Roako walked beside Kyri, crutches in hand. His body burned, patches of skin fading pink, others froze blue.
The city bloomed with life. Citizens gathered in uneasy clusters, voices hushed as they worked to restore what had been damaged. Whispers followed them as they passed.
Heads bowed as Kyri passed.
When their gazes shifted to Roako, the reactions changed.
Some dipped their heads briefly. Others looked straight through him.
Kyri sighed, her ears flickering as nearby conversations carried through the streets.
"I assume ya don't know much about the underworld, do ya?" Kyri spoke as they strolled through the city.
Roako looked up before nodding. "I was always told this place was like hell... but it's starting to feel more like home recently." His words were soft and grateful, as he followed slowly behind.
"Hmm, interesting. Well, let me tell ya a little about the underworld." She glanced around, waving at the citizens, before pointing over to the colosseum. "The colosseum there is the only neutral ground. The rest of the city is split between the five Guardians. Each Guardian with a specialty that keeps the city running."
Young kids blitzed past, playing amongst each other. The wind blew, causing a balloon to fall out of a kid's hand.
Kyri pressed down, her legs glowing white, fur growing along them, feeling light as she leaped up. Reaching out, she grabbed the balloon that had flown over ten feet into the sky before dropping back down.
Roako's eyes widened, watching her from the ground.
A quiet, padded landing, her hair ruffled through the wind, revealing a tattoo of a broken crown.
Her fur slowly retracted, stepping toward the child, handing them the balloon, and flashing a warm smile.
Kyri landed softly, the smile fading as she turned back toward him.
"As I was saying..."
"That was impressive." Roako blurted out, eyes shocked.
A frown appeared on her face. "Don't interrupt me. Need I remind ya? Ya work under me now. Now listen." Her words were fierce and rigid, leaving no room for argument.
"Contract Beasts roam around the city, threatening our resources and manpower. For years, they've been eating our metal supply and invading the city. Recently, more than ever." Her fist clenched, knuckles paling under the stress.
"We've created a strike team of our strongest fighters. Fighters of the diamond and titanium tiers. A few platinum fighters, and now it includes ya." Her words continued, not taking no for an answer.
"I expect a lot from ya. After ya recover, the strike team will be sent out to exterminate a camp of Contract Beasts. I'm having ya go with them. Don't take this mission lightly. These next few beasts are much stronger, but this time ya won't be alone." She stopped, arriving in front of an inn.
"The worm ya killed? It wasn't an issue. Peli would've handled it, no damage as well. Ya ain't strong, but ya got potential." The words sank deeper than the burns across his skin.
"In the inn are the members. Some lost family, others lost their homes. This ain't a game to em, I promise ya that. So, go meet em."
Roako crutched forward, Kyri following behind. His mind calmed, his breathing slowed.
The warmth of the streets faded as the inn door creaked open. Smoke, sweat, and old wood replaced sunlight and applause.
Bustling conversations filled the air throughout the inn, music strummed, echoing.
Eyes turned toward the door, the strumming stopped, and conversations came to a halt. A pair of rugged-looking men stepped forward, displaying scars running from their eyes down to their chests. A tall man sat still, one hand on a beer, the other arm missing. A thin lady calmly stayed, continuing her talk with another woman, older, yet demanding authority. Finally, a young man held a guitar, absent of any Marked characteristics.
Kyri walked past Roako. Her presence filled the room, demanding. The groups of people stood up, bowing in respect for Kyri.
"This here is Roako. He'll be part of the mission. Treat him as ya own." Her voice was stern and unforgiving.
Eyes fixed on him from every corner of the room. Some looked at him with disbelief in their eyes, while others nodded, allowing it. The voices exploded in refusal as they began to speak up. Kyri held her hand out, motioning as she shushed them.
"There will be no adjustments. If ya have a problem, talk to me in the colosseum."
The crowd went silent.
Sweat dripped off their faces.
A few of them shuddered, eyes dropping to the floor.
"Great! I didn't think so. I'll be back in an hour to debrief the situation." She looked back at Roako, and a mischievous grin appeared. "Have fun!"
Walking away, as she was heading toward the exit. She took a second and stopped before calling out. "Roako, take these." She tossed a bag over to him.
The bag was heavy. A pair of the gauntlets Wellin had given him sat inside.
He turned back, looking to thank her, yet when he looked up, the door had already swung open. Kyri was nowhere to be seen.
Two voices shot out at the same time, interrupting each other.
"Nice to meet you, I'm-"
"Don't mind him." The man pushed past, cutting him off mid-sentence. "What is an Unmarked like YOU, doing here? We already have that useless one over there." He pointed toward the man holding a guitar before continuing.
"Aye, Baron! Can I kill this one here?!" He spoke as his arm morphed into a black-goopy spear, aiming it toward Roako.
A heavy foot stomped down. The inn shook, wooden tables flying up before dropping upright. "Loxus. Back. Off. If Lady Kyri wants the kid to join, he'll join."
The tall man stood up, towering over everyone. His giant steeled body clanked as he stepped forward.
"I'll introduce you to everyone." His voice remained indifferent and composed. He pointed toward the two men in front of Roako. "The twins are Axel and Loxus."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Axel." His voice was quick as he gestured a salute.
"Don't hold us back, you Unmarked." Loxus scowled in disgust, glaring at Roako.
