Chapter 1

Norkai: “Come on. Hurry.”

Nireh: “What are we doing in a cemetery, Norkai?”

Norkai: “You'll see.”

Nireh: “I have a bad feeling about this.”

Norkai: “It's just a cemetery. Not the end of the world.”

Unknown older voice: “Oi! You two. What are you doing here?”

Norkai: “Shit! Let's get out of here.”

Nireh: “I told you it was a bad idea.”

Norkai: “Hahaha... keep running.”

Unknown older voice: “Come back! You hear me?”

The boys were gone.

Later that evening, in a park.

Norkai: “Can you believe we're finally done with school?”

Nireh: “Not really. You?”

Norkai: “Barely. Time flew so fast. Even the teachers were more relaxed.”

Nireh: “Yeah... I don't think we'll see them for a while.”

Norkai: “I'm fine with that.”

Nireh: “Do you still think we'll be teamed together?”

Norkai: “Of course. You don't separate brothers. Everybody knows that.”

Nireh: “I hope you're right.”

Norkai: “Just relax. We should go home. It's getting late.”

The following day, when they arrived at the auditorium, their nerves got the better of them.

Norkai: “There are so many people here.”

Nireh: “This really feels like an end to something.”

Nireh: *I won't see any of them for a while.*

Norkai: “An end to boredom.”

Nireh: “Come on. It wasn't that bad.”

Norkai: “Maybe not for you.”

Nireh: “Everyone's here with their family.”

Norkai: “Too bad mom couldn't make it. And Roy...”

Everyone was waiting for the team announcements. Four teams with four new teachers were ready to begin the training phase.

Teacher: “Team 5: Nireh Isna and Norkai Isna will have Draviel Valcrest as their teacher- captain. Tomorrow, seven o'clock, at the training ground Eight. Don't be late.”

Norkai: “I told you.”

Nireh: “Lucky guess.”

Norkai: “If you say so.”

Nireh: “Do you know anything about this Draviel?”

Norkai: “No. But... he's just a teacher.”

Nireh: “A teacher from the Vanguard. It's not the same thing.”

Norkai: “Why are you worrying all the time?”

Nireh: “I... don't know.”

Norkai: “Just... stop overthinking it.”

Nireh: “What if he constantly tells us what to do?”

Norkai: “I don't think so. They want us to act like grown-ups. Not like children.”

Nireh: “I guess. I haven't thought about it like that.”

Norkai: “If we do our best, I don't think the teacher will matter that much.”

Nireh: “I hope so.”

Norkai: “We'll just train, do some missions and become Legends. That's what you should worry about.”

Nireh: “Hahaha. You're making it sound so easy.”

Norkai: “It is easy.”

Nireh: “Fine. Let's get out of here.”

Next morning, they woke up stressed, with barely a few hours of sleep.

Norkai: “Today is going to be a great day!”

Nireh: “If you say so.”

Nireh: *I wanna go back to bed.*

Norkai: “I thought you'd be more excited.”

Nireh: “I barely slept.”

Norkai: “You just need a good meal and you'll be as new.”

Nireh: “Maybe. Let's hurry. I don't wanna be late on the first day.”

A few minutes later, the boys were on the road toward the training grounds. The morning was cold and felt lonelier than usual. A nostalgic feeling began to nag them as they walked the new path. Their teacher was already there, waiting on a bench under the only oak tree in that field. He looked calm, with his hair neatly done and a carefree aura.

Nireh: “Good morning.”

Draviel: “Good morning. You're late.”

Nireh: “We are? Didn't we leave early?”

Draviel: “It was a joke.”

Norkai: “Oh... of course it was a joke. Haha.”

Draviel: “Nireh and Norkai Isna. I've heard some things about you two... it seems school wasn't exactly your favorite place. Is that right?”

Norkai: “Yeah... it was a bit boring.”

Nireh: “It was alright.”

Draviel: “Hmm... why don't you introduce yourselves?”

Norkai: “I'll go first. I'm Norkai and someday... I will be a famous Legend.”

Nireh: “I'm Nireh... and I don't know what I'll become.”

Draviel: “Interesting. You can call me Draviel.”

Norkai: “Nice to meet you.”

Draviel: “So, are you guys ready to be tested?”

Norkai: “What kind of test?”

Draviel: “A fight. The two of you against me.”

Nireh: “Isn't that dangerous?”

Draviel: “I'll be fine. At your level, you can't hurt me.”

Norkai: “Fine. You asked for it. Let's show him what we got.”

The boys start the fight with a coordinated attack. Norkai charges directly at him while Nireh flanks. Their idea is good, but their execution lacks speed and finesse. Draviel easily dodges the attack. Norkai tries to fight him alone but can't even land a hit. Nireh joins him, but Draviel jumps back. Then they try to surround him. Norkai grabs his legs, and Nireh jumps to punch him. However, Draviel simply moves sideways, and Nireh accidentally hits Norkai.

Draviel: “Guys... when are we going to start the fight?”

Norkai: “We're just warming up.”

Norkai: *Dammit. I didn't hit him once.*

The boys get up and the fight continues. Over the next few minutes, they try in vain to hit him until they collapse to the ground.

Nireh: “How can you be so strong?”

Draviel: “Hahaha. I've trained a lot.”

Norkai: “Just wait. I'll catch up in no time.”

Draviel: “That's a nice dream to have, Norkai. In the next few days we'll be focusing on the hand-to-hand combat.”

Nireh: “I have a feeling that it will take more than just a few days.”

