The next day after the mission—Zephyr's Headquarters

Within a room in the headquarters, lied Ryan lying down on his bed. His eyes closed soundly asleep as he drifted off in a dream.

"..."

Under the cold snowy moon, within a fluttering blizzard, a boy walked ceaselessly on the tundra plains. Alone and tirelessly, he continued moving onwards... Limping step by step... Into the unknown. 

...

THUCK!

A sudden noise rang through the room, as Ryan abruptly opened his eyes from it.

"..."

Slowly getting up from his bed, Ryan noticed the ruckus ongoing below him but he didn't rush out. Instead, he calmly glanced towards the clock hanging by his wall, looking at time '9:55 AM'.

"It's morning already..."

Ryan stretched out his arms as he let out a yawn. Quickly, he jumped off his bed as he continued hearing the never-ending commotion below him.

"They're making such a ruckus again this early in the morning, huh?"

He sighed hopelessly as he walked over towards the curtain by the window, opening them. In an instant, the light from the morning sun seeped into the room; bringing forth a warm feeling.

As he opened the curtains, Ryan gazed through the window as he looked over the City of Citadel.

"..."

The City of Citadel, a city-stated located by the eastern coastlines of the continent of Zehrul. Splitting into ten different districts or as the Citadelians call it: Sectors.

Each sector is named and ranked after a number, in which the lowest-ranked sector is sector 10 while the highest-ranked sector, being the heart of the city, where the king of power lies, Sector 1.

Within this city, the citizens or the people of Citadel are segregated into different sectors based on a multitude of reasons. Primarily based on their 'power level' in which if their power level is low, they will be placed into the lowest sector possible without a second thought. That's because of the hierarchy implemented within the city.

Wherein the strongest rule over the weak.

...

The headquarter's of Zephyr, in which Ryan lies in, is located within Sector 6, Downtown Bris. Where mainly the mid to low tiers live in.

Zephyr's Headquarters—10:05 A.M.

Ryan walked out of his room soon after readying himself, quickly making his way towards the dining room.

While walking, he bumped into a man heading to the same directions he was, it was a blonde male with a certain charm on him.

Bumping into the man, the blonde male locked his eyes over to Ryan as he greeted him, "Ah! Morning, Ryan! Did you had a good nights sleep from yesterdays mission?"

"Good morning, Luke..." Ryan sighed helplessly, "Unfortunately I was interrupted from my sleep."

"Their ruckus woke you up huh?" Luke chuckled.

"Yep..." Ryan sighed helplessly as they made their way towards the dining hall.

As they neared it, they could hear the commotion getting louder.

"ERIC!" a voice resounded through the hallways outside of the dining hall's door, "Just what do you think you're doing?! That's my cereal!"

Ryan listened in from the outside as he sighed, quickly he opened the door to see Sarah and Eric, fighting over their breakfast.

"Huh?" Eric picked up a spoonful of cereal, quickly munching onto it, "Whachu talkin bout?"

"My cereal! Damn idiot! You will pay for this!" Sarah angrily shouted as she lifted her leg up, quickly she sent it flying over towards Eric's leg while he sat down by the dining table.

"Agh! Hey! What was that for?!" Eric swallowed the cereal abruptly quickly looking over to Sarah with an annoyed look, "Can't you see me eating?!"

"Yeah, eating my cereal!"

"Get a new bowl then if you want to eat the cereal that badly!" Eric sneered.

"I would if that wasn't the freaking last box!"

"Hmph! Serve you right for sharing!"

"W-what?! That wasn't even sharing in the first place!"

"Man... you two are at it again..." Ryan sighed as he walked into the dining hall alongside Luke.

Hearing Ryan's voice, Sarah turned her head out of spite, facing the two standing by the doorway, "Ah! Ryan! Luke! Can you tell this Idiot to stop stealing my food?!" Sarah said as she delightfully greeted them.

