ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ[March 1st, 6:00 AM, BaleFire, 'Dormitory 1-A'.]
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤIt had been a long, long time. Two years, to be just a slight bit more specific. It felt like it was worth it, it felt like it was a grand accomplishment to come back in one piece. Sure, he was scarred, gruffer, different... but he was so, so much grander; And he was on track to keep his promise...
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤA man that looked to be in his early twenties would slowly stir, waking up as he heard the alarm blare from his 'Comm'. "Uh- Fuck..." Reaching his hand over and muting it, he would groan as he got up out of bed. "God damn it Leo... why do we have to meet so early...?" He began to approach the far end of his room, his hair was messy and short; Falling just past his ears. Against the wall sat a large, sturdy desk, and above that, sat a window with its blinds drawn.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤThe man reached over and undrew the blinds, letting the morning light not just seep Into his room, but also blind him for just a moment. "Mikhail Solis..." His retina would slowly adjust as he brought his hand up, shielding his eyes for a brief second. Slowly, he would peer out Into the place where it all began. Seven years ago he arrived, two years ago he left; And one day ago, he came home...
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤOutside the window would sit a grand campus, one that was one of the world's hearts. A landmark of humanities resilience to the cards they were drawn within its life time. The buildings within this campus would be old yet proud, lecture halls, dining halls and training halls would dot the area. Students were already awake, ready for the first day of the school year. All of it would be over looked by the tower of the campus, right in the center; it sat and reached for the very clouds that cascaded over the land...
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤThe man just stared for a moment, his amber eyes settling on the very top of the tower. "What a fuckin' eye sore..." He turned his back to the window and started to whistle a low tune as he started his morning routine. Taking a shower, brushing his teeth, washing his face... the usual. After a good amount of time he would start to dress, his outfit was mismatched, as if he gathered each article of clothing from a separate place on the planet.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤHe wore a simple white tank top to cover his torso, only to cover that up with a weathered brown bomber jacket. It had a leather brand that said 'Carrïan Original, Since 1834'. His pants were dark green and baggy, covered in various pockets lining the length of pant legs; on the waist band read, 'Ko§, Marabella'. He would then put on a pair of black sneakers with golden laces, on the the back of the heels read, 'Mantlë, Ground Born 25's'. Finally, as he walked to his door, he would grab a pair of Aviator's, the frame was golden and the lenses were purely blacked out.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤAs he walked out of his room, he would wipe the bottom half of his face with his hand, it was only now noticeable that both of his arms, from the forearms down, were covered in what seemed to be medical wrappings. Now fashioned as wrappings a boxer would use. As his hand left his face and fell back down to his side, he would grow a smile, on that seemed more proud than happy. He closed his door and started to walk down the halls of the dormitory. As his door closed, an emblem with engravings would be seen on the front. It read, 'Sonne Reighsen'Fell, Room #22, BaleFire.'
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤThe campus was vibrant under the light of the sun, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the massive stature of the buildings within would cast seemingly never ending shadows. Students of all shapes and sizes, cultures and races would walk throughout the halls. It was as if this place was a melting pot of the world... This, was BaleFire. One of the most prestigious and greatest collages in the world, it was one of the five hearts that held everything together.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤSonne made his way out of the dormitory building, and as he set foot onto the inner circle of the campus, the sun would cast his shadow behind him. All he did was look up as he walked, staring right at the top of the tower, a closer look would show an office occupied the space at the top. He snickered to himself as he gently shook his head and made a beeline to the base of the tower. There would be small, short hallway that led to an elevator. Stepping in, he would press one of two buttons. He began to ascend.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ[March 1st, 6:46 AM, BaleFire, 'The Perch Tower'.]
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ-
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ[March 1st, 6:47 AM, BaleFire, 'Leonard's Office'.]
