"So... you want them to be the bodyguard of Beatrice Holden?"
A beat; a man in a purple suit, wearing a helmet of matching colors, sits down with steepled fingers, his smug expression audible from under the mask he wears. Beside him was a tremendous soldier clad in thick, black armor; a gas mask sat over their face, connected to the suit they wore, with their arms behind their back. Their wingspan was easily as large as a car, or a house, a cold red gaze set still on what looked to be the Principal of this Academy they had found themselves in.
The man in purple, Jackal, motioned to the Principal. "Of course, never a better guard than a Sangilo, no?"
The Principal swallowed, giving a glance to the hulking soldier and then back to the infamous pilot sitting before them. "I... suppose so. I'm assuming you went to Duke Holden directly about this, no?"
"Of course, no way I wouldn't have."
The Principal gave a nod. "Okay, if it was approved, I have no reason to oppose." They paused, "Just hope that they... aren't as brutal as I've heard. This is an Academy after all."
Jackal motioned to the Principal. "Could you bring us to our client?"
The Principal nodded. "Follow me." They stood up from their chair, making their way to the door before turning around to the other two. It was only then that the man noted a dull-blue tail whipping about curiously behind this tank of a Sangilo warrior, and then, the horn that curved around the helm. "Emoren? Also, can I get the name of our esteemed Beatrice's protector?"
Jackal looked to the Sangilo Hunter, watching them expectantly. "Go ahead, introduce yourself."
The soldier gave a glance at the man in purple before looking back over to the Principal. "Artemis." Their mask distorted their voice as it came out from a speaker built within. "That's what they called me."
"Nice to meet you, Artemis. Welcome to Lumanbell Academy."
Lumanbell Academy, known to be the most prestigious Academy within the Numen Solar Cluster, holds regular High School to College lessons along with classes that specifically tackle the magical aspects of this world, or even their aspects of war; All held atop the floating country of Lumanbell itself, on the planet of Luma Sanctus. Whilst the rest of the earth has been wracked by chaos and infighting through corporations associated with the Planetary Commission, Lumanbell itself was a haven, removed from the war and poverty below.
It was Artemis's first time seeing such sights. Despite living nearly twenty-three years of life, they were as inexperienced as they come. Like a child seeing something for the first time, a silent scanning of their surroundings, completely infatuated.
"Over there is our Academy's primary orchestra. The room is also available for a variety of different bands, but... we have our priorities. Despite being the most infamous Academy, we still have competition to worry about."
Jackal nodded in recognition. "I assume this also accounts for any sports sections of the Academy."
"Of course, we have thriving sections for it all; we even have something for Perses Pilots."
"Amazing, oh... how much this Academy has grown throughout the years. I remember when it didn't have its claws in war, and... Perses." Jackal snickered.
"I know, controversial, but we found no need to bolster the offensive prowess of others. You know how popular adventuring is in this... chaotic world of ours, Jackal. These people need ways to defend themselves, simple as that."
Artemis lagged, their tail pointed up, shaped almost like a question mark as they peeked into the music room of the Academy, much larger on the inside compared to the outside—a cacophony of instruments playing increments of a variety of different songs in discordance. An older Emoren woman, a conductor, crossed to the other end of the room, shouting to the students before centering themselves in the center of the room. Soon, the room slowly drifted into silence as the various students pre-emptively synced themselves to one another in a faint, distant harmony before coming to a silence.
With the raising of her hand, the music began. From where Artemis stood, it seemed that by the Conductor's movements alone, the band knew exactly what they needed to do to play their song. The movements were slow and methodical; the sound itself began as a long rise before dipping into short stints, the violin arrangements always returning to the same form they had initially started in.
Soon enough, woodwind arrangements began intruding their way into the sound, the sounds becoming much more grandiose yet enthralling.
Jackal stopped, noticing that Artemis had separated from him and the Principal a few minutes ago. He looked down the hall to see her watching intently and listening to the sounds of Clair de Lune. "I apologize, I need to grab our local guard." He chuckled, crossing back over to the giant Artemis.
Jackal approached, stopping just a few centimeters away from the soldier, looking inside to watch as well, propping himself against a nearby wall.
"You've probably never heard of anything like this before, have you?"
