An Unsung Legend
" " = Speaking
' ' = Thought
I own nothing! This is a complete work of fanfiction.
"There are 3 C's in the process of change. You have to be willing to make the choice to take the chance to make a change." – A Silent Voice film
"Congratulations to our new World Maritime Naval Academy graduates! May you all continue to strive to protect the seas and make the world a safe, happy place for all!"
A young man stood as happy as can be, excited to continue his journey to become a naval officer and serve as a symbol of peace so that everyone can be at ease. His jet-black hair was cut short and practically unnoticeable under his new white naval cap that had the symbol of a golden anchor with a black background affixed to the rim. His clothes were standard naval officer uniform, strictly white with medals and tassels around the torso. He normally would've been hard to spot in the crowd of similar looking graduates, that is, if it wasn't for his eyes. His irises were like sparkling amethyst crystals that looked like they would glow in the night. Besides his mesmerizing eyes, he was like every other graduate, fit-looking and ready to serve.
As he stood smiling, he couldn't help but wish that the headmaster of the academy would hurry up and finish his speech so the after-party celebrations could begin. However, as soon as he closed his eyes and took in a large breath of air to begin his new start, he opened his eyes to see that the once joyous scenery he found himself in was replaced with something resembling hell. The sky was cracked and there were some sort of machines coming out of it, shooting out lasers and storms of artillery fire all around him. The academy, the sea, and worst of all, the people, were all up in flames. Screams of terror, pain, and agony echoed throughout and the air was suffocating as the stench of smoke and gas permeated throughout the academy grounds. The young naval officer saw nothing but tragedy and didn't realize until he looked down that he was covered in smoke, cuts, burns, and blood. The young man couldn't help but fall to his knees and stare, first at his blood covered hands and then at the hell in front of him. Nothing seemed to have been real and he couldn't help it as tears slowly trickled down at the tragedy before him. Not even a second later did he hear a sultry, powerful voice speak up.
"Hahahahaha! You humans are pathetically weak, one barrage from my minions' cannons was all it took to bring you filth to your knees!"
"Master Arbiter, the ambush was an unsurprising success. All forms of life in the nearest 10-mile radius have been depleted to less than 1%, in the span of less than 5 minutes should I add."
"Hmph, Observer…was I unclear when I said I wanted ALL life gone when I briefed you all on this ambush?"
"My sincerest apologies, Master Arbiter, The Empress III. I will personally carry out the cleanup."
"Good now hurry up and…Oh?" The pale alien-like woman looked down and noticed the young man on his knees unable to move as he looked up at her. At first she thought nothing of the filth before her, but the woman's eyes widened as she saw his eyes, filled with not only tears and horror, but with life, something of which that she oh so wanted to torment personally. A twisted smile rose upon her face as she descended towards the young man.
The young man couldn't move as he saw a very pale-looking woman descend before him. Her eyes seemed to glow with an evil aura as she stared at him with an equally evil looking smirk on her face. He noticed that she was wearing what appeared to be a rather revealing white sundress that virtually matched her skin. Her shins seemed to have some sort of black tattoo insignia that almost seemed regal. If it wasn't for the additional mass of armor and cannons attached to her back that seemed to be pointing at his general vicinity, he would've sworn she was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen.
"You, human filth. You're either very lucky or very unfortunate to be kneeling before me. Your eyes almost reek of life but otherwise the color is rather nice. Wouldn't you agree that it would be better to remove the life from them?"
As she said that, her smile seemed to become even more twisted than it already was before and her eyes glowed an even darker shade of red, much to the young man's dismay.
"Rejoice, from now until the end of time, you are my plaything."
The young man, frozen in fear due to her overwhelming aura, couldn't move as a hand began to obscure his vision.
..
…
…
"AHHHHHHHH!" The young man screamed. He noticed his surroundings changed again to a familiar looking hospital bedroom.
'Damnit…That dream again,' the young man grieved. 'Why, just why did all of that had to happen? All those people, gone. I couldn't even speak, let alone do anything that day.'
The young man slumped back into his bed. His body was covered in bandages and IV drips were attached to his arms. His once dazzling amethyst eyes now seemed to have been voided out into a hollow like grayish purple. The young man couldn't help but continue to lament his own weakness that day, when suddenly, the door swung open, and a trio of people appeared. A young girl in a nurse uniform, an aged man in doctor clothes, and a young woman in naval attire came bursting through the door, looks of worry plastered upon their face.
"Shikikan! Are you okay?" Shouted the young woman in naval attire.
"I think I am now, but…who are you?" Asked the young man
"You…you don't remember?" the young woman asked him despondently.
"I'm sorry, but I can't seem to remember anything….well any good memories more specifically."
"It's okay, you went through a lot. My name is Victoria, I was your classmate at the World Maritime Naval Academy and was there with you during that…... day."
The young man's eyes, still hollow looking, widened as they looked at her, expressing feelings of fear and pain.
"Sir, please don't move to much! Your wounds are still not fully healed!" Begged the young nurse.
"She's right, after we found you shipwrecked…well maybe not shipwrecked but floating on a large ship rigging debris in the middle of the ocean covered in wounds and blood a month ago, we rushed you here and performed emergency operations. I honestly didn't think you would ever wake up, let alone survive. What happened to you? Your entire body looked battered like an old ragdoll." Informed the aged doctor.
