Nian quickly nodded as his heart began to beat intensely, he began to feel many thoughts. As Akin left, a smile crept up on his face as a bit of life began to beat.
Warden...I can be a warden. This is freaking awesome. Someone, I need to tell someone. That's right, Yuto! He hasn't betrayed me.This way, I can finalize everything, and even if he tries to stop me, there is the freedom I have.
Nian soon left as he made his way around asking around for Yuto. It was then that he found him within the senior library, studying. Yuto recognized him immediately as his name was called out.
"Ahh, Nian? What are you doing here? Is everything ok?" Yuto asked.
Nian had a wide smile on his face and was somewhat shaking as he sat opposite of Yuto at the metallic desk.
"Yuto, I finally understand everything. I was born with nothing and was only filled with envy and sadness, I finally know where I belong and what I want to be!"
Yuto was somewhat shocked as he listened to Nian, who was smiling, listing things that one would pity and felt something was wrong as the person was smiling in such a fair manner.
Yuto placed his writing material down as he looked at Nian seriously. Focusing on the task that Ailred gave him, which was to see Nian make his own decision.
"What did you find your destiny is, Nian?." He asked.
Nian stood up and spoke proudly with his hand against his chest.
"I'm going to be a warden!"
Yuto's face immediately froze without changing. For a member of the Meris clan to be a warden was unheard of. And being a warden itself would be throwing your life away.
As far as Yuto knew, only those with nothing to lose or criminals would be wardens.
"I will not allow it…" Yuto spoke firmly as he stood up.
Although Ailred had given him orders to let Nian figure out his path, he felt that Ailred would agree with Yuto's decision.
"Being a warden?.. That is an incredibly dumb idea...You are of the Meris clan, and shift battles run in our blood, why would you so casually throw your life away?"
Nian was stunned. He had believed that Yuto would truly understand.
"Dumb idea? How can you say that? It's my choice to be what I choose…" Nian said.
Yuto's face changed as he frowned.
"No Nian. This idea is dangerous. In fact, I think it's best if you return to your dorm as I plan to contact the clan to make sure they take the proper procedures. You may think of this as cruel, but it's for your safety. You may have no hyper ability, but you're still our blood."
Nian clenched his fists so hard they hurt and turned pale.
"Fine…" He said.
Nian headed back to the dorm area. After making his way to his room, instead of staying put, he began to pack as many things as he could into the luggage bag he had brought when he first arrived at the academy.
Although the only thing that had changed was the new clothing the clan had sent him was now being packed away.
Stop me?....no way... in his dreams...I can truly find myself as a warden, find people like me. One day I'll even make a name for myself and come back as a great Mancer pilot, surpassing Lucas and father. Damnit, I'll try, or I'll die doing so! He thought hard in his mind.
Later that night, at 8:30, Nian glanced outside his door and grinned.
He underestimated me. I bet he thought I was acting on impulse and wouldn't even go out. Another reason for me to leave, being looked down on and being taken for granted. He thought.
Wearing casual clothes as well as a large duffel bag with a strap, Nian put on the hood of his jumper over his head to conceal his appearance as he began to make his way out. The time would be study hours every night until 10:00pm which gave him the freedom to leave as he pleased.
With each step, Nian began to feel more alive, as if he were rebelling and reaching his calling.
Should I have let the academy know? I mean I'm not finishing the rest of the years. No, it's fine I'm sure the wardens will handle it. He thought.
Leaving the block, he made his way towards the lower half of the academy grounds where students were allowed to roam around and practice their physical prowess, or even get some fresh air, all until 10:00pm.
With many emotions welling up inside him, Nian had a strange feeling. To him, 3 years had gone by quickly, but at the same time, he felt like it led up to him giving up the life of someone destined for a Shift Battle one last go.
While reminiscing about his past up until now, he made his way down a fairly lit path. He didn't notice a figure that was jogging around the grassy area where trees grew. The female wearing casual jogging wear was stretching before she saw Nian's covered figure.
Seeing a student leave the academy was commonplace, but when she noticed the emblem on the side of the bag that the figure carried, she narrowed her eyes and rushed over calling out.
"Hey! You! How dare you try to leave the academy and disgrace our Meris clan...What's your name?"
Stopping for a moment, Nian felt his body freeze as the figure that had been training made her way up to him. The voice was somewhat familiar, but he hadn't heard it in a long time. Gazing behind, he saw Tessa in her training attire.
"Tessa?.." He asked.
Tessa herself blinked a few times as she could make out the face under the hood in the light.
"N..Nian? What the hell are you doing out so late? And with your bag?" She asked.
Nian was silent for a bit before he laughed softly. He didn't know how Tessa would react if he told her the truth, so he decided to try and spin a lie.
"I'm going to visit the main estate as father wants me to visit…" Tessa rubbed her head a little, frowning, as other than Lucas, father had never summoned anyone else.
"Argh..fine get lost…" She spoke, before making her way back, no longer in the mood to train.
Nian sighed in relief, deciding to sprint the rest of the way. He didn't know what he would do if he encountered another clansman.
At the port, Akin quietly puffed on a lit cigarette, standing next to a grey metallic vessel.
A man was frowning a little as he sat leaning against the vessel's exterior.
"Sir, why are we waiting again?" The man asked.
