The Great Angel of Schale
Chapter 1: The Sleeper Wakes
The sleeper dreams. He sees himself there, in an immense, dark chamber. Before him stands a figure swathed in grey, an iron death mask obscuring the being beneath. The eyes lead to nothing but black pits, but the intent is clear. This thing with the iron face is his enemy. Around them is a scene of a battle near its end as rubble litters the floor and dust is carried on whipping air. Through great rents in the walls around them, clouds rush past, with periodic rays of light. A ship perhaps? He does not know this place, nor his enemy, but the sleeper understands what must be done.
The sleeper's body is adorned in gold, his skin armoured in a fashion that is painfully familiar, yet he does not know why. It empowers him. Fibre bundles encase his muscles, flexing and reacting as if they are his own, while servos purr with every motion. The light from behind him casts his shadow forward, and he can see two great wings arcing upward from his back – glorious feathers are displayed proudly. In one gold-clad hand is a sword. He is comfortable with this weapon as if it is an extension of himself, while the other clutches a pistol, whose mechanisms put it leagues above anything commonly produced.
Somehow, within the muddled depths of the sleeper's mind, he knows that this is a battle only he can fight. He also knows that his opponent is his equal. Something beyond his understanding tells him this. Their roles drive them both to this point. One is a saviour, while the other is a destroyer. Esoteric power that defies reason fills them both, called forth by an unknown source. The sleeper feels the dark and twisted nature of his enemy's energy, and he is determined to burn it away with his light.
Within him, he feels great swells of fury and loss, as if he is on the very cusp of losing everything. Again, the sting of familiarity cuts fresh channels into his thoughts. Had he been here before? Everything is so clear that it could only be a memory. Then why does it feel so raw? So fresh in his mind? If it is a memory, then surely he would know more.
The scene shifts. He has taken flight, his great wings sending him hurtling towards the dark adversary. His pistol spits scorching beams of blinding orange light, only to have them vanish harmlessly into ripples before the enemy's body. The sleeper crashes down, his blade a blur of silver as boundless fury and artificial muscles enhance every strike with machine strength. The enemy moves like mist, shifting from one place to another as if unbound the laws of reality. He knows only one strike needs to connect and it'll all be over. But nothing can touch the thing in the death mask. However, this isn't their first exchange. The enemy's body has sustained wounds. Its cloak is ripped, the bulky plating of its shoulders bears cracks and pits from blade and beam. But then, the sleeper is wounded too. He can taste blood. His head swims with pain. But nothing short of death will stop him, this he swears.
He is suddenly met with a very different moment in the fight. His sword is bloody, lying discarded several feet away. Vitae pools beneath the young woman in his arms, her dark dress becoming darker with the spreading stain on her chest. She looks up at him, her mismatched eyes wide and becoming glassy as the seconds pass. The feeling of loss grows, tinged bitterly with the sense of colossal failure. He had done this. Golden gauntlets are stained red. Standing silently some distance away, the enemy stands unmoving, its death mask betraying nothing of what it thinks.
The sleeper lays the woman down – her eyes now closed – and reaches for his sword again. Then he-
Then he awakens.
Red eyes snap open and he sits up in his bed. He looks around, seeing that he is in a private room with medical instruments at his bedside. He wears a set of pajamas that are several sizes too small for him, but their soft material is a welcome comfort. Daylight filters through closed curtains, and a pleasantly warm breeze blows in through an open window. On a display, he can see that his pulse is elevated and a chart measuring his brain activity spikes sharply. Various wires are suction stuck to his skin. He rips them off and swings his legs from the bed, his feet meeting the cold floor. Attempting to stand, his legs threaten to give out, but he pushes himself to keep steady.
He falls flat as soon as he takes a step. The red-eyed man grits his teeth and clenches his fists as he pushes his shoulders and chest from the floor. His mind still swims with images, each preserved in perfect detail. Who was his masked opponent? Why were they fighting? Why had he dreamt something like that to begin with? But it was more than a dream. It felt too real. The details were too precise to be anything but a slice of reality. And the wings. Why did he have wings?
His thoughts are interrupted when he hears a door open and a sudden gasp as footsteps approach at a rapid pace. A pair of small hands grasp him under his arms and easily lift him back onto his bed. Like a kitten lifted by its mother, he is weightless in his helper's grip.
''I apologise for this, Aomori-san. I hadn't expected he'd be awake so soon,'' says a cool, calm voice.
''It's really no trouble, Nanagami-san. This kind of thing is quite common here,'' a breathy voice replies. Aomori Mine kneels down beside the man. ''Hello. I'm sure you must be quite surprised to find yourself here. I am Aomori Mine, and you must be the Sensei that Nanagami-san told me about.''
