The night breeze left a constant chill. Atop the watchman's tower of the Ambrose Town guard unit, Hajime sat still in deep thought. A mass of magical energy hovering around him. They were waiting for someone, an ally. After a few minutes of waiting, the guard posts went silent and the slightly busty silhouette of a young lady stepped into the balcony adjacent from the Watchman's tower.
The figure was quite, acknowledging her loneliness. Hajime seemed curious. He looked over to the balcony where she stood and gave a sly smirk.
On the balcony, the silhouette is revealed to be Bianca. Clad in a black night coat, she observes the crimson moon with hints of sadness in her eyes. Far lost in the beauty of the night sky, a trail of tears stream down her cheek and through her sadness, she murmurs to herself.
" I should have warned him. I shouldn't have let him get captured, and now,.... he's gone and I may never get to tell him how....[SOB]."
As she continues to sulk in bitter misery, a sudden soft thud jolts her from her mind. She takes a defensive stance showcasing her military prowess.
Looking at the edge of the balcony to her right, a dark figure stands in the shadows. Suspicious, she asks with impatience in her tone, the mystery figures true identity. The figure sighs and takes a step into the crimson moonlight. The moonlight reflects gently on the figures shirt and skin. The figures speaks;
"Hey, it's been a minute". The shock is visible on Bianca's face. She's shaking not from fear but from shock, utter shock. Struggling to open her mouth, the words finally come out of her mouth.
"H~Hajime!!? You're, you're, but how are you,...?". Hajime approaches slowly Bianca trembling from the shock out of sheer grandure, she asks him, "Am I dreaming?". Hajime's hands gently brush her hair back and his thumb wipes her tears. With a soft and peaceful voice, he says, "I'm back, Bianca".
Bianca cries heavily embracing Hajime tightly as she apologizes for leaving him alone. Hajime however simply smiles and holds her close. Slightly pulling away but still in his arms, she notices how soaked his clothes are and asks how he survived since she saw the western gate guards carrying out a body a few minutes after his trial for theft.
Hajime takes out the flower pendant from his pocket.
[ The artifact first discovered in ancient ruins of the forgotten age was traced back to the period of the vampire queen, Lily Floriene. Who ruled over the high blood race, the last race of vampires in existence. They occupied the now human populated state of Horizon Peaks, which was once known as blood hollow.]
Bianca exclaimed. " You still have that!!!?. You were almost killed the first time Hajime!!.".
Hajime calmed her down and began to explain the situation about his relation to the Floriene bloodline and his right to the throne of family heir.
Bianca was shocked her suspension had been confirmed and yet it felt unreal. She pulled Hajime inside and forced him to sit while she checked hi m for any residual wounds. There were none. She was still in doubt that Hajime had be reanimated with a new m9re durable body. Pinchind his arm though his shirt Bianca is still in disbelief although Hajime's new hair colour says other wise. Finally choosing to believe, she asked what he will do now that he has escaped death and is almost unrecognizable as his former self. Hajime wastes no time uttering out one word, his tone sharp, convicted and unyielding."REVENGE!". Unlike the reaction he thought to see from Bianca, he rather sees a beautiful and supportive smile. Looking into his eyes, Bianca swears not to loose h8m again and says to herself that no matter what darkness Hajime bore, she'd be right there beside him bearing that same weight of darkness.
She offers her assistance but Hajime declines immediately, not wanting her to tarnish her father and noble house's name. Bianca contradicts, saying he needs a reliable figure to back him if he wishes to gain access to information his families shady secrets. She suggests registering as an adventure to Hajime, explaining that the Floriene house has a history for hiring strong mercenaries as bodyguards and escorts.
Hajime finally caves in allowing her to offer her assistance. That evening he sleeps in the guest room of the Captain's quarters. The next morning, they head off to the commercial district of Ambrose to buy Hajime new clothes as an adventurer and register him at the GARDNER ADVENTURERS GUILD. to hide his blood stains in his shirt, Hajime wears a cloak . At the shop, he's give clothes that fit his form. Bianca slightly blushes as she sees him and looks away. However Hajime, clueless as ever simply looks away and rubs the back of his head.
Now at the guild, Bianca wears the cloak to mask her identity since a town guard member can't be an adventurer. Inside they make their way to the counter, eyes following them in the crowds of adventurers with whispers of who Hajime was and whether or not he was a noble because of his high quality equipment. Hajime is disturbed and Bianca is embarrassed since her attempts at camouflage only let him stand out. At the registration counter, a well proportioned young lady introduces herself as Reina, the receptionist.