Akin glanced at his wrist revealing an old style watch, just like the ones seen on Earth. This man had a taste for classic objects, despite the future's advancements.
"Relax, still 10 minutes.." Akin muttered.
As Tessa made her way back to her room, a figure rushed over to her, panting heavily. It was Yuto, who had a look of worry on his face, as did several other figures by his side.
"T..Tessa...have you seen Nian?!!" Yuto spoke out, even as he was out of breath.
Tessa tensed a little as she replied respectfully.
"Yes, senior, I did. He was heading to the port to visit the main estate."
Yuto stopped breathing for a moment, gazing at the others of his year, whom had already been filled in on the situation.
"D...Damnit!! "
4 of the 5 individuals, Yuto included, rushed towards the port. As the 5th was about to leave, Tessa spoke out with curiosity.
"Senior, what's going on?."
The female that was asked had a nervous look.
"Nian is planning to leave to become a warden." She replied.
As she finished speaking, she rushed off to join the others. Tessa thought for a moment about what she heard.
"Warden? Why would that trash want to be a dumb warden?"
Tessa stopped for a moment, thinking carefully. In her mind she had always thought that wardens were useless, other than the handful who made it to the A rank or higher. She often heard her parents call wardens those with nothing to lose and humanity's sacrifices.
She then began to remember her words, constantly taunting Nian, calling him useless and trash. When she thought carefully about Nian's decision, she realised that Nian must have felt that being a warden was the right decision.
In Tessa's heart she felt a slight pain as her chest tightened, finding it a little hard to breathe. It was a feeling she had never experienced before. How would a 13 year old girl, who was praised and considered a genius, know what guilt and regret felt like?
Akin finished his second cigarette in 8 minutes.
"He's here. Get ready to depart." He said.
The man was about to ask who he was talking about, but before he could, Nian's voice was heard as his figure made its way onto the dock.
"Ah..s..sorry I'm a little late... but I'm here.." he panted somewhat heavily. Nian was not athletic despite his appearance.
He looked up at Akin who said.
"You kept your word, and that's what's important."
Nian made his way towards the vessel along with Akin, but both stopped as Yuto and the others arrived.
"S...Stop!!!" Yuto called out madly, his face flustered.
Nian felt worried as he had been discovered.
"Yuto?..What are you doing here?.." Nian asked.
Yuto glared at him and stood up straight from his exhausted manner having looked high and low for nian.
"Nian...disobeying your senior….your father told me to bring you back to the main estate for discipline...to think you would go behind our backs."
Akin spoke out as if finding Yuto's words annoying.
"Declaration 312 of the Warden Bill. Those who are 10 years of age or older may choose and decide to become a warden no matter the circumstances, to serve a minimum of 5 years to help humanity fight the devourer threat. Any 1st, 2nd, or 3rd party planning or trying to intervene and stop the individual from this Bill will face a severe penalty and be considered to be stopping humanity from fighting the devourer threat."
At those words, Yuto's mouth pursed as he looked at the man who no doubt had seen more battle experience than any of the teachers here. Yuto turned to Nian, who was stunned at Akin's speech.
"Nian...is this truly what you want?...To be a warden?...you know your father despises wardens, and you will be outcast…."
Nian was silent for several moments before he nodded.
"Yes, this is what I want." He replied.
Tessa and the 5th senior who had managed to catch up watched silently from the back. Tessa made her way around as the head senior, equal to Yuto spoke out.
"Nian, this is stupid...you still have time to reconsider. Sure our clansmen were harsh on you, but this can be fixed..you still have a chance...after we-"
Nian cut him off.
"I don't have talent like any of you. I don't have a good future like any of you. You are all going to become great shift battlers carrying the Meris name. As for me, someone who doesn't have what you have, the best I can do is to try and meet people like me and make a name for myself. The way people like me should is to be a warden...if I die. I'll do so without bringing issue to the clan."
Tessa, upon hearing his words, wasn't sure what to do. She had indeed pushed Nian quite far, but had thought it was only childish jokes and games. After not seeing him for 2 years, she wouldn't expect that the first time she would see him in those 2 years would most likely be the last. Yet as much as she tried, this feeling in her chest didn't act or ease up.
Nian, seeing Tessa, smiled at her as he bowed towards her.
"Tessa… Thank you. With your help over the years as well as the help of our cousins and the others, I was able to see that being a warden is what I need to be."
"N..Nian…" Tessa uttered quietly as her chest tightened up a bit more.
She felt like crying but forced her tears back unsure why they were even trying to come out.
"Boy, lets go. If we're late, I won't hear the end of it." Akin said.
Nian turned to Akin and nodded. Akin boarded the vessel and Nian followed.
"What do you expect me to tell your father?! What about Lucas?!" Yuto called out.
Upon hearing his name, Nian felt a tinge of anger resurface as if a wound had salt rubbed into it.
"Tell father I'm handling my own matters. And tell Lucas...well, tell him good luck."
As soon as he finished speaking, the door to the vessel shut. As much as Yuto called out Nian's name there was no response. The vessel's wave engine began to rumble. The vessel turned towards the night sky, and pulsed before vanishing in a wave like motion.
No one could have expected that in a clan that focused heavily on shift battles, a useless individual, still of their blood, would choose to give up his life to become a warden with little to no chance of coming back alive.
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