The air was damp with the smell of mold, eliciting a somewhat sour taste in everyone's mouths. A younger Nippon man in military garb leaned forward, his long, stringy black hair rolling over their neck, sharp eyes glancing over at the small red-headed girl standing in the corner, wearing only an oversized shirt that her father probably gave her instead of any proper clothes that a six-year-old should be wearing.
Across from the Nippon man, an older Chihon man with caramel colored skin. His hair was a mess, and so were his clothes, stained with alcohol and vomit, knuckles visibly bruised. He emitted a sour odor that wafted into the Nippon man's nose.
The Nippon man sighed, "It's uh... It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I'm a soldier of the Chihong Dynasty, a Captain to be specific. Due to a recent support program headed by the Fourth Prince, Sir Marvello, we're going house to house to see if any parents or guardians would be willing to put their children into this educational support program-- essentially trying to make an effort to lift some of the weight from a lot of the more or less fortunate families within the Dynasty itself."
The father blinked, reaching into his pocket, really squeezing his hand down his side to grab at a small box of cigarettes. He lifted it from his pocket, meeting the box at eye level before slipping out one of the cigs inside and placing it between his lips, lighting it in once swift motion from a lighter he had beside him on a nearby coffee table.
"I-I... uh..." The Military man gave an awkward half-smile. "It's probably not best to smoke with your child around."
"You uh... You trying to tell me how I should raise my kid, or somethin'?" He questioned casually as he took a puff from his recently lit cigarette.
The Nippon Soldier swallowed hard. "No, no, not at all. It was more of a recommendation than anything. Anyhow, uh... would you like to place your daughter into the system? This educational program could provide you and your family the boost they need to get themselves out of some more complicated circumstances that you may have all found yourself in since, y'know, there are more than one benefit to submitting your child into our educational program, as you will consistently recieve any sort of support to assist your child into growing up in a more healthier environment that bolsters their creativity, or potential intelligence and talent they may have."
"Like... you give us money and stuff?"
The Nippon Soldier chuckled. "N-No, uh... we'd provide support through like... say, books or... any sort of creative pursuits your child may be interested in. This could also provide like... food for the families, maybe house repairs, et cetera, but there isn't really any monetary support, at least, not directly anyhow."
The father sniffed loudly. "Regardless, you can get that kid out of my hair, yeah?"
"Uh... I suppose? They would most likely spend a lot of their time within our personal facilities."
The Chihon man rolled their tongue along their teeth. "Okay... well... what if... I don't want her around at all. What then? Will you send us support then?"
"N... No...?"
"Then, give me like... I dunno, how much would you say the kid is worth? Doll!" He called out to his daughter. "Get over here!" In response, the small ginger child crossed over to him. She had a small freckled face and an almost perpetual pinched expression. Their hair was a mess, somewhat discolored from dirt and grime. "How much?"
"I-I'm sorry?"
"I want her gone, but... I... I want a little something, something in return, right?"
"Why would we buy your child, sir?"
"Well, if that animal of a Prince wants to do this program so bad, it wouldn't be too far-fetched to, y'know, spend some cash while they're at it, right? They seem dedicated and kind, so I'd imagine they're going out of their way to get a child like this one out of such a bad spot, no?"
"Y-You're trying to sell your own daughter?"
"10,000 Nhangs sounds good, no? That's a significant amount of spending money for my wife and me, and we could live comfortably for quite a while. Along with that, we don't have to worry about our little girl here for a long time." He violently ran a hand through the poor girl's hair. "So, what do you think should happen?"
"W-What the he--" The soldier sighed.
He gave in, and in the next moment, the girl found themselves on a buff heading to the higher districts of the Crimson Dynasty, the rugged ghetto of the neighborhood, the only neighborhood that they'd known of for their entire life. However, it was all a blur.
She knew she was in a bus, and she knew that she was leaving-- she heard what the soldier had said, after all. The problem is that she couldn't see anything, just vague shapes. This girl had myopia, and it was only when they had arrived at Marvello's compound that they discovered this. Marvello themselves, a large man, easily spanning about 8 feet tall in height, with a bizarre white mask covering their face that seemed to have a built-in mechanism for the mouth. He wore thicker clothes, a feathered lizard tail winding out from beneath a coat they had over their shoulders.
