VANGUARD

"In this rotten world called Cray, wars are waged constantly… The fighting never seems to stop..."

[Somewhere on the border of the United Sanctuary and the Dragon Empire]

Warrior in blue and white armor: "C'mon men, fight! we will protect our homeland with everything we've got!"

Warrior riding on a giant reptilian creature, dressed in red armor: "We won't fail to conquer this land, for it is ours! We fight for the glory of the empire!"

Two massive armies trample the ground beneath them and clash with one another.

"...Whether over land, for resources, for pride and hell, even just for the fun of it. This country, no... this entire world is perpetually consumed with turmoil and littered with the scent of iron and blood…Will it ever come to an end?"

*Heavy panting*

A spiky white haired boy stares up at the night sky. His face is bloodied and his clothes torn and ragged. Around him lays the bodies of three grown men. They were dead.

"No matter... I will survive"

The boy takes then takes his leave using the darkness as his cover

[A small village out in the country side of the Dragon Empire]

[12.20.2089]

Old man: "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 runs away with six apples tucked in his shirt

The short boy had long, spiky, navy blue hair that stuck upright with a ponytail in the back. His eyes were crimson red. He wore a messy long sleeved white shirt with black shorts.

He runs through the city, shifting through alleyways, jumping through windows and scaling rooftops until his pursuers were no longer in sight. He sits and waits a top a roof until the coast was clear

Black haired boy: "(*Heavy sigh*) That old guy sure was persistent. But it was all worth it, I got six apples!"

The boy cautiously sneaks back to his hideout. Upon reaching an old run down shack, He slowly crawls through a window and lays the apples out on a nearby crate. The wooden shack he was standing in seems as if it could collapse in on itself at any moment.

The boy walks over to a window and aggressively removes the dusty white sheet blocking out the sun.

Black haired boy: "Wake up you idiot!"

A young man was sleeping on a blanket on the ground and using another to cover himself. He slowly rises up from the sleeping position

"ugh... You better have a good reason for waking me you little brat" As he uses the sheet to block the sunlight

black haired boy: "It's midday, are you stupid!? Get up already! The others are already out trying to get enough food so we could survive until tomorrow, while you're here just being lazy!" As he quickly forces the sheet off the young man's face

The young man quickly covers his eyes with his right arm

His spiky white hair gleams in the sunlight. It was medium height with spiky bangs that leaned to the left, slightly covering his left eye… He then removes his hand to reveal his big blue eyes…

…A few minutes later…

White haired teen: "Kamui, you've outdone yourself this time. Six apples is pretty impressive…"

Kamui: "I know right! I guess you could call today my lucky day... So anyways big bro, what kind of heist are you planning today?... is it something big!?"

white haired boy: "Don't know" As he takes a bite of one of the apples

Kamui: "Oh, I see…?"

Kamui briefly has a disappointed look before pouting and biting into one of the apples.

...A few more minutes later...

A familiar voice: " Hey! we're home…"

Kamui: "It sounds like Yuta and Morikawa are back"

Yuta: "Guess who got two loaves of bread today!~" As he enters the building through a window

He was a teenage boy with flowing spiky brown hair and plain brown eyes. He was wearing an oversized brown shirt with a few holes in it and a black shorts

Morikawa: "It's not that big of a deal you know, it's just some bread" As he enters through the window after Yuta

This boy had jet black hair spiked back into a V-shape, and light brown eyes. He wore a white shirt with brown pants.

Yuta: "Yeah whatever, your just upset that you couldn't get a single copper today"

Morikawa: "ahk! no I'm not, you take that back!" he quickly retorts

Yuta: "Sure if you say so" He says sarcastically

Yuta: "Apples! How'd you get these!?" as he walks over and takes up two apples

Kamui: "I stole them you idiot, how else would I get-, hey only take one!"

Yuta: "Morikawa, catch" as he throws an apple

Morikawa: "oh thx- wait a second, I wasn't done yelling at you!"

Kamui: "don't get too handsy with my apples, the rest are mine, got it?!"

Yuta: "I know that, sheesh!" As he takes a seat in a corner of the room

The four boys talk about random topics for hours, seemingly enjoying each other's company. Their faces were filled with smiles and laughter... Although not related by blood they were a family…

Eventually a certain topic arises that eliminates the atmosphere of cheerfulness and places curiosity in its place.

Yuta: "Have you guys heard the news about the Vanguards?"

Kamui: "What's a vanguard?"

Yuta: " I guess it makes sense that you wouldn't know about them because you're so young. How about you Morikawa, Kei?"

