~ The Mischevious Foxes ~

Today was the day, Sound told himself. No longer was he a child. No longer was he the little boy unable to protect his sister. Once they step out into the unknown, there's be no turning back; they'll finally be free.

Approaching his side was his identical twin sister, Ayane. At first glance, no one would believe they are related, let alone twins due to their outward appearances. And for them, it was completely understandable. Sound was a Cursed Blood, an individual born with a curse due to an unforgivable sin he committed in his previous life. His curse is has no definite name; however, anyone who sees his face (even the smallest portion) will result in an instant death.

Resuscitation is pointless.

He also has a physical curse. Whomever hears his voice shall be inflicted with a certain degree of bad luck. To avoid anyone falling victim to either of curses, Sound covers his entire face with a fox mask and remains silent, his only form of communication via writing.

"Sound?" a small voice spoke behind his back.

He turns to face his twin sister. It was amusing to find the speaking twin to act all shy, which is a stark contrast to hiwho wore a bright red shoulder cape with a hood over her head.

He held up his notebook, which read, 'Thought you said you were getting ready?'

"You know I don't really need all that fancy junk," Ayane said, a broad smile crossing her rosy skin. She pulls down her hood, freeing her large fox ears. "When you're cursed by a fox, there's a lot I can do that you can't."

'Except get a boyfriend.'

"Wha- Oh you dick!" Ayane said as she playfully punches his shoulder. "Just because you have one doesn't mean I'll immediately get one myself!" She stares down at the city with an ecstatic smile. "Besides, I'm more focused on the fact that we're finally going to go outside of Avarus! This is gonna be the first I'll ever see an actual sunset!"

Indeed, the world they currently no longer functions as it once did. The planet had stopped rotating, the moon was cracked all over, and the sun would flicker, which has occurred more often in recent years. This had left one side of their world stuck in perpetual darkness. As for other half, it was left continuously covered by the sun's light, preventing clouds from properly being formed and drying up much of the water as time went on, effectively ending most of the world's plant life. For most of their lives, they've never seen a sunset nor a complete night sky.

The only safe haven for them is the borderline; the intersection of night and day. While they have found ways to survive their slowly crumbling world, it's only a matter of time before their current (fragile) peace is shattered.

'We broke up, remember? Also, please control yourself when we get there. We're going to see more properly working suns and moons if we do well.' He leans back to check her behind. 'Seems like you're able to conceal your tail now.'

"Oh..." Her face falls and her ears droop from underneath her hood. "No, I got help from Beatrix. He knows I can't control my curse that well so he gave me something to at least hide the tail. He couldn't give me human ears."

As part of their first recon mission, they'll be travelling to a place that's considered 'Null', where there's no magic, no high-tech machinery, just a normal world filled with normal people. It was strange to call them that. For Sound, people are people. It doesn't matter how outlandish they appear or if they're of a different race/species, nothing changes the fact that they're just living their daily lives. Just differently from their own and others.

Seeing her poorly hidden ears, Sound reaches to adjust her hood and pull some of her long dark down hair so it was loosely hanging on the front. It was a surprise even for him after the ceremony. Despite expecting to walk out as entirely different people, he was stunned to see she was still the same height as him. Compared to the rest girls, she was almost the same height as most of the boys in their batch. Although neither were considered to be tall, they also weren't too short. Ayane was just taller than most girls.

His hands automatically stop where her human ears used to be. If he reached inside, Sound knew he would feel the spot of where her original ears were. While they were still techinically there, they'll remain unusable until Ayane breaks her blood curse.

"So, where are we going!?" She said, her golden eye twinkling with excitement.

Sound moves his hand away after realizing he had lingered for too long. At least his sister was too excited to notice.

He wrote, 'Don't get too excited.' He ruffles the top of her head, much to her annoyance. 'If we don't take this seriously, we may get stuck with library duty until we retire.'

"C'mon, you're the one that encouraged me to be as outlandish as possible!"

'I said 'adventurous' not 'outlandish'.' The dark haired boy rolled his eyes from underneath his mask and smiles. 'You know that's my thing.'

"Yeah, yeah. Alright! Let's get going? Time to find Soleil and remove your curse!"

He wanted to correct her; write that it's her curse they should be focusing on, but he chose to keep it to himself. That's why they chose this life, willingly tossed aside their humanity to become something else; a Quietus Nors. While Sound was eager to toss away his humanity and his original name, he was not expecting his sister to join as well. Her life was already threatened in enough danger as it is.

