Morning sunlight streamed through the modest curtains of the small living room, casting a warm glow over the wooden table where Eratz sat with his family.
Cassie bustled about, her apron sprinkled with flour as she prepared breakfast.
"Eggs are almost ready," she called over her shoulder. "Don't let that toast burn, Colin!"
Colin stood on tiptoe, carefully watching the toaster.
"I got it, Mom!" she replied.
Roger sat across from Eratz, sipping his coffee.
"Big day today," he said.
Eratz nodded, a hint of excitement in his eyes.
"Yep, I couldn't sleep well last night."
Cassie placed a plate of scrambled eggs in front of him.
"Make sure you eat well. Can't have you fainting on your first day," she said with a wink.
He smiled.
"Thanks, Aunt Cassie."
She patted his shoulder affectionately. "We're all proud of you, you know."
Colin brought over a plate of perfectly toasted bread, grinning proudly.
"Here you go! You'll need energy for all those beast battles."
"Thanks, Colin," Eratz said, ruffling her hair. "I'll make sure to break some spirits in your honor."
As they ate, laughter filled the room. Cassie shared a funny story from her maid job, and Roger talked about his plans for the day.
After breakfast, Eratz stood up to leave. "I should get going."
Cassie handed him a packed lunch.
"Just in case you get hungry later," she said with a smile.
Colin hugged him tightly.
"Good luck! Do your best today too."
Roger walked him to the door. "Remember, stay focused and be yourself," he advised. "You've got what it takes."
Eratz nodded.
"I will, good luck too today. See you all tonight."
Crescent Moon Agency building stood a little short among the city streets, its glass and steel exterior gleaming in the morning light.
But as Eratz approached, he noticed the faded sign and the worn steps leading to the entrance. The place had an air of former glory, now overshadowed by neglect.
As he neared the door, he spotted Ryder leaning casually against a lamppost.
"Morning," Ryder greeted, flashing a grin. "Ready for the next step?"
"Always." Eratz replied with a nod.
They entered the lobby together.The interior felt quiet and somewhat empty. A few staff members moved about, but the lack of activity was noticeable.
Zara appeared from around a corner, her enthusiasm undimmed.
"There you two are! Right on time," she said cheerfully.
She led them down a hallway lined with old photographs and awards.
"This agency has a rich history," she explained, her tone both proud and wistful. "We've faced some challenges, but we're still standing... and now we're about to make history!"
They entered a spacious training hall bathed in natural light filtering through tall windows that lined one side of the room.
The polished wooden floor gleamed under the overhead lights, and various training equipment, dummies, targets, and agility courses, were neatly arranged along the walls.
The air was filled with chatting in low voices from a few beast masters, casting curious glances at the newcomers.
Zara led Eratz and Ryder into the room, her footsteps echoing softly.
"Welcome to our training facility. These people are the few recruits I've managed to bring last month."
She lowered her voice slightly.
"They're doing their best, but to be honest, our agency has been struggling with them. Mercury is our only top-tier fighter, and we have one other member who's decent but not quite at her level. The rest are still developing their skills. Without more strong fighters, we're on the verge of bankruptcy."
As she spoke, a tall young man approached them. He had sharp features, styled dark hair, and wore a sleek training outfit that seemed more about fashion than function. An air of smug confidence surrounded him.
"Ah, Zara, been looking for you." He said, looking them over with a critical eye. "Oh? What's that? You brought another set of part timers? And another set of boys... Well, that's your stuff. So, new guys, Name's Adrian, been holding things down here pretty well. Hope you two can keep up."
Ryder raised an eyebrow
"We'll do fine, don't worry." he replied lightly.
Adrian smirked as his gaze shifted dismissively between them.
"Like the others rookies, yeah, yeah, I know the lyrics."
Eratz remained unfazed, his expression neutral.
Adrian seemed slightly put off by their lack of reaction.
"Well, we'll see what you're made of soon enough," he added before sauntering away.
Zara sighed softly as he left.
