The next day, inside Zettai Kangoku Prison…
A group of guards paced back and forth, patrolling a cell, laughing and making jokes among one another.
"So, this lady, she's super cute, she asked me out today!" one boasted.
"Lies," another one replied. "No lady would ever take a scrub like YOU."
"I'll have you know I am VERY desirable!"
A guard knocked them both on the head. "Both of you, quit the jokes. We're here to watch the prisoner, not goof off."
"Sorry, Captain!" they apologized.
Akari walked through the hallway doors, and they all immediately bowed. "Hello, Princess Akari! How can we be of service?"
"I need to speak with the prisoner in this block."
They nodded. "Right!"
As they stepped aside, Akari approached the cell, where Ritsuka was sitting, curiously. "Well, if it isn't Akari? Finally, my new friend decided to pay me a visit. How's things?"
"Friend isn't the term I'd use," she corrected. "Not anymore."
Ritsuka shrugged. "Well, I'll consider us friends. Now, did you need something? Or did you just come to mock me in this pitiful state?"
Akari steadied herself. "I need some information from you."
Ritsuka lifted an eyebrow. "About?"
"The past. Your Master. All of that. I've tried to talk to General Fujii and Aoki about this, but they keep deflecting the questions. So you're my last best hope."
Ritsuka broke into a fit of laughter. "Of course they are! Haven't you seen them? Aoki, that poor soul, she's oblivious to the truth! Sure, she might be old, but she's naive. She hasn't experienced what Fujii and I have. And Fujii, that snake would cover anything to keep his tracks clean."
"Well, haven't they both met you? In the past?"
Ritsuka nodded. "I've clashed with them. Mostly Kenshi, but Aoki has been by his side a few times. She's more of his enforcer, good for strength, blind to the facts. Failed to kill him then, failed to kill him now, but there's always next time."
Akari cleared her throat. "Ahem. So, you Elites? How do you guys work? What differs you from those others, like Ionix?"
Ritsuka sighed. "We're older. We're stronger. And we get along better. The others don't really…tolerate them. Only the Master. Even now, Polarix and Fenryx, two of the remaining ones, face ridicule for the utter failure of the Lesser Ranks. And poor Venire, who knows what's gonna become of her once she's freed from that Shadow Realm. I pity them, I really do. But to answer your question…"
Ritsuka grinned. "We're a cut above the rest."
"And Titan? You saw him back in the Hallow. That's your leader, isn't it?"
Ritsuka looked away. "Of course it is. I truly regret failing him and letting my revenge overtake the mission. I don't think he's too upset with me, but it still stings."
"I saw him back in the Raijin Arena? What is he? The Head Zharian? A pinnacle of your race?"
"He's much more than that," Ritsuka clarified. "He's our King, our Creator. Our…god."
"Then where does HE come from?"
Ritsuka shrugged. "I have no clue. It's not my place to know."
"Well, why does he want Dachii?"
"Restoration," Ritsuka answered. "That's all I will say."
"To destroy us?" Akari asked.
"In a sense," Ritsuka said. "You'll find out soon enough."
Akari scanned her, her frame now distinctly human. "Where do you Zharians come from? How can you look human, when you're so clearly not?"
"Curious, aren't we?" Ritsuka remarked. "It's a land far from here. It's called Zhari. It's across the Southern Sea. You could try to go there, but you'll be killed immediately. So I don't recommend it."
"Wouldn't bother," Akari claimed. "If it's anything like you, it's probably full of hellish monsters and backstabbing scum."
"It's beautiful, ACTUALLY," she corrected. "Just not for Voltians. And as for how I can appear human, all Zharians can take on said form. It allows us to appear more approachable, than, you know, normal."
"So are Dachii and Marachii just like you?" Akari wondered. "Just stuck in a human form?"
Ritsuka thought for a long moment. "I wouldn't say THAT. They're…something else. Their bodies give off human scents, but back in that fight, when they changed, for a brief moment, they smelled like…me."