He still remembers the expression she wore when they found out about her curse. The day after they were rescued, the twins were told of everything they needed to know to manage and control her condition. Due to the unnatural causes that led her to become a Cursed Blood, her condition is basically a ticking time bomb. Yet, despite knowing that, she wants to cure him first. That's why he loves her so much.

Sound automatically holds up his notebook towards the ceiling. 'As a sibling, you perverts.'

"Huh?" Ayane quizzically eyes her sibling. "Who are you writing that to?"

'Juuuust preventing some future assumptions about our relationship.'

Despite being confused with her brother's usual odd behavior, she shrugs it off and waits for him as he makes some finishing adjustments to his gear. Usually, the locker would be bustling with fellow Nors. Not a day went by where there weren't two or more Nors ending their shift only for another to come in to take over. It was a consistent process that even those who have yet to graduate are familiar with, but today was one of those rare quiet days.

While she's fine with the silence - gives her sensitive ears a nice break for once - Ayane wasn't a particular fan of the locker rooms near lack of light. It almost resembled the inside of an old cathedral, but because it's so dark, not many can even tell if there's even a ceiling at all. The columns that stood beside some of the lockers were partially cracked, either due to the abuse the room as experienced over the last century or it's own age.

The only thing that seemed remotely new were the lockers. All of them looked the same, except for Sound's, who went against protocol and vandalized as much as he could before he was caught. Took a lot of ink and paper on his part to convince a certain dragon to keep the locker as is, and after a considerate amount of time, he eventually relented. Sound knew the former just agreed so the same complaints about how it's nearly impossible to locate your locker since they're all identical.

After putting on his worn-out jacket, Sound finally slams the metal door shut. Seeing the poorly spray-painted logo, Ayane covers her mouth with both hands to keep herself from giggling.

Even without looking, Sound was quick to hold up his notebook. 'I heard that.'

She moves her hands to hug herself then bursts out laughing. "I'm sorry! I sometimes forget that your hands are absolutely terrible when it comes to art. How is it you're so creative with the words you write yet can't even make a simple logo?"

'Simple.' Sound stops writing for a moment to look back at his work of art. 'I just don't give a damn.'

Painted on his locker was meant to be his mask but with a crazed smile. Instead it more looked like a cat, much to Ayane's annoyance, that had one side of its face drooping. Not to mention the teeth don't appear like teeth; they somewhat resembled like broken glass. Neither knew how he had achieved that with spray paint, but they chose not to question Sound's artistic skills. Or lack of.

After checking if his locker was secured, Sound pats the top of Ayane's head and jerks his head towards the exit. Her ear perk up from underneth her hood. Seeing familiar excited glint appears in her sharp golden eyes. the boy had to swallow back a chuckle as he and his twin make their leave. Upon exiting, they were greeted by familiar dark marble walls. The corridor was spacious and tall, allowing enough room for even a child-sized giant to move around.

There were some columns made of limestone on both long walls. While many believe it was a simple design choice, Ayane was almost certain it was to prevent someone from running into it. The Night District as a whole was dark enough as it is. To provide little to no light in majority of the Headquarters makes it almost impossible for any newcomers to navigate in. There were some chandeliers, which was hung by a dangerously thin chain, but the lightbulbs were rarely changed.

This made it appear it was merely there for decoration rather than a source of light. While it was easy for her eyes to adjust, due to her fox-like nature, Sound had to squint before adjusting to the darkness. Which was even more difficult due to the small eye sockets on his mask.

Ayane taps his shoulder and asks, "Everything alright?"

Since he could hardly see his own notepad, Sound pats her head, silently assuring her that he's fine. Not wanting her twin to bunk into the wall or a column again, she takes his hand and guides him to the mission room. Thankfully, it wasn't too far. Still, the silence was uncomfortable for both of them. Sound wanted to say something after seeing his sister's shoulders start to shake but couldn't. Unless he wanted to inflict her with badluck, he had not choice but to watch her in silence.

Holding back a shudder, Ayane said, "You know, I heard from Rei that you're still in contact with Zephyr. " She glances over at her silent twin. "I was worried that you'd get in trouble since we're not supposed to bother him, but he's your best friend so I'll keep my lips shut."

Despite expecting this from his sister, he was still relieved to hear she'd keep it a secret. Smiling under his mask, he nods knowing that she can see him clearly. Her curse has its perks once in a while, unlike his own.

"But you HAVE to promise me that you'll let me send a letter too," said Ayane sternly, pointing a finger at him. "We haven't seen each other in a long time! I want to know what he's been doing in the world he was sent off to!"

Recently, they've experience a drastic loss in their numbers. Since the selection takes up to several years, it was decided that only a few selected Liberi, or Mongrels, will be sent away to locate more like them; children that has the highest potential to become a like them then into a fully grown Quietus Nors. However, that meant that they will be unable to undergo the Ascension Ceremony and graduate. Zephyr, who was meant to graduate with the twins, was one of the chosen.

