A thin, pale figure, draped in the black vestments of a priest, yet carrying none of a priest's warmth sat incredibly still. His hair hung low over his eyes like a curtain.
He did not blink. He simply was—a presence carved out of quiet, a figure you could look at for hours and still know nothing about.
This was Elite Gaurd Rank 4 La Mathesis.
While Demi, Allen and Osprey went back on forth, he stood still, stood silent.
Then there was the opposite, rank 5. Face rough around the edges. Strong jaw. Looks like someone who laughs in tension, like he looks forward to it. He doesn't laugh in joy. He only feels it in extreme situations. The kind of guy who doesn't get startled, he startles other people.
That was who Elite Gaurd rank 5 was.
Then suddenly, Osprey's lieutenant slid into the room on a skateboard.
As everyone went quiet.
Farah, the 5'4 skater, flipped the board effortlessly into their hand and caught it by the edge. As they walked toward Osprey's tub, they glanced around the room, smiling wide, braces flashing as they caught the eye of Elite Gaurd Rank 8's Liutenant.
"What's up, Sho."
Sho, Demi's lieutenant, instinctively pulled away their already cloth-covered face even lower and ignored them, their crown almost falling off their head. Sho pretending not to recognize who it was blushed underneath his black veil.
Farah didn't mind Sho ignoring them though. As they greeted the other lieutenants instead, most of whom clearly already knew them.
James, voice flat and deadpan, looked over at Sho. "Another one? are you all from the same graduating class or something?"
Sho exhaled and spoke. "The talent pool that year was ridiculous. It was iron sharpening iron. Farah there is one of the only liutenants to engage in direct combant with the presidents Elite Gaurd and survive."
Demi chimed speaking to James casually as if he hadn't just potentially ruined his life a few hours ago. "Every day there was a new fight in that school. Every day was a new problem. Over five lecturers were defeated and killed by students. It took Elite Guard Rank One, Osprey, and a few others just to stop us and calm things down."
They paused briefly. Demi reminiscing to the good ol days, as if basking in the chaos, proud.
"That year also produced Demi and Aspera as elite guards. Along with a few others who…" Sho stopped, choosing their words carefully. "…either defected or died."
James stared. "When exactly was this, what year?"
Sho slung an arm around James's shoulder. The jewelry on each finger clanked softly as they gripped him, clearly taking a liking to the man, which was rare for Sho.
"I don't know," Sho said casually. "Like a year ago."
James stiffened "Only a year?"
Before anyone could respond, the door swung open.
A massive lieutenant stepped inside, carrying an absurdly oversized weapon in a piece of cloth, it looked more like siege equipment used by the swat team than something meant for a person.