Ava glanced outside the foreteller's meeting room, today's meeting was uneventful and in her opinion, a waste of her time as the meeting was dragging past midnight. She could have gone to the beach today with her son, Sora. Maybe play in the dandelions and have a picnic, or prepare to teach her first union members that she'd get tomorrow. But now the Master of Masters has decided on the new list of worlds and his opinions on each world. This was something more suitable for the Chirthy to explain to them or in a note. Not some drawn-out speech to teach them; after all, everyone had been "Masters" for roughly a couple of months and still adjusting to this new lifestyle.
This was still an odd process for each of the union leaders, they had received training from the Master and training from their respective worlds. But it was a questionable decision to make everyone a master, teaching an army of students with little knowledge of what was needed beyond the skill and duties they held. Ava knew in theory it could work, if anyone was on the same page, but it wasn't likely given the other four members.
The first person she saw was Invi, and from what Ava could gather, Invi was from a world involving ninja-based skills; she was the quietest person of the group, like a snake in the grass waiting to strike. The only real things of note over the past year of living with the woman were that she had blue hair and had a figure that nearly rivaled her own, hugging at her dress, and cloak like a desperate attempt of attention and clearly giving off that forbidden lust vibe, plus she was a teacher at one point.
Secondly, looking at her from a distance, Gula was cold, calculating, and above all, a child with no intention of mercy for the living. He may have even smiled like a child, but underneath that leopard mask was a kid as bad as the heartless. Probably worse than the soulless creatures, if the rumors of his world were to be believed? A world full of the undead, viruses, and cruel selfish people sounded like a fate worse than death, worse than even her own world.
The third of the union leaders, or as the Master has just dubbed them Foretellers, was Ira! The leader of the unicorn was full of pride and knowledge; the unicorn-masked man claimed to be a soldier of nobility, worshiping a goddess that saved his land. But that was not something she'd believe in until she saw it, what goddess would allow an evil king to return and force a so-called endless cycle of Reincarnation, war and misery among its people, even if the fish-like people did sound interesting to view.
Finally Aced, the bear-masked man who spit as much venom against the very nature of mankind, made Ava sick hearing his rants about society, its rules, and limitations that crushed his people, oh he was the weakest member for sure, coming from a world full of monsters was one thing, but to hate that very fiber of humanity and be given the right to teach little human kids was not a wise call. It would be wise to replace him now or temper him deeply; his anger was worse than A2's, even on the rogue android's worst day.
The only difference that Ava could see to the table was the Master; he was so enthusiastic about everything, each movement, word chosen, each of his little human fingers wiggling in delight when it came to the key blade, future stuff, and the Idea that the five, well six of them, people who came from other worlds to save the light was enough to make a difference, it felt almost like the Commander's speech to honor its warriors to bring glory to mankind. The only real question left was the one person in the corner of the room, the mysterious figure, Lulu, a man from a faraway land, he kept silent, watching, his gloves hands twitching at the master's occasional gaze upon him.
Thankfully, Ava didn't have to add those little things like twitching and fear didn't come easy, she could be strong, brave, give humanity the second chance it deserved, no lies to keep faith, if people wanted the most honorable advice, than it was her job to give it. Hate had learned a lot from her home world; the need for people who fought was nothing more than a resource, and the question was what use would they bring to the tides of battle. This time was different, she could feel it, the time for humanity to rise again and make sure another war, not just of the machines, but anybody, she'd make sure of it.
"So, That concludes today's meeting! You'll receive your students and become union leaders, leading roughly a few hundred students. So I'd advise you to get some sleep, look over the world plans, and may your heart be your guiding key." The Master yelled, snapping Hateko out of her thoughts, her calm blue eyes snapped to look at the mastered hooded face, she could tell he was a little angry, and yet his tone screamed childish. Hateko silently stood up, watching everyone exit the room except the Master.
"Ava, what did I tell you about daydreaming and staring at people? You're not doing that again. Besides, you don't actually know them personally beyond files, so please keep in mind that not everything is to be believed." The Master said, shifting his body over to her side of the table, right by the window, where she could see everything—houses, fields, even the little house she had where her son was hopefully waiting for her to come home so they could be a family.
"What is it this time? I need to get home and get ready for the morning, plus Sora's probably been waiting for me to return several hours ago." Hateko said, gritting her teeth as she looked at the black-cloaked man near her, standing motionless.
"I'm planning on adding your world to the roster!" MOM whispered to his fox-masked student. Hateko could feel the anger inside her grow as her mouth opened, but no words came out. She wanted to tell, curse, and slam the man through the table. But she didn't know what to think about this news. Her home world was a wasteland, full of death and misery, so sending kids to fight the horrors of her world was a slap in the face..
Can I ask when and why? Is it because of me looking at the other with judgmental thoughts like a machine?" Hateko said, her voice devoid of tone, lifeless like a machine, returning to her old self, knowing it was the only way this conversation would happen.