Neither even knew when they'll see him again, but Sound promised that once he's a Nors and Belial announces Zephyr's name as one of the returnees, then he'll be the one to bring him home. That's one of the other reasons why Sound was more excited than Ayane when he learned he'll earn his chance to become a full-fledged Nors.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

As Quietos Nors, they would allowed to chose to either remain in Avarus and join the 'Royal Guard', become a part of a covert organization that monitors the deeper regions of the word. Or to travel outside of Avarus. Given, they are only allowed to leave and visit if it's part of a mission, but they are still free to travel. As expected of such free spirits, the twins agreed to become Wanderers once they become Nors, a term used for those in the faction they plan to join called the Tunera Clypse.

While those from other factions are allowed to participate in their expeditions, the Wanderers' primary goal is to find Soleil. The secondary goal is to survery new worlds for resources, resources that they take to potentially help them in their search for the Goddess. While those in later generations forgot why they must find her, they were told this by Belial, the current governing God and brother of the previous.

Belial once told them this when they were first recruited into Avarus with all the other Liberi. "If one of you is able to successfully retrieve Soleil's soul, I promise I shall grant what you desire the most in the world."

For the twins, and their friends, they desired one thing. To be freed of their curse. They don't treat it as a competition - as they realize that would hinder their search in finding Soleil - but they are all active in the roles they are given. Well, most of them are.

No matter who finds her, they know the person who does deserves it, because like everyone on Avarus, they equally worked just as hard to find her. The issue remains on IF they can find her.

"Sound! Ayane!" a familiar voice calls out.

Ayane stops and looks a little past Sound to see a slightly older girl running towards them. She had medium olive skin and had her light Auburn hair held back in a high ponytail, leaving only her long bangs. Unlike their smaller frames, Rei was more developed and lean, not only that, she was slightly taller than them by two inches. Ayane felt a little jealous of just how pretty Rei had become since she earned her right to graduate. One can't always control how they'll turn out once the procedure is over, but Ayane couldn't help but feel that way towards her friend.

She's just glad Rei didn't turn out like the others before her. Most of them had their personalities did a complete 180. Hence why Ayane was nervous as hell before she and Sound were given the approval. She didn't want to change like them, but Sound assured her many times she'll be the same once it happens. She's just going to appear different, like him.

"You two heading out?" she asks, placing a hand on her hip.

"Yep!" Ayane chirps. "We were just about to head to the mission room!"

"Great! I was wondering when you two devious foxes would throw your weight around!" She eyes Sound for a moment after noticing he hasn't once raised his notebook. Rei asks Ayane, "Your brother can't see through that mask in the dark, huh?"

The fox girl lets out a long despondent. "Yeah... I told him to make the eye sockets bigger so he can see better, but he insists to keep it that way."

"I see... That makes sense," the brunette comments much to Ayane's confusion. "Anyone that sees at least a part of his face will drop dead, right?" The fox girl nods. "He's just making sure that they only see the kitsune mask, not what's behind it. In a way, he's being oddly considerate about this."

Somehow, Sound had a written note prepared for that comment. 'What do you mean oddly? I'm always considerate!'

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that buddy..."

"Wait, what's a Kitsune?" Ayane asks, slightly tilting her head.

"Huh? I thought you guys know considering your original names and Ayane's face sort of resembles- Oh nevermind." Rei shakes her head and cryptically tells them,You'll see for yourself we get there. It's a really strange place, just like you two weirdos."

"Huh? Okay...? Welp, I think we should get going!"chirped Ayane , grabbing her twin by the arm. "We'll see you later, Rei!"

Before Rei could say anything, the excitable twin had already dragged her brother away, who almost tripped on his own feet after being forced to abruptly turn around. Seeing the two run off, Rei crosses her arms and lets out a small huff, shaking her head at their usual antics. Although they were a batch apart, they were around the same physical age before she underwent the Ascension Ceremony, or Procedure as they like to jokingly call it.

After that, it took some time before they were finally received their approval. Although it was literally just yesterday when she saw them as Liberi, to no longer see them as munchkins was a bit sad to see them growing up so fast. However, that's just how it is in Avarus. Your days as a child will vanish in the blink of an eye, and you won't even realize it until it's too late. Childhood is short, teenhood feels like forever, but adulthood is an eternity.

That's why, although she's glad they're going to be back to being the same age again once they finish their final test, she can't help but feel sad for them. Such a transition isn't easy, she should know since she had a difficult time adjusting to the sudden changes on her body for the next few weeks. As she watches them enter a room on the farthest end of the corridor, a person silently approaches her from behind.

