Chapter Text
“How does this thing work?”
“Just… Almost… There, you’ve got it.”
“With this, I can find the problem?”
“… I… I wouldn’t say problem, given the circumstances. I’d s ay-“
“Problem. You told me yourself that I wasn’t given that privilege because of something wrong that even you couldn’t decipher.”
“If you insist…”
“Don’t forget who holds the power here. I am the king of this realm. And you? Well, you’re definitely no queen. I wouldn’t even honour you with the title of peasant.”
“Are you sure you want to do this? The girl I mentioned earlier, she’d-“
“Oh, be quiet. The problem is somewhere in the past and I plan on finding it. So it doesn’t obstruct my desires.. Again…”
•• —•—• •— •—• ••— •••
Chapter 1:
The Winds of Change Aren’t Always a Gentle Breeze…
(But sometimes they are.)
The city of Tearvane was a completely normal place. It was your average city full of average people living average lives.
Our story begins in the Academy of Impulsum where a girl looked out the window, longing for freedom…
From the group project her teacher was forcing her into.
The girl in question was a student named Equili Brii Mantara. She was a curious girl. Her skin was tan, she had freckles on her face, her eyes were an unusual combination. When facing her, the left eye was purple, the right eye was yellow, and they were both protected by a pair of black glasses. Her hair was black on the left, and white on the right, an aspect that once got her into trouble for having ‘unnatural hair’ before her parents assured the Academy those were her natural hair colours.
She wore a modified version of the Academy’s uniform. While they offered the colours black, white and green for blazers, pants and shoes, Equili Brii Mantara had chosen black and white uniforms, cut them in half, and stitched them together to create a uniform that somewhat matched her hair. Underneath the blazer was a white buttoned shirt, and she also wore black and white, knee-high socks. This uniform modification also got her into trouble until she brought up that it technically wasn’t against the rules and she was reluctantly let off the hook.
Her teacher was a man named Mr Dietrich, and despite the Academy’s rules against unnatural hair colours, he was allowed to have blue hair. He also always wore a lab coat, even when not running practical lessons.
“Miss Mantara.” The man stood by and quietly addressed the girl, who really much preferred being called by her middle name. “I see you don’t have a partner.” Despite what he was saying, he had a cheery tone in his voice. He always did have that tone.
“I do not.” Brii spoke quietly. “I believe I can do this on my own, though.” She always did group projects on her own, it was just her thing. No one desires to work with her and she did not desire to work with anyone.
“Oh, that won’t do. You always do them on your own. I wouldn’t want to overwork you, would I? It’s very lucky that another student is also missing a partner for this project.” Mr Dietrich motioned over to a boy in the class, his own son, Atlas Dietrich.
Atlas was a social outcast, much like Brii, and that’s all she really knew about him. Atlas had tan skin, a darker shade than Brii’s, hazel eyes that seemed to look orange sometimes, and messy white hair that went down at its lowest to the bottom of his neck. It was likely that he could get away with the white hair due to being the child of a teacher, though Brii wasn’t so certain. Atlas wore a white uniform, it caused his hair to kind of blend in with his outfit, though Brii was truthfully no fashion expert.
Mr Dietrich caught his son’s attention and brought him over to Brii.
“What?” Atlas spoke in a very much unneeded grumpy tone.
Mr Dietrich smiled, keeping up a cheery tone. “This is your partner for the project.”
“Seriously? I have to partner with-“
“Now, now. I’m sure we both know this would be good for your grades, yes?”
So this was just a ploy to get his son’s grades up? Brii was really not surprised.
“Ugh, fiiiiine, fine, whatever.”
“Well that’s excellent isn’t it? Class is almost over, and I’m sure you two are eager to head to the library?”
It was almost like Mr Dietrich said, the two did walk to the library once class was dismissed, to call them eager would be a complete overstatement, however. The pair just walked down the halls, planning on spending their time after class studying, of all things. Brii, like any self-respecting student, had a backpack on her back. It was black and white, split down the middle, like her hair and uniform. Atlas’ backpack was white, much like the rest of his outfit, though it did have a keyring of some little, blue, eyepatch-wearing man.
