Jun walked out of his last exam with an hour to spare. He'd been prepared and was confident he'd done more than simply pass. His plans for the future didn't require stellar grades, but it still felt good to do well. No matter how these kids tried, there was no way anyone was gonna take his position at the top of the class... Maybe this was why he had no friends here...
Feeling both antsy from accomplishment and anxiety for the plans he had later that evening, Jun was walking towards the Student Square where Aunt Mary and Lily should still be setting up the last bits for his thesis presentation / Unveiling Event / desperate plot to get on the good side of his wifey when he heard some familiar voices. They were loud and angry. 'Who's voices were these again?' Jun thought with a chuckle.
Pulled by his curious nature, Jun followed the voices to a bigger situation than he assumed happening right in front of the Experimental Runes Research Facility.
The day was blessed with unnaturally good weather, with the black clouds of poison that blanketed the skies in centuries of darkness high above the atmosphere blessedly thinner, allowing a few glimpses of rare sunshine to pass through. The world was no longer as dark, with patches of warmth blessing the city for a few hours.
There were, of course, many more people outdoors on days like these to enjoy the treat of nature’s gift that their ancestors had taken from them. It was generally a very joyous time that the peoples of Trident City rarely savored.
Yet, despite the serenity, there seemed to be an angry patch of darkness that even the gifted light could not shine away. Two powerfully spiteful but beautiful voices clashed and chased all the happiness away while attracting more and more attention of the curious.
Two figures stood tall, at odds, and battled with such sharp words that they even hit the growing crowd of bystanders.
“Your chest is so flat I thought you were just some weird little pervert that liked to cross-dress.”
Three flat chested girls in the crowd went down.
“You surround yourself with simps that only know how to lick your pretentious flat ass and now a whore like you thinks you can judge my charm as a woman?”
Five simps in the crowd went down.
Seeing as how the argument had devolved to name calling, it was time to bring it to a close.
Desi's best friend, Nicole Silverwind, was arguing fiercely with the infamous Queen of the Rune Research Department, Tiana Firestorm and her gang of followers, while a couple of freshmen were caught shivering like puppies between the two unopposable forces and the growing crowd of spectators.
He'd heard enough as he approached to understand what was happening.
“Hello ladies. Having a pleasant afternoon? Have you all finished with your Finals as well?”
Both women shot fierce glares at the rude intruder, only to soften when they saw who it was.
“Hey Jun,” said Nicole, ever the polite and more approachable of Desi's circle of girlfriends. Standing at a little over five and a half feet, even with her increasingly dangerously high-heeled boots, Nicole was anything but small in presence.
Shoulder-length blonde hair styled into sophisticated glossy waves that worked well to highlight her delicate features. Wearing a black and gold formfitting dress that reached her ankles and wrists while hugging her petite figure that gave her a heroic air of beauty befitting her identity as a daughter of the S Rank Silverwind Family.
“Hello Jun. I was having a very pleasant day until very recently. Thank you for asking. How about yourself?” said the second force of power in this conflict. Tiana Firestorm, the red-haired goddess of the Runes Department and daughter of the S Rank Firestorm Family, in her yellow sundress, was as tall as Jun normally, but in her heels she got to look down at him, which she loved.
Since she was the only friend Jun made in the Rune Research Department, he knew it wasn't malicious. She was just frustrated that she was always stuck as number two over the entire four years they were in school together. She just liked to enjoy the little victories. Poor thing.
Tiana’s larger frame and eyes that glinted with danger seemed equally fierce as Nicole, but Jun knew better.
“Well, I've had more emotionally stable weeks, but what's life without the parties?” Jun had finally arrived before the small group.
He couldn't help but give these two silly friends of his a confused look before asking them, “Have all the exams ended in the Rune Res Building?” With that, he made a show of looking up and passed them.
As if he had been the conductor, all heads followed suit. The actual conflict was happening only feet from the entrance to the academic facility. Looking up, they saw numerous pairs of curious and bemused eyes looking down at them, including a furious Professor Dillion, who they saw bring a finger to his mouth, signaling to shut up or else.
