Discordant Note: Crescendo | TBATE

Chapter 236: One Broken Boy

Thank you to my beta reader and editor, GlassThreads!

Grey

I never liked the rain before. Distantly, I remembered dreading getting rained on and drenched as I rushed along the back alley streets of my home, hoping alongside Nico that I could make it to the orphanage before it was too late.

On more than one occasion, my former friend and I failed to beat the stormfront. Nearly every time, Nico wound up with a cold that would keep him down for an entire week.

"Come on, Grey," Nico's voice said as I gave him my rain jacket one day. "You'll get sick if you do that! How many times do I have to tell you? Just keep the godforsaken jacket!"

Lightning crashed overhead, and thunder rolled.

"My body's a lot stronger than yours, Nico," phantom-Grey replied. Wilbeck's orphanage couldn't afford many clothes, and the rainjacket was the only one we had to spare. "I won't get sick from this. Now shut up and get home already!"

The rain fell around me in heavy splashes as it soaked through my uniform, ghosts of my past running and darting through the alleyway. Grey's smile, Nico's mischievous grin.

I ignored them, even as the cool brush of the downfall cascaded down my back and along my neck. My hair clung to my head in wheat-blonde clumps as I stared impassively at the building not far beyond.

"King Grey, sir," a hesitant voice said from behind me. One of the members of the Ki Enforcement Team who were ready to act under my orders. "If you're soaked by the rain, then..."

I turned imperceptibly, observing the woman who had spoken with dull eyes. She swallowed, her tactical dark vest and helmet providing protection from the elements. She quickly averted her brown eyes from mine.

I returned to my observation. Behind me, a team of seven men and women–all expertly trained in ki combat and the extermination of ki artists–waited on standby. They only needed the word.

My hand rested leisurely on the pommel of my sword, the grip made of studded leather that wouldn't fail me even when wet.

A blade was useless if it could not be held, if it could not be directed to tear through flesh. There was no purpose to unwieldy steel.

Lightning flashed, and I caught sight of a hooded figure as they raced toward a two-story building across from the alley where I was currently stationed. They shuffled uncertainly, trying to see through the rain as they swiveled all around, their gloved hands fidgeting with the lock.

They didn't see us. The illuminating flash of lightning had already passed, and now there was only thunder.

The man rushed into the building, before slamming the door shut behind him. Several seconds passed.

"Target Zeta has entered the premises," a sharp, militaristic voice said over the earbud in my ear. "All targets are within bounds. Permission to proceed?"

My hand clenched around the pommel of my sword as I glanced back at my team. All seven were ready and waiting to do what needed to be done. They would act as the tools they were.

I turned back to the building, raising a hand to my ear to enable communication. "Permission granted."

I waved my hand in a series of simple gestures, signing to the team behind me. Not waiting to see if they heard, I called a bare sliver of energy from my ki center, allowing it to flow along the pathways of my meridians.

I darted forward, the rain slick on my skin as I utilized a wind-style ki art that was designed to muffle the steps and eliminate all sound. Even as my boots splashed through the water as I approached the building, no sound rippled over the cascading downpour.