She coughed. "But no. I don't think they're Zharians. At least not fully. They aren't Voltians either, despite their mother's heritage."
"I see," Akari noted. "So Kia is the child of my aunt, and they're her children. But they don't give off Voltian or Zharian energy?"
Ritsuka shook her head. "Nope."
"That's odd," Akari said. "If they were a hybrid, usually there'd be some tell."
"Maybe. Who can say for sure? How are they doing, by the way?"
"Marachii is fine," Akari explained. "A bit freaked out and hungry for answers, but he's fine. And Dachii, he's…back to his apathetic state."
"Mmm," Ritsuka pondered. "Tell them I said hello!"
"Yeah, yeah," Akari scoffed. "Now goodbye. I'll be back if I need anything more from you."
"Of course you will," Ritsuka taunted. "You love me."
"Hmph."
Akari left the cell, and the guards returned.
Meanwhile, in the Izanagi house…
"Tsugumi, have you lost your DAMN MIND?"
Dachii was sitting on a couch in the Izanagi house next to Tsugumi, while Tsubasa pointed at him with an accusatory finger. "Why the hell did you bring that thing inside our house?"
"It's not a thing," Tsugumi clarified. "It's Dachii."
"Yeah, that's the issue! You brought that human, Zharian, whatever he is, inside our home, uninvited! This is a noble household, we don't just allow any old street rat inside!"
"He's not a street rat, brother," she pointed out. "He's a friend."
"Inexcusable!"
Dachii watched them go back and forth until Tetusya walked past the living room, noticing Dachii. "Dachii! What's up?"
"…Hi."
"Tetusya!" Tsubasa shouted. "Has your wimpy influence rubbed off on our sister?"
"What do you mean?" he asked.
Tsubasa pointed a finger at Dachii. "That."
Tetusya looked back and forth. "Oh. Eh. Got nothing to do with me! I'll be heading to my room now!"
Tsubasa punched a wall.
"Careful, brother," Tsugumi warned. "Mom and Dad won't be happy with you breaking the place."
He put a finger in her face. "You wait till they come home and find out about this. They'll tear you a new one."
And then he went into the backyard, punching trees repeatedly. Tsugumi waved her off and turned her attention back to Dachii. "Ignore all that. My older brother can be…controlling. And obnoxious."
"He tried to kill me during the hunt…" Dachii remembered.
"Of course he did," Tsugumi explained. "He's an enforcer of the family values. And humans don't usually fit into those values."
Dachii slapped his forehead, but Tsugumi wrapped an arm around him. "Now, what brings you to my house?"
"Fujii sent me. He said you're next on the list."
"He's still doing that list?" Tsugumi groaned.
Dachii nodded. "I think…I'm supposed to get to know you better."
Tsugumi lay back on the couch, intrigued. "It's not every day I tell someone details of my personal life, but go ahead."
"Well…how old are you…are you the same age as Tetusya?"
Tsugumi took a deep breath, almost as if she were offended by the question. "I'm 17. He's 15. Which means I'm clearly OLDER."
"Right…how old is…the guy outside…?"
"He's 21. But he can act like he's 12. Don't bother with him."
"Okay…well…who's the favorite child?"
Tsugumi pointed to herself. "Yours truly. They've always labeled me as special. Which makes sense, since with one touch I can become good at anything I do."
"Must…be really nice."
"It is," she bragged. "But it's hiding my true weakness."
"Weakness…?" Dachii wondered.
"Yeah, don't tell anyone this, but I actually…kind of have a chronic illness. It's called Magic Sickness. It's where one's magical ability is too strong for their own body, degrading the bones and internal organs."
"What…are you dying?"
"Of course not!" she refuted. "As long as I passively keep my magic activated, it'll keep my body in top shape. But if I try to enhance more than three things at a time, it'll switch off, which will revive the disease."
"So…gift and a curse?"
"Sort of."
"But you're still…strong?"
"Correct," she boasted. "Even Himeka said I'd make a perfect General, in due time."
