Chroma HQ - Soul Society Intelligent Center - Saeollits City

“Reggie! Oi reggie!”, calls the girl with short ombre hair towards the silver-haired man

But the man didn’t move an inch or even respond to the girl. Instead, being completely lost in his own thoughts. Thinking about that unexpected encounter he had a few days ago in that alley, although it wasn’t the girl that got him into deep thoughts. But rather it be the being that was with her, it is not just any normal soul. No normal soul could have taken that shadow down the way it did, that girl must have a ‘Soulbringer’. But he can’t help but feel that there’s something more to it.

“REGULUS!!!”, she shout

Startled out of his thoughts, finally coming back to the real world as the silver-hair man looks up towards his co-worker. Not looking amused towards him, that’s for sure. He lets out a sigh which makes the ombre hair girl’s veins twitch in annoyance. Holding back her fist from smacking him right on the head.

“What do you want now River…..? Can’t you just go bother Kaien or something?”, he said

“Kaien’s on the simulator… and I'm not just ‘bothering’ you buffoon. Theodore wants to see you regarding the attack a few days ago”, she explain

“Didn’t Adrons already give him the report and recap ? What would he need me for ?”, he replied uninterested 

“How the f*ck should i know…..”, she said then proceed to leave him without a second to waste

He grumbles at her reply but still proceeds to go towards his superior's office. Making his way to the top floor of the building, he still can’t get the girl out of his mind. Sure there’s a chance he might have seen the manifestation of a newborn soulbringer. But he can’t help the uneasy feeling inside. That there’s more to it than just any soulbringer manifestation, and he wants to find out what. 

Reaching the top floor of the building, Regulus made his way to the Director’s office where both Andros and his boss were waiting for him. Opening the huge glass door, as he walks inside to see two mens in the middle of a discussion before noticing him.

“Regulus, can you at least knock or something…”, the director comment

“Am i interrupting your moment with andros ?”, he reply teasing

“Tch….” , the man answered by rolling his eyes towards his subordinates 

Not wanting to accommodate his teasing routine any further than it is, the director just let out a sigh then told the silver-haired teased to take a seat next to his co-worker. Grabbing the report file he received this morning regarding the last attack.

“So Theodore, what’s up ? “, the silver-haired man ask

“Is it regarding the last shadow attack sir ?”, the brunette continue

“Yes, your report indicates that there’s only one shadow rampaging in front of the train station. But i just heard back form the clean up team that they found other traces of another shadow in one of the alleys near the station..”, the director explain

“But that’s impossible, we did a perimeter check of the area and found none of tha-”

“That’s because it wasn’t just a shadow..” the silver-haired spoke cutting of his co-worker

Making the two other men turn towards him in confusion, yearning an explanation from the man.

“When Andros and I were splitting up to cover more ground, I came across another shadow in the alleyway near the station. It was attacking a student, but before I could interfere another being manifested from the girl and took that shadow down in a flash. I can’t make out the exact visual of it but I know that type of energy surge anywhere. A newborn soulbringer has manifested..” the harbinger officer explain

“A soulbringer! And you just said it now!! I swear reg-” his friend protest 

“Because i wasn’t sure if it's truly a soulbringer at first and you–” he argue back 

“Regulus, I'm putting you in charge of this matter. Seek out the girl and bring her here, take Kaien and River with you. If it’s true that it's a soulbringer, we must get a hold of her first before the shadow association makes their move.” the director commands

“Alright…” regulus replied

“And Andros, I want you to double check with the clean up team regarding this matter.” Theodore told the other officer

“Understood boss…” Andros replied

“One other thing, I want this matter to be kept under until we have the evidential fact in our hands understood? A new soulbringer might stir up some issues up top ” the director added

“Roger that boss…” both men answered

After the meeting they have with Director Theodore, both men proceed to their respective assignment. And as per request, this mission is only known to the six harbinger personnel on the chroma HQ. Then immediately, the officer named Andros left to go back to the crime scene while Regulus on the other hand begins to search for the mysterious girl. Also hoping to find some answers to his uneasy feeling.

