I received my orders for a new assignment and was appointed to supervise Ciara on her first one. I set out that night with Ciara, who seemed to be in a slightly better mood than before. There wasn't much distance between our assigned locations, enabling me to keep an efficient watch on her. On our way, I explained everything she needed to know about what an assignment entails and what she needs to do to make it successful.
"What do you think about splitting up? Do you think you'd be able to handle this on your own?" I asked her, and she gave me a determined nod. Normally, it'd be risky to let a newbie wander on their own, but for some unexplainable reason, I felt a sort of confidence in her.
I headed to my mission's location, the rooftop of a school building. Upon arriving, I spotted a girl in torn clothing lying on the floor, battered and bruised, whimpering and begging before a hoodlum standing in front of her, fiddling with his belt and wearing a menacing grin on his face. Hearing his sick laughter mixed with the girl's pleas unnerved me. I pull out my keychain weapon and emerge from the shadows. My footsteps grabbed the attention of both parties whom shot me that all too familiar glance. That perplexed stare, that baffling gaze, that disconcerting look. I'd also have the same expression if an unfamiliar entity suddenly appeared before me holding a glowing lasso whip.
"Sorry sweetheart, but the show over here is only for one. Now scram if you know you don't want to end up like her!" The grotty male yelled at me. God, the nerve of that guy.
"P-please... J-j-just l-leave me." She pleaded in her quivering voice, adding fuel to the burning anger lit inside of me. I gave out a loud irritated sigh.
"Why are they always like this?" I questioned thinking out loud.
I saw the guy get agitated as I slowly approached them.
"Hey! I said get back! I mean it or else I'll damage that pretty little face of yours!"
"Be my guest." I replied, my footsteps failing to halt much to his dismay.
In the blink of an eye, he moved towards a pile of heavy barrels and junk, lifted one in the air, and threw it straight at my face. His eyes widened as he watched it smash against the wall after passing right through my figure. He quickly recovered from his shock and proceeded to throw heavier objects with a vengeance. His efforts of course were futile as they phased through my body, all thanks to my Permeation.
"Let's not drag this on, it's time for a show stopper." I said. Using my whip, I hit the last object causing it to disintegrate and rapped the whip round the guy's ankle.
"Hey...!"
Without wasting a second, I raised my hand, lifting his body in the air and throwing it off the roof.
"5...4...3...2...1" I counted down till I heard his screams go silent and looked over the edge of the roof to confirm. His body-now a corpse- sprawled out in blood against the pavement. I gave a satisfactory nod before pulling out my Zynthra to send a report to headquarters.
"Azura from Ignis unit SR division. Assignment 0346 completed. Believed cause of culprit's death will be suicide. Victim is alive and safe. Proceeds to review for possible requiting."
I could no longer be phased by these scenarios for I had come across them one too many times. Assault, oppression, abuse... The dignified misfortunes and I were no strangers. There's not much to it though; they always follow the same old pattern. No differences in their perpetrators, nor their victims.
"W-what... What did you just do!? You just murdered him!!" I heard a scream come from behind me causing me to turn where I came the face to face with the victimized girl. There she stood trembling before my stony gaze. Her facial features were twisted in a mix of fear, disbelief and a hint of rage.
"Murdered? How so?" I asked her. " I simply took out the garbage. It's my job."
"But-"
"Furthermore, where's proof that I actually took his life? It just seems like a case of a troubled delinquent ending his own life, doesn't it?"
She opened her mouth as if about to say something but no words came out.
"Say..." I moved towards her bemused figure, stopping inches from her face.
" Why did you ask me to leave earlier?" I asked with my magenta orbs burning into her dilated quivering ones. "We both know what he had in store for you. Everything about you screams helplessness. From the way you yell, to your tears and the your begging. You've lost hope in everyone including yourself . That's why you didn't beg for me to save you. It's because you felt that I'd fail to do so the same way others have and cause you even more pain. Correct?"
For a moment, she stared at me in utmost bewilderment before looking down, biting her lips and nodding, letting tears flow down her face.
"Then tell me something. Why did you feel remorse when your perpetrator was killed? Did you feel it was wrong? You felt that I broke the law, didn't you? Look at how much you've suffered and all in the hands of whom? Humans. Because that's what they are. Greed and cruelty run in our veins. Those of us who enjoy hurting others. They gloat, they jeer, they manipulate, they're selfish, they envy, they hate, they lack empathy. Your so-called "justice system" is run by those same people who know deep down that true justice ceases to exist. It's just a game of survival of the fittest and the weaker party is to be found guilty. Then they're people like you, who are deemed unworthy. They trample upon you like the dirt beneath them and find pleasure in making a living hell out of others' lives. It's futile if you try to change them. Not everyone is born to be strong."
At that point, she had begun to wail.
"It's practically impossible to completely erase evil from this world for good and bad are intertwined. The two shall exist together as long humans do. The least we can do is to get rid of the vermin when we can." I placed my hands on her shoulders. "And I hope you will do the same."
With that, I began making my way over to Ciara's mission, leaving the girl to weep on the rooftop. Whatever becomes of her is up to Eurus.