Preface:
I do not own bleach. All characters are owned by their respective creators. The alternate universe this story takes place in is owned by Daniel Affaro. This story chronologically takes place 6 to 10 years before the start of Daniel Affaro's story. If you want to familiarize yourself with some of the characters beforehand or see events that take place after this story I would highly recommend reading his story first.
Chapter 1: Firstborn
-The Silbern, 1997, Yhwach's Throne Room-
"Rise," echoed Yhwach's voice throughout the vast throne room. "You have partook of my blood."
The young red-haired woman in front of Yhwach steadily rose up to her feet, staring directly in front of herself, purposefully avoiding looking directly into the eyes of the man in front of her.
"The ritual is complete," Yhwach continued, slowly lifting his right hand placing it on the woman's shoulder "Now, turn, and meet your fellows."
The woman calmly began to turn around, doing so causing Yhwach's hand to leave her shoulder. She stared down a long ivory coloured staircase which went on forever and seemed to hold the weight of the entire world in its grasp. She began to focus on the figures standing at the bottom of the stair case.
Lenora Poultery, Grand Mistress of the Soldat, was standing directly right of Yhwach. Some audience this turned out to be, she thought to herself. Not including the newcomer, there are twenty-three of us, and including myself, only three even bothered to show up. Three! What an utter disgrace! Lenora's face started to become noticeably contorted due to her rage.
The red-haired woman began walking down the staircase. It felt like an eternity in her mind, intrusive thoughts overpowering rational ones in a haze of both serenity and agitation.
Finally reaching the bottom of the staircase she looked to her right slightly and noticed a completely obscured, large form of a man shrouded in a white cloak leaning against one of the tall columns which were spread throughout the throne room.
"Another kid? We already have one of those. Go home." it said, its voice sounded male and extremely deep whilst completely monotone at the same time.
"Thanks for the warm welcome," she nodded at the figure "I'm going to assume you're the humanitarian of the Star Knights?" she said as sarcastically as she could muster.
The form turned its head to look at her while forwarding itself from its leaning position and began walking toward the exit of the throne room.
"Just go home kid." it grunted under its breath.
Sixteen, you ignoramus. she began thinking to herself, At least learn your terminology. I'm hardly a kid.
Before she could take another step forward she snapped her eyes back in front of her as another of her fellows approached. He was slightly above average height with ashen-colored hair and dark brown eyes to match her own.
"You'll have to excuse that one," he said, his eyes focused on the figure about to exit the throne room. "No manners at all I'm afraid."
He turned his face to the red-haired woman in front of him.
"Sylvanus," he stated matter of factly, with a hint of calmness to his voice.
He extended his right hand to the red-haired woman.
Looking down at Sylvanus' hand and then back up at his face, she extended her hand to shake his.
"Nina," she replied.
Sylvanus had always considered himself a good judge of character. He was all too well aware of how many monsters made up the ranks of the Sternritter. He only attended these ceremonies to gauge for himself the new Star Knights.
He continued to stare at Nina during their handshake. At first glance her face betrays nothing. He began internalising, But her eyes, I can see it. An unfathomable amount of mercy and guilt reside within...
"Are you okay?" Nina asked, interrupting Sylvanus' train of thought and releasing his hand."You look.. upset?"
"No, it's nothing," he answered, crossing his arms across his chest. "The pleasure is mine."
This is the only way I know to be sure for certain He thought to himself.
"Tell me, have you ever heard of the Fünften Feld before?" he asked.
"The Fifth Field," she replied. "I've heard stories about it from.."
She paused unexpectedly to regather her thoughts and rethink her next words.
"The people in the village where I grew up," she finally answered "I've never been there myself. I'm not sure if it even exists."
"Oh it exists." Sylvanus confirmed.
"The reishi within the Funft Feld is completely different to anywhere else you'll find in this world." Sylvanus began explaining. Nina appeared to be totally engrossed by his words.
"It makes training extremely efficient, albeit with one downside." he continued.