"Never did." Eric shrugged as he continued eating his cereal.

"Grr..."

"Now, now..." Luke quickly jumped into action as he tried to mend the situation, "You two should both calm down... It's too early in the morning to fight like this-" As he continued his sentence, a loud noise was heard by the doorway—quickly interrupting him.

"God damn it! It's freaking ten in the damn morning!" A black-haired male forcefully opened the door as he shouted in anger, "Can you keep it down for once?!" He said as he entered the room, stomping on the marble floors angrily, with eye bags under his eyes.

"Aw come on, Crow! Don't ruin the fun!" From behind him, a coral-pink haired woman skipped over into the room as she chuckled.

"Tch. Fun? Get real." Crow clicked his tongue.

"Oh look the cranky one has got up..." Eric sneered.

"W-what? Cranky?!"

"Pfft! 'Cranky'~" The pink-haired woman spoke in a teasing demeanour as she continued skipping towards the dining table.

"Good morning, Crow, Velvet," Luke greeted the two.

"Hehe~ A very good morning to you too, Luke!" Velvet chuckled as she returned the greeting.

"Tch." Annoyed, Crow stomped over towards the dining table as he forcefully grabbed a chair and sat down.

"Aha... as per usual, you woke up on the wrong side of the bed..." Ryan sighed helplessly.

"Shut it."

"Sigh... Let me just go get breakfast for you all." Sarah sighed, as she walked over to the kitchen area.

"Oh! I would like seconds!" Hearing 'breakfast', Eric hurriedly held up his bowl as he adjured Sarah.

Immediately after hearing Eric's request, Sarah turned towards Eric's direction with fierce eyes, giving him a death glare. Soon after she replied heartlessly, "No."

"Why not?!" Eric inquired.

Ignoring Eric, Sarah waltz over towards the kitchen, getting breakfast for the rest.

"Man, it's always lively in the morning, huh?" Ryan chuckled.

"Gee. I wonder why." Crow remarked.

"Well that's the fun part of being one as a family, no?~" Velvet said happily.

"Yeah." Ryan smiled faintly.

Zephyr, a mercenary organization formed by Zeke Reid, my father- Or er... My adoptive father. Where alongside me, Sarah, Eric and the others, we're one as a family.

Although... There are some minor issues on the side haha...

Under the jurisdiction of the 'mercenaries organization' within Citadel, our goal is to exterminate the underworld. Why? This world is filled with tainted and corrupt people, abusing their power onto the weak, as such, 'Mercenary organizations' were created; To fight against them.

Though not supported by the higher-ups and seen as nuisances by the authorities, a group that maintains order among the public, We still stand strong today. That's because mercenaries firmly believe that they can do something in order to stop or eliminate the evil against the weak in Citadel which the authorities neglect.

Thuck Thuck Thuck

As the commotion finally quieted down, footsteps drew closer to the dining hall. As a man in a black suit walked into the room, his presence was but powerful. Thus the moment he stepped foot into the room, everyone immediately took notice of it.

"Oh look! Zeke's here!" Velvet who was the first to look over to the doorway pointed out.

"My, good morning to all of you," Zeke said as he walked in, "Hm? Some of you seemed to have an unpleasant sleep, I see?"

"Need I say more?" Crow scoffed.

"Haha! As per usual, Eric and Sarah fighting again in the morning?" Zeke gleefully laughed.

"What? Fighting? Nah." Eric denied.

"Seriously, every time over a box of cereal." Ryan sighed helplessly, "Dad, you should seriously consider buying a whole box full of them to maintain peace."

"No, it's just Sarah not wanting to share, we don't have to do that." Eric glared over towards Ryan while he gave his reply.

"Uh-huh... Sure you won't." Ryan glared back.

"Damn you, Eric... Let me eat my cereal in peace next time..." Sarah cursed as she walked back into the dining area, within her hands was multiple dishes to serve for everyone in the room.

