4 years ago
The wind whispered through the dense forest, carrying the scent of pine and earth. Tessa, a young girl of sixteen, stood poised and alert, her eyes scanning the surroundings with intense focus. Senshiro Marlowe, her mentor and adoptive father, watched her with a mix of pride and scrutiny. His tall, imposing figure cast a long shadow over the forest floor, his presence a constant reminder of the power and discipline Tessa aspired to embody.
He had a prominent forehead framed by coarse black hair that parted at the center and flowed down to his chin. His eyes, marred by a foggy grey, revealed his lost vision. Despite his rough, scarred skin, his sharp features complemented his reliable and strict demeanor. He was always dressed in a semi-formal suit, with a red-laced tie and a tight-fitting waistcoat. The suit, devoid of any particular design, showcased a fresh and expensive look, highlighting his meticulous and refined taste. Though Tessa always found it comical given his lost vision.
"Tessa," Senshiro's voice was a deep rumble, commanding attention. "What do you sense?"
Tessa closed her eyes, letting the sounds of the forest wash over her. The rustle of leaves, the distant chirping of birds, the faint trickle of a stream. But beneath the natural symphony, there was something else. A faint, almost imperceptible movement. She opened her eyes, amber irises gleaming with determination.
"Two targets, moving quietly," she replied, her voice steady. "Northwest, about fifty meters."
Senshiro nodded, a rare smile touching his lips. "Good. Now, show me how you'd approach."
Tessa crouched low, her movements fluid and silent as she began to advance. Every step was calculated, every breath controlled. She navigated the underbrush with the grace of a predator, her senses attuned to the slightest change in her environment. Senshiro followed, observing her technique with a critical eye.
As they neared their targets, two humanoid figures with twisted features and glowing eyes came into view. Vicestra. The left one had eerie green eyes and the other, a dull yellow. The left creature was hunched over, their elongated limbs twitching with unnatural energy, while they salivated.
The other was more reserved, despite its 3 meter height. It's pale belly protruded unnaturally and their head was comically small. Tessa's grip tightened around the hilt of her dagger, a custom blade gifted to her by Senshiro, that she still carried 4 years later.
"Remember," Senshiro's voice was a soft murmur in her ear, "the Vicestra are not just enemies. They are lessons. Each encounter teaches you something new. These two are bottom rung, greed and Sloth vicestran's"
Tessa nodded, her gaze never leaving the creatures. With a swift, decisive motion, she sprang forward, her dagger slicing through the air. The skinny greed vicestran turned, too late to react as Tessa's blade found its mark, cutting deep into its side and ripping up to its neck. Casting out murky black blood in jets. It let out a guttural scream, its body convulsing before crumpling to the ground.
The second Vicestra lunged at her, its claws outstretched with its titanic weight. Tessa ducked, her movements a blur as she sidestepped the attack and drove her dagger into its chest. The creature's eyes widened in shock, then dimmed as it fell lifeless at her feet wit a crash that shook the forest floor and disturbed the nearby birds.
Senshiro approached, his eyes gleaming with approval. As he crouched down beside the corpses wit amusement. "Well done, Tessa. Your skills are improving. They didn't even get the chance to use their sin powers."
Tessa wiped the blood from her blade, her heart still racing from the adrenaline. But also from the praise. "Thank you, Senshiro. I'll continue to train hard."
Senshiro placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm but comforting. "You have great potential, Tessa. But remember, strength alone is not enough. You must also understand the enemy, their weaknesses, and their strengths. Knowledge is your greatest weapon."
Tessa nodded, absorbing his words despite having heard this for the upteenth time. She knew that every lesson, every piece of advice, was crucial in her journey to becoming a formidable Vicestra hunter. Senshiro had taught her not only how to fight but also how to think, to strategize, and to anticipate the enemy's moves.
They were not just mentor and student, but also family. He raised her as his own, imparting his knowledge and skills in Vicestra hunting. It was a comfortable life, even with all the death around. These were the best years of her life.
One evening, after a particularly grueling training session, Tessa and Senshiro sat by a campfire, the flames casting flickering shadows on their faces. Tessa stared into the fire, her mind replaying the day's events. She had managed to defeat a group of Vicestra, but not without sustaining a few injuries.
"You did well today," Senshiro said, breaking the silence. "But you took unnecessary risks." His voice fell whilst he continued sharpening his blade.
Tessa looked up, her brow furrowed. "I needed to push myself. To see how far I could go."
Senshiro sighed, his gaze softening. "I understand your drive, Tessa. But you must learn to balance ambition with caution. Recklessness will get you killed."
Tessa nodded, the firelight reflecting in her amber eyes. "I'll be more careful next time."
Senshiro smiled, a rare and genuine expression. "I have no doubt you will. You've grown into a remarkable young woman, Tessa. Strong, intelligent, and fearless."
Tessa felt a surge of warmth at his words. Senshiro's approval meant everything to her. He was not just her mentor, but the father she never had. She reached out, taking his hand in hers. "Thank you, Senshiro. For everything."
Senshiro squeezed her hand, his eyes filled with pride. "I'm proud of you, Tessa. And I know you'll continue to make me proud."
They sat in companionable silence, the bond between them stronger than ever. But it was cut short. And the next day, he was gone. His disappearance was sudden and left no room for investigation. Leaving the 16 year old tessa alone.
Present
Knock knock knock!
