THE ARCHAIC SKY

CHAPTER: THE YOUNG OUTRIDER'S UNWANTED EYES

for a person of his standing, he was nothing but an errand boy. From the capital to even the heart of the Seikatsu, his existence was to fulfill the needs of others. Even entering the Seikatsu was just another order. the only difference was the Seikatsu's ranks were far harder to maneuver around.

thankfully the city and division he was assigned to was heraldless. Like any other recruit, he feared being admonished by a herald seeing as they are renowned for being cruel and merciless. besides, they weren't what he sought after.

finding himself in a rather shady part of town, in the bleakest of nights, he met a Seikatsu recruiter. "you know, I've had my eye on you for a while, you'd be invaluable to the Seikatsu" the Seikatsu agent had said, flipping a coin as he leaned against the wall.

"is that so?"

the recruiter chuckled catching the flying coin swiftly and handing it to Ruyi. "what do you say? it's far better than being an imperial mutt. in the Seikatsu, you might actually be able to use your gift in the open"

"I'm not a gifted"

"that's what they all say... in the seikatsu, we all know those side effects your 'arts' give, are just stigmata" this was most likely how most Seikatsu recruits were recruited, silently, swiftly, and effectively. the organization grew rapidly because of that and somehow they still remain intact despite their rumored illegal activities. only goes to show how good they are. Ruyi, of course, had accepted the offer of joining the infamous organization long before the recruiter ranted about the Seikatsu's executive officers.

"you better hold that end of your bargain, Seikatsu" Ruyi takes the coin, finding it wasn't a coin at all, instead of a metal insignia. seemingly fashioned from the one of the empire, melted down and molded into its own. A Solomon's seal emblem is engraved on the insignia that is used by members of the Seikatsu to identify each other. An insignia that symbolizes the pride and the guiding principle of the great Livelihood. That said... is being a member really something to be proud of?

he swore most Seikatsu members would hide their insignias as they walked about in the street.

to his surprise, when he was sent to the Seikatsu's headquarters, the city was quite open to them. dark uniforms and masked faces covered every inch of the city of higana. most of the underlings in higana worked for the Seikatsu council instead of a herald, some of them were actually just everyday workers. perhaps they were the reason their public façade is that of a benevolent group that engages with merchants and politicians with extremely generous proposals. All were of staff teams and divisions, oblivious to the true sins of their organization, limited to only following orders from their superiors.

Ruyi of course didn't just take orders from the Seikatsu council and his superiors.

"Keep her safe" the girl with pale icy hair had ordered him. If one didn't know any better, they would have thought she was an Araceli. That would be worse than the things the pool girl already experienced.

"Eira, she isn't a child, you're barely any older than her" the Takamaru descendant replied. The two watching the autumn leaves fall, a flurry of fire like colors. It was as if the world was set to burn. The summer had celebrated the sun archon, the autumn paid homage.

"And yet she's as reckless with her life as she was when she first came... there's something about her that just brings trouble... she's going to get killed if she's not careful... or maybe eaten by a Qilin" Eira replied her hands brushing the white walls framed in wood as the two walked through the small halls. One side walls and doors while the other open to the garden. "She trained and learned all in the hope to reach a goal to be of use to the council... Ruyi, she..."