"Haha," Zeke continued to gleefully laugh as he walked over towards Ryan, soon after patting his head. "Oh come on, Ryan! It's normal."

"W-What...? Normal?!" Ryan coughed from the sudden pat from Zeke.

Hearing Zeke's statement, Crow angrily remarked, "Normal?! How is losing sleep from this ruckus normal?!"

"There's always an option to sleep during the day y'know~" Velvet sarcastically replied.

"An option? Please tell me your joking, Velvet..." Crow glared over towards Velvet as he felt like coughing up blood.

"Haha, you can always do that, of course, if you're asking for death by a certain someone," Luke chuckled.

"Yeah, no." After finishing his breakfast, Crow stood up, "I'll get a headstart with work today..."

"Gee Crow! Can't you stay a little longer? The day hasn't even started yet!" Velvet exclaimed.

"I don't want to be here any longer than I have to," Crow said as he walked over to the doorway, "Now if you'll excuse me. I'm heading out."

"Hey, wait up!" Velvet cried out as she rushed over to catch up with Crow.

Seeing the two walking out, Luke stood up, "Well then, looks like I'll get started with the day as well." Turning towards Zeke, he said, "Master Zeke, you have a few things to do in the morning, shall we be heading off now?"

"Hm, yes." Zeke nodded his head as he stood up, adjusting his tie and suit, "Well then I'm off."

Luke and Zeke left to begin their day, all that was left was Eric, Sarah and Ryan.

"Sheesh, why are mornings always so tiring with you around?" Sarah let out an exhausted breath as she cleaned up the dining table.

"Maybe if you learn to share, then it won't be so tiring." Eric shrugged as he gave a reply.

"Gee, at least appreciate that I cook all the time!" Sarah exclaimed.

"And yet you complain about cereal." Eric clicked his tongue as he glared over towards Sarah.

"That's because I want to eat it!" Sarah shouted as she turned around, giving Eric the cold shoulder.

"Now, now you two..." Ryan hurriedly rushed towards the two as he tried to calm them down.

Hearing the mending Ryan, Eric grumbled as he left the dining hall, "Hmph. Whatever, I'm gonna head out to train now."

Seeing Eric leave the room, Ryan let out a sigh, "Since I'm done as well, I'll be going as well-"

"Ah! Ryan before I forget!"

Just as Ryan took a step forward, he stopped as he turned around, "Hm?"

"Can you check with Emily about the maintenance of my weapon, Nexus?"

"Huh? The maintenance of your weapon?" Ryan titled his head to the side as he asked.

"Yep! I had given it to Emily a few days prior for maintenance since it was pretty damaged from my previous mission with Velvet..."

"Ah right... Which was why you were out of commission in combat for yesterday-" Before Ryan had ended his sentence, Sarah suddenly kicked his leg.

"Ack...! Hey! What was that for?!"

"'Out of commission in combat for a while' basically means I am weak in combat without my weapon...!"

"Well, it's true-" Ryan said as he gave a glance to Sarah, soon after he abruptly stopped. Sarah was glaring at Ryan intensely.

"Cough... Nevermind," Letting out a cough, he quickly changed the topic, "Anyways... Speaking of Emily... I didn't see her during breakfast, where is she?"

"No idea... Maybe she overslept in the lab," Sarah shrugged.

"She fell asleep at the weapon's lab again?" Ryan blankly stared at Sarah.

"Yeah, you know her usual habits." Sarah continued to shrug, "Anyways, please help check up on my weapon and if she's still asleep, just wake her up!"

"...Tell me again, why can't you do it yourself?" Ryan glared at Sarah.

"Well, can't you see I'm busy!"

"No?"

"I've got to do the dishes! See!" Sarah pointed over towards the empty plates on the dining table.

"...You" Ryan was left speechless at Sarah's shameless act as he sighed, "Sigh, fine... I have to get my weapon checked up as well anyways..."