The streets smelled of blood, feces and death. For the many races living within Zevareth, it was their preferred way of life. The strong rule the weak.
The strong ruled the weak. At first glance, even among such a gritty and hardened populace, there were those who did not agree with the status quo. They were failed heroes in the fullest sense of the word.
The status quo had been laid only after going through much strife and death, laid atop a mountain of corpses. Those who died were not remembered, nor were any remembrance events held for them. History — or rather, those who controlled it — chose to hide it all.
Even within the underbelly of Zevareth, there weren't many people who were aware of the actual history of the country they lived in. Those who knew had only two paths to choose:
Take your heart in your hand and steel your will to take back the world from the decrepit clutches of those who held it in their hands... or keep going about your life and try to forget.
No matter what you did, it wasn't like anything you did actually made any difference.
Whether you went up in a ball of flame of glory or died in a back-alley, body-rotting in some common dumpster, Zevareth never changes.
Mael was no different. Unless you were born into one of the royal families, your path in life was already predetermined.. You either obey and do your best to become a cog in the machine, or rebel against the world, only to be branded with the brand of being a revolutionary.
The sole difference between Mael and other people was that he chose neither.
⋆⋆⋆ in the shadow of a hollow star ⋆⋆⋆
Mael had been drinking at his favorite spot, a dingy bar at the edge of Sector 12. It was mostly frequented by those with more shadier interests, being a common meet-up spot for those planning matters in secret.
Customers came and went, accompanied by the sound of a rusty bell that struck a small hammer mounted atop the door frame each time it closed.
It smelled of piss and puke, but it wasn't as bad as the world outside.
Mael looked down at the clear liquid swirling his cup. Within the reflection he could see his... peculiar eyes. The color of his irises caught attention everywhere he went while his slit, almost draconian pupils inspired a sense of respect into those that could recognize who or what he was.
"Say, Mael... It's not that I don't enjoy your company or your patronage... but are you sure you're fine with the life you are living?" The master of the bar said, a clear hint of worry in his voice.
"What do you mean by that?"
"W-Well..."
"Spit it out. We have known each other for such a long time, having you stutter like that in front of me makes me feel weird..." Mael said, finally lifting his look from the now empty cup to the olden master.
His upper body trembled like a chicken's, but who could blame him? The connection he accumlated over the years were enough to inspire fear even into fearless fools.
"Well... if you'll allow me to be honest... I think you are meant for greater things. You could actually make a change and change Zevareth for the better, but instead of doing that you sit all day in my bar, drinking to the point of sickness, waiting for jobs to come in."
His trembling went away the moment the look in his eyes turned sharp.
"... You say that. Reinhardt says that. Even those who send me the common sort of odd-jobs tell me that sometimes! What the hell do you know about me?!" Mael said, slamming his fist into the table.
There was a scent of alcohol being released like fumes from a factory each time Mael opened his mouth. It was a stench that he had gotten used to, as he also got used to the warmth in his face and his chest and a particular weakness in the limbs each time he attempted to get up.
The master's voice came down like a hammer hitting a cold anvil.
"Mael! Do you understand what you are doing?!"
The master's face twisted into rage while the look on Mael's face looked dumb enough to punch it.
"What are you on about?" Mael uttered under his noxious breath.
"Look at me!" The master shouted as he tightly clutched Mael's face.
"Each time you bring yourself down like that, you betray those you met and grew close to!! You're not like this, it's just the damn alcohol speaking!"
The master shattered the glass cup Mael had been holding just moments ago.
Oh man...
"Don't you 'oh man' me!!" The master shouted as he punched Mael with all his might.
Blood dripped from the master's shattered hand.
Fuck!
The drunkenness vanished almost instantly at the sight of his friend's hand. Mael willed the prana around him to gather within the Master's hand faster. The master's aura rose from within his body.
"Such a gentle shade of red... I never tire of seeing your aura." Mael said with a meek look in his eyes as the previously draconic looking eyes of his now looked like nothing more than a mild cat's.
"If I didn't know you any better, I would have thought you use these opportunities to get a raise out of me... I need to get better at controlling my emotions... otherwise my aura will keep leaking out like this." The master said, that warm smile from before returning to his lips.
"I'm sorry, Leon. I know what kind of person I am... I know that when I talk about myself like that, it equates to betraying those I love... It's just... It's..." Mael said with a quivering lip.
"Hard? I know. It's good that you can realize that, though. Let me pour you one last glass of my most expensive wine before you get to work, alright?" Leon said, his face already turned to the bookshelf filled with all kinds of old alcohol.
⋆⋆⋆ in the shadow of a hollow star ⋆⋆⋆
A thought transmission interrupted the cozy atmosphere the master had worked to create.
"Hello, is this The Hollow Star?"
His irises began to glow as he transmitted his thoughts back.
"Yes."
"Good!" A cheery female voice said. "Let's go straight to business then! Rein has recommended you to me!"
Mael's right eye twitched.
"That does not bode well... What can I help you with?"
The voice on the other side burst into laughter.
"Yeah, well, that's Rein for ya! He told me you'd say that."
Mael let out an audible click of the tongue.
Leon glanced at his friend now and then as he served customers, growing increasingly worried by how long the call was taking.
"Alright then." Mael said as he let out a tired sigh. "I'll do it. It sounds fun and you're paying well. No reason for me to refuse."
"Great! Then can you start right away? The entrance ceremony is going to start in about 4 hours, so use that time to get yourself cleaned up!"
Fucking bastard...
"I'm sorry Leon... I'll see you another time!" Mael said as he dashed to the door. "Make sure to put some ice on that!" He said right before closing the door, pointing at Leon's wounded hand with his finger.
Reinhardt really needs to learn when to shut up...
This job was a peculiar one. Jobs like this weren't handed to men like Mael. Not unless someone wanted him to die — or succeed spectacularly. Even so it shook Mael for a moment. It was nothing less than acting as the bodyguard of one of the most known members of the Thirteen Royal Families, the daughter of Sundara, Kireya Sundara.
What further added to the confusion was the hirer's insistence on not exposing their actual identity. Although Mael had already had some suspicions of his own.
"Let's do this! How hard can this job be?!" Mael said as he smashed his right fist into his left hand, excited about the colossal pay for the job.
Nevertheless, those with kids around them made sure to tell them to never become like that man.