Kazar was waiting to be called into action. After all he was the main attraction, but it didnt feel like it. Or maybe this was how it was supposed to feel? He couldn’t be sure anymore. Not after his transformation and what had happened that day. Not as he was now thanks to the arachnid who had saved his life. 

‘Hanokii’

He closed his eyes and took a drag of the purple bleeze in his hand before he exhaled the smoke into the room he had been alone in, letting the calming essence wash over him. He had been a simple Raikosi, his ability to manipulate two elements offset by the fact he was naturally talented at neither. Then one day on duty the abnormal happened as it did, but this time it had cost him his life. The fact hadn’t bothered him for as a soldier and warrior he had lived being ready to die always. No, what had bothered him was that somehow, someway he was alive again.

It felt like overnight he transformed and just yesterday he had been someone else entirely. Yes, now he was here and the only constant was that he was still duty bound to serve Da Eripme. It was all he had, but even still the new him would serve it much differently. His allegiance had been tested and fortified at the same time and if his dedication proved worth the risk here today it would be the start of something new for himself and those like him. What that was exactly he wasn’t sure, but as his unique hex arts began to develop due to exposure to certain elements his perception too was changing. 

He looked towards a bowl of slightly glimmering water, tiny minerals sparkling in it. A small portion of the liquid began to float rising from the bowl and towards him, its delicate form wobbling in the air as it slowly drifted and dripped onto the floor. His tunic was light and well fitted underneath his more loose robe and the water reached him it split with half of it splashing onto his face and the other half soaking onto his chest. 

At this point he would accept his fate, whatever it was and prove an Ephangian could survive and conquer anything for the cause. Eveb Lord Thiesz could not turn back time, but he would recognize a future where people like Kazar had a place. For all his service and sacrifice all he asked was that his efforts be recognized and respected by the people he made them for. He took another drag and put the bleeze out in a small plant trey to the side as he stepped towards the door. 

**

Hanokii prepared to begin, he saw both Zakanashi Da Kairaga and Ahqueer Da Psymo themselves were present for his presentation, a good sign. Even Loos was there, his shady appearance always slightly creeping Hanokii out though he would never admit it and this was only the second or third time he had actually seen him in person.

‘What’s his interest in this, I wonder?’ Hanokii thought to himself before he saw Khromeo who had been keyly instrumental with few others in actually helping with the research and formulation of Hanokii’s plans. At the moment he had been flirting with a couple of *ydal. He stopped and looked at Hanokii from up in the stands, ‘THERE HE IS! THE SUPERSTAR!’ He yelled before turning to the ydal, ‘I told y’all I know him right? That’s my code right there! He bout to kill this shit fosho’ 

Hanokii sighed slightly embarrassed, shaking his head at the thought of attempting to find mates at such an important event, but then looked up to return a slight smile to his strange friend appreciating the light heartedness of his demeanor. Even though Hanokii grew up in the slums of Fungoo often fending for himself, he knew even he needed support and a friend from time to time. Khromeo just wasn’t the friend he expected to make. 

Khromeo was pure Raikosi and even still he never once showed an ounce of disrespect or prejudice towards Hanokii for being Vaszian. He had made jokes no doubt, but always with genuine humor and never to truly spite or be hurtful. It wasn’t something Hanokii was used to in his life of struggle. Most of those who were higher up had never looked down with much favor at the ones who were beneath them and in his experience those who were deemed important rarely paid that importance downward. Raikosi vs Vasz was just another subsection of the ism that came from class and the abuse of power. Yet, if Hanokii could sway those before him in attendance then all else would follow and Khromeo was a good ally to have at this stage no doubt.

Still for any of it to matter Hanokii had to pull this speech off first as the penalty for a failure here at least would cost him his position and respect and at most, his very life. If Da Kairaga was feeling petty, it could be his last day and so he had to choose his actions and words carefully. He too was Raikosi and though he had given Corrarius the chance to present, he was not known for his mercy or sympathy for those who disappointed him, especially if they were Vaszian. 

As the moderator called for the attention of those assembled, the floor was given to Zakanashi. His attire was as flashy and flamboyant with a multitude of exotic excesses, his purple locks swaying over his piercing golden eyes and his sinister smile as a flock of nampia around him got quiet out of awe and respect, prepared for him to speak.

