*In an undisclosed location a phone*
(???): Hello? Ah it’s you. To what do I owe this call?
(???): I was just checking to make sure everything was in order for today.
(???): Of course. My men are getting into position as we speak and we have our queries including yours. Quite the interesting batch this year.
(???): Well a lot of these upstarts are rubbing some people the wrong way. I’d be careful around my query.
(???): Why? He’s just a lonely dark elf.
(???): No~ don’t underestimate this one. He’s well worth the price I paid to capture him but he’s a wily one. He won’t go down without a fight.
(???): No matter. It’s nothing my men can’t handle. Once the event is over I’ll be sure to share the results with you.
*Phone call ends*
***
*It was a normal day in the kingdom of Brister. People were going about their business and the White Tiger Knights were busy chasing two criminals who just committed a bank robbery. The criminals were each carrying a bag of money and running down the street doing their best to avoid citizens and run from the knights. The criminals were being pursued by Fei and another female White Knight. They were both wearing black pants and sweaters with a white jacket over it that had a badge on it. The female knight was taller than Fei and had red hair with black highlights tied in a short ponytail. This knight dived forward and tackled one of the criminals to arrest them while Fei pursued the other criminal who was weaving through the citizens but couldn’t lose Fei. Desperate to lose Fei, the criminal grabbed a kitten from a nearby citizen and tossed it in the air. The citizen screamed in fear for the safety of her pet. Fei prioritized the safety of the kitten over the criminal and jumped up to catch it in her hands and landed safely. This distraction allowed the criminal to gain some distance from Fei and he was confident he would get away until he got unsuspectingly clotheslined by Gael who was wearing a black haori. The hit knocked the criminal out and Fei caught up to them after returning the kitten. She was happy to see the criminal laid out but annoyed that Gael was the one to do it*
(Gael): You lose something?
*Gael asked smugly*
(Fei): I didn’t lose him. I had an eye on him and everything.
*Gael stares at Fei with a grin on his face as she handcuffs the criminal*
(Fei): Seriously! I had it under control. I would have caught him. Still. . .thank you. It would have been bad if he got away.
(Gael): *Chuckles* You’re welcome. Let me give you a hand.
*Gael picks up the bag of money and walks Fei back to her partner*
***
*After a few minutes, they made it back to Fei’s partner, where she introduced Gael to her and explained how he helped apprehend the criminal, much to her annoyance. Gael and Fei returned the money to the bank, which was all accounted for while the other knight threw the criminal into her squad car*
(Female knight): Alright. That should take care of everything here. Thanks for the help again, Gael. I’ll be sure you receive a proper credit in my report.
(Gael): My pleasure, and thanks.
*Fei was about to hop in the car*
(Female knight): I got this Fei. Do me a favor and patrol the area. Spend some time with your boyfriend.
*Fei’s face turned red at the comment*
(Fei): He is not my boyfriend Mary!
*Fei shouted as her tail straighten up and sparks of lightning shot from it. Mary laughed at her response as she drove off leaving Fei frustrated and embarrassed*
(Fei): *Sigh* Alright, let’s go. But if you try to put your arm around my shoulder you’re getting punched through a wall.
(Gael): Ohh~, I like it when you threaten me in that uniform.
*Fei ignored Gael’s comment and walked down the street. Gael followed after her with his hands behind his head*
(Gael): So was that robbery a normal occurrence for you White Knights?
(Fei): Sometimes. We get a few calls every now and then to bust up petty crimes like these. These last few days have been pretty low. I’ve been mostly spending my time in the office doing reports or patrolling the streets. Of course, I don’t have time to be taking it easy like you.
(Gael): I’ll have you know I keep plenty busy these days. Just today alone I completed twenty missions for the order.
(Fei): Twenty!? Yeah right.
(Gael): It’s true! See for yourself.
*Gael pulls his cellphone he received as a Faven Day gift from Raika and Micah. It was a hand-me-down phone, so nothing too fancy but he could make phone calls, text, and play games. However, he just mostly used it for work. He open his order’s app and pull up a list of missions he had successfully completed today and showed Fei. She was shocked to say the least. Even though they were just one diamond mission, the fact that he was able to do twenty of them in one day was impressive. *
(Fei): I don’t believe this. Why are you taking on so many missions? You made a bet or something?
(Gael): Yep. I’m betting on myself to qualify for BOSR.
***
*Flashback*
*Yesterday in the HQ of the Black Tortoise Order, the members of Shadow Eye were in a conference room The group was teasing Jin, Gael, and Alita after hearing about the antics with the Blue Knights*
(Ryuuji): I can’t believe you guys got into a fight against the Fargusons.
(Dust): I can’t believe you lost.
(Jin): We didn’t lose! It was a draw. If we were allowed to keep going we would have won.
(Dust): Baseless assumptions, rookie. Especially with the Percival kid getting involved.
(Gael): Is he really that strong?
(Alita): According to reports, he’s the top rookie knight to graduate this year.
(Jin): Huh? I thought Scarlet was the top of my class.