Morikawa: "Of course I know all about those vanguard things, what do you take me for?" he confidently closes his eyes and crosses his arms

Yuta: "Of course you do" he says sarcastically

Kei: "...Yeah, I've heard some stuff about them. Apparently it's a hot topic these days."

Yuta: "Yeah, I've heard that they are very rare humans who awaken special powers. They are said to be greater divine beings"

Kamui: "Special powers...? on par with greater divine beings?"

Morikawa: "Y-yeah I totally knew that of course"

Yuta's eyes light up as he continues to talk

Yuta: "I hear that whoever they are, they're destined for great wealth!"

Morikawa and Kamui: " woah!"

Yuta: "it's just a rumor though, don't go getting too excited you two"

Morikawa and Kamui: "You're one to talk!"

Kei: "...From what I've heard, it's a hot topic now because a few new Vanguards have been discovered recently."

Yuta: "Yeah, those guys basically have their lives set then. They're Destined to be heroes… I wish I could meet one someday"

Kamui: "Yeah, me too!"

Morikawa: "Wealth and a high status huh?… That doesn't sound too bad I guess" (*Chuckles*)

Kei: "...Hey Yuta, do you know how they Identified these vanguards?"

Yuta: "Not a clue… But apparently when they are, word gets sent all throughout the nation"

Morikawa: "Anyways, Enough of all that irrelevant garbage… More importantly, how are we going to celebrate the new Ephemeris cycle coming up?!"

A few weeks later… None of the boys could have foreseen what was about to happen...

[01.01.2090]

[Period, Chronicle, Ephemeris cycle - (Month, day, Year]

RING! RING! RING!

A large bell in the village center rings, signaling for the gathering of the citizens in the town square… Only under circumstances of attacks and emergency gatherings was it used so the people were quick to gather and find out what was happening…

An elderly man walks up on the platform that was towering above the people placed town center. This man is recognized as the village leader and everyone becomes silent as soon as he reaches 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!"

Chatter from the people: "News? from the capital? what's going on?"

Village chief: "Settle yourselves!" as he hits the platform with his cane

The crowd of people spilling out of the square become silent.

Village chief: "It is regarding the Vanguards that have recently been identified!... Not only has someone from our village been confirmed to hold such latent abilities! But there have in fact been two of them!"

The crowd remains silent with a few gasps… many await with bated breath for him to continue. The chief pulls out a scroll and turns it to the audience

Village chief: "I now present to you the men that will bring wealth and fame to our village! Kei Katsuragi and Yuta Izaki!"

The crowd erupts in cheers even though many of them had no clue who these men were.

To everyone's surprise, Kei and Yuta walk up beside the chief on the platform

Kamui: "...No way" His eyes widen

Morikawa: "That's no fair, how come they both get to be Vangos and not me!?"

The people's praise and cheers go on for hours…

That night, the four boys are treated as kings, they are fed heartily and given proper clothing and housing

[02.01.2090]

Kei: "Looks like it's time for us to get going"

Yuta: "Yeah..."

Soldier from the capital: "Seems you guys are packed and ready, not a lot but that makes our jobs much easier" as he looks at the boy's small brown bags

Another soldier seated on one of the horses pulling the carriage signals the two boys to get in…

Kei stares at Kamui for a moment

Kamui: "Huh? What's with that look?"

Kei: "..."

Kamui: "...I'll be fine you idiot! I can take care of myself, you know that don't you?"

Kei smirks and turns his head toward the carriage and walks inside

Kei: "...Of Course you can"

Morikawa: "...You two better not forget about us, and come back as soon as possible!" as tears stream down his face

Yuta: "Ok dude there's no need for tears, we'll be back soon I promise"

Morikawa: "I'm not crying, you are!" More tears roll down his cheek

He quickly uses his forearm to shield his face

Kamui: " …wow man, you need to get it together… Your pathetic"

Morikawa: "watch your mouth you little brat!"

Yuta chuckles as he goes into the carriage to sits beside Kei.

The two stop arguing and wave their friends goodbye one last time…

Soldier1: "Seems like we're all set now, let's get a move on" as he whips the horses

The carriage is slowly pulled away from the village…

All across Cray, just like Kei and Yuta, special people were making their presence known…

Brothers of light and shadow

Emperor of Stargate

Genius of the Sanctuary

Pirates of Granblue

Enforcers of the Empire

The Vanguards of this Era were about to be forced to persist through strife, an era beyond the likes of which cray had ever seen before.