September 2120
Megalopolis 10 [Population: 110 Million]
City: Steel Center (Modern day Shanghai)
The Royal Magic Academy of Megalopolis 10 was the Megopolis's largest and most prestigious school equipped with some of the best facilities money can buy. Gold ornate baroque lined the gates and past the gates are the main buildings of the Academy
The goal of the Royal Academy is to pool its resources into only the most gifted and skillful students so that hopefully they can become powerful hunters for Megalopolis 10 and mankind. The greatest of these hunters are called SLAYERS a name only given to those with S-ranked mana capability
The school grounds are located in Steel Center, a predominantly wealthy city with multiple high-rise buildings and beautiful foliage all around. Steel center ironically is one of the few places in Megalopolis 10 where you would find such lush greenery. It really was a sight for the eyes
Students of the Academy gather by the East and West entrances waiting with anticipation, chatter could be heard all around
"Wow...look at the beautiful gate! I can't wait to see the facilities!"
"The ladies of the Royal Academy are so hot! Let's sit next to some during the lecture!"
"Did you hear about the rift that wiped out a school and a few street blocks in the DUMPs yesterday?"
"Who cares if a couple of no-manas die..More importantly I received a new cyber-ware from my father for my birthday!"
The students by the West entrance are Megalopolis 10's elites, sons of the rich and famous alongside with some of the best talents in Megalopolis 10. The students by the East entrance were the new arrivals with magical potential and upcoming talents the academy deemed worthy of supporting
Among the crowds of students by the East entrance, is Jin, a tall and fairly handsome young man with a somewhat built physique. He had slightly long but neat black hair and brown eyes
Jin wore the academy uniform, a blue blazer with gold embroidery at the cuffs along with a dress shirt, pants, and shoes
'So this is the Royal Academy….'
As he makes his way toward the golden gate, he can't help but remember the events that took place the days before
Days Before...
Megalopolis 10
City: Downtown (A city in the DUMPS modern day Nanjing)
The life of normal citizens (the so called no-manas) living in Megalopolis 10 was rough. Many cities were sky high in unemployment , crime and violence. These cities where residents are packed like sardines in broken down residential high-rises are labeled as the DUMPS by a few elites of Megalopolis 10
In contrast to the poor, the ones with fame, money, or power lived in well maintained and beautiful cities of Megalopolis 10 that are walled off from the DUMPS
The New Life orphanage, a four-story steel building is located in south DownTown, a crime infested city. The orphanage sheltered around 300 kids and young adults
Jin and Yen grew up in the orphanage since they were little and had no memory of the day they arrived
Two guards with the bionic arms made from woven carbon fiber like material made their way up the steps to the orphanage. Following them was an elegant looking middle aged man holding a metallic blue cane. The trio were there to invite Yen to the Royal Magic Academy
Yen had just turned seventeen the day before and she began to sense the mana in the air. It was her Awakening!!
When a person awakens their ability to sense mana, they awaken the potential to store mana in their body. This also allows them to use certain types of cyber-wares and gear
The sisters at the orphanage sent Jin and Yen to the local Megalopolis 10 Magic facility for Yen to get her magical capability tested. When they arrived, the agents at the facility made them wait to get into the testing room
There were three youths waiting with much excitement on their faces. However after every one of them returned from the testing room, their faces filled with heartache. One even cried! None of them ranked higher than E-rank
When it was finally time for Yen to get tested, a young female agent with a bionic eye walked out of one testing room to greet them
Although it was a bionic eye, it looked natural and from afar one wouldn't even be able to tell it was even a low-grade cyber-ware. The only distinguishing feature of the eye is the light that the lens gives off. The light from the lens of the eye swirled for a bit before dissipating
"We are ready for you in the testing room " the agent spoke softly as she escorts the two of them into the testing room
Inside the massive testing chamber stood a huge black platform comprising electronics, light, and steel. There were steps leading to the top of the platform where a meter-long crystal was hovering in the air glowing with a beautiful blue light
The three of them made their way up the steps where the crystal stood
"Please place your hand on the mana crystal and try to draw the mana from the crystal into your body"
"Ok.."
Yen places her hand on the mana crystal
Suddenly the mana crystal begins to tremble and a terrible sound rang through the testing room
ZRAAAKK!!
The three of them watched as the crystal's glow slowly dissipate and then shatters into thousands of pieces
The agent and Jin looked in shock
"No way!!! To be able to shatter a C-ranked crystal like that..Your magical capabilities are at least A-rank!!"
Yen's gaze was tranquil then her eyes radiated a beautiful blue light
Yen, imbued with mana from the crystal, waves her hand in air and releases a wave of bone-chilling cold energy
The wave of energy danced and swirled around the huge testing chamber, lowering the temperature in the room, and covering the steel platform/floor in soft snow before dissipating. It was a marvel of a sight to look at
"Congrats Sis! That was incredible! No, you're incredible.."
"Thank you, Jin!" She said with a smile
"Wow..that was amazing..frankly I'm still a little stunned.." the agent said in astonishment
"In general most awakenings are D ranked and lower! This is the first time I've ever heard of or seen an A-rank awakening!"
After the test, Jin and Yen return to the orphanage to let the sisters know what had happened.
The very next day the guards and the middle aged man showed up at the orphanage. I guess news travels fast in Megalopolis 10
The middle aged man is Akui Takada, a senior partner in the Ashaki MegaCorp, an elite in Megalopolis 10. He personally wanted extend a hand of invitation to Yen.
'It's been a long time since anyone had tested with A-rank capability, not since Megalopolis 10's newly S-ranked SLAYER Lyna the BlackDeath!'
'If I can get Yen to join our Academy no doubt she will become a top SLAYER candidate! This could mean the Ashaki megacorp can have the most S-ranked SLAYERS in Megalopolis 10 beating our rival ManaTech! If I could secure this deal the seat of Vice President in Ashaki will finally be mine!'
Tadaka was bubbling with excitement just thinking about it.
'Good thing I installed bionic eyes into every Magic facility agent in my district!'
He must be quick to snatch Yen up before the other corps hears about her capabilities or even other partners in the Ashaki corp. After all, news like this spread fast
However, after a quick explanation of why they there to Yen and the sisters, Yen declined him stating that she didn't want to leave Jin
'WHAT?!?! She declined my invitation to the Royal Academy? To become a SLAYER candidate??? all because of her loser of a brother?!?'
Tadaka nearly had a heart attack
'That's right, I know about your brother, Jin, this loser! Always getting into trouble and fights! Most importantly he has no mana capability whatsoever! For her to reject my invitation because of a loser like him?!'
He cannot believe it
"Please consider what the academy has to offer Miss Yen! To be a SLAYER candidate at such a young age is anyone's dream! You'll be rich and famous. A legend for mankind! I can make that happen for you!"
"I'm sorry…I will not leave Jin"
Tadaka was getting more and more irritated but he tried his best to remain composed. He must get her to join the Academy by any means even if it meant having her loser of a brother join the Royal Academy!
"We can make an arrangement for him to study at the academy! He will treated kindly and fed well! So please consider my invitation!"
However after thirty minutes of pleading, Tadaka knew he wouldn't get the answer he looking for today
"We will be awaiting your reply, Miss Yen!" said Mr. Tadaka as he hands out a card to one of the sisters at the orphanage before leaving in bitterness and disappointment
As the trio make their way past the entrance of the orphanage, they encounter Jin at the steps
Jin had just returned from a fight with a neighborhood gang that had been harassing some of the other girls returning from school to the orphanage
The look on Tadaka's face was deadly and his gaze fixated on Jin
'Who are these people? Megacity Guards? Why is that old man staring at me so intensely?' Jin thought as he makes his way past the trio
Inside the orphanage, the sisters surrounded Jin
They told him the reason why the Guards showed up and who the old man was. Then they forced him to speak to Yen about the invitation, to convince her to attend the academy!
"Hey Yen, the sisters are right .You should attend the academy. There really isn't much of a future here in Megalopolis 10 especially for no-manas."
"If I go, will you be joining me?"
Jin takes a long pause before suggesting she should go without him
"Yen, you are better off-"
However before he could finish his sentence, the group of sisters by Yen's side chimed in
"Of course he will Yen! What else is he going to do around here but start fights?" A sister joking says
"That's right he will attend the academy with you! He won't waste such a grand opportunity now will he?" Another said sarcastically
The three sisters had deadly looks in their eyes and they were all staring at Jin
'How did I find myself in this situation?!' Jin thought to himself however it seemed like he could not say no in this matter
"…..Alright I'll attend the academy with you" Jin said hesitantly
"Really?" Yen was pleasantly surprised
She for sure thought Jin would say no
"Yeah.. but let me speak with the sisters for a brief moment. I will have the sisters contact the Academy so you can go pack"
Yen's expression turned from one of gloom to excitement. In fact she wanted to attend the Academy this whole time but she really didn't want to leave Jin behind
Jin had always protected her from street gangs and criminals since they were little. So how could she live a life of luxury while her brother stays here? Plus Jin is the only person whom she can call family so it's a relieve that he's not leaving her side
Yen happily leaves to go pack in her room
"An invitation to Royal Magic Academy is a great thing Jin. How often do you see an Ashaki elite in a city like DownTown? Probably not too often right? People like us no-manas…don't have the luxury to choose our own future. Even you said it yourself there is very little future for no-manas if any in Megalopolis 10. Such a golden opportunity shouldn't be wasted." one of the sister remarks as she is tidying up the room
"Sister..I understand what this opportunity means to Yen and I've already agreed to it so I will not go back on my word. Please contact the academy for me"
"I knew you would make the right choice" said another sister
"Please take care of yourself Jin and look after Yen…although I guess she has the ability to look after herself now... just don't get into any more trouble and avoid getting yourself into fights at the academy!"
"Thank you for always taking care of Yen and I. The two of us owe this orphanage a great debt of gratitude. I hope we can repaid it in the future"
Jin gave a heartwarming hug to each of the sisters and went to his room to pack
The next day a sky limo arrived at the orphanage in the early hours of the day. The limo's smooth black exterior displayed a sport-like look while also having a luxurious feel. It was hovering a foot above the ground
This was Akui Takada's personal sky limo. When Tadaka received a call from the sisters at the orphanage yesterday, he dropped his cane and started punching the air in excitement. There was only one thing on his mind when he heard the good news
Mr.Tadaka steps out of his Limo to greet Yen
"Thank you for accepting my Invitation Miss Yen. We will be taking my limo to the academy. It is an hour away by flight."
"Jin will be joined me as agreed on before hand"
"Yes..yes..of course" A sour expression lingered on Mr.Tadaka's face
'Tch why do the useless brother have to tag along'
Jin and Yen said their goodbyes to the sisters and children of the orphanage. This orphanage was their home and where they grew up. Jin and Yen join Mr.Tadaka in the limo and the doors close shut
Vsshhhhh
The limo releases particles of mana from its four mana-drives and blasts off
....