Some children were terrified of the man, whilst others observed with cautious gazes, arms outstretched. Apollo Marvello, the Fourth Prince of the royal lineage of the Chihong Empire, and the only Hybrid amongst said lineage as well, being partly a Faurnalite.
The young girl couldn't understand what she was seeing, though, and it all became clearer as the Nippon Soldier from before brought her through a variety of different medical check-ups, only having a hiccup in his original plans as they reached the optometrist personally hired for Marvello's Compound.
Hours passed, and the young girl waited patiently. She didn't know what she was waiting for, or what she was even looking at, for that matter, but the air felt cooler, and it was less humid than her original abode. That's surely a good thing, no?
Her thoughts were interrupted as the Nippon Man returned, "Alright, close your eyes and look up at me, please."
The girl did as she was told, something soon pressing against her temples, resting on her small nose and ears.
"Alright... you can open your eyes now."
And she did, and the moment she did, her eyes went wide. She could see the man so clearly now, and he smiled.
"Can you see me?"
She nodded in response.
"Good... well..." He sighed. "I'm... Hikaru. Hikaru Yuki."
The girl blinked, and there was a moment of silence before she decided to speak up on her own. "Dolores..."
"Dolores... Doll. Nice to meet ya, Doll. Uh... I'm gonna be adopting you, so... you're a Yuki now. Sorry for the sudden... y'know...? Being shunted away from your previous family without your choice or permission?"
She tilted her head, giving a questioning look to her new guardian. "You're... my papa now?"
Hikaru rubbed one of his eyes, nodding. "Yeah, yeah... I'm your new dad... or guardian, whatever you prefer.
Dolores didn't seem to fully understand, looking away from Hikaru and scanning the lobby of the optometrist's building.
"Well... let's get you situated in your own room, okay? Also, if you wanna hang out with some of the kids, we have a big 'ole grass field outside that you all can play around in, and some trees too. A lot of the actual kids' stuff is more inside, though, like toys, or like... a gym for sports."
Dolores pinched the hem of Hikaru's coat.
Today had been the most love and care this girl had ever received in their entire life. And for someone who had gone out of their way to help her out of her previous situation, she felt it only right to stick by him. Hikaru was her guardian after all, he was the best protection she could've ever hoped to find.
Due to most of the kids that were put into Apollo's Educational Program only arriving today, her room was nothing special, but it was all she could have ever asked for. A proper bed, pillow, and blanket. A dresser, clothes, a lamp, and air conditioning.
Hikaru let her be, allowing her to explore as she wanted, as he had other business to attend to, and it was getting late. Just as he was about to leave, he felt himself being pulled slightly down. He looked down at Dolores, who looked up at him. "Do you need anything?"
"Could you stay with me?"
Hikaru blinked. "You... want me to stay?"
"Until I fall asleep."
Hikaru sighed, "Okay... I'll help you sleep." He grabbed a chair from a nearby seat, setting it right beside the young lady's bed.
Dolores climbed up onto her bed, hoisting herself up onto the soft cushioning and flopping down, taking the blanket with her as it pressed against her back. She spun around, pulling the blanket away from her, scooting up to the pillow, and laying her head on top of it.
"Your glasses are still on, silly." Hikaru took them off for her, setting them aside onto a nearby drawer, right beside the lamp that was sitting on top of it.
Dolores looked at the blurry image of Hikaru for a moment before quickly passing out.
"The poor girl... she must've been exhausted."
And with that, the young Nippon Soldier tucked the small girl in, leaving her alone within her room.
The Chihong Dynasty, a long-lasting oligarchy ruled by the Crimson King. There can only be one Crimson King every three centuries, chosen amongst a long line of Princes coming from various concubines, and the very queens themselves. The Crimson King is an absolute power within this country, ruling with an iron fist across all five districts that remain.