The man can feel the genuine want to help the girl has. He looks at her, taking in her light-blue hair and friendly green eyes. Her outfit is a white gown – black around the chest – with pink pouches secured around her waist. But his eyes drift to the most striking thing about her. Shimmering blue wings protrude from her back, the sunlight causing jagged streaks of white to undulate and play across the feathers.
'Wings...' he thinks as he recalls his dream, followed by a sense of longing. ''Where am I?'' he asks, each word like a pleasant musical note to their ears.
''That would take quite some explaining, but for now, just know that you're somewhere safe. So long as you're here, you'll be taken care of,'' Mine explains. She can see that his elbows and knees are red from his fall, then tuts. ''I would ask that you stay in bed until your strength returns, Sensei. I was told that you were in quite a state when Nanagami-san found you.''
''And I would like to ask some questions, if you wouldn't mind,'' Rin cuts in quickly. Her blue eyes are inquisitive, emphasised by the glasses she wears. Her hair is dark as ink – long and shining with the great care it receives. Her white uniform is crisp and clean. The man can see that she carries a weapon holstered at her hip, though how he knows it without ever seeing one before illudes him. No, that isn't true. Like an old imprint, he knows exactly what a gun is and how it functions. Curiously, the girl has pointed ears.
''Nanagami-san-'' Mine begins a chastisement, but the man raises a hand and nods to Rin with a disarming smile towards the former. She pauses, as if the smile had a physical effect on her like a charm or compulsion.
''It's quite alright,'' he intones, then looks at Rin, ''though I doubt I could tell you much, truth be told,'' he says. Even if he cannot provide answers, then perhaps he can gain some instead. ''But before that, may I ask why you call me 'Sensei'? It is not a term I am familiar with.''
Though he is born again – his soul diminished and at a biological remove from his gene-crafted perfection – his mind retains the great inner workings of a Primarch. Things as rudimentary as linguistics and every-day knowledge are retained to a degree, and learning new and complex concepts comes as naturally as breathing to one such as him. But what cannot be retained are things the Great Angel had never learned before his death – the word ''Sensei'' being one of them.
Rin doesn't respond as she thinks about how to word her answer. When satisfied, she speaks.
''Put simply, you are here to fulfil a very particular role. My superior decided it was necessary to call for someone to act as a teacher and guide for the students that attend the various academies across our city – Kivotos. I understand this may be a lot to take in, but please bear with me. Frankly, you are quite possibly the single most important person in Kivotos, and as Sensei, you bear a great responsibility.''
Importance. Responsibility. Countless faces looking up at him seeking guidance and command. Images flicker-flash across his mind, of giants in red and gold, the details smudged like an impressionist's painting. The fates of uncounted numbers have rested in his hands, yet he has no reason to believe he ever held such power. Why would he? He's just a frail man who knows nothing about himself – not even his name.
Yet where others might balk at such a declaration, instead he feels that if this is what is required of him, then he has no right to refuse. He knows it is a baseless belief, but it is what he feels is right.
''I see,'' he says after a moment's contemplation, ''if that is my purpose here, then I will do my best. But there are still a great many questions that require answers if I am to fulfil this duty.'' He can feel the tension bleed out of Rin. She had been worried that he would refuse, but now feels relieved that he took what she'd told him in his stride.
''I will answer whatever I can, Sensei. But could I ask your name? After all, 'Sensei' is just your title for your students to use. While it isn't a fun task, there will be many occasions where your signature is required for documents.''
A name. He thinks hard about this. He knows he had one, and bits and pieces of jumbled memory swirl in his mind like leaves in a storm. A word begins to take form, though it is unclear and malformed, like a broken mosaic. After piecing together what he can, trying different configurations from the syllables he can recover, he settles on something.
''Sanguis. I believe my name is Sanguis.'' As he speaks those words, Sanguis knows it feels right. However, he doesn't expect Mine to giggle. He raises a brow and smiles awkwardly. ''Is that strange?''
''Oh, no, no! Please, pay me no mind, Sensei. It's just that, as the captain of the Remedial Knights, my profession is in medicine. I just find it funny that your name is 'blood'. I didn't mean to laugh, my apologies.''
''Hmm, a bit grim, isn't it?'' Sanguis says, though he feels no offence. Rin clears her throat, recalling the man's attention. ''My apologies. I will begin by asking who you are. It is clear to me that you command some authority, but who is it you operate under?''
''Of course, introductions. My name is Nanagami Rin, and I am the acting president of the General Student Council – the organisation that has overall executive power over Kivotos. It is my duty to maintain the Council's normal operations while our president is...'' she hesitates, ''...absent.''
