Recon expedition soldier. That's what I got as a career. It is different from the Recon defense militia who guards and protects our territories. The R.E.S. are sent out of our territories to invade the worlds of our enemies. As vital as they are, they only have a ten hour lifespan on the frontier. This fact alone causes people to hesitate to become one. And to make things worst, it is also the one of the few careers that cannot be refused at the mirage. So in other words, I'm absolutely fucked. The crowd of students was quiet for a moment and then someone giggled. The rest of them took the moment to laugh as well. As the laughter started echoing though the hall I began to feel sick. My throat tightens making it had to breath. My vision started spiraling. I was going to die and they were laughing. What did I do to deserve this? Was being born without privilege really such a sin? Then it happened. Radiant Xerxes slapped his hand on the podium. A Shockwave spread throughout the auditorium pushing them to the back of their seats.
" Enough " it was silent after that. He turned towards me and lowered his massive frame to meet my eyes.
" The sovereign will have use of you Soldat, return to your seat." The students were silent until the end of the mirage. Xerxes took to the stage one more and spoke
"Your futures has now been decided for you, and in four year you will have joined a university for the careers you chosen. Take these four years as a opportunity to learn all you can before you are sent there. And remember the sovereign's mercy protects all of us." After he was finished he left the stage and started walking out the auditorium. The teachers started herding us out. " move with purpose! you aren't the only one taking the mirage today!" As we walked out of the auditorium i over heard the Ascendent clans kids talking. All of them got Ascendent as their career. " i can't believe i got Ascendent!" A brown haired girl with a Bob cut said.
" I heard the teachers say our class had the most successful careers this time around." Another boy said. Ajax smirked " yeah, there was no doubt that I would become ascended one day. Who knows I might even become a Radiant!"
" it's a shame that someone had to get the worst job ever! He's always making us look bad. But then again, it's good we won't have to see his filthy self much longer." They all started laughing after that. It felt like something snapped in me. The sound around me started to muffle and all I could see was his hateful face. Rage filled me to my center. I no longer cared for consequences. This will be the last day I endure their bullying. I walked up to Ajax and grabbed his shoulder.
" huh? What are yo-" I punched him in the jaw as hard as I could. As he fell i jumped on top of him and started hammering him with punches. Then I felt a impact on the side of my head that sent me flying off him. The strike made me dizzy with pain. As I got up off my back I caught a glimpse of who attacked me. Serenity.
"How dare you!" She charged at me as I stood up and threw a punch at my face. I was able to lift my arm fast enough to block it but another kid kicked me in the chest sending me flying back again. Omar, another one of her lackeys. By the time that exchange happen Ajax was able to get up. He was bleeding out his nose, good.
"I'm going to kill that bastard." He said grimly. I wasn't stupid enough to fight three people at once so I tried to back away before they surrounded me. I look behind me. Too late, three more clan kids blocked my escape. A scrawny kid with blond hair and a ugly nose started smiling " can't run away now, can you?" I took off my uniform's coat and brought my arms up into a guard. Ajax smiled " I didn't know you could fight, not that it'll change anything. I was raised in a noble clan, you didn't think I was trained in martial arts?".
"You're going to regret that sneak attack" Serenity added. They both rushed at me and I threw a punch at Ajax. He ducked under it and Serenity took the chance to punch me in the stomach. Pain hit me as I doubled over and Ajax grabbed my head and kneed me in the face. Screaming in pain I elbowed him in the chest causing him to let go and stumble backwards. Serenity kicked me in the ribs but I grabbed her leg and pushed her off balance. I send a right hook at her face but Ajax punched my arm causing me to miss her by a few inches. He sent his own at me hitting my jaw. The world went lopsided as I fell onto dirt. I growled with effort to stand once again. Omar grabbed my shoulders pulling me up. He held my arms behind me and I headbutted him. I felt a Crack then heard screaming. I turned around finding him kneeling holding his nose. My shoe met his face. As he fell back I jumped and landed on his stomach. His screamed like a animal after that. I turned around and saw Ajax sprinting at me. Someone kicked the back of my leg. I fell to one knee and when I looked up Ajax grabbed my neck. He lifted me up and then choked slammed me onto the sidewalk.
I screamed in pain. I couldn't breathe, I felt like I got hit by a truck. Ajax kicked my face nearly making me lose consciousness. I used my arm to try to push me up but he just kicked my chest knocking me down again. I was spent and my back was killing me.
Ajax bent down and grabbed my collar.
" bet you regret your actions now" I spit blood in his face. He froze and wiped it off his face. " it's decided. You're dying," he smirks then he elbows me in the temple making stars flash through my vision. He started punching me in the face repeatedly keeping hold of my collar so I wouldn't escape. I tried to resist even hitting him back but he wouldn't budge. He caught my wrist. He stared me in the eyes " you know my family has taught me a dozen ways to kill a person, I haven't decided which to use on you " he grabbed my hand and twisted it in the opposite direction a instant.
I heard a Crack then felt blinding pain.
