It wasn't just the Bracer Guild that was getting more lively with a new, potential member. Somewhere else on the continent, another scene was now taking place. In particular, Calvard's capital city, Edith...
Before long, the sound of an intercom spoke out.
"Ding-dong! Our next stop is the Riverside District. I repeat, our next stop is Riverside. Please make sure all of your baggage is secured before departing the cabin.", The voice spoke as a subway station that ran on orbal energy soon came into view. Kachunk. Kachunk. Kachunk. The next orbal subway train came speeding through from a distance, being guided along its rails. If one wanted a close resemblance, Edith behaved very similarly to how Tokyo worked in Naoto's previous life, as far as how navigating districts go. But over here, they were called Burroughs. Riverside was one such Burrough.
Once the incoming orbal subway train came to a halt, it soon disengaged the closed doors, allowing its passengers to leave their respective cabins. During this, one particular boy stepped out, showing a mixture of emotion in his eyes. Some of it was tiredness, while it also leaned toward anticipation of what is to come next.
"Phew. I'm finally home. Even if I am to call it a home. Oracion was good and all, but it serves me no good anymore. They see me as a dead man there, i shouldn't open old wounds.", The boy spoke, only to enter a crowd of people while everyone departed the cabin. If one had a close look, he seemed to be around fifteen years old now, a couple years older than Naoto. He had somewhat unkempt black hair, and was wearing a stylish cobalt jacket with some black trousers.
Over the last few years, this boy practically fell off the face of Zemuria, but all within good reason. After being sold off by his adopted parents, he was unfortunate enough to enter the DG Cult. But thereafter, Naoto came into play, and the two met under such a strange twist of fate. After leaving the DG Cult, this boy was unexpectedly picked up by a travelling priest who called himself Gunther Barkhorn. In reality, this priest is part of the Gralsritter. The very same Gralsritter Kevin Graham is a part of. They're both Dominions. Under Gunther's guidance, he brought the boy along, travelling the continent while learning one of the eastern martial art styles, the Kunlun Style.
Three dominant martial arts were prominent in Calvard and eastward. Taito, Kunlun, and Gekka. Taito uses one's body to channel their qi for explosive power within one's fists, palms, and kicks. Kunlun, on the other hand, focuses on redirection and neutralizing one's target, and at the same time, counters with minimal waste in movement. It isn't as domineering as Taito is in terms of raw power, but it is much more fluid. One wrong slip-up, and one wouldn't even know what happens to them. Then there is Gekka, a refined sword-based martial art style known for elegance, speed and precision. Very similar to how Naoto attacks, but fundamentally different.
And now that it is a few years later, Gunther determined this boy had made enough progress to let him "fly the coop" and start living on his own, knowing that the boy can hold his own should danger head his way. Regarding the city this boy had arrived at, it was Edith. The capital city of Calvard. Comparing Edith to other capital cities, its size is comparable to Grancel City or Heimdallr. If not, even larger. Its population was over half a million, and it was Calvard's central hub. Many martial arts were widespread here. They're much more prominent in Calvard and beyond, compared to the west. Whereas in the west, most join militaries, private mercenary corps such as Jaegers, or learn the way of the sword.
Going back to the three dominant martial art styles, people like Zin, Kilika, Angelica, and now Sherryl, have learned Taito. This even includes Walter the Direwolf. As for Kunlun, it isn't as widespread in western Zemuria as Taito is. As for Gekka, this school is what members of the Heiyue, and other criminal organizations, deploys. Even someone like Rixia Mao is a practitioner of Gekke, but she is more well-versed in a non-standard style called Qinggong, courtesy of learning under Yin. Swift and nimble, but also deadly, and can easily jump from building to building. Amongst the styles, Rixia is much more like a ninja than anyone else is.
So, of course, that meant this boy was none other than Van Arkride. One of the few friends and companions Naoto had the pleasure of meeting while trapped inside the DG Cult.
Van could now be seen descending the platform from the subway train. Van didn't just learn the Kunlun-style martial arts these last few years under Gunther's guidance. No, he also learned the way of the sword too! Albeit later on, his weapon of choice is quite different from a practical sword. He uses what's called a stun haliber, a blunt-faced weapon that has built-in mechanisms to stun a target, depending on how they're hit with the dull blade. While Oracion is by no means small, coming to the big city was definitely a breath of fresh air for Van.
Van couldn't help but take in a deep breath of air. His previous childhood home was no more, and his teacher gave him a new one. And that was this very same city. Thankfully, Riverside was more comfortable to reside in. And from here on, it wouldn't take long for Van to enroll at the largest high school in all of Edith, Aramis High School. People from all backgrounds attend this school to further one's career here in Calvard. Curious how his life will go, Van found himself in his own thoughts while exiting the orbal subway.
But that didn't last long. A man's voice reached out to Van, causing him to end his thoughts.
"So even fools can rise up from the grave, eh?", The voice spoke. Van clicked his tongue. It was a voice he hadn't heard in a good long while. At the same time, it made Van immediately annoyed the moment he heard it.