Sanguis studies her face. He can see the small, almost imperceptible flexes around her eyes. She is not lying, but she is not telling the whole truth.
''Am I to understand circumstances surrounding your president are of a sensitive nature?'' he asks.
''For the moment, yes. However, with you here, we're in a position to announce it along with your instatement was a teacher. I can divulge more to you later in private. I know it seems clandestine of me, but the situation is directly tied to inter-academy politics. Aomori-san is only privy to this conversation because she is overseeing your care, and your position as a teacher is bound by patient confidentiality. Besides us, nobody knows you're here.''
''I think I understand,'' Sanguis says, his mind quickly piecing his situation together. It isn't a complete picture by any means, but he understands that his presence at this point in time could cause great upset within the established order should he be exposed too early. ''Speaking of here, where are we?''
Mine smiles beatifically, readily offering her services. ''I'd be more than happy to answer this one, Sensei.''
''By all means, please,'' Sanguis smiled at her, once again causing her to freeze for just a moment. He fails to notice Rin react in a similar manner. They find it odd how disarming he is and how at ease that single gesture makes them feel. The first time Rin had seen it, she'd had to struggle to keep herself from spilling everything she knew about the GSC and the president. There is something about him that pulls barriers down, and she'd be lying if she said it didn't bother her. It is too easy to be taken in by the seemingly unnatural charisma that oozes from every pore.
''O-of course, Sensei,'' Mine stammers, ''I'd like to welcome you the the Trinity General School's hospital. This academy has a long and established history, with students that are the very ideal of what a student should be!'' she beams proudly, ''this hospital is a place where anybody can expect to receive the finest care.''
''I must admit that I feel quite well cared for, so thank you, Mine,'' Sanguis says. Her face becomes as red as her teacher's namesake.
''Using my first name like that, Sensei? What would people think if they heard?'' she holds her face in both hands, dramatically turning away.
''Oh, did I make a mistake?'' he asks, genuinely concerned. Sanguis looks to Rin for clarification.
''Don't worry too much about it, Sensei. In Kivotos, the use of first names implies a degree of closeness. However, some are more... traditional about its use than others. As you can see,'' she gestures to Mine.
''Ah, yes. I hadn't meant to overstep my bounds, Aomori. If you would prefer it, I-''
''It's fine, Sensei. You just surprised me, is all,'' Mine faces him once again and clears her throat, her face still retaining a degree of pink. ''Please, call me Mine if you'd like. I will formally be a student of yours very soon, so I believe we will become close regardless.''
''Then I thank you for your understanding, Mine,'' once again, her face flushes red and she turns away. She can't help it. She doesn't know why, but being anywhere near Sanguis is like being under a kotatsu on a cold day – warm and comforting. She needs a distraction.
''Right, now that you're awake, Sensei, let's get you a check-up, shall we?''
He is guided to another room – both Mine and Rin careful not to let him be seen. They support him as they walk, taking an arm each to keep him steady. As they do, Mine is already certain what some of his issues are. Once inside the designated room, Mine begins the procedure.
It is as she feared. After taking measurements, Sanguis is worryingly underweight for his height. He is taller than any of the students – 203cm in standard Kivitos units. But at merely 74kg, he is almost skeletal. Severe muscle wastage has left him greatly weakened. It is as she processes this information – off the books at Rin's request – Mine ponders over how this could have happened. She wonders if he is sick, if malnourishment is a prime contributor to his condition. Then there is the matter of his name. He'd said he ''believed'' his name is Sanguis. Amnesia perhaps?
''You look rather grave, Mine. Is it that bad?'' Sanguis questions.
''Well, you're quite underweight, Sensei, and your muscle mass is near non-existent. But from what I can tell from your other tests, you're otherwise healthy. In excellent condition, in fact,'' her voice becomes quiet, ''odd.''
The medical technology within Kivotos is remarkable. Mine was quickly able to take samples and process them, only to find incredible results within mere minutes. Sanguis, despite his condition, is a unique specimen. His internals are far healthier than his appearance would suggest. A muscle fibre sample showed her that his muscles – though lacking – are denser than than she would have imagined, powerfully crafted for explosive movement and laborious endurance. The samples showed a deficiency in myostatin, understood to be a muscle growth limiter, so the act of increasing his mass and strength would take less time than she'd predicted. His bones are similarly denser and heavier than she'd thought. Red and white blood cell counts are at their optimal levels.
Little does Sanguis know, some of his genetic gifts remain, though merely as mutations – pale imitations of the gene-wrought blessings bestowed upon his former self's creation.
Simply put, her findings told her that he is – at least internally – the very picture of health, with a couple of bonuses.