He stood up and stared down at me. " I've decided, I'm gonna crush you under my foot like a bug. Maybe you'll learn your place as you die." He Cracked his neck then stumped on the wrist he had broken. I started screaming. In a panic I tried to crawl away.
" finally lost your composure huh." He chuckled "Omar! Nestor! Don't let him escape, surround him!." They grabbed my legs and dragged me back to Ajax. Then it started. Constant stomping and kicking. I screamed until my throat went hoarse. I blacked out twice before they got tired, it took twenty minutes.
" it's your lucky day. I don't want to dirty the sidewalk with your corpse." He grabbed my hair and pulled me towards him " be aware that the only reason I stopped was because there was people watching. Also if you step out of line like you did today, No one will be able to stop me from ending you. Spend these next four years quietly and stay out of my sight. He slammed my head into the ground stood up then spit on me. Omar walked by and kicked me in the stomach and said " that was for breaking my nose, bitch " he followed after Ajax.
"Sovereign's mercy, I knew you were dumb but I didn't think you was that stupid. I hope this lesson got it out of your system." Serenity walk away after speaking. I flipped onto my back and looked at the cloudy sky. The twin suns were setting and it looked like it was going to rain. I stared at a passing aircraft as the falling raindrops hid my tears.
" well, this was the stupidest thing I've ever done. I wiped the blood off my nose. I laid there crying for a hour before I was able to withstand the pain enough to rise up. As I stumbled into a stand i spit out a broken tooth. I picked up two sticks and my fallen uniform jacket to build a makeshift splint. After securing my wrist I dragged myself back to the monorail. I checked the time on my holowatch which had a new crack on its control panel.
" 4:45, I should be able to make it to the last train." I did in fact make it in time by speed walking as fast as i could to the station bloody and bruised but I made it, i got a lot of stares while on it too, i think they didn't like me getting blood and mud on the seats. I set a timer on my holowatch. As I walked up the hill to my a hovercraft drove by and slashed water all over me. " shit, as if this day couldn't be worse." I opened the door to my apartment and was met with a blade at my throat. "Oh" I forgot that she was here. When she saw it was me she lowered the knife. She looked me up and down a looked a little surprised. "You're hurt"
"Yeah I noticed." I walked inside and shut the door. "Wait, you can speak my language?"
"It is easier than speaking the old tongues so I learned it." She shrugged. I slid against the wall and sat down " right.... I believe you said you had questions?" She nodded. " but can you answer with these wounds?"
I raised my broken wrist and winced in pain.
" it's not going anywhere soon so might as well." She walk towards me sat down next to me and touched it
"Ouch, what was that for?" A pale white light flowed out her hand and wrapped around my wrist. It seeped into my skin and I felt warmth spread through my arm. She healed it.
" w-what? How did you do that? You are a Ascendent? Only Iridescents can heal others!." She watched me as I rambled on. And smiled stopping me dead in my tracks.
I've never seen someone so beautiful smile like that.
" I don't know what this Iridescent you're talking about is, but I healed you using Shimmer."
"Shimmer? What is that?"
She put a finger on her lips
"Shhhh, it's my turn to ask a question."
i nodded my head mesmerized.
" Where are we child"
Oh, we're on planet Maximilian of the Pantheon Suzerainty, humanity's sole nation."
She looked down lost in thought. A second later she looked at me and spoke " you can ask your question."
"What is Shimmer?"
" It is a liquid energy that makes up all that exists, using it you can manipulate atoms as if they were a part of you ."
Confused I asked another question
" if it makes up everything, why haven't I seen it until now and if its so strong why haven't anyone used it?"
She answered " Shimmer can only be seen by those who are able manipulate unless it is manifested and everyone in the universe uses it I bet even those ascended of yours use it. Now I get two questions."
I nodded my head.
"Who is the Stellar knight?"
"Stellar knight?, I don't know what you are talking about, I've never heard of a Stellar knight." I was once again confused. She seemed dissatisfied. " the one called Saturnalias"
" Ohh, that's our sovereign, the leader of our nation." Now she looked confused.
"Why does the Stellar knight wage war against death's laws?"
" I'm just a student and a orphan at that, that's not something someone like me would know. I wouldn't pretend to understand the sovereign's intent."
She nodded and stayed silent. I think I satisfied her curiosity for now. She looked at me and spoke " since you answered my questions, I won't stay here long. She stood up and turned to the door
"Wait!" I yelled "at least stay until your wounds heal, what if the person who attacked you is still around?." She stopped and turned towards me. Blood was already staining her bandages. " and what do you want in return for this?"
" I lost the chance to become a ascended today and I was forced to be cannon fodder instead so i-if you don't mind, I want you to teach me how to use that Shimmer you was talking about" her eyes narrowed as she looked at me " why help me? We are strangers to each other."
I looked her in the eye " you were dying, what kind of person would I be if I just let you bleed out? There was no choice but to help you"
Her eyes widened hearing that. " what's your name?"
" Lafayette, but call me Faye it's easier to say.
She smiled softly " well then Faye, you can call me First and it seems I'll be living here for a while."