Shattered bottles and unconscious bodies lay on the floor, each marked with burns, bruises, and dislocated bones. The woman smiled, her hand firmly placed around the leader's neck with her knee pressing down on his gut.
Calmly, she took out her glasses and leaned over the tattoo near 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 near his neck.
"So you're part of the Black Treasury Guild, aren't ya? Well, I don't need you to tell me that. So, what is this "Big Mission" you had planned?"
The lady eased her grip to let him speak.
"Stupid... Journalist... AH!"
"Oh goodie, that makes things way easier. For a second there I thought you knew my alias."
She pressed her knee down harder. "Either way..." She leaned into his ear.
"Journalists aren't strangers to cruel and unusual punishments, Barlor."
The man's eyes widened, struggling to break free, which only caused him more pain.
"I wonder how long your family is going to survive without money."
She let off the pressure, barely.
"I'll tell you what I know so please-"
"Not good enough." The woman 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 turnout 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 his wrist and checked his watch.
'12:23, I should have time to let them know and prepare a counter.'
She tapped her back first, then scanned the room. Nothing. Desperation broke across her face.
"Where's my journal….."
Her stomach dropped. Taking a quick jab at his throat, the woman jumped to her feet. She threw her lighter back through the door as she sprinted down the hall, the room erupting behind her.
"Ore!"
A white rabbit with black spots kept pace beside her, a small bag buckled across its back, its cloak flapping. A black, patch-covered cloak hid her face and figure.
' 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 and telepathic signals moved through the air alike, all of it readable to Aizen.
[ 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 he pulled his brother closer. His white jacket fluttered behind him. Its italicized I, shaped like an upside-down scale, glowed white against the fabric, matching the graphite sheen of his eyes.
' 2:05 pm. They haven't finished their preliminaries yet. We should be fine to...'
Aizen turned to his brother, who was shaking violently, and pressed his hands over Jared's ears.
'Why won't it stop? [ The noises, it hurts!]'
Aizen placed a hand on Jared's head, a faint white glow edging 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 mouths 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, trying to mirror the blank expressions around him, catching none of the words being exchanged. Aizen's expression shifted (concern, then something like disappointment) before he turned inward.
[ 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 broke away with the Insight Guild members and was gone. Jared turned, walking through 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 swept onto the pulpit. Her luxurious white boa scarf hung from her shoulders. Two strands of dark lavender hair draped across 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 Miss Melinda for today. He watched her from across the room, uncertain.
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 held centuries. Shelves of books recorded eras and dynasties the young had already forgotten. 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 beckoned Mina. Millennia of ancient Insight scriptures poured over Mina. 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, the weaker their overall ability would become. This was not to say haste equated to strength, but more so, hesitation was worse than failure.
During the hundreds of rituals over her years in this position, Melinda had seen things and noticed patterns she wished she'd never recognized.
'There are only two types of people in this world. Those who choose their paths or those who have theirs chosen.'
A book drifted from the top shelf and settled into the professor's palm.
'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 list of hundreds of names. The name below Mina's belonged to a lower-level noble, Fozuzu. Melinda looked and summoned Fozuzu. Fozuzu's aura flickered with impatience. She could read the answer before he spoke. 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, separate from the ones the other children had chosen from. [Choose wisely young one.]
Professor Melinda was disappointed even though she had seen this happen hundreds of times. 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. She had watched it so many times. Everything those children had wanted was thrown away in one arrogant moment. [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 close in, he clawed for an exit. But there was none for him.
[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. These were the same people he would disown if given the chance.