"The first time I laid eyes on that… that Beast, it terrified me. I know that it's sacrilege, borderline heresy to admit it, but even with the Gift flowing through me, even with the Light of the Core behind my eyes and powering my blows, it terrified me. Toshinori, I know you'll read this without my permission, if you ever find yourself against that Beast, please… hold nothing back." - Excerpt from the journal of Nana Shimura, Seventh Champion of the Core.
June 15th, Year 348
Toshinori ran, his armored fists carving a path of destruction through the hordes as he charged through demons. His muscles ached, how long had he been fighting? It felt like he'd been fighting for days, but it couldn't have been longer than a full hour of non-stop fighting, and yet they kept coming…
He didn't care though, his target was in sight, the one He had warned him and his master of - the one true threat to Humanity. It was hard to believe that this thing, this Monster used to be human, but as Toshinori crushed another of the horde's skulls between his hands, he found that he didn't care.
He had caused all this suffering, and It was Toshinori Yagi's job to bring peace back to the world.
For Humanity.
For Nana.
For the Core.
"WhERe iS hE!?" the Beast screamed, batting away one of its own as it charged Toshinori arms outstretched as if to grab him.
Toshinori didn't answer, he instead readied himself for the fight to come. The others had backed away, almost watching in anticipation of the battle they were about to witness, as absurd as that had sounded. Their glowing red eyes watched from the shadows of the foliage and trees as two behemoths stood ready to kill each other.
The Beast screamed again "WhEre iS He!?"
Toshinori smiled his best smile as he brought his fists to bear, "I am right here!" He opened a palm and motioned the creature forward "Come! Beast! Face a true Champion of the Light!" His body glowed an ethereal green as he channeled his Gift through it, lighting up like a flame in the darkest of nights.
The monsters surrounding them screeched, almost as if they were a crowd of spectators watching a gladiator fight.
No one would ever see how terrified Toshinori was at that moment, and if he made it out of the fight alive, no one would ever know either.
"Light bless you on this divine day!" The annoying voice of her blasted alarm chirped out far too cheerfully. Melissa Shield slammed her hand down on it to shut the radio up, her father would be displeased if she had shattered another alarm clock by throwing it at the wall. With a groan, she sat up in her bed and glanced outside, the dome was still up and glowing its green color, meaning the true sun wasn't up yet, with a sigh she got up and began getting ready for her day.
She got up and showered quickly, before making her way downstairs only to see both her father and sister tinkering on the table instead of eating breakfast.
"What did I say about tinkering on the table, why haven't you guys made breakfast yet!?" She sighed before pulling out the ingredients she'd need from the icebox. "I swear, how are you two going to function without me…" She turned to glare at her sister. "Mei," the girl looked up from her project with a sheepish expression.
"Yea sis?"
"Project off the table and come help me with this."
"Why can't dad…?"
"Because he can't cook for shit! Now get over here!" When Mei stood up and started putting things away Melissa sighed. "I'm going to become the Caretaker today and you guys can't even pretend to be excited for me?"
"Yay…" Mei deadpanned while their father just chuckled through a screwdriver.
"I'm sure you'll do great, Mel." he said once he took the screwdriver out of his mouth "Though I still think you'd do better in engineering…" he eyed her hopefully but looked away at her scowl.
"Dad, I know our family has helped maintain the Core since… well, forever, but I made my choice."
"I know, Mel, and I'm proud of you, never doubt that." He smiled a genuine smile to show her he honestly was. "But a father's dream is to always have his children follow in his footsteps, and while I love Mei," they both looked over at the youngest member of the family who was cracking eggs in a bowl and pretending not to listen in on the conversation, "She has a tendency to blow up."
"I do not!"
"Fine, blow things up."
"Thank you!"
Melissa couldn't stop the laugh that escaped her. She loved her family, despite their… bumpy, history.
When her father adopted Mei, Melissa felt betrayed at first, feeling like she was being replaced because of her career choice, but over time those fears were replaced by love as she and Mei grew to be like genuine sisters, and she understood her father's reasons behind the decision. Best to have someone you trust to succeed you, rather than leave that fate up to Highborn pansies who don't know the first thing about engineering. Especially when it concerns something as important as the Core.
The family of three settled into cheerful silence as they ate before the clock chimed and the family got ready for their respective days.
"Where are you guys working today?" Melissa asked as she did the dishes.
"I'm going to show Mei the Central Tower, gotta show her how to handle the different crews working on it and make sure she knows what she's doing." Her father replied with an affable grin as he ruffled Mei's hair. He turned to his oldest with a frown. "Don't waste time on the dishes, you only have a few hours before the Selection Ceremony and you don't want to be late to meet Momo."
"But then who'll do the dishes?" Melissa turned to ask.
"I'll have Mei do them."
"She'll blow them up."
"Not even gonna deny it!"
"See?"
David just sighed and pinched his nose, rubbing the bridge of it underneath his glasses "Just, don't be late."
Melissa waved a soapy hand at him and went back to her dishes, trying not to let her nerves show as her father and sister left.
With the dishes washed and dried, Melissa went to get herself dressed properly. She had to look her absolute best, such an important occasion demanded it. Changing out of the t-shirt and pajama pants she wore around the house, she put on her best dress, cleaned her glasses, and brushed her hair before putting it in a ponytail. She looked herself over in the mirror and wished she had some form of makeup…
A knock on the front door of the condo brought her out of her stupor and she quickly made her way to see who it was… It wasn't time for a Liquid Light delivery, was it? That didn't happen so early in the morning…
She cracked the door open to see the tall and slender figure of Momo Yaoyorozu standing there with a serene smile, quickly opening it she smiled up at her closest friend. "Momo! What are you doing here? We were supposed to meet near the ceremony grounds!"