The most powerful kingdom in the world. Nobody can rival the might of the Crimson King, not even the Tir'adagh Alliance, a papal state that finds worship and faith from Dreams and human will. And especially not Roxaltis, the second most populous country in the entire Eastern Cluster of Lnoch.
By 2018, the Crimson King had sired ten princes under his rule, and one day, they would all compete for his place on the throne to become the one and only Crimson King.
In 2004, Apollo Marvello, Fourth Prince, established his educational program for the youth. A small change and a significant step to bring about structural change within the kingdom of the Chihong Dynasty.
In 2005, the Crimson King had sired their tenth child.
"When were you born, Doll?" A year had passed at the compound by now. Hikaru was the one who asked her the question as she absentmindedly flipped through the pages of a book much too advanced for a girl of her age. She was six years old when he picked her up, but he was never able to find any documentation on what he date of birth could've been. "Do you remember?"
Dolores looked at Hikaru, deadpan.
"Doll?"
"I... don't know. We never celebrated..." She paused. "They sometimes told me what my age was, though, when enough time had passed."
"I see... well!" Hikaru clapped. "How about we make today your birthday?" He lifted his sleeve, looking down at a watch he had hidden on his wrist. "The tenth of Ianos, how about that? The Month of Beginnings, as one would call it."
Dolores blinked. "Uh... okay..."
"Y'know what that means, Doll?"
"What?"
"You're seven now. How about we have a bit of a celebration?"
"I want curry."
Hikaru smiled. "Curry it is. Do you want to go anywhere in particular as well?"
She shook her head. "I just want to eat curry."
He couldn't help but chuckle at her comment. "Alright, okay. I'll get you some curry and we can eat it together, okay?"
"Okay."
Hikaru left to get food for both of them, and with this opportunity now given to her, Dolores was going to participate in her favorite activity on the compound. Dolores was going to spy on the compound's technician and engineer.
Dolores snuck off, slipping away from the compound itself, rushing across grass fields to a shack a few hundred feet away from the main facilities. Dolores stumbled down a hill, stopping by the door of this ragged shack before rounding the house over to a small, makeshift vent that poked out into the outside of the house itself. Dolores leaned low toward the ground, peaking into the vent as the sound of tinkering filled her ears.
The sound of springs shifting and shivering metal could be heard, the table somewhat lifting off the ground as if the weight on top of it had lightened, whilst the woman working on it leaned back, biting one end of a pencil. "What is your name, and your purpose?"
Upon listening a bit closer, it seemed like a clockwork machine. "Carmine, and my purpose is to assist you, madam."
"Alright, what do you assist me with?"
"Work."
"Good!" The woman swiveled over to a nearby table, wrapping a clipboard with one of her arms, writing something. She clicked her tongue before speaking aloud. "That's the third one today. The one for cooking is done, and the garden one is done... now we have my own personal assistant." She paused, sucking her lips in. "What should the next one be? Daycare assistant? You can never have too many bodies when it comes to kids."
Dolores couldn't help but let out a little sigh in awe, her voice echoing across the hollow vent. The woman whipped her head around, causing the young girl to jump away, startled.
The woman left her little shack, rounding the corner to find Dolores sitting down, looking as if she had been caught doing something bad. The woman cocked a brow. "You aren't supposed to be out here... Were you watching me?"
Dolores blinked, then nodded.
"Like what you see?"
"I think it's cool."
"You think it's cool, huh?" Dolores now could see this woman in her full splendor, instead of afar, or through a vent; she now had a good look at her. The woman was decently tall, wearing a leather jacket, with her hands in her pockets. She had peach colored skin and auburn hair tied into a knot on the back of her head. "Well... I don't mind if any of the kids come and look around, but... it ain't exactly a good idea to be wandering around without adult supervision, okay?"
Dolores nodded. "Can I see what you're doing?"
"What am I doing? You mean..." She pointed to the shack. "There?"
Dolores nodded again, more enthusiastically this time.
"Uh... okay. Don't touch anything, though."
They both head inside the shack. Dolores was met with the sight of robotic parts and machinery hung across the walls, some set on tables, like loose clocks or watches in the middle of repair. The woman's recent invention was some sort of automated machine meant for engineering, an assistant, as was said earlier.