The library was, shockingly, full of books. There was also the Librarian, who had a sort of electrifying aura about her, and not in a nice way. It was more in the way of… Just about every teenage boy in the Academy had a massive crush on her. Luckily, Atlas didn’t seem to have one, which would make everything ten times easier.
Brii went ahead and selected a few books relating to the topic of the project, and skimmed through them to ensure they were relevant enough to use. Aside from a few scribbles and inappropriate markings here and there, she found three books that could have some usage for the project.
But things were never so simple, as a group of the most horrific, judgemental, merciless people arrived in the library…
A large group of teenage girls.
It seemed both Brii and Atlas were aware of the reckoning that would be unleashed upon them if they were to stick around.
“I feel we should leave.” Brii looked up from her books to address Atlas.
“Yeah. Right behind you.” Atlas shuddered, perhaps he, too was once a victim of their wrath?
“Perhaps we should complete this project at your home?”
“What!? Why mine? Why not yours? I don’t wanna put up with my dad all day!”
“I have… Posh parents.” Saying this was a great risk, as some people seemed to believe that posh people were the most upstanding members of society.
Atlas did not seem to be one of those people, however. “Oh god, they’re posh? Ugh, fine, we’ll do the work at mine, whatever.” He was rightfully afraid of posh people, as everyone should be.
“I’m glad we have come to an agreement.” Brii spoke quietly as the two of them approached the Librarian, as not to alert the group of girls.
“Hey, cuties.” The Librarian quite inappropriately addressed the pair as they placed their books on the counter. No wonder every teenage boy in the damn Academy had a crush on her. “Checking out these books?”
“Yes, we are.” Brii kept completely deadpan, not allowing the Librarian to affect her composure for fear of whatever torment would await her if she made even the slightest flinch. “Are you allowed to address students in such a manner?”
Atlas shot Brii one hell of a confused look.
“Hasn’t gotten me in trouble, yet, cutie.”
“Emphasis on yet…”
“You’ve got some cheek, haven’t you?” The Librarian had quite the smug look on her face as she stamped the books. It seemed she enjoyed the relentless tormenting of students. “Bring these back by next week, bye-bye!”
Atlas and Brii made their way over to the Dietrich residence. It was quite a large home, not a mansion by any means, but certainly larger than your average home. It looked like quite an old construct and it had a pretty front garden adorned with flowers of all kinds. Atlas seemed bitter the whole way there, but Brii couldn’t but feel curious, she had never seen in the inside of a non-relative’s home… She wondered what her parents would think about this place…
A girl who looked about ten years old or so was tending to the garden. She wore dark blue denim overalls, like some kind of farmer, with a black shirt underneath them, and had green gloves and boots only slightly mudded from the dirt in the garden. Her skin was quite pale, her eyes were black, and her hair was green… It seemed having unusual hair colours was a Dietrich family tradition.
The green-haired girl looked up with a smile on her face. “Hey, Atlas! Oh-Oooooooh! You’ve brought a girl home! Is she your girlfriend?”
Atlas let out a rather aggressive grunt. “Shut up, Callie. She’s just my ticket to getting an A on this project.”
“Oh?” Brii raised an eyebrow to that statement. “So that is how you feel about me?” She melodramatically placed a hand over her heart, to appease the child, of course. “I am utterly heartbroken.”
“Oh for God’s-“ Atlas just quietly entered the house, seeming ever the more bitter.
The young girl, Callie, giggled cheerfully. “So Atlas made a friend at school?”
Brii actually had no idea how to deal with human beings that had actual emotions, so she felt no choice but to appease the young one. “He did, yes. My name is Equili Brii Mantara, though I much prefer being called just Brii, if you don’t mind.”
“Okay, just Brii!” Callie grinned cheekily, though Brii left the interaction feeling confused and a little frightened.