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤAt the very top, the elevator would ding and the door would open to a circular room. On one side; the side that housed the elevator door, would be lined with bookshelves of varying heights. The other side would be lined with one massive floor to ceiling window that matched the circumference of the room. It overlooked one half of the campus, as well as the neighboring city in the distance. A desk would sit on the windowed side of the office and face toward the elevator door and three people would occupy the area around it; In the center, a large man sat, his elbows would be propped up on the desk, his fingers entwined with each other. On the left was another man, he leaned on the deskside and held a flask in his hand. Finally, on the left was a woman who's posture was ramrod straight, hands behind her back.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤSonne walked Into the office as the elevator door opened and then subsequently closed behind him. He moved like he owned the place. "Sorry I'm a little late, still getting used to time zone here in-" He would come to a stop after only a few steps, his smile grew into a very delighted grin. "Ho-ho-oh! Didn't think I was getting this warm of a welcome back!" He would plant his hands on his hips as he looked to each person, starting with the man on the left side of the desk. "Jack." He gave the man a firm nod, he then looked to the woman on the right. "Lady Elaine.~" He would click his tongue as he looked to the center, right at the large man. "Leo." He would give the man a curt nod as he crossed his arms over his chest.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤElaine would hold a familiar scowl on her face, one that Sonne knew all to well. "Reighsen'Fell... you're as, 'punctual' as ever... and late." Her tone was stern and unyielding, yet a small bit of fondness could be heard from her tongue. She was dressed in a regal and formal robe, a mixture of blacks, purples and gold would line her body. Her hair was a light blonde-ish cream color, tied in a low hanging ponytail that slung over her shoulder.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤJack looked to Sonne and give him a lazed nod, he scoffed as he looked him up and down. "Look at you, walking like you're the shit... it's good to see you again, kid. Looks like those two years did you good enough..." He moved his hands to his pockets as he pushed of the deskside, now standing upright, a weary smile on his face. He was dressed in a long, ragged cloak, and wore a hat with a long brim that wrapped around the entirely of his head. His hair was jet black and shaggy, falling into a messy middle part that complimented the stubble that lined his jaw.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤLeo smiled as he saw Sonne, it was if he hadn't seen him for an entire life time. "Sonne, my boy. It's good to see you face to face after these years. I trust you were properly accommodated across the kingdoms?" He would reach over and gently grab a mug, full of what seemed to be green tea. He was dressed in a more professional attire, a white dress shirt with a black overcoat. His hair was slicked back and a mixture of greys a whites. To match the hair, he had a long gruff beard that fell just above his chest.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤSonne chuckled as he looked to the three. "Yeah, yeah I was alright.~ Thanks for that by the way- It uh... made it a lot easier to get adjusted to each kingdom..." He would then look to Jack. "And yeah, I'd say they did me damn good.~" Then to Elaine, giving her a more proper and appropriate nod.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤElaine's scowl would soften just the slightest bit, only to let out a brief sigh as she reached up under her glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose. "That... is good to hear. You are, alright? Health wise, I mean..." She would adjust her glasses as she brought her hand back down.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤSonne snickered from his nose, his shoulders gently bobbing up and down. "Yes, Elaine. I'm completely fine.~ I mean, fuck-" He moved his hands, placing one hand on his hip as he gestured with the other. "-After training and learning from you two for five years? I knew I was ready for anything, and everything.~" He then looked to Leo again. "Now... you mentioned there were a few things I should know; that we should, talk about?" He started to smile with his teeth as he planted his hands back into his pockets. "I don't wanna keep you three here longer then you should be, so... what's up?"
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤThe air in the room felt... heavier. Not like it was a somber moment, more like a movie theater while the climax of a film was on the verge of happening.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤLeo nodded his head as he gently plated his hands on his desk. His eyes briefly glancing to Jack, then to Elaine, only to fall back onto Sonne. "Right... I called you here to discuss your role within 'BaleFire'... as well as more, private matters..." He pulled back slightly as he reached under his desk and pulled out a pristine looking 'Comm' device. He set it on the desk and slide it towards Sonne. "First, I thought you could use a pick me up. You've had the same 'Comm' for the past... what? Seven years now?" He leaned back in his seat and gestured for Sonne to take it.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤWith a scoff and a smirk, Sonne took a few more steps forward, now right at the other side of the desk. He reached down and grabbed the 'Comm' device, it was everything you would need. A small device that could be an alarm, send messages, watch cat videos... It had it all. "Well, would ya' look at that.~ Thank ya, headmaster.~" He held up the device, only to look towards Leo. "Second...?"