"What's your name, kid?" The woman turned to the small Dolores, who looked out in even further awe, mouth agape. "Kid?"
Dolores looked over at the woman, blinking. "D-Dolores..."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Gwen. Uh... as you could tell, I work here at the compound."
"Are you like... some movie scientist or something?"
Gwen blinked, lips curling into a smile before bursting out into laughter. "N-No, no! I'm not-- I'm a machinist, an engineer. Multi-talented in the art of tinkering with shit, one would say."
"This is so cool..." Dolores began walking around the room, observing the various bits of machinery scattered about, along with metal cog pieces, sheets of iron, and a prosthetic hand. "Oo..." Dolores couldn't believe her eyes.
"Yeah... uh... You can make whatever you want, essentially... if you're like me, that is. It's fun." A beat. "I got lucky enough to get hired by the Fourth Prince, which was nice."
After a moment, both of them jumped, startled as the robot from before, now still sitting on the table, spoke. "Do you need anything from me, miss?"
"Oh! No, no. You can shut down."
It faced the wall in front of it, set its head down onto the table, then shut off. Dolores whispered loudly, "It stoke..."
"You haven't seen one of my robot buddies before?"
"I have, but they didn't speak to me."
"They're a little shy, I'm sorry." Gwen rounded the table, placing a hand on Dolores's head. "Anyways, you need anything else, kid?"
"You can call me Doll."
"Doll?"
"It's a nickname my... f-father... my father calls me."
"Doll, really? Well, it's a very cute nickname."
"It's my name shortened!"
"It is, for sure! Good on you for noticing!"
Hikaru knocked on the door, heading inside. "Hey, sorry. I know it's stupid to ask, but have you seen a..." His eyes widened, looking over to Dolores, standing quietly at Gwen's side, hand resting atop her head. "Oh?"
"Y-Yo-- Uh... hey, Captain Hikaru." She saluted, her nerves acting up on her suddenly.
"Yes, pleasure to officially meet you. I'm a Captain within the Fourth Prince's guard, Hikaru Yuki, pleasure."
"Well... uh... I found your daughter."
"O-Oh! Yes, uh... I adopted her, though, so--"
"Well, earlier she called you dad, so... it doesn't matter much, no?"
Hikaru was stunned at the comment while Dolores was none the wiser, glancing between the two. Hikaru blinked, looking over to Dolores. "Did you really say that, Doll?"
"Should I... should I have not done that?"
"N-No, no. I'm just surprised." A wry grin spread across his face. "Anyway, I have the curry all set up. We should go!"
"Okay." Dolores crossed over to Hikaru, waving at Gwen as she left.
Gwen met them at the door, waving back. "Come back again next time, okay, Doll!?"
Dolores looked back at Gwen. "Okay!"
In 2006, Dolores had finally made some friends amongst the children, after avoiding them for so long. Dolores wasn't the most sociable child, but whoever stuck around her adored her in some way. Worth, a kid the same age as Dolores. He was a dirty blond, but the blond part of his hair was more similar to platinum than gold. He had heterochromia, with both eyes a different color. One eye was grey, whilst the other was a darker green, almost muddy. They carried a massive sword with them a lot of the time-- some sort of momento. It was an Odachi, easily trumping the size of this child.
The other friend Dolores had gotten familiar with was a young boy with completely blond hair and golden eyes. They looked to be royalty, out of place amongst those within the compound, but Dolores got along well with them, and so did Worth. Their name was Jinzi, their eyes and hair sharing their namesake.
Worth pointed a stick the shape of a sword at Dolores as her nose was stuffed into a book. "Doll! Fight me!"
Dolores looked up, confused. "Why?"
"Last time, you beat me! This time, you won't! Simple as! Now fight me!"
"I'm alright, thank you."
Jinzi sat beside her. "Y'know, you're odd, Doll."
"How?"
"You're always reading and have some odd gadget or gizmo with you."
"I like reading."
"Why?"
"All I had were books for a while."
"Hm..." Jinzi paused. "Nerd." They snickered, holding a hand to their mouth.