While Nicole and Tiana were busy blanching, he looked at the two freshmen and said gently, “It's alright. They're just kind of naturally scary, but they're good people, I swear.”
The two social titans pouted a bit before making eye contact with each over and quickly looking away in a huff.
The two smaller students began to relax a bit once they realized no one was screaming anymore.
“This is the Experimental Rune Research Facility. You'll be spending a lot of time here in your third years. If you go down this way, you'll get back to the Quad. You split off from one of the new student group tours, right?” Two little heads nodded with vigor, seeking salvation.
“Haha. It's alright, everyone's friends here. This is Nicole Silverwind, a top graduating member of the Elite Hunter Class and a rising star in Trident's newcomer Hunters circles and a top pick for Rookie of the Year. You'll for sure be hearing a lot about her in the coming years.” He couldn't help smirking a little when he saw how Nicole puffed up her little chest at Jun's praise. She kept glancing smugly at Tiana, who was firmly staring in any direction but hers.
“She's also very passionate about standing up for the little guy. In fact, she's so passionate that she can sometimes not recognize when someone's being a bully or not. For instance,” Jun gestured towards the pouting girl that cutely had her face turned away.
“... Tiana here may have PBF Syndrome, but is in fact one of the most thoughtful people you'll ever meet. Don't know about PBFS? Perpetual Bitch Face Syndrome. It's not contagious, I swear...” He glanced at the chilly faces of Tiana's entourage. “Maybe it's contagious.”
“JUN!” Tiana barked with a blush that matched her hair.
“Jokes! Jokes!” He gently placated her briefly before turning back to the freshmen. “But seriously, I'm not joking. This is Tiana Firestorm, the second highest ranked student in the Rune Research Department, the next Associate Professor and the only person that can compete with the number one. You are in the presence of a legend.”
Jun could see the cocktail of emotions playing across Tiana's pretty face, represented in shades of reds and purples and the old faithful pulsing vein on the right side of her forehead. Oh, she was gonna blow soon. Better wrap this up.
“She just looks mad all the time, but I swear she only has good intentions. I heard she caught you trying to get into the Experimental Rune Research Facility. You can get into a lot of trouble going into these buildings without authorization. Sometimes it can be as harsh as expulsion.” Both of the little chicks paled in fright. “She just doesn't want you guys losing out on the opportunity to study here for something like that. Anyone else would have just let you get in trouble, but she didn't. Understand her good intentions?”
Nodding even more emphatically, they both glanced at each other before turning towards Tiana and bowing. “Thank you for your good intentions, Seniors.” They quickly did the same for Nicole.
Wow, talk about close friends. They were so in sync. Creepy.
Having been impressed by something weird, he steeled himself to be shameless and addressed the group in general.
“Well, since a whole crowd is here, don't forget to check out my thesis presentation in the Student Square in an hour. There will be a big unveiling of my latest masterpiece. You won't regret it.”
Seeing that the fun was over, the extras began to trickle away while the two little chicks still looked a little unsure. With a gesture of his eyebrow, he let them run away from the two scariest girls in the University, ready to brag to all their friends.
Front row tickets to the clash of the two legendary women of Trident University. There was also a cute senior boy. Their friends were going to be so jelly.
The crowd finally dispersing, Jun once again looked back at his two exasperating friends. As scions of two of the six S Rank Families that ultimately ruled the city, their relationship couldn't help but be volatile.
Their attitudes in public often reflected the relationship of the two Families. When the two Families were friends, they were friends. When the two Families were neutral, they were neutral. And when the two Families were enemies, they were enemies. It was freaking exhausting.
“I just want you both not to forget that while you may be members of your respective families, your identities go beyond that. Don’t you think this one was a bit silly?”
He was heartened to see his friends hear him and have the grace to be embarrassed. Lackey number three - or was it four? - however, had had enough.
“How dare you tease and lecture the Princess of the Firestorm Family! Know your place, you filthy orphan!” yelled a real greasy looking kid. No matter how good his features were, he couldn’t hide the arrogant, demeaning sneer that proclaimed to the world how much better he was. This did not bother Jun. It didn't need to.