"Well, that wouldn't have been a bad punishment for you not taking my lectures seriously! However, I figured if we're going to fight the darkness, I have to give everyone a bigger push in the future, roughly a few more years into their training. Gula, Aced, Ira, Invi,
All of their worlds will be involved the same as yours. So monsters, zombies, lycans, ninjas, Grimm, everything will be tossed at our students at some point. But for now, I'm only opening up Wonderland and Woodlands, at least for a month, then any world mission is up for grabs in order to gain strength and lux.
Well, outside of Daybreak Town, kids' gloves are still on. I know they'd need more training before fighting a zombie, but plans tend to change. That's all I wanted to say, so get some rest and spend time with your son. After all, it's a big day today; you have got to keep the light moving." The Master said, walking away, as Hateko removed her fox mask, gently raising her fingertips to touch the black blindfold covering her eyes.
"Rest, if only that was truly possible, you silly human. Thankfully, rest mode might be possible in this world." Hateko muttered, letting out a small sigh as her voice returned to normal, she could use a shower, slipping her mask back on and forming a tiny smile. She had to look decent if the others saw her. Granted, she would have cared if the other foretellers learned she wasn't human. Ira would be curious due to her technology; Gula and Invi were questionable at best and aced. The large man would probably hate her regardless of her appearance, and then there was the only thing that mattered in her life, Sora.
Sora was special because he was "her" kid. It was nice seeing a different side of humanity. Everything that the book made around her was a copy, but Sora felt real despite Hateko not being human, she loved her little ball of energy, he made her feel human and brought her life so much happiness than what the army of Yorha could bring her fighting the Machines. If her previous world was the color of depression, then Sora was all her happiness wrapped in many different colors.
Hateko smiled, exiting the meeting room; the thoughts of Sora kept her going forward with the Master's insane idea of teaching countless human kids to wield the key blade. Granted, she is a former operator-made combatant named 7O, but she could learn more about humanity from a handful of people than the countless hours she spent combing the Yorha database. It still felt odd—the idea that humans weren't on the moon, but across different worlds that needed protection from more evils. It may have been a few months since this town became her new life, but she still felt like yesterday that the Commander ordered her to be a soldier on the battlefield.
Hateko wondered what the kids would look like and how differently they would be from Sora. Was she equipped to handle this level of responsibility, and what if she messed up? These questions continued to plague her mind as she rode the giant gear elevator down to the base of the clock tower. Maybe things would be okay, after all, she has spent months learning combat to the ways of humans. She just had to believe in herself, and everything would be fine. This mission was for the fate of humanity, and it was her job to protect the light and the people who lived in it, so surely she'd be happy to fight just like her fellow soldiers
Hateko did wonder what Sora was doing right now; she didn't like the idea of her son staying at home or wandering the streets of Daybreak town. Her options were limited due to the Master wanting her every waking moment to be focused on the key blade and the benefit of humanity. It made her time to be a parent a hard task, but she was up to it. Sora was easy to please, he liked most foods, was full of energy and very good at talking to her about their issues. So maybe they'd be okay with her having more added to her plate. Hateko had finally made it out of the clock tower, excited to be free of the Master's grasp for a couple of hours, ready to play with Sora, take a shower—well, well the closest thing to a shower without damaging her body and then sleep till it was time to be a bigger role model.
"Maybe I should take Sora out for a walk soon. I never knew that the streets of Daybreak Town were large, and full of life—so many plants, trees and fountains that engulfed the streets. To think humans made this happen, maybe one day we'll learn why they can cause so much destruction yet bring so much beauty! What a nice difference compared to all the empty deserts and abandoned buildings, although there was always the potential of this wonderful town turning into a war zone, with a few nice moments. Sora, do you think we'll be able to enjoy our new moments together?" Hateko whispered as the android felt a smile growing on her face, but slowly morphed Into a giant grin as she raced through the empty streets of Daybreak Town. Jumping over endless fences and stairs, even some of the humorous blue rooftops, till she arrived at her house. Thankfully it was miles from the clock tower, and her body didn't feel the pain of exercise, so she could make it home in only an hour.
—--
When Hateko arrived at her house, the first thing she did after looking to make sure no one was following her was to grab her keys out of her pockets, laughing for a second. It was funny being a key blade master and using a normal key to open a door. It may have been one of the little things she liked doing when she discovered the files of humanity, the funny things humans would do; they didn't have automatic doors but had specialty-made keys to houses and apartments, and yet life was normal for them, it was the kind of lifestyle she wanted in her own home.
Hateko stepped through the door, as a familiar bed of spiky brown hair was in her face. Sora must have missed her dearly to be right by the front door and in the warmth of her embrace.
Hey, Sweetie, I'm home!" Hateko said, holding her adorable four-year-old boy. He was warm and soft and smelt of honey and vanilla, just like the house they lived in. Hateko and Sora loved the warmth, sweet things, and their cozy home. It was the perfect place to be after a long day.