"What's the deal with this household…?" Dachii asked. "What does it do?"
"It's a military family," she explained. "It's got a long list of people who've served in the Voltian military, both matriarchs, patriarchs, sons, and daughters. And now I'm next. And so is…my brother."
"What about him…?" Dachii motioned to Tsubasa. "Has he…been in one?"
She nodded. "Yeah. But he got kicked out when he was 19, because he was too rough and abusive towards the weaker members."
"I can tell…"
Tsugumi got up. "Do you want to see a tour?"
"Sure…"
She grabbed his arm and led him from room to room, including the kitchen, dining room, various bedrooms and bathrooms, the training rooms, the game rooms, the armory, and even a museum.
"This is the museum," she introduced. "It's where we keep ancient relics of past generations."
She picked up a squad outfit that was hanging on one of the displays. "This is from Tsukina Izanagi. She's my grandmother. She boosted our power and prestige greatly during her time."
"Is she dead…?" Dachii asked.
Tsugumi nodded. "She was killed during a war over 75 years ago. Details aren't currently known, however. Her daughter, my aunt, Tsumika, she's been missing for the better part of a century now."
"How long can Voltians live?" Dachii questioned.
"Without having an Element? I would say…anywhere from 250-350 years. Some of the lucky ones can reach 400."
"How old are your parents?"
"They're both well into their 100s now," she joked. "They're getting up there in age."
"Are you really…seventeen?" he asked.
She briefly cracked a smile. "What? Do I seem like I'm 150 to you?"
"No…just…asking."
"Yes. I'm not like your friend Aoki. I'm every bit as young as I look," she assured. "Shall we go somewhere else? Do you wish to see my room?"
"Sure."
She led him down the halls of the mansion, finally coming to her room door, which was adorned with jewels and gold. "Here it is."
She opened the door, and Dachii found himself standing in a massive bedroom, complete with a large bed, large TV, large balcony, a full walk-in closet and bathroom, and there was even a waterfall fountain in the middle of the room. Robotic servants were cleaning the room as well.
"What is this…a suite?"
"No," Tsugumi smiled. "Just my room."
As soon as he walked in, he felt himself being scanned by a bright blue scanner at the top of the door. "Analyzing: Dachii Jones. Access Granted."
"The hell…how does it know my name…"
Tsugumi walked in, being scanned as well. "Might have told it a thing or two."
Dachii looked around the room, admiring the elegant walls and decor. "So…this is where you sleep when you're not on duty?"
"Yeah. It's not too bad."
She sat down on her bed. "If you ever want to come in, you can just let me know."
"…Thanks."
She plopped down in her bed. "Feels nice, having company. Feels really nice."
Meanwhile, in Estrium…
A bodyguard stood outside of a large stadium, and a young man in a hoodie approached him. "Hey! Is this place available for rent?"
The guard looked at him. "You look a little young to be asking that, kid. Is it for a guardian?"
"No. It's for me," he claimed.
The bodyguard laughed. "How long do you plan to rent this out?"
The young man smiled. "At least a few days."
"That'll be 700,000$," the bodyguard stated. "Might be a tad bit out of your price range—-"
"Here."
The guy handed the bodyguard a bag full of cash, and when the man counted it, sure enough, it was well over 700,000$ inside. "What the…where'd you get this kinda money?"
"Could you give it to your employer?" the guy asked. "I wanna get this show on the road."
"Sure," the guard agreed. "But what's your name?"
"List it under Uta Otokura," he replied. "Number 1 bard in the world. Aspiring singer and rapper too!"
"Okay…but what's the renting for?"
Uta tapped his chin. "I'm going to host a HUGE concert, so that everyone can attend! Dancing, singing, fun! I think I'll call it…Soundwave!"
"Right, uh, let me take this to my employer and get back to you."
"One more question," Uta interrupted. "How many people can this place hold?"
"Up to a million," the guard explained.
"Good," Uta grinned. "Very, very good. Prep the stage, my friend! I'll be an icon soon enough!"
—-