“Clines...if you say another word, I'll have you shipped back to my mother in a shoe box. Now apologize to my friend for being a little bitch.” Everyone present knew when they heard the soft and gentle mannered threat that Tiana was truly angry. The scuffle with Nicole earlier had been more out of family obligation than real emotion for both sides, but to these annoying flies that hovered around her constantly by the designs of her family, she couldn't care if they dropped dead that instant.
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Clines and lackeys one and two knew it too. Those deep green eyes that usually inspired great fantasies now only produced dread. She would totally do it. The blank stare didn't even see him as human. He was so scared that he didn't have a chance to feel disappointed.
Survival first, moping second.
The normal arrogance was replaced with fear and unwillingness as Clines gave a reluctant bow and mumbled an unintelligible apology.
“...All of you get out of my sight. I'm going to speak with my friend..s...” Fed up with these children, all she could do was shoo them away with exhaustion.
“I'm sorry Jun, I've failed in disciplining my subordinates. Again. Sigh.” Tiana was looking very tired now.
Seeing this, he led the duo over to sit and chat, away from the main crowds. He still had time, and it looked like Nicole had come for him.
“You know, of these duets you two perform, it's the ones when you two are playing friends that are the most genuine.” And it was true. In the instances when the two families had amicable relations, the two were free to be friends. The windows were brief, but they were the moments when the two had permission to be themselves with each other. But when the windows closed, they also closed their hearts. He wished they could finally be a bit more honest with themselves.
Seeing their blushes and reluctance to address the issue, he decided he had meddled enough.
“Nicole, what brings you to visit our lovely corner of the world?” he asked, hoping to move things along.
“Well, um...” she glanced at Tiana and hesitated, so Jun reassured her that everyone was friends so she could speak. Neither noticed Tiana's small smile.
Seeing that he didn't mind, she shrugged and decided not to care, either.
“I'm worried about Desi.” That statement woke Jun up.
“Is she alright? Did something happen?”
“She's fine. Nothing happened, but she's been saying some concerning things and she's been increasingly more distant.” Nicole said, looking uncomfortable.
Jun's heart clenched and asked for clarification. Why couldn't this girl just say everything at once? Didn't she know she was killing him here?
“Well, it's about her obsession with becoming a Hunter and living in the Fortress. We've mostly laughed it off at first, thinking she was messing with us or something, but she's been so serious. She almost didn't even attend her finals. We finally told her mom so she could knock some sense or fear into that girl, but even if she went, I'm not sure if she did more than attend.” she explained looking even more helpless now.
Jun was silent. He hadn't known about this. Last time he visited their house was a few days ago. Aunt Mary was so mad about something that she wouldn't leave her room, and with Desi locking him out of hers and actively not speaking with him, the only outlet for news was Lily. She didn't mention anything about this though.
“Jun, what do you think about becoming a Hunter?” Nicole suddenly asked.
“Not interested.” Jun replied flatly.
“You're not interested in becoming a powerful Hunter and making lots of merit? What about the prestige and benefits?”
“I don't care about those things Nicole, you know that. And even if I were, with my potential, I could never rise to those heights.” He shrugged. “I mean first Cleansing at 20 is pretty good but it's nowhere near enough to even get noticed by the guilds right?”
“Really. First Cleansing at 20 huh.” Nicole stared intensely into Jun's eyes as if she were trying to see into his soul.
“Of course. Remember? A few months after my birthday before midterms. First Cleansing. Please stop looking at me like that.”
Tiana, having caught up from the shocking news that Jun's fiancée wanted to suddenly become a Hunter, responded to Nicole's shameless poaching attempt with real heat.
“Nicole, everyone knows about Jun's mediocrity in Body Refinement, just as everyone knows about Jun's position as a once in a lifetime genius rune-smith that's going to change the world! How could you even suggest putting him on such a dangerous path? What if he died!? Do you know what the world would be losing!?” Tiana demanded with surprising passion.
She was convinced that Jun was the most brilliant Rune-smith of their generation, whose genius rivaled and maybe even surpassed the great minds that cracked the code and laid the foundations for modern rune research. Turning his attention to something so barbaric as becoming a common Hunter when he should be here focusing on changing the world of rune studies with her, was not permissible.