The young man shook his head. "On that day, I was captured by the Sirens"
Everyone stood in shock
"That day, a high-ranking siren named Master Arbiter, or Empress III, took me in, claiming me as her plaything. She tortured and let her allies' experiment on me relentlessly. I was like a lab rat that wasn't allowed to die. The rest is a bit hazy, but all I remember is somehow managing to escape after what seemed like an eternity and now here I am." The young man explained, sadness obvious on his face.
The trio of guests couldn't help but sympathize the young man who endured too much.
The silence was broken by Victoria. "Shikikan….I..I'm so sorry." Tears could be seen falling down her face. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Sobbed Victoria.
The young man couldn't help but bring his hand up to pat the top of her head.
"Thank you…..thank you for crying for me, but please…there's nothing you should be sorry for. It wasn't your fault" The young man said, trying to calm down Victoria. She couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and relief from his hand. It was so soothing, and yet so kind. She couldn't help herself grabbing his hands and bending down onto her knees, taking his hands close to her teary face.
"I'm so glad you're okay," smiled Victoria.
A ghost of a smile appeared on his face.
"By the way, is my name Shikikan? I really am hating how I can't remember anything useful, let alone good." The young man questioned.
Victoria got up and wiped away her tears. "No, it's not. I am sorry, but I don't know either and neither does anyone else since all information and files regarding our class seemed to have been burnt in the fires that day. Since our class was so large, we never met until that awful day….where you saved my life."
"I saved you?"
"Yes, I was injured from the aftershock of those monsters' cannon barrages and couldn't even get up. As they were continuing their assault, one of the buildings began to fall in my direction. I thought that sealed my fate, so I closed my eyes, praying that those monsters' get what they deserve. But when I opened it again, I saw you." Victoria said, looking at the young man with a warm smile. "You were carrying me in your arms and running away from where the building collapsed. You brought me all the way to the emergency submarine pods and told me to flee and get help. I tried to get you to come with me, but you ran off saying that there might be others alive and that you couldn't just leave and let them die."
The doctor and nurse looked at the young man with respect and adoration respectively.
"Did I find anyone else?"
"Unfortunately, no. Up until now, I was the only survivor of that day."
"Damn those Sirens…" the young man gruntled in dismay. "Wait. Did you say you found me a month ago?"
The doctor nodded.
"Then…how long has it been since that day?" Asked the young man.
Victoria hesitated briefly, but then spoke up. "It's been almost 5 years."
The young man stared wide eyed at the floor, shocked that so much time had pass without him knowing. "I…can't believe it…..what's the status of the situation with them then?"
"…..The Sirens have….taken over most of the seas." Stated Victoria
"Damn it all….," exclaimed the young man, "do we even have any hope in changing the tides?"
Victoria took both of the young man's hands and smiled. "Yes, we do, now that you are awake."
"Hold up. Are you saying that you expect him to just be able to get up and fight the Sirens!?" Exclaimed the nurse.
"I do." Stated Victoria. She then looked back towards the young man. "I know your memories are hazy. I know you have been scarred on all levels. And I know we barely know each other. But I know for a FACT that you are not the type of man to run away. Do you remember your speech day?"
The young man nodded no.
"That day, you spoke of how you wanted to change the world and how you will do everything in your power to protect those who need it. I, and everyone else that day, saw the look on your face that day and the light in your eyes, showing how you really meant it. I believed that you truly meant every word of it."
The young man was about to protest.
"Don't even think of trying to deny it! You were about to say that you failed right? You absolutely did not, you are the sole reason as to why I'm alive right now. We, collaboratively, failed in not being able to do a thing, not just you. So please…please don't blame just yourself for that day, it was beyond our power. You did everything you could, and for that I can wholeheartedly say that you are my hero, as cheesy as that sounds of course hehe." Victoria couldn't help but blush upon finishing her monologue.
"…You read me like a book. Are you sure we weren't closer than just classmates?" Another ghost of a smile appeared on the young man's face.
"Unfortunately, we weren't, but I plan on changing that soon hehe." Victoria said the last part quietly and blushed. "Anyways back to business. The reason I referred to you as Shikikan is because HQ, thanks to yours truly, wants to appoint you as the new commander for the Azur Lane initiative in order to finally begin our counter on those monsters."
"Azur Lane?" The recently awoken and still bed-ridden young man questioned.
"I'll explain in due time, but right now, all you have to do is focus on getting better and listening to Dr. Sen's orders okay?"
"Sigh…I feel like you are going to work him to the point where I'll have to reserve a bed just for him" Dr. Sen said half-heartedly jokingly.
"Honestly…allthoooough I don't mind being his personal nurse whenever you overwork him wink." Smirked the young nurse.
Victoria blushed deeply at the duo's antics. "I'm not some sort of evil boss you know! And you better leave him alone Nurse Jenny! Hmph!" She crossed her arms and pouted, rather cutely in the young man's eyes.
The young man didn't realize it, but some life was starting to come back into his eyes as he began his journey once more to become a symbol of peace and stop those Sirens once and for all.
What he didn't know was that the Azur Lane initiative was something he would never have expected.
Thank you for reading! This is my first time ever writing a fanfic so please don't hurt me. I've been playing Azur Lane since practically NA launch so needless to say, Azur Lane is my life lol. Let me know if you like the story so far and if you would be interested in more!