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤElaine would cut in. "Second is your team, as well as your schedule. Both are already in the 'Comm'... I'm sure you already know about most of it." She then glanced to Leo, only to look back at Sonne. "Customary, as you know, 'BaleFire' prides itself on our 'Squads'... in your 'Comm' you will see who your lifelong 'Squadmates' will be." She looked to Sonnes 'Comm' as she gave him a subtle nod.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤSquads… 'Lifelong Squadmates'. It was strange how time seemed to pause as soon as those words left Elaine's mouth. It was as if she had spoke some Taboo word that was never meant to be... Although, it was only Sonne that felt time pause, even if it truly didn't...
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤHis smile faltered and his jaw tensed for a second, only to relax the next. He let out a quick laugh from his nose, it was more like an annoyed exhale... "'Squads'... how could I forget about 'Squads'..." At this point, Sonne would reach up and gently take off his shades, hooking them on the waist band of his pants, right at his v-line. It was the first time Leo, Jack, and Elaine had seen his eyes in two years... It was not the same gaze as the man that left all that time ago. "Right, that's what I wanted to discuss on my part..." He looked Leo directly in his eyes.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤJack peered over as Sonne removed his shades, they didn't lock eyes, but Jack could tell he was... off. "Discuss? What's there to discuss kid?" He'd let out a hearty laugh from his chest. "You're getting what you wanted, to be 'The Guardian of BaleFire'!" He smiled as he threw up his hands in mock-theatrics, only to then start fiddling with one of the rings on his hands.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤSonne looked to Jack, finally matching his gaze. It wasn't the same look he gave Jack when he was younger, no... Once, it was full of awe and admiration. But now... it was full of... pity. "Exactly, 'The Guardian of BaleFire'..." He would look back to Leo as he set the 'Comm' back down on the desk. "Leo, Jack, Elaine... what I am about to say is with full respect..." He looked to Elaine first. "You taught me everything you knew about 'Varmint', 'Soul', and 'Spirit'... 'Crystals'..." He then looked to Jack. "You, taught me everything you could about combat... weapons, strategy." Finally, he looked to Leo. "And you made me live... you granted me the path to my dream, you sent me on the steps to become, 'The Greatest Hunter in History'!" His smile fell and his expression became more... stoic, withdrawn... "Which Is why I have to apologize, but... If I'm apart of a team? I will not be apart of 'BaleFire'." A brief moment would pass before Sonne turned to approach the elevator door.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤElaine's eyes widened, her head snapping to look at Sonne as he left. She looked at him like he just smacked her. "Excuse me...?" She took a step foward as she spoke. "Young man, what are you-!" She would hesitate as she looked to Jack's reaction.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤThe ring between Jack's fingers would stop rolling through them, and slowly, he would look to Sonne as he was leaving; His eyes falling onto the wrappings that barley peaked out at the bottom of Sonne's sleeves... "The fuck...- What the hell did you just say...?" He wasn't looking at Sonne like Elaine did, he looked at Sonne like he stabbed him in the back.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤHe was about five steps from the elevator door before he paused and looked over his shoulder. "I said, if I am apart of a 'Squad', I am not apart of 'BaleFire'...~" He turned to face fully them, but only made a half-hearted pivot. "I am not the same boy you knew when I left. Like I said-" He looked to Elaine. "-You taught me everything you knew... not everything Iknow..." He then looked at Jack. "And you taught me all you could... not everything Ican do now..." He finally turned to face the three fully, now looking at Leo. "Before I left, I promised you Iwould be your 'Guardian'..." He brought his hands up, to gesture as he spoke in a now mock tone. "Iwould be the 'Spear of 'Karratos', and you would be the 'Shield'..." He dropped the mock tone in his voice and reiterated his point. "I would be the Spear... and you would be the Shield..."
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤAgain, it felt like the world paused. This really wasn't the same boy they knew, they raised. He was arrogant, impulsive and rash...
