St. Helena's spires cut through the fog, as rain hammered against the cobblestones of Via del pianto.
Those very cobblestones continued to reflect the street lamps and forgotten saints statues that lined the road, silent witnesses to decades of sin.
Calvin Esposito tightened the grip on his umbrella, adjusting his coat a little.
His green eyes found the true cross mounted at the head of the church, blood dripping from the raised wooden hand of St. Helena in triumph.
He approached the ten foot doors and knocked three times paused then twice more.
The door opened.
"You're late" said a young lady in her pajamas.
Josephine Rodriguez looked like she had just rolled out of bed, brown hair tied in a messy bun, oversized sweater and fuzzy slippers.
"Mock trial, very serious law legion business". Replied Calvin while retracting his umbrella and taking his coat off.
"At 10PM" retorted Josephine
"Justice doesn't sleep".
"You're in improper attire". Said a second figure who appeared from just behind Josephine in a nun getup, her dark eyes matching her expressionless face perfectly.
"like I said mock trial so I didn't have enough time to change." Said Calvin, glancing down at his expensive black suit.
"Look we didn't come here so the two of you could mum me. Where's Jewel".
"The sister is preparing" said Josephine, the three stepping into the main cathedral.
Candles flickered against the walls, casting shadows across mosaics of the prime twelve sealing off the diavolo.
"why are your arms shaking, nervous??" said Luna, clearly looking to get under Calvin's skin.
"It's cold, and I just got out of the rain."
"You sure you're not just scared."
"Im up to—, You know what, already decided I'm not gonna let you and those small tits of yours get on my nerves today." said Calvin with a smirk and hint of sarcasm.
"i'll just ignore you" He concluded.
"How many times do I have to tell you, that my tits are regularly si—".
The sacristy door opened.
Sister jewel wasn't exactly what'd you expect from a Magister ranked toppler.
Her traditional nun habit, white scapular and innocent smile were more suited for Mass rather than the mass murders that took place in a Rift.
Ranked 47th globally.
"Children, Thank you for coming". Said jewel, her soft voice carrying the weight of her lady who'd seen a lot more than her 40years of age suggests.
"I apologize for the hour". She set a leather folder on the altar. "but this couldn't wait till morning."
"Another disappearance, the third this week".
She spread out documents from the folder.
A teenage girl smiling in her school uniform, a middle aged man in work clothes, and a timid looking old lady.
Calvin motioned forward "Arcanum aren't investigating??"
"They did, each tagged as voluntary departures 24 hours later".
"Voluntary" Josephine's voice came off as bitter.
"We made contact, the families disagreed and accepted The Golden Chalice's offer to help."
Jewel pulled out another document, a map of Via del pianto, sector 7 highlighted.
"We received an anonymous tip that the missing persons are being held here".
She tapped the map."An Azzurri warehouse in sector 7."
"Azzurri, as in the global tech company, what role could they possibly play in any of this??" inquired josephine
"That's what you're going to find out."
Sister Jewel gestured forward and a holographic display appeared consisting of three persons.
"Azzuri is a major stakeholder and it'd be unwise for The Golden Chalice, a guild answering directly to Arcanum to get publicly involved without any proper leads".
"When dealing with topplers, they are off three categories." jewel motioned toward the three persons on the holographic display.
First we have the licensed topplers who are under toppler guilds.
"calvin, I think she's doing it again". Said Josephine leaning into a fully focused Calvin.
"What??, is it giving way too long and drawn out explanations about the stuff we already know just before the mission." replied calvin
"Agencies like we the Golden Chalice, Luce Nera and Lionheart among others hire licensed topplers and have them work under us. Answering only to the arcanum division and the Empire". Said jewel who looked like she seemed to be enjoying it.
"Yes, exactly that. Didn't know you thought the same too". Said Josephine
"Yeah I get it can be boring sometimes, well most times but see how happy she looks doing it". Replied Calvin with a smile on his face.
We take a look at the radiance of Sister Jewel who is explaining the second category.
Rogue topplers.
"Individuals who use their abilities for criminal purposes". Jewel drew up a series of wanted men with bounties on their heads from the holographic display.