Draviel: “You're not wrong. Still... you guys have unusually good coordination. At least you're not starting from zero.”

Norkai: “That's because we trained with our big brother.”

Draviel: “Ah... that makes sense. Roy, the enigmatic prodigy. What's he been up to?”

Nireh: “The usual... I think. We don't really know.”

Norkai: “He's probably trying to solve a hard mission.”

Draviel: “Yeah... that sounds like him. You better not let him down.”

Norkai: “We won't. One day I will surpass him too.”

Draviel: “Alright. We are done with fighting for today.”

Nireh: “Already?”

Draviel: “Yes. I've seen what I needed. Come on.”

Norkai: “Where are we going?”

Draviel: “To get something to eat. My treat.”

As they walked through the village, something caught Draviel's attention in a back alley.

Draviel: “Guys, wait here. I need to check something.”

Norkai: “What happened?”

Draviel: “Nothing.”

Before reaching its end, he sees a body near a trash can.

Draviel: “Another decapitated one.”

Nereea: “He was a Legend.”

A woman appears behind him.

Nireh: “Who is that?”

Norkai: “I have no idea. But she's hot.”

Nireh: “How did she just appear like that?”

Norkai: “Wait. Look at her hair. It has three colors.”

Nireh: “And her eyes. They're white. She's a Legend.”

The boys were fascinated by the mysterious woman.

Draviel: “Are you sure?”

Nereea: “Yes. You know who did it, right?”

Draviel: “Nereea... please don't start.”

Nereea: “Don't start? Fine. I'll see you when the next victim shows up.”

And she disappears. 
A little worried, he gets back to the boys.

Draviel: “Let's get out of here.”

Norkai: “Who was that woman? Your girlfriend?”

Draviel: “What? Umm... no. Just... a friend.”

Nireh: “Is that how you meet your friends?”

Draviel: “Hahaha. No. Come on.”

Some time later, at the restaurant.

Draviel: “What are we doing after we eat?”

Norkai: “You're asking us?”

Draviel: “Yeah... it's the first day. We can do whatever we want.”

Norkai: “I have an idea. Can you take us to see the ancient tombs of the Legends?”

Nireh: “Not this again.”

Draviel: “Interesting.”

Norkai: “We're curious to see what's inside.”

Draviel: “Hmm... if that is what fun means to you... then sure.”

Nireh: “Really?”

Draviel: “Yeah. We'll go see them.”

Norkai: “You're the best teacher.”

A couple of hours later, they arrived at the graves.

Norkai: “Wow. This... looks messy. Does nobody take care of this grave?”

Nireh: “Hmm... I wasn't expecting this.”

Draviel: “Me neither. Something is wrong here.”

Norkai: “Look at the other graves. They seem untouched.”

Nireh: “That is strange.”

Draviel: “Come with me.”

Norkai: “Where are we going?”

Draviel: “To see another grave.”

A few moments later.

Nireh: “What is this supposed to mean?”

Norkai: “This grave... doesn't have a gravestone. And it looks even worse.”

Draviel: “It means that someone is looking for trouble.”

Nireh: “Trouble?”

Draviel: “Yeah... it is strictly forbidden to reopen a sealed coffin. Especially one belonging to a Legend.”

Nireh: “What are we going to do now?”

Norkai: “We find the one who did this.”

Draviel: “No. I must report this. You guys, don't mention what happened here to anybody. Understood?”

Norkai: “Why not?”

Draviel: “It's better that way. You need to trust me on this.”

Norkai: “Fine. I won't say a thing.”

Nireh: “Me neither. I promise.”

Draviel: “Good. Now... while I report this, you guys wait for me at the donut shop.

Here's some money.”

Nireh: “Okay. We'll wait for you there.”

And the teacher left, leaving them with more questions than answers.

Norkai: “That was weird.”

Nireh: “Come on. Let's not linger here for too long.”

A couple of minutes later, in an unknown location.

Draviel: “We have a problem.”

Nereea: “We? Or just you?”

Draviel: “This is serious. Someone just vandalized two Legends' graves.”

Nereea: “Hmm... that does sound like trouble.”

Draviel: “I know. This is not a coincidence, Nereea.”

Nereea: “I thought you wanted me not to start.”

Draviel: “Fine. You were right. Happy?”

Nereea: “Not really. Oh... I'll look into it later.”

Draviel: “Good. Let me know if you find something.”

Nereea: “Sure, boss. Any other wishes?”

Draviel: “I didn't mean it like that.”

Nereea: “Hmm... really?”

Draviel: “I have to go now. My students are waiting for me.”

Nereea: “Fine. See you later.”

Draviel: “I'll wait for you at the usual spot.”

While waiting at the donut shop, the boys felt a bit concerned.

Norkai: “I wonder where the teacher left.”

Nireh: “I don't know... but he was hiding something.”

Norkai: “At least the donuts are pretty good.”

Nireh: “This is not the way I expected the first day to go.”

Norkai: “Tomorrow will be better. I think...”

Shortly after, the weather started to change. Grey clouds appeared in the sky.

Draviel: “Sorry about that.”

Norkai: “You're back. What took you so long?”

Draviel: “I had to take care of some things.”

Nireh: “So, what's the deal with the graves?”

Draviel: “I'm not sure yet. We need to investigate it more. I will let you know if I find something.”

Norkai: “I thought a random thief did it.”

Draviel: “It's more complicated than that. But we'll talk later... now let's get out of here before it starts raining.”