Chapter 25: First encounter
Jet's face froze in an expression of disbelief as he stared at the neon blue glass doors of the Renegade building.
He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
He did his best not to make any sudden movements as he gulped slightly, assessing the situation with wide eyes.
'A... a Human!' he thought inwardly.
Jet had done extensive research on this star system after his father had stopped suppressing him and finally allowed him to become a Renegade.
He had learned of its long history of being a battleground for Humans and powerful Renegades in the past.
That was the reason multiple planets had been populated by the monsters known as 'puppies'—and why many other planets and moons here had been destroyed.
Families like the Grimm and Dune lineages had been hailed as the greatest defenders of the system at that time.
His research into them was also the reason he recognized the female white Mornan trainee—Rin Dune.
He'd read about how the star system had changed for the better when a past Sentinel, and the current king of the galaxy appeared.
After just a few years, the king was able to drive off humanity and stop them from returning to the star system for a very long time. It supposedly even became one of the safest star systems in the entire galaxy.
'So what is this situation!?' Jet thought tensely.
He'd naturally heard about the events of Terytl-B that happened a few weeks ago. He didn't pay it any mind, since it was expected for a Reincarnator or two to slip past the defences of even the safest star systems every few years.
In fact, it only meant their security would become even tighter for the foreseeable future.
And yet, another human was standing right in front of him at this very moment.
***
Arbus sighed as he looked around at the trainees' shocked expressions, capable of telling what they were thinking at a glance.
A Human of about nineteen years old, with crimson red hair and bright emerald eyes, wearing a plain, old-fashioned hoodie with a bag slung over his shoulders—was suddenly standing calmly in front of them with a darkened expression across his features.
Even he could understand how that looked despite his annoyed state.
It was also obvious to him that the workers here—like the tall Ramarta standing by the counter with a blank expression, and the red Mornan girl outside—had already been informed of his arrival far earlier by whoever Ophilia had arrange his transfer here.
And that they had yet to inform the trainees about it.
They looked scared and tense. Most of them looked like they were moments away from sprinting in the opposite direction. A few of them seemed ready to attack him before he could launch an attack first.
There was even a white Mornan girl among them who was frozen in place, her eyes filled with fear and intense hatred.
Arbus just felt tired. This was a situation Arbus had experienced more than once in his life. It no longer came as a surprise to him.
He grunted slightly as his eyes shot towards the tall male Ramarta watching him intently. All he could do now was wait for those knowledgeable about his situation to explain it to the others.
"Everyone, stand down!" a sudden command bellowed across the room, startling the terrified trainees.
They all turned to face the Ramarta Renegade as he glanced at them with a calm gaze. Even his tail hung in place, showing no outward emotion.
"This is the last member of your trainee batch."
"Arbus Kaelen."
"...."
"...."
"....!"
Almost every trainee in the room stared at the administrative personnel with expressions of disbelief etched across their faces.
"W-what..." a scrawny, wide-eyed Mornan boy suddenly blurted out in surprise.
"Sir, what exactly do you mean by that? Are you saying... a Human is going to be training with us?" another blue Mornan—a girl this time, asked hesitantly with a raised hand. The colourful streaks in her brown hair reminded Arbus of his mother's.
The tall Ramarta turned to her. "No, that's not what I'm saying at all."
"I'm saying a half-human is going to be training to become a knight alongside all of you, Miss Nota." He continued as his eyes swept over the group. "This decision... has been authorised by the Council themselves."
***
Colt sighed inwardly as he studied the expressions of each of the trainees. His Spade-tipped tail swayed slightly behind him as he frowned.
'How disappointing. I'd expected them to have a stronger mindset if they came here, of all places, to train.' he thought. There was a reason Colt and his colleagues had neglected to tell the trainees about the half-Human they had received word of days ago.
Tomber was a planet wreathed in danger at every corner. As someone who'd worked here for several years now, he'd learned to expect the unexpected and do his best to survive. The trainees would be experiencing a similar situation very soon, so Colt wanted to test how ready they were for that in a controlled environment, and if they were close to having the mindset needed.
So far, he wasn't impressed.
At least, with most of them. There were a few exceptions that he had his eyes on.
Like the white Mornan prince, Jet, who was able to regain his composure rather quickly despite the fear in his eyes.
And the blue Mornan girl, Nota, who had recovered enough to even calmly ask questions about their situation.
There was also the second white Mornan boy, whose reaction intrigued Colt the most.
'Alexander, I believe,' Colt thought as he glanced at the boy, whose eyes were locked on Arbus with a cold and steady gaze that surprised even him.
The reaction he found the most disappointing, however, was that of the Dune child, Rin Dune.
The fear in her eyes was enough to tell him that she would be the least likely to do anything here if an actual Reincarnator had walked through the room's doors. He wasn't even sure if she would be able to make herself run away.
But, considering her complicated past, Colt could also understand her reaction the most.
Eventually, he glanced at Arbus, a hint of disgust and hatred in his eyes. Naturally, the news of what happened on Terytl-B had spread far and wide across the star system and beyond, so everyone was now aware of the appearance of another Human in the star system and the tragedy he caused.
Just like everyone else, Colt hated Humans deeply. He hated the fact that they were being forced to allow a spawn of a Human to join their organisation. But unfortunately, no one in the system could override the decision of the Council.
"The transport vessel that will be taking you to your training facility will be arriving shortly," he said, turning away from Arbus.
"For now, let me welcome you all to Tomber."