Chapter Text
“It is a place that dwells in the memories of those who still dream of its ancient glory. A world revered for its beauty, mystery, and danger. On a planet of endless adventure.”
“Such a land is known as El Astrael.”
“If your spirit has wings to travel, even across the breath of a thousand, million nights, imagination will guide the way, and the gates of El Astreal will always be open to you.”
The bells rang throughout the school grounds, classes were set to start in a few minutes, but most of the students weren't concerned about that. There was a hall, with signs posted at the start of it, warning about damage to the hall and that students were not allowed to pass, yet no one paid any attention to it and pushed through. Further down was a stairwell, surrounded by students, cramming to get down it and see what was in the basement.
"Come on everyone, move it along. Get to class before you're late." A teacher said, trying to get the students away from the scene. Several left the stairwell while glaring at him, wanting to get a closer look. He put up a rope across the stairwell and put up a ‘Do not Enter’ sign, before turning back to everyone.
“Investigators and some researchers will be working here, so that means no one’s allowed down there.” The students groaned and started complaining that it wasn’t fair they didn’t get to see.
“This is not up for debate!” His tone turned more stern and most of the students went silent. “Let these people do their work and then everyone might be allowed to see. But for now, it is your job as a student here to make sure nothing gets disturbed!” Some of them nodded, understanding why they needed to leave the area be.
Feeling like he’d gotten the point across to them, the teacher went back to putting up his sign. He dug through his pockets, muttering, "Where's that damn tape I had?" He pulled a roll out, but it was followed by a bottle that clattered against the floor.
"Holy shit, Mister Tenjo is drinking on the job!" One student loudly exclaimed, making everyone else look in his direction.
He looked down at it and quickly picked it up. "This isn't what you think it is!" He yelled, trying to hide it from them.
"Wow, to think he was getting away with that." One girl said with a laugh. More of the students started talking about it, pointing and laughing at him as he turned around trying to hide his face.
"Damn kids, you don't understand how hard this job is." He said under his breath.
A wall and some of the ceiling had been taken down, revealing what appeared to be an ancient tomb made of polished white stone, with writing on the walls, in an unknown language. On the floor was a giant six pointed star made out of smaller blue and yellow triangles.
On the furthest wall was a pillar in the shape of an octagon, topped with an onion-shaped dome. It was painted in bright colors, with weird symbols, and on each side of it was a triangular symbol, almost like that of a key. It looked almost like a sarcophagus.
A reporter stood in front of it with a student next to her who was fixing his hair, knowing he was going to have his 15 minutes of fame.
"Going on the air in three, two," The camera man held up a finger indicating they had gone live.
The reporter nodded and smiled at the camera, "And here we are at the mysterious ruins found underneath Heartland High School, and with me is Mister Ryoga Kamishiro, who made the amazing discovery. Please, tell how-" Before she could finish, her microphone was snatched out of her hand.
"Yes, you can imagine my surprise when, I, this simple and humble student president, found ancient cultural ruins." He boasted. "To think that I, Ryoga Kamishiro, discovered this amazing ruin right under our very feet. I think it should be named the Kamishiro Ruins in honor of its discoverer!" He said with pride.
"Ah, well, it’s a thought." The reporter said, slightly annoyed and clearly distressed that some student had taken over her report.
"What a bunch of bullshit." A student said from the stairway.
"Yeah, I heard Gilag from the judo club found it after he accidentally tossed someone through the wall during practice." Someone else replied, loud enough for the microphone to pick up.
Ryoga glared at him and gripped the microphone tightly. "How dare you try to deprive me of the credit of finding this!" He yelled at him. The guys on the stairs just chuckled at him.
"Excuse me! Excuse me!" A girl said as she quickly pushed through the crowd, followed by her own cameraman. "Mister Kamishiro, I have a few questions about the allegedly dishonest election that made you president." The girl asked, pushing her mic into his face, interrupting the new cast for her own.
"Rio? My own twin sister, how could you accuse me of that? You're not even in the news club!" He said pointing at her.
"A good journalist doesn’t let things like family get in the way of her story, plus they paid me to take this assignment." She said with a cute giggle. "So Mister President, anything you have to say about these allegations? " She got closer to him.
"I Am Innocent!" He yelled into the reporter lady's mic.
"Is that so? Vector, I mean Mister Shingetsu, a fellow student will be a key witness against you. Any concerns about that?" Rio continued.
"This is not the time!" He glared at the student camera man. "Hey, what are you grinning at smart ass?"
“You!” He said with a laugh.
“That’s it! Cut the feed now!" He said putting his hand on the camera lens, then there was yelling as everyone struggled to get the situation under control. Then the feed was cut.
