AngelPlayer
Summary: The year is 2100 AD. A software developer, KEY has developed a software called AngelPlayer which only students of the elite school Ashe can use to modify themselves. However, not all students can use it. Only those who have gone through a selection of tests and have the potential to possess etheric power are able to access that software.
CHAPTER.00: PROLOGUE
"Reina, you should go to Ashe,"
"Eh? That elite school? Why? I don't have enough money… Plus, I'm not sure if I can get a scholarship but why Ashe?" I had asked Gillian. Gillian Theroux is my caretaker. He'd picked me up from the streets and ever since then, I'd lived with him in his apartment. It' didn't feel awkward at all because he was old enough to be my father and plus, I do regard him as one.
I'm an orphan. I don't know my parents and neither do I have a single memory of them. Gillian said that when he'd found me looking dazed and lifeless in the streets, my eyes seemed as if there wasn't life in them. I can't seem to remember anything about my past and when I try to, I'd get a headache.
"Because your parents went there,"
Ah! I forgot to mention that Gillian said he knew my parents. I'd never ask him about them because whenever he'd talk about them, he'd have a pained expression on his face. Of course, I'm curious to what Gillian's relationship to my parents is but he wouldn't tell me and usually he would tell me everything. When Gillian keeps something to himself, it's bound to be something serious and I don't think I'm prepared for the truth yet.
"Reina, I think it's time you knew about your parents,"
When Gillian had said that, my heart began to palpitate. He looked me in the eyes and I couldn't avoid them. He was serious, dead serious. He knew that my silence meant that I was unprepared for the truth and he'd left it there, walking towards the door to take a breather. I heaved a sigh of relief. Had I want to know about my parents? I do but I'm scared. After all, when Gillian's acting like that, I can't help but have a bad premonition about it.
It's been a week since Gillian and I last spoke of my parents. Is he going to tell me or will I have to find out for myself? I'm guessing the second option. He'd mollycoddled me as if I was his real child and I knew that I would have to grow up one day. Is it approaching?
"The answer… Or rather the truth can only be obtained from going to Ashe. You wouldn't understand even if I told you and I think it's best that you go there…"
I glanced up at him, surprised by his sudden words. It felt like he knew what was going on in my head. I didn't complain because it took him a week to give me an answer.
"You might think this is absurd but it isn't and everything is not what it seems,"
I narrowed my eyes. I didn't get what he meant. "Not what it seems? What do you mean by that?" I'd finally opened my mouth.
"That, you will know when you go to Ashe," He replied instantly. I was getting a bit frustrated at him. Why wouldn't he tell me anything? We were like father and daughter. It's true that what he'd just said is correct but I can't simply take that kind of an answer, especially from Gillian whom I've known for so long.
After a few days, I realized I wouldn't get anything out of thinking about that over and over again so I'd decided to go to Ashe. Gillian had appreciated that I thought about it carefully and said it was a wise decision. I was in my bedroom, packing everything I needed into a bag and laying out my books and stationery on the table to study for the entrance exams to Ashe.
I didn't know much about Ashe because I couldn't be bothered so I'd asked Gillian about the school.
"Ashe is a prestigious elite school. I guess you could say it's a school for the rich,"
It was the same thing. Everywhere I'd asked, people talked highly of Ashe. I grew nervous imagining what the exam papers would be like. I mean, it would be hard for a commoner like me to get into an elite school such as Ashe, right? I had to go into full study mode if I want to find out the truth.
I got my results for the entrance exam. I'm glad to say I'd passed. I was walking to Ashe by foot unlike many students from Ashe. It hadn't taken so long for me to reach Ashe since it was quite close to Gillian's apartment. I looked around nervously, obviously feeling out of place. To avoid that, I began to stare down at the dull ground but I quickly glanced up again as I heard the sound of a car engine.
It was a posh limousine. The door opened and a girl with long blonde wavy hair came out. And as she did that, I saw something shiny dropping out, it seemed like a bracelet.
"Ah… Umm… You dropped your bracelet, miss," I said politely. She glanced behind and I blushed a bit. It was a pretty girl and she gave me a smile.
"Thank you very much! I don't know what I would've done if I'd lost it! Say, what's your name?" She'd asked. I was taken aback by her question because I'd thought that the rich were arrogant and conceited, especially towards a commoner like myself.
"I'm Reina Lei, and you are?"
"I'm Adel Aldebourne, nice to meet you!" Aldebourne? That's the name of the family that owns the famous company KEY which sells those really advanced computers. It can't be… Is she the daughter? I'm a little bit flustered.
We didn't talk while we walked to the gates. Ashe seemed like a secluded area as if something secretive was going on inside with the big gates and all… We were the in last batch of students to come and the gates made a loud clang when it shut. I'd flinched and so did Adel. A good-looking boy, tall and well-built, walked to the front of the crowd of students.
"Welcome to the Academy of Ashe," he'd announced. I could guess he's from the student council.
"Shortly, the test will begin!"
Test? What test? I glanced at Adel, hoping she would know something about it. She proceeded to the front, and brought out her right hand.
"Guard skill: Hand Sonic! Version two!" Guard skill? Hand Sonic? I was in a daze. Immediately after Adel had said that, something translucent, almost sword-like, appeared on her right hand.
END OF PROLOGUE