Worth whined. "Why won't you fight me~?"
"I don't wanna, it hurts to fight. I only fight to defend myself."
"Huh!? You didn't defend yourself the time you hurt me, though! You did that on purpose!"
"That's because you were annoying."
"I want to show you how much stronger I've become!"
Dolores shut her book, scampering off and back into the compound.
"What! She ran!" Worth exclaimed, Jinzi snickering to themself.
Dolores walked until she could find Hikaru, stopping as she rounded the corner, as she spotted both him and Gwen talking with each other. They got close? She asked herself in her head, propping themselves against the wall next to them.
Eventually, Hikaru noticed Dolores, his face lighting up. He crossed over to her, smiling. "Hey, Doll. You lookin' for me?"
Dolores nodded. "Hi."
"Hi!"
"What were you guys talking about?" She looked at Hikaru, then back at Gwen, who both looked at each other in response. Dolores waited patiently for an answer.
Hikaru spoke up, sighing. "Uh... Since you like hangin' around Gwen so much, I decided to go and talk to her and stuff. After a while, we got to know each other... uh..."
Gwen scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Geez, you're makin' it awkward."
"You know what dating is, right, Doll?"
Dolores blinked. "You are romantically entangled?"
"Where di-- Yes..." Hikaru chuckled. "Yeah, Gwen and I decided to become 'romantically entangled'." A beat. "Where are you hearing these phrases from? Where is that from?"
"I thought it was funny if those words were paired together."
Gwen spoke up. "Anywho. Don't get too mad, Doll. I won't take him from you all the time, okay?"
Hikaru looked to Gwen, a wonky smile spread across his lips. "What are you even saying?"
Dolores looked up at Gwen. "I don't mind. I don't hang out with dad much anyway."
Hikaru looked like he was shot in the heart because of that comment, clutching his chest in pain. "I-I'm sorry, Doll..."
"I don't really care."
Gwen snickered. "Well, anyway, it means you get to hang out with me more, too."
"Oh~!"
"I know, right. Also, next year, are you excited?!"
"For what?"
"I'll be showing you how to make some robots. You like that idea?'
Dolores's eyes light up, becoming visibly excited. "Really!?"
"Yeah! We're gonna put safety first, though, okay? We don't want you losing any fingers, and stuff."
"Of course!" Dolores let out a confident huff, smiling.
"Alright! It's settled!"
In 2007, recovery efforts were made for those within the Chasseur Collective in an attempt to restore the lost city of Cantris, a city destroyed by a Demon and Nightmare duo back in 2001. No bodies have been found of any of the millions of victims that had fallen on that October night. Additionally, a memorial for Token Errasuriz had been erected at the impact site, as he had gone missing in an attempt to stop that catastrophe from occurring to begin with. No corpse has been found, nor have there been any residuals of a conflict.
Dolores yawned, a small plastic machine connected to a battery hobbled across a table. She let out a meek smile before falling asleep. Hikaru smiled in sympathy, propped against the doorway before turning around, looking toward Gwen. "Did you teach her the more complicated parts?"
"Well... I assisted in making the robot itself, but... a lot of the more complicated stuff... I didn't really need to be hands-on."
"Complicated stuff?"
"The coding. She practically did it on her own."
Hikaru's eyes widened. "Really? How?"
"I don't know. Maybe that's why her nose is in a book constantly."
Hikaru looked around the room, scanning all of the books Dolores had. "Nope, just stuff from the library."
"Maybe she went through the internet?"
Hikaru shrugged. "Well, anyway. We can leave her be for now."
Both of them leave the room, Hikaru gently closing the door behind him. Gwen took a step forward, looking back at Hikaru over her shoulder. "So, I've always wondered-- never had the time to ask, but I was curious."
"Hm?"
They both started walking back to their own room. "Why did you choose to serve the Fourth Prince?"
"Why'd I choose to serve Apollo?"
"Yeah. For me, it's money, pretty simple, yeah?"
Hikaru thinks about it for a while. "I..." He sighed. "He saved my life." Hikaru raised his bangs, revealing his forehead, which revealed an extended scar running just below his scalp. "I got shot in the head once, and he found me. His surgery saved my life and I... I've served him ever since."