''So what would you recommend I do?''
''Eat. Plenty of protein, fats and carbohydrates three or four times a day if you can manage it. A consistent exercise regimen to build your muscle mass will go a long way too. I would also like you to keep a log of what you eat and at what time and send it to me for review.'' Mine replies.
Rin takes all of this in. As it stands, Sanguis is not fit for duty. She does not quite know the full breadth of his duties as a teacher, but she knows long hours behind a desk are a requirement. Skipping sleep to stay on top of her work is common – as is the case for the other members of the GSC – so she can only imagine how it would be for him.
It is fine, she decides. Things had been the way they are for quite some time already, so a little longer shouldn't hurt. His instatement to his position can wait until she is sure he is healthy enough to handle it. It just means keeping things quiet for a while. Things could get very complicated if any of the student councils found out about him prematurely, as each would likely seek to monopolise his position. Just bringing him to Trinity is a huge risk, but at the time, there was nobody else she could call upon on such short notice.
Concerning Sanguis' physical condition, Rin knows of someone who could be of help.
''I'm going to make a call. Excuse me.''
She leaves the room and takes out her phone, then opens a long list of one-way contacts of every registered student. She enters a name – Otohana Sumire – and dials her number.
Some time passes, and Sanguis walks with Rin outside. She thinks it is a terrible idea, but the red-eyed man had insisted, and that unquantifiable quality of his had swayed her. Mine had also said that going outside for some sun and fresh air was a good idea. So, after finding something with which to disguise him – a seemingly futile effort given how tall he is – they take a walk around. Around them, the myriad students of Trinity General School go about their business without a care. But even with the medical face mask over Sanguis' face, he still draws a fair amount of eyes.
Sanguis cares not a wit for the stares. He is simply content to feel the sun and wind on his face. As they walk, he can see that a great many students also have wings. He also notes that they all – without exception – have halos. Mine and Rin have them too. Each are unique in some way, whether it is by colouration or shape.
''We shouldn't linger too long, Sens-uh... Sanguis,'' Rin corrects herself. Between herself as a member of the GSC and Sanguis' appearance and unexplainable magnetism, the last people she wants to run into are members of the Tea Party or Justice Task Force. There is only so much she can dismiss with convenient half-truths and applied misdirection should they inevitably start asking questions.
''I promise, I will only be out a little while. But look at this,'' he holds out a hand, gesturing to the architecture of Trinity's buildings. Every building is like a cathedral, with flying buttresses and sharp steeples. Everything is orderly and clean – well taken care of by the students. It all seems vaguely familiar to him, but he can't place where he'd have seen it before. It was beautiful to him as it played to a distinct sense of aesthetics. His eyes look over every surface, study every arch and buttress, taking in their details and delighting in their construction.
''Trinity has been known to have that effect on people, I'll admit,'' Rin says as she observes him. She smiles as he looks almost child-like in his wonder. She thinks, briefly, that perhaps a few more minutes wouldn't hurt. She shows him more of the campus, being mindful of staying away from anywhere the Tea Party members might go. Unfortunately, the Justice Task force do not confine themselves to one area as they patrol the entire district.
In a more secluded part of Trinity's campus, they take a seat on a bench near a chapel. There is an infrequent incoming and outgoing of students in the attire of nuns through the chapel doors. It isn't ideal, but Sanguis had said he is tired and wishes to rest a while. Rin also sees it as a good opportunity to exchange some more sensitive information. But one question has been nagging at her since she first encountered the red-eyed man.
''Sensei,'' she says in a low voice, ''I'd been meaning to ask something.''
''You have? Then I'll answer as best I can,'' he replies, idly memorising the faces and halos he sees passing by.
''How much do you remember of last night?'' she watches his eyes turn downward in thought.
''Very little. Bits and pieces mostly. Why?''
''When I found you, you mentioned a brother. What was that about, Sensei?'' this time, she sees him wince.
''I...'' twenty faces, eighteen blurred like grease on glass, while two are little more than masses of confused shapes, twisted into formless lumps like clay, ''… I do not know. Perhaps I have a brother or more – or had, I suppose. Or perhaps my arrival left me in a state of delusional fugue. It is impossible for me to say. I apologies, Rin, but the more I think about myself, the more I realise I know very little.''
Rin nods in understanding. ''Don't blame yourself for that, Sensei. Maybe it'll come back to you in time. And if it doesn't, perhaps it's for the best. When you mentioned a brother, you sounded... heartbroken.''
Sanguis' face becomes contemplative. ''Hmm, perhaps. Maybe you are right. But I will try to remember, no matter how painful my memories may be. I will not run away from them. Now,'' he says, changing the subject, ''tell me more of why I am here. You were rather tight-lipped with Mine present.''