They stayed immersed in the music for a moment before looking down at their benefactor. "No... I haven't. It's music, yes?" They look back at the orchestra.
"Pretty amazing, isn't it?"
A moment passed, both of them not saying a word. "It is."
The music had passed, Jackal turning to look up to Artemis once more. "That was Clair de Lune, the original piece was made for a piano, some adapted it to an Orchestra," He gestured. "Spark notes. Come on now, Artemis."
They nodded, following behind Jackal, and soon met back up with the Lumanbell Academy Principal, now moving into the central courtyard of the Academy, which was encircled by a variety of interconnected buildings leading to different facilities and classes for the students residing in the school.
The Principal gestured to the segment of the building they had just come from. "Around there-- in the general direction my office resides is a lot of the art sections of the Academy, yes?" To his left, he pointed. "Over there is our Literary Department. This includes any classes related to law or Philosophy." Spinning around, pointing to the building behind him, he continued. "The Science Department. Math, robotics, and more, which opens up to facilities that hold a significant amount of our technological and mechanical knowledge on Perses Mechs." To the Principal's right, directly across from the Academy's Art section, was an archway leading to an even larger courtyard that branches down three paths—the Entrance, the Dorms, and to the Hangar Bay. "Straight ahead, that's the Entrance to the Academy. If you take a right from the Academy's exit, you will find yourselves at the Dorms, and to the left is where our Hangar is, which is where a lot of our students involved in the more technological aspects of the Sciences, like Ships, or Perses Mechs, often head towards."
Jackal turned toward Artemis. "Got the lay of the land?"
They turned to look back at Jackal. "I'd need a map." Then, their gaze met with the Principal's. "If I provide you with my Transponder Code, would you send the details previously mentioned to my Pauldron?"
The Principal nodded. "Of course!" He chuckled nervously, turning to Jackal. "If you would be so kind."
"I can do it." Artemis interrupted, holding a hand out.
Jackal couldn't help but laugh, putting a hand on Artemis's shoulder. "You don't have to." Jackal looked over to the Principal. "Don't worry about it, I'll be sure to send you their code later through email, okay?"
The Principal nodded. "Yes, that'll do."
"Anyways, for now, we should head out to meet the girl in question that Artemis will be protecting, shall we?"
"Yes, let me lead the way! She should actually be at the Hangar at this very moment!" The Principal paused, pulling up their sleeve to reveal a cybernetic implant in their forearm, then flicked open a panel and input a code into a tablet screen embedded inside. "It'll be faster in a proper vehicle."
After a moment of waiting, a sizeable flying car flew in, landing in front of the three. The Principal and Jackal enter the vehicle with ease as Artemis squeezes their way inside, almost tripping over themselves to sit down.
"Do they always need to be wearing that ghastly armor?"
Jackal chuckled. "Consider it a professional courtesy. They were raised to be in that armor 24/7, mind you. They'll probably only ever take it off if they weren't in the open, at risk to any malicious factors that may be lurking about, which, I'd assume, there are, given that they were explicitly hired to handle this case in particular, no?"
"I suppose, yes. The Holden family--" At this rate, the car had risen from the ground, beginning to make its way to Lumanbell Academy's Hangar. "They've been especially desperate since their daughter happens to be a bit of a roudy."
"Do tell?"
The Principal sighed. "Despite her weaker disposition, she is quite the 'roudy'. She's been practically obsessed with technology for as long as I've known her, and in any other pursuit, she is incorrigible. The damned girl would chase out any previous guard that would've come to watch over her through various bits of bullying, pranks, and more. Getting a more hardened is necessary, I'm afraid, but... I... believe this is a bit overkill?" Principal gestured to Artemis, who wasn't paying attention, staring out of the window beside them as they descended back to the ground, a good few miles away from the Academy's Courtyard.
"Well... knowing the enemies the Holden Family has accrued in recent years, maybe it isn't. Perhaps it is actually the perfect measure that one would need to take here. I can assure you, by the way, Artemis is very receptive to any commands given to them unless they go against any conditions or the best interests of her master or client."
"Have they guarded someone before?"
"I don't know, have you, Artemis?"