"Really now... That's... pretty cool. He seems like a really nice guy... despite bein' hella scary lookin'."
Hikaru chuckled. "Yeah, y'know what, I'll concur."
"Do you know what he looks like under that mask of his?"
Hikaru shook his head. "He's worn that thing ever since I've known him, so I'm not sure." Hikaru sighed. "I won't deny, I have asked him once, wanna know what he said?"
"What?"
"He said, 'I'm horrifically scarred, I just feel a bit more secure with this thing on,' So... I just didn't really bother pressing it."
"Never heard a Prince being vulnerable to someone before."
"Apollo is just like that. He never lies."
"Really? He never lies? There's no way, right?"
"It's... It's kind of like some sort of Oath he's sworn to himself and others. I don't really understand the reasoning, or how it happened, but... he doesn't lie. At the very least, I've never seen him lie."
"It's an Oath?"
"That's just my own assumption. It's just... It's a bit odd. How he never lies, it's like an obsession. If that isn't an Oath, I don't know what is." Hikaru chuckled.
2008.
"Doll~!" Jinzi cried out, hugging her. "I'm so sorry! Leaving you behind like this~!"
Dolores seemed unamused, Wroth brooding in the corner. "I'm okay. Just send me letters, or something."
Jinzi pulled away from Dolores. "I know that you're going to be lonely without me and Worth, but I'll make sure to do just that!"
"Huh? I-I'll be fine."
"Regardless, I'll miss you, Doll!" Jinzi continued to cry, hugging Dolores again. She couldn't hold back a half-smile, hugging them back. "You're so awesome, Doll..." They commented, muffled by the crook in Dolores's shoulder.
A record played "We'll Meet Again" by Vera Lynn, Hikaru stood by it, observing the children with a somber smile on his face.
"Make sure to keep being awesome, okay!?" Jinzi pulled back, shouting.
Dolores chuckled. "I'm unsure what you're talking about, but sure."
Jinzi looked over their shoulder, yelling to Worth. "Hey! You should say something as well!"
Worth sighed. "What would I even say?"
"Just say something! You're coming with me anyhow!"
Dolores gave a questioning look to the two. "Uh... pardon if I never asked, but... why is Worth going as well?"
"Ah! Worth is going to be trained at my estate to be my guard. They oftentimes choose slightly older people, or the same age as you, amongst us noblefolk."
"You were a noble?"
"Huh!? I thought it was obvious!"
Worth burst into laughter.
"I'm always dressed up and stuff, you didn't know?"
"I... I didn't really care, to be honest."
Jinzi pouted, "That's... fair, I guess. But I'd like it if you paid attention more."
"I remember your birthday and other things. Why does this matter?"
"Well, it's simple!" Jinzi confidently placed a hand over their chest. "I am the Ninth Prince, Jinzi Loong, after all!"
Dolores's eyes widened. "You're a Prince? Like Apollo?"
"Yep! I'm one of his younger siblings!
"Oh... no wonder you were treated like an ornate object."
"W-What a mean comparison!"
Worth couldn't stop laughing, but was interrupted as Dolores looked over to him. "I'll see you later, okay?"
Worth shared a hesitant expression, then smiled. "Yeah, see you. Hopefully we'll meet each other when we're older, right?"
Dolores nodded. "Yeah, let's hope."
Worth crossed over to Dolores, putting a fist out. Dolores acknowledged the gesture with her gaze, soon meeting his fist with her own. After that, they made sure to see off the Ninth Prince and their future guard at the front of the compound, taking off from a fancy car that Dolores couldn't recognize.
Dolores's gaze shifted to look beside her as a large shadow was cast over her, only to see the massive Apollo himself, looming over the child as he watched their sibling be ushered off to their own estate. Apollo sighed, voice cracking over a speaker attached to the mask he wore, turning to look down at the significantly smaller Dolores. "Oh?"
Dolores was perplexed. She had heard stories and had seen him on the compound a few times, but never up close. Dolores staggered back, waving weakly at the massive Prince.