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤSonne didn't waver, he didn't buckle, and his voice didn't crack. "I... I... I... Me. Not me and three others... Me." He sighed as he looked past Leo and out the window to the far off city of 'Karratos'. "I didn't venture to each kingdom alone, meet and become the student of many, many great 'Hunters', just to become a crutch for three others..." He would take a single step forward. "And before you spout- I know that 'Hunters' work within the 'Squad' system. The system that was made at the dawn of the job, to make sure no 'Hunter' has to die a vain less death... Alone." He took a other step towards Leo's desk. "If you wanted me to accept this? You shouldn't have sent me out there... Alone."
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤElaine took another step forward, her tone was more authoritative. "Sonne! I don't know what the hell has happened to you, but you better snap out of it! Right, now." She left no room for argument.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤJack tilted his head as he looked Sonne up and down, he would simply squint. "Kid, who the hell do you think you are...? Two years out in the other kingdoms and you think you're the shit? What the hell have you done to make you think, you don't need a damn team..." He would take a step towards Sonne. 'Cause here's the truth kid... you ain't gonna make it far without one." He took another. "Trust me, a lone 'Hunter', is a dead 'Hunt-"
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤ"Sonne..." Leo finally spoke up, his lone word would boomed out into the office, hushing both Jack and Elaine. The room was quiet, so quite you could probably hear a fly die. "You wish to be alone, in your endeavor?" He would just stare at Sonne. "To be, 'The Greatest'? 'The Guardian'? 'The Spear'?" He simply wanted to know.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤSonne would, for a moment, say nothing. For a moment, he just stood. For a moment... he thought of his dream. "Yes." His voice bled conviction, volition... it was like he never even paid the idea of death a visit; And yet... strangely, that was the only thing he thought of.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤLeo would let Sonne's confirmation hang in the air. Only to follow up his own question. "Why." He simply needed to know.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤSlowly, Sonne's grin would return. Slowly, his eyes would find the light that invaded the office. Slowly... he would declare his reason. "Because... I'd rather it be me, than you." He would breath in, squaring his shoulders and crossing his arms over his chest again. "I'd rather it be me, than anyof you..." He didn't look directly at Leo, or Jack, or Elaine when the declaration left is mouth. He looked to the window, to the campus below them... to the city in the distance. "I have to apologize again, but I didn't just train within these kingdoms, with these 'Hunters', no. I Hunted... so, so many 'Varmint'... more than you could expect me to..." He would glance at Jack and snicker, only to look to Leo again. "I have ripped the beaks off of 'Grandtalons'... the tusks off of 'Mammali'..." He would let his shoulders relax and his arms fall to his sides. "I have broken the very blades and shields of 'Faulters'... I have hunted... I may be a first year, officially as of now. But I have been so much more, for so, so long." His smile wouldn't crack, his sight on Leo wouldn't break.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤElaine felt... frozen. All she could do is let him speak, and then wait for Jack's confirmation. Slowly, her sight creeped from Sonne to Leo... to Jack. "Jack...?"
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤHe stared at Sonne, not even registering Elaine's question. His eyes... bloomed, ever so faintly. It looked like a trick of the light, but it was much more than that. "You're... not lying..." Even he didn't believe what he just said.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤSonne peered over to Jack, his smile more present then ever. "I know... exciting, right?" He he let out a breathy laugh as he looked at Leo. "I don't need three amateurs holding me down- Fuck... even fourth years would slow me..." He would take few more steps forward, standing at the edge of the desk once again. "I need to be everywhere, where nothing is. And something, would stop that... anything, would stop that." He would raise one hand from his side, extending it towards Leo. "How about this, I will be your 'Guardian', 'Spear'- whatever you wanna call me. But I will do my part alone; And you... you will do what you need, to be the 'Shield', and I will not interfere... Deal?" His smile dropped once again as he raised an eyebrow.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤThe air was heavy, no longer did it feel like the simple climax of a movie. It felt like a man reading his eulogy... whether he knew it or not.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤLeo looked Sonne in the eyes. Even without Jack's confirmation of what Sonne had just said, he knew he spoke the truth from his eyes alone. Without another moment of thought, he moved his own hand, meeting Sonne's. "Deal." With a firm grip, and a nod that left no room for second thoughts, they shook hands.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ[March 1st, 6:57 AM, BaleFire, 'Leonard's Office'.]
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