''And for good reason,'' Rin adds, ''as I've mentioned before, your role as Sensei puts you in a position of considerable influence. I wasn't lying when I said you are the most important person in Kivotos. When you assume your proper role, student councils across the city will lobby and fight for your favour. However, that'll change once your arrival is made public.''
''Meaning?'' Sanguis asks. Rin organises her thoughts to issue a proper response.
''When the Student Council President disappeared, she'd been busy organising a contingency plan. I was made aware of some of the details as her second, but the wider implications of her disappearance and her plan were things I wasn't made privy to. It's only because I trust her that I even went along with it when she approached me. Her contingency plan, Sensei, was you.''
''Me? If I am hearing this right, I am to act in her stead. But I know not the first thing of this city or its people. Is this a wise choice?'' Rin had expected this, and she sympathises. But she had the distinct feeling from deep within, that there couldn't have been a better choice. What compels her to believe that, she doesn't know, but it is a mixture of faith in her missing friend and hope inspired just by close proximity to the red-eyed man.
''I believe so, Sensei,'' Rin's smile is small but sincere, ''you will head an organisation created shortly before her disappearance. Schale – an independent federal investigation club. It is a neutral body meant to facilitate conflict resolution between school districts and guide each student therein. No student council will be able to monopolise you unless you let them,'' Rin's lips then curl into a frown, ''I don't know what the President was thinking or what she'd seen on the horizon, but she placed the burden of Kivotos' stability on you.''
Sanguis is silent for a small stretch of time. ''That is... a lot to process. But I feel it, you know. The call. Whatever twists and turns of fate had led me here, it was not without purpose. I have arrived in your hour of need – brought here by a desperate plea I heard in a dream. I am here to correct what is wrong, fix what is broken.''
He stands – shakily at first – but soon towers over Rin and the bench they'd sat on. Seeing a wobble, Rin makes to steady him, but he gently raises a hand. Unaided, he stands tall. In that moment, he seems like so much more than the emaciated man she'd encountered the night before. Though he is already great in stature, for a brief moment, his presence takes on that of a colossus – mighty and all-encompassing. It fills every space, saturating the air and permeating the soil. That same aura of nobility and regal poise that buffeted her does so again. In the mid-day light, it is almost like he isn't a man at all, but something altogether more.
And like a dispelling mist, it is gone.
''I will do what must be done. But I am ill-prepared for such an undertaking,'' he looks down at her, and she can feel his smile behind his face mask, ''can I count on you to help me? More than you have already, Rin. May I ask that of you?''A large bony hand extends toward her. With awed eyes, she nods, utterly bewitched. She takes his hand – finding it engulfs her own – and stands with him.
A fresh reserve of motivation wells within her. It only occurs to her now how drained she'd felt, how worn down she is from the toil left to her by the absconded President. But no more. ''Of course, Sensei.''
Days pass. Sanguis is discharged from the Remedial Knights' care in secret, then escorted back to the Sanctum Tower – the home base of the General Student Council. Using the measurements taken by Mine, Rin took the time to source a tailor and paid for a suit and shoes. The suit is nothing special, just a large suit for a large man. As well as being the only set of proper clothing Sanguis has – and he thanked Rin profusely for it, thoroughly embarrassing her – it had the added benefit of padding him out a bit. It conforms to his body, but is made such that nobody would think anything is wrong with him. However, its lifespan would be short. Between Mine's dietary advice – which Rin is determined to enforce – and Sumire's agreement to help train Sanguis' body back to health, he would bulk up until the suit no longer fit him.
On the final day of his stay at Trinity's hospital, Rin had been quietly amazed at how quickly Sanguis had regained the ability to walk unaided. Even now, he holds a confident gait, walking tall and proud with focused eyes. Had she not known the truth, she would never have thought he was still frail under his suit.
The first time Sanguis had seen the Sanctum Tower, he'd been puzzled as to the nature of its construction. It – beyond any construction method he can conceive of – is bisected, with one half quite literally floating above the other, lancing up into the sky where it is surrounded by great, arcing circles of blue light. Whatever material makes up the white edifice's exterior, large slabs of it float unmoving about the upper structure.
Upon seeing it, another nauseating flash of images play across his mind's eye. A crimson sky. A red tower crashing down, annihilating the white tower upon impact. Debris rains down while dust plumes and cakes the streets below. It is only brief, but it feels like a clear memory.
''Sensei?'' Rin says, looking at him with concern. He hadn't meant to display his discomfort.
''I am fine,'' he lies as he feels the first pulse of a headache, forking pain behind his eyes.