(Amarti): In overall score, yes. But if we’re talking practical exam she lost to Trey Percival and tied with Robbie Shinri. She and Robbie scored 95. Trey scored a perfect 100. A score that hasn’t been seen since Ryuuji was at the academy.
(Gael): Wow, is it crazy I want to fight him even more now?
(Sanada): A little. But I admire your drive to face the best.
(Raika): You’ll get a chance at Best of the Super Rookies.
(Jin): Actually, that’s what we wanted to talk to you guys about. We want to participate in BOSR and we need your help to do it.
(Rika): Splendid! Ever since the order was established, none of our knights have qualified for the tournament. It’d be a huge morale boost for the order and shine a spotlight on us.
(Morgan): It’s not going to be easy. Shadow Eye missions don’t count, and the missions of a Black Knight are barely worth any points.
(Gael): You’re telling us to give up?
(Morgan): Who said anything about giving up? It’s possible but that all depends on you. If you guys want to enter this tournament, then you’ll have to do everything we say. So get a good night’s sleep because starting tomorrow and for the next few months you three are going to be busy from dawn till night.
*Flashback Ends*
***
(Fei): So you’re seriously trying to enter BOSR? Well this certainly is a smart way to catch up to the other orders, but will it be enough?
(Gael): Can’t say. But I have to try.
(Fei): Yes, I’m sure you can’t miss out on a fight.
(Gael): It’s not just that. Yeah, I want to fight the others and prove I’m the best. I’m also doing this to give back to the others. I am so lucky. You’re looking at an ex-member of a terrorist group. I should be in prison. Instead, I’m a squire all because others believed in me and took a chance. This tournament means more than just representing my order. I’m representing everybody out there who’s looking for a second chance at life. If I fail, there won’t be another criminal turn knight for the next 20 years.
*Fei stood there perplexed at what Gael had just said*
(Fei): Wow. All this time I thought you were just some battle maniac with a one-track mind. You’re actually smarter than you look. It’s kind of cute.
(Gael): We’ve all got a reason why we’re doing this. I’m curious what your reason is for being a knight?
(Fei): Well I guess I can’t stay quiet after seeing you pour your heart out like that. I’m looking for someone.
(Gael): Looking for someone?
(Fei): I came from outside the kingdom and this someone was very important to me. However, they left for the kingdom a few years ago. I’m sure they’re still here and I’m hoping I can find them.
(Gael): Maybe I can help? I’m good at tracking down others.
(Fei): Appreciate it, but I think you’ve got other things to focus on. Well, this area is all clear. I should get back to the station. Thanks for your help today and for keeping me company.
(Gael): No problem. Thanks for listening. Let me know if you want to do it again.
(Fei): I would need a phone number for that.
(Gael): My, my. Does the cat enjoy my company?
(Fei): Shut up and give me your phone.
*Gael reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone when all of a sudden he and Fei get shot in the necks with darts. Two hooded figures who were sitting on a bench grab the two just as a grey van pulls up to the sidewalk*
(Hooded figure #1): Target secured.
(Hooded figure #2): What about the other one?
(Hooded figure #1): Take them with us. We’ll get bonus pay.
*The back doors of the van open, and the hooded figures toss Fei and Gael into the back of the van. The doors close and the van drives off as the hooded figures head down an alleyway to escape, as sirens are heard in the distance. On the sidewalk, Gael’s phone starts to ring, and the caller ID says Sis*
***
*At Tiger Plaza in the shooting range, a champagne fox demihuman with orange eyes and black ruffled hair was doing shooting practice. He wore a dark grey turtleneck T-shirt with navy blue pants and arm socks that are white and black. What made him so unique was that instead of using a gun he was using a compound bow. Using magic he produced fire arrows and hit the bullseye ten times in a row. After shooting, he took a deep breath to relax and took a sip of water from his bottle before he heard a crashing noise*
(Fox demihuman): What was that?
*The demihuman turned to the hallway where he heard the sound and began to walk that way to investigate*
(Fox demihuman): Hello? Anybody down this way?
*He slowly began to walk down the hallway to investigate, unaware of a hooded individual peeking a gun through the crack of the janitorial closet they were hiding in. Aiming the gun at the demihuman, they fired two darts at him*
***
*At The Wall, Keanu was walking and talking with a rabbit demihuman. The demihuman was short but had dark skin, purple eyes, and black hair cut to a medium short length. He was wearing black fingerless gloves, a green/black hooded jacket over a black shirt and some green workout pants with white gym shoes. Keanu was wearing his Blue Knight tracksuit with white gym shoes and a red towel hanging from his neck. The two entered the men’s locker room as three hooded figures followed in shortly after them. They each pulled out a gun and shot darts at Keanu and the demihuman. Seconds later, two of the hooded figures emerged from the locker room with the third one pushing a laundry basket out that was filled with towels and the unconscious bodies of Keanu and the demihuman*
***
*In another part of the kingdom, Dust could be seen walking down the streets with earpieces in his ears, listening to music. He was totally engrossed in his music and unaware of a van and hooded individuals following him. As he rounded a corner, the hooded figures prepared to pull out their guns and shoot. As they rounded the corner, silent gunshots were made*