DKA COMMAND CENTER
The morning sunlight cut through the massive stained-glass windows of the DKA's mission hall, painting the marble floor in hues of gold and red. Hana stood stiffly at attention, her team assembled behind her — Lucien with his usual bored face, Valerie tapping her foot impatiently, Bradley flexing his arms just because, Lisa fidgeting nervously, Ethan cleaning his gun for the hundredth time, and Mcgruffin pretending to be important.
The Chief stood before them, arms crossed, his deep voice echoing across the room.
"Today's mission is simple — a hive of damned souls approaching from the north. They're weak, but... there are many of them. The promoted officials are busy dealing with a greater threat in the neighboring holy city, so this one's on you cadets."
Lucien yawned. "Sounds like a group exercise in boredom."
The Chief ignored him. "But since their numbers are considerable, I'm assigning three of our top-tier cadets to assist you."
At that, Hana's face dropped. "Chief, with all due respect," she said through gritted teeth, "we can handle this on our own. Those three don't do teamwork, and—"
"Decision's final," the Chief cut in sharply. Then with a smirk, he added, "Speak of the devils."
The grand doors opened. Three figures walked in, radiating confidence and arrogance like perfume.
First was Jessie — a tall girl with icy-blue hair and matching eyes, expression dull but dangerous. She moved lazily, a cold smirk resting on her face like she was already tired of existing. She was Raphael's vessel, capable of summoning souls or demons she had slain to fight again under her command.
Beside her was Niko, golden-haired and annoyingly confident, every movement screaming "main character syndrome." He was Gabriel's vessel, lightning-fast and a master of holy arrows.
And finally, Mark — covered in faint tattoos that glowed faintly with divine energy. His angelic connection was classified, but his power wasn't. The room seemed heavier when he entered. His crimson eyes locked instantly on Hana.
"So we're babysitting a bunch of rookies?" Niko said with a smirk, flipping his hair.
Lucien raised an eyebrow. "Wow. Confidence and arrogance all in one sentence. He's lucky I'm too tired to talk."
Jessie chuckled under her breath, glancing at Lucien for the first time — her usual coldness flickering with a strange spark of curiosity.
Mark stepped forward, his lips curling into a grin. "Long time no see… Hana."
Her posture stiffened instantly. "Still running your mouth, I see," she said dryly.
"You and your little band of weaklings better stay out of our way," he sneered. "We don't need any dead weight dragging us down."
Before anyone could react, Bradley cracked his knuckles. "You can try me anytime, tattoo-boy."
Valerie scoffed. "Did he just call us a band of weaklings?." she smiles with evil intentions "we'll see about that."
Lucien simply stretched and muttered, "Man, this is going to be fun… for the wrong reasons."
Hana, clearly done, turned around. "Team, let's go. We'll handle our part — and they can play hero however they like."
As they left, Jessie's eyes followed Lucien. Her cold voice drifted lazily through the air:
"Hmm… that one's interesting."
Lucien turned slightly, meeting her gaze with his usual half-smile. "You have no idea."
Morning – The Cafeteria
The sun poured through the grand stained glass windows of the DKA cafeteria, bathing the long tables in bright colors. The air buzzed with chatter, clinking plates, and the constant hiss of coffee machines that refused to rest.
At one of the far tables — the noisiest one, naturally — sat Lucien's team,
Lucien sat with one leg over the other, holding his mug of coffee like a man who had already given up on the day. His messy black hair framed his crimson eyes, half-lidded and unimpressed by the early morning noise.
Valerie sat beside him, glaring as she tried to slice her toast, while Bradley — their musclebound loudmouth — was already arguing with her. Hana, their calm but constantly stressed leader, sat opposite them, rubbing her temples.
Lisa quietly nibbled on a croissant, barely saying a word, while Ethan cleaned his gun… during breakfast. Again.
And then there was Mcgruffin.
Who, for reasons unknown to mankind, was still trying to flirt with the cafeteria lady.
"You've got the most angelic hands I've ever seen," Mcgruffin said dramatically, holding his tray up like a bouquet.
The woman glared. "Do you want extra food or not?"
"I want your number," he said with a wink.
The woman handed him a single biscuit. "Here. Choke on it."
He returned to the table, holding up the biscuit triumphantly. "She's playing hard to get."
Valerie rolled her eyes. "She literally wants you dead."
"Exactly," Mcgruffin said proudly. "That's passion."
Lucien snorted into his coffee. "You're a walking tragedy, you know that?"
Bradley slammed his fork down. "Can we talk about something important? Like how the chief's making us work with the top-tier cadets?"
