I. NATURAL SELECTION
A quiet afternoon. A priest, by the name of Leopold Goenitz has just dismissed his students. But it was not his class. He filled in for a teacher that could not make it. And the irony of it all, is that he was teaching a group of swordsmen.
He sees no problem with this, however. He seemed like a regular priest doing his obligations.
After all the student swordsmen have departed, he stood up, leaving the swordsman guild building. A gentle breeze greets him.
As he walks by towards the town square of Izlude, he finds a mysterious parchment that has been blown by the wind. It was unusual for a parchment of that size to be dropped nonchalantly.
Using his powers to control the wind, he makes a slight gust that made the parchment land into his hands. He was certain that nobody was around to see his little trick.
Or was there?
??: That was amazing. You control the wind?
Goenitz senses the stranger's presence, clad in brown and white robes. It was a Vanguard.
Goenitz: As you may have seen, yes, I do. *glances at the stranger* You're no mere peasant. What brings you to the land of desolation?
??: Wow! You even know what I am! Actually, I am here to invite you.
Goenitz: Invite me for what?
??: I would like you to work for us.
Goenitz: As what?
??: As one of our Cavalries.
Goenitz: Why such an urgent need? And why me?
??: We are in need of mortals who can act upon this realm in our behalf. And we were once mortals, like you, elevated into gods. We are called the Vanguards, the gods who look into the continent of Midgard, and this world. We are in dire need of people who will work for us, but maintain their human essence.
Goenitz: I'm sure you have known of what I am. Do you really wish for me to be a hitman of the gods? I will not decline, as I like the idea.
??: Believe me. We need people like you badly. And you are not going to be the only one who will be a Cavalry.
Goenitz: I am going to answer your invitation, like this...
Goenitz controls the wind, letting the breeze take the parchment from his hands, as if throwing it away. The gust forms into a small whirlwind.
Before the stranger could react, the breeze changes direction, and the parchment is now in his hands again.
Goenitz: The invitation is accepted.
??: Then it is settled. Yes, I do know of your powers and your powerful bloodline. You are a child of the Orochi, the dormant messenger of the earth. I am pleased to have you on our side.
Goenitz: So am I. But please, Orochi is not dormant.
??: My apologies, then. Now, come with me, I must introduce you in our Parthenon, in the realm of Asgard. This will be a bit disorienting, I must advice you.
Goenitz: Before you do so, I want to find out who you are.
??: Just call me Ruff.
Goenitz: Such a unique name.
Ruff: Yes, indeed *smiles shyly* Well, let's go!
The environment disintegrates into a flurry of light and flashes. Before they know it, the landscape changes into an unfamiliar but soothing
one. A vast landscape of greens, blue sky, and tranquility. In front of them is a big towering castle, of sorts.
Goenitz: Asgard must be heaven. The tranquility soothes me.
Ruff: Asgard is heaven, as you say. This is the realm where us Vanguards reside. Even us mortals who became Vanguards will stay here.
Goenitz: I see.
They walk into the castle, in there, he was greeted. A man with long gray hair and donning the same robe as Ruff was waiting.
???: It seems you found your first volunteer sooner than I expected.
Ruff: I just found him by chance. He's a promising one.
???: You know who he is, right?
Ruff: It doesn't matter, we need him badly. He's not who you think he is.
Goenitz: Am I popular within the gods?
???: I wouldn't say, popular, in a positive sense. But anyhow, I'd like to welcome you in our realm. Ruff must've told you already what you will become. And by the looks of your presence, you have consented.
Goenitz: All my existence has been margined by setting things right. The gods, the Vanguards, as you are called, do this too, right?
???: That's just a few of them.
Goenitz: Ah.
???: Oh, and I forgot, I am Praetor. My apologies for not introducing myself, I have been pretty cranky. *laughs a little*
Goenitz: Mhm. Vanguards. Serious business, hm, Ruff?
Ruff: Yup, I suppose. hehe.
Praetor: All right, Ruff, better look for more people who can work for us.
Ruff: Right away, Praetor.
Ruff dissapears quickly.
Pratetor faces Goenitz.
Praetor: I'm glad you accepted our offer. It's not everyday that commoners listen to what we say, even though we have celebrity status down there.
Goenitz: As I've seen.
Praetor: Your job as a cavalry, is this; Us Vanguards have laid down the rules that humans should abide by. The humans call that the Divine rules. The King of Prontera, Tristan III, is the one who enforces such rules. And it coveres the whole continent of Midgard.
