April 8, 2056

"Argh. Damn it. I left my lighter in the carrier. Anyone got an extra?" An older Shard across from me asks around.

"If it took you this long to realize you left it behind, that's on you." Macy quickly answers, "I'm sure one of the Tyranians will have one. You could ask one for one once we land."

"Very funny..." he replies, unamused at her answer. "I'm sure they'd happily lend me one before accusing me of stealing it."

"Oh... then in that case just steal one then." She concludes, "Just don't get caught, of course."

"No, don't listen to her," Frost cuts into the conversation, "The last thing I want is a fight breaking out between both our groups."

"No need to worry about that, Lt." A corporal named Alice joins in, "Any Tyranian that tries something will answer to me first."

"Why does everything have to resort to violence with you?" Frost responds with a tired expression.

"I grew up in a household filled with older brothers. Let's just say I had my fair share of fights growing up." She shrugs.

They continue to converse among each other as I turn towards my window to view the hills below us covered in lush green forests and vibrant meadows. The forests also create wonderful patches of deep greens and browns added upon by the various rivers and streams stemming from the Great Lake Aero. While its people may be selfish and arrogant, at least Tyran is partially saved by its beautiful landscape.

Looking slightly upwards, an adjacent helicopter flying alongside us hovers close as the pilot glances over and gives me a quick thumbs up. It's one of the eight total helicopters transporting us to one of Tyran's Gates on the eastern border. The bird I'm assigned to currently hosts the HQ Squad, which is made up of some interesting individuals.

"Well if push comes to shove, just remember to only go for body shots. That way, it'll be harder to prove if anything actually happened."

To start there's Macy, Captain of Black Shard Company. She has dark-toned skin that compliments her silky long jet-black hair along with teal-colored eyes. Unlike my past commanders, she doesn't have a stick up her ass and enjoys playing along with the squad's antics. That's not to say she isn't serious though. When it comes down to it, she's composed and can conjure up a solution to almost any situation that arises. I honestly don't know how she does it, but I wish I had a fraction of that talent of hers.

"Captain, you should know that the chest area is a no-go for us ladies. The better option would be to put the other person in a chokehold and then-"

As for this next person, let's just say I'm fine not following in her footsteps. Her name is Alice and she's our squad's medic. She has fair skin accompanied by short wavy brown hair that just barely goes down her shoulders and eyes that are natural hazel. When I first met her, I couldn't quite understand her playful nature but over time I grew accustomed to it. She's helped me grow out of my shell as well and I genuinely enjoy her company. As the saying goes: We're two shards in a pane.

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Unfortunately, it's a saying she invented herself and it still makes me cringe to this day...

"Looks like that phrase you taught me is going to come in handy after all, Luna..."

Then there's of course, Frost. He's a First Lieutenant and sits right beneath Macy as second in command. He has white skin, short brown hair, and aqua-blue eyes. There's a lot I could say about him but to summarize, he's the reason why I'm the person who I am now. He's thoughtful and compassionate when it comes to the well-being of the Company. He's also the first person I formed a close bond with back when I first joined Black Shard.

"Why do you say that?" I turn to face him.

"Because I want to be able to unhear everything I just heard by the next day."

"I see." I nod, even though I know we're not allowed to drink on the field.

And lastly, there's me. The so-called 'Shattered Shard'. I have light skin, long light brown hair, and, of course, signature-colored golden eyes. I acquired this nickname from the countless amulets I've 'shattered' in the past due to my high levels of Divinity. There are a couple more titles I've acquired over time, but I tend not to think about those. As for the eyes? Well, they're one of a kind and are the first thing people notice about me.

"Hey look! The wall is coming into view!"

Peering outside once more, I stare outward into the horizon and before long, catch sight of the upper part of the wall. As we draw nearer and start our descension, the sheer size of the walls become more apparent. Stretching from sea to sea, the walls stand the test of time and act as the physical border between Tyran and Rambell. It's also been said that every offensive attempted on the wall has ended in failure. Not sure how true that statement is considering some parts of the wall look like they've been repaired with a different material.

"You think they'll let us walk on top of it?"

"If you ask nicely."

"Really?"

"No."

<>

Not long after, our heli lands on the tarmac where we soon dismount. Stepping out into Tyranian soil, I look back and notice Alice seeming to scribble a set of numbers on a piece of paper before setting it down on her seat.

"What's all that about?" I ask as she hops out of the heli.

"A little farewell gift." She winks before skipping away to catch up with the rest of the unit.

I roll my eyes at her usual antics and follow suit behind her.

Up ahead, Macy is greeted by a trio of Tyranians as they exchange salutes.

"Welcome to Tyran, Shards." The woman in the middle of the pack states, "I am Brigadier General of the Eastern Tyran Grand Brigade, you may call me Nora. It's a pleasure to be able to assist you in your operation."

"The pleasure is mine. I'm Captain Macy Green of Black Shard Company. I hope for the best between both our parties."

"Agreed," Nora says with a fake smile that almost anyone can see through.

Well, at least she's trying to put on a friendly face in front of us. The ones behind her don't bother hiding her disgruntled expressions.

"Now, allow me to guide you towards your escort so that you may commence your mission as soon as possible." Nora gestures to the column of vehicles in the distance.

"In other words, hurry up and get going," Alice whispers in my ear.

Macy must've heard her because she sends a quick glare that causes her to scurry behind me.

Turning back to Nora, Macy nods and soon enough we reach the armored vehicles where a few Ram Sentinels are stationed outside waiting for us. Two of the soldiers step forward and again Macy exchanges greetings with them. Strangely enough, the sergeant named Nik introduces himself first before introducing his Captain on his behalf. The captain, meanwhile, remains silent which doesn't appear to bother Macy.

"Shall we get moving then, Captain Green?"

"Certainly. We've kept you waiting long enough."

With that said, we pile into the vehicles and finish preparations just as the sun begins to set. A little later, the gears in the wall roar to life as the gate opens to reveal the plains of Rambell.

Operation Avenger has officially started.