Gold and Silver

Four hours after the first challenge was read

December 9th, 2050

Shinjuku Outer Palisades

Rei’s aether blade hissed.

The trees were silent, swaying calmly with the wind. It took a while for Rei’s eyes to adjust to the darkness, but he was quick to hear the chirping of birds. It started low, then quickly rose to a buzzing crescendo.

It wasn’t birds. It was the crackling of electricity.

Lightning zoomed across the forest in the blink of an eye. Rei barely managed to raise his aether blade in time to slice through his pursuer’s magic.

The blast of aether split before Rei, shooting in two directions. The canopy above him was singed. Some of its branches fell, giving way to the night sky shimmering in bronze. It lit the forest before him, revealing his pursuer.

“It really is you,” Rei said, sweat trailing the side of his temple. “Why are you doing this?”

“Your medallion,” the pursuer replied, “hand it over or die.”

A few hours earlier, reading of the first challenge

December 9th, 2050

Shinjuku Outer Palisades, Tennojima Mansion

Twelve boxes were placed on a table in front of the people gathered for the will reading. Each box was the size of a rubik’s cube, metallic in appearance, with a twisting lock in the middle. Spin the disk and it opened.

Rei looked at Ruby from across the room, but the woman remained passive and unreadable.

“For the first challenge,” the lawyer said, “each of the twelve members invited, if they are willing to participate, will get one box.”

“Are all boxes the same?” Carlos, the apprentice, asked. He was quick to pick one up and raise it to his face. “Light. And durable from the feel of it.” He spun it around in the air. “What does it do? Is there a question inside? Is it random?”

The lawyer looked at the paper he was holding. “Seven of the boxes contain a golden medallion. Five contain a silver medallion. Each golden medallion acts as a key for the second challenge and all seven are required to succeed. Meanwhile, a silver medallion can be exchanged for fifty million yen each.”

Suddenly, Carlos’ box looked like it weighed a thousand times more. “Fifty million?” he exclaimed.

“How random are these boxes?” Ayane asked as she walked over to inspect the table, her frilly dress proving quite the distraction to people.

“We’ve never opened them,” the lawyer answered. “These were prepared for us in advance and can only assume good faith with Daiki Tennojima. None of us know which box contain what medallion.”

“So, only seven participants will progress to the second challenge and get a chance to claim Professor Tennojima’s work,” Hidenori remarked, a hand over his chin in thought. “I must say, I didn’t expect the first challenge to be based on luck.”

“I never even pictured the great Tennojima as a gambler,” Ayane said with an impish smile. “These spinny locks are like gachapon. Is that really everything for this first challenge?”

“That is all that is explained here,” the lawyer said, handing over the paper he read. “As for the second challenge, its earliest possible start will be tomorrow at six in the evening. A location will be announced at noon, and all golden medallions will be required to continue.”

“So they are like keys,” Hidenori said, nodding. “I suppose the winners of the first challenge will open a door or some such.”

“Sounds easy enough!” Souichiro said, jumping out of his seat. “I thought the old man will give us an exam in Aetheric Theory or some crap like that, but this makes the challenge a lot more even between participants.”

“Which is exactly why this whole thing is dubious,” Ringo spat. “How is this fair? Why should any of these brats and outsiders have access to sensei’s research?”

“Oh, give it up lady,” Souichiro cried. He went over to the table and picked up a box. “Haven’t you figured it out? Old man Daiki didn’t trust any of you. Otherwise, he would’ve just handed the damn research over to the institute.”

“What did you say, you punk?” Akihiko said through gritted teeth.

Souichiro snorted. “I only met the old man a handful of times, but… he was pretty chill.” He raised an eyebrow at the apprentices. “Can you guess what he’d complain about whenever he came over to drink with gramps? How utterly incompetent you all are. Not just the institute but all the research groups across the world. The fact that you can even participate means he’s giving you a chance. The consolation price here is for you lot.”

With that, Souichiro, probably the youngest of the participants, turned his heel towards the door. “If there’s no other thing you need to tell us, lawyer-man, I’m off. See you guys at the second challenge! Or not. Maybe I’ll just cash in my fifty million.”

The foreign woman, Ana Lucia, stifled a laugh.

“The nerve!” Ringo snarled. “Is this allowed? Can he just leave?”

The lawyer nodded awkwardly. “That’s all there is to the first challenge, I’m afraid. Participants are free to do whatever they please.”

“Are you absolutely certain this challenge even came from sensei?” Ringo’s face was red with anger. “There had to be a mistake! He might be strict and callous, but he’s never done this before!”

“I have to agree,” Akihiko echoed. “Sensei isn’t the type to do this kind of thing.”

“Could it be the illness brought about by his ascendance that did this?” Gen’ichiro asked. “He was sick regardless of how it happened. He might’ve gone senile.”

“Sad as that is, it could be true,” Carlos replied. He put his box down as if unsure about his participation. “Can we contest this as an unreasonable request after all? I’m sure the law can side with us when—”

The people went on the same prattle they did before the challenge was explained, repeating the same arguments. That was, until Ruby finally stood from her seat and walked towards the table. In an instant, the room went silent as all eyes landed on her.

