His status was that of an outsider. To this city and to this city's inhabitants, he was just an outsider from another country, a traveler from afar.
Seventeen years in age, born into a prestigious and influential family with a sibling; a sister. His sister was an year older then him, and when she turned seventeen, she went to the popular city of Giunhive to pursue her education even further.
Giunhive was a city for people who possessed special abilities like actual superpowers.
It had five major academies: The Falcon Crest Academy. The Starlight Academy. The Abyssal Gate Academy. The Titan's Forge Academy.
Each of the academies were made to foster those with superpowers and they all had different curriculums. From what he'd heard, there were occasional festivals, tournaments, matches at the famous Giunhive Colosseum, etc.
In specific, they would host a large-scale event even inviting others from different cities as spectators. This event was called, "All-Stars Giunhive Competition," and would feature duels between the school's elite students.
Although each year there was a different winner, but the academy with the most wins in particular was Abyssal Gate Academy. It was rumored that their curriculum was the most strict.
All in all, Giunhive was the perfect city for securing a high-ranking job as an ability-user, depending on your ability.
Winning or showing a formidable performance at the All-Stars event was also mandatory if you wanted to be recognized in the industry.
The boy, Nakajima Shiro's sister had went to this city to attend Falcon Crest Academy.
Her ability in specific, was "Star in the Night." She is able to manipulate starlight energy and create energy beams capable of traveling at the speed of light. Her ability was recognized quickly by her parents and she became a child prodigy.
Compared to his sister, Shiro was a late bloomer and did not possess a latent ability. But, he made up for it in terms of combat intelligence.
His sister complimented him once by saying that he would do great as a military commander.
But that did not mean a single thing coming from a child prodigy who would go on to achieve great things.
It was obvious who the favorite child was. Although Shiro received the proper education and treatment by his parents, it became obvious that his sister was favored more, it was only natural.
You would do your best to foster a child prodigy in a good environment if you had the resources.
She was given the best mentors and quickly became one of the most powerful, as a model student, she transferred to Falcon Crest Academy and that was the last time they'd seen her.
Shiro's relationship with his sister was good, despite being the older sister who was almost perfect, he never felt jealous of her because of their relationship.
Despite his shortcomings, she comforted him and reminded him of his strengths rather then his weaknesses, she often said that when we grew up, you would lead me in battle and we would defeat the enemy together.
Of course, that was just a child's fantasy. The truth is, Shiro couldn't survive in the industry without a latent ability.
Still, he never gave up hope and studied hard everyday, researching military and combat strategies, so that if his sister ever became a formidable foe in battle, he would lead her.
But, that too, remained a dream.
The truth is, a few months after enrolling in Falcon Crest, Nakajima Kazuki went missing. Of course, with their father's influence, this case wasn't easily dismissed and became a huge deal.
But, despite all their efforts, they never succeeded in finding Kazuki.
All her records were erased from Giunhive, almost as if she never went there.
Everyone knew the higher forces or someone was at work here, but no one exactly knew who that was, or what their intention was.
Shiro was hurt when he heard the shocking news, it was safe to say he was in a state of depression for a while, but after a few months of being empty-handed, Shiro, with the help of his secret ally within Giunhive and by convincing his parents, decided to go to Giunhive as a complete outsider possessing no ability or combat prowess.
It seemed impossible. For someone with no abilities or fighting experience to go to a city meant for ability-users and warriors.
But his resolve was unshakeable.
He was going there to find his sister, no matter how much he would get hurt, how much he would have to struggle.
The plan was simple.
With the help of his ally, who had quite the authority within Giunhive, despite being a student, would help him enroll in different academies and grant him access to many events for the sake of investigation.
It would be difficult, and would spell doom if he was to be caught. But he had made up his mind.
Shiro: [Yeah, I don't plan to get caught. Until I find whose behind her disappearance, I won't be leaving Giunhive, that's a promise.]
???: [Even if it has a high risk of your life being in danger?]
Shiro: [Yeah.]
He proclaimed.
This wasn't simply a sight-seeing trip to Giunhive, he was there to make a statement.