Walking out the door onto the stage, an entire auditorium of elementals was filled to capacity.
The auditorium greatly resembled an opera house, complete with upper stands for VIP's, curtains, a stage, and a large number of seats which were also made from unmelting ice and fused to the floor of the building.
As Evelyn walked out onto the stage, of which the curtains had already been drawn, she heard the chatter of thousands of people.
Laughter, gossip, and the chaotic conversation which resembled that of a school cafeteria filled her ears, and upon walking out the sight of thousands of students could be seen throughout the lower and upper layers of the auditorium.
Even so, Evelyn felt not the slightest bit nervous.
She was the Captain of the Knights of the city of Iciclaris.
How many times had she taken a position of authority before? How many times had she led men underneath her, speaking with fervor to inspire their hearts?
So many that she couldn't even remember.
And so, Evelyn walked forward at ease, despite the conversation which didn't seem to stop even at her own appearance.
"May I have your attention?"
The voice with which the ponytailed ice elemental spoke was not loud, however it boomed through the arena, filling the ears of each student and quickly perking them to attention.
With her hand on the handle of her blade, Evelyn was reassured.
'So long as I have this, I will face any challenge. Mother.... give me strength.'
Standing forward with pride, Evelyn took on a confident form.
"Good afternoon, students. I understand that each and every one of you is likely counting down the seconds in which you can leave for your homes, and that you likely consider this assembly to be a waste of time. However, I would like to do my best to ensure that your time has not been wasted."
Evelyn walked forward, keeping her hand on her hilt at all times.
"I will begin by introducing myself. I am Evelyn Frostbringer, the current Captain of the Knights of Iciclaris. Let me ask to the people in the crowd. Are there any among you who wish to one day join the Knights when your studies are over?"
Evelyn paced back and forth as she looked into the crowd, and she noticed that a few people spread around the arena were raising their hands.
"I see. So many of you do wish to join the knights? That is something which is reassuring. However, I will inform you all of something. Becoming a knight..... it is something which requires dedication, service, and giving up of ones self. It means to put the good of the people before yourself."
Closing her eyes, a nostalgic look came across the face of Evelyn.
"Essentially, it means denying yourself of your own freedom, offering it up for the sake of others. If you are willing to do this, then I urge you. Step up and join our ranks one day. The life of a knight is not for the light of heart. Even in these times of peace, you must train yourself and ensure that you give your all at every moment. Anything else but this would be disgraceful to the title of Knight."
Speaking with power, the people let out a number of sighs of interest as Evelyn spoke.
"Now.... I would like to inform you all of my reason for giving this talk. As you all are certainly aware of, this city is at peace. For years we have been at peace, and this is truly a wonderful thing. How many good things have come about from these long times of peace? This academy was built long ago in an era of peace. The economy of this city has experienced growth, and the population has increased without reserve. The quality of life in our city has increased greatly over the past 100 years, and if this peace continues then the quality of life will increase even further over the next 100."
Evelyn smiled upon the people, happily voicing the statistics.
"However.... just because things are peaceful as a whole does not mean that there isn't a single one among us who is undergoing a raging war of their own."
Looking around the audience, the people were holding their breath.
"Crime rates have decreased over the past years, but there is something which has always remained the same. The very existence of crime. Theft. Drug usage. And in extreme scenarios.... murder."
With a serious expression, Evelyn's tone became deep as she suggested a dark topic.
"These things are never acceptable by any means. As a Knight, it is my duty to reduce these things as much as I can, however over the past 100 years I have never been able to reduce them to zero."
Evelyn quit pacing and stood in place now, speaking to the crowd.
"In order to address these issues, we must first look at the cause of them. Why? Why is it that someone would turn to theft? Why is it that despite the risks someone would use drugs? Why is it that someone would be driven to murder?"
These words came with a deep weight, bearing down on the crowd.
"There is no excuse. Murderers do not simply pop out of nowhere. If a person is driven to the point of murder, then it is because something happened to them. There is an underlying cause which has convinced them of doing such a thing.... and for someone to be driven to that point, the cause must be deep rooted indeed."
Looking up at the people, Evelyn stared them down.
"Namely, there must be something gravely wrong with the society around them. How many of us look around us and fail to notice the sufferings of another? I am no different. How many times have I looked around myself truly searching to check if someone is alright? How many times have I ignored when something is wrong, telling myself that the problems of another are not mine to deal with?"
Freezing up for a moment, the woman closed her eyes with a bitter expression of self loathing.
"It is a difficult thing to see. However, there are certainly those around us who are dying on the inside, while putting on the screen of laughter and happiness."
Opening her eyes and looking forward with a pained expression, Evelyn touched the hearts of the people with her words.