Momo smiled at her and laughed. "I kind of got anxious and decided to come and get you."
Melissa rolled her eyes "You aren't even the one being evaluated today!"
"Then call it second-hand anxiety." Momo pouted, and the two stared at each other for a moment before they started laughing.
Melissa smiled, and the two of them made their way outside and towards Momo's Sun Speeder. It was a gorgeous thing, a small hovercraft that harnessed the power of the Core to hover above the ground and speed along it. It was almost like the cars of old that her father had told her about, but more efficient and eco-friendly. Momo's was a top-of-the-line model, a Mercury X, the vehicle was sleek, rounded, and smooth. No roof covering so that you could enjoy the light of either the Sun or the Core and a dark blue paint job to finish everything off.
Melissa hopped into the passenger seat and pouted as Momo started the Speeder. "I still can't believe your mom had one of these custom-made for you! I'm so jealous!"
Momo just laughed as they began making their way towards the core, speeding along the floor so smoothly it made Melissa swoon. "She offered to make one for you too, Mel."
"Fuck you, I don't take handouts!" She scowled when Momo laughed. "You guys are too damn nice for your own good…"
"Mel, there's a difference between 'handouts' and 'gifts'. The Core gives us the Light we need to live, do you consider that a handout?" Momo questioned with a raised eyebrow, eyes still forward on the hover lane. She was a responsible pilot like that.
"Well… I mean…" Melissa stuttered, she loved Momo like a sister but their difference of opinion on religion was one of the few things the two ever truly disagreed on.
Momo was a follower of the Verdant Sun, a religious group that believed the Core was a deity and that it gave everyone its Light freely and without ulterior motive, and if Melissa was being honest she and her family were followers of the Verdant Sun as well, but it was in a more… subdued way than Momo or her family.
The Shield's were faithful, that wasn't a problem, they just weren't as devout as other families, like say, the Yaoyorozu's. It was hard to be when your family did routine maintenance on the Core itself… It was difficult to not see it as just a machine, and not a god.
"Okay," Melissa sighed, "Let's not get into an argument about this again, we both know how it ends."
"With us hugging it out and going to get ice cream as apology snacks?" Momo guessed.
"One of the many outcomes, but forgiveness is a constant in all of them, yes." Melissa laughed, before looking out to the side as they passed people by on the pedestrian walkways, separated from the hover lanes by a green hard-light barrier to prevent casualties in case of an accident. "We can both agree that the Core is why we're here. Without it, who knows what would happen."
"More than likely we'd all be dead, consumed by the darkness." Momo bluntly stated.
"Or bloodthirsty monsters. Either way, I will always be grateful for the Light of the Core."
"And soon you shall show that gratitude, by being the next Caretaker!" Momo semi-cheered. "I'm so excited for you!"
"I thought you were anxious."
"Today is just filled with a lot of different emotions, okay?!"
"It's still early in the morning, Momo!"
"Exactly! I'm freaking out!"
"Please don't while you're driving!" Melissa quickly pleaded. "I haven't even been selected yet, I've only qualified." She pointed out.
As the Light of the Core gave way to the Sun, Melissa observed the City as it sped by. She watched as the different businesses that comprised most Highborn families lively hoods, including her own, sped by and gave way to Military production and equipment storage facilities as the core grew closer. The Southern River of Light wound down towards the lower levels of the City, its glow clear even as the Sun rose in the distance.
Staring at the river as it passed, she should have been calmed by its serene flowing waters. It was known for having that effect on people or animals that watched it or drank from its crystal clear waters. Sadly, the holy river didn't help her at all, and her anxiety remained high as they neared the Core itself.
She felt Momo take one of her hands in her own and give it a squeeze, though her friend's eyes weren't off the road at all as she expertly kept the Sun Speeder going down its path with her left hand. "It'll be okay, Mel. You got this."
Melissa smiled, and she squeezed Momo's hand back, taking comfort in her friend's presence and faith in her abilities. She set her sights on the distant towers that sat atop the Core. On the bright green light of the Central Tower that generated the barrier that covered the City. It was almost like a beacon, or a second sun.
Even with the speed the Sun Speeder was going, it would be awhile before they made it to the Core. More than enough time for Melissa to compose herself.
"You're right, I got this."
A hooded girl crouched down in the market looking at bags full of wheat and barley, her hood obscuring her face but that was normal for the lower City, so no one paid her any mind. She quickly tapped each of the bags with her full hand, one of wheat, one of barley, and another of corn before standing up and walking off away from the vendor.
Said vendor saw her walking away and narrowed his eyes, but shook his head and went back to trying to advertise his goods. "Damn street rats." He muttered only to gape in shock as another hooded figure ran up in broad daylight and snatched up three of his bags like they weighed nothing, before running off into the distance.
"STOP! Thief!" he shouted, relieved to hear the whistle of the nearby City Watch as they pursued the thief.
The hooded figure turned and tried to get a good look at their pursuers. Standard Watchmen, covered in simple plate and leather armor, both armed with a sword and baton… snorting the figure quickly turned towards a nearby alley, once they were far enough inside the alley and out of the Watchmen's field of view they slapped the lowered hand from above and started floating...
The Watchmen ran after the thief, following them into the alley they saw the rat turn to flee down. As they turned the corner, they came upon a dead end, with neither the thief nor the bags anywhere in sight.
One watchman looked to the other. "Where'd they go?!"
Meanwhile, on the rooftops, two hooded figures and three bags of food floated just above the floor, before one of them pressed their hands together. "Release." She whispered.
They both dropped to the floor, the bags of food joining them with a heavy thud. Ochako pulled her hood off of her head, letting her messy and dirty brown hair fall down. "Did you get it?"