If there was anyone more deserving of anything Daiki Tennojima owned in life, or knew him best in his last years, it would be his granddaughter.

“There’s one thing you haven’t explained, Jirou,” Ruby said, eyeing the lawyer. “Only eleven of us twelve are here. What happens to the remaining box?”

“Ah, of course!” the lawyer said, wiping his sweat. “Apologies, ma’am, I forgot to explain that part. In the case of participants withdrawing from the challenge, and those who did not attend will be considered as such, we will simply bring the remaining boxes to the site of the second location and open it there. If it’s silver, then the money gets donated to the city.”

“And if a gold medallion does not make it to the second location?”

“We will activate the trackers in each medallion and retrieve them. We wouldn’t know which is gold or silver so we’ll have to track down both.”

“Understood.” Ruby picked up a box. “I suppose this one’s mine.”

Seeing the granddaughter’s initiative, everyone else reluctantly hovered close to the table. All except for the Daiki’s brother-in-law, Keisuke. “I’m going to have to withdraw,” the man said with his head bowed. “I am… old. And the only family I have left in this world is Ruby. There’s not much I can do with either prize. Will you bring my box to the second location, Jirou?”

“I will,” the lawyer said. “Is there anyone else planning to withdraw?”

The apprentices still looked unconvinced, but they didn’t say a word.

Gen’ichi randomly picked up a box. “Do we just open one and find out what we have?”

“Yes,” the lawyer answered. “You may open them whenever. Now or when the second challenge is announced. You may even open it at the next location.”

Gen’ichi nodded, then casually spun his lock. With everyone holding their breath, the lock loudly echoed across the room… and revealed a shiny silver medallion inside the box. It had the logo of the Tennojima Research Institute: outstretched wings inside a circle.

The military man scratched his head. “Huh. It seems I picked the wrong one.”

“Quite unfortunate, sir,” the lawyer said. “All exchanges happen after the first challenge ends, so I suggest holding onto it for now.”

Gen’ichi grunted. “Anyone else gonna open one?”

The room fell quieter than it already was. Everyone looked at everyone else, but nobody followed suit.

Seven boxes remained.

“I don’t suppose there’s a way to tell which is which?” Ana Lucia asked.

“Hah, perhaps an exalt with aether-focused eyes could,” Keisuke replied. “I don’t suppose we have one here?”

Ayane picked up the box in the middle of the table, tested its weight, then headed straight for the door. “I’m leaving,” she announced in an aloof tone. “I’ll be in the guest room provided to me, but I don’t how long I’d stay. If anyone is interested in making any offer for my box or exchanging their medallion, don’t wait too long.”

Six boxes remained.

Hidenori laughed, then brushed a hand over his hair. “How about this?” He beamed a smile then raised a finger. “We all open our boxes in private. If we’re not happy with what we got, then those planning to stay over can discuss it in the morning. Otherwise, we can meet again at the second site.”

“Sounds good to me,” Ana Lucia said. She reached for a box but not before Ringo and Akihiko snatched up the ones they preferred.

Two boxes remained.

“You coming, Carlos?” Akihiko asked. “I know we haven’t seen eye to eye recently, but we need to stand together for the institute.”

Carlos hesitated between the remaining boxes, then picked the one on the right.

At this point, most people have left the room.

One box remained.

Ruby turned around and raised an eyebrow at Rei. “Well, Reiji? What are you waiting for?”

*

Later that evening, Rei found himself summoned by Ruby at her room in the Tennojima mansion. It might’ve been weird for ‘Shinozuka’s son’ to be skulking around, particularly with the granddaughter of the great professor, but alliances have surely been forming here and there.

Ruby’s room was like the presidential suite at a luxury hotel. It had its own inner rooms leading to a bedroom and a bathroom, and a living room in the middle complete with cushioned seats and a fireplace. Ruby was lounging comfortably in one of the solo couches, while Yukari sat on the longer couch inspecting an open box. A gold medallion shone brilliantly inside of it.

“Lucky,” Rei said. He took out his own box and placed it on the table in front of them. “Mine’s a silver. Do I get my money?”

“See, Rei? You already have your bonus,” Ruby said. She sat with her legs crossed, long black hair resting on one shoulder. “Feel free to relax while you’re here. Drink?”

“Pass,” Rei said, though he did sit in the couch opposite Ruby. “I’ll relax when the Chief and Airi are free.”

Ruby groaned, then gestured for Yukari to hand over her tablet computer.

“It’s late so they’re sleeping,” Yukari said. The screen showed exactly what she described—the Chief and Airi sound asleep in their beds.

“You know this is creepy, right?” Rei said.

“You’re the one who keeps asking for it,” Yukari replied.

“And you’re the—forget it. Business.” Rei turned to Ruby. “What’s our move?”

“Our move is we wait for someone to move,” Ruby answered. “Meanwhile, Yukari here is rounding up our security team in case the participants try something funny. For now, we have one gold medallion. I’d much prefer if we have two.”