"That's Adrian, the second strongest," she explained. "He thinks very highly of himself because he's better than some weaklings. Unfortunately, his attitude doesn't help our situation, he's nothing special in the arena. Well, whatever, as I was saying, without more fighters like Mercury, we're struggling to keep the agency afloat."
Just then, the double doors at the far end of the hall swung open. A hush fell over the room as Mercury entered.
She wore a sleek, casual sports outfit, a fitted black jacket over a white athletic top and streamlined leggings.
Her short blue hair were covered by a black cap, and her piercing blue eyes held a distant focus. She exuded an aura different than the day before, oozing out coldness and confidence.
Whispers spread among the recruits.
"That's Mercury," someone murmured.
"She's even more impressive in person," another replied.
"Should we try talking to her?" one suggested.
"I don't know," his friend responded. "She seems unapproachable, but she's just a person like us, right? Try your luck first!"
Mercury seemed oblivious to the buzz her entrance had created. She walked toward a set of lockers along the wall, her footsteps steady and composed.
Setting down her duffel bag, she began checking its contents, gauntlets, training gloves, a water bottle.
Spotting an opportunity, Adrian straightened his posture and smoothed his hair before approaching her with a confident stride.
"Hey there, Mercury, preparing to amaze us all again today?"
She didn't look up.
"Hi," she replied curtly, continuing her inventory.
Unfazed, Adrian leaned casually against the locker beside hers.
"You know, it's bad to not show up during training days, I felt very lonely without you yesterday, we make a pretty strong team, if you're not around I feel lost. To apologize, let's train together."
"I'm fine training on my own," Mercury replied, her tone flat.
He chuckled softly.
"Always the lone wolf, huh? Well, perhaps I could convince you over dinner. There's a new restaurant in town that's perfect for a... nice conversation."
Mercury zipped up her bag without acknowledging his suggestion.
Adrian raised an eyebrow, still smirking. "Playing hard to get? I admire a challenge."
She finally glanced at him, her gaze icy. "If you have time to chat, you have time to get better. Go back to your training."
He leaned in slightly.
"Come on, don't be so cold. It's not a reason to get heated, sometimes we need to chill."
Mercury's patience was wearing thin. She stood up and sighed heavily.
"Don't talking to me again if you have nothing better to say."
Adrian's smile turned into a sly grin. "Maybe not yet. But who knows? We could have a lot of fun together, both in and out of the arena. It's human's nature."
She turned away, clearly intending to end the conversation.
He decided to make one last attempt, his tone taking on a suggestive edge.
"You know, they say even the fiercest warriors need someone to help them... unwind. You can't stay hard forever... Speaking of hard, I'm just trying to cheer you up, I heard it didn't went well yesterday. So please, don't get angry, let me treat you today."
At that, Mercury paused. Her shoulders tensed as she took a slow breath. Before she could respond, her gaze shifted past Adrian, landing on Eratz and Ryder standing next to Zara across the room. Her expression softened almost imperceptibly.
Without a word to Adrian, she picked up her water bottle and walked away, heading straight toward the newcomers.
Adrian blinked in surprise, left standing alone.
"Hey, where are you going?" he called after her, surprise creeping into his voice.
The surrounding recruits watched with interest.
"Lol, serves him right, that's for stealing my girlfriend." someone whispered.
"I couldn't take that, this guy is tough," another snickered.
"Wait, who's she going to?"
Mercury approached Eratz and Ryder, her usual cool demeanor changing slightly.
"Eratz, Ryder, good to see you made it."
"Hey, Mercury!" Ryder replied with a grin. "Didn't expect to see you so soon."
Eratz nodded.
"Glad to be here."
She offered a small smile.
"With you two joining, things are going to get interesting around here."
Eratz chuckled.
"I hope it will be more challenging than yesterday then. By the way, how's Milo doing?"
Mercury sighed softly, glancing aside. "He's... managing. It's hard for him to go back to school after thinking he'd be off on adventures. I really hope we can help him get his license soon."