"No, I grabbed a bunch of empty bags." The other figure took off her hood as well, revealing the head of loose dirty blonde hair. "Of course I got it!" Himiko smiled at Ochako.
"Yes!" Ochako opened one bag and went to grab some corn, only for her hand to get smacked away. "Ow!"
"Hands to yourself, 'Chako. We don't grab any until we get it back to the Church." Himiko scolded.
Ochako sagged a little. "Sorry, I'm just so hungry."
Himiko's face softened as she closed the bag back up. "I know me too. But remember why we did this. Also, let's hurry before Father realizes we're gone."
"If he hasn't already." Ochako touched each of the bags, negating gravity's hold on them.
"Relax, he's busy preparing for the festival. We can sneak back in before he even notices." Himiko rolled her eyes at Ochako's fidgeting, her little sister was such a worry wort, and honestly too good for this world.
The two girls made their way down from the sheet metal roof they were on and back to the streets below, normally they wouldn't risk stealing food in broad daylight, but as Himiko had said, everyone was preparing for the Festival of Light so very few people were actually out and about even for the normally packed streets of the Lower City.
The place the two girls lived in was basically one of the Lower City's many slums, the entire city was separated into three rings, the High, Middle, and Lower rings each separated by walls hundreds of feet high. Most of the buildings have seen better days, with most "repairs" pretty much-being metal patchwork, sheet metal placed over holes, and rock filled in with cement or plaster where holes had formed or been made.
The few people who were out on the streets paid no mind to the twelve- and thirteen-year-old girls as they ran through the small crowds and back toward their home. It was elegant as far as Lower City architecture went, a simple church, built in the style of some old church, neither of the girls knew what religion it was based on, but they knew it now stood for the church run by their father. The Verdant Sun… they both smiled as they made their way towards the back gate of the church.
"Father should be busy upstairs with the Nuns so if we're lucky we should be able to sneak back in with no one even noticing!" Himiko grinned as she felt Ochako pat her back with a hand, as well as the sacks. She crouched down ready to jump when a soft cough caused the both of them to freeze.
They looked up to where the cough had come from, only to see the serenely smiling, noseless face of their father looking down at them from a nearby window.
"Oh, I noticed." His deep voice filled them with dread and Ochako had to quickly release her power's hold on them before letting the food drop. She turned to a nearby bush and started puking her guts out.
"Papa! You scared 'Chako so badly she puked, again!" Himiko pouted, causing their Father to laugh before he expertly jumped down from the window and made his way to his daughters. Patting Ochako on the back as she continued to puke.
"It's okay little one, let's get you inside with your… haul," He smiled at them though they could tell by his voice that his patience was gone. "And then we can discuss your punishment."
Ochako sniffled and let out a cough "We just wanted to help… you said we were running out of food…"
"That doesn't mean you take from others, children." Their father frowned. "What does the Caretaker say?"
"Give to those who need it, be kind to each other, give of yourself as the Light gives to us…" They both intoned, used to the lectures by now.
"Indeed, she would not approve of such thievery, we have ways to get food that doesn't revolve around theft." He nodded, proud that his girls at least knew their scriptures. "Now, let's put this into our stores, we can use some of it here, but the rest we will disperse to the people who need it, understood?"
The girls nodded forlornly, and he let out a laugh. "Oh, don't look so down girls, you're going to be the ones handing it out after all."
They both pouted even more at that and he laughed louder.
"Father Chizome, you're needed upstairs." One nun, a blue-skinned young woman, spoke up as she approached from upstairs. "We need to figure out the logistics of… oh hello girls!" She smiled at them and they reluctantly smiled back which caused her to raise an eyebrow. "Did you get caught stealing, again?"
Chizome nodded as he motioned for the nun to come down. "Indeed, Chitose, could you help them place these in the pantry? Perhaps as added punishment, they can help you with the rest of your tasks for the day."
Chitose smiled, "That's a wonderful idea!" She clapped her hands together. "Come girls, you can help me water the garden after we get these put away." She laughs at their put-out expressions "Cheer up, after we're done we can go hand out the Light to the people who need it, I know you both enjoy doing that."
Both of their faces immediately brightened at the idea of helping those who needed it, and Chizome couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. He had raised some wonderful girls, despite their… flaws.
The girls went to set about their given tasks, putting the food away and walking out back towards the meager garden that the church had. They tried to be as self-sufficient as possible, growing tomatoes, herbs, and other edible plants but no one in the congregation had a blessed thumb, so the garden remained rather pitiful to look at, in the girls' opinions.
They quickly watered the plants as they were directed and soon enough it was time to begin preparations to hand out the Light to people who needed it.
Chitose led the girls away from the common areas of the church towards the nave, the central part of the church. Back by the pulpit was an altar dedicated to the Great Sun, the Core and god of their faith. It was a fountain, with glowing water flowing from it in a trickle while a green flame burned above it in a large brazier, kept alight by dedicated followers who fed it copper sulfate-lined wood every hour.
The fountain itself didn't hold the Light the three were looking for, instead, they walked behind it towards a locked ornate cabinet, Chitose quickly pulled out her keys and unlocked the many locks keeping the cabinet shut to the world. With a flourish she put the keys away and opened the container, revealing rows of boxes, filled with glass bottles containing a glowing liquid, brighter than even the River of Light itself.
"Alright girls, it's time to go deliver the good news of our lord." Chitose smiled, "We don't have a lot of Liquid Light, but we have enough to make a bit of a difference today." She grinned at Ochako. "Ochako if you would."
Ochako nodded and quickly tapped a few of the boxes, while Himiko stacked them on top of each other to carry them.
"What's your limit sweetie?" Chitose asked, even though she knew the answer. She had to remind Ochako sometimes, or her zealotry would get the better of her.
"Five, sister." Ochako mumbled as she tapped her fifth box and stacked it on top of another.