Yukari grabbed her tablet back and started working on it.

“You think the participants will take each other’s medallions?” Rei asked. “I mean, I get it. The rules of the challenge are vague on purpose. Get to the second site with a golden medallion. It wasn’t a matter of luck, but a matter of who can get the correct box and bring it to the next round. That Ayane chick already got the right idea.”

“Exactly.”

“But couldn’t you just bribe them? I get the apprentices are taking it seriously, but the others might be convinced.”

“Don’t fall for their façade, Rei. Every single one of those snakes want my grandfather’s research for their own. Not a single person in that room would be content with silver.”

“Except for me.”

Ruby laughed, almost too loudly.

“Ironically, you’re the only one I trust.”

“Lucky me.”

“Did your magic eyes see the inside of the boxes? Any clue you can give us?”

“That’s not how it works and the boxes all look the same. I’d be more worried about other exalts. I know three of them bear the wings openly: Ayane, Akihiko and Ana Lucia. Honestly, I expect all of them to secretly be one.”

“Don’t underestimate the humans. Like you said, the rules are vague. Grandfather already mentioned we can team up, but outside help aren’t prohibited either.”

“Like me!” Yukari chimed in, throwing a peace sign. “And literally our entire security team. They’re all set, boss.”

Great, Rei thought. They’re gearing up for a bloodbath.

Tokyo Sky was a harmonious utopia, ruled by humans and exalts alike. Peace was maintained. At least on the surface, as Rei quickly realized when he first arrived. With seven percent of the population ascending to greater power, it wasn’t at all odd for the bad to do worse and for the good to impose their justice. Fights between exalts was generally kept from the public’s eyes, particularly that of the outside world, but they did happen. And Rei was only too familiar how bad it could get.

“Well,” Rei started, “if things go south, I’ll leave it to all of you. I’m not much of a fighter as you recall.”

“You have that funny blade,” Ruby remarked. “Nifty trick. What do you call it?”

“A weak man’s weapon,” Rei replied proudly. “A disruption blade if you will. Back when the chief and I was experimenting with my visions, it sometimes got rough.” He summoned his aether blade. “So, I crafted something that would force my aether to stop and eject myself from my ability. The chief thought I could use it on others and here we are.”

“Clever,” Ruby said. “I don’t think I can wrap my head on how it works. In fact, I think the institute would be interested in studying your process.”

“No thanks,” Rei said, dismissing the blade. Then he shifted the subject. “I’m more curious about the video. Even with my visions, I’m afraid I still don’t understand Daiki Tennojima. It feels like there’s conflicting information everywhere I look.”

“Grandfather was not the uncaring man people thought he was,” Ruby said as she stared at the embers crackling in the fireplace. “Father said the day grandmother died his soul went with her. The man I knew was strict and focused on his work. But he did look out for me in his own way. He cared.”

Did he?

“I am curious though,” Ruby continued, “why he came up with this game. There had to be a reason for pitting his friends and colleagues against each other.”

“Did you know he was exalted?” Rei asked.

“I did,” Ruby answered. “I urged him to use his abilities to maintain his well being, but now I know why he didn’t listen.”

Rei nodded. “Do you think Shinozuka’s product is the secret knowledge? The way to become exalted by science?”

“I don’t know,” Ruby said sharply. “But I must prevent anyone else from having it.”

Something Rei could wholeheartedly agree with. Blackmail or not, he’d help her out just for that.

“Um, boss?” Yukari perked up.

“What? Did you get the names of those who left?”

“Uh, yes. Ayane, Gen’ichi and Miura have left. Carlos was also caught fleeing the premises just now.”

“Fleeing?” Rei said in surprise.

“Y-Yes, but—” Yukari turned to Ruby with a panicked expression. “Ma’am, Issei reported something big just now. Two of our guests were found dead in one of the guest rooms.”

Ruby stood up in shock. “Who?”

“Ringo and Akihiko. Both were found dead in Carlos’ room. Three empty boxes were left behind.”

“Dammit! This is how they make a move?”

“Issei said there were signs of fighting and the door was left open.”

“They think Carlos took all the medallions?”

“Probably, but they don’t know yet.”

Ruby looked at Rei. He may be an assistant detective, but he was no forensic. It would probably be best if they called the police and—

Huh?

In the window behind Ruby, Rei saw something shine. It was faint, but he definitely saw it.

Was that…

Oh no.

Before he could yell ‘duck!’ Rei summoned his aether shield and jumped to push Ruby out of the way. Then—

The loud shattering of glass echoed, followed by the sound of lead streaming above their heads.

Rei and Ruby slammed hard on the carpet. Their energies clashed, followed by a loud scream from Yukari. The girl scrambled to run from her spot, away from the window’s line of sight.

“Somebodies are making their moves,” Rei said, lying on top of Ruby. “I think it’s time we do the same!”

“Alert, security!” Ruby yelled, her embers appearing as sparks and flashes around the room. “Rei. Go get our medallions.”