it had a variety of food options. So much so that they all ordered themselves some dinner.
“No, not exactly.” Said Itsuki. “The Tournament could have special or certain themes. It changes from year to year.”
He took a bite of his dark chocolate crepe with extra dark chocolate syrup. Everyone at the table, like Amanda, looked at him funny, weirded out by why he was eating a dessert for dinner of all things.
“That isn’t healthy, you know. Plus, why did you get something so bitter.” Amanda said, a bit disgusted.
“I need the calories and the cacao has caffeine that’ll keep me awake.”
“If you digest all that, your liver is probably going to give out.”
“What are you, my mother or something?”
“Hmph! Whatever.” Amanda ignored Itsuki’s weirdness and went back to her own meal. Ikki and Stella gave the two a wry look, these two seemingly were like oil and water, but they had their “friendly” moments, sometimes.
“So?” Stella said, getting back on topic. “How dangerous is the tournament?” Her gaze lit up as she read through the documents. The chance of becoming an explorer sooner was enticing. If she could get her license early then she could bring more prosperity to her people in her homeland.
Explorers made a lot of money and they had privileges that they could tip to others.
Itsuki explained what he knew while rifling through the documents. Stella and Ikki nodded along as they listened and ate. He poured over the details. How joining the tournament team had limited spots and how their lives were at stake during the entire event.
“That’s quite a lot to take in, talk about a serious fight to the death. Not to mention how high strung the selection process is.” Stella herself had taken part in a few local tournaments in her youth, but this event was on a grander scale. In total, one team from each major nation would be attending and the number of spots varied.
Spots were given to candidates who were recommended by the academy or nation, so even if you were selected to be a candidate, you still had to wait until someone on high recognized you.
“Are there any other ways to get a spot in the tournament?” Amanda asked.
“Through the Practical Training Class, there’s a way. I can’t say for certain though. That class in particular is special. You’ve probably figured it out by now, but the classes here in Andromeda are unique, and tend to dismay a lot of young and naive students.”
Itsuki was talking about how the curriculum was more intense than what a regular academy entailed. Here, combat training and technical skills were all taught, and they were transparent about how grueling an explorer’s career could be.
“No kidding.” Amanda said. “They’re have already been a few dropouts lately, not to mention people going missing. I heard students are just up and leaving because they re-decided their career choice faster than the academy can process them.”
“Is that really true?” Stella asked.
Itsuki nodded to her. “It’s just another academic year here. It’s normal to have dropouts, though I wouldn’t worry about those missing people’s reports, probably just a rumor.” He should know, he was the most accustomed to this pattern since he had been here for four years.
“Hmmm?”
Catching his attention, Itsuki then noticed how a few other customers and students in the cafe were looking at him and Ikki. He internally sighed, knowing jealousy and prejudice when he saw it.
Itsuki gave them a hard look and the once intently glaring customers turned the other way, cowed by Itsuki’s threatening projecting intent. They paid their tab and those customers ran out quite quickly, so much so that they made a bit of commotion.
“Eh? What’s up with them?” Stella asked.
“Really? Do you need to ask?”
“Huh? What are you talking about Itsuki?”
Itsuki looked Stella up and down, a disapproving sternness to her overly seductive attire.
She was wearing a stylish summer dress, and the outline of her curves cut a somewhat wavy and alluring charm to her youthful appearance.
Stella was like a maiden frolicking in summer meadows, and enticing was the only word Itsuki could use to describe her.
Amanda was also dressed well, she wore white jeans on and a stylish coat with a few butterfly-shaped accessories. It was eye-catching with her glossy long blue hair, and how she and Stella ate was elegant, like princesses, though made by Stella since she was eating so much.
He wanted to comment bluntly how overly dressed they were for a meeting between students, but Itsuki would never bring up a woman’s business in what she wore, unless…they were annoying to him.
Itsuki withheld his answer, but Ikki said his own.
“Stella, I think what Itsuki is talking about is how out of place he and I look with you two. They’re likely jealous that two normal people are spending time with two pretty girls.”
“Hmmmm, I…suppose so….D-Do you really think I look pretty in this?” Stella fidgeted with her fingers under the table and shot a few small glances at Ikki, trying to gauge how he gazed at her.
“Yeah, you and Amanda look great.”
Ikki’s reply was good in Itsuki’s opinion, but he and Amanda thought otherwise.