"Like muggers with superpowers" added Calvin.
"Jewel hasn't been able to teach anymore since she left the university and started acting as Magister of The Golden Chalice". the green in Calvin's eyes lighted up.
"This is one of the only chances we get to see her genuinely happy again, happy doing what it is she loves the most".
"And finally we have the vigilantes".
…..
The paper bag had been pulled off Huey's head but he still felt it throb quite a bit, which felt bad.
The metal restraints on his arms and the cold concrete up against his ass made it all the worse.
And you know what made it worst, one of the losers in the low budget knight gear who had dragged him to this warehouse was now eating his fucking pie.
"Hey" said Huey, his voice hoarse and intentional. "That's mine".
"What, this??". Kissinger looked up from the pink bakery box in his hand, fork halfway up his mouth. "Bit dry if you ask me."
"Kidnapping me is one thing but insulting my S++ baking skills is another I won't let slide. I'm gonna kill every last one of you." The glare in Huey's eyes were predatory.
The room erupted in laughter
Huey checked out the restraints and they were pneuma suppression cuffs. Standard anti crest gear.
Ironic considering he is supposed to be crestless.
"you know if you wanted a piece of my pie, you could have just asked or is there another reason you ladies brought me here."
"You're a smart kid, but careful with that tongue of yours or you just might lose it." Said Mordred, the leader of the pack, Psycho written all over his look.
"What we're here for is your corpse".
The look in Huey's eyes didn't change at the mention of that.
"See, we've got a quota. Two Achusoi bodies by midnight and you just happened to be one of the unlucky pigs".
"How unfortunate for you."
"Very in fact, words spreading about our operations and you pigs are getting harder to come by." the smile on Mordred's face had disappeared and it was only a look of utter disgust now.
Kissinger wiped his mouth and held up his Pneuma scanner."Used to be easy. Just check their pneuma and if it's low enough, grab em off the street."
"Now we actually have to hunt"
"And expanding our territory?".
Mordred shook his head. "Too risky Arcanum might actually investigate if we did".
Huey was already counting exits, cataloging weapons and noting their positions.
When another member mentioned—"Where's Billy and bard with other one?".
"Who's the client??" Inquired Huey.
Mordred checked his watch. "doesnt really matter much to you does it, you'll be dead in the next hour or so."
Huey leaned back, casual despite the tense situation. "What do you intend to do with us though."
Mordred grinned, his red eyes glistening.
"Now that I can show you".
...
Josephine having put on her operation gear added the finishing touch. A white and gold coloured ancient Roman helmet.
Perfect for concealing her identity as a member of the trinity from the public eye.
"Sister any specific reason why they are targeting only Achusoi". Inquired Josephine
"Thats another question that eludes me, it's nothing new that crestless individuals have been marginalized. Following the recent stream of events, it seems someone is interested in collecting them." replied sister Jewel over comms.
The golden chalice transport carrier descended silently into sector 7. Three additional operatives waited at the rendezvous point.
Thomas nodded as the trinity approached."Thermals confirm that there are 12 heat signatures present, two separate from the main group, most likely hostages".
His words were directed at Calvin who seemed to be at the forefront of the group. "Any crest readings". Said Calvin adjusting his cape.
"All twelve display pneuma Levels ranging from Acolyte 1 through to 3." Felix pulled up reading from his hud.
"Hmm, seems way too easy" muttered Luna, The shape of her mouth visible through the vestments of her nun habit.
It covered everything but her blank white eyes.
"For you maybe,"said Maria, another golden chalice operative while checking medical supplies.
"Don't worry, you three can secure the perimeter from out here. We'll go on in" Suggested Josephine.
"Calvin, you did come here from a mock trial. What about that law freshman who's been pestering you, Alessia was it. Any chance she might follow you."
"Nah, she got suspicious and I told her I got a lead on a case in a totally different warehouse in sector 9. Even if she does take the bait she won't find what she's looking for" replied Calvin with a tone of confidence.
"Hope you're right, last thing we need is civilian complications. Now how do we get the drop on them".
"Well I've got an idea". Calvin's green eyes glowed and the metals around him began to vibrate.