"Rei, it's time to go," Percy said as he places an arm around her shoulders. When she leans, he chuckled, "Cariad, we should get going before Xavier loses his temper over our tardiness."

She always liked hearing him speak. Unlike most of the people she knows, he was the only one with a foreign accent that was understandable, though he did pronounce certain things which she found adorably cute. Then there are words she's never heard of in her life, and most of them are kept a secret by Percy, much to her annoyance.

"Cariad?" said Percy, concerned at her lack of response.

"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing. I just like it when you talk." She takes his arm and hugs it. Rei grins at the older boy, "Let's go!"

As the two pairs made their seperate ways, Percy abruptly stops in his tracks, causing the brunette beside him to stop as well and stare up at him concerned eyes. He stared hard at a small section of the ceiling, his golden eyes scanning for any movement in the darkness. Although he wasn't certain, Percy sensed something was watching them. He thought of reaching for his weapon, but when Rei painfully squeezed his arm, he recalled where they were and who he was with.

"Oh, forgive me, cariad," he said, trying his best to hold back a groan. "Could you, um, loosen you grip for a moment? You're about to snap my arm in half again."

A flicker of fear crossed her face before she jerks back, moving as if she was holding something hot. "I-I'm sorry! I...!"

"It's alright," he said in a hushed voice. Percy reaches to touch her cheek, but she flinches, tightly shutting her eyes and bowing her head. Smiling, she brings both hands to the sides of her face and lifts her up. Pressing his forehead against hers and closing his eyes, he utters, "We're alright. I told you, didn't I? You're not gonna scare me off just because you my arm that one time."

"Really...?"

"Well, there was my femur, then my rib cage- Oh and then what you did to my pelvis..." he purposely trails off as he feigns hurt.

"I- You asshole!" Rei shouts. Percy pulls away and starts laughing as she repeatedly hits his metal chest plate. She was controlling her strength but it still hurt, though not enough to break his ribs again.

As Percy's laughter and Rei's complaints echo throughout the corridor, Sound shuts the door his back before the Noise could enter the room. Turning to his attention back to his sister, the boy wasn't surprised to find his sister tilting her head all the way back as she stares up at the tall structure at the center of the room. Most of the room was white, but because the only source of light can from above, much of the floor appeared grey while the wall appeared as deep sky blue.

Surrounded by a seemingly bottomless trench was a tall cylinder shaped structure. There were several carved patterns on the side but it was difficult to make out what they were. Above it, a large unknown light source illuminates the structure and some parts of the wide room, making the area above give off an illusion of endlessness. Circulating the structure in different directions were crystalline door, hovering not too close but not too far.

The structure itself was nie storeys tall, making Ayane's legs ache when she saw the floating staircase was wrapped around it from all sides until it reached the top. Out of all the things they were able to make, and steal, it's only the mission room that's received little to no updates since it's completion. And for anyone that hates the existence of stairs, this would make anyone cry just from looking at it. Thankfully, she wore the right shoes this time.

While there's no actual name for it, everyone came to an agreement to simply call it the Departure Station. Out of all the known modes of transportation, the Departure Station is the only one where there is no needs for extra steps. In fact, it is the only way to travel without breaking any universal laws. Since its conception, there have been no updates to it all at, and that includes access to the top and only level of the station.

"Ugh... I hate stairs..." the fox girl groans, slowly lifting her foot up as if they were made of lead.

Sound wrote, 'You'd be the first to say that you LOVED them.'

"But why does it have to be stairs..." she groans again. "I mean, just look at them! They could have made then going straight up! Instead, they wanted to go all fancy and have you go in circles until you're too dizzy and too tired to move your legs."

'Would you rather call for Tank to throw you back up there? It worked last time.'

She paled at the memory. "Please no...."

'If you don't have anymore complaints, lets get going. I want to get back soon so we can test out those upgrades Beatrix prepared for you.'

As they they approached the station, Ayane sensed something and immediately jumps around. Her ears pop from under her hood and the hairs on her ears began to frizzle up. Her eyes began to dart around the area, scanning their surrounding for whatever's causing her instincts to start acting up.

Sound wanted to write if there was anything wrong, but since she refused to turn his way, all he could do is watch as she began to get in a defensive stance. And that means watching her go on all fours while growling. Or at least, that's what he thinks is being produced from her thoat. Then he felt it, a familiar chill that cause his back to ache and his heartbeat to increase. The issue wasn't WHERE it is but HOW they'll be able to take it on.