"Mom, what took you so long? I missed you so much!" Sora said she hugged Hateko harder, and this made Hateko hold Sora tighter. She hated this feeling; Sora and other humans called it sadness! She hated seeing her child sad; it was the worst blade her heart had ever felt. Hateko wondered why she felt this way; she had been programmed to dull her emotions and been told not to emote, and yet here she was in a town soon surrounded by humans, expressing happiness, anger, sadness, and love. Did Sora help her express these things easier, or was it her leaving the Yorha and finally feeling free to be herself?
"I missed you too, Sora! The Master's meeting went on for much longer than I thought it would. But I'm finally here and ready to enjoy what little time we have left before you have got to sleep." Hateko whispered, setting Sora down with a grin on her face. She knew tonight was the night she'd make something from one of her old, damaged human cookbooks called a grilled cheese. Hateko normally made Sora regular sandwiches, soups, and snacks, or her Chrithy would come and tell her what to do with everything coming out as mixed outcomes. But tonight was her night, to prove that she could cook something for her son and feel proud about it.
Hateko decided it was best to quickly look around her and Sora's tiny home to give herself a moment of peace before the chaos of the kitchen. It wasn't often she got to just admire the beauty of the place—the tiny plants on the night table, the soft couch—and she would rest on a couple of pictures, her and Sora across different parts of daybreak town. The rest of the house was a small bathroom, kitchen, and Sora's bedroom. Sure, it wasn't as glamorous as the rooms of Yorha, but it still looked better than the meeting room of the clock tower.
Hateko entered the tiny kitchen with Sora; she didn't bother to take off her foreteller outfit, just her mask and blindfold. Her soft blue eyes darted around the kitchen, as she grabbed some butter, bread, Swiss and Provolone cheese, and a pan, as a glimpse of her old leotard and skirt loomed in the distance laying up on the coffee table like a distance, yet ever present memory ready to be awakened.
"Ok, Sora! First, we place the pan on the stove and turn the heat to medium. Butter one side of each piece of bread, then place butter side down, add cheese, put top on last, and cook till golden brown. Ok, that doesn't sound too hard; what do you think, Sora?" Hateko said, looking at her son as he started to butter some white bread, eyes glowing in excitement over the chance at a new sandwich from his mom.
"Let's do this; I want to see you cook, Mom!" Sora declared, handing the plate to his mom in excitement, making Hateko smile at how adorable this was. Gently, she grabbed the plate, placing the bread on the pan with her right hand. Hateko looked at the butter knife in her hand; normally she would have used this knife to stab a machine to death. However, today she was using it to butter some pieces of bread, gently putting the fattening substance on the bread, and placing it on the pan with the cheese and another piece of buttered bread into the pan.
Hateko and Sora smiled as they gazed at the cheese melt before their eyes and how the edges of the sandwich darkened, signaling Hateko to grab a spatula and flip the sandwich, savoring the sounds of the butter hitting the pan. The bottom quickly finished cooking in a matter of moments as Hateko pulled the sandwich off the pan, placing it onto a paper plate, with some apple slices.
Sora was in awe at the sandwich, silently taking a bite, and smiling in delight at his mom's grilled cheese. It was so different compared to the peanut butter sandwiches, or that weird attempt at salad the other night when Chirthy stepped in.
You're welcome, Sora!" Hateko whispered, returning the hug in full. It may have been past midnight, but Hateko didn't want Sora to sleep, even when she heard a soft yawn escape from his mouth. She could only giggle for a second, as Sora quickly finished his dinner and got ready for bed.
"Come on, Sleepyhead, that's get you to bed, I'll clean up and see you in the morning." Hateko whispered, picking Sora up, exiting the kitchen, and heading upstairs to Sora's bedroom. Hateko hoped that once all the foreteller business was over, it would be a day of just her and Sora. Hateko let out a small hum, as she put Sora into bed and wrapped the surrounding blankets, gently kissing his forehead, and rubbing his brown hair lightly.
"Mom, I hope one day I can be like you!" Sora whispered, as another yawn escaped the teen's mouth, as Hateko looked deeply at her son's tired face, pondering what the meaning behind those words was, and what she would, she has to do to make his dreams a reality?
"How would you like to be like mommy, sweetie? Are you talking like a foreteller or an android?" Hateko let out, with a hint of excitement in her voice, she knew that one of these days her son would cave into the human imagination and desire to become attracted to something of note. She knew that Sora loved her deeply, the same way she loved him enough to have fought the system to protect him
"I want to be an android like you! Cool, strong, brave, you are the best mother ever, and I couldn't ask for anything else in the whole universe, I just want to be like you when I grow up." Sora whispered, as he closed his eyes, falling asleep in his mother's arms, leaving Hateko to hum a small tune.
"One day, my little android, one day! I'll make sure it happens, but until then grow big and strong, who knows what the future will hold, my next defender of the light?" Hateko whispered, turning the light off as she exited the room. Hateko proceeded to head downstairs to finish the dishes, and then rest on her comfy couch, it would be dawned in a couple of hours, and she wanted to feel as much peaceful bliss as possible before her teaching career would begin.