Chitose though raised an eyebrow "Five? It was four a few months ago, that's impressive!" She meant it too. "A true Gift from the Core."
"Yeah, 'Chako!" Himiko too was happy for her. "Your Gift really is strong. Especially with these crates being heavy."
Ochako groaned as she felt her stomach becoming upset.
Chitose hummed. "Perhaps best to not make you think about the burden. Come here." Chitose reached forward and picked up the small girl, placing her on her back. "I'll carry you until we get to our destination."
"Thank you, sister." Ochako got comfortable and placed her hands in a way that she wouldn't accidentally use her powers on Chitose.
"Himiko, think you can handle the crates?" Chitose looked to the other girl, who had tied the boxes together to keep them from floating away.
"All set!"
"Then let's be off."
With that, the trio set forth to deliver the Liquid Light to those who needed it. Meanwhile, Chizome was watching them from a window within the church, a small frown of worry on his face.
"Be safe, girls."
Chiyo stood by the monitoring station within the Core and sighed through her nose, absentmindedly twirling a pen in her hand. Today was hopefully going to be the day she was finally and truly replaced as Caretaker.
She sighed and turned to one of the armored individuals next to her. "Go get everyone ready, I want this to go off without a hitch, Captain-General."
The armored individual on the left nodded and gave her a thumbs up, before turning and swishing his bright red cape. In an instant, he walked through the nearest wall and Chiyo chuckled as one of the other armored individuals on the other side of the wall let out a surprised shout.
"I've said it before, but I'll miss it here once I'm gone, but my time was over fifty years ago, I shouldn't have had to come back." She growled to no one in particular though the individual next to her shuffled nervously.
"Speak your mind, Shield-Captain." She hated talking to them like this but they were on the clock, and she didn't have time to beat around the bush.
The Shield-Captain once again shifted nervously, his black armor clinking as he did so, he played with the tip of his hood, which Chiyo never understood his need to wear when he had a helmet, and whispered. "Do you really have to leave?" He shifted "Getting used to a new Caretaker is… troublesome."
"Two sentences out of you? Well done." If he didn't have a helmet on she was sure the Shield-Captain would be blushing. "Yes, I have to leave. I am needed out there, in the City. Not in here doing nothing but routine checks on you and your Shield Siblings." She frowned. "I love all of you, but Inko had the right of it. We shouldn't be here forever."
The Shield-Captain shrugged and nodded his head towards the cameras, the last of the candidates had arrived and Chiyo sighed again.
"I guess it's showtime." She nods her head at the screen "Go greet them, Shield-Captain, it's time we get this over with."
With an exaggerated bow, similar to one a butler would do in the old days, the Shield-Captain marched his way up to the entrance of the Core, Chiyo laughing at him as he left. "Cheeky brat, remind me to box your ears before I leave."
"Woo! That took a while." Melissa said as she leaped out of the Speeder. The courtyard they had parked near was gorgeous. Wide open and full of life. Crystals lined the walkway, glowing even in the light of the Sun, while crystal clear water flowed from a nearby fountain into an artificial spring.
"It truly is a place of wonder, isn't it?" Momo said as she smiled at her friend. She began walking with Melissa. "Let's go to Knighteye's Gate, that should be where the ceremony is being held."
Knighteye's Gate wasn't hard to find, it was just a walk through the yards and gardens of the Core. Unlike the previous courtyard which had been beautiful, tame, and pristine, the courtyard that housed Knighteye's Gate was rugged, damaged, and looked war-torn. The ground was concrete, cracked from a battle centuries past, gashes lined the Iron gate itself, and the only other man-made structure in sight was a statue of a man in front of the gate, kneeling on a longsword and bowing in what looked like prayer.
"Is that…?" Melissa asked, eyes glued to the statue.
"The Knighteye," Momo whispered reverently, she quickly clasped her hands together and Melissa did the same as they closed their eyes, sending a prayer for the Sword Saint.
"They say he fought off an entire horde to hold this gate… alone," Melissa whispered.
"Be unwavering, in conviction, in faith, and in loyalty…" Momo recited reverently.
As the two got closer they noticed the faint glow emanating from the helmet, where the Knight's visor would be. Melissa tried not to gasp but failed. "Are those Sun Crystals?" She had never seen them in a statue before!
Momo was about to respond when the sound of clanking metal reached their ears. They turned and gaped at the hooded, armored man walking up to them from the other side of the courtyard. "Yes, they are." The man nodded to the statue "Though I'm surprised that you both haven't seen a statue of him, He's the easiest to visit." The man didn't elaborate as he herded them forward.
"By the Core…" Momo whispered, "One of the angels…"
Melissa raised an eyebrow "A what?" She looked between the statue of the Knighteye and the man herding them. She was regretting her lack of religious studies right about now.
"We are Custodians," the man deadpanned. "We protect the Core and the Heart within, and try to live up to our brother's example," he nodded to Knighteye's statue.
He stopped them at the door behind the statue and turned to leave. "Stay here, the selection process will begin once all candidates have arrived."
"He seemed… aloof," Melissa whispered only to be smacked in the arm by Momo. "Ow! What was that for?!"
"Don't mock one of the angels!"
"I wasn't!" Melissa rubbed her arm. "Okay, so wanna explain then?"
"The immortal guardians of the Core. They have stood as sentries and guardians of this place since the beginning. One angel is the equivalent of an entire army." Momo explained, stars in her eyes.
Melissa though frowned "You'd think our family would have met them before…"
"They only guard the Core and they rarely venture outside of the building itself, you heard him!" she gestured to the retreating Custodian's back. "They protect the Heart!"
"What's the Heart?"
