Prologue
Ikanori District
They say the world began with Kurimori, the all-father. He wrenched this world right out of his body. But he was too weak afterward, and he split himself into different beings – Igakuri and Igamori.
Igakuri walked this earth first before his wife Igamori, but they were inseparable, ever the loving couple. Until they cut ties. We know Igamori to be the goddess of wickedness and regression, an impersonation of evil that’s sworn to send Wolf-Crest back to the depths of darkness and strife from which it’d come. Igakuri is the living embodiment of progress and goodness and the reason Paragons exist; the reason I put on my armor and dedicate myself to selfless service. Like the Shin-Kuri have said countless times, Ikanori must have peace, goodness, and progress. If the Shin-Kuri is the mouthpiece of the gods, I, and others like me, are double-edged swords. And by Igakuri’s love, all those who do evil will feel the taste of our bite.
The alarm clock chimes, and I nearly jump out of bed. I seem to be doing that a lot lately. It’s almost as if I can’t wait to get up.
Or you’re running away from something.
I shake my head, flinging away the thought in an instant. Such thoughts breed discontent, and besides, they’re an absolute waste of time. I’ve got things to do.
I get out of bed and walk to the window. The wooden floorboards creak under me, and a soothing melody flows out of the in-house radio. But it’s the sound of activity floating in the window from the city outside that’s most welcoming. Ikanori sprawls out below me in a convolution of lights, milling people, and vehicles. Its eight sectors about onto each other like honeycombs, yet, they’re marked off by visible difference, even from up here. It could be flamboyant lighting, aesthetic structures, electromurals, and holograms like here in Sector 3, where Elves, Drows, and Half-Elves like my brother, Ryu, stay. Or the darker, generally riotous facade of Sector 5 where the Tieflings stay. Even now, a plume of smoke climbs up from there, threatening to touch the skies just like the scrapers do. I'm of the few humans able to take residence within this section
There’s always something. But overall, Wolf-Crest looks like a giant dish of moving pasta. It never sleeps. Not even in the dead of night. There are always vehicles speeding through the air, a short exhortation from the Shin-Kuri, electro-commercials from companies, or temple bells tolling in the distance. The temple makes the populace aware of its devotion to progress, peace, and organization, just as Igakuri wills it. The inkiness of the sky at the city’s edge is beginning to fade, ebbing like the tide into the brightness of day. Beyond that, there’s really nothing to make out of the sky other than the tall spires of luminescent scrapers, hurdled together like stacks of dominoes, and the electromagnetic strips and rails that wound around them. The council of eight had decided about a decade ago that the ground was no longer sufficient for transport, so they built new infrastructure in the sky.
Headlights from an incoming train stab me in the eye. I squint and turn away from the window. Maybe, I shouldn’t have gotten an apartment with a window that’s looking directly into oncoming traffic. But if I’m being honest, I didn’t get the apartment. I was gifted this place after rendering my services to the owner of the pagoda. So, I guess I’ve got no other option than to take whatever I receive.
Alright. That’s enough staring.
I turn around and blow a lock of hair from my face. By force of habit, I use The Essence to pull the first thing my eyes fall on towards me. Today, it’s a tennis ball on the thrift cupboard in the corner. Easy peasy. I stretch my hand out, and I feel the magic come alive in my veins. It’s always like a stream of cool liquid electrifying every single nerve in my body. The ball flies towards me, and I catch it dead in my palm.
Yesterday, I had to lift my bed off the ground. It was really trying. I could feel the muscles on my arm and back smart under the strain. But it’s worth it. Or at least, I hope it is in the long run.
“Azura,” someone calls me from behind.
My eyes fall on a silhouette standing right by the door when I turn. It’s standing out of the light, waiting quietly in the shadow, and if it’s got eyes, they’re trained on me.
I sigh in exasperation. Then I shake my head and clap twice. The lights in the room come on, bringing everything into focus, the silhouette included.
“You didn’t have to spoil the fun,” Ryu says, stepping forward with a sulk.
Ryu’s small and wispish for a twelve-year-old. He’s got faux innocent, you-can’t-pass-me-by face, little pointy ears sprouting through his dark brown hair, and a single lock of curly hair drooping down the middle of his forehead. And did I mention that he’s small? Sometimes, he can be a little difficult to handle, but I think I’m beginning to get the hang of it.
“Good morning, Ryu. It’s hardly any fun when your prey already knows who you are.”
He folds his arms across his chest and huffs. Sometimes, seeing him so displeased just makes me want to laugh so hard. But that’ll anger him, so I’ve learned to tone it down a little.
I hit the ground and go through a drill of push-ups and sit-ups until my muscles start to ache and my body overflows with perspiration.
Ryu’s just standing there the whole time, pretending to be a statue or something.
“Hey,” I bob my head towards him. “Are you going to get ready for school or not?”
“I don’t want to go to school. I want to stay here. I want to train and become a Paragon like you.”
My shoulders droop. “I’ve told you time without number, Ryu,” I say, keeping a straight face, “it’s the school first. Before anything.”
He stares at me adamantly, and I return the favor, narrowing my eyes and flaring my nostrils.
“You’re only eighteen,” he blurted in defiance.
I frowned. “That still makes me a great deal older than you. Now, go prepare for school. I don’t want to make you.”
I keep my scowl, ensuring he sees that I really mean business. A second or two is all it’ll take for him to break, and then there’ll finally be order, up until the next time, which isn’t usually far apart.
Taking care of a teenager in Ikanori is no small feat. Most times, I forget I’m one myself. Then again, given where we both were brought up, you don't have that much of a childhood so I was forced to mentally grow up faster than normal.
Suddenly, there are two short beeps from my mini-page, a minute comms gadget that keeps me up to par with daily happenings, especially one within my line of work.
I excuse myself from our little staring contest and walk towards the table. I pick up the page and access the recent notification. I inhale audibly as a steely expression creeps onto my face. I comb my fingers backward through my short jet-black hair and walk towards the wardrobe at the far end of the room. I place a thumb at the DNA scanner by the side. It gives a series of short beeps, and I step aside. The door to the wardrobe hisses as it slides open, revealing black and gold armor.
I can feel my heart start to race in expectation of the thrill of being Ikanori’s avenger.
“What’s the problem,” Ryu asked, his voice a little shaky
“Paragon business, bro” I reply. Then I face him. “Go and get ready for school.”
He nods and walks out of the room without a word.
I stretch my hand towards the armor, lift it off the wardrobe and sail it across the air onto my bed. Then I go stand by the window, taking in this last moment of the city, like a treasure I intend to keep. It’s these little moments that give me a glimpse of what I’m fighting for. A better world – a better world for Ryu.
My name’s Azura Kusanagi, older sister to Ryu Kusanagi. I’m Wolf-Crest’s sole active independent Paragon.