"You are Hikaru's child, yes? Adopted one, that is." His voice was deep, having a bit of husk behind it as he spoke. "I don't believe I've properly introduced myself to you. I am Apollo, Apollo Marvello."
"Dolores Yuki."
"Do you mind if I call you Doll like your father and friends do?"
"I don't mind."
Apollo kneeled to Dolores's level. "How old are you now?"
"Ten."
"I've heard quite a few things about you, Doll. You have an incredible intelligence for a ten-year-old, no?"
"Do I?"
"Don't put yourself down! Didn't you make a robot of your own at just the age of nine? What about now? What sort of gadgets have you made?"
"Uh... I've made a watch before..."
"A watch!"
"A pen... um... I've made a lot of things cause I thought it'd be more convenient. Uh... th-the pen, it has a little latch on it that I can use to replace ink capsules with, like a... needle? I don't know if I'm using the right word..."
"Made any other machines?"
"Um... I have uh... I have a spider. A spider automaton. I-I don't really use it though, since it takes up a lot of power. I want to lower the power consumption, but it's a bit tricky."
"How about I help you with that then?"
"Really?"
Hikaru interrupted their conversation as he stepped outside the compound. "Fourth Prince!" He stood between Apollo and Dolores, putting a hand around her shoulders. "What are you doing here?" Hikaru smiled as Apollo stood at their full height, comparable to only a bear in size.
"I wanted to see my youngest sibling off, simple as that. But! I saw your daughter here, and I figured I'd say hello. Also, you wouldn't mind if I assisted her in one of her projects, right?"
"No, not at all. Why would I? You're welcome to do whatever, just as long as Doll here is fine with it, of course." He patted his adopted daughter's shoulder, looking back over to Apollo.
"Then," Apollo looked down at Dolores. "How about we go and work on that project of yours, then, Doll?"
Dolores blinked, glancing between the two, and just before she was going to walk with Apollo back to her room, they were interrupted by a phone call for Hikaru. "Oh, hold on a moment." He took out his phone, "Gwen?" He paused as he listened to the call for a moment. "Uh..." His eyes widened. "I-I'm... Yes, I'll be there right now!" Hikaru's gaze locked onto Apollo's. "Gwen's water broke."
"Oh dear." He looked back down at Dolores. "I apologize, it looks like we'll have to save working on that project of yours for another day."
"That's okay," Dolores responded with a smile, running back to Hikaru's side as they rushed off the compound.
On the 23rd of Pijotero, 2008, Kuro Yuki was born, younger brother to Dolores Yuki.
Small tufts of black hair rolled across the baby's forehead, hands clutching their mother's fingers, beady eyes half-lidded. Dolores was awestruck, standing in a stunned silence as Hikaru and Gwen admired the child they had created, their union.
Dolores reached out a hand as well, placing a finger into one of the baby's palms, fingers flexing instinctively around her. She burned this memory into her mind so she wouldn't forget. No, that wasn't enough... this was a moment she wouldn't forget. She swore it to herself; this was something she would remember for the rest of her life. Her own little brother.
His body was red, small, and so delicate. Gwen smiled, Hikaru following in sympathy as they all sat, as a family, letting the moment sink in. "Kuro..." Dolores whispered aloud, shifting her thumb against the soft skin of the life that had just shortly before been created.
Hikaru observed his daughter for a moment. "How do you feel about getting a brother?"
Dolores looked up at her own dad, wonder in her eyes. "I... I'm overwhelmed. I hope he... I hope he lives a fulfilling life."
Shouldn't anyone want that? Yeah... every parent would want for their children to live fulfilling lives.
In 2009, a voyage was sent out ot sea into the deep fog beyond Lnoch, into the Abyssal Plains. The Abyssal Plains were where all Gates led to, also referred to as Dungeons. Aside from the normal average world, there is a world that exists in a place beyond the fog that surrounds Lnoch as a landmass, or rather, it is referred to as a "fog" by many. An outstretched wall of clouds that cannot be seen through by satellite or drones alike.