They go inside and get Sanguis situated. The Sanctum Tower's lower half is the main hub of activity for the General Student Council. Inside is a maze of corridors, access stairwells, offices and classrooms. Students wearing the white uniform of the GSC go about their business, all armed with the tools of a student's trade – guns. All of them have guns. Sanguis thought it was strange when he saw Rin was armed, then thought it was stranger when the general student body of Trinity were armed to the teeth. Now, it is clear to him that this must be the norm. He has nothing to compare it to, of course, but it still carries a note of strangeness when he pays it any thought.
As he has come to expect, Sanguis is the centre of quiet attention as he walks with Rin through the hallways. However, Rin's authoritative air wards off any curious onlookers.
''What is it you do here, Rin?'' Sanguis asks as he sees the nods and bows of respect from passing students.
''Formally, I'm the Chief Administrative Officer. I won't bog you down with the details, but it's safe to say that I do a lot of the decision making. And that was true even before the President disappeared. My duties have only expanded since then,'' she says.
''And you have born the weight of these duties for some time,'' he says softly. Where others may miss this detail, for several days, Sanguis had taken note of the ever darkening rings under her eyes. She had applied increasing amounts of concealing makeup to hide it, but Sanguis – thanks to the wondrous capabilities of his mind – has memorised and catalogued each iteration of her face. Each looks just fractionally more tired, more haggard than the last. She's doing her best, and has been for longer than anyone should. The finest blade may crack. The thickest armour may rust. The mightiest wall and the stalwart defenders atop it all eventually succumb to the rigours of duty.
'Just like-' he stops. The errant thought was in touching distance of a memory. Of what and of whom, however, is lost to him. Again comes the briefest flicker of giants in red, this time accompanied by others in yellow. They are back-to-back, their formation suggestive of a fighting retreat. But why? Who – or more appropriately – what are they? He shrugs off the distraction and focuses on the young woman leading him.
''Somebody has to. I have the others with me, each handling matters pertinent to their positions. But ultimately, everything falls on me in the end. But I don't hide from it,'' she says resolutely, ''the President can't be here. So instead of letting everything she built fall apart, I took on her responsibilities to try and hold it all together,'' it's subtle, but there is a stiffening of her back and shoulders as she says this.
''But there are too many forces pulling in too many directions. From what I understand from prior conversations and my own study during my recovery, Kivotos has always been divided, but now it is truly fractured. The GSC's authority is casually undermined by student councils flexing their political and martial muscles, while law and order are breaking down as we speak. And you have the unenviable task of picking up the pieces.''
Rin allows herself a smile. ''Well put. Since you're quick on the up-take, I think you'll fit into your role as the head of Schale well.''
They come to an open elevator, step inside and Rin presses a button for the twenty-fifth floor. They ascend, and as they do, they are treated to the stunning view of Kivotos from on high. Vast and sprawling, Kivotos stands as a glittering jewel that spans far beyond the horizon. Signs on buildings flash and colourful holograms crawl and snake around towers. Above, airships hang languidly, gently moving with and against air currents. Cars and people look like ants from their vantage, but each navigate their day set on their own tasks.
''Since I never got the chance,'' Rin begins, ''I would like to formally welcome you to Kivotos, the city of a thousand academies, Sensei.''
His eyes linger on the megapolis spread out before them. ''You hold dominion over all of this?''
A sharp exhale through her nose denoted her amusement. ''Dominion is a strong word, but yes. We at the General Student Council work for Kivotos' continued stability. We leave individual districts to manage their own affairs, but ultimate authority is ours. It's only a matter of if we need to exercise it or not. It doesn't usually come to that, though,'' she looks up at him intently, ''and with you here, perhaps we won't have to step in at all.''
''Because I am to work with them to solve their own problems,'' Sanguis surmises.
''Precisely.'' The elevator door opens, leading to a massive room. The central fixture is a white desk in front of a wall. The wall has the GSC's insignia and stencilled in silver on its surface. Filing cabinets line one side of the wall, while computers occupy the other. There are two other occupants in this room.
Lounging on a sofa and idly dropping chips into her mouth is a small, pink-haired girl. Her uniform is like Rin's, except her coat is sloppily hanging from one shoulder. She has a reptilian tail of blue scales that brightens to white at its pointed tip. It lazily wags on the floor as the girl hums contentedly to herself.
The other one – the much more conscientious one going by her fussing over stacks of documents – is a taller blonde-haired girl. She looks much more professional than her pink-haired colleague, as she wears a uniform more in the style of a dress with a long skirt. On her forehead is a blue gem, and her leaf-green eyes have a perpetual look of worry to them.