Four guys were sitting in a club room, all gathered around the far end of a table, watching the Ryoga ‘interview’ on repeat. One guy sat in the center, resting his head on his hand, seeming mostly disinterested in what was going on TV.
“Thank god something is finally being done with him.” One said, switching the TV off.
“Yeah, about time, he was an absolute pain in the ass just to be around.” Another added.
One set his hand on the guy in the center. “You hear that Vector? You’re in.” But he didn’t say anything, and just shrugged his hand off.
“What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy about this?”
“I mean, I’m happy Ryoga got caught, because he was stupid enough to discuss something like ‘gifting’ funds to certain clubs out in the open. But at the same time, I don’t want to be in the center of this.” He glazed out the window and saw Rio chasing after the soccer club leader.
“Answer my question! Is it true Mister Kamishiro promised your club’s budget in exchange for your votes?” She badgered the guy. He looked at her, it was clear he was guilty about something, but he just shut the door in her face. “You’re just delaying the inevitable!” She yelled through the door.
Vector watched it happen and smirked a little, only to return back to a more neutral face.
“Ryoga was buying all their votes!” One said, also watching Rio’s attempt at journalism. “The soccer club, baseball, judo. He used school funding to get their votes!”
“That explains why he got into office, no one would vote for him then.” Another chuckled.
“With you as an eye witness we can get him kicked out of the council for good!”
“Yeah, but I still consider him somewhat of a friend.” Vector shrugged. “Besides, I’d never hear the end of it.”
“But it’s your duty! Don’t you have any balls?”
His eye twitched a little. “Bigger than yours, that’s for sure!”
“Perfect, that’s the spirit we need to get him kicked out of office!”
“Oh god.” Vector shook his head. “I shouldn’t have told you guys if I knew this was going to happen.”
Ryoga was walking through the hall after his little news report. He glanced at a billboard and saw several bright colored posters on it. He stopped in his tracks.
“Recall The President!”
“President Ryoga is a Fraud!” He started tearing them down, ripping them to shreds and tossing them out a nearby window.
“Ah! My world is crumbling around me! Why is he doing this to me!” He screamed before punching the bulletin board. He glanced up, expecting more posters, but instead saw the school test scores. He paused his breakdown for a second to see his score and saw he was top ten. He smirked a little and started to calm down, until he saw who was above him.
Vector.
His month hung open for a second, and then grabbed it and started ripping it up. “God dammit!” And he flung the paper around him.
Next on the board was an older newspaper. On the front was an article about a race the school had. Front and center was a picture of no one else but Vector, who had won that race.
Every time Vector had outdone him ran before his eyes. Art class, where he was outdone for their scenery drawings. Lunch time where he had taken the last sandwich right from out of his hand. It was like something had snapped within Ryoga.
He pulled out a small pocket knife and stabbed the picture of Vector. “God damn you Vector Shingetsu! You’re nothing, less then nothing compared to me! Yet somehow you always get in the way of my superiority!” He dragged the knife down, shredding the paper.
He gripped the wall. “You won’t win! Not this time! I’ll show you it’s not easy to get rid of me! Mark your days, because after what you’ve done to me today, you won’t live to see the next!” He started laughing loudly like a crazy person, making several people turn around and look at him, only to move on as quickly as possible.
It was the end of the day, and Vector was at his locker grabbing his street shoes. He pulled them out and what looked like a letter in light pink paper fell out after them. He glanced around and then opened it.
“Dear Vector, I’m not usually this forward, but I want to talk to you. Meet me by the baseball field after school. I’ll be waiting, Rio.” He read.
“Hu, what a strange letter, wonder what she wants.” He folded it back up. “Maybe it’s a confession, that would piss Ryoga off so much.” He laughed to himself.
The sun was setting by the time he made it to the field, it was an odd place for her to pick, but he didn’t care too much. He leaned against a tree and waited. He glanced around and saw Ryoga approaching him.
“Hm, what are you doing here?” Vector asked, shocked that he was still around at this time.
“Oh, nothing, just responding to a little love letter.” Ryoga snickered.
“Love letter? Oh, I see now.” He shook his head. “So that was you. Guess I’m not too shocked, what are you here to confess to me?”
“Oh I didn’t write that, I promise you that.” He pulled out a few other letters. “I just got it from my sister's collection. One for you, for Alit from the boxing club and Durbe from the writing club. You’re not that special.”
“Well, I’m not sure which is worse.”
He tossed them to the side. “It did its job, it brought my life long rival to me.”
“Rival? Oh I didn’t think you care about me that much.” Vector acted like he was touched, but then laughed.
