Shattered bottles and piles of unconscious bodies laid on the floor. Each with various amounts of burns, bruises and dislocated bones. The lady smiled, her hand firmly placed around the leader's neck with her knee pressing down on his gut. Calmly, she took out her glasses, analyzing the tattoo placed by his heart.
" Yeah, it matches the description."
"What description- AHH!"
The woman's grip around the man's neck tightened, bringing him closer to analyze the logo on his neck.
" So you're part of the Black Treasury guild aren't yea. Well, I don't need you to tell me that. So, what is this "Big Mission" you had planned?"
The lady slightly opened her hand to let him speak.
" Stupid- Journalist - AH!"
" Oh goodie, that makes things way easier. For a second there I thought you knew my alias."
Crushing his ribs with a little more pressure from her knee. "Either way-" The lady leaned into his ear and whispered.
" You should know that journalists aren't strangers to cruel and unusual punishments, Barlor."
The man's eyes widened trying to break free which only caused him more pain.
" I wonder how long your family is going to survive without money. "
The lady slightly opened her hand once more.
" I'll tell you what I know so please-"
"Not good enough." The lady pressed down on his stomach once more. " I need to know where I can find more once I'm done with you. I need your boss, your informant, your supplier, all you got you hear me."
"Yes! Yes! Please-"
" Start talking! I'm getting impatient!"
" It's a grand attack on the Insight Cathedral. Some event is going on today and the turn out should even include some of the Elders of Caster. We're tasked with causing enough panic as far away from it as possible while forcing backup to take longer to get there."
" With only the twenty of you. I don't buy it."
" We're only one squadron, the other two are in the north and southeast."
" What time will the main event start?!"
" 2pm! I have no idea when they will decide to strike."
"What's the man's name? Who's leading you?'
" A guy nicknamed Twenty-One. Please, I don't know any more!"
The lady grabbed the man's arm, looking at his watch.
'12:23, I should have time to let them know and prepare a counter.'
First tapping her back, then looking around the room, before a look of desperation came across her face.
"Where's my journal….."
A wave of fear overcame her. Taking a quick jab at his throat, the lady jumped to her feet. Running through the door, she threw her lighter, setting the whole room on fire in an instant as she ran down the hall.
" Ore! "
Bouncing off the wall, running beside her was a rabbit, colored white with black dots, strapped with a bag. A black patch-filled cloak covered her and her face.
' This isn't good!'
"Ore, find my Journal, and keep me updated."
"Yes, mistress."
…
Voices could be heard from the bottom floor to the second level of the building as eyes were on Aizen and his brother Jared as they walked through the Cathedral's front doors. Whispers traveled and telepathic communication sent signals through the air, all of which Aizen could decode.
[ That cape, is it him?]
[ The chosen successor. The Masterpiece which Miss Koto has yet
to finish.]
[ The youngest wielder of the Distortion. The first to awaken it as their Core.]
[ Who would have thought he would be back so soon.]
[Isn't he nineteen?]
[ Who's that kid with him? Is that his brother?]
[ Another prodigy in the making.]
Aizen smiled as held his brother closer toward him. His white jacket fluttered behind him. Its italicized "I" written like an upside down scale, engraved on the back, glowed white as his black eyes held the sheen of shiny graphite.
Aizen looked down at his watch.
' 2:05 pm. They haven't finished their preliminaries yet. We should be fine to-'
Feeling extreme shaking from his side. Aizen turned to his brother, covering his ears, applying as much pressure on his head without hurting his already wounded hand.
'Why won't it stop? [ The noises, it hurts!]'
Placing his hand on Jared's head, a slightly white color glowed from his eyes.
[ I'll suppress it for now but you're going to have to get used to it.]
[Aizen?] The noises constantly echoing in his head were quickly suppressed as Jared looked up to his brother in confusion.
[ That was Aizen, right? But his mouth didn't move.]
[ Yeah, it was me. And stop staring, alright. Before people think something is wrong.]
[ WAIT! IS THIS!]
[AH! Stop yelling! Wow, that's one way to get a quick migraine. Ah. Yes, this is the Insight Mental Network. The one that you see me and dad use all the time. Mom too, but not as often. Look around you. ]
Jared looked around and although people looked like they were talking, a whole other conversation was being had between them.
[ This is so trippy, it's hurting my head watching their mouth move but hearing completely different things.]
[ Another thing you're going to have to get used to. Right now, everyone's access is light so even inexperienced dweebs like yourself can hear it.]
[ Cram it.]
