I broke out in a cold sweat as I sat straight from my bed. My head was fuzzy, and I was shaking. I could feel myself about to tear up. I hated this feeling. Whenever I dreamt about the day, the pain, the trauma my party and I went through kills me. A slit in the blinds in the window lets a piece of light hit my eye.
With shaky hands, I block the light before standing up and thoroughly inviting the light into my room. Outside, I could see other buildings towering over one another. These are structures that I would never have seen if I had stayed back in that village.
There are the cars I once dreamt of riding as a kid. People walk on less clean sidewalks than in my village, but I suppose when living in the big city, the people don't care about cleanliness. It hasn't been A while since I moved from my little town. However, the scars that I got there have stayed with me. These past four years have been a nightmare. From all the things that happened to all the training I'd done. While looking out into the city, I couldn't help but chuckle despite being so on edge.
I had some time to think before I came back to my senses with the sound of knocking coming from my door. "Hey, Danny! Wake up, man; we've already planned the whole day!"
There was a pause. "Let's not waste sunlight!"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm getting ready!" I yelled as I changed into my appropriate attire for the day, looking at myself in the mirror. My hair has grown way longer than it has since I've been in my village, Humlide Inizio. Long enough that I could put my hair into a braid and almost long enough to cover the right side of my face. Do I dare say I see some chin hair coming? Nah, not yet; it's still a baby face. I sigh before finishing up in my room to go to the restroom and do my daily routine there. Afterward, I enter the kitchen and see my best friend and roommate, Adrien, preparing breakfast.
He was wearing his favorite apron over his uniform. "Here you are, eat up," he says before serving me my food on our dinner table. I sat down and said my thanks before chowing down on some good grub. Adrien is a pretty well-versed cook. Looking around, our apartment isn't the best, and we don't have the most fantastic income, but the dishes Adrien whips out from nothing are astonishing. I probably wouldn't have survived without my best buddy around. I finished my food and thanked him before taking my dishes to the sink and cleaning them. Adrien finished his food soon after.
"Today we have to hit our quota... before tomorrow..."
"Orientation tomorrow, right?" I asked.
"Yep, we have a big day tomorrow, so let's do our best today."
Today, we have to help around. What I mean by that is our civic duty to keep the peace in our town. We earn a small compensation when working with the police force to keep the peace in the city. Although I have reason to believe they undercut us a little because of our age, at least I know I'm trying to do the right thing. You can say that Adrien and I are mercenaries for hire. Today is supposed to be light, though; there are no life-or-death situations. At least, that's what we're hoping for.
Tomorrow is our first day at our new school in the big city: Dalton Academy, one of the most prestigious academies in the state. Adrien and I got accepted due to our great entrance exam scores... Well, Adrien got excellent scores, and I did just enough to pass. Luckily enough, the physical exams were my saving grace. My pal did great on both. As a result, we moved to the city and got this tiny apartment. I hope to turn my life around with this new beginning I have been given. Hopefully, I can be content with my path by the end of this road.
Lost in thought, Adrien returned me to my senses by snapping. "Let's get on with it, man."
I nodded promptly before we headed out. A gentle breeze from outside collides with me as I open the front door to our building complex. Despite it being summer, today was more refreshing. It was almost like spring had sprung from its bed and gone to work. However, with the autumn season around the corner, this weather makes sense, even just a little. I take a moment to breathe in before taking my strides outside.
Adrien and I patrolled around the city of New Dalton, finding whatever we could do to help the residents. We began with minor activities, such as helping the elderly and distressed kids. Stopping a man who stole a purse was another. Eventually, we did enough to report to the men in uniform back at the station. As we were walking and chatting about our plans, we heard a commotion from a street over.
Adrien and I nodded as we both ran around the corner. A commercial street is filled with many stores. Between the many stores lies a small bank. The bank, locally run by the city, was in the process of being robbed—a couple of gray vans lined up in front of the bank, with smoke escaping from the open doors. I felt a cold sweat drip down my face. I wanted to help, but could I? Was I ready for something like this? I looked at Adrien and reckoned he was thinking the same thing.
Civilians around, keeping their distance from the bank, watch as the event unfolds. Some are on their mobile devices or calling, with what I can only assume are the police, and others are video recording. Pretty daring, I say, for the civilians. I decided to do something. There were no first responders yet. I ran towards the scene, and Adrien followed suit. Some civilians yelled at us to return, saying it was dangerous, but I didn't listen.
Just as I was about to reach the entrance, a red dot appeared from the ground. I stopped in my tracks and looked up. It was a flying machine! Something I have never seen before. I overheard some civilians say that it's helpful. I looked on in amazement, and then a man opened one of the doors of the flying machine. He tossed a rope down before more men and women came descending. Inspecting them, they didn't look like police from their uniforms... They were mercenaries.
Once the first merc came down, they grabbed Adrien and me and returned us to the civilians."Sorry, kids. I know you're trying to play hero, but leave this to the adults," the woman said before rushing back into the scene.
Another man followed behind her, yelling at all the civilians to leave the premises. Within seconds, the civilians began walking away.
Most people were pretty relaxed; some looked irritated, but almost no one was scared.
"Was this normal?" I pondered out loud.
"It seems so. In any case, it looks like we aren't needed." Adrien said, following my pondering. Reluctantly, I agreed. We decided to head to the police station. Sirens grow louder as the first responders arrive at the scene. One of them stopped before us. The driver's seat window moves down, exposing the officer in the seat. It was a man we knew, Adrien's cousin.