“Hmph. You could have left Amanda out of that, look at me…dummy.” Mumbled Stella, her head turned away and craned low from Ikki’s ears.
“Eh..? Stella? Did I…say something wrong?”
“Jesus Christ.” Itsuki groaned softly, making sure that no one but Amanda heard.
“Is he a womanizer or something?” Amanda softly whispered to Itsuki, who shook his head.
“I think he’s closed off, having a past like his isn’t really normal. So maybe he has a few blockages to get over.”
Itsuki knew what Ikki went through a lot in his younger years, so social skills and romance were things he was deprived of for the sake of pushing to make his dream come true. This was concerning for Itsuki as he knew how people break after withdrawing from society, it wasn’t pretty.
Finishing his meal first, Itsuki got up and paid the tab as everyone was still finishing up while chatting.
“I’ve got more work to do, I’ll leave the documents with you Ikki. Stella, if you want a copy just text me.”
“Sure, um, thanks?” Stella said, unable to meet Itsuki’s eyes.
“Why did you phrase it like a question?”
“It’s hard to tell if you’re being sincere sometimes, your…eyes and…how you look…kind of, makes it difficult.”
“Well get used to it. By the way.”
Taking a slip of paper from his bag, Itsuki handed it to Amanda who beamed in delight.
“Here’s that advance on your salary you wanted Amanda. You don’t have much money right now, so I got this approved by accounting.”
“Nice, looks like my hard work is paying off. Huh?” Amanda frowned. “Why is the amount less than what we discussed?”
“You had a few violations in your work the past few days, so I docked your pay. Next time, don’t cut too deep into that wall, the cost of repairs came from your paycheck.”
Ikki and Stella wondered what Itsuki meant, a wall being damaged sounded serious but with how silent Amanda went, they didn’t want to be intrusive. With those last words, Itsuki left, leaving Amanda to sulk.
“Oh come on, I fixed it, well, just a little, kind of. That should have count for something. Argh!” She sighed, no longer able to really complain since Itsuki was out of earshot.
“Congrats Amanda, I bet now we can afford to go shopping for clothes more often.” Stella suggested.
“Sure, but we’ll need someone to guide us. Ikki? Could you help us?”
“I umm, well, sure but I don’t really know much about clothes. Would that be alright?”
Amanda waved her hand to put his worry away. “Of course of course, just be sure to make sure Stella doesn’t get lost.”
With this, Amanda wanted to leap with joy and so did Stella. They had just, hook line and sinker, caught Ikki in Amanda’s trap, or well, the trap she discussed with Itsuki.
Guess Itsuki’s plan worked. Amanda thought. ‘He sure knows how to keep a straight face and a secret, but why did he leave so soon?’
For the plan Amanda and Itsuki had concocted to help Stella’s relationship along with Ikki, Itsuki was supposed to stay and push the conversation after the tournament discussion. Without him here, Amanda had to pick up the slack. She was fine with that because she had a way with words and social interactions, but couldn’t help to wonder what came up on his side.
***[On the Outskirts of the Academy Commerce District]***
A teenage foreign exchange student was making his way to the tram station. He looked like he was in a hurry and wanted to head back to his dorm to turn in for some shut eye. The bags under his eyes made it seem evident that he wasn’t taking well to school life here.
He kept a good pace and looked around to make sure he didn’t trip or run into anyone. He seemed to show a bit of aversion to interacting with people, the passerby gave him the benefit of the doubt since the exchange student looked out of place.
Anyone would be if they were now living in an environment wholly different from what they were used to.
His gaze going around, the student’s eyes widened in sudden startling surprise, his spine shuddered. It made him start to run, his legs pushing himself to get to his destination faster.
Had something come up? Or did he forget something somewhere? But why did he start running away from the tram station?
Ducking into the back alleys on the outskirts of the commerce district, the student stopped to take a break. He looked around to make sure no one was nearby and then took out his personal device.
Just as he was about to swipe his thumb up on the screen to unlock it, he heard a soft pop and it fell out of his hand, violently. The student looked to the direction of the noise.
Thwack!
Suddenly hit from behind, the student doubled over.
“Grah! Oof! Ah! Hmpf!”
A few painful sounds came from his lips as a helmeted figure attacked him from behind. But his mouth only began producing a silent muffle as a hand moved over and covered his mouth. The figure had the student’s arm twisted behind him so that he could not do anything.