Nina was completely enthralled by her new comrades explanation of this place she'd only ever heard about and thought was a myth. Her eyes began widening slightly with a dainty smile on her face.
"Can you take me there?!" she excitedly asked, completely ignoring the final part of Sylvanus' explanation.
"Well that's the plan," he replied, also finding himself with a slight smile on his face due to her abrupt reaction. "Shall we go?"
Nina recomposed herself after noticing his smile. She gave a single nod to her comrade.
They both began making their way to the exit of the Throne room side by side. Nina found herself caught in a whirlwind of memories she did not want to remember.
Why am I thinking about him at a time like this?
-World of the Living, Great Britain, 1993, Location Unknown-
The moon loomed over the vast expanse of a forest. Densely packed trees illuminated in its blinding light. Faint rustling noises could be heard as two figures began moving around inside.
"Cain, where are we going?" Nina asked, her black mantle catching on hedges as they were walking.
"What's the matter, don't trust me? You're a great little sister aren't you." he replied.
"If it's more training, can't we wait until morning?" she asked, intentionally ignoring her brothers teasing.
Cain ignored her question and came to an abrupt stop. "We're here"
Nina stopped next to her brother and observed her surroundings. They were both standing in front of an immensely sized lake surrounded by trees in the middle of the forest.
"It's looks exactly the same as everywhere else, except for the lake." she said while looking up at her brother with a slightly annoyed face.
Cain smiled slightly and closed his eyes whilst taking off his hood, revealing his piercing red hair to match his sisters.
"That's your problem," he explained "Don't rely on your eyes. Feel the reishi in the air.. around the trees, the lake, the rocks, the leaves. Even you and I."
Nina raised her left hand, her quincy cross falling slightly below her wrist.
Small sparks of ambient reishi began congregating around her quincy cross and near-instantaneously formed a small and sleek bow.
"You're right," she said, a slight grin on her face and sounding pleasantly pleased with herself, "I've not been able to form my bow that quickly before."
"Now then, time for a bit of target practice." Cain said, materializing his own bow in his right hand. It also had a sleek design, noticeably smaller with a metallic look in contrast to the ambient blue reishi look of Nina's bow.
Nina's grin quickly dissipated as she stared for a moment at her brothers bow and then at her own quincy cross dangling from her left wrist.
"When will I be able to form my bow without my cross?" she asked.
"When you have refined control over the reishi around you" he answered, still with a slight smile on his face.
His eyes still closed, Cain lifted his bow hand and pointed it across the lake, his left hand staying in his mantles pocket.
"What are you aiming at?" Nina questioned.
"I came here earlier this morning," he answered "I placed four torches on trees at the other end of the lake. If you look closely you can see their flames."
Nina began squinting her eyes and she could see four orange shaped dots on the other side of the lake.
"I see them!" she exclaimed "But doesn't this seem a bit.. much? I've never even shot my bow before. It's taken over a week for me to even form it."
Cain continued to hold his aim position. Without a change to his posture his bow expelled a single heilig pfeil.
The arrow travelled gracefully across the lake until eventually it became a blue dot to the naked eye.
Nina began to squint her eyes again to see if the arrow hit its mark.
She noticed that all four of the orange dots across the lake were gone.
"How did you do that?" she asked, looking at her brother with a perplexed face.
Cain de-materialized his bow and opened his eyes to look at Nina. His smile growing even wider.
A week? Cain thought to himself It took me months to materialize my bow.
"Magic!" he shouted, while moving to a tree behind them both and leaning his back against it, all the time maintaining his smile.
Nina's eyes followed him. Her expression changed from perplexed to exasperated.
"Stupid.." she said, rolling her eyes whilst lifting her bow hand up and turning herself so she was looking across the lake.
Cain continued leaning against the tree, his arms crossed. His expression had changed from his usual cheeriness to unnervingly stoic. He watched his sister with great purpose as she readied her aim.
Aim for the heavens dear sister. For I fear I will not be here for much longer..
AN: Hope you've enjoyed reading what I've managed to put together so far. Constructive criticism and feedback is really appreciated as this is my first time writing any type of fanfiction.