"Have you failed to notice someone in pain near you?"
The people, at these words, began to look around at one another.
They had clearly been effected by them, wondering to themselves- is there somebody near me who is undergoing immense stress, and have I failed to notice such a thing?
"I will tell you all a story of mine.... it is about a man who I encountered long ago. I was on patrol one day with my partner.... when we walked past an alleyway."
----
66 years ago.
Two elementals walked through the frozen city of Iciclaris, side by side.
An ice elemental wearing a ponytail with the handle of a sword sheathed in a short sheath- with no room for the blade, alongside a mist elemental whose skin seemed to fade in and out with white puffs of smoke.
This mist elemental had a curved metal sword by her side, with no sheath. The mist around her formed long hair that draped from her head.
Her body was made from white gemstones which seemed to be connected by the mist, which she wore like clothing. In her case, it formed something which resembled armor.
"Do you wanna get something to eat after we finish this last patrol for the night? I'll be honest, all this walking has made me real hungry."
"Haha.... me too. It's somewhat of a pain, you know? Having this position of Captain put on me.... and I'm expected to lead all these knights? Why? Because my mother did so before me? I'd like to know who made that rule up."
"Ah, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just do your day in and day out and tell everyone you did your best regardless of what the results are. Don't you think? Our mothers worked too hard, so why don't we just relax in their place?"
"Haha.... sounds good. What do you say we get a drink together then? Even if we wake up a little late tomorrow.... well, I'm the Captain, after all. It's not like the sky will fall if I show up late. The others can do their own jobs and we can do ours. How about it, Vice Captain?"
"Sounds good!"
The two Knights which held the roles of Captain and Vice Captain of the unit seemed to be anything but.
With carefree demeanors, they walked nonchalantly through the streets, going through the motions and nothing more.
"Sigh.... I really do wonder why I had to be the one to do this. My sister wanted it so badly.... yet...."
Looking down with a pained expression, the girl of ice bit her lip only to be cut off by the other.
"Well, it's tradition, isn't it? They can't just give up the position of Captain to someone who isn't even a water or air elemental. And not someone like her."
Speaking with a slight amount of malice in her tone, the girl of mist trailed off, clearly wanting to avoid the topic.
"I guess so.... but if she had been given the role, then perhaps....."
"Don't think about your sister. It will only make you wonder what happened to her, and that's a question I don't want to know the answer to."
"I suppose.... well, she's probably alright either way..... she just.... on that day.... I...."
"Mhm. Enough of that talk. Let's do one more quick runthrough and then we head to eat and drink!"
"You're always ready for that sort of thing, Melissa."
"And you're always waiting for me to say it, Evelyn. Don't act like you're innocent here."
"Haha...."
The two women headed down a street to run one last patrol for the night, without a care in the world.
It was then that they heard a sound.
The sound of smashing ice.
Immediately after this crashing sound, they heard the panting and wheezing of a man accompanied by what sounded like someone throwing up a volley of liquid, followed by a thud.
"Don't..... don't..... get near me....."
The desperate whispering of a man could be heard from afar, down the alleyway which the two stood before.
"I said..... get away from me.... why didn't you listen?"
The whispering of the voice became delusional, a strange mix of a fearful and condescending tone.
The two stopped in their tracks, taking a glance down the alleyway which twisted and turned around in many ways to the point where they could not view what exactly was happening beyond those corners.
"Did you hear that?", Evelyn asked, looking in the direction of the voice.
"I.... did. We should.... check it out?"
"Mhm."
The two reluctantly walked forward. Despite their positions as knights, they were hesitant to approach this location of ill omen.
"Do you wanna go get those drinks now? I guess we can't do that.... not after hearing.... something like that...."
"Yeah.... I guess that if something is happening.... it is our duty to take care of it, isn't it?"
"We'd get fired from our positions if anyone saw our reactions here."
"Totally. But.... it's not like these were positions we took on our own. We inherited them, so.... technically we could just run?"
"Hahaha.... should we?"
The two looked at one another with serious expressions, legitimately considering to flee.
"It's.... a possibility..... but if we're found out I guess there will be a whole lot of backlash...."
"We'll probably be stripped of our titles and publicly shamed as examples of what not to do if we just run...."
The two voiced the possibilities out loud, eventually coming to the decision to move forward.
"Alright.... let's do it."
"Mhm."
"I'll be right behind you.", Evelyn stated while keeping her hand on her hilt.
"No no. I'll be right behind you."
"Ladies first."
"You're more ladylike than me."
At a standstill, the two simply stood in the alleyway.
Meanwhile, they began to hear the whispering of someone.