"I don't know!" Momo's excitement never died down though "Isn't it exciting?! Very few people ever get the privilege of meeting an angel!" She bounced on her heel. "And very few people get to even go inside the Core! It's like that old tale about Jacob and the Ladder from the old world faiths!"
"I'm pretty sure it's considered sacrilege to mention a holy event from another faith in front of your most holy building Momo."
Before Momo could respond the Custodian came back with a full group of people, a mix of men and women. He looked at Momo with a nod. "I'm glad some literature from the old world still gets read," Melissa swore she heard Momo's heart stop.
"I… I didn't-"
"You aren't in trouble, I recommend reading John or Matthew if you haven't. The Old Testament gets pretty dry." With that he walked to the door and stood off to the side, waiting.
"The Old what?" Melissa whispered but Momo didn't answer, face pale, probably swearing off reading any ancient religious texts altogether at this point. Melissa nudged her. "I don't think he was reprimanding you Momo."
"He was, oh no I'm going to be punished for my hubris…"
"I think you're overreacting, he gave you a recommended reading list… also, who's John and Matthew?"
"Shut up, Melissa."
Neither of them noticed the group of hopefuls glaring at them, while the Custodian shifted from side to side slightly but otherwise made no comment, though Melissa was sure the man was laughing at them.
Before she could read too far into that, the Custodian reached up a fist and banged twice on the iron gate. Catching all of their attention.
"You come before the Core to partake in a great duty." The man spoke, voice firm, not the same soft tone he had used to talk to them earlier. "Only one of you may be chosen. Present yourselves, one at a time, and if the gate opens for you, know that you are to be the next Caretaker."
He walked away from the gate towards the end of the group, starting from the end farthest from Melissa.
"Oh no, what if our lord picks someone before you get to go!" Momo whispered fervently, her face pale. "The angel is mad at me! I did this to you…"
Melissa didn't respond and just kept her eyes forward, watching as one after another men and women prostrated themselves before Knighteye's gate and were rejected each time. Its doors refused to open for any of them, and Melissa had no idea why.
Soon enough it was Melissa's turn, and she nervously walked forward, taking a deep breath for courage to keep herself from puking on the holy gate. She stepped forward and did something that would be considered sacrilegious. She refused to bow.
She did not know why, and she could hear Momo silently dying at the heresy her best friend displayed, but she couldn't do it. Her father told her that their family was descended from the Americans of the old world, a proud people that refused to bow to anyone. So when she saw others bowing to the gate, to a god she struggled to believe in on the best of days, she just couldn't.
For a moment nothing happened, other than the grumbling of the candidates behind her and she thought for a second that she had failed. That no one would be selected from this batch of candidates and she'd be thrown over the wall for insulting the Core when the great iron gate slowly started creaking open.
"It opened for this blasphemer!?" one man shouted, causing the others to join in. Shouts of heretic and nonbeliever caused Melissa to back up away from the door before the Custodian slammed his foot on the ground hard with a shout.
"Be silent!" Everyone quieted down in the face of the angel's fury, a subtle green glow leaking from his helmet before he continued. "Melissa of House Shield, step forward toward the gate."
Not wanting to piss the demi-god off any more than he already was, Melissa did as she was told, walking to the ajar gate nervously, only to yelp as an armored-clad hand reached out and yanked her inside.
She heard Momo shout out her name before the gate slammed shut. It was so dark inside the core… was she being sacrificed to it? Human sacrifice had never been legal in the City before!
"Umm you need to open your eyes, how are you gonna see with them closed? Silly!" A bubbly voice echoed in her ears and she blinked her eyes open. As her eyes adjusted to the light of the Core, she took in the room she had been dragged into. The walls were the same steel as the rest of the core, while the floors were smooth concrete, she then looked at the armor-clad Custodian before her.
She lifted her hand and waved, teal and yellow armor clinking as she did so. "Hiya! Welcome to your first day on the job, Caretaker!"
"Wh… What?"
"Did I break you? I'm sorry!" The Custodian was about to rush to check on her when a cane hitting her metal-clad shin stopped her. "Gah!"
"That's enough, Shield-Captain." A mature woman's voice drew Melissa's attention to a lady, standing at about five-four. Melissa hadn't noticed her standing next to the relatively tall Custodian! She was somewhat young looking, with some wrinkles here and there and some white hair but otherwise, she looked to be about Melissa's dad's age…
"Why do you even have the cane? You don't need it to walk!" Was… the Custodian pouting? It sounded like she was pouting.
"I need it to keep you, idiots, in line." The woman turned to look at Melissa. "Remind me to give this to you before I leave, you'll need it."
"No, wait! I'm sorry, Chiyo! Please don't let her keep the cane!" The Custodian… begged? What in the name of the Core was happening?
The newly named Chiyo turned to the Custodian. "Then maybe you should stop being a little punk and actually do your job!" She whacked the girl on the shin again. "Go on, get, let the others know we have a new Caretaker and that if they don't want her, keeping the cane they need to be on their best behavior!"
"Yes, ma'am!" The Shield-Captain floated away as fast as her Gift could take her, green spirals coming out of her arms and legs as she screamed about getting people in uniform and crazy doctors.
"What? Why?" Melissa's brain was melting. Maybe this was a punishment for her earlier heresy. "How?!"
"You're forgetting 'Who' and 'When', darling," Chiyo tapped her lightly with the cane as she smiled. "Pick your jaw up sweetie, you're going to need it attached to your body if you're going to survive the shenanigans this place will throw at you."
"I'm so confused." Melissa felt her head spinning. A lady with a cane was able to put fear into the heart of an angel of the Core? "Is this some crazy dream?"
"Ah, I forgot the younger generation has a different set of… views and expectations than we did. Hikari was the same way." Chiyo sighed as she started walking. "Come on, let me get you introduced to the Heart and then we'll answer your questions."
"We?"