"Its tessa, let me in. Im tired"
She moaned with her prosthetic hand on her hip, whilst gazing up at grey clouds that hinted at a brewing storm. A light sigh escaped her lips as she continued waiting.
Shortly after, A deep yet warm and pleasant voice yelled back, muffled by the door as he stammered down the stairs.
"One second Tessa"
...
"Hurry up ryota. It's cold"
She mumbled back with an eye roll. He was probably staring at himself again or something just as lame as that time he was singing in the shower.
The door began to open after a few crisp unlocking sounds, giving way to a figure, adorning a light pearly smile and playful eyes.
He filled the doorway with his presence, standing tall at around 6'2" with broad, squared shoulders that conveyed strength. His messy black hair, with a small fringe, framed his face and accentuated his sharp dark green eyes, which always sparkled with playful intent. His fair skin contrasted with his dark features, and despite the baggy grey hoodie he wore, it was impossible to conceal his muscular frame.
"You look beautiful as ever" He murmured and threw a wink.
Tessa felt her eyebrow immediately twitch, out of irritation and amusement. And her lingering battle weariness began fading away. She couldn't help but feel warmer around this guy. He was always cheery and shameless, even if it irritated her to no end.
She let out a cold scoff, her amber eyes arching up with exaggerated disgust.
"Not this again, move it you shameless beggar"
He slid to the side of the entryway, allowing her entry with a deep chuckle. And began walking alongside her through the large house.
"Fine, you win. So tell me Tessa, why you back so late? You usually come around 8pm"
Her eyes fell onto his semi-concerned face, she admired his handsome looks for a moment before replying, though with a hint of appreciation masked by her casual dismissive tone.
"A greed vicestran snuck up on me while i was on a break..."
Ryota's nose scrunched up exaggeratedly, letting out a faint sneer.
"That sucks. Their regeneration is always a pain in the ass. You're not hurt at all, right?"
"Obviously not. I'm fine. You should worry about yourself; you can barely operate your damn AVG (Artificial Vicestran Gear)."
Tessa fired back with an irritated scowl, as if the mere suggestion of being injured offended her. She pushed him into the nearby wall, causing him to bounce off it and wince comically. Despite this, he infuriatingly maintained his smug grin.
Ryota rubbed his arm gingerly as he followed her into the spacious living room. Despite its size, the room was cluttered with piles of clothes, scattered weapons, and haphazardly strewn documents from the numerous occupants.
Tessa's frown deepened unconsciously, her sharp features began radiating hostility in waves. She hated the mess her housemates left everywhere and felt like she was about to blow a fuse any minute. Couldn't they try to keep the house clean? They're so damn infuriating. Slowly, she turned to Ryota, her eyes closed and lips quivering violently.
Her voice dripped with malice and irritation.
"Why... have... you not cleaned up yet, Ryota?"
'Oh shit. I forgot... She's gonna kill me,' he lamented sorrowfully, though his exterior remained calm and playful. He flashed his signature shameless smile, his eyes curving up as his thumb pointed out in defense.
"Only the clothes are my mess. Calm down, alright Tessa? I'll get Rose and Miss Zero to clean up. They're worse than me."
"Stop lying, your the worse one here. Clean up whilst i have a shower, or else i'll put you through some more... training"
She let out a dark, almost sinister chuckle as she flicked her dark hair behind her head, and dismissively turned away, walking up the stairs. Leaving behind the statuesque royta, shivering and trembling as he hastily ran around the living room like a child that had been scolded.
The house they were living at was 3 stories tall, placed on the outskirts of the city in a quiet street. It held 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and 4 occupants.
Tessa Harlowe. Ryota Yamamoto. Rose Smith And Miss zero, though she was quite reclusive and seldom talking about herself compared to the others.
Tessa let out one more scoff as she walked up the stairs and wandered into her on suite bathroom.
The bathroom was illuminated by bright white spotlights embedded in the ceiling, casting a clean and vibrant glow across the room. A light grey counter stretched along one wall, topped with a sleek, modern sink that seemed almost futuristic in its design. In the corner stood a large shower cubicle with crystal-clear glass doors, exuding a sense of luxury. The walls were adorned with elegant marble tiles, their smooth surfaces reflecting the light and adding a touch of sophistication to the space. The overall ambiance was one of contemporary elegance, blending functionality with high-end aesthetics that Tessa loved. It was her safe space in this house, where she'd come to unwind.
She slowly slid out of her mahogany dress, cascading onto the bathroom matt, leaving her exposed.
Her brown and soft skin seemed to take hold of one's attention refusing to let their eyes part from her slender yet well proportioned frame.
'Finally. A break'
A soft smile surfaced on her lips, one that no one had the privilege of seeing. It was quite unfortunate.
Her hums filled the room, creating a gentle echo as she finished undressing and stepped into the shower cubicle. The water sprayed over her face, soaking her hair until it clung to her skin. The warmth of the water washed away her cold expression, leaving her happily humming and smiling as she washed herself and sank into her thoughts.
'Those words earlier... What did they mean? It's unsettling to think about... What bastards are coming for me?'
'If it's a group of Vicestrans... that could be problematic. They've never been this secretive and indirect before. Who are they? And why are they coming for me? It's not like I'm that speci—'
Her thoughts were abruptly thrown off course as she remembered something. Her wet lips curled downward, and her amber eyes squinted harshly.
'Is it because of my birth? If they know something then, i have to find out who they are. No matter the cost.'
'Who are you. Mother'