" Welcome to the Gardeners Adventurers Guild. How may we aid you today ?"
Hajime asks to register as an adventurer and introduces Bianca as his company who will not be registering.
In order to be registered, his magic rank and unique skills would have to be assessed. Hajime admits that he has not awakened any noticeable abilities. Which shocks Bianca but she chooses to be silent for now. Reina reassures him that certain physical advantages are signs that one has the potential for a forced awakening. A ritual that forces a person's dormant abilities to manifest.
The process requires a drop of the individual's blood. Hajime is asked to place his hand on a crystal orb. However once he does a small needle pricks him activating the ritual.
In the sacred scriptures, The Revered One, made the world with seven elements. The flame,the flood, the dust , the spirit, the light, the darkness and the will. Among these seven, he blessed his creation with six. These elements manifest as unique skills and random divine blessings. The ritual performed assesses the composition of a person's magic, creating a reaction to awaken it.
Hajime's elemental affinity is assessed and shown as a projection
MAIN AFFINITY: Darkness: 70%
CLASS: REAPER - RANK F
JOB: SOUL DEVOURER LV.1
SUB AFFINITY: - The Flood : 6%
- The Flame : 17%
- The Spirit : 7%
MAGIC RANK: F
Hajime hears a voice in his said saying, " subject has gained unique skills status format".
The receptionist is shocked at how low his affinity for the conventional elements are and how low his magic rank is even for a beginner.
She saw no specifics status factors like strength or agility which seemed to puzzle her. Brushing it off she finalized the registration by asking for his name to fill out his adventurer's identification card. Since he has to start at F rank, he is given a wood-carved card, bearing his new name Felix Grimm, after his father's last name.
Now there was a matter of his first assignment. Reina suggested a range of F rank jobs to which he looked uninterested. According to regulation he could take jobs a rank higher than his current rank, if a third party of recognizable origin vouches for him.
Bianca steps up and hands her an iron card for B ranks and asks to vouch for him. Upon inspection, Reina exclaims, " huh!?, y~you're the ice blade witch??." The crowd of adventurers turn to the counter from shock and admiration and some murmurs confirm their suspicions of Hajime being a rich person. He lowers his head in shame. Reina accepts the voucher and give Hajime three choices;
[ Rank E- goblin extermination 15×]
[ Rank E- Dryad herb collection -1 silver coin per herb]
[ Rank E- Gelatinaide subjugation 20×]
After much thought, he chose goblin subjugation much to Regina's worry. What reassured her was that the ice blade witch vouched for him. She intrusively asked herself what their relationship is, snapping out of thought at how silly it is to find over someone she barely knew. Bianca and Hajime were about to step out of the Guild , when a lanky bearded man stepped in front of the path. He insulted Hajime utterly, calling him a coward for hiding behind the ice blade witch's power. He then proceeded to convince Bianca to join his party.
Before Bianca could say a word, Hajime stopped her looking dead in the man's eyes as he declined on Bianca's behalf, stating that she is his partner. Bianca was shocked even blushing behind he cloak on her face. The man took out his blade and swung, only to be met with a brutal kick to his temple sending him flying. Hi party rushed to their fallen leader cursing Hajime as they went. Reina was amazed that he took down a C rank adventurer with a single hit. Grabbing Bianca by the hand he drags her away as she blushes intensily. Once outside Hajime says goodbye and says he'll see her after his assignment is complete. Before he leaves Bianca tugs at his jacket. He turn around and is met with a passionate kiss on the cheek she says in a shy and worries tone, " come back this time okay?!" ,She covers her face with bright red palms from sheer shyness.
Hajime smirks and leans forward, planting a kiss on her forehead as he pats her on the back.
Now on top of Leonard Clock Tower, Lily comes out commenting on young love in the words of a famous poet, Albert vandervolche;
" The heart wishes for love and finds it the most dangerous of situations. Only time may tell it's truth".
Hajime frowns but laughs a second later. Looking at the view he questions his new found conviction to confront his past. Lily with a soft caring tone says; "I'm but a humble servant to my master if it is his wish to set the world ablaze then I his servant shall oblige his every whim".
With a sly smirk, as if expecting that answer, he dives head first off the tower, leaping of its walls to the next building and then the next until he vanishes in the horizon. His story still unfolding