"Tch. I never died, you damn bespectacled idiot.", Van cursed as he clicked his tongue. The tone he used was as rugged as Naoto had gotten used to back inside the DG Cult. A tone often used by street rats. After all, Van was an orphan, so he literally, quite was one! That is, until he was adopted by the family he had now come to hate, barring a certain someone Van had gotten used to during that time.
"Haha.", The man laughed, and soon came into view. He had a stern look in his eyes. LIke he was plotting something. "That just means the Goddess still has something in store for you. But I couldn't care less as to what. Don't let that get to your head."
The voice belonged to a brown-haired man of similar age to Van. Compared to Van, he appeared much more proper, and even wore a stylish, violet suit. It included a black tie within it. After that initial annoyance subsided, Van couldn't help but smile at the man. For he was one of the couple of friends Van had the pleasure of meeting. He reached his hand out, and the brown-haired man responded in kind. It didn't just end with a handshake. The two went for a full-on hug, and welcomed each other.
Contrary to their present appearance, these two boys were best friends. Van Arkride, and Rene Kincaid. Even with several years passed, Van immediately recognized René within the passing crowd.
"Even after all this time, you haven't changed a bit. Stronger, yes. But you're still you, Van.", René responded. He even complimented how firm Van's grip was now, compared to his own.
"Heh. I could say the same thing to you, René. Look at you, all decked out in a suit. I seriously missed out when you used to be that snot-nosed brat.", Van said. His lips curved upward into a grin. Back when Van was in Oracion, he had met this man, together with a certain girl whose family had come to hate his guts. That particular family just so happened to own one of the most renown confectionery businesses in all of Calvard and its surrounding countries, the Quincy Company. The girl happened to be the daughter of the CEO. Despite being welcomed into that home, he felt like he had no welcome there.
But that didn't prevent their daughter from getting acquainted with Van though, despite getting berated by them time and time again. It reached a breaking point where the girl's parents actually sold Van off to none other than members of the DG Cult. That was the truth of the matter back then, even if another story was spun so it wouldn't cause worry toward the girl. By the time the truth had come out, it was already too late. Van was out of the picture, and the girl became dejected for a long period of time, unable to meet Van again. René, during this time, also became acquainted with the two, and that special friendship of three came to an abrupt end.
From there, some years had passed. After travelling around Zemuria with his teacher, Van decided to use the new home he received from Gunther Barkhorn, and settle down here in Edith. Even knowing he now had a home to call his home, Van still had a desire to see the girl he had once known. A girl who called herself Elaine Auclair.
A moment of silence passed as René observed Van. Van then spoke to him.
"Regardless, it is nice to see you again, René. I hear Elaine is aspiring to become a Bracer. Should happen once she turns sixteen, yeah?", Van asked as he parted from his hug.
"Indeed. And not once did Elaine doubt you were gone for good. You could, at the very least, reach out. Even if it was just once, you know. What did you end up doing?", René asked, curious.
"Haha, yeah. I still feel guilty about that. But I couldn't do anything about the situation I was thrown in. There were no means of contact in that rotting hellhole.", van said, and sighed. "But thanks to a certain someone, I managed to flee that place. From there, I started practicin' martial arts under Teacher. Apparently I had the talent to do so. Surprisin', Right?", Van asked, causing René to raise his eyebrows at him.
"You, learning martial arts?', René responded, still doubtful. "Now it's beginning to make sense why we couldn't reach out to you. You moved all over the place. Let alone Calvard."
"That's putting it simply. Sounds like you started your first years of studies at Aramis already, yeah? How's that goin' for you?", Van asked.
"It's going well, thank you for asking. Since you're back in Edith, I take it you are looking to enroll in. Consider yourself in luck, Elaine just so happens to be starting her first year as well. We'll all be attending the same school.", René replied, and smiled. "And do you have plans? I see you have some luggage. You see, Elaine just so happened to make a reservation at a restaurant nearby. We were about to head there---?", René tried to ask, only for the two to hear a girl's voice suddenly speak out to them, appearing surprised.
"...Do my eyes deceive me?", The girl asked, and frantically approached the two. Her usual aloof demeanor vanished entirely. "It really is you, Van!"
Dashing their way revealed a platinum blonde-haired girl, and quickly reached Van. She didn't hesitate to give Van a hug. A smile bloomed on her face. Just seeing the girl do this alone caused René to become surprised. She even resisted the urge to cry.
"Elaine...", Van uttered, seeing Elaine now before him. He wasn't sure how to proceed from here, but he made a decision, and returned the hug, placing his hands around Elaine's back. Elaine was caught off-guard, seeing herself wrapped in a full hug. "Yeah. I'm back. For good this time. I'm really sorry for making you worry about me."
"You truly are a fool..." Elaine uttered, but didn't deny Van's sudden advance. Even René smiled, feeling happy.
"Look at you two. All's well that ends well, right?"