Nicole and Jun were both a bit stunned by the outburst. Jun had never known how highly his friend had regarded him while Nicole was genuinely unaware of Jun's status within the Runes Department.
Ever since she caught a glimpse of Jun’s secret, all she had observed was that Jun was an amazing artist and boyfriend. She wasn't ashamed to admit to anyone else besides Jun that she was jealous of her best friend as a fan of Jun's streaming and art.
But even with this, she hadn't considered his talent in runes because it had never come up before. As a fairly busy person herself, she had few friends at the University and none within the Runes Department besides Jun. She had always assumed that he did well since she couldn't imagine Jun doing anything poorly but very precious few had any real talent in Runes.
Those given such high praise from someone as proud as Tiana Firestorm had to be a monster.
“That’s perfect then! The Guild I’m about to found will have its own rune research department so you can head it! Then, even if Desi goes over, we can ensure her safety!” Nicole exclaimed, genuinely excited.
“Research! He needs to do research! Here!”
“Ahem.” These girls looked like they were about to throw down in a bit.
Both girls turned to look at Jun who was still a bit rosy, but he was resolute with his response.
“I’m sorry but I already have a path in mind, and it doesn’t involve staying at the university or going into the Gate. But even if I did, it’s the idea of Desi fighting monsters that I think should be our focus.”
“There are other paths then active hunting if you live in the Fortress. I think if we can get her a position exposed to the Hunter world away from the action, that would be enough. I don’t want her out there exposed to danger either. If you’re concerned about streaming, you can do that in Fortress. There will be more interesting ways to film there then just here, right?” Nicole encouraged.
“It’s not just that. I’ve had some ambition recently to do something for our home, maybe involving my art.”
“Trident City?”
“Um, the planet.”
“I don’t understand. Please speak in complete sentences.” Tiana demanded, irritated that Jun kept wanting to leave.
“I was thinking. 'We broke it shouldn't we fix it?' If babies could be born beyond the Gates, then it wouldn't take long for all mankind to end up migrating because it’s so shitty here but they can't. That means the planet is important. And yet there aren't even any discussions about it. I think that's insane.”
They both nodded in agreement, knowing that he was making sense.
Not everything about the Last War was clear but the initial trigger to the chaos was well known. It was the violent collapse of the space colonization programs. The reason wasn't because of politics or financing.
The world's supply of natural resources was rapidly dwindling and the unregulated destruction of the world in search of more was only hastening the planets expiration date.
All governments around the world were forced to make peace in order to solve the very real danger of human extinction.
Great space faring colony ships were designed and constructed with the entire world working as one. A new age of humanity was being birthed, and it would start with peace. Humanity had finally learned to come together.
It was considered The Great Human Miracle.
Until the day the first baby was born without a soul.
Numerous fertility studies were conducted in the United Earth Space Station, an orbital laboratory that housed two thousand scientists studying the affects of living in space in preparation for the Great Migration. Many healthy children were successfully birthed on the UESS so why was the first child born on one of the numerous construction stations orbiting Mars not showing any active brain activity?
What first was thought to be a unique case due to a radiation breech in the station hull turned out to merely be the first.
After the second, people started paying attention.
After the third, scientists became seriously concerned.
After the 143rd within six months, many of the greatest minds on Earth had gone literally mad from the conclusion.
Humanity could only gain a soul if born within Earth’s influence. The UESS was within the range of influence but even the newly established Moon Bases reported similar cases.
The Earth gave humanity its souls and were tied to it. They could not leave.
The Last War started one hour and twenty-three minutes after the scientific conclusion was drawn and announced.
Over eighty percent of the global human population of thirty billion was wiped out in the next 24 hours.
The rest kept fighting for reasons they didn't even care about anymore.
For years.
Until there was nothing left but a lifeless, radioactive rock with poisoned oceans and skies.
Now in the Gate Era, the rule applied still. Humans could only be safely birthed on this side of the Gate.
“This planet is all we have as our foundation, and I think I’ve got a great platform to do something to help it.”
