Chapter 9: the Legacy and the Heirs

The director hesitated before continuing, and that's when Joy took over.

Atlantis, according to legend, was a grandiose city, with a civilization and technology far ahead of its time, located somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. Some accounts even suggest that it came from another world.

The director looked at his tea, which had cooled down in the meantime.

"Well..."

Ryouma understood the meaning of the director's words. It was normal to give up when an obstacle seemed insurmountable. We tell ourselves that we have done all we can and it is easier to accept our fate than to sink into despair and struggle in vain.

However, something in the director's statement struck Ryouma.

"Just now... you talked about losing this world too. What does that mean exactly?"

The question raised by Ryouma silenced everyone and the atmosphere became sinister. Joy, the director, and his assistant wore bitter expressions, as if they were about to announce terrible news. And unfortunately, that was the case.

"In the distant future, this world will be destroyed. Earth will suffer the same fate as Eldrath."

"W-what?" Ryouma exclaimed, his heart skipping a beat.

"This is due to space-time rifts. Their size and duration of opening increase considerably each time. The first rift lasted only a few hours, during which the heirs had to continually repel the plagues. During the second incursion, the fault was ten times larger and remained open for a day and a half before closing. The third incursion risks being even more terrible than the previous ones... and who knows if, this time, the fault will close? If it remained open, it could well mark the end of the world."

The director had literally just announced the impending apocalypse to him. Ryouma couldn't keep up anymore. In his head, scenes of the end of the world flashed by, with these creatures invading the Earth. 

Everyone else thought his reaction was perfectly normal. In fact, it was more so than ever because anyone, upon learning for the first time that the end of the world was approaching, would have displayed the same horrified face, even if he doubted the story.

However, Ryouma had seen these creatures with his own eyes. He had already contemplated the state of a post-apocalyptic world even before hearing this story.

He smiled stiffly to hide his fear.

"...But that's in the distant future, right? It's not as if..."

"No. Stop right there."

Before he could continue and utter words he would have regretted, Joy interrupted him with a shake of her head, advising him not to go any further.

"I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that the threat isn't happening now, that it could happen in a few years or even centuries. You're probably thinking that it would be better to live normally until your last day, hoping that the incursion doesn't happen during your lifetime... and that once you're dead, you don't care what happens to the rest of the world."

The director's interpretation was correct, it was indeed what Ryouma thought.

Hearing his deepest thought spoken aloud, he was seized with remorse, and a feeling of guilt began to germinate within him.

Basically, he came looking for answers so as to no longer remain in ignorance. But now that he knew the truth and the danger that threatened this world, he wanted to act as if nothing had happened. This thought seemed selfish to him, centered only on himself, and mocking the fate of others reminded him of his old ways of the past.

Ryouma lowered his head and lost himself in confused thoughts.

"Don't worry too much. It's normal to think this way. In truth, everyone has had this thought at least once. It's only natural to think about one's own life first," the director reassured, as Ryouma raised his head.

"It is true that we do not know exactly when the next fault will appear. It could be in ten years, in centuries... or perhaps tomorrow. No one can predict. But what we do know is that we cannot stand by and let this world perish. It is our duty to protect this land that has become our home. It is with this desire that the Legacy Guild was born."

"The guild... Legacy!" Ryouma repeated, his voice tinged with astonishment.

The director nodded slowly.

"The company is now the guild's front and its main source of funding. But Legacy is not just an organization, it is the legacy of our ancestors, their will passed down through the ages, and the last bulwark against chaos. Each generation of heirs has sworn to carry this burden."

Will is something that is passed down from person to person and could persist and strengthen from generation to generation. 

"I'm a sixty-five-year-old man, I don't have much time left to live. But I don't plan to retire. I will dedicate every day I have left to fighting until my last breath. My generation will not be the one to triumph over the plagues. All we can do is lighten as much as possible the burden that future generations will have to bear."

His words resonated deep within her soul. Ryouma could sense the determination of a man in the twilight of his life, speaking with unwavering conviction. He felt pathetic for having had such selfish thoughts in comparison.

"Before being an heir, I am a father and a grandfather. I think of those I will leave behind. My children, my grandchildren, my descendants... The very ones who will continue the fight until they achieve final victory."

The heirs were not only fighting for today or tomorrow, but also for centuries to come.

"I... I'm sorry for behaving so cowardly." Ryouma apologized.

"The guild's main goal is to prevent the end of this world. To do this, we must defeat the scourges of chaos, once and for all. Unlike the tragedy of Eldrath, we now have a crucial element that was lacking in the past: time.

For centuries, we have devoted every moment to finding a way to preserve this world. This is how we discovered the power of amulets. These artifacts allow us to cross the borders between worlds, to explore Eldrath, to find forgotten artifacts and ancient relics to use in combat, and to study plagues in order to discover the definitive means of destroying them and banishing them forever.