''Ahem,'' Rin faux-clears her throat to gain their attention. The pink-haired girl shoots up from the sofa, the packet of chips falling to the floor and spilling its contents. Hastily, she wipes crumbs from her mouth. The blonde merely ceases her fussing and bows in greeting.
''Acting-president, welcome back,'' the blonde says.
''U-uh, yeah. Welcome back,'' the pinkette says with crumbs still clinging to one cheek. Her pale-green eyes stray from Rin to the lanky figure beside her. ''Oh, so you're him, right? Rin told us all about you, Sensei!'' the girl says energetically.
''It's a pleasure to meet you, Sensei,'' the blonde says.
''Sensei, these are my colleagues Iwabitsu Ayumu,'' she gestures to the blonde, then to the pinkette, ''and Yuragi Momoka, who still has crumbs on her face.'' In response, Momoka grumbles something and wipes her entire face with an oversized sleeve.
''So you are the ones supporting Rin in these troubled times. I thank you for all of your hard work up to this point. It cannot have been easy,'' his smile seemed to suck the air from the room, ''but you may rest easier now. I have come to share in your burden.''
Neither are prepared for the force of his presence and are rendered unable to speak. Like computers forced to reboot, both have to kick their thoughts back into proper function.
''Um... y-yeah, it was nothing. Just doing our jobs, right, Ayumu?'' Momoka says, having recovered first. The blonde girl is silent for several moments, then blinks herself back to the present moment.
''Ah, yes. Thank you, Sensei,'' Ayumu says quietly. Rin observed this with interest. She had never seen Momoka so flustered by something. She is as care free as one could be, laziness aside. She never hesitates to say what's on her mind to whoever, with few exceptions. So what is it about Sanguis that does that to people? Even after days of exposure to him, Rin still has to carefully monitor herself, lest she be struck dumb from the smallest gesture as well.
''For the time being,'' Rin begins, ''Sensei will be residing here. I'm sure you've been updated on the situation. Until Sensei is ready to take on his role officially, we're to keep his presence in Kivotos classified. It means we're in limbo for a while longer, but at least there is an end in sight now.''
''Okay, but why wait? Couldn't he just go take the Shittim Chest and stay here?'' Momoka asks.
Sanguis casts Rin a curious look. ''What is this 'Shittim Chest'?''
''It's the control device by which the President could access the Sanctum Tower's higher functions. Without it, the tower is no different than any other building. And before you ask, Sensei, none of us can use it. Only the President and the one she called for can access it. That's just how she planned everything. It needs you, Sensei.''
''If I am correct in my thinking, then possession and access to this device would grant me overall authority over Kivotos, overruling even the power of the General Student Council. The balance of power would shift into the hands of a single person,'' something about that gnaws at his thoughts. A gut feeling warns him of such power at the fingertips of just one individual. Should the wrong person gain this power, cataclysm could follow.
Another thing worries him. If he is the sole inheritor of this authority, what is to say he wouldn't be the source of that cataclysm? He hardly knows himself, but what he does know – on some deeply ingrained level – is that power does not merely corrupt. It reveals. And what could be revealed is a tyrant of the most despicable kind. It is too easy to assume one would not wield power without falling to temptation, only to find that darkness only needed that key to be unleashed.
''That's pretty much it, Sensei. The President took her responsibility seriously, and the power she held even more so. I've no doubt the one she chose will be just as capable,'' she can see Sanguis' face and pauses momentarily, ''Sensei?''
''I...'' he sweeps his gaze over all three of them, ''...I do not believe such a thing is wise.'' The three GSC members look at him intently. ''Power over such a city, with so many lives dependent on the advisedness of every decision, should not lie in the hands of one person. I do not know your President, and I know even less about Kivotos. But from what I have seen, the city still stands and functions. However, I do not know what I will do in her position. So I propose this: I will claim the Shittim Chest when the time is right, but I will not take control. My duties as described to me, are to guide the students and resolve conflicts. You, gathered here and who have worked so hard in your President's stead, you shall take control. Continue your good work.''
''Us, Sensei?'' Ayumu asked, her gaze lowering to the floor when Sanguis looks her way.
''Yes, you. Look not to me. Soon I will be your teacher, and the teacher of all students. But I am no governor. I am no figurehead or king or president. I am but one man. A man whose past is a mystery even to himself. You three have held the reigns, and while cracks have formed, the foundation remains strong. But you will not be alone. Many work with you, wear your colours. And I will help you however I can. After all, do you not fall under my purview as students?''
Rin smiles and adjusts her glasses. ''Well, with that kind of endorsement, how could we refuse? It's true that it hasn't been easy without the President, but even if you're willing to give up that kind of power to us, I think things will change for the better with you to help us.''