Meanwhile Inside the warehouse, Two other knights dragged a blindfolded boy who was screaming and thrashing in.
"Finally, took you idiots long enough" said Mordred.
"The kid tried to run, even bit Billy's hand". Replied bard, gesturing to the large red bite mark on his twin brother's hand.
They threw the boy beside Huey on the floor. He was screaming for his parents through the gag round his mouth.
"What did you do to him?" asked Huey.
"Nothing yet" replied Mordred as he crouched near the boy taking of his blind fold.
"Hey kid look at me, you wanna go home don't ya"
The boy hiccuped, struggling to focus.
"Well I can't let ya, so stop it with the crying."
The boy continued to sob.
"we were gonna play a game but since you don't want to, it's fine. you wanna go home to your parents yeah. The door's right there you can leave".
Mordred removed the gag and cut off the restraints.
The boy couldn't believe it.
"Go on" urged Mordred "Run".
The boy stood on shaky legs, glanced at Huey for a brief moment, then bolted for the exit.
He made it some five steps.
There was a subtle shift in Mordred's posture, his red eyes begun glowing.
Huey saw it coming.
A black projectile materialized, red around its edges.
Spinning ever so violently like a saw blade made out of compressed energy.
The boy screamed. His right leg had been separated at the knee.
He collapsed, shrieking, blood spraying across concrete.
Mordred walked over casually, still carrying that gentle psychotic grin on his face.
The boy was begging, screaming, crawling away on a single leg.
This time Mordred materialized a black saber, red at the edges.
"You know what I hate the most about you pigs. It's how useless you are. Can't do a single thing to save yourselves but cry for help."
He raised the saber.
"The world's better without you."
The blade came down.
Through the boy's chest.
His eyes went wide and became empty in an instant.
Huey's expression hadn't changed but now his eyes were closed.
"You asked what it is we intend to do". Mordred pulled a small vial from his vest, inside a liquid glowed faint blue.
"Artificially induces a crest in fresh corpses." He walked towards the boy's body and poured the liquid into his open mouth.
"Can't have stayed too long cause the organs still need to be fresh, usually doesn't work, maybe one subject in twenty and we personally discovered Achusoi have a higher success rate".
The boy's body convulsed and he sat up. Eyes glowing lifeless with the same blue as the serum.
"Stand" Ordered Mordred, the boy's vacant expressions answered only to his command.
The boy stood on one leg, no apparent pain.
"Use your crest".
The boy sneezed and confetti came out from his nose.
The Knights stared.
"...Confetti?" said Kissinger. "His Crest is confetti?"
"Useless," Mordred spat. "Absolutely fucking useless."
He materialized another saw-blade.
Decapitated the boy in one motion.
The body collapsed and he wasn't coming back this time.
"God damn Pigs" Mordred muttered. "Even when we give you power, you're still worthless."
"You know" said Mordred, staring at a Huey who still had his eyes closed. "It's possible to get bodies from a morgue, maybe even a hospital, but we enjoy our work, don't we boys and where's the fun in that?"
Roars could be heard amongst his men, maybe a remorseful face or two. But it was clear as day that they had no value whatsoever for the life of anyone without a crest.
It wasn't much different from how anyone in the world felt so Huey couldn't really blame them.
"You just killed an innocent child". Huey's low and controlled voice cut through the room. "twice"
He opened his eyes for the first time in a while.
"You were already dead the moment you ate my pie, Now I'm going to make sure every single one of you dies screaming and whoever it was that sent you....
A sudden gust of wind began to blow in the warehouse.
The expressions on the faces of the knights had darkened but their confidence had not taken any significant blows.
That was not until Huey raised his head up to reveal the ghostly sight of his glowing blue eyes.
I'm gonna find them too."
…..
Josephine heard the screaming first, she hopped off the platform Calvin had created and activated her crest.
Using a light based attack she burst through the roof of the warehouse, the other members of the trinity following suite.
What they found wasn't what they expected.
Stack of crates, Chemical equipment, Tables covered in vials and syringes
It was a drug operation.
And occupying the floor were not hostages but drug dealers. Some manufacturing, others protecting a substance that glowed faint blue in the dim light.