This is our mission. This is the ultimate goal of the Legacy Guild."

The headmaster finished his long speech and Ryouma slumped against the back of the sofa.

All of this was way too much information to digest. He had to put his thoughts in order and, above all, think about what he felt deep down.

But despite the confusion, one question continued to haunt him.

“By the way, do you know who the men who attacked me yesterday are? Are they part of the guild? And are they still in…”

Ryouma hesitated to ask the last question, so Joy started to cry out.

"Of course they're alive! You thought I was going to kill them and get rid of their bodies by burying them or dissolving them in acid, right?" Joy replied.

“No… not at all!” 

“These men do not belong to the guild. They are members of a group called Avalon,” the director replied.

"Huh! Who are they, and what do they want from me?" Ryouma asked again.

“The time of great changes took place, altering the face of the world. Human civilization developed rapidly, too quickly, and certain notions, concepts and ideals from Eldrath had harmful effects on humans, at the origin of many conflicts, tragedies and misfortunes which marked history " said Fujimoto Akio, the assistant who took over.

“At first, it started with a good intention, that of wanting to help humans, but it very quickly degenerated. Our actions had consequences that were far too serious and which we had not measured. Therefore, a law was passed stating that we should no longer interfere directly in human affairs and that we had to hide our existence from the general public,” the assistant continued.

The guild was responsible for enforcing this law among all heirs. However, the adopted law limited their actions and this did not please everyone. Some did not understand why they had to shut up and act like normal humans when they felt superior to them, others claimed Earth as their heritage and felt they should command humans.

Their motivations and ideals were different, but they had the same enemy that prevented them from doing what they wanted. As a result, they created their own organization, Avalon, which opposed the guild.

"They are seeking every means possible to eliminate the guild. They are hunting down artifacts and recruiting heirs, even forcing them to serve their cause. They must have been after your amulet, because it's the only way to get to Eldrath and find more relics." Joy declared, her voice betraying a slight hint of anger.

In short, Avalon was in a real race against the Legacy guild to recover the relics and obtain a monopoly. They did not hesitate to plunder and kill to achieve their ends. They gathered heirs to make them soldiers, even if it means using force or blackmail to subdue them.

Of course, the guild did not tolerate their actions and waged war against them. Which made them the second greatest threat to Earth, just after the plagues the guild already had to face.

"Basically, they are big buffoons, bastards, slavers, arrogant fanatics, self-righteous scumbags with a shitty Supremacist ideology! They think they can do whatever they want under the pretext that they are supposedly at the top of the hierarchy of this world," added Joy.

Her aggressive tone clearly betrayed her anger, showing that she didn't hold them dear.

"..."

Ryouma remained silent, giving his friend time to calm down and collect his thoughts.

After the minute of silence, the director looked in Ryouma's direction. Noticing this, he turned away. 

"Now you know everything. So I have a request to make of you," said Mr. Takeda.

"What is it?"

"Ryouma Kirishima, I'd like you to join the Legacy guild!"

"Ah... Huh!"

Ryouma jumped up from the couch, not expecting the headmaster to offer him to join the guild.

"I understand that this may be overwhelming. It seems rushed, given the confusion you're in right now. But I absolutely want to have an answer from you. Heirs are becoming increasingly rare and, In our fight against the plagues of chaos and Avalon, we are in great need of all the help we can get."

"I really don't know what to tell you... I..." said Ryouma.

"You don't have to give me an immediate answer. Take your time and think it over calmly. If, after that, you decide not to join us, I will accept your choice."

A difficult choice was facing him, a lifelong choice that could change everything. It wasn't easy. Ryouma shouldn't make decisions hastily without taking the time to think. He was a quick-witted type and normally made the best decisions quickly after a quick analysis of the situation.

However, this situation was not normal and even he had to take his time. He had to weigh the pros and cons, take into account the consequences and potential repercussions that his choice could have on his life. As well as everything that comes with being part of the guild, fighting monsters and psychopaths at the risk of your life. Once again, this was not a choice to be taken lightly.

The assistant leaned close to the director and whispered in his ear.

"Sir, it's time for the video conference with the assembly."

"Good!" replied the headmaster, standing up and then turning back to the two boys.

"Please excuse me, I have a meeting to attend. Kirishima, I'll wait for your reply tomorrow."

"Okay! Thank you for your time." said Ryouma.

The director nodded with a smile before slipping out of the room with his assistant.

Ryouma and Joy found themselves alone, walled in silence, with only the steady blast of the air conditioning in the background.

"I imagine your head must be a mess. You must be having an existential crisis. But I think you're handling it well... or at least better than normal."

As usual, it was Joy who broke the silence.

“This is all so sudden and complicated. Not even a few days ago, I was just a high school student getting ready to go to college… and all of a sudden, my life is completely turned upside down."

