E.A

… … …

E.A. headquarters, based in the Islands of the Echo Nexus, must be the biggest and most secure organization headquarters on the planet. With the latest laser technology installed into every defense measure, not even a peak 4th order could break in and leave unscathed. I'm not surprised no one has ever tried to break in.

Of course, being a no-nonsense organization, only the nation's top cream is picked to join E.A, except when the applicants are those filthy rich guys.

People with abilities are grouped into orders, that is, 1st order (weakest), 2nd, 3rd, up to 5th order... for now. Who decided that, no one knows.

To qualify to become a member of E.A, one must at least be a peak 1st order, that is, the strongest among the weak, even for technical jobs. Of course, that is unless you're one of those filthy rich guys.

The members of the association gather and retrieve artifacts, capture bad guys, prevent a cult from summoning an evil demon that wants to take over the world, and such cliche stuff.

The agents are divided into squads named according to the Hebrew alphabet for some reason. That is Alef, Bet, Gimel, and so on.

This idea sucked everyone, but since no one was willing to come up with a better naming system, it stuck.

And so for the remainder of this work, you shall have to bear with this peculiar system of naming squads, but rest assured that this will not be the last thing you will find peculiar.

Agents who show exemplary performance (such as saving a civilian-infested city from being hit by a comet, hitting a villain-infested city with a comet, or even saving not one but two cats that are stuck on a tree (for the filthy rich guys)) graduate to become Elites, the very best of the best.

They are the world's hope for a better future where civilians are not hit by comets, villains are hit by comets, and our dear cats have no trees to get stuck on (due to climate change and stuff).

Now that you have a glimpse of what life is like on this peculiar planet…

… … …

The plate on the door read 'Platoon Sergeant.' The guards at the end of the hallway still had their eyes on me. It had taken them a while to be convinced that she had sent for me. They still weren't convinced. I knocked.

"Come in."

The office was basically a modern living room, apart from the sleek wooden table sitting near the huge glass windows. She was seated at the table, working on a laptop.

'Miss Airi Sabaki, one of the two platoon sergeants of this branch of E.A, based in Staryl City. Being a Platoon Sergeant guarantees her free access to all the Echo Nexus Islands have to offer. I wonder why she opts not to stay there.'

I stood there silent, waiting for her to say something.

She pushed the laptop aside and stood up.

'She sure likes the color pink.' The furniture, her skirt, her lipstick, the frame of her spectacles, even her hair was pink. But somehow, it all seemed natural. I kinda felt comfortable being there, that is until…

"He was right. You look to me as normal as they can get."

That came unexpectedly.

'This is my first time in her office and that's the first thing she says to me?'

"May I ask why I'm here?"

"No."

Every second I was in that office I felt her looking down on me more and more. I could almost literally see the pride in her black eyes.

"What is your aptitude?"

"I'm afraid I can't reveal that to you."

"Sure you can. Just open your mouth and say it."

For a few seconds, we stood there looking at each other. I was getting more and more impatient with her.

'If she keeps this up, I'm going to walk out of those doors and never come back.'

"If you're not gonna tell me that much about you, then tell me, how much do you know about the Union of Echo?"

For a second, I got confused. But then, if she knew about it, she must be…

"Let me guess, you're in charge of my mission?"

"I thought you were supposed to kneel in the presence of your superiors."

"I don't kneel to the likes of you."

"You already know what it means seeing me here?"

"Of course."

"Good. Continue to maintain a low profile. Right now, the mission is your top priority. I will contact you when I need you. Otherwise, you are dismissed."

'I haven't even stayed a day in E.A and my mission has already begun?'

As I walked out of that door, I had only one thing in my mind.

'Only a few more days left, after which I will begin to fulfill my true purpose.'