They turned their head ot their talking, soon meeting the Principal's gaze. "I have. Other Nobles, gatherings."
"They only want to do what is right. Am I wrong?"
Artemis shook their head, looking back out the windows as they landed.
Once again, Atremis was forced to squeeze itself out of the vehicle, but despite that, it all exited safely, making its way into one of the hangars Beatrice frequented.
Inside the bay were a variety of different ships being carried off by cranes or Perses Mechs, about 13 meters tall each, docked within individual bays, lined up in rows. Beneath one of these mechanized hulks was a girl hanging from one of these docks by an attached support installed into their Spinal Pauldron that took the form of two, bony, tail-like arms.
"Beatrice!" The Principal called over the hustle and bustle of the Hangar.
The girl, upside down, looked up at the group, their golden-brown locks rolling off their face before descending to meet them face to face. Two sunken, emerald-colored eyes sat within her skull, her curls cut just above her shoulders, her skin sporting a light tan. She locked eyes with the Principal for a moment, giving a slight bow, "Principal." Then she looked up at the hulk that was Artemis. "The hell...?"
"A personal request from the Duke-- this is your newest guard."
"A Sangilo? Aren't they a dog to the Imperator?" A genuine look of disgust appeared on her face.
The Principal sighed. "Y-You can't say such things, madam."
She clicked her tongue. "So... this is my protector?"
Jackal chimed in. "We are actually not involved with the Imperium."
A cautious gaze met with Jackal as a look of recognition flashed across Beatrice's face. "You're a pilot."
"Yes-- your father turned to the organization that I am currently working under and..." He stepped aside, holding a hand out in Artemis's direction. "They rebelled against their perogative. They had actively gone against the Imperator and were punished for it, and at the moment, they are a part of my 'rehabilitation' program."
"Rehabilitation."
"In reality, it's more like giving a second chance to those who fought for the right reasons."
"Yet, they served." Beatrice sighed, crossing over to a bag that appeared to have various bits of her gear within it.
Suddenly, Artemis spoke up. "I did... didn't I?"
Beatrice turned to look at them. "Oh? It talks."
"I hope... I can prove with my actions that I am worthy of Jackal's hope." Artemis bowed. "I will do what is required of me."
Beatrice groaned at the sight. "Gods, what a sight. Are they always this emotionless?" She asked Jackal.
"You would be surprised how emotional they can be. Anyhow, you two will be living together from now on." Artemis straightened themselves after Jackal said this, whilst Beatrice spun around to look at him with wide eyes.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"You two will be living together as of today. Artemis is easy to stay with, so don't worry."
"I don't even know what they look like, and you want me to stay with them!? They got that creepy ass mask and everything. Actually, y'know what, if you let me get a good look at that armor of theirs, then maybe we have a deal."
Jackal turned to Artemis. "What do you say?"
Artemis shrugged.
"And, there's your answer."
Beatrice sat down on one of the workbenches, staring at the three in front of her. "How many have you killed, Sangilo? How many innocents?"
There is a moment of silence, both of the men at Artemis's side being legitimately alarmed by the question. Artemis stood there quietly until finally audibly taking a breath behind their mask. "I was in the Blood War mostly, but there were rare times when I had fought outside of Hell. For those I had killed outside of there, those that were innocent..." A pause. "Twenty-three." Their voice died off into almost a wheezing nose before going quiet completely.
"More surprised you counted..." Beatrice sighed.
"All Sangilo know the exact number... we... we always know."
Beatrice turned her gaze to the floor. "I hate this."
***
Beatrice went into her dorm room, the arms on her back supporting her as she walked, sometimes stumbling over herself, rounding the room itself over to the nearest kitchen counter, propping herself against it. Beatrice took one raspy breath before putting an inhaler up to her lips, a hiss of air following as she jolted up, sitting on the counter.
Artemis came in shortly after, leaning under the door and shutting it behind themselves. They turned to Beatrice as they slid their inhaler to the other end of the counter they were sitting on, grabbing some other medication from her pocket and popping it into her mouth. She swallowed, looking to Artemis as they stared. "I'm ill." She shrugged. "Don't come into my room without my permission-- Don't need my guard perving on me, y'know?" As she spoke, Artemis wandered the room, tail flicking. "Always knock. Also, I don't wanna see you naked, so make sure you change or something before leaving, like... the bathroom or your own room or something."