Atlas led Brii up into the house’s attic, from the looks of things, it was his bedroom. The floor was brown planks of wood, the walls were greyish and slanted upwards in a triangular shape above their heads. Atlas’ bed was very untidy, much like the rest of his room. There was another, cleaner bed on the opposite side of the room. Clothes were scattered on the floor, comic books were placed in cabinets in no discernible order, and the table…
Well, at least that was clean. Brii was uncertain of how well she’d work on a dirty table.
Brii plopped down her bag by the table and sat down on one of the two chairs by it. She placed the books she had gotten from the library onto the table and began to think about the way she’d complete the project.
So far, she had planned the writing, the images, the diagrams… But presentation… That was a difficult one. Sure, she could’ve had it completely barebones, but that would make it JUST a group project. Not a SUPER GROUP PROJECT, as Mr Dietrich would put it…
Oh, right, Dietrich… She had planned nothing for Atlas. Mr Dietrich was very observant, at this point he’d certainly notice if it was all her own work. She’d have to delegate some menial task to Atlas…
Atlas was sat at the opposite side of the table, not awaiting Brii’s orders, but reading some kind of comic book with a blue-skinned man holding some fantastical sci-fi weapon.
“Atlas.” Brii spoke calmly, trying her best to not sound annoyed at him.
However, he did not respond… Was she not loud enough?
“Atlas!” Brii was a little louder this time, on the verge of a yell, but not quite one.
Yet, still. He did not respond. Atlas was instead staring at the comic book…
Unwilling to disturb the peace of the house, Brii opted to use a different method to get his attention. In her bag, just past her ‘Genius Invokation’ card decks, was an apple, she was supposed to eat it sometime during lunch, but got tied up with some business and never got around to it…
She threw the apple directly at Atlas’ head. It was a direct hit on his forehead!… Then it… Came back to her hand…? This brought a great feeling of power to her!
“OW!” Atlas screeched at the top of his pubescent voice. “WHAT THE HELL?” He put his comic book down and placed a hand on the spot that was struck. “WHY DID YOU THROW AN APPLE AT ME!? A-AND WHY DID IT HURT?”
“I will do it again if you don’t listen to me.” Brii’s voice was filled with unearned confidence, she had no idea if she could do it again, but she was certainly willing to find out. “Put the comic down and let’s do our project… Preferably all in one night, I do not want to return here.”
“Wait what? All in one night? You insane?”
“Would it not give you more time to read your… ‘Space Boyfriend’ comic?”
Atlas thought for a moment, before a smile crossed his face. “Shit, yeah, you’re right, let’s do this!”
“Don’t swear.”
“Sorry- God damn it, you sound like my dad!”
Time passed. How much time? They couldn’t tell, because they were too busy doing their project to keep track of it. Despite Brii’s peering out of the circular window in Atlas’ room, it was still unclear what the relative time was, as it was very cloudy outside.
Callie poked her head up from the ladder up to the attic, though she seemed a little unsteady on it. “How’s it going up here?”
“Piss off, Callie.” Atlas quickly jerked his head towards her in what seemed like a practiced motion. “We’re working!”
Mr. Dietrich himself called out from somewhere below the ladder. “Atlas! Be nice to your sister! And watch your language!”
“Fiiiiine!” He yelled back, rolling his eyes so hard it was a shock that they didn’t pop right out. “It’s going just blissfully, Callie.”
“Great!” The young girl smiled widely, pausing for a moment. “Oh, right! It’s dinner time!”
“Finally, sheesh!”
Atlas got up and headed on over to the ladder. Brii, however, did not. She didn’t feel too welcome eating at someone else’s dinner table, especially without permission from her parents.
It seemed Callie noticed Brii’s reservations and assured her that she was also welcome. “You too, Just Brii!” The young girl smiled. Though, the continued usage of that joke was certainly not appreciated.
The Dietrich family dining table was in a humble little kitchen… Well, humble to Brii, at least. Hers was much bigger and ten times more obnoxious.
Brii was seated at a left-side spot on a wooden dining table, while it had only four seats, it could clearly sit at least two more people. Atlas was seated next to her, whilst Mr Dietrich was opposite him and Callie was beside her father.
