Vanguard, Cray's Idea
Prologue: Vanguards of cray
In this unforgiving and cold world, we call cray, wars are waged constantly.
[Somewhere on the border of the united sanctuary and the dragon empire]
warrior dressed in blue and white: "c'mon men, fight! we shall protect our homeland with everything we've got!".
warrior riding on a dragon dressed in red: " We won't fail to conquer this land. We fight for the glory of the empire!".
Fight...Fight...Fight, the constant fighting never ceases... whether over land, resources, pride and hell, even just for the fun of it. this country, no... this entire world is consumed with turmoil and littered with the scent of battle and blood.
[A small village out in the country side of the Dragon Empire]
old vendor: "Hey you brat get back here! Someone stop that little thief he's getting away!"
Black haired boy: "haha suck it old man!"
The boy carrying a total of six apples in his shirt ran through the city shifting through alley ways, jumping through windows and even scaling roof tops until his pursuer was no longer in sight. he sat and waited a top a roof until finally being able to let out a sigh of relief
Black haired boy: "that old guy sure was persistent. But it was all worth it hehehe. I got six apples!, we'll definitely be eating well tonight".
The boy cautiously trudged back to his hideout as to not be spotted by the old vendor. he slowly crawled through a window and laid the apples out on a nearby crate. The wooden hut he was now standing looked to be able to shelter quite a bit of people but seemed as if it could collapse in on itself at any moment. the boy slowly walked over to the one window that at was present in the right of the hut and aggressively removed the dusty white sheet blocking out the sun.
Black haired boy: "Wake up you idiot!"
A male figure in the corner directly opposite to the window sleeping on a blanket on the ground and using another to cover himself slowly got up.
The figure: "ugh...There better be a good reason for waking me you little brat" he says while using the sheet to block the light of the afternoon sun.
The boy: "It's mid-day are you stupid! now get up already. The others are already out there trying to get enough food so we could MAYBE survive for the week while your here just being lazy!." as he forces the sheet off the figures face.
The man quickly covered his eyes with his right arm and waited till his eyes had adjusted while his silver hair glistened in the light.
A few minutes later...
silver haired man: " Wow kamui (referring to the young black haired boy), you've outdone yourself this time. six apples, that's pretty impressive"
Kamui: "yeah I know right, guess you could call today my lucky day. So anyways big bro, what prize do you have your eye on stealing today, please tell me it's something big." he says filled with enthusiasm.
Silver haired man: "not sure yet actually" as he takes a bite of an apple he was holding.
Kamui briefly had a disappointed look before pouting and biting into one of the apples.
A familiar voice: " Hey! we're home you guys"
Kamui: "oh it sounds like Izaki and morikawa are back".
Izaki: "guess who got two loaves of bread today" he says as he happily enters the hut.
Morikawa: "it's not that big of a deal you know, it's just some bread" he says as he follows closely behind.
Izaki: "yeah whatever your just upset at the fact you couldn't get a single copper today aren't ya"
Morikawa: "ahk no I'm not you take that back" he quickly retorts
Izaki: "yeah, yeah fine if you say so. wow are those apples! no way how'd you get these."
Kamui: "I stole them you idiot, how else would i get..., hey only take one!"
Izaki: "Hey catch morikawa"
Morikawa: "oh thx... wait a sec i wasn't done yelling at you! *sigh* whatever" as he takes a seat in a corner of the room.
Kamui: "don't get too handsy with my apples, the rest is mine got it"
izaki: "of course I know that by now" as he takes a seat in a corner of the room.
The four young men started to talk about random topics for hours seemingly enjoying each other's company's. the hut was filled with smiles and laughter of the boys. although not related by blood they were a family.
Eventually a certain topic arose that eliminated the atmosphere of cheerfulness and placed intrigue and curiosity in its place.
Izaki: "so have you guys heard about the vanguard selections coming up.
Kamui: "the van what selections?"
Izaki: " I guess it makes sense you wouldn't know about it. You would've been about three years old when the last one happened. how about you morikawa, Kei?"
Morikawa: "of course i know what the vango selections are, what do you take me for" he says confidently with his arms crossed and eyes shut.
Izaki: "Of course you do" he says sarcastically
Kei: "yeah, I know a bit about it actually. every ten years or so humans who possess special powers are chosen to serve the clans that deem them worthy. But that is all I know about it".
url?sa=i&url=https% .com-grown-up-141501406&psig=AOvVaw19PV_Qb5dwnOFFsqiWqY1Z&ust=1629946087025000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwjplLe9lMvyAhWHLt8KHd9KCz8Qr4kDegUIARC8AQ
Kamui: "Special powers... like what kind of powers?"
Morikawa: "yeah that's what I'd like to know too"
Izaki: "I've heard people say they control armies and that they are super powerful individuals. they have insane wealth and high status in their clans and even their nations"
Morikawa and Kamui: " woah! they can control armies!"
