She was a woman in her thirties with the tired eyes of an old one. She lived a rather boring life in a well off kingdom. She was a teacher teaching the art of letters yet her life lacked any excitement. She was a widow that was married to a sickly man that only a year later after they got married, no one gave her even a second gaze after that. She lived her life the same way every day. Same food, same moments, same work, same hobby, same desires, same smile, same conversations, same dreams. Her life has became a loop, a same. The excitement faded away and she became no more than a shell of the woman she once was.
"Do you believe in the miracles of magic my lady? The warm nature of mana and the kiss of spells."
His face was painted in colorful pastel colours, the face of a fool and the smile of one as well. Slim body accompanied with that colorful outfit like that of jesters. His hands were open and from the came out stardust that gave everyone the power to see another day.
She was jealous but more than that she was amazed, she was ready to do whatever it takes to be like him, to have something unique in her mundane life.
She learned that this man was following another god, not the god of order but another god kind enough to help the poor on the streets of this city painted in sweat and blood.
"His title is The Inevitable End, Prince of Withering Flowers, Bearer of Sin and Virtue, the Creator of All in Existence, the Destruction of All in Existence."
"Aren't you a prophet of his? You told me yourself that Gods have true names that shall not be said out loud. I am sure you can say it."
The man was silent but before him was the first person that believed in his new god. He didn't know if the reason was because she needed something to believe of she just wanted to stay with him. He could guess that she had feelings for him yet as someone of mission he had to hold back and ignore her actions.
"The 4th Hero, the Traitor Durante of the Flowers. He gave up upon his body to save us all from this darkness."
The woman let the jester stay at her home and in return he trained her in the art of mana. That was the moment she felt happiness for the first time, she learned how much of a prodigy she was. She reached the level of a professional mage in no time and learned all the basic techniques like mana vein and magic reversal which let her flames heal instead of burn by changing the way it is constructed. She also learned the art of condensation and expendation. This was the single moment in her life where she felt like she could be of any help to anyone and feel special. With the weird jester she helped the poor and went around preaching. The others gave weird looks but did she care about them? Of course not.
Her feelings were complicated. He lived the man yet their relationship never went beyond that of a master and student one. She never knew if she lived him or the sensation of having importance. He was a weird man wearing the clithes of a jester just because he wanted people to smile when they saw him, a failed prophet that saved only a few little kids with his religion, mostly vagrants on the streets.
The her life that gained importance for the first time ended in a tragedy. One cry of pain, one drop of blood on the ground. A disgusting figure laying on the ground, half naked with the smell of sweat.
Now that the chance was given the lord gathered up the paladins and went on a rampage on the streets killing all that believed in that so called true god.
Piles of corpses on the sidewalks, torn limbs and distant cries in the air. Tears ran down her eyes with each cry.
"Run...please leave things to me. I would prefer if you and others lived....go! What are you looking at?"
She cried at the prophet before launching forward covered in flames and countless explosions moving her body around.
She died later on. The paladins died but a weird boy captured her and after two days of torture she was hanged on the gallows. A body covered in bruises, a body mutilated by the men, a dislocated jaw and an eye ripped out from the socket, dried blood on her thighs. The corpse hanged there for a few seconds before a sounds was heard, a cry.
Help me!
Somehow from that dislocated jaw came out a complete sentence...no to be exact it came from her own resolve and humanity.
Order! Self fulfilling wishing machine!
Before them stood a mechanical amalgamation with protruding mechanical parts coming out of her body. Her body was ripped apart inside out and where her chest was supposed to be was a screen. The green hue showed a single word.
Death
Around fifteen thousand people died that day in less than a second, ripped apart by her mechanical claw. I could have counted them all yet I found it meaningless. Why would they matter when they don't matter for her. After the deaths her body stopped moving. There was nothing left of her and the sheer will of her couldn't keep the body moving. In the end she died and there was nothing left of her until the boy came once more.
"Why did you break? I thought you would be the one..."
The mechanical abomination moved once more, not with hatred or as a fear response but rather as a calculated movement to fulfill it's new owners wish. It charged forward with an explosion but before the claws could touch the boy it found itself above the earth.
A round planet that where humans and other races lived, a beautiful place made of a single continent and above it.
Thousands of beams of lights climbed towards the sky while ricocheting around as if the sky was made of mirrors, the storm of beams circled the so called toy as it launched itself down, it's body dodging each and every one of them with it's calculations. This representation of her monotonous life reached down in less than a second.
"Ul Caliver!"
It's body was torn apart with one slash, nothing more nothing less. The city fell with one attack not even directed to it, nothing more nothing less.
"...you really tried your best...such love. Thank you! Thank you so much for your determination! I have....I have fallen in love!"
He was hugging the torn off head of the mechanical being, kissing it every now and then while watching the sight of the city slashed in half
"Why are you looking like that? Why are you alive? Are you going to play with me too?"
The clown was shedding tears of sorrow, losing all that he cared about in a single moment.
