The sound of an engine roaring echoed through the stone streets of Grand Winterbank City, a city located on the north of the Sarinian Continent. The ginger-haired woman, who Kaeden had learned was named Leonora Baccanzo, navigated with the motorcycle with ease. He sat behind her, holding her waist tightly.

  "You really don't take precautionary measures do you?" He asked, a look of concern painting his face. Leonora laughed, her azure eyes sparkling with mischief.

  "It's not that I don't-" Before the ginger-haired young woman could finish her sentence, she felt the sole of hard boots connecting with her face. Kaeden didn't even half time to wait, before

  Leonora's weight was pushed against him, flinging them both off the bike and onto the stone pavements. The said bike skidded across the road, before colliding with a building and combusting into flames.

  Kaeden winced, slowly pushing himself off the ground. His eyes widened when they landed on an already standing and irritated Leonora. Did she tank the sudden attack with no problem?

  "LEONORA! WHAT HAPPENED TO ASKING FOR PERMISSION?!" A husky, and rich voice rang through the air. The white-haired male moved his away from the azure-eyed girl and towards the tall, lanky figure stood in the distance.

  It was a woman with dark skin, a septum piercing, six piercings on her cheeks (three on each side), as well as two black X marks (one on each cheek). Her blue hair was long and curly, cascading down her back and widening out a little. A pair of goggles sat on her head, a black choker around her neck, tied with a striped cropped jacket, the was zipped up and exposed parts of her cleavage. Her legs were covered with sheer black pantyhose with black shorts on top.

  To pull the outfit together, her feet were covered in leather heeled boots.

  However, her punk-esque outfit was not what drew Kaeden's attention. No, no, it was her large dark eyes with golden diamond crossed shaped pupils. His attention was snapped once Leonora pointed at the woman and began spewing of string of curses, which got her two middle fingers as a response.

  "Did you have to go and do that, Noella!?" Leonora screeched, her nose still burning from the kick, and it was no doubt bleeding.

  "I wouldn't have done that if you didn't go and steal my bike." Noella answered, placing her hands, shrugging and sticking her tongue out. "Not my fault you're a thief."

  Leonora let out a snarl, and dashed forwards, ready to throw hands. However, just as she could, a strong presence of mana appeared. Kaeden stood up, still wincing at the ache and pain that coursed through his body.

  The presence was strong enough for Leonora to stop rushing forward, and for Noella to stop antagonizing the axe-wielder.

  "Lieutenant Haoyu Zhao." They both whispered to themselves. As if on cue, a tall, extremely toned man, with long black hair that was braided down, with two thick pieces of hair falling down his face, walked towards the trio. The flames from the bike exploding were still burning bright, and a group of civilians had surrounded the area, talking amongst themselves.

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  Lieutenant Zhao's green eyes landed on Kaeden, and the young man shivered, feeling anxious all of a sudden.

  "Who did you bring with you, Leonora?" The man asked, a kind smile spreading across his face. His voice was smooth like butter, and so warm. Haoyu was wearing a lavender and white daopao, a pair of white socks and a pair of black xiuhuaxie. His ears were covered in piercings, both gold and black ones.

  Leonora stood up straight and saluted the lieutenant.

  "A new potential recruit, sir." She said, her expression serious. Lieutenant Zhao chuckled, patting her shoulders in a way to tell her to ease up. And she did. Kaeden watched as Leonora moved aside for Lieutenant Zhao. The said man walked up to Kaeden and leaned down a little.

  "Name?"

  "Kaeden Rivian."

  "Age?"

  "19."

  "Magic Type?"

  "Water and Ice."

  Haoyu’s eyes widened. Two huh? That was unusual. Not unheard of, but unusual.

  "Well done, Leonora. You brought us a mighty fine rookie." Haoyu grinned, wrapping his arms around Kaeden's shoulders and bringing him in for a side hug.

  "So how much am I getting paid?" The tanned girl asked. "Ya know, recruitment bonus and all that." She grinned.

  Haoyu cackled, pointing at her teasingly. "Recruitment bonuses are for lieutenants and captains, not lower second class slayers." He said, wiping his tears with his free hand. Leonora stood there looking stupid, before sheepishly rubbing the back of her head.

  "Oh."

  Kaeden's attention was no longer on Haoyu or Leonora, but on Noella, who had walked towards her burning cycle. He watched with fascination as she pushed past the crowd and stood above her burning bike.

  With a sudden sideways movement of her left hand, the fire dissipated. He continued to watch in awe as she crouched down and touched the burnt bike. A soft purple light appeared and vanished, leaving behind a brand new motorcycle.

  "Amazing right? She's able to control and manipulate matter like it's second nature to her." Haoyu stated, his eyes watched Noella with soft fascination. He had seen her do this time and time again, yet he was still mesmerised by it.

  Well, all types of magic did. Leonora sighed and slowly eased the tension out of her body. As Noella approached them, wheeling the cycle alongside her, the azure-eyed axe wielder took the opportunity to bow.

  "I'm sorry. I should have asked to take your cycle."

  Noella looked at the girl, her expression morphing into one of shock then discomfort.

  "It's....It's alright. Just ask next time." She mumbled, averting her gaze. "And stop bowing, please."

  Leonora nodded with a soft smile, and leaned back up.

  #####

  The Dweller Helixium Task Force centre was extraordinary. It stood out against the neo classical buildings that made up most of Grand Winterbank City. It was a large glass skyscraper, with an automatic front door. The skyscraper had a small tunnel driveway next to it that led to the underground garage.

  Noella split from the group and rode her cycle into the garage. Haoyu led Kaeden and Leonora down the facility, the cool air blowing over them. Kaeden's golden eyes watched as various soldiers dressed in black uniforms with golden sword insignia embroidered on the back. He then looked at Haoyu and Leonora.

  He leaned towards the ginger-haired woman, and began whispering.

  "Do you guys not wear the same uniform?" He asked, his gaze going back and forth between the other slayers and them two. Leonore brought up a close fist towards her hand and chuckled.

  "Well...we are mandated to, but my captain is quite the woman. So our sector is often overlooked for penalising. Kaeden's imagination went wild, imagining a demon-like figure with a trident in their hands. However, once they reached this large blue metallic door with Sector 1 written boldly and in white.

  Haoyu placed a hand on the scanner, and Kaeden stood there in fascination as it slowly opened.

  His eyes locked with a pair of light purple ones with black rings around them. She was wearing the standard task force uniform with a large white cape draped over her shoulders. Her shoulder length curly blue hair was covered partially by a black peaked cap with golden linings and five gold stars on the front.

  "Welcome to Sector 1, Kaeden Rivian."

  How did she know his name?