“Looks like things are gonna get more fun around here”, the silver-haired man said to himself with a smirk across his face as he walks into the harbringer’s lounge

“Kaien ! River ! gear up! We have a new mission” he announce at the lounge 

Showlits E-sport Center - Saeollit City

“WHOA!! Archie, that’s a new game record!!”, said the boy with curly burgundy hair

“Hah….. I don't know Con…i feel like i could have squeeze it another five minutes”, replying as i takes of my headphones

“Girl! You have the highest records and rank in this whole center. Give yourself some slack! You’re being too idealistic..” The boy named Conrad spats back

“And that’s why I still don’t get it… Why don’t you want to sign a professional contract with meeee!?” said the voice from behind Conrad

It's the Chief of Showlits E-sport club, Mr. Jackie Lavena. He was once a professional player for one of the top tier clubs in the country, known as ‘Lavender Slit’. After retirement, he decided to build his own club and that’s showlit, the rising star of Saeollit City.

“And I keep telling you that I don't wanna be an E-sport athlete, you know I just came here to kill time Mr.Lavena…. Besides, Conrad here is an awesome player and so are the others. What would you need me for ?.”  , i said blowing on my cheese noodles i ordered earlier

I may not look like your typical gamer girl, but the truth is. This isn’t the first time or the first club that asked me to sign a professional contract with them. Some are very tempting to be honest, but that line of career isn’t really for me. I just want to graduate, get a job and live the rest of my life in peace, pretty simple and somewhat boring for some people. But that’s all i want, especially for me not having a soulmate and all.

Being in the spotlight is not gonna help with people's view of me, as not having a soulmate is already an issue to begin with. It’s likely going to make a bad image for the team and end up holding everyone back. I don’t want that, that’s the reason I choose not to accept any offers. But I agree to help Mr.Lavena with team training from time to time on the agreement that he would keep my identity as an anonymous source to his team’s training.

The people at showlits are a unique bunch, they don’t give a f*ck about me not having a soulmate like most people do. They accept me just as I am and I will be forever grateful for that, and I've been coming here almost everyday for the last two years. Where I feel most comfortable, aside from home.

“Because your skill would boost our chance at winning at the finals !”, Mr. Lavena said excitedly

Slurping my noodles, I just give him a dead-pan look. He really can’t move on from the idea. While Conrad on the other hand seems confused on what he should do in this situation. Should he side with his best friend or his boss ?. Lucky for him, the door opens revealing a girl with purple medium length wavy hair, wearing a wool sweater along with a knee length pastel skirt.

“I’m back, woooh…. You won’t believe the traffic….” the wavy haired girl said, placing her things on one of the desk

“Cassandra, my darling! Welcome back!” as Mr.Lavena gives her a bear hug

Truth be told, I sometimes wonder if the legendary top player ‘Lavender Slit’ and Mr.Lavena are the same person. They say that the champion ‘Lavender Slit’ is the most ruthless player known in Saeollit city, whereas the man in front of me is the most lovey dovey dad I ever met. Double personality much.

“Dad please! There are other people here! “ as cassandra tries to break free from her dad

“ MY LITTLE GIRL HATES ME !?” he gasp dramatically then fell on the ground

Just another day of another mini family drama of the Lavena’s, where the dramatic dad embarrasses his one and only daughter then gets rejected afterwards. Followed by Cassandra finally giving in to her dad’s antics.

“By the way, did you see the news ? apparently there was a shadow rampaging in front of the train station a few days ago.”, Cassandra said while moving her father’s hand away

“I saw it, it caused quite a commotion. But luckily the harbingers were able to take care of it quickly so no one was injured, thank god that there were only one of it” , Conrad answered getting a spoon full of my ramyeon

Hearing his answer caught me off guard as I almost choked on my ice tea. After steadying my breathing, I shot the boy a question with a confused look on my face.

“One shadow? Are you sure you’re not mistaken ??”, i ask the burgundy boy

“Yeah, the news said so and it was handled within minutes when the harbingers arrived at the scene” , he answered explaining the rest of the news

Hearing that made me even more confused, I could have sworn that there was another one and it almost killed me in that alley if that harbinger officer didn’t arrive in time. Was it because it was handled in a flash ? or maybe the news just didn’t get to cover it ? Or am I just that unlucky that morning ? who knows. But something else seems off, that officer did give me a strange look before being called. Like he saw something that was more threatening than a shadow in that alley.

Deciding not to think about that morning's incident any further, I finished my ramyeon, packed my things, then bid farewell to Mr. Lavena and my friends as I headed home for the day. Not forgetting to stop by the convenient store near the station on the way back to get some things my dad asked me to buy over text. Walking towards the station's gate I saw some officers still in the area of the attack.

The whole train ride home is the same as always aside from the schedule delay. Arriving home, I cleaned myself up, had dinner, finished up some school work and reviewed some training regiment my dancing coach sent me then finally went to bed. Of course, catching up on my otome game is a must.

-To be Continued