Ryder gave an encouraging nod.
"We'll make sure of it. We're a team now."
Eratz crossed his arms thoughtfully. "Maybe it was God's plan to let the kid finish elementary school before ditching... Speaking of which, is he really..."
Mercury hesitated, then shrugged lightly. "Let's just say he's eager to grow up. Maybe a bit too eager."
Around them, the other recruits exchanged astonished glances.
"Is Mercury actually talking to them?" one whispered.
"And she's being... friendly?" another added, eyes wide.
Across the room, Adrian watched the interaction, his jaw tightening with irritation.
"Who does that guy think he is?" he muttered under his breath.
Before the conversation could continue, the main doors to the hall opened gracefully.
A woman entered, capturing everyone's attention with her appearance. Zara stepped forward, her face glowing with enthusiasm.
"May I have everyone's attention, please?" she called out. The murmurs in the room subsided as all eyes turned toward her. "I am honored to introduce Madam Victoria, our agency's director and founder."
The room collectively straightened up. Victoria entered gracefully, her attire commanding yet warm.
She was elegantly dressed in a tailored navy suit that exuded professionalism, her long blonde hair cascading over her shoulders.
Her blue eyes observed each face, and a subtle smile played on her lips.
"Good morning, everyone," Victoria greeted, her voice clear and resonant. She paused for a moment, her gaze sweeping across the room. "It's truly wonderful to see so many dedicated and promising individuals gathered here today."
She took a few steps forward, the quiet click of her heels echoing in the silent hall.
"I'm glad to count you among us. Our agency has faced its share of challenges, there were times when the path ahead seemed uncertain, when obstacles appeared insurmountable. But seeing all of you here fills me with renewed hope and determination."
The recruits nodded, absorbing her words. Adrian stood a bit taller, attempting to appear attentive, while others exchanged glances of admiration.
Victoria's eyes fell upon Eratz, and she paused, a flicker of recognition crossing her face.
'White hair, dark skin... He must be the one.'
"I see we have some new faces among us," she remarked, her gaze still on him. "Fresh talent brings fresh perspectives, and that's exactly what we need. Each of you possesses unique skills and strengths. It's through our combined efforts and mutual support that we will overcome the hurdles before us. Together, we can restore this agency to its rightful place in the world of Beast Masters."
Her voice carried a conviction that stirred something within the recruits. A sense of unity and purpose began to take root.
"Remember," Victoria went on, "greatness isn't achieved alone. It thrives on collaboration, on pushing each other to be better. I encourage you all to learn from one another, to challenge yourselves, and to never lose sight of why you embarked on this journey."
She gestured gracefully toward Zara. "To help us understand where we stand and how we can grow, Zara has prepared a series of exercises to assess your abilities."
"Thank you, Madam Victoria," Zara said with a respectful bow of her head. Turning to the group, she added, "We'll start with endurance and agility drills. Please follow me to the training area."
As the recruits began to move, Victoria approached Eratz with a welcoming smile.
"You must be Eratz," she said softly.
"Yes, that's me." Eratz replied.
"I've heard about your impressive performance at the selection, I'm impatient to see a true champion on the scene. To think Zara's has a real talent as a scout, I guess I lost my bet." She laughed lightly.
"Ah!" Zara crossed her arms with a smug.
"Should you say that about your othes recruits?" Eratz raised an eyebrow.
Victoria nodded appreciatively.
"I'm only teasing you, I believe in everyone, but I know you'll make a significant impact here. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask."
"I appreciate that... I might have something for later." .
Nearby, Adrian watched the exchange, his jaw tightening with barely concealed envy. Mercury observed as well, a subtle smile hinting at her approval.
Ryder leaned in toward Eratz as Victoria walked away.
"Well, who's the lucky guy?" he whispered teasingly.
Eratz shrugged lightly.
"I'm barely existing. Life is a mystery for me too."
"Alright, everyone!" Zara called out, clapping her hands to gather their attention. "Let's get started!"