"I will answer questions after the tour and introductions."
Melissa, not really seeing any other choice as the iron gate was closed behind her, followed after Chiyo.
"Before we begin, I must inform you of the only real rule you must follow as the Caretaker." Chiyo turned and looked Melissa in the eye, expression serious. "Anything and everything you see here, you must never speak of to anyone. The secrets of the inner Core are not common knowledge and should not be shared with anyone, not your family, not your friends, no one. Do you understand?"
Melissa nervously nodded her head.
Chiyo hummed as she eyed Melissa. "I must say, dear, you look young. How old are you?"
Melissa shuffled nervously. "I… uhm… I-I'm sixteen?"
Chiyo blinked in surprise. "Well, that makes you the youngest person to ever become Caretaker. Though, you have little in the way of competition, as there have only been three others before you." Chiyo turned without another word, leaving Melissa with yet more questions.
The two continued walking, however. They went down a hallway, down some stairs, and through a large gate, before once more going down another flight of stairs into what looked like some form of security room.
"This is the observation room, the Custodians use this to observe the outside world, and you may come here anytime you wish to do the same." She pointed further down the hall straight ahead of them "Down that way is the training room, it's free for you to use but keep in mind the Custodian's train there as well, and Rappa can be a bit… rough." She nodded her head to the right. "This way."
They continued down another hallway, past another gate, and into a spacious living quarter, the entire area was the size of Melissa's condo! Living room, kitchen, and all!
Chiyo laughed at her astonished look. "This is your quarters, it has everything you'll need for your stay down here though you may leave to visit family and friends anytime you wish, just remember to come back before your shift starts." At Melissa's confused look Chiyo hummed. "Your shifts usually start at six in the morning and end around four, though the job isn't very demanding you're basically a glorified school nurse."
Melissa raised an eyebrow and refrained from asking what a school nurse was. She followed Chiyo around the room, towards the small kitchen area, fully stocked and ready for her to use, the entertainment area with devices and gadgets Melissa had never seen before, and finally the bedroom which was blocked off by a wall for her privacy.
After the tour of the room was over, they walked back to the center of the room and Chiyo pointed to the hallway behind them. "That way leads to the Custodian's quarters, you are free to go in and out as you please, I wouldn't recommend it. Some of them have gotten…" Chiyo frowned, "Looser with their idea of privacy over the last three hundred years."
"What?"
"They've been around a while, so they tend to be very relaxed about certain things. Nemuri can be a bit much, even with that wife of hers trying to curtail her more… concerning habits." Seeing Melissa's concerned look, Chiyo quickly corrected herself. "Nemuri just tends to have less on than you'd expect, smack her with the cane if it happens and she'll correct herself quickly."
"What in the name of the Core have I gotten myself into?"
"Speaking of," she nodded to the hallway directly in front of them. "This leads directly to the Heart." She ignored Melissa's sputtering and began walking. Melissa, seeing no other option, sighed and followed her down the hall.
They walked in silence for a few minutes before they came across another Iron door, this one didn't open for them, instead, it had a keypad and a hand-shaped thing on the side. Chiyo looked at Melissa. "You remember how we required you to submit a skin sample before coming here?" At Melissa's nod, she pointed to the door. "This is why. Everywhere else will open to you without question, the doors are automated to recognize your face and the way you walk. This door is not, because this door is more important than everything else." She waved her hand. "The Code is 07-15-2107, once you've entered it, put your hand on the hand-shaped pad."
Melissa hesitantly did as she was told, entering the code quickly before placing her hand on the pad. She flinched as she felt a sharp pricking feeling in her palm. Pulling back she noticed a small spike jutting out of the pad, coated with a small amount of her blood before it retracted into the wall.
"Recognized, welcome Caretaker Melissa."A kind voice rang through the hallway and Melissa felt her heart beat quickly once again. Ignoring all the strange things that had happened since she got to the Core, this was the reason she was here! This was her calling!
The Door opened slowly, but Chiyo didn't even wait for it to be opened fully before walking into the room, Melissa following her. Looking around she took in the spacious room. It was like the other ones she had been in, with concrete floors and walls, personal effects like a bookshelf, and strange technology strewn about. The major difference though was the enormous machine in the back, large, sleek, and covered in weird lights. Melissa didn't know what it was, but it looked important and if the machine was the Heart that everyone kept talking about, well, then Melissa really wanted to brag to Momo about being right.
"Is that…" Melissa pointed to the machine, "The Heart?" She asked hopefully only for those hopes to be dashed when Chiyo let out a snort.
"God no." She walked to the center of the room where a glass panel lay embedded into the floor surrounded by a large shallow pool of water "That's the machine that controls the Core, it monitors and regulates everything from its temperature to its power output. If it needs to step in to stop you fools upstairs from using too much power and blowing something up, it will." She tapped on the glass with her cane and stepped back.
"Fools?"
"Yes, fools." Chiyo deadpanned. "He can explain it further, but back to the machine while we wait, don't call it that, especially in front of him." She pointed at it with her cane "We call her Inko. Say hello Inko."
"Hello, Former Caretaker Chiyo." The same soft voice echoed throughout the room.
"Inko as in the Saint?!"
"She was indeed a saint, just not in the weird religious way you all seem to view her now… she was the first Caretaker," Chiyo mumbled as the glass panel she had tapped on rose slightly out of the ground, hissed and opened slowly, steam rising from it rapidly, causing Melissa to step back, though Chiyo stayed where she was. The pool surrounding the panel glowed a bright green, so bright that Melissa had to squint.
After a moment the hissing and glowing stopped, replaced by the sound of shifting water, like someone standing up from a bathtub.
"Good morning!" The mach – Inko chirped. "It is currently twelve in the afternoon, you have been asleep for thirteen hours!"