“This isn’t a joke!” Ryoga yelled, but then pulled out a rope and started approaching him.
“What the hell?” Vector jumped back. “What do you think you’re going to do with that?”
“Oh isn’t it obvious? I need you out of the way for tomorrow.” He kept moving closer, and Vector kept backing up. “The school by-laws clearly state, if no evidence is brought against me, my place as president is secure.”
“I see, breaking more rules, how original.” He rolled his eyes, trying to cover up his fear of what Ryoga might try against him.
“I’m president, the laws work for me! And no one else!”
Vector nodded, then turned and ran off. Ryoga took off after him, tripping on the way and screaming at him.
Mr. Tenjo was sitting in the breakroom on the school grounds. On the table in front of him was a large bottle of sake that was already half gone. There were several cigarette butts in the ashtray next to him. He poured himself a glass and made a phone call.
“Hello, how was your day Haurto?” He said, taking a few sips of his drink.
“It was good, I had a test today, I think I did good.” A small voice said.
“That’s good, I’m sure you did great.” He smiled a little, even if it couldn’t be seen. “Is your homework done? Have you eaten yet?”
“I’m done with my work, and I ate, thank you for dinner.”
“It’s the least I can do when I work nights.” He put down his drink and took a drag on his cigarette.
“Still thank you.” There was a pause. “Brother, are you drinking?”
He coughed a little. “No? Why are you asking?” He lied.
“I noticed one of your bottles was missing. You know you can’t have those at school!”
“No, I finished that one! Um, I have to go now Haruto, have a good night okay?”
“I will, see you brother.” And then the phone beeped. He sighed and tossed back the rest of his drink. “I need this, just a little won’t hurt.” He said, grabbing the bottle to pour himself another.
Someone knocked on the door and he stopped mid-pour. “Um, come in.” He said without thinking.
Rio opened the door, carrying a little lunch box. Kaito, realizing that he had alcohol on school grounds, put his glass and bottle behind his back and tried to act normal.
“Ah, it’s you Rio. What are you doing here at this hour?” He said, trying to distract her.
“Well, I knew you were working the night shift, so I made you some lunch and came to deliver it.”
“Oh, thank you, now nice.” He said, taking it from her. He didn’t need it, but, if she was being nice he wouldn’t say no. He opened it up and found a cutely made lunch, with little sausage squids and baby tomatoes. “Looks good, thanks again.” He said before digging in.
She smiled and pulled out a thermos and poured him a cup. “Tea? To go with the meal?” He looked at his, and thought that his personal drink would go better with it, but, once again, if she was offering.
“Thank you. It’s nice to know I have such a wonderful student like you.” He said, taking a sip.
“That will be 1000 yen sir.” She said, not missing a beat. He coughed out the tea.
“So wait, this wasn’t a gift?” He asked in disbelief.
“A girl has to make a living.” She said with a giggle.
The moon was high in the sky, and Ryoga was still chasing after Vector. The fact that he was so dedicated to chasing him was honestly, kind of amazing.
“You won’t rob me of my president’s seat, Vector!” He screamed after him.
“What the hell? I don’t want your damn seat! I don’t even want to be a part of this!” He screamed back at him.
“Horse shit! You’re always interfering, getting in my way, all my plans get screwed up! I always have to suffer from your one-upmanship! If it’s my fate to fight you I’ll do it and I’ll win!” He screamed in between panting. No wonder he lost that race.
“Are you crazy? I thought we were at least somewhat friends! Don’t you know what friendly competition is?” Vector took a turn and found himself at a dead end. “Dammit, now what?”
Ryoga moved in closer, gasping between each breath. “Trapped just like a rat.”
“Calm down Ryoga, think this out, you’re just losing a stupid school council seat, is that really worth a murder charge?”
“I’m always calm.” He wiped the sweat from his forehead. “And who said anything about murder? You need a body for that” He smirked and started laughing like a mad man before running at Vector with the rope.
Vector covered his face, ready for whatever was going to happen to him, but it never came. He peaked between his arms and saw Ryoga in front of him, unmoving.
“What, did you come to your senses? Or did your brain finally give out?” He asked, thinking he was just faking it, but there was no answer.
He looked over Ryoga, his face frozen mid laugh, arms still out, with the rope in his hand. His foot mid step, it was amazing he didn’t fall over.
“Hello, are you alive?” Vector waved a hand in front of his face, just wanting him to blink, or something, but nothing happened. He thought for a second, and then kicked him square in the gut, thinking that would work, but still nothing. Actually, it kind of hurt, like he just kicked a brick wall.