"Heh.... that's what you get, old man..... you thought you could take this from me? Haha..... now nobody..... nobody will get it from me..... heh..... it's all mine..... I.... yes.... it's fine...."
The two were frozen as they heard these whispers which carried clear ill intentions, with a hint of insanity behind them.
"We.... should go side by side."
"I'll have your 3."
"I'll have your 9."
The two walked forward, their hands on their weapons as they finally mustered up the courage to move.
With caution they turned the corner, and one after another proceeded into the icy maze of the streets.
As they walked, the sound of someone panting became louder and louder, amplified by the corridors of the alleyways.
"Huff.... hufff..... gerg.... ur....ugh.... hah...."
Turning one final corner, the two witnessed that which they were most fearful of.
Before them was an elemental. He was one of the electricity type, with purple sparks jolting about his body- which was composed of similarly colored crystals.
In the mans hand was a sack which he was holding to his nose as he snorted it's contents, and his eyes were bulged out from the obvious use of drugs.
However, this was not the first thing which caught the eye of Evelyn.
Before the man was an ice elemental who had been shattered to pieces, blue blood sprayed everywhere and a hole right through his crystalline chest.
His eyes were cold and filled with disappointment, and they stared straight at Evelyn as if the dead man was aiming that disappointment at her.
It was as if he was saying in his own death 'why did you take so long?'
"Shitty old man... telling me to give it up.....huk..... he.... he probably just wanted it for himself..... yeah..... that's right.... he just wanted it for himself... g-get a job? Give it up? Hahaha..... all a farce..."
The man snorted from the bag with a lucid expression, becoming more and more lost in his own fantasy with each passing moment.
He had not even noticed the two who had approached.
Evelyn on the other hand, was frozen.
For a number of years she had been serving as the Captain of the Knights.
Alongside her childhood friend who inherited the title of Vice Captain, the two had been pampered.
They had rarely gone out on patrol, and when they did so they had never encountered anything greater than some minor vandalism or petty squabbles.
Never before had these two come into this sector of the city.
It was merely by chance that they decided to take a different route on this day.
Perhaps it was because Evelyn wanted to explore an area she wasn't familiar with- a place where the soldiers underneath her would usually patrol. Or perhaps the man in front of them was doing something completely unusual for this peaceful city.
Either way, this situation was one which Evelyn had never seen before- despite her years as the Captain of the Knights.
She was the Captain in name. Nothing more. It was a title bestowed on her purely on the account of her blood.
'I've.... never seen anything.....'
This thought ran through Evelyn's head as she looked at this man, deranged in his own world.
The blue substance which resembled blood continued to expand, forming a larger and larger puddle in the alleyway as Evelyn looked up to the man and spoke out fearfully.
"What.... what are you doing there?"
"Yeah.... what do you think you're doing?"
Melissa- the girl who stood by Evelyn's side- also spoke up after being jolted to reality by the voice of her partner.
The two grabbed their weapons, unsheathing them on the man.
The man looked up on hearing the sliding of metal, and his eyes went wide.
"You..... you two.... you are.... knights? Why? Why are you here!? I.... should be alone..... why do you all want to take it from me!?"
The two stood at arms, however Melissa spoke up.
"What do you have in your hands there? And how do you explain.... how do you explain that man next to you? Were you the one who killed him?"
"I.... why.... why does everyone always have to bother me? The old man. The wife. The kids. I told them.... so many times.... I'm done..... I'm done with this!!!! Stop it! Stop bothering me!!! Just get away from me!!! Leave me alone!!!!"
The man began to flare with electricity which began sparking from limb to limb chaotically.
"I told them all!!!! I'm sick of my life!!! I'm sick of my job!!!! I'm sick of my boss!!! I'm sick of the bills!!! I'm sick of the countless hours of work for this shitty pay!!!! I just want to get out of here!!!!! Why does everyone keep telling me that getting out of this world is irresponsible!? That it's wrong!? Are you going to tell me that too!??!"
The man began questioning the two, however Melissa stood firm. Her expression had changed.
"Calm down. We're members of the Knights. We.... can't just let this go. We're going to have to take you in. Will you come with us peacefully?"
With a firm expression, Melissa looked to the man- clearly hoping he would simply stand down. She held her sword at the ready, prepared to strike at any moment.
On seeing Melissa show such courage, Evelyn was moved.
'She.... she can really face this killer down without fear like that? I....'
Gripping her blade, the ice began to form on the handle, creating the formation of a sword.
"That's right. Explain yourself. It's clear that you're under the influence of some sort of drug, and it appears that you've.... killed the man next to you. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Evelyn worked up the courage to speak, calling the man out on his situation.
"Hahaha.... you wouldn't understand.... they never try to understand.... nobody tries to understand.... they're all, 'You should have done this.' or 'you should have done that.' They never look at what I've done and said 'Oh, you at least didn't do this.' Oh no. I'm always wrong. If I work my ass off in a job, they tell me I'm not working hard enough. They never thank me for not quitting. But then they yell at me when I quit, saying I'm a bum and a deadbeat of a father.... hahaha!! I'm sure you two think that as well, don't you? Or maybe you're here to take the good stuff from me!?"
The man began spouting off nonsense towards the two, half intoxicated.
"You'll never understand. You Knights are all the same. You wear your badges of honor and march around this city like you're something special, but lemme tell you!! You ain't shit!! You're not doing anything to address the real problems. You see this man who's dead. You see these drugs in my hands. You see the results of the problems. Then you look at me, and deem me to be the problem. I'm not the problem!!!! It's this shitty society that brought me to this point!!!! Don't you see!?!?!"
The man threw the sack to the ground in a rage, spilling powder all over as he stood up.
"I'm not the issue!!!! Why do you blame the victim!?!? I'm the victim here!!!!"
On seeing this man and hearing his ramblings, Evelyn looked at him with complete shock.
'Just... what is he saying? Is he.... trying to say that he's the victim? When he was clearly the one who killed that man!?'
"Come peacefully or there will be consequences.", Evelyn said while forcing her own fearful emotions down her throat, her hands trembling.
She gripped her blade harder, and was eased lightly as she felt the ice cold metal.
Her trembling ceasing, she looked at the man with a serious expression.
"You are clearly in the wrong here, Sir. We have to arrest you. We can find out the details after, but we can't simply let you go."
Speaking this statement, Melissa looked to her own partner with a slight bit of surprise, and a sly smile.
"Nice line there. I'll buy you a drink this time."
"T-this isn't the time to be thinking about such...."
"HAHAH! See!!! You're the same as me!!! You just need a hit to go off into your own land as well!!!! You damn hypocritical knights!!! Every damn one of you!!!! You ought to be better than me, but instead you swing around your swords while pretending you're better!!!!! You're just a bunch of idiots with power!!! There's no justice behind you!!!"
The man rushed forward, his own skin crackling as he held out his hands.
A burst of energy formed within his palms, gathering in a fraction of a second before a beam was shot out straight at the stomach of Evelyn.
"Get out of my way!!!! I just want to live in peace!!!!!! Without everyone nagging me!!!!!"
In that moment, Evelyn lost her own senses.
Her sight became hazy and her skin began to tingle with electricity.
"W-ugh.... what.... urg...."
She found herself on the brink of her own consciousness, but when she looked up she saw something which snapped her back to reality.
Before her, Melissa had jumped forward, taking the beam to the stomach.
It had shot right through her, and the fragments had electrocuted Evelyn as well, causing her to tremble as she barely controlled her body.
There was no blood coming from the destroyed stomach of Melissa, for the electric heat had fused her crystalline skin together so that the internal fluids didn't leak out.
Melissa dropped to her knees.
From her knees, she fell face first to the ground, her beautiful misty hair covering her entire body.
Evelyn merely watched as this happened, wide eyed.
"M.... Melissa?"
Crawling forward with trembling hands, she gripped her own handle harder with her right hand, reaching towards the body with her left.
"Melissa? H-hey..... y-you're alright.... right? Hey.... g....get up.... we... we still need to have a drink together..... you.... you owe me, don't you? You just said it, right? You'd buy me a drink...."
Touching the body of the girl, the mist began to disperse, leaving nothing more than a crystalline humanoid structure.
"D...don't be like that..... you..... you...."
"Heh.... finally..... someone understands..... I..... you knights..... you're all just trying to help yourselves!!! Look at where it got you!!! You try to look good in front of everyone, but this is where it gets you!!!!"
With a smirk, the man stumbled forward, however he fell over clearly exhausted of energy. The drugs had likely taken a toll on him as well, for he was mumbling to himself.
"Hahaha.... I.... hahaha...."
The man fell to the ground, teary eyed.
Lying on the ground, Evelyn merely watched as the man began to sniffle to himself.
"W...why..... why does nothing go right? Why does..... nobody get it? I.... I tried so hard.... and nobody ever sees it..... nobody ever recognizes me....."
Evelyn reached out, grabbing hold of the body of her comrade.
When she touched the body, she knew.
'She's.... cold.....'
Her partner had died.
'I..... no..... not.... not like this.....'
Without any sense of warning, after the very first time they were exposed to this side of the city, Evelyn experienced the fourth form of loss in her life.
'Not.... not again...'