Kei: "Is that really all that the both of you just took away from that" he says with an annoyed expression
Izaki: "it's just a rumor so don't get too excited you two" as he waves the excited boys off
Both morikawa and kamui looked dejected and disappointed after the fact.
Kei: "hey izaki, do you know how these vanguards are actually chosen"
Izaki: "not a clue man, but apparently when they are, word usually gets sent throughout the entire nation"
A few days passed since this conversation took place and the unthinkable was about to happen. A bell rung from the center of the village signaling the gathering of the citizens in the town square. many were surprised because of how little the bell had been utilized over the past few years. only under circumstances of attacks and emergency gatherings was it usually used so the people were quick to gather and find out what was happening.
Chatter began and speculations were discussed. "what's happening?", this was the question everyone wanted an answer to. An elderly man walked up on a platform strategically placed in the center of the town. this man was recognized as the village leader and the square became silent as soon as he reached the top.
Village chief: "*clears throat* good day everyone, i apologize for the inconvenience caused by this gathering but there has been an important announcement from the capital.
the chatter began once more
"News? from the capital? what's going on?"
Village chief: "settle yourselves!" as the hit the platform with a cane he was carrying.
The crowd of people that were now spilling out of the square became silent once again.
Village chief: "Regarding the vanguard selections that took place in the capital a few days ago... Not only has someone from our village been selected but there have been two representatives chosen"
The crowd remained silent with a few gasps but many were waiting with faited breath for the man to call out the names of the chosen ones. the chief pulled out a scroll and turned it to the audience and continued
"I now present to you the two men that will bring wealth and fame to our village. They will lead the nation to many victories over threats to the empire, Kei Katsuragi and Yuta Izaki!"
The crowd erupted in cheers even though many of them had no clue who these men were. even still they knew that their hope for a better future was with these chosen vanguards of the empire.
Standing in the midst of the noisy crowd were the two young men just staring with blank expressions looking up at the chief
Kei and yuta: "No way" they muttered with their eyes widened.
Kamui: "I can't believe it; my big bro is gonna be a vanguard!" as he jumps in excitement.
Morikawa: "Hey that's no fair, how come you both get to be vangos and not me" he says with jealousy in his voice
After hearing the boys talking amongst themselves the crowd started to figure out who they were celebrating and slowly created a path leading to the platform for the two boys. The people cheered and urged them forward. the boys slowly walked while basking in the crowd's cheers closely followed by their family. they greeted the old man on the platform and continued accepting the praise of the people. That night the four boys were treated as kings, they were fed and given proper clothing and housing. The whole village partied for days... until finally a carriage from the capital arrived.
Kei: "looks like it's about time we got going huh"
Izaki: "yeah time sure does fly doesn't it. five days have already passed since that day"
armored soldier from the capital: "seems you guys are packed and ready, not a lot but that should make our jobs much easier" as he looks at their two small sacks of presumably food.
another soldier seated on one of the horses pulling the carriage signaled the two boys to get in so they could get a move on but Kei could not help but stare at his younger brother with worry.
Kamui: "ugh? what's with that look big bro?
Kamui was puzzled at first but quickly realized that the look he was being given was a look of worry.
Kamui: "I'll be fine your idiot! I can take care of myself you know"
Kei smirked and turned his head toward the carriage, "of course you can" were the last words he spoke before stepping into the carriage.
Morikawa: "You two better not forget about us and come back home as soon as possible!"
Izaka: "Ok dude there's no need for tears, we'll be back soon I promise"
Morikawa: "I'm not crying; you are" as a stream of tears roll down his cheek.
He quickly used his forearm to shield his face from being seen any longer.
Kamui: "wow man, you need to get it together. Your pathetic"
Morikawa: "watch your mouth you little brat!"
Izaki chuckled as he went into the carriage to sit beside kei.
The two stopped arguing and waved their friends goodbye one last time
Soldier: "Seems like were all set, now let's get a move on" as he whips the horses pulling the carriages
The carriage slowly pulled away from where the citizens had gathered to see the boys go off on their journey. For the first time in their lives the boys had left their village but they were excited and ready for what this new path had opened up for them... at least they thought they were.
All across cray, just like Kei and Yuta special people were being selected by each clan one by one. Whether it was:
the pure hearted boy living comfortably with his mother and sister in the United Sanctuary,
The pure and innocent sister living comfortably with his mother and brother in the united Sanctuary
A pair of brother and sister struggling to survive in the shadows of the Sanctuary
The weak hearted maiden of the Zoo
High ranking member of the crime syndicate from Zoo
The one who pursues true justice in Star Gate
The talented genius of the Sanctuary
The demon king of the dark zone from a past era
The entertaining assassin
the one that possesses a true passion for gallows ball
The deadly and charismatic pirate that travels the seas with his crew and his precious younger sister
The three sister trying to find where they belong
The passionate warriors that yearn for glory and victory from the Dragon Empire
The hyperactive boy living in a small village in the Dragon Empire.
The Vanguards of this Era were about to bring about a change to the world that no one could have foreseen.