Lucien stretched lazily. "Oh, you mean the three glittering angels who think breathing our air is beneath them?"
"Exactly!" Bradley pointed his fork for emphasis. "They think teamwork is a waste of time!"
"I think teamwork is a waste of time myself too, but I do that cause I'm op unlike them, I could kick their butts easily at full power." Lucien muttered.
"They're strong though," Ethan said quietly, polishing his gun barrel. "You can't deny that."
"Strong doesn't mean they're not jerks," Valerie muttered. "I heard Niko once ignored his whole squad during a mission because 'they couldn't keep up.'"
Lucien scoffed. "Sounds like someone who'd lose a staring contest with a mirror."
As laughter spread around the table, Hana didn't join in. She was just staring into her mug, her expression far away.
Lucien caught it instantly. He always did.
He leaned forward on his elbows, his tone light but curious. "What's with the serious face, leader? You look like you're about to deliver a tragic backstory."
The others chuckled — until Hana actually sighed.
"Something like that," she said softly.
Everyone paused.
"I used to be one of the top tiers."
A long silence followed. Then—
"WHAT?!" Lucien, Valerie, and Mcgruffin shouted in unison, their jaws practically hitting the table.
Bradley, Ethan, and Lisa didn't even blink.
"Yeah," Bradley said casually. "We knew."
Lucien's jaw dropped. "And you didn't tell us?"
Bradley shrugged. "Didn't come up."
Valerie turned toward Hana, visibly stunned. "You're serious? You used to be one of them?"
Hana nodded, her fingers tracing the rim of her mug. "I was… a long time ago. But I couldn't handle the way they worked. No teamwork, no trust. Everyone was just trying to outshine each other. I just couldn't stand it, so I left promising to them that I'll make a team that will kick their butts."
Mcgruffin leaned forward, feigning confusion. "So… you ditched the strongest team in the DKA… to hang out with a bunch of weirdos?"
"It was us, stupid!!!" Bradley barked, smacking the back of his head.
"Oh…" Mcgruffin blinked. "Well, that explains the bad luck."
"I wouldn't change my decision," she said warmly. "Not for anything. Even if the world depended on it."
Lucien looked at her for a moment, a rare softness flickering in his eyes. "That's the kind of stupid loyalty I can respect."
Later – Mission Briefing Hall
Hours later, the team gathered in the main hall where the cadets were being briefed.
As the briefing went on, Jessie's attention shifted entirely to Lucien. Her sharp blue eyes studied him from across the room like she was dissecting him with her gaze.
Lucien noticed — and after five minutes of enduring it, he snapped.
He walked right up to her, leaned on her table, and said, "You keep staring like that, and people will think you're in love with me and I wouldn't want that, you see I don't like dark clouds you see."
Jessie didn't blink. "Maybe I just find you interesting."
Lucien raised a brow. "Interesting how?"
"Don't know, it's just that"
Jessie shrugged. "You look like trouble. I hate trouble....why can't everyone just lay around and do nothing."
Lucien smirked. "Oh my God, I wonder about the same thing too."
A pause — then they both started laughing quietly, exchanging lazy remarks about how they both hated morning briefings and preferred naps over training.
From across the hall, Valerie's expression darkened. Hana's coffee cup cracked in her grip.
Mcgruffin whispered, "Oh boy… the devil's digging his grave again."
Evening – Apartment Dinner
That night, dinner was a silent battlefield.
Lucien sat between Valerie and Hana — and both refused to speak to him. Lisa, the innocent one, mirrored them out of pure loyalty. Ethan was just eating quietly, and Bradley was too busy laughing at Mcgruffin's lame jokes.
Lucien blinked at his plate, confused. "Did I miss a meeting or something? Why is everyone acting like I kicked a puppy?"
Silence.
He turned to Valerie. "You good?"
She stabbed her food. "Peachy."
He looked at Hana. "You?"
"Perfect," she said coldly, not even glancing at him.
Even Lisa refused to make eye contact.
Lucien sighed dramatically and leaned back. "Girls, am I right guys?." He raised his hand as if he was expecting a high five.
Everyone froze.
Then, as if on cue—Valerie threw a spoon at him, Hana smacked the back of his head, and Lisa burst into quiet laughter despite trying to stay mad.
Mcgruffin crossed his arms. "Welcome to my world, pal. Nobody appreciates the handsome ones."
Lucien grinned tiredly. "Guess we're both cursed."
The table slowly erupted into laughter as the conversation went on, slowly melting away the tension.