“What the hell is going on here?” Unbeknownst to him, Ryoga wasn’t the only one affected. Rio and Mr. Tenjo sat in the breakroom, pouring a cup of tea, frozen in time.
Vector took off running to the school, thinking there must be someone around who could help. He stopped and looked around, only to jump like he saw a ghost.
“Who’s there?” He turned around, but he didn’t see anyone. It was just a small whisper in his ear. Was he going crazy? “You want me to go, this way?” He turned back the way he came.
Was it smart to listen to this voice? No, but something weird was happening, and he didn’t know what to do. If it was something bad, he’d deal with it when that moment came.
The voice guided him around the school, telling him which turn to take until he came to the blocked off stairs. He looked down at it and just stared for a moment.
“Those ruins are down there.” He said out loud, like the voice understood he wasn’t allowed to go there. He shook his head, and then made his way down, not like anyone would know.
He climbed over the rubble left from the torn down wall and looked into the ruins. Small white ropes of light came out at various points of the star, and went all the way up to the ceiling. He didn’t remember seeing those during the interview before, and they didn’t look like anything he had ever seen before. He looked at the pillar in the far end of the room and then nodded to himself.
“So, is this what you wanted me to see?” He said, slowly moving towards it. He carefully weaved his way through the lights, not wanting to touch them and get hurt. He was so focused on the pillar before him that he didn’t notice that they were actually clinging to him. He looked at his arm after feeling it tug on him and tried to pull it away, only for more to touch him and stick to him.
“What the hell?” He struggled to get out. “Let go of me!” He felt himself get lifted into the air ever so slightly. Above him it was like a light turned on, and he caught a glimpse at an eye that was at the top of the ceiling.
The floor under him started to glow as the room started to come alive. The pillar in front of him started to turn, until a large green stone eye was staring at him. It glowed and slowly the things that were clinging to him disappeared.
It was strange, for a second, it felt like a pair of hands had stroked his cheeks before they had fully vanished.
The pillar raised up from the ground and started opening up, unveiling someone who was tucked inside. He stepped back, thinking it would be a mummy, until it picked up its head and opened its eyes.
It appeared to be a girl, and he swore he saw tears running down her cheeks. Her hair was orange, with pink bangs, and her clothing was worn and tattered up. How long had she been stuck there? She stared at him, her eyes widening and she made a small gasp.
“Vector, at long last we meet.” She took a shaky step down from her tomb and slowly, stiffly made her way to him and then hugged him. “I’ve waited so long for you. I’ve been patient these past ten millennia. This moment has finally arrived after ten thousand years!” She hugged him tightly and rested her head on his shoulder.
He stood still. What was she even talking about? Ten thousand years? Who was she? How did she know his name? Questions ran through his head that he forgot the girl was still holding on to him.
“Hey, what’s your name?” He asked, hoping at least some of his questions could be answered. She held him tightly and pushed her head more into his chest.
“You mean, you’ve forgotten? Through the endless nights I dreamt only of you, you, my dear Vector.” Her voice shook like she was going to cry. She moved her hands and grabbed onto his shirt, like she didn’t want to let go of him. “Time grows short, we can not delay now. My powers have grown weak with the passage of years.”
“What do you mean?” He managed to say through his confusion.
She let go of him, but still kept her hands on his shoulders. “You must prepare to embark on your journey. With my remaining strength I shall send you to El Astreal.”
“El Astreal?” All his questions seemed to be met with more questions and no answers.
She stepped back and crossed her hands in front of her. Her hair started to flow around her from an unfelt gust of wind. “Go, be safe.” She said, despite her lips not moving. From her hands fell what looked like glitter, shimmering brightly despite the low light.
“Wait hold on, what’s going on? Where are you sending me? What’s your name?”
Around him electricity was causing sparks through the stones. They circled the room and went up to the eye in the ceiling, illuminating it even more. The girl in front of him stood still, her hair being whipped around, and the shimmering light still falling from her hands.
“I know that I can reply upon you,” She looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears. “I will carry you in my thoughts and heart, until our paths cross again.”
He looked at her once more, and then a ball of blinding light came from her. He put his hands in front of him as typhoon-like winds started blowing him away. He screamed, but no one heard him.
Before his eyes passed visions, visions of people he had never met, but then along with those of his teacher Mr. Tenjo, and Rio, and that girl. The last thing he saw was was himself, running, wearing odd clothes he had never seen in his life.
The girl smiled once again, even though he couldn’t see. The ground above them exploded, spreading the light all around the school grounds, engulfing Ryoga, Rio, and Mr. Tenjo too. The light erupted in the sky, like a portal to the heavens, and then, it was gone, like nothing happened.