We are Acers. We are raised to kill all creatures deemed too dangerous to live, and we do not stop at just creatures. We are also trained in the ways of man. Whether that be politics or simply conversing, we kill them if we must. Let’s suppose the people in charge find a child who was born with the genetic mutation needed to become an Acer. Within moments after birth, the Acer Association will take them. No matter what position in life you were meant to be born into, it will be stripped from you. We never know who our parents are. We are trained to survive the harshest conditions in order for our bodies to adapt faster than normal humans. But the real test is if we survive the ritual when we turn 15. No one knows what happens during the ritual, we are put to sleep during the process, and the ones performing the ritual are cursed never to talk. The one thing we do know is that the process is so highly taxing on the body that, in some cases, it will kill you. I, Andromeda Ver’Ax, am one of the lucky few who survived. I was not alone in the process. I was joined by my mentor, Jessica, and my friends, who I consider my family, Beolin and Victoria. 

When we were growing up, Jessica happened to find us three falling behind on our lessons and took pity on us. She was our mentor and part of our family. She was a little older than us, so she had more experience in the field than we did. She taught us everything she knew. At a young age, she had already broken so many records. We don't understand why only she chose to pity us when there were so many others who could have become her proteges.

She helped all of us get through the ritual. She didn't take any missions for months so she could watch over us. Aside from her being a good friend, she was a good soldier. She always followed orders and protocol. She was compliant, even when he had to do something that went against her morals. Because of this, she rose to the rank of Major General. When the war broke out between Corak, us, and the north, she was sent to be one of the commanders in the army. We were already losing, and this war would be her last battle. The north had ambushed us in the night and wound up almost killing everyone in Jessica’s squadron. Her lover at the time was also slaughtered in front of her. That was the last straw for her. She went mad and killed every one of the north guards. After that, she was called back, and when all of us saw her, she wasn't the same anymore. She retired shortly after she was discharged from the hospital and disappeared. Only I know where she is, no one else, not even the higher-ups, know where she went. It is a shame this happened to her. Victoria, Beolin, and I have a theory that she was set up. Before this, she was well on her way into becoming the first Acer Lieutenant-General in the association.

Later all three of us volunteered to pick up the pieces she left behind in the war. We all had been given unique powers after we had undergone the ritual. Beolin was given a huge advantage when it came to hand-to-hand combat and other heavy weapons, thanks to their new strength. They also were given heightened sight, hearing, and smell. They are almost like a wolf. They are the wildest person I’d ever met. They made it a habit to get Victoria and me in trouble, and Jessica would bail us out. Victoria had much more of an advantage when it came to nightfall and darkness. While she may come off as sweet and bubbly, she is anything but that. She is bloodthirsty and manipulative, and hides in the shadows to watch someone's every move. She also is able to see in the dark as if it were already a well-lit room. Like Beolin, she too has heightened senses, but she is much faster than any of us.

I was not gifted in any way, but I have my own way with words that the others do not and something else entirely that after it manifested, Jessica told me to never show it off in public. If I find a creature that has done nothing wrong, I strike a deal with it instead of killing it. I just carry their soul with me like an invisible chain in exchange for not killing them. I can call on these creatures to lend me their power for a short amount of time, or I can summon them in a ghost-like form, and they will fight for me. 

Because of all of us working together, we had won the war. We were all given new ranks and new titles. We three ascended to the position of Major General, and our titles reflect upon our powers. Beolin was given the name of “The Wolf”, Victoria was named “The Viper”, and I was dubbed the “The Phoenix.” It was a tradition for Acers who have completed a great task to be given a name that closely resembles the Acer in question and is finally given their emblem with their respective animals. All three of us were happy to be given such an honor, but we were sad that Jessica was unable to see our accomplishment. Many years ago, when she was given her title “The Dragon,” we all promised that we would all be there to celebrate as a family. Alas, this was merely a hope, and she did not see us. After we won the war, we all went our separate ways. I hear news of Victoria only once in a blue moon, and as far as the entire Acer association knows, Beolin is MIA.

Something interrupts my thoughts. It is a series of loud knocking on my door. My eyes flash open. 

I awaken to my empty room in a place that is not my home, merely a place I have been assigned to work at. The only things that are mine in this room are my clothing and my weapons. I don't have any time to collect items because I often move around the country. I could tell from the increasingly louder knocks on the door that It was going to be just another tedious and dreary day.

“ALL RIGHT! Whatever it is you want, it better be important to wake me up this early,” I shout as I walk to the door. 

I open it to reveal a tired soldier who has a letter in their hand.

“I am sorry, General Ver’Axi, but I was told to deliver this letter to you, and it was of the utmost importance,” they apologized while handing me the letter.

“Where did it come from?” I ask them while I walk to find my reading glasses.

“Noctius ma’am, it's from the lieutenant-general Natalia.”

“Oh, that important, huh, well you go rest. I’ll take care of it,” I told them.

Happily, the tired soldier runs off, leaving me with this letter. I look at the seal on the letter, thankfully it's the seal of transfer. I can finally leave this place and move on to my next assignment. I rush to put on my reading glasses, and the letter reads.

To Major General Andromeda Ver'Axi

This is a matter of great importance to the general public safety. The town of Noctius is in grave danger, and I fear many innocent lives have been lost due to our inability to solve this mystery. We all have tried to find the cause of these brutal murders for a year now, but now because I have lost my wife to this, I must call in for help. You are the best Acer the association has to offer us. We were hoping you could come to Noctius as fast as you possibly could. I have already given the go-ahead to your current Commissioner, and you are free to leave. Please report to your new Commissioner, General Arilius Mondragon, when you arrive.

I hope to see you soon, Lieutenant General Natalia Gairil.

P.s please destroy the contents of this letter.

So I must travel to Noctius? That is a relief. I know that city is the best. It is the one place I feel at home. But I will finally meet the Arilius Mondragon, the heir to the Mondragon dukedom. I can only hope that they are not like the rest of their family. The Mondragon's seem to hate us Acers. But I have heard of these murders, and from what I can make of it, they have gotten pretty out of hand. What's most strange to me is how they haven't figured out the causes. I mean, the letter did say this has been happening for a little over a year now. I feel so horrible that the Lieutenant's wife has died. Helena was one of the best old generation Acers we had left. 

So with my thoughts out of the way, I needed to pack up and make plans for the quickest route to Noctius. The fastest way there from here would be about a week and a half on foot. After my travel was planned out, I began to fill out the appropriate paperwork that was also included in the letter, which I found a few minutes later. I tucked it neatly in my folder of all vital paperwork that I carry everywhere with me. 

I left my room with my bag packed and ready to go and made my way to the office of my now former Commissioner and said goodbye and a few of my favorite subordinates. Then I made my way to Noctius, excited for this new adventure. One more thing to add to this new adventure is the city of Noctius is the place that Jessica chose to settle down. And this seems like the perfect mission to bring her out of that dark hole she made for herself.