This is what prophets are, just unstable weapons of war.
He walked towards the closest busy street
which took him around fifteen minutes. He failed to remember most places names and only knew them by their purpose. This street was one he rarely went. He had to go to the Saint Robert street which was filled with refineries and small factories, turn right and go up towards to pass through the slums before reaching it. It was a place known for restaurants and law firms which were all things needed by the merchants arriving at the city. He stopped a carriage and showed him the location on the letter before making his way.
It would cost so much to get to these parts with a private carriage. I should learn the public carriage routes from someone so that I will not be spending all my money on the road. Maybe I might be able to find a cheap place to stay instead but would father let that happen? It really depends on how much they pay me. Father said it is a risky job so the pay can't be that low and since they need a talent most people lack they should at least pay me enough to rent a small house.
The republic of Lulush has been on the lower side when it came to the quality of life. The cheap labor and low age of consent made it easy to find people to work in factories, even in matters like lead paint business. They were ready to do anything for just a bit more money after all. The money used was named after the country and the denominations were like this.
One golden Lulush was worth 12 silver lulush and each silver lulush was worth 16 copper Lulush. Copper lulush were in denominations of 1,2,4,8 and for silver it was 1,2,5. These were rare but gold Lulush had paper versions of it which the rich used. Someone of low income could only dream to see a hundred gold on a paper in their entire life. Each gold Lulush weights 0.5 gram and is more than the average rent of a small house.
"So why are you dressed like that? First day in work?"
"Yeah something like that. It is more of a visit than anything I have to deliver this letter and well if things go good I will get a new job for sure."
"As a private investigator? Well not a job to be proud of but at least it must be paying good."
Private investigators were known as people just called upon by the rich to find reasons to divorce their partners before getting a new one, a group of people sucking on the blood on those high people. They were rarely contacted by police or for any reason other than things like affairs. The concept of a detective was something unheard by most as well which didn't make things any better.
Well didn't really expect that. I think somewhere like a Cafe would have been better, at least easier to take care of while doing other more important things.
"Anything for money. Look at outside I would rather survive rather than die from lead poisoning or something from the paint. I would rather swallow my pride than die."
"Ohhh boy what are you doing here? We need you in politics...as if there is a person there that cares about their honor."
"Can't have a soul if you are selling your own country to those rich...."
The cart stopped before the boy could continue.
"This country is doomed let me tell you."
The boy left after saying a final sentence and found himself infront of a rather old building. It was made of bricks and had two floors but it was obvious the upper floor was just a flat. There was a sign on top made of wood. Red Fish Private Investigation office. There was a smaller line down that read: Any one of your problems will be solved.
Well that sounds weird the more you think about it. What are we supposed to be? A band of mercenaries? Do we handle the dirty business of people or something. Might as well call ourselves a mercenary and call it a day.
He entered the building as the sound a bell accompanied him. Before him was a table and a bookcase behind but there was no person to greet him.
"Anyone here? Don't tell me it is just me and ghosts of the long gone here!"
After a second of silence a man come from the other side of the door leading inside. He was wearing a magenta shirt with the first few buttons unbuttoned to reveal more of him, trouser with wide cuffs that swallowed his shoes, he had long slightly wavy hair going down to his waist and a flower hanging from his shirts pocket. Bronze skin and a somewhat muscular figure, not a lot but at least but still all that is needed to be called handsome including the face.
What a fancy fellow. Do they let people come to work like this? Is he even from here?
"Ooooooooooo....I am kidding I am kidding.How can I help you sir? Is there something specific you came here for? An investigation perhaps?"
Clear accent. Doesn't seem to be a foreigner then, maybe he is just a bit fancy. Is this type of males popular these days? Why do I feel like an old guy yapping about the change of times now.
"Yes I was supposed to come here for work...I was given this letter. As an apprentice of course doubt I would just get hired outright I know nothing about how things work...why are you staring at me like that?"
After a few seconds of silence the blank face of the man suddenly changed as he laughed loudly.
"Hahahahahahahaha! Apprentice? Apprentice! They took that whole system down like five years ago! We just do an exam most of the times...so don't you have a letter or something?"
They took it down? Was it that hard to give them a visit once in a while father? Did they trick you or something? I will die of embarrassment one day you will see!
"Here just take it I will ho study for the exam or something."
Boy took out the letter before taking a step away and squeezing his face between his palms.
What I get for not being a blacksmith or a cook.
"Let me see...hmmmm...huh uh...huh? Who is that girl?...huuuuuuuu...oh come on you can't just leave it at that!"
The man out the letter in his pocket in a hurry, he seemed more shocked rather than anything else.
"Well that was something...curiosity killed the cat...I better give it to captain once he comes back."
What can be there to be that shocking? Did father yap about personal things or goofy memories of him with this captain in the letter? Maybe I should ask him when I get a chance....or well I better keep this to myself it will be something like back in my day we didn't have proper ships so my friend Alphonse died while trying to swim to the upper continent so funny right?