Goenitz: But then there are these guards...
Prateor: Let me finish, Goenitz.
Both of them walked.
Praetor: Do you see the place we walk in? Not all of Asgard is land. There is a place in Asgard, particularly in the Parthenon, where there's no land, just sky, sky and sky. But that's not my point. You think this is heaven, Goenitz? That's not so. Just because we're Vanguards doesn't mean we're invincible.
Goenitz: Hmm.
Praetor: Furthermore, problems do not leave us in here. Problems of human existence is a trival matter, compared to our matters here. Regrettably, I cannot tell you more about these problems we face, right now, as you will not understand them.
Goenitz: Understood.
Praetor: So your job, Leopold Goenitz, is to act in our behalf when it comes to matters of keeping the serenity of the continent. There are rules of the continent that do not get implemented. Many of these rules are universal laws, many of which are moralities that people themselves impose. Since our problems, we have been progressively loosening grip on humankind against our will.
Goenitz: In short, the working parents scenario.
Praetor: A much brutal version of that, might I add.
Goenitz: And the imperial guards? The guards of the town? The justice system? Are you saying they reek of inutile?
Praetor: Not like that; You see, we have told King Tristan to rally the humans into a cluster of guilds, and fight the monsters invading your town and your world. The pool of human resources are becoming way too many to be handled in a sensible manner. And the troubles here keep us from correcting the situation. We need someone like us who has power, but doesn't have to face the obligations of a Vanguard. It may seem like a childish fantasy, but it is our only way around this. We're even taking the risk of mortal people getting drunk of godly powers we will imbue.
Goenitz: I must admit, though, the human justice system, morals and discipline is deteriorating; The idea seems timely enough.
Praetor: I agree.
Goenitz: From what you are saying, it seems what you and your kind are dealing with is extremly dangerous. And you are correct, many of the people I know are enlisting into guilds. They're the people King Tristan enlisted to fight the invaders. I must say myself, these encounters with monsters doesn't interest me.
Praetor: Why so?
Goenitz: I just simply don't find interest in it. It's more like a human wastebasket to me. People live and die just to fight monsters, be strong, fight other people, and get killed in the process. I think it's glorified suicide.
Praetor: Well, with this job, you don't have to sacrifice your humanity, not like when I recruit Vanguards. They HAVE to erase their names in the book of life. As a cavalry, you don't have to. In fact, you NEED to stay as a human.
Goenitz: Why?
Praetor: You need to stay as a human being. You will know why in the future. And besides, you will be hunting down evildoers. You don't want them to find your aura as an early-warning device now, would you?
Goenitz smirks.
Goenitz: Is it me, or you know how I think?
Praetor: Something like that. Remember, I know everything about you, I know you're not easily drunken by your power, right?
Goenitz: Don't worry about it. Trust me.
Praetor: Then I'll trust you for it. I've never trusted a mortal this deeply though, but I've known enough about you for it.
Goenitz: I appreciate the trust you have given me.
Praetor: I guess, the saying that "you can't serve two gods" is about to be broken, eh?
Goenitz: Everything in the universe can be broken. And now I just knew, even Vanguards are not as invincible. But if you have trouble, you can call on me. I will not think twice about fighting for your kind.
Praetor: Thank you for your trust. I guess it works both ways. *gleam* For a mortal, your power renders you almost like a Vanguard. I guess I don't need to give you some powers, then! *laughs*
Goenitz: Heh.
Praetor: Nah, I still need to give you access to Asgard. And you shall be imbued authority over humans, to the point you can override King Tristan III's desicions. You know what this means to you, don't you, son of Orochi?
Goenitz's grin can be seen reaching all the way to his ears.
Praetor: However, you'll keep allegiance to us and us alone, when it comes to dealing with human matters. You will be given some autonomy to decide what's the best action, but you can ask us still if you are in doubt.
Goenitz: understood.
Praetor: And please, don't resort to Orochi, unless you ABSOLUTELY have to.
Goenitz: Good heavens! You know about that too? *chuckle*
Praetor: Like I said, I know everything about you. Your ancestors were much worse than you.
Goenitz: So, when do I start?
Praetor: Immediately. Effective immediately, you are now a Cavalry. *waves his hand*
Goenitz feels a strange sensation, but it didn't last long.
Goenitz: I am honored. But, what is my outfit as a Cavalry?
Praetor: Use the power I've given you.
Goenitz closes his eyes, and his outