June 6, 1987, 11:59
The Atlantic empire
The Aqua castle
Mizuki bids good morning to all the royal guards he passes by on his way to Ira's bedroom. The weather is warm and dry on top of the ground but quite cool under water, and Mizuki is more than thankful for it.
Ira is waiting for him by the room's door, all giddy for his first day exploring the depth of the ocean.
"are we excited little champ?" Mizuki says as he lifts Ira off the ground and giving him a ride over his shoulders.
"Yes! I want to see a the biggest krakens and whales in the oceans!" Ira starts mini bouncing with his butt on Mizuki's shoulders, which isn't the most comfortable position but Mizuki doesn't tell him that.
"Oh we'll see that for sure! How about the sirens kingdom? We'll be able to listen to them as they sing and howl too."
Ira just makes more excitement noises and squeezes his little arms around Mizuki's head.
"good morning, your highness." Mizuki bows as he meets king Dima by the submarine they'll be diving in.
"Good morning, Mizuki. I'm sorry again for my absence for this trip, you know how it is." Dima has a broken smile on his face, but Mizuki does in fact know the hardships and sacrifices a royal king has to do sometimes, and so he nods at him understandably, mirroring the smile on the king's face.
"I'll make sure he doesn't miss out on anything, your highness. Send my greetings to Queen Coral."
"Will do." With a last bow from both men, king Dima heads on his way to whatever heavy duty he has today, and so does Mizuki enter the submarine, followed by fifteen royal guards in protection of the little prince.
"All on board!" the captain of the marine calls before starting the engine and starts getting lower and lower, steadily.
They pass by thousands of coral reefs and shell homes of mare and aqua creatures, all under the Atlantic empire ruling. They also got to see the neon jellyfish crowds as they go deeper and deeper into the ocean's waters.
What never fails to take Mizuki's breath away is the amount of versatile breeds of all types of creatures that live under the water they walk pass everyday and looks as plain as a white canvas. He likes to think of every creature as a brush stroke onto the said canvas. From the uncountable different breeds of fish, to the larger ones. Sharks, dragons, whales, shellfish, plants, turtles, krakens, jellyfish, eels, squids and so much more, all glowing like a million stars in the galaxy around them, dancing in the daze of the darkness.
Mizuki does think diving into the waters of the Atlantic empire is like a new born experience, a very mind blowing one.
As they start reaching the deepest pits of the ocean waters, they hear the howls and drums of the krakens, and Ira flies to the other end of the submarine as he gets mesmerised by the massive kraken breeds that his little shiny eyes could see. Mizuki chuckles to himself and walks up to Ira, squatting down to stay eye to eye with him.
"you see that purple one? That's the largest kraken to ever live in these waters."
"woah." Ira exhales loudly, and it only stretches a proud smile onto Mizuki's lips. "he's so big, bigger than our castle."
"she's a female actually. " and this only makes Ira even more impressed, it's endearing to watch.
As they sway to the left, they start to pick up on the sirens voices, and oh does it still send shivers down Mizuki's spine, even if he is married to one of them and listen to her sing for him every night.
"I can hear them! I can hear the sirens!" Ira runs to the left windows of the marine, and the guards laugh at how cute Ira could get when he's excited about something.
They stay like that for a while, diving steadily and watching as the scenery of the under ocean open up before their eyes, all creatures illuminating under the darkness and monstrosity of the deep waters. It's beautiful, no, magical. Mizuki still remembers the first time his father took him on a trip to the under ocean, and he'll probably never forget it as he met the love his life while they were diving between the sirens pearl gardens.
Mizuki feels a pull at his pants from Ira, which pulls him out of his daze of memories.
"Mizuki, why does this one only have five tentacles?" Ira points at one of the red krakens hugging into each other, forming a perfect image for an artist to paint.
Mizuki sighs and pulls Ira into his arms, carrying him as he stands up, getting them to a better view of the krakens.
"This kraken's name is Danny, have you ever heard about him?" Mizuki starts and Ira shakes his head.
"Well, your grandfather, the late king Herim, used to own him."
"Did grandpa do this to him?" Ira asks, eyes innocent as his mind.
"Well, not exactly." Mizuki pouts into his thoughts, "I've told you before about the Firefox war, haven't I?" Ira nods his head, "King Herim used to ride Danny during those battles. One time, the desert elves attacked him with dragons, and king Herim lost the battle that day."
"That's when papa took the throne and made peace with all the other kingdoms, right?"
"Exactly. " Mizuki smiles at him as he moves strands of hair off Ira's ears. Ira goes off to hugging Mizuki neck, tightly.
"I don't like war, I'll be like dad when I grow up. I'll only make peace with everyone, will you help me?" he pulls away from the hug and looks into Mizuki's eyes intensely, and oh how can Mizuki refuse an order from this little prince.
"of course, I'll be walking you up the throne with your hands blood free, I'll be there every step of the way, little champ."
*
May 30, 2021, 23:59
Beijing, china
The pijian graveyard
The wind is howling in the middle of the night like a wolf lost from his pack in the woods during the full moon run. The night is cold and the wind is merciless.
The agency has lost over a hundred agents and officers in the explosion. It's a tragedy, one that no one had expected.
Evdokia walks up to the two hundred and thirty four caskets and places a gardenia flower on Mizuki's. She closes her eyes, tears falling down her cheeks like a water fountain. She can hear him at the back of her mind telling her to stop crying, but she ignores him, just like she ignores the rest of the ghosts haunting her day and night.
She walks back to her place between the black dressed crowd, going under Jean's umbrella, where he meets her with open arms of warmth and comfort. He isn't doing any better than her.
They've lost so many under this attack, and its agonises Evdokia in every possible way. If they just wanted LiQin why would they blow up a possible hide out for him. Why do they even want him? Who currently holds him captivated? Is Thomas actually behind this tragedy? So much to ask so little of answers they can get their hands on.
Evdokia likes to believe that Thomas is, in fact, innocent. Yes, people change, they've all changed to adapt to the mess of a world they were thrown into when they knew little to nothing about how to cope with it's cruelty. Yet, a small, young part of Evdokia's soul speaks to her, telling her that Thomas would never do such a thing.
She sees Ira as he walks up to the front and places a cherry blossom bouquet on Mizuki's casket, his all time favourite flower. Ira is a mess and on the verge of breaking down and shattering to million pieces, but Robin is there beside him keeping him together and upright. He turns around and faces the crowd, full of sorrow and agony for all the lives that has been taken away from the grasp of their loved ones, for all the hard work, blood, sweat and tears that was put into building the CPA as a facility and as a headquarters for serving the good.
General Jackson follows Ira to the front line and squeezes his shoulder in courtesy, nodding his head at him to return to his place, which he does, under Robin's umbrella.
The general is giving a speech that Evdokia couldn't care any less about, because quite honestly, the only thing she wants right now is being in her bed and crying her eyes out in Jean's arms.
Their loss as a team isn't as harsh on them as their loss as a family. Evdokia has grown up between Mizuki's arms as much as Ira did. And its hard, so fucking hard to even comprehend and digest the death of Mizuki. A selfless part of her is happy for him, for he is finally reuniting with Sakura and Hinata after years and years of longing. But does that mean she isn't feeling like another part of her soul has been snatched from her? Absolutely not.
ZiYan is here too, right next to Andy and Ufuk. His wounds still haven't fully regenerated, but he insisted on coming to the funeral.
Evdokia has her eyes on Ira, her best friend since the day they saw the light of the day, so broken and so fucking fatigued. She leaves Jean's side and goes up to him, looping her arm around his shoulder, and he automatically rests his head onto her shoulder, allowing his eyes to run down salty rivers of loss and sorrow.
*
June 7, 2021, 09:00
Beijing, china
The CPA Underground
headquarters
At some point, human firefighters reached the flaming building, which lead to human police men and detectives. Having to explain the reason behind the weapons and equipment hid inside the flared building wasn't easy. Eventually, the chiefs that also work for human polices had to admit that they were running a secret agency, one thing lead to another and now they're all up to execution.
Not the best news to hear, but at the very least, the never mentioned any other names and died like the heroes they were.
And so here they are, sitting in the underground built branch of the CPA for secretive meetings.
"Good morning, everyone." General Lorenzo starts off as he walks into the conference room," This last week hasn't been easy for any of us, I understand that. But life goes on, and there are people out there that need us to get a grip and be there for them."
Evdokia, still as broken as ever, agrees with him. There's so much they can do to the already dead, they have to adapt though, because after all, life does move on and earth does carry on with its spinning around. Evdokia has spent the week in bed indeed, crying her heart out, as Jean was there to sooth her pain, keeping it together because he has to, someone always has to.
"I've summoned you all today so that we can go through general Rati's will, for us to implement it, as soon as possible."
Everyone in the room agrees with him, realising that they need a leader, someone that can take Rati's position as the president of the agency.
Evdokia loosens her tie as she watches Lorenzo inserting a flash to his laptop, a larger screen behind him for the rest of them to watch. Lorenzo click on the video and the first thing they see is general Rati smiling kindly at the camera, and oh does Evdokia want to cry.
"Good evening, everyone. I suppose I'm no longer around and that's why you're watching this right now. First of all, don't cry or mourn me, death is just another stage in the life cycle. Whether I died naturally or got myself killed, it is, after all, my destiny.
I, Rati Kennedy Tylor, married to Janet Robin Tylor, father of Georgina and Flora, being of sound mind, not acting under duress or undue influence and fully understanding the nature and extent of all my property and of this disposition thereof, do hereby make, record this and declare it as my last will and testament, and hereby revoke any and all other wills and codicils heretofore made by me.
I appointee my right arm, general Haudodo, as executor of my last will and testament. If my right arm is unable or unwilling to serve, I appoint my left arm, general Lorenzo as the alternative executor.
Evdokia hears Lorenzo's loud inhale, filled with anxiety.
My executor shall be authorised to carry out all provisions of the will.
To start with, all my properties and finance shall be inherited under my wife and two daughters' names. If they were all gone with me, I assign my will executor to give out all I owned to the poor and the in need. Under no circumstances shall the executor take part of the money and possess.
As for my state in my job as the president of the CPA, this letter is an official reassignment of my position, and the chair shall be transferred to the best agent I've ever recruited under the walls of the CPA, the Agency, shall be transferred by the hands of my executor to the hands of Evdokia Artem Yún.
Evdokia feels a shiver run down her spine when she hears her name produced by the speakers of the screen. The room goes silent and everyone in the room holds their breathe for s few seconds, a needle drop would cause a loud plink in the current room state. But even if Evdokia's lungs have stopped, the video hasn't.
Dear Evdokia, my dear child, Eve, I chose you as my successor because I know you, and I know you hold the highest morals and skills under the roof of the CPA. I trust you with all I am to carry on my legacy, I trust you with my full heart to do a better Job than mine, to assure every creature around the globe that there's justice when it comes to our facility.
Last but not least, to all my men and women, to all my fighters and agents, to all my kids that I've take upon myself to improve their lives in every aspects, forgive me if I ever undelivered, if I ever hurt any of you, if I ever walked onto you, if I ever put you in a tough position, all I ask of you is to move forward, to carry on with your lives like I've never left, fulfil the greater good and our purpose.
All love and support, yours, general Rati Kennedy."
The general moves to turn off the camera and the screen turns to black. Evdokia could see a number of captains in the back crying and sniffing, but all she could think about is one thing, one huge responsibility she was given without her consultant.
Everyone in the room turns their head towards her, and in a flick of a second, Evdokia sees everyone shoot off their chairs and bowing their back and heads lowly.
Panic rises in her body as she digests this, all of this.
"I can't do this, I can't take this." She mumbles loud enough for everyone on the room to hear her and straighten up in, concern painted all over their faces, some still having tears streamng down their cheeks.
"You can't not, Evdokia. This was the general last wish." Lorenzo's eyes are full of sorrow and pain, and Evdokia gets it, she really does, but she can't.
"How am I supposed to live up to that? How am I supposed to replace him? I can't, I fucking can't, general. I'm just a captain. " She's on the verge of blacking out and breaking into a million pieces, but a voice at the back of her head is telling her to stay put, to accept what she has been given, to give back the CPA after what they've given her for years.
"We have faith in you, general Evdokia. General Rati couldn't have picked any better person to take over the agency. Captain or General, he saw something in you, and he's was yet the bets at foreseeing the good on people." Captain Keone stands tall with his chin held high, speaking with confidence, and Evdokia wants to scream like a child being forced to grow faster than they naturally should.
"I can't do this Keone, I wish I can but I just-" she starts sobbing and choking on her words at some point, hands carfing through her white frost hair aggressively and oh does it hurt like a bitch.
They all agree with Keone's words one by one, and it only makes Evdokia feel worse, but as always, Valodya is there for her to lean onto.
"This isn't easy, wouldn't have been for anyone and everyone else in the room, but trust me, general Rati knew what he was doing, and it's true, we all trust you wholeheartedly to lead us to brighter future." Valodya stands as he speaks to the crowd more than Evdokia, and Evdokia clenches her fists so hard, piercing the skin of her hand hidden under the table.
But she suddenly remembers something. Very important and dear words to her heart.
Take care of our people.