Ryouma put his face in his palms and felt a headache throbbing.

“I understand how you feel. It’s not easy going from an ordinary life to… this.”

“Hey, Joy… how did you get involved in all this? You’re a member of the guild, right? How did you live knowing all this?”

Joy took his friend's questions very seriously. He knew Ryouma needed answers. He needed to hear the experience of someone who had lived with this truth all his life, with constant fear, involved in stories of conflict and the end of the world. Maybe if he listened to her, he would know what to do next. Joy was fully aware of that.

“My mother was a research biologist. She worked for Legacy Bio in New York. When I was nine, she was transferred to Japan for a project in collaboration with the technology branch. So we had to move, and I went to school here. I met you in middle school, and we hit it off right away."

Ryouma had already met Joy's mother on a few occasions. His friend had lost his father at a very young age, then, at the age of fifteen, he also lost his mother. Despite this immense grief, Joy never lost her zest for life. He often said that his parents would have been sad to see him collapse. So he always kept smiling.

Joy and Ryouma had been friends since middle school. Over time, they discovered a ton of common ground between them. But today, they had found someone they never imagined. From now on, they shared the same destiny.

“When did you learn the truth about your origins?”

“I was told everything when I was seven years old. My mother felt I should know for my own good. It was hard to believe, but when you're a kid, it goes down a little better. That's why I have trouble putting myself completely in your shoes."

“Your mother worked for Legacy… that means she was part of the guild, and your parents were Legacy.”

“Not exactly. My mother was an heiress, but my father was a normal human. I inherited her genes.”

"Your father was human... and yet he was part of the guild? So... he knew about your mother and you?"

“Of course, what a question! My mother told him everything before they were even together. And yet, my father insisted on being with her. That's how I was born. And for your information, there are many humans who work for Legacy who know about the Inheritors."

"That's crazy!" exclaimed Ryouma. The more he learned, the more surprised he became.

"So you joined the guild because your parents were in it?"

“It’s a bit like that… but not only that. After my parents died, I took up the torch. Not only to honor their wishes… but also because I have the power to do something. To remedy serious situations, to prevent casualties. And above all... to protect the people close to me," Joy declared, clenching her fist.

His friend's sincerity gave Ryouma food for thought. He closed his eyes and focused on what he really wanted. About what he needed to preserve, what he wanted to protect, and what kind of life he wanted to lead.

In the heavy silence of the room, Ryouma jumped to his feet. Joy knew at once that he had just paved the way for her destiny.

                              ***

In the meeting room, Director Shin Takeda sat in the chair at the head of the long table in the center of the room, where the company's executives usually gathered. At that moment, there was only him and his assistant, who had prepared the telecommunications device for the video conference.

But before the live broadcast began, the door flew open and someone burst into the room.

"Mr. Takeda! Ahh... ahh...!" Ryouma cried, out of breath after a frantic run to catch up with the director.

The director and his assistant turned around, their gazes full of curiosity.

"Do you have any other questions for me?" asked the director.

“Sorry to bother you. I don’t intend to take up any more of your time. I came to tell you that I’ve agreed to join the guild.”

"Are you sure? You still have time to think about it," said the director.

Ryouma shook his head.

“I’ve already thought about it. I’m already involved in this. I don’t know if the end of the world will come in a century or tomorrow... But I can't help but think about what will happen to my family and loved ones if these monsters land here. I want to do everything I can to protect them. And those guys from Avalon already have me in their sights."

Ryouma held his heart, as if to contain the frustration bubbling inside him.

“I am weak, far too weak to face the plagues of chaos and Avalon. I was unable to protect Haruna... Without Joy's intervention, I would probably be dead. I have to face the facts. I can't do anything alone. That's why I want you to teach me everything I need to know to become stronger. And in exchange, I'll be one of you."

Ryouma took a deep breath before continuing his speech.

"Anyway, I didn't really know what to do with my life. Like everyone else, I thought I'd find a job, start a family... that kind of stuff. But if I really want to build a happy family and live in happiness, I must first ensure that the children who will be born tomorrow—and those after that—have a future. That's what that means."

Ryouma now shared the guild's ideals. He had chosen to be part of something much bigger than himself, to fight to leave a legacy alongside Joy and their entire generation, a legacy that would last through the ages to protect the future of the world.

"And besides, working for a big company like yours isn't given to everyone. Haruna would be green with envy seeing how lucky I am." he added, a smirk plastered on his face.

"Are you sure about your choice?" the director asked again, wanting to be sure one last time.

"Since he told you so, it's fine. Believe it or not, this guy never makes a decision without thinking," Joy said, coming to support her friend.

The headmaster watched the two boys for a moment, then a proud smile played on his lips.

“Well... in that case, I only have one thing to say. Welcome to the Legacy guild, Ryouma Kirishima!” Takeda declared in a resonant voice.