The student began to stir his core energy, trying to break free.
“HMMMMMM!”
Another of his muffled screams made a shrill noise in the alley. A second helmeted figure had suddenly appeared in front of him and had pounded his fist into the student’s lower stomach.
“Tell me what I want to know, or I’m going to kill you.”
The figure hissed, his voice was muffled and scrambled electronically, likely caused by the helmet he wore. The knife he held to the student’s throat added to the menacing encounter.
The person who had a hold on the student’s mouth lessened his grip, letting him say his peace. He was shaking, his whole body straining to fight back the emotions. Though, the emotions weren’t of fear or uncertainty, it was rage.
“Fuck you.” He said softly and a prideful smirk came across his lips. “Do you know what you’ve done? Done to a chosen mystic like me? Lowly things like you should just know their place.”
He spat a mouth full of blood at the helmeted figure, who amply applied “reasonable” force in kind.
The figure retracted his knife from the student’s neck, saving it for later and balled his hand into another fist. He began pounding the student’s stomach as his compatriot held him up.
After a good bonding experience and a few friendly conversations passed between them, totally not one sidedly, the second figure took off his helmet.
Probably to wipe the sweat from his brow after laying into the student, but as he did so, the now beaten and bloodied student stared at him, wide eyed with tears on his cheeks. He had seen this face before, it was that grunt, those grunts that killed the Eastern Garrison a year ago.
“Y-You!” He spat hatefully. “What are..you? You….you…Monst-“
He didn’t get to finish that.
Itsuki withdrew and slashed with the knife he always had at his waist. It went clean through the student’s neck, from the front of his throat to the back.
“The only monster here, is you, you human trash. Your fattening society is nothing but a plague, you and the damn Chinsui.”
Sheathing his knife as his compatriot set the now decapitated body down, Itsuki grabbed the deceased student’s dropped personal terminal. Using his own, he made a call.
“Hey kid, were the coordinates good?” A friendly voice came over the phone and Itsuki grunted.
“Hmm, your estimation was a little off Cyno. You were right though, we have another “Drop out”. I stopped him from leaving and I got his terminal, so I’ll send it to you for whatever you want to get out of it.”
“Sure sure, I’ll send you the payment. I must say though, I really wished you were enjoying your youth more.”
“I’m already old Cyno, I've passed the time in my life to enjoy college and high school. So there is no point.”
“Yeah!? But that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t live like a student!” Cyno sounded incredulous, of all people, Cyno wanted Itsuki to at least soften up. He knew Itsuki couldn’t be an explorer for forever, he had to retire, some day.
“Yeah Yeah.” Said Itsuki dismissively. “Just send the payment and bring over one of your weird shark drones to dispose of the evidence. Also, thanks for the support to keep this away from public eyes, the street blockades helped to keep the civilians out of this.”
Itsuki heard Cyno scoff and get a bit riled up. “Hey! Don’t call them weird! They're my cute little babies and I will not have you slandering them.”
“Fine.” Itsuki sighed. He hung up. Not too late as he did so, a blue metallic figure turned the corner.
Itsuki and his compatriot turned away from it, they had seen Cyno’s drone before, so they gave it no further attention. Instead, Itsuki’s compatriot spoke, his voice garbled by the voice synthesizer they both had in their helmets.
“Report from Number 02 and 03. Success in eliminating secondary targets.”
“Good. Have them proceed with clean up. We have more targets to hit tonight.”
“Roger. No sleep for tonight?”
“Yes, not for a while.” Replied Itsuki. He grimaced at the type of work he had ahead of him. While considered explorer work, he hated it, not the killing aspect of the job, but the waste of life he had to enact.
“Those people are worthless.” Itsuki spat hatefully. “Erase them for all I care. Wasting what was given, disgusting.”
He sipped the coffee he had set down on the ground earlier for safe keeping. Bitter, it was bitter, but the astringent flavor ridded him of the vile taste in his mouth when he was talking to that human trash he killed.
[Stealth Augment Suit - Standard Layout]
Description: Skin tight and mobile. The suit's design is audacious but focuses on maneuverability and stealth. The fibers are made of woven core material that focus on absorbing sound the wear makes as they move. The added helmet comes with comms, a heads up display, and a voice changer to help with intimidation and interrogation.
image [https://i.postimg.cc/y8nBD4Br/1695712197515.jpg]