She thinks she's about to cry again, but gets her shit together. She can't fuck this up twice. She once failed to fulfil her fathers last wish, and its about time she fixes it. And so she wipes her tears and swears to everyone in the room to do her best to lead them to better days, and she promises herself not to stay down when she gets another blow, because she can already tell she's getting one soon.
*
June 16, 2021, 22:00
Beijing, china
Evdokia and Jean's
Apartment
The rain drops hit the cemented streets of Beijing and cars sculptures aggressively with a noise that can be easily mistaken by a blind man into gravels downpour. The roaring of the thunder echoed through the city like it was mourning over a lost lover, sending shivers down the mortals spines and shaking them off like leaves in a storm. For a moonfolk and a descendant from the fae species, they weren't bothered as much as humans were by the loud atmosphere, although the damp weather and slippery roads weren't the ideal setting for someone running around like a lost farm chicken in the woods, clueless about what they're precisely looking for.
Against their will, they headed back to their apartment, deciding it was for the best to take a step back and think through their plan -well Jean decided and practically dragged Evdokia- till the sky settles back to it's natural blue colour. The apartment bedroom overlooked the beautiful Guangzhou Beijing road, which was unusually quite and empty due to the rebellious weather. Behind the blurry window, the red lights of the kǒngmíng lanterns mixes with other colours lightening the pathway to the passers-by creating a painting with the eensy raindrops swirling across the glass by the movements of the wind. For someone who lived in a city above the clouds, they wouldn't find it much interesting. Nevertheless, Evdokia thinks its beautiful.
"We're losing time." She mutters under her breath but Jean's ears caught it. She was practically vibrating out of impatience by the glass and Jean knew it was only a matter of time before she bursts out of the building regardless of the atmosphere conditions.
Jean is calmly folding the clothes he scrambled across the room in the morning on a rush, trying to find something suitable for the weather when he found out that Evdokia set off at 6AM without bothering waking him up.
Evdokia plops herself on the chair by the hairdo, groaning in annoyance as she lets her head fall backwards without resistance that it hits the top rail of the chair robustly. "Did Valodya tell you anything when you called him?"
"Nothing new, not a single clue." Jean replies.
"Goddamn it." Evdokia murmurs. She closes her eyes shut, head hanging off her neck, listening to the rough pattering of the rain droplets against the window. Evdokia thinks this is pointless, that she should let it go and focus on her new responsibilities at the CPA, but she also has to carry the burden of avenging the dead. The CPA board has decided to declare war against whoever set off the missile onto the CPA building, only that no one knows it was Thomas's people, other than Evdokia, her team, Reema's team and Veronica's, as Evdokia had a breakdown in the middle of a conversation with them regarding the incident and came clean.
Veronica didn't judge her for hiding the truth, in fact, she thought it was for the best to keep it from everyone else, knowing very well how them knowing would end up. But Evdokia is constant distress with carrying such a lift. She knows better than firing a missile back at wherever Thomas is, way too familiar with the tragic ending that would cost them thousands of lives just like before.
They're all looking at her, once again, the ghosts demanding an answer, a saviour to take revenge in their name. Mizuki is looking at her.
She has failed so many times, so many fucking times that she doesn't have it in her to give it up. Yet she doesn't have that much of spaces in her mind for new ghosts, she can't.
Jean is done in five minutes with his wardrobe, he walks up to Evdokia and balances himself with his hips onto the hairdo board.
"Hey," he reaches out his hand to push back some hair behind her ears. "it'll all be alright, I know it'll all be alright as long as you're here."
Evdokia nods at him, and she wants to believes him but has no ounce of belief right now. For the last twenty years, every time someone told her that everything will be alright, that it'll pass smoothly, that it's all going to be okay at some point, but it never did, on the contrary, it only goes south from there.
Evdokia gets up without another word, lifting the covers and rolling herself into a ball under the duvet, and Jean follows her, he always does.
The moment Jean's body rest onto the mattress, Evdokia finds herself embraced with him in every aspect. The heat of his body against hers, the smell of cinnamon apple he always carries, his big arms encircling her small body.
"I wish I could burry your demons, tear them down one by one, I wish I could save you from your own mind, my dear." Jean murmurs into Evdokia's hair.
"You're here, that's enough, more than enough. "
She isn't lying, she does in fact feel at ease, to some extent, and even though the ghosts are standing all around the bed right now, Evdokia chooses to burry her face in Jean's chest, eyes shut tightly, escaping her reality for the little time she has got on the bridge between reality and the nightmares lands.
*