[ Well, you wouldn't have had this problem if you came out of your room and went to class like your father and I.]
[ And I don't regret a single second of it. I had all the textbook reference material at home. I'm probably more knowledgeable about the world than all the kids here.]
[ But yet you have a problem with using the most basic of Insight expressions.]
[ Uhm, Sir Aizen, can we speak to you for a second? It's something important.]
Jared looked up at his brother imitating the same action as the other people in the room but was unable to hear a single word of what they were truly asking to each other. Aizen's face slowly became more concerned, looking at his brother with a hint of disappointment before focusing on himself.
[ Alright, it looks like we're a little light on manpower today so they need me on patrol.]
[ As expected. Just go do your job or whatever.] ' This is why I'll never join a guild'
[ I'll be back before your name is called. So take your seat and enjoy becoming an Awakened with your fellow friends.]
Aizen rushed off as Jared watched him be taken away by other members of the Insight Guild. Jared turned, walking though the main doors of the event. Hundreds of people looked down from the second floor as pews of kids sat in front. As he took his seat, a lady elegantly walked onto the pulpit. Her luxurious white boa scarf hung from her shoulders. Spectators watching from the second floor noticed two strands of dark lavender hair that draped over her face.
The crowds cheered and praised her before she could even say a word. They called the woman Jared identified as Miss Melinda, Miss Koto. Although the two were close, they never delved into one another's secrets and pasts. As a result Jared truly knew nothing about this entity called Miss Koto or should he call her Miss Melinda for today… he pondered to himself staring at her from afar. Her slender frame standing at 5'11 in her white heels, Melinda uncuffed her ears with disdain. Her bubblegum eyes glowed an arctic blue as she continued to communicate telepathically.
The walls, lined with books, told stories of eras, ancestors, and dynasties long forgotten by the young. Wilting from the passage of time, the novels only kept their structural integrity because of how well they were preserved by the elders. Professor Melinda called Mina by name, gesturing her forward. Millennia of ancient Insight scriptures overwhelmed her. Vibrations created by the fearful child started to tip over the bookshelves that stood in front of her. At this point, Melinda knew that Mina's examination was already checked and graded. The longer one second-guessed their actions was the weaker their overall ability would get. This was not to say haste equated to strength, but moreso hesitation was worse than failure.
During the hundred of rituals over her years in this position, Melinda had seen things and noticed patterns that she wished she never learned.
'There are only two types of people in this world. Those who choose their paths or those who have theirs chosen.'
A book from the top shelf gracefully fell into the palm of the professor's hand.
'It seems like it has chosen.'
[You have De-function. Do you want to keep this ability or risk it for Distortion?
Remember, it's only a chance of getting it. If you fail, you will be identified as powerless till you awaken the concept on your own.]
Mina was content so she smiled. [I'm fine.]
Melinda was relieved by Mina's response and smiled with joy. She then took out a piece of paper with a couple of hundred names. Underneath Mina was written a lower-level noble named Fozuzu. Melinda looked and called Fozuzu forward. She could see the hastiness in the core of Fozuzu's aura and knew what his answer would be. Yet she continued with the ritual as usual. [You got Dial-up, which allows you to connect your thoughts with other people. The first member of our family had this ability and commanded thousands to conquer and control the lands. Do you want to kee-]
Fozuzu cut in. [No thanks, give me a shot with that Distortion.]
Professor Melinda revealed a hidden bookcase without all the other abilities the kids were choosing from. [Choose wisely young one.]
Professor Melinda was disappointed even though she had seen this happen hundreds of times. A glimpse of despair could be seen on her face. She knew he had failed the moment that Distortion didn't fall into her hands when the bookcase was moved.
Fozuzu was oozing with arrogance. He pointed at the first book that he saw as the bookcase opened up. [This one.]
Melinda looked at Fozuzu with a mournful face. Clearly affected by what she had witnessed many times already. All the hopes and dreams of young Insight children being dashed because of their arrogance or naivety. [I'm sorry, there is nothing more I can do. Officers... train him well.]
"What? NO! NO! NO!" Fozuzu started to break down. Seeing the guards inching closer around him he tried to claw for an escape. But there was none for him. There was only darkness.
[Last, but not least, Jared.] To bring back a positive mood to this ceremony Professor Melinda gave a round of applause to Jared. Jared stood up from his seat. Everyone around him was boiling with anger, hoping that he would get something terrible, something worse than what they had gotten. Although daggers were stared into his back, Jared didn't care. These were the same people he would disown if given the chance.