"You're getting lazy in your old age." Chiyo snarked much to Melissa's continued confusion.
The mist didn't clear immediately but the moment Chiyo spoke, Melissa felt eyes on her. Two glowing green lights in the mist turned to them, causing Melissa to think that she may just be sacrificed after all…at least before a voice spoke. Almost as soft as Inko's but deeper, with a more masculine tint to it.
"I'm not the one with gray hair, Chiyo."
Chiyo scoffed, sounding offended. "The gray is my natural hair color, thank you very much!"
"Are you saying you were born old?" The man spoke, stepping out of the mist. He was fit, very fit, with a kind freckled face and messy green hair that Melissa had never seen on anyone else in her entire life. He thankfully wasn't nude, with a pair of green trunks on but other than that his attire left little to the imagination. What caught Melissa off guard though were his eyes, burning pools of green light, similar to the energy put out by the Core in all things, from the crystals used to power vehicles to the shield that protected them from what lurks outside the City…
Chiyo threatened the man (could he truly be called a man?) with her cane. "You are a brat and almost four hundred years hasn't changed that." She sighed and nodded to Melissa. "Meet Melissa of House Shield, your new Caretaker." She raised an eyebrow at him. "Don't scare this one off this time, I'd like to stay in retirement, thank you very much."
The man scowled at Chiyo before schooling his expression with a calming breath. He walked up to Melissa, his soaking hand outstretched, "It's nice to meet you." He smiled kindly, though it didn't reach his eyes.
"I'm Izuku Midoriya, the Heart of the Core."
Melissa couldn't help it, with everything that had happened today and being shown one amazing revelation after another, she fainted.
The Bazaar in their sector was as busy as ever, with people milling about looking for things they needed, whether it be for their personal reasons or to prepare for the Festival. Even in the Lower City decorations were being put up, like green lanterns and different ornaments of all kinds were being placed around. Ochako honestly loved the feeling in the air, though she knew Himiko didn't like it as much, she'd complain about the crowds of people. And knowing her Gift, Ochako couldn't blame her.
While Chitose and Himiko were busy handing a bottle of Liquid Light out to every family that came by their little stall, Ochako sat on a box nearby, drinking some apple juice to help settle her stomach. She had to endure it being upset the entire walk to the Bizarre, which for a twelve-year-old was a tough task. So instead of making her stand, Chitose allowed her to sit down on a nearby crate while Himiko went to grab her another drink from one of the other stalls. So far her stomach was feeling better, but she knew she probably shouldn't be pushing her Gift any further for the day.
Chitose smiled at her as she handed a small jar of Liquid Light to a rather haggard-looking mutant family. "May the Core guide you!" She called as they walked away before turning her attention back to Ochako. "How's your stomach?"
Ochako gave her a quick thumbs up before grimacing, which caused Chitose to let out a soft laugh as she handed another bottle to a waiting family.
"Yeah, Himiko should be back soon, so don't worry." Chitose slapped a long tongue trying to sneak a grab at a jar. "Samidare you gremlin, you know it's one bottle per family! You already grabbed one today!" She sighed as the little frog boy snickered and bounded away with his little sister.
"I swear one of these days we'll get him to come to the church with us, those two can't be living on their own like that…"
Ochako was about to respond when she felt something cold press up against her neck and she shivered. "Himiko you jerk!" She snatched the bottle of apple juice out of her sister's hands with a pout.
Himiko was about to respond when a scream interrupted them. They peaked over the stand Chitose had set up and jumped at the sight. People who had calmly been browsing and shopping were trying to flee. As the crowd cleared the girls saw what had caused the mass panic.
A man was on the ground, clawing at his face, screaming, his Gift of Fire exploding from his mouth uncontrollably, lighting the surrounding area and his clothes ablaze, not that it mattered. Ochako could hear his bones cracking as they expanded, his burning clothes being shredded by his expanding muscles and skin. His face elongated into a snout, fire-spewing sporadically from it as the expansion happened. His eyes bled as they turned a pale yellow before an unholy light seemed to burst from them, turning them the sickly bright yellow the girls had learned to fear.
The creature, for it was no longer a man, let loose a blood-curdling scream as its skull split open, exposing the brain to the outside world.
The girls heard a Watchmen's whistle as the sound of metal boots running on stone grew closer.
The yell of one word was all the warning anyone needed to know to clear the area.
"Nomu!"
Chitose grabbed both girls by the hand and tried to run, but it was pointless, as the crowds were too thick. All they could do was watch in horror as the Nomu was set upon by the Watchmen.
Three Watchmen had been in the area when the man had transformed into the Nomu. One of them was already screaming as the Nomu's fire engulfed him.
Another tried to stab the monster with his pike, and while the hit struck true and the Nomu was stabbed in the shoulder, it only angered the beast. The Nomu screeched at the Watchman, breaking the pike's tip with a hand before charging at him. The man's hands turned into Iron Claws, he slammed the claws through the Nomu's chest just as the beast reached him.
He missed the heart though…
The Nomu roared in pain and immediately reached for the man, who was struggling to pull his hands out of the creature, he wouldn't get free as the flaming maw of the Nomu snapped down on his head with razor-sharp teeth, killing him. The Nomu reached an arm down and ripped the man's body free and discarded it like it was trash.
"You bastard!" The last Watchman shouted, she charged the Nomu. It turned its head in her direction as she raised her pike to attack.
She gasped and froze as she felt something shred through her armor and pierce her heart. She looked down and saw that the Nomu's hands had transformed into Iron Claws, the same kind as her now dead comrade's Gift. She dropped her pike as the Nomu lifted her up into the air, further impaling her onto its claws as it let out another screech.
It brought up both claws and pulled, ripping her in half and throwing her remains to the side like she was trash.