Sanguis' smile is small, but impactful all the same. ''I would like to think so, Rin. Delegation is important. In matters of war and of peace. Both are an exercise of that single discipline. Though, I am afraid I have forgotten who taught me that. I am confident in my choice because within the three of you, I see potential, and more importantly, I see the desire to do your best. Without you, Kivotos may well have been in a far worse state than it is now.''
Momoka rubs her nose, cheeks pink as she looks away and sniffs. ''Finally, someone recognises our hard work.'' She fails to keep the warble from her voice, and though Ayumu chuckles, Rin merely gives her a flat look. Momoka could get her work done and do it well, but getting her to do so could be a stressful endeavour.
''I know it is much to ask of you. Perhaps you had wanted to be free of such grand responsibility. And, truth be told, I do not blame you. Very few desire such weight upon their shoulders, and fewer still can bear it. But I believe that if you had wished to run, you would have. Yet you remain. However, I will not have you endure it without first asking you this: will you hold the world on your shoulders for a while longer?''
Rin is the first to answer. She, like Ayumu and Momoka, has her morale bolstered. Her focus is renewed, as is the hope that things will get better.
''You needn't ask, Sensei. I wasn't about to give up, whatever happened,'' she says, resolution clear in her voice.
''I'll work even harder, Sensei,'' Ayumu says, her voice more sure than either Rin or Momoka had heard before.
''Sure. What's a little longer, huh?'' Momoka grins.
Sanguis looks at them proudly. With how many academies exist across Kivotos, he knows that being the central governor of Kivotos as well as guiding the students will only leave him stretched impossibly thin. One or both of those tasks would suffer. Surrendering power to Rin and the others when the time comes is the practical choice – his own moral considerations aside. But he believes in them.
''Thank you. I have given you my trust. I only hope that your trust in me is repaid.''
The situation in Kivotos is tenuous at best, and Sanguis knows that time is of the essence. The sooner he can get himself in working order, the better.
It is time to prepare.
Time to address some concerns. This story has not found its feet yet, but there are some things that are absolute.
1) This is not a story solely about Sanguinius. It is a cross-over, and so there needs to be some give and take. A fully empowered Primarch would do little for a story like this. He'd just do everything. No struggle, no stakes, nothing. If you're looking for an absolute stomp where Sanguinius is the be all and end all of the story, then you'll be disappointed. There would be no point in any of the Blue Archive girls even being involved if Sanguinius took center stage. Sanguinius is a Primarch. Sanguis, his lesser reflection, is not. The girls and the enemies in BA aren't Primarchs. It would be a complete mismatch to the point that a story just couldn't happen in any sensible way.
2) The wings will return. I have taken them away, but I'm going to give them back. Just not soon. A lot of things about Sanguinius will return - though not completely - eventually, but if it is instant gratification you want, then again, you're going to be disappointed. If that's enough to write the story off completely, then okay. You don't like it and that's entirely up to you, dear reader. But consider that nothing has happened yet, so relax. Things will take time to build. As of this chapter, getting the Shittim Chest is a couple months away in BA time (so maybe a chapter or two) because Sanguis needs to build himself up again. I get Sanguinius is a fan favourite, hell, I'm writing a story about him (technically, anyway), so if seeing him as anything but the ass-kicking golden demi-god hawk boy ruffles your feathers, then once again, you're going to be disappointed. But who knows, maybe I'll even give him his name back eventually.
3) Romance. I honestly can't put ''Primarch'' and ''Romance'' together and feel it works. In short, I highly doubt there will be any. Besides, Sanguis is still Sanguinius at his core, so I think he'd see the inherent problems with such a thing with any student. But will I tease it? Maybe.
4) Even someone that used to be a Primarch still has that Primarch-ness about them. He will lead, he will fight, and he will not cower. However, what I have in mind is much more of a command role, at least earlier on. He can see the future, remember? Any commander would kill for that ability. And as far as I remember, he has similar prescience to Curze in being able to predict things moments before they happen. So even if it's not exactly how Sanguinius' foresight works, it's going to be how Sanguis' foresight works. They are the same person, just different. The chapter title ''Death and Rebirth'' is somewhat literal.
5) Red thirst returning? No. Black Rage returning? Eventually.
6) Shenanigans. Anyone who knows BA knows the slapstick things that Sensei can be on the receiving end of, as well as other goofs at their expense. Not with Sanguis. Primarch charisma and general respect and all that. However, other goofy stuff and getting roped into their antics, absolutely. This is the world of BA, after all. Wouldn't be the same without it.
Right, with that out of the way, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Feel free to review, fav and follow as all feedback is appreciated. Until next time.
