Weeks after Nyra's funeral, the team was still in shambles. Word of my fight with Iseph spread throughout the division, and I was once again viewed as an outcast. Iseph, on the other hand, was more focused on finding the replacement for the hole that Nyra left. Although Nyra wasn't as strong as the other members in overall strength and karma output, her strength came from weapon handling. Karma can manifest in different types, and Nyra's type was a transcender. Transcenders were known for their low karma storage, but in return, they gained better handling of weapons and improved overall speed and strength.
I learned this from when I was recovering from my injuries against Iseph during my evaluation. I walked out of the Division HQ and into the garden right outside. The flowers continued to bloom with an overwhelming aroma. I crouched down to pick up one, but to my surprise, it began to change colors. It fluctuated between purple and blue and eventually ceased to alter its color once it reached a strong violet. I gently placed my fingers around the stem and plucked it straight up. I held it to my nose and took a deep breath. It smelled like a beautiful spring day.
Memories from a different lifetime flooded my mind. The gentle breeze is sweeping across my face as I walk through the field of wheat and flowers. I remember the way the grass tickled my feet as I crept through the meadow. I crouched down to make sure she couldn't see or hear me. I could hear the Sun-crested Cardinal's melodic chirping fill my ears as I sneakily continued deeper into the meadow. Her snickering could be heard from a mile away. Her soft whispering rumbled in my ear. From the corner of my eye, I could make out a figure cutting through the field. "I found you!" she screamed as she pounced on me from behind.
"I let you find me, monkey. I could have easily escaped, but decided to be nice." I replied with my face in the grass, "Now get off me, the ants are crawling up my nose."
"No. I'm not getting off; the ants can crawl into your brain for all I care. You're carrying me home. I don't wanna walk. It's so far away," she whined. I sighed, knowing there was no way I could get her to change her mind. If I forced her to walk, then she would tell Mom, and I don't want that. I picked her up and walked back towards our small abode that was barely visible from the long grassy area we were in. "Hey, Cassie…" she asked with an exhausted tone, "How much longer until we get home? This sun's killing me!" I sighed in annoyance, "Just sleep and stop talking. You are so annoying." She pouted and started to hit my back in retaliation. I began to lose balance, and the two of us fell to the ground. I rubbed my head in pain as I slowly got up and looked at her.
"What is wrong with you? Can't you sit still and be quiet?", looking at her, my patience slowly falling.
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean for you to get hurt," she said, looking at the ground in a disappointed demeanor. I looked at her and felt a bit of remorse; she was just a kid after all, and she knew nothing better. I patted her head and smiled softly. "It's alright, just be careful, alright?" She smiled back. "Sure!"
My eyes opened slowly, and I stood up, still gripping the violet flower. Why did I dream of that? I wanted to forget everything about my past, including my mistakes and my family. It seemed like the world turned against me, reminding me of my faults. I walked down the still-blooming garden, my mind swirled like a story ocean, waves of regret crashing against the shores of my thoughts, constant reminders of the memories I longed to bury in the deepest parts of me.
"You must be the null bearer," a figure said behind me. I turned towards them.
"And who are you?" I questioned, looking towards the figure.
"Ease up, I'm not with Elpis," the figure said, slowly pulling down their hood, the shadows lifted from his face, revealing a scarred cheek that was a testament to the battles fought, and eyes that conveyed rough waters, inviting anything but trust.
"My name is Minoru Takada. Nice to meet you, Caspian," Minoru said, reaching out his hand. I reached out and shook his hand; his grip was firm, too firm. He inclined his head towards the exit of the garden, and I followed him.
"Have you met Iseph yet?" I asked, relaxing a little around him. "Uhh… not yet, I felt like I should meet my new partner first before meeting my boss." "Wait… new partner?" I asked, looking at him, confused, "I was never told that I was going to have a new partner."
"Really? I thought you knew since Iseph mentioned in his message that you were going to be my partner." He replied, opening the door to the meeting room. The air was thick with anticipation, the faint scent of the usual sandalwood hung in the room, and the figures of the rest of the team awaited in the room.
"Welcome to the Concord Division, Minoru," Iseph said, his tone incredibly inviting. It was much different from the aggressive manner in which he met me. Minoru smiled softly at him, "It's a pleasure to meet you as well." I headed towards the door, feeling a sense of indifference, and then headed back out to the garden, a poor attempt at trying to return to those memories that had resurfaced. I closed my eyes and tried to center myself back in that field. The pungent grassy smell and the luminescent sun, slowly beginning to set, finally surrounded me. Just as my childhood environment surrounded me, in the next few seconds, it all disappeared. I opened my eyes, and the only thing greeting my eyes was Minoru. "Why'd you come back here, Caspian?" he asked, beginning to walk closer to me. "I guess I just use this place as an escape from my sins," my tone entailed absolute acceptance. Ever since Nyra's death, I lived life with only one purpose: to wait until I eventually faded from this world. "An escape? Do you really think this garden is an escape?" he asked, his eyes looking down on me, "No matter how hard you try, if you don't take the initiative to destroy Elpis, Nyra's death will never be avenged."
Back then, I probably would've listened to those words, but now I feel nothing. Trying to attack Elpis led to her death; sending me with her led to her death. I was a flaw in this world, and soon enough, I would be washed away along with every other flaw. My eyes looked away, turning away from the words that I knew deep down were heartachingly true.
"Caspian! Don't you dare run away!" Minoru shouted at me, "This war will never end until we do what must be done!" Perhaps Minoru was right; maybe it would have to be the Concord Division that decides where this story ends, but didn't this whole story start because of the higher-ups? Didn't Elpis form because of the oppression the lower class faced?
Whatever the right choice was, it didn't matter to me. At this moment, there was only one thing that mattered to me more than my very own existence, that thing was: The destruction of Elpis and everything it stands for, until they paid for Nyra's death. I turned back towards Minoru and looked him dead in his eyes, "I'll fight, and I'll continue to fight," my eyes glowing with a terrifying confidence, "Until they're dead, I swear it." Minoru just smirked at my response and put his hands in his pockets, "Good choice, Caspian…", he said, beginning to walk away, "Don't forget, in this whole war….", he paused and looked back one more time, "We are nothing but pawns, nothing more, nothing less."