A beat.
"Are you paying attention?"
Artemis turned to look at Beatrice. "I am."
"So..." Her eyes locked in on Artemis's tail. "Emoren, huh?"
"Yes."
"I'm surprised that they actually give you all names within the Sangilo. Who came up with it?"
"Artemis?" A brief pause. "A4T3M15. It's easier to say, Artemis."
"What the hell does all of that mean?"
"It doesn't have a meaning. It's a random assortment of letters and numbers that vaguely resembles a name, unfortunately."
"Gods, they did they even treat you like people?" Beatrice scoffed.
"No." Artemis then looked out the window of the dorm, staring at the rest of the Academy that stood below it, the dorms for the more wealthy families being set on a hill.
"Are you gonna just keep wearing that armor? Isn't it hot?"
"It has a built-in cooling system."
Beatrice pursed her lips, "That doesn't make it any better. Wouldn't it stink in there? Do you... wear it all the time? Even for bed? For showers? Take the damn thing off! Isn't it heavy!? Damn!" Beatrice couldn't help but laugh.
For a moment, all Artemis did was stare. Their chest rose for a moment, followed by a long sigh, their body relaxing. The Sangilo Soldier reached up to the nape of their neck, clicking a switch on their Spinal Pauldron; the armor unlatched itself from Artemis's body, and the graphene fabric on their arms loosened. A slight hiss could be heard, as if they were depressurizing themselves. Next was the helmet, which they prised open by prying on the back of their mask, and the helmet opened with a click.
With one hand, they removed the mask and helmet from their face, placing them down on a nearby coffee table. Beatrice's eyes widened in surprise, becoming even more alarmed as Artemis pried the armor off their body. Muted, freckled, blue skin, messy black hair, long and pendulous ears, their body holding an incredible muscle density, scars decorating their arms and back, exposed through a single black piece of cloth stretched out against their chest. Artemis's tail rolled out from a hole in the suit itself, pulling the armor down to her ankles before finally stepping out from it, folding it up into a backpack. Now, without wearing armor, it is clear what Artemis was wearing underneath: a black, open-backed, one-piece swimsuit, exposing most of her body.
She set the armor beside a couch in the dorm room before standing in full, her entire body cracking in response to the strain, stretching herself as far as she could feasibly stretch herself.
Beatrice blinked. "Oh... you're a... woman."
Artemis's muscles strained with every movement she made, cracking her neck and rolling her shoulders. "I am? Is that a problem?"
"N-No... makes things much more convenient. I suspected it, but you never know, y'kow?"
Artemis turned to look at Beatrice, her eyes a bright sky blue, the sclera of her eyes almost a stark black in comparison. "I see. I don't understand, but..." A nod.
Beatrice looked the woman up and down. "Do you... not have pants?"
"I do not."
"Uh... I guess we'll do something about that..."
"I have a question."
"Yeah? Just ask it by the way, you don't--"
"Why do I need pants?"
"Eh... Because having your ass out isn't exactly... appropriate?"
Artemis's ears fluttered, a brow cocked, and her dark blue lips pursed. "I have the essential bits of my body covered. Isn't the chest and lower extremities the necessary things that must be covered?"
Beatrice sighed. "Look, if you're gonna be walking around like that all the time when you're out of your armor-- yeah, you're gonna need pants since no one does that, plus, there's a limit to how long my sanity can hold getting hit with eye candy every morning."
"What is that?"
Beatrice rubbed her brow in frustration. "We'll handle the pants situation later. Get yourself into a bath; you smell like burnt toast."
Artemis's stomach growled loudly, sounding like a beast's roar.
Beatrice cringed, a hand running across her face. "I'll uh... get you some food as well. That sounds good?"
Artemis nodded, eyes searching for a bathroom.
"It's over there." Beatrice pointed to the farthest end of the room, down a separate hall that branched off from the bedroom area of the dorm.
Artemis gave a curt nod before heading down the hall, rounding the corner, and slipping into the restroom within their dorm.
Beatrice blinked, watching Artemis leave before bringing her gaze to the floor. "Am I really the one being protected?"