“It’s nice to have someone over for dinner.” Mr Dietrich spoke in a not-at-all ominous tone. “Isn’t that right, Atlas?”
In response, Atlas merely grunted, rolling his eyes once more.
“Say, Equili-“
“Brii is fine.” She quickly interjected, “I believe it sounds nicer than Equili.”
“Right, right. Apologies. Brii, has Atlas been behaving himself?”
Atlas gave his father a death stare, before turning to Brii with the same look on his face.
“He has been… Well… I don’t have any issues regarding his behaviour, Mr Dietrich.”
“Wonderful to hear! Oh, and we’re out of school, you can just call me Zander.”
Thunder boomed outside, it interrupted the conversation and made the truly horrendous rain apparent. It pounded against the window as if it were demanding to get in, Brii and Callie both seemed to find it rather unsettling.
“Well now…” Zander stood up from his chair, looking at the darkened skies outside. “This is no good. I can’t allow you to walk home in these conditions, Brii. Why don’t you stay the night?”
“I-I will be fine. I’ve already far overstayed my welcome. My parents wouldn’t be too pleased if I didn’t show up at home.”
“Nonsense, Brii! I’ll call them and smooth things over right now!”
“You have our phone number..?”
“Why, yes! Your parents frequently call and ask how you’re performing in class!”
Brii silently dwelled on the fact that her parents were monitoring her performance in class, whilst Zander walked into another room.
Callie stood up with a smile on her face. “I’ll wash up!”
She was quickly interrupted by Atlas, however. “Uh, yeah, hell no. Last time you tried, you broke a plate, let me do it.”
“What, really?”
“Yeah, now piss off, Callie.”
Callie then departed from the room, leaving just Brii and Atlas by themselves. Atlas gathered everyone’s finished plates, cutlery and glasses and washed up in the sink. Brii felt awkward just sat there not doing anything, she at least wanted to help him.
“Would you like some help washing up?” She asked politely, feeling it rude to not at least offer her aid.
“No. I don’t want your help.” Atlas spoke bitterly, did Brii strike a nerve or something..? “Let’s just make things clear. We’re not friends, you might think we are, but we aren’t. Just because my dad’s all buddy-buddy with you and your parents doesn’t mean shit. Got it?”
“I understand.” Brii spoke quietly, feeling a little upset by his words, somehow…?
After… Whatever that was, Brii merely retreated up into the attic. She finished off whatever was left of her part of the project, despite her mind being elsewhere at the time. Before she even realised what was happening, she passed out.
[DATA EXPUNGED]
Brii awoke feeling exhausted. Well, mentally, she was fine physically. She shrugged off a blanket and got herself looking as presentable as possible. Without even checking if it was finished, she stuffed the group project into her bag, despite the fact it was not even due until next week. Once she looked… Good enough, she left the house without a word. After already overstaying her welcome, she did not wish to be even more of an inconvenience for the Dietrichs.
At the Academy, Brii did her usual act, blend into the crowds, don’t stand out, don’t draw attention to yourself. It always worked… But not today, it seemed…
During lunch break, in the cafeteria, Brii encountered a group of four… Teenage Girls surrounding Atlas. They were all saying different things at once, making it incredibly hard for her to decipher their words, but what they were saying didn’t matter. They were all distressing Atlas…
While the simplest option was to walk away and pretend she never saw the situation unfold…
She wanted a guilt-free A. So she looked around for something to work with, anything that could help the situation whilst not making herself a victim…
Brii could have obtained food from the lunch staff, but that would cost money, something Brii was really unwilling to waste on food she would not even eat. What else could she have done..?
In her bag was… Her Genius Invokation cards, though she sincerely doubted the group was going to back down after suffering a loss in a simple card game. If they even wanted to duel her at all…
She was awfully close to just throwing in the towel, when she noticed something directly by her side that she was surprised hadn’t caught her eye earlier.
A basket of free apples because vending machines containing chocolate snacks wasn’t exactly healthy… What Brii was about to do had not been approved by the government, and was likely an actual crime, but on the off chance that she would get away with it, she needn’t have cared about the morality of her actions. They were bullies, they earned it.