“And how does your art play into this?” Nicole asked, unsure of the connection.
“Well at my core all I want to really do is make beautiful things and raise beautiful babies with Desi. After so many visits out of the city walls, I also grew a desire to do something about cleaning things up. Especially when I found out about our baby. I want them to someday see real trees. I realized while I was here that those two things don't have to be mutually exclusive.”
“How so?”
“Babies?” Tiana blushed in a daze.
“Ah, yeah we're having a baby.” Jun said, now sporting the biggest, dumbest smile that either had seen Jun make. Now both girls were beginning to feel uncomfortable for reasons.
“Congratulations.” Tiana said in a soft voice.
“Thanks” Jun replied, not thinking much of it.
“Anyways.” Nicole said, trying to ignore the uncomfortable pressure in her chest.
“Well... if you guys both come to my thesis presentation, you'll see something I think is special. You'll understand more of what I'm aiming to do I think.”
Neither could understand their overwhelming desire to punch that mischievously smiling face.
“Desi has always been my number one supporter. She's been with me every step of the way and she knows how important it is to me as well as my deep aversion to the Gates.” Jun said, reminding the two why they were even having this conversation.
“Honestly, I don't know what she's thinking right now. That fight we had didn't make any real sense to me and we haven't talked since.... I'm hoping to change that tonight so wish me luck yeah?” Jun said more subdued than the moment before.
“I actually gotta go and make sure everything is in order. Don't be late or you'll regret it.” and with that he was gone.
There was an awkward silence as both girls found themselves alone during a period where they were supposed to be enemies, without Jun to act as the mediator.
At the moment Tiana wasn't interested in politics. She had too many questions and the only person who could give her any sat before her.
“What does he mean by art? Is Jun also into Prompting?” Tiana asked.
Nicole looked up and considered only briefly before answering honestly. “Jun is a talented sculptor. Sculptors are artists that create things with their hands and tools. He has a live-streaming channel where he shows his process. Did you not know about that?”
“....No.”
Nicole was about to act smug out of habit when she stopped herself after seeing her frenemy's pitiful expression. It was the first time she'd seen Tiana Firestorm make an expression of true vulnerability. Right now, she didn't look like the Youngest Princess of the S Rank Firestorm Family. She looked like a puppy that had been abandoned by its owner. After some consideration, Nicole understood.
“The only reason any of us know about the streaming is because Desi told us. From my understanding Jun doesn't like to actively talk about it. I'm not sure why. So, stop looking at me like that.”
Tiana's furrowed brows relaxed a bit before softly asking for more information.
Nicole rolled her eyes before bringing up her vid files that she saved of his streaming sessions. All of them. She was a fan.
While the two most terrifying women in Trident University sat huddled together watching clips, Nicole was interrupted from her evangelizing the fangirl way when an incoming message popped up.
Seeing as it was a message from her best friend, she opened it without much thought while Tiana politely looked away. She quickly turned back when she heard a horrified gasp from her new fangirl mentor.
Nicole had burst to her feet while she continued reading the message. Whatever it was, it was obviously bad news. Tiana grew concerned when Nicole's hands began to tremble, her eyes began to tear up as they read on. Finally, the screen fizzed out of existence as Nicole raised both her hands to her face, still in shock of what she had read.
It was too much.
Jun had to know.
Nicole tried to start running but in her state of distress she tripped on her own feet, face rapidly about to be introduced to floor. A hand grabbed her by the back of her collar, stopping her descent mere inches from the ground.
“What is going on? What's happened to make you like this?” Tiana asked, still shocked as she set the girl straight.
“I have to tell Jun.” Nicole replied, her hand rubbing her throat as her eyes watered from both the fall and her emotions.
Seeing her still unable to focus, Tiana merely offered to help her get to the Student Square. They still had about 15 minutes before the start of Jun’s presentation. She hoped it wasn't too bad but to earn such a reaction, how could it not be awful?
Well maybe Nicole was just over-reacting.
Maybe the dinner reservations for the after-party were canceled last minute?
She just didn't want her only real friend to get hurt.