Baron turned, swiping his finger, pointing toward the two women sitting at the table. "Behind me are Lyssa and Mo."
The young lady sat still, slowly nodding before she turned back, beginning to tinker.
"Ah, sunny... the name's Mo..." Her words slow, her eyes observing Roako, before perking up again. "You seem like the type to blow up... Don't go ruining your young body..." Her eyes closed, sipping on a cup of tea.
Baron pointed his finger one last time toward the young man with the guitar. "That over there is Kael. Only other Unmarked here."
Kael didn't bother to look up. His attention was focused on his guitar as he tuned it.
"Lastly, I'm Baron." He let out a sigh, his face unchanging. "If we're going into battle together, it'd be best for you to know our team. I'm on the frontline. Axel and Loxus attack from the side, and Lyssa locks down the area. Mo provides ranged support, Kael scouts and locates enemies."
Roako nodded, unsure where he would fit among them.
"We consider ourselves the parasite unit." Loxus puffing out his chest proudly.
"You mean the virus unit?" Axel retorted in response.
They began to bicker amongst themselves.
"They're the shock unit. They create panic. We end it." Baron continued, leaving the twins alone.
"What does your Contract do? We need to know where to place you." Baron's voice stayed calm and patient as he waited.
"My Contract allows me to create runes, each with different meanings. I change them depending on the situation..." Unsure and shaky, Roako wondered what position he would have to take.
Baron pondered, becoming self-possessed with his thoughts. A minute passed before he spoke again. "You have a unique Contract, being a wildcard and adjusting to our needs will probably work for the best." He nodded toward Roako before turning and taking another glug of his beer, slamming it down.
Roako continued forward, walking past the twins who had started to brawl, large parasitic weapons sprouting from their bodies. The rest of the squad minded their own business, occasionally looking to see who was winning. No one reacted. To them, this seemed normal.
Baron waved the bartender over, and another beer was placed on the table. Lyssa continued to fidget, silk combining with machines as she tinkered. Mo spat into a vial, releasing toxic venoms before storing it up and placing it in her bag. Kael continued tuning his guitar, occasionally rifling through his bag to pull out gadgets.
Roako sat down, waving the bartender over, asking for a simple non-alcoholic drink.
Baron rose first, setting a coin on the counter.
"Back room," he said simply.
The team shifted without question, moving past a half-curtain and into a narrower space where the noise dulled, and the walls closed in.
Roako hesitated a second too long before following behind them.
Time passed before Kyri pushed through the doors, a piece of paper in hand. Her expression sour, before she slammed down the paper. Unraveling it revealed a map with red circles placed around, arrows labeling them.
"Come close." The squad leaned in close, a drone hovering over, Kael watching through it.
Kyri tapped the paper, pointing toward the largest red circle. "This here is a sabertooth breeding ground. Leave two cubs, kill the rest." Her finger shifted slightly left, hovering over a smaller red circle. "This here is a beaver dam. Leave 'em alone, we can't risk attracting them toward the sabertooths."
"That'll be ya mission. Bring back the bodies if ya can. I know ya guys have interdimensional space bags." Her demanding voice struck the ears of all. The squad nodded understandingly before a quavering voice perked up.
"You Guardians... never wanting to take monsters out on your own..." She shook her head before taking a sip of her tea. "We'll do the mission, Kyri. Move along now." Her hand shooing away Kyri.
Chairs scraped.
The team froze.
Eyes not daring to look at either Kyri or Mo.
Kael's fingers stilled on the strings.
He leaned back slightly, eyes flicking toward Mo before settling elsewhere.
Lyssa stiffened, her silk threads tightening along her artificial arm. Her voice was aggravated. "Mo," she said sharply. "That's enough."
Mo clicked her tongue, waving her off without looking.
Baron stepped forward, sharp and quick.
Standing between them, firm, unmoving.
Not aggressive. Protective.
Roako held his breath without realizing it.
Kyri let out a puff of air. "Sigh, ya done yet?"
No anger.
No heat.
"Mission still stands."
She turned, losing interest.
"Ya'll set out once Roako is recovered. That'll be all from me." Kyri nodded at the squad.
Rolling the map up, handing it over to Baron.
Kyri turned, heading toward the door, before taking a glance at Mo. She scoffed before waving it off.
The door rang once. Then again, as it settled.
No one spoke.
Only after several long seconds did someone shift in their seat.
Chairs creaked. Loxus laughing a little too loudly. The tension loosened, slow breaths filling the space Kyri left behind.
Baron turned toward Mo, simply shaking his head.
Roako froze, confused, but ignored it. He slowly limped over, leaving the room and obtaining a key to his room.
The inn was quiet, surprised looks splattered across faces staring at the exit. Kyri must've left recently, he thought.
He paid no mind, walking up the stairs to find hallways full of rooms, before making way to his. His bed was soft, unlike the hospital. His eyes closed, thoughts turning inward.
He saw the scars the twins had, the artificial arm Lyssa worked with, silk holding it together. His body shuddered unconsciously.
Roako wondered about Mo's hatred toward the Guardians. It felt personal, too aggressive to be politics alone.
Every scar told the same story. Survival wasn't earned here. It was taken.
His fist tightened.
"People die here... I need to survive." His breath cold, silence holding the room hostage.