Brii obtained the shiniest apple from the basket, and without giving a single fuck as to the consequences of her actions, pelted it at one of the girls. The apple ricocheted from forehead-to-forehead, subsequently smacking each of them before it returned to her hand.
“Piss off, all of you.” Brii spoke in a crude manner, with a tired tone. “You’re awfully loud.”
Of course, they didn’t take too kindly to her apple assault. There was nothing they could do about it, though. If they even dared to step a single inch closer, she just threw the apple again. It was a vicious cycle of apple assault and teenage girls not learning their lesson.
…Until all six of the people involved were apprehended by Academy staff and questioned as to the events that transpired.
Brii tried her best to defuse the situation, and earn a result that would end up in her and Atlas’ favour. “Yes, I threw an apple at them, however, you see-“
“YEAH WE DID IT!” Atlas ear-piercingly screeched, completely decimating Brii’s efforts. “WE THREW APPLES AT THOSE WHORES! HA-HA! FUCK YOOOOOOOU!”
They were both sentenced to death by hanging.
…Not really, but it felt that way to Brii. They were both given detention, something Brii had so desperately tried to avoid because her parents probably would have hung her if they found out.
And because fate was cruel, Mr. Dietrich was the one supervising detention. He kept a neutral expression as Atlas walked into detention, but couldn’t help but let slip his shock as Brii entered behind Atlas.
“Brii?” He borderline exclaimed, “what are you doing in here? Is Atlas being a bad influence..?”
Before Atlas could let slip a bitter sound, Brii quickly stated the truth… And the reason why Atlas was thrown in with her.
“Ah, well, I can’t undo your punishment, but I’m grateful for that. Make yourselves comfortable in here, I hope you know by now that I’m not the type to scream at you.”
Atlas groaned, it was only a matter of time until he did.
The pair of crooks sat in two middle seats, away from the very few others that were sat at the back.
“Look.” Atlas began, “sorry for that shit I said to you, I haven’t had someone in my room since… Ugh-Point is, you’re alright, Brii, I guess.”
“Thanks…” Brii felt awkward, to say the least… “You too, Atlas.” Was this was true friendship was?… It was a feeling she hadn’t felt in a long, long time… The feeling brought back memories, hazy memories, but ones of two friends she used to have… Or was it three friends..? She couldn’t remember for the life of her…
“So, Brii,” another person spoke behind the pair, “who’s this handsome devil?” That person was Kara, he wore a primarily black uniform, was light-skinned, had black hair in a bowl cut, and black eyes. He was the brother of the student council president, and the son of the Academy’s principal. Both of whom were practically identical-looking, save for their outfits. Kara strove to go against the rest of his family’s reputation for whatever reason, and was a grade-A troublemaker.
Brii knew Kara because of the gang he was in. It was a gang with a weird hierarchy, there were eleven leaders of sorts, with Kara as the sixth, and a big boss over the top of them. People hardly knew the identities of the leaders, nobody knew the identity of the big boss, but the eleven seemed to be able to communicate with them somehow. While not a part of the gang herself, Brii was frequently hired… Yes, hired. By some of the members of the gang to do their homework for them. The pay was sufficient, so she really didn’t care for the hypothetical consequences of getting caught.
“Never told me you had such… Good-looking pals.” For some insane reason, Kara had decided to indirectly flirt with Atlas, and for some even more insane reason, Atlas was falling for it, hook, line and sinker. Just what was Kara’s plan..? “You and I should hang out sometime, what’s your name pretty boy?”
“It’s… Atlas.” He meekly responded…
“That won’t do, that won’t do at all!”
Brii wondered exactly how Mr Dietrich was completely oblivious to what was happening to his son… Oh, he was reading a book.
“What? You don’t like my name or something!?” Atlas raised his voice a little, with an angered look in his eyes.
“It’s not that. It’s that you don’t see anyone calling me ‘Kara’, do ya?”
Brii begged to differ.
“Instead, they call me The Balladeer, you know?
And I think we should have everyone call you…
ICARUS .”