If he was being honest, they shouldn't even BE here to begin with. It should be impossible for them to enter the main headquarts.

"Unless...." Before Sound could finish his thoughts, a sudden object flies straight towards him. His first thought was to dodge, but the moment he made direct eye contact with the creature, his body refused to listen. There only one thing that plagued his thoughts.

Fear.

He had to bite his tongue to prevent himself from screaming as it reaches and slams into him at inhuman speed. Her ears slightly turn in the direction of the creature's hushed screams. Twisting her body so she was looking his way, Ayane cries out his name before her twin is tackled to the ground. Sliding across the smooth surface, Sound raises his arms over his head to keep it at bay when the creatures attempts to claw at him.

The knashing of its greyed teeth inches from his face, the feeling of its boney ashen grey hands as it grabs his arms and it tries to move them apart, Sound felt repulsed. Ayane panics and thoughtlessly runs to her twin's aid. Sensing her approaching presence, he turns his head and quickly shakes his head, trying his best to silently tell her to stay away. But the creature above him refused to have him divert his attention elsewhere.

It lowers its head even more, violently knashing its teeth at an uncomfortable inch above the nosepiece of Sound's mask. Just as the fox girl was about to reach him, the creature explodes, broking into fragment-like glass shards. Opening his eyes, Sound cautiously lowers his arms and slowly sits up. Ayane slides to her knees to kneel at his side after shaking his head. The boy was about to shake off the shards of glass until his sister wraps her arms around his waist and slams her head against his abdomen.

This almost knocked the air out of his lungs but he was able to swallow back a grunt. He pats the top of her head, silently telling her he was unharmed.

"If that were the real deal-" Both twins look over to the station and, at the bottom of the stairs, saw a familiar older girl. She finishes with a disappointed sigh, "Then I'm certain neither of you will be standing."

"Nyx..." Ayane breathlessly utters.

"You're lucky that I'm the one supervising your mission for the day," she said with an exasperated sigh. "Honestly, you two are worse than Perseus when I pulled the same stunt on him. At least he knew what to do. Even my girlfriend did something. Aside from gawking like you two did, she didn't freeze for that long!"

Nyx was the tallest girl out of all the Nors, even taller than Percy. She stood at a proud - or terrifying in the twin's case - six feet and two inches. Not only that, despite seemingly appearing the same age as Rei, she was older far older than most of the Nors they know. Because of this, both of these qualities caused her to come off as intimidating for the two. Despite her questionable behavior, neither could bring themselves to question why it wasn't the dragon that was supervising them instead.

As they are the earliest in their batch to undergo the first mission, which is also acts as their final test, it was expected for the only giant lizard with wings in the world to be in charge. Not the girl that could hardly carry out a mission without having an entire country go on high alert by doing things not even a god could explain. Neither twin knew whether this was a good or bad thing. On the plus side, Nyx has more than enough experience to relay some tips on what they should do before they head out.

If it were the dragon, there's a possibility he'd disable communication the moment Ayane confirms that they've arrived. On the downside, she may or may not give them normal advice. If ever, she may trick them into doing the same things that got her sent to isolation for an entire month.

"So," Nyx began. She habitually runs her fingers through her silver blended hair as she approaches them. As she does, Nyx points and twirls her finger in the air, summoning every single fragment from the ground. They individually rose then flew towards her neck, forming into a wavy crystal choker. She stops when all the pieces were gathered then asks, "You two ready?"

Sound automatically wrote his answer in bold letters. 'YES.'

Ayane, however, hesitated to answer. This is what they wanted; what she's always wanted, to be allowed to travel and learn about worlds they've only heard from Ex-Anima's. She worked hard along side her twin just to see what blue skies look like! To run around without fearing of accidentally falling into your premature death. Now that she's finally going to be allowed outside of their world, she was scared. She was about to take a small step back until she felt a hand clamp around hers.

Without looking down, she turns to her twin. She couldn't see it, but she could feel his determination and confidence just from how he held himself. But feeling his hand, he was shaking. Sound was just as afraid as her, but he didn't want it to show. She knew why and adjusted her hand so that their fingers would interlock. Sound was never the brave type, but he always knew how to look out for his sister.

Smiling, she snaps her head to look up at Nyx, exclaiming, "Yep! We aren't what we eat!" Sound felt proud of his sister, until she blurted out, "For now out least!"

Sound frowns and attempts to reach over and slap the back of her head. Nyx, on the other hand, lost her composure and barks out a loud laugh. Seeing those two little Liberi act like their usual selves was comforting. She can only hope that after this, they'll remain that way. Only Belial knows just how much their world needs to protect little lights such as their own.