‘Emoclew all who are here at this presentation. I’ll keep it short and brief. One of my brightest students has come to me and The Psymo with a proposition which we have not yet heard and so this meeting was arranged to hear out what he has to say. Please give him your full attention. I do doubt he would waste our time…’ He said, his voice sincere and yet also providing a hint of threat for any real failure to be displayed.

Without further to do Hanokii took the floor, his mind and spirit focused on the present task. His face hidden behind the elegant two faced harlequin mask of dichotomy he had chosen to represent to the meeting of the two chambers, one half an exaggerated smile, the other a depressed frown.

*** 

The hallway was quiet save for the commotion which was gently intruding from the open which led out to the stage floor. Kazar could sense the presence of three guards outside his door, most likely sent to que him into position as if he needed it. They weren’t Legionaries. They weren’t even EXPG as he once was. Private security maybe? It mattered not. He was simply considering the possibilities. In the end, even more so, unlike him they were still normal nampu. He could hear them converse as they prepared approached.

‘Nam, why they gotta send us to get this “hexer”? He doesn’t need an escort and what’s so special about being a potential threat to everyone around you that we need a demonstration?’ Said the nampia on the right of the trio.

‘I mean we don’t really know what his condition is, but either way it most be important. I’m actually interested myself to see whats gonna be proposed and shown seeing as we wouldn’t have been invited had we not been stationed here for the event.’ Replied a nam who was center.

‘Well personally I gotta agree with Loy. I know I may be older than you two, but I don’t really like this chipper shit and the “Hexers”.. Those people are too dangerous to be trusted. I know enough to know dey’re freaks and have da ism and that’s enough to know dey ain’t right and we should just weed em out and get rid of em before they start a cause more trouble.’ Stated the nam to the left.

‘I mean that’s a bit prejudice don’t ya think? We all basically have the same genes at the end of day Raikosi or Vasz and you should know how dangerous it is to fight based off our differences. Its my understanding either affliction type could happen to any of us and so we should do our best to help and learn however we can. Not to mention everyone that has a cybernetic upgrade doesn’t have a hex art issue, they’re clearly separate things in principle and general application’ said the middle one with slight defiance.

The nampia scoffed, ‘How noble and intellectual of you. You some kind of sympathizer or somthin? Or maybe you forgot about the past incidents that caused such trauma thanks to hex arts? Now I’m not hatin on the *chips and I’m thinkin about moving to one of the new cities myself, but the hexism? I mean even if I had that seriously gross shit I think i'd be better off dead so fuck em... It’s natural selection. Sorry I'm not sorry’ she finished arrogantly. 

‘Well the incidents you’re referring to were caused by terrorists, not the hex gene itself, but either way that’s fucked up Loy. How could you think like that? I believe in the Eripme vision. One where all Ephangians can thrive and stand together an-

The nam in the center was cut off by his elder to the left who stopped in their tracks, ‘You’re both naive and ignorant. I speak from experience, not some dumb prejudice! These types are not to be trusted, not any of them! We should stick to the old ways like the old tribes and clans because at least then it was simple. It was this or that. Now our traditions and culture are corrupted ever further and for what? Da Eripme preaches equality, but it’s all just a smokescreen because all it’s doing is creating more dichotomy and dragging us out into space and further from home. Further from our roots. Now do you ever ask yourselves is that where we belong? Because that’s what the chippers and the hexism represent along with the damned empire. A detachment from our roots and I say the hell with all of it.’

The trio stood silent for a moment, the door to their objective only a few paces away. 

‘Well fuck… My bad old na- 

The nampia’s head suddenly imploded mid sentence as her body collapsed to the ground. 

‘Wha- What ju- 

In similar fashion suddenly the elder guards head was spontaneously crushed before they could conclude as they too fell to the floor with a wet slosh. Magenta blood now covered the hall and the middle guard as he stood frozen in fear swallowing his very pride as Kazar stepped through the door draped in his robe, his face partially hidden. Was he smirking or frowning? Both possibilities were equally terrifying. 

‘You’re peers were right. I don’t need an escort… That is unless you’re feeling lucky?’