There have been small glimpses of the land itself that rests beyond the fogwall, but only by visual testimony, sparsely gathered recordings from DIver teams that have entered the Dungeons into the Abyssal Plains, or, on rare occasions, when the clouds part above to reveal lands of red and green before once again being re-engulfed by the clouds that encompass it.
Aside from this, something in the ocean has begun to form. A Tower is slowly rising within the northern middle section of the world, somewhere in the direction of the Abyssal Plains itself.
The origin of the Tower is unknown, but in ancient myth, a Tower of a similar make was spoken of, but that Tower held an entire civilization's worth of buildings, being taller and wider than even the largest continents that resided on land. This one was still massive, trumping the size of a state from its width alone, but, regarding ancient myth, this was "normal" in comparison.
By now, Dolores was eleven years old, currently taking care of her brother. She held him against her shoulder, bouncing rhythmically as she looked toward the mechanical chef in charge of the kitchen, finishing up Kuro's formula.
"Dolores!" The automaton shouted, and she crossed over. "Here is the bottle of formula that you have requested, madam."
"Tha-" She stopped, looking the machine up and down. "Please don't call me that." Dolores placed the bottle between her brother's lips, who gripped their meal with both hands, greedily gulping down any formula slushing around the inside of its plastic exterior. "Are they back yet?"
"Who are you referring to, madam?"
"Please just call me, Doll." Dolores sighed. "I'm wondering if my dad and ma are back. That's about it."
"Doll... I want to say..." The machine paused. "You're doing such a great job taking care of your brother. I would help you if I could, but unfortunately, I am bolted to where I stand now. The unfortunate reality of only serving a singular purpose."
"What you said was enough, Sid. Thank you."
The compound has seen better days. At this point and time, most of the children who had been taken in within the years 2004-2006 were gone now, leaving only a few kids, similar to Dolores, who were reaching the pre-teen stages of their youth. It wasn't as if things had gotten harder, however, but children who were given away by their families have either been adopted or left for Specialized Schools, training them from childhood to adulthood on various careers, like carpentry, engineering, and the like.
Those who weren't effectively orphaned were chosen by high-ranking officials to become maids, butlers, guards, or even educated to become scholars. Dolores had stayed behind because her family essentially lived on the compound itself, plus... she didn't feel like she was ready to leave them yet. She wanted to help a little longer before she fully pursued her career of choice.
Some hours later, Hikaru and Gwen hadn't returned yet, leaving Dolores to put her brother to sleep without them, waiting in the dining room of the compound.
Apollo entered the dining room as well, "Oh!" he exclaimed before crossing over to meet with Dolores.
The Fourth Prince had been visiting more frequently as of late. Dolores suspected that he had a keen interest in her talents as he'd target her frequently when talking about robotics and machinery.
Due to their repeated discussions, Dolores had discovered a lot of things about Apollo. He was a scientist first and foremost, almost looking down at his princely heritage. He prided himself on his knowledge of alchemy, machinery, biology, and more. He was almost obsessed with anything related to the inherent makeup of anything alive or that was mathematical in some fashion.
They spoke on the topic before Apollo spoke up, shifting the conversation. "Doll, I would like to ask you something."
Dolores blinked. "Um... go ahead. What do you wanna ask?"
"I wanted to ask if you'd be willing, a year from now-- would you be willing to become an apprentice of mine?"
"Huh?" Dolores leaned back, completely shocked by Apollo's question. "Y-You want me to be your apprentice?"
"The daughter of one of my trusted companions. A young girl who holds talents that far exceed their age. Of course! I'd love to have you as an apprentice of mine. I would say, I wouldn't force you, or make you do anything inherently dangerous, it would just be observations, and written assignments until you are ready."
"I-I'm just... You want me to be an apprentice? I'm just... shocked. A-Are you sure?"
"I never lie. Of course, you have a year to decide. I won't have you make such a decision now that I've dropped it onto you like this, but I figured it was a better time than any to ask this of you, Dolores. Also, make sure to discuss this with your parents.
Dolores nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Yeah! T-Thank you for this opportunity, sir!"
"Just call me Apollo." His voice was soft, gentle as he spoke, hands steepled together.
"Thank you, Apollo."