"Hey, Cuzo! Are you heading to the station?"The lady yells.
"Hello, Olivia, you look spritely as ever," Adrien said, deadpanned.
Olivia smiles and laughs at Adrien's comment. "Always the jokester you are." She looks over to me and waves. "Hey, Danny boi! Thanks for always keeping my dear ol' cuzo company."
I smile and wave back. "Hey, Olivia! It's no prob, but uh... shouldn't you be going back to what you're doing?" I say, pointing back to the robbery in progress.
She chuckles before looking over at the bank. "Yeah, yeah, it's practically over anyway. Check it." As she nonchalantly points over. Men covered by balaclavas, detained by the mercenaries, leave the building—some of the civilians who stayed clap on. Olivia shifts in her seat, ready to drive.
"Alright, I should go now. Head to the station, you two, and report your work. I'll be there in a little bit. See you!" She says, winking at us both before driving off into the scene. Adrien sighs after she leaves.
"What a pain she is..."Adrien says while pinching the bridge of his nose.
I chuckled before patting Adrien. With that situation resolved, we continued. By the time we made it to the station, we were able to help some more people and made it before evening. We turned in our board with the signatures of the people we helped. One of the officers looks over it and nods.
"Everything seems to be in order, good work." He smiles before going over to his desk and opening up his checkbook. He writes the amount we earned today and signs it. Adrien takes the check and looks at it, his eyes widening.
"This is a lot! Are you sure this is right, sir?" Adrien says, shocked as he looks back at the officer.
"It's no big deal. It's the city that pays for it, not me. I know you kids will be busy now that the new school year starts tomorrow, so I gave you a 'little extra.'"He smirks as he leans backward on his chair.
I took a look at the check he had written for us. I gasped, looking at it. A check for 50 Electrum pieces. That's worth five gold coins or half a platinum coin. Currency in the world is vastly different from what it was a century ago. Society gave up on paper and switched to coins of their true worth. The lowest is copper, then silver, Electrum, gold, and lastly platinum. In comparison, our apartment rent is five Electrum pieces and ten silver, which could make our rent for a couple of months.
"Good luck with your studies, lads. Being in an academy like Dalton is a great prospect." The officer says, then gestures for us to leave the room. Adrien and I nodded before bowing to show our respect.
"Thank you, sir; we appreciate all the support you've given us!" We both said in admiration before we left his office. We said our goodbyes to everyone at the station before leaving. Just outside was Olivia, out of her uniform, smoking. Her hair was long and straight, and she wore an outfit that fit a punk rock girl—a complete 180 from her work uniform.
"There you two are! I've been waiting; I even took the time to change." She smirked as she burned out her cigarette in the public ashtray and discarded it into the trash.
I wave to her while Adrien looks at her with disgust."Why are you wearing that outfit? Aren't you supposed to be a public servant?" He chastised.
An awkward smile forms around Olivia's face as she puts her hands on her chest."Whoa, what's with the scolding? I'm going to a concert in a couple of hours. I just wanted to prepare beforehand, besides..." She retorts as she puts one hand on her waist and the other on the back of her hair. "I look way too cute in this outfit~," she says as she winks at us.
I awkwardly chuckled as Adrien was visibly getting more frustrated.
"Anyways, I heard you two got a nice payday today. So let's get something to eat! I'm starving!" She proclaims as she quits her pose and starts the car.
"With our money! No way!"Adrien yells, having had enough of her nonsense.
Quickly, Olivia gets defensive once more."N-No! I'll pay, so come on!" She exclaimed as she quickly got into the driver's seat. Adrien sighed once more before giving up and hopping in the car. I followed right behind.
We didn't go to any special place, just some local burger joint. I picked the spot, of course, because I loved burgers and wanted some. Olivia and I got the same order, while Adrien got some fries and a milkshake. We got our orders and sat down to chow down. I happily ate everything, savoring the greasy goodness from the burger and fries. I thought about what was to come in life, wondering what would happen tomorrow at orientation. I asked all the people I'd meet; then anxiety ran over. Which Adrien and Olivia can see.
Olivia chimed in. "Everything will be fine, kid. We know it might be hard on you, but you'll do great. Make lots of wonderful memories." She says with a heartfelt smile. I could feel her concern for me, and I smiled. I thought of Olivia as a cool big sister, and she's doing precisely that.
Adrien nods as he stares back at me."I will be there too. Just know you're not alone going in there, pal."
I smile as I can feel my face warm up."Thank you, both of you. I appreciate it."
Their security helped me clear my mind. I had thoughts of what the other students would think of me when they found out about me, if they found out about me. I had trouble in my school in the village, but now it's different. No one knows about me or what I am. I can have a fresh start in this academy. I open my hand and remove my glove, revealing the eye formed that day. It has been dormant since. I put back on my glove and tightened my grip, forming a ball in my fist. I nodded to my thoughts.
"This time, it will be better." I proclaimed to myself, and the two nodded afterward. We finished our meal and left the restaurant with smiles and full stomachs. Olivia stretched before grabbing her keys from her jacket pocket.
"Alright, let's get you boys home before I head out." Agreeing, Adrian and I made our way into the backseat of her car. No matter how many times I sit on this seat, it feels surreal that I'm experiencing it. I never thought I would be able to sit down in a car. Back in the village, there were only horse-drawn carriages. Content, I hum to myself while Oliva starts the vehicle, and we drive away.