"So what is the exam about? Don't tell me I will be running around for hours or climbing houses...well would be better if it wasn't about theology as well."
"Oh you will see! I am not letting you go that easily why not take it today? Are you ready? Does your require time for preparation?"
"No no it is nothing like that.."
"Is it something that is combat focused by nature? Answer truthfully I don't want to see you leaving here with bandages all over. That would only increase my things to do list by adding sweeping the dried blood on there."
"No no I can use it whenever I want...I can fight too...what will I fight against?"
The man put his hand over the boy's shoulder before taking him inside. There was a long hall with 5 different doors. He opened the second one on the right revealing a man laying on a leather couch while listening to the radio.
"A man of course ehat were you hoping to fight? Hey! Lucio come spar with this new blood I have better things to do!"
"Like writing poems for your so called fans? Do something other than wasting your life for those sluts trying to get in your pants. Who is this? Did they send him after the previous one died in his first?"
Died? In his first? Hope a carriage hit him or something in his first job or something alike and not some weird thing.
"Nope this one is a fresh blood. I hope he will last longer than the other. We also need at least one to hang out with them and her."
The man left the boy behind before leaving the room. The room was mostly just empty space other than two couches. A small desk with a radio and a small drawer.
"Well what are we waiting for lets get this over with."
Lucio got up before slowly taking his shirt off revealing his naked torso. He had a very muscular build which was nearly impossible to see outside on a normal day. He had very short hair which was one step away from baldness. He had a white skin and a thin mustache right above his lips that refused to touch his nose and his lips. His facial features were sharp unlike the previous man and he wasn't shaved on the chest unlike the previous one as well. His body was covered in cuts and bruises as if he survived an attack from 10 men at once.
"Won't you take them off? Or do you prefer your clothes getting covered in sweat?"
At least he is straight to the point...not that I am getting past this without a few bruises and no sleep tonight. Hope something good comes up at least.
The boy took his shirt and rest off other than his trousers. Before tossing them on the couch.
"Not a bad body but why is your torso so skinny compared to the rest?"
"I was a blacksmith before and was helping restaurants carry things around before that what do you expect? I am Antares by the way nice to meet you."
"Weird name and weird body. Now I feel good the weird ones like us last a long time. I am Lucio as you heard from him and he is Ae. Yes another weird name, out male members might be cursed."
Well whatever wish we just started this already. We can talk for hours once I pass this examination or whatever it is.
"Well do whatever you can to hurt me. No explosions because we don't want police to come here and also no firearms for the same reason. Come on surprise me!"
Well you are asking for it boss.
"Today's thought is if happiness comes from feeling special."
"What?...oh now I see so you have one of those conditional ones."
The body of Antares changed as his body became thinner all around and his face changed into a more feminine form. Lucio could lift his arms up he charged forward with a kick.
Lucio bent his body back in an abnormal way before witnessing a wave of fire slamming on him. With the help of his hand touching the ground he threw himself to the left while letting out a groan.
Antares pulled to the side before a whip of fire atrong enough to melt flesh off eith contact formed in his hands and slammed down Lucio only for him to be missing as if he was never there. There was only a few drops of liquid on the ground as if he vanished and turned into drops of water.
"Never thought fire out of all things would come and find me. Don't let Emil see this, they are still scared of open flames."
He rotated his body for a kick and accelerated it by forcing the fire out like an exhaust only for it to be dodged once more. Antares touched the ground with one hand before sending a small wave of crimson only for something to stop it as if it was no more than a weak wave hitting a rock.
"We really can't do much here huh...well we just dont have a big space to spar. Unlucky as always you know! But we can'tjust do normal hand to hand combat and act like that us enough to decide."
Lucio's body was covered by water like a membrane, his hands were in his pockets and his posture was calm. His face looked almost irritated by the fact that he couldn't text anything out of the fear that the public image might be damaged.
"Cut! Enough for today I would say you get a pass at least you can move and attack. Potency is lacking but you really were holding back there weren't you..."
A black thick fluid gushed out of Antares's mouth as his body returned to it's original size. He didn't seem to be in pain but just disgusted by his own form.
"Sorry...it comes out whenever I do it. And yes I couldn't use most things I got. I am like a dough, I can be a olive bread or a sour dough yet in the end the returning process makes a mess..."
Lucio looked at him with a blank face before speaking with voice of proud heard behind.
"At least you passed it. I really wanted to put you down there but you still have to fill out the paperwork and wait for captain. You still did better than Ae. He failed against me but captain still accepted him for some reason. I am not complaining he has been useful in multiple ways yes but then why is there an exam?
"Yeah...why is there one?"
"No more than a tradition at this point. Back in the old times they needed people that can actually fight and had no time to train them so they would put everyone against someone experienced and make them fight till they passed out to see who did the best."
Antares let out a chuckle after remembering something important.
"Well someone will be cleaning something worse..."