"Status report?"
Ari bows, dipping her head respectfully, "Yes Headmaster. The rescue was successfully conducted, and the mission is complete. The area is now cleared of any abnormal activity."
Yoshi taps his chin, his violet eyes thoughtfully examining a wall of relics in the office, the soft light of a fireplace touching both of their figures with a hue of orange, and the crackle of the flames filled the quiet office with some background ambiance.
"And...the enemy, wasn't your typical Corrupted I presume?"
Ari goes silent for a moment, slowly raising her head, "...No, not your typical. I assume Homishiro had sent you a report?"
The Headmaster scratches his chin, "...Yes. But tell me, Moon," He looks at Ari, face suddenly serious, "Have you heard of...a carrier?"
Ari furrows her brows, lips turning in a frown, "A carrier? ...Like the ones from the Age of Corruption?"
"Correct." The Headmaster pulls out a thin, old-looking journal, the pages yellowed with age. Opening a page, he gestures for the captain to come to look.
Scrawny letters stand faded on the lines, a rough diagram of a humanoid creature hastily drawn.
"This is a diary recovered from the period of the war, it was by one of the first adventurers during that time," the Headmaster explained, "No one knows what happened to him. But this remains a significant piece of history that contains things from an era that devastated entire nations."
Ari looks at the drawings and studies the messy captions and notes, nodding.
"So the creature we faced...was something that was only once encountered during the war? A battleship of a sort?"
"In a figurative sense...yes," He returned, "Chaos carriers were destructive war machines, being a source of corruption themselves, not much can be said about their origins, other than being a product of turmoil."
Ari went silent again, quietly scanning the pages of the notebook.
Words scrawled at the top of the diagram read, 'Dark Spirit, a physical human form???'More words write, 'Very strong!! Summoning ability- Threat Level 10!! Solo assault not recommended'
"This- person, seems to have experienced a lot," Ari said, "But...why now? Why is a carrier making a disturbance now after centuries of no activity and after the war that had ended with the Age of Corruption?"
The Headmaster shuts the diary carefully, the lines on his young face seemed to make him look older than he is, with the look of youth but with the experience of a man, a man that had seen too much.
"Chaos...a child from a time when the natural laws were thrown into disorder."
After the five fallen deities of the Primal fell into the ashes of the land we now know as Inciqne- and the imprisonment of the traitor god, the Primeval, as the sole survivor, slowly fell into a depression. Plagued by the demons of the past, they followed them, everywhere, hidden deep in the depths of one's own mind. They took form, as spirits, named Chaos. Because they caused it, wherever they go.
The spirits were held back, their influence only trickling into the world a little at a time, but slowly, and eventually, they were freed entirely, when the Primeval vanished. The Chaos, now free to roam, took animals as hosts, depriving them of everything else but one- hatred.
As conflicts arise, the Demonic War became a breeding ground for the Chaos, the anger, the tumult, the riots- fed the flames of war, and blustered the spread of Corruption, where monsters are born. Where they spawned, the mortals felt the chaos, driven by greed and impulse.
"That era was a truly violent and depressive time, but of course there's no light without a little darkness, no day without night, this is only the human way of life," said Yoshi, his expression somber and eyes that had seen untold battle- war, scars of memories. He stands, holding his hand behind his back as he turns to look out the windows at the stars, stars that shine from lengths unmeasurable, forever shining until the end.
"Each of us is a star in the night sky, with the potential to shine radiantly, feelings that burn like a fire, fueling our goals and dreams, and so- that's the human ambition. Ari Moon," The Headmaster addressed, without turning around, "You once were a bright star, you still are, but don't let that blind you from what matters. Allies can be those who we least expect to be, in the end, a true long-lasting friendship is the greatest and rarest treasures of all."
Ari opens her mouth to say something, but changes her mind, staying silent.
"Your comrades are waiting for you," said Yoshi, "I won't keep you for any longer. I hope I've given you something to think about, Mission-wise, or in life. Have fun with the celebration Moon."
No answer came, in the next moment her footsteps had gone out the door which closed behind her, the captain gone.'
A small smile hints at the Headmasters' face, he looks up to the moon.
"Ad astra my dear student, ad astra."
Meanwhile in the Elite's private lounge...
"There's our captain!" said James, his dark-brown hair ruffled and messy. He raises a drink toward her, "Come have some drinks with us!"
Evelyn pours a light golden liquid from an expensive-looking bottle into a few glasses, the foam and bubbles giving me the impression of beer or champagne. She falls back onto the sofa, her blonde-bronze pigtails bouncing as she does.
"Don't worry Ari, it's just bubbly cider, non-alcoholic for us minors." She said, taking a glass herself, and almost downing it all in one shot, then already reaching for another.
At a table set near the corner, the President, Julian, and Hunter were playing a game of cards, in deep concentration.
Both Julian and Hunter had gotten a new set of uniforms, looking all better from battle. No signs of injuries, and both looking to be in good spirits.
"I hadn't known the president had played poker, any other talents I should know of?" Julian mused, attempting to distract her.
Minuet smiles, "I don't think you need to." She flips her winning card, earning her the heap of coins set in the center of the table, she sweeps the pile into a small leather pouch, claiming her victory.
"There goes my betting gold, " said Julian, "A match well-played."
Hunter nods in silent agreement.
The president stands from her chair, stepping over to the table of refreshments, and taking her pick from an array of sparkling water to exquisite alcohol, only choosing the fancy water in the end.
Sitting on the edge of a cushy recliner I stare down into my flute of apple cider, gingerly taking a drink. I warily glance towards the door, where James swung an arm around Ari's shoulders, appearing tipsy for someone who just drank a glass of fermented apple juice.
"Ari! Loosen up, it's a party after all! You should have fun-" James almost stumbles as he moves away, grabbing another glass to drink, and shuffles over to Julian and Hunter, already boasting about some time his father killed a boar with a rusted spoon.
Ari shakes her head, before walking over to the couches, settling on the sofa across from Evelyn, and taking out a bottle of red wine from under the table cabinet, pouring it into a glass for herself.
You know they are privileged when they have expensive wine just laying around...in a lounge all to themselves, AND comfortable seating.
"Let us introduce...drink or dare," said Evelyn.
And the party continues...with drinking games, a lightweight drinker, two bottles of booze, and three rounds of 'Don't Trigger the Captain'.
.
.
Crash!
"I am the..hic- the slayer of monsters! -Behold my glory!"
"Whoa James! Get a hold of yourself man!"
'So...the night persists,' I thought.