Testament - Vol 1. RE:BiRTH

Exousia

Spring light illuminates a garden of roses, white and purple in hue, each reaching towards the sun with ill-paced hopes to reach it. The sunlight kissed the petals of the roses lucky enough to reach it, and they survived.

To live means to be strong, but how far does one go to reach such a goal?

The roses let their vines expand like vipers stretching to bring down those around them, suffocating them, hoping to attain the sun's light; those who could rise above the rest and bathed in the golden sunlight. 

Gold crashed into the garden, a light shining similar to the sun. It collapsed onto itself, revealing the glowing bodies of Guisei and Nabi arriving without a scratch on them. The light slowly fled from them like dust carried by the wind.

The two stood atop a unique symbol, one of serpents emerging from a prism with a single eye at its center, the symbol of pride. The deep violet hue of it had rushed back into the symbol, erasing any remnant of Guisei's golden reiju.

Nabi walked forward, focusing her mind while silently being overjoyed that Guisei hadn't killed her with his attempt. She kept her hands concealed within the pockets of her hoodie. Her eyes, on the trees outside of the garden.

"You're getting better at your control. We should be at C:A," she muttered, letting a hint of intrigue reach into her voice.

"You've been here before, then?" Guisei asked, a brow raised at the pronunciation.

Nabi began walking, not caring whether Guisei followed or wasted more time asking things that barely mattered in such a situation. A nagging feeling to answer captured her, bringing forth a response.

"A few times, just not officially," she muttered.

The two continued their trek towards the shining castle in the distance. An invisible wall stood between the rising tension, or perhaps anticipation. What took minutes felt like hours to Guisei, noted by his tired expression as they arrived. His lazy gaze fell upon the castle of pure crimson. It stood 15 stories high with the symbol of pride at the top, too tall in Guisei's eyes as he lowered them to the sight of the guards.

"You know this would be perfect if only it was a bit smaller," Guisei noted before advancing.

"Don't get too enamored. The walls are painted with blood," Nabi replied dryly.

"Wait, what?"

Nabi began walking towards the steps of the castle, watching as her words confused Guisei. She let her expression grow sterner as each of the guards saluted her as she passed by them all. Guisei followed, his eyes searching through the armor of the guards for any weaknesses. The light rustling of leaves prompted Nabi to shift her gaze to the trees, noticing something, someone. She focused back on the entrance, letting the thought rest in her mind.

The two entered an expansive entrance hall. Sunlight touched all around it with colored murals of stained glass depicting the images of students long past such a place as this. Guisei let his eyes fall onto symbols resembling the word "Exousia" among the images before looking to Nabi.

On the other hand, Nabi had her sight on the sea of students in black uniforms, while few stood out, not much seemed different among them, yet what caught her eye was the sight of a large violet curtain, masking the stage in front of them.

Nabi slipped to the back of the crowd, acting as if she belonged there. Guisei followed behind her as he usually did. The silence was deafening as the two appeared out of place; Nabi with her black hoodie and scarlet and raven-colored hair, along with Guisei's ragged jacket with gems locked within.