Ochako felt like she was going to puke again, and she knew it was only Himiko's fascination with blood that kept her looking calm.
Chitose grimaced at the sight. "Girls, we need to get out of here."
Ochako was about to agree with her when the sound of air being displaced caught all three of their attention, as well as the Nomu's.
Looking up to the nearby rooftops, Ochako felt her hopes rise at the sight of two gleaming figures jumping across the roofs, armored boots propelling them using powerful jets of air, and yellow capes fluttering in the wind.
"Torino's Knights!" Ochako shouted gleefully, the only reason Himiko didn't roll her eyes at her sister's enthusiasm was the life or death situation they were in…
One of the Knight's slammed down onto the Nomu at full force, His body bulking up as he kicked the Nomu further down the street. "Yeah! Come on! Face the full brunt of Alexander's Hammer and Anvil!" The man raised his gauntleted fists and slammed them together.
"Alex, not the time to show off!" The other Knight yelled.
"How else am I supposed to get promoted?" The muscular man asked, much to their partner's dismay. He dodged a gout of flame from the Nomu. "Ya think I pissed him off?"
The other Knight came in and slammed her weapon, a large metal mallet, into the Nomu's face, sending it flying into a nearby stall.
"Oh! Nice shot Harley!"
"You're an idiot, keep punching it, I'm gonna evacuate the stragglers."
The Nomu broke free of the debris that had crashed on top of it with a burst of flames from its mouth, screaming in rage. It then fell to its knees, wheezing.
"HeLP… hElp…" A haunting voice came from the Nomu's ruined mouth, fire following every word.
"Ugh, I hate it when they do that." Alexander grumbled. "So creepy.
"Less talking! More beating!" Harley shouted as she rushed to Ochako's stand, "Sisters, you need to move!" the girls shouldn't have been surprised that a Knight knew they were Nuns but they were. Chitose pushed them forward to get them to leave when Alexander's shout of pain stopped them.
"Gah!" The man was sent flying into the side of a building with incredible force, knocking the breath out of him as he fell to the ground. The Nomu roared before charging at the downed man, Iron Claws at the ready to tear him to shreds.
"Alex!" Harley screamed in panic. She was too far, even with her jump boots she wouldn't make it to the Nomu before it tore into her fellow Knight.
The world felt like it went into slow motion for Ochako. Her eyes were wide in fear as they were glued onto the monstrous Nomu. She knew in her mind that she couldn't reach the man or the Nomu, that she couldn't grab them at the distance she was at. She didn't know why, but she chose that moment to ignore her mind, and trust her instincts as she held her hand out, and pulled.
Ochako felt a crack run through her entire being.
It felt like something broke, while simultaneously repairing itself.
The Nomu was just about to slash into the man when suddenly it was yanked back by an invisible force. It wasn't pulled very far, perhaps not even two feet, but the sudden shift in velocity caused the creature to stop in confusion. It looked around for a second before it lay eyes on Ochako. After a split second of staring it let loose a scream and charged.
"LIGHT!"
Harley moved to intercept, but the beast backhanded her away and didn't even stop. She slammed into a nearby stall in a crumpled heap.
Chitose moved in front of the two girls on instinct shouting for them to run, but they all knew there was nowhere to run. Right as the Nomu was bearing down and raising its fist to knock Chitose away, it flew to the side as something fast slammed into it. Not even a second later, the sound of a slash was heard, and the Nomu made a small sound before silence filled the air.
A gruff voice let itself be known out of the smoke of the impact, "Harley, you still breathin?"
"Y… yes sir!" Harley struggled to her feet, hammer forgotten on the ground as she held her limp arm.
"Go check on Tweedle Dumb, then get out of here for medical attention." From the smoke, holding the now severed head of the Nomu, came the one and only Sorahiko Torino himself. He stood at an impressive 6'7, held a small arming sword in his other hand, and didn't even bother wearing a helmet.
"Paladin Torino," Himiko whispered in awe, her eyes widening.
The noble warrior made his way over to the stall, he looked at Chitose and the two girls, his eyes scanning all three of them before settling on Ochako.
"Did you see the glow!" They all turned to listen to Alexander's ramblings as Harley helped him walk out of the Bazaar. "That lil girl just yanked him away from me! It was nuts!"
"You're seeing things, Alex," Harley muttered tiredly.
Torino looked back at the girl, a small frown on his slightly wrinkled face, before he could ask the question that was obviously on his mind though Himiko looked at Ochako and shouted out. "You've got blood coming out of your nose!"
Ochako dabbed her nose quickly and saw that she did in fact have blood coming out of it. "Oh… I do…"
Her eyes rolled up in the back of her head and she passed out.
Nomu: Creature's born of an unknown plague. Stronger, faster, and more resilient than any human being or creature on this Earth. They abuse the Gifts given to their original forms and sow chaos wherever they go. Known for their heavily mutated, discolored skin, yellow eyes, and exposed brains. They assimilate the Gifts of those they devour and will stop at nothing to kill any creature that gets in their path, though they prefer targeting humans over animals. They avoid daylight as much as possible, but they are known to come out during the night or during storms to feed. If a person turns into one during the day they will go berserk, and try to kill everything in an area before fleeing into the dark.
They exist only to destroy the Light.
Avoid them at all costs. Stay in the Light.
–Excerpt from the Paladin's handbook.
AN: Professor Donger: A new story and a new try and an AU. We hope you guys like it and thanks to Cybernetic_Potato for the ideas and help worldbuilding this. You'll have to look on AO3 if you want to see the map's we've made for this story.
Damian02: Well! Looks like me and Donger are teaming up again to write a new story! And as you can guess, it's VERY much an AU. It was honestly really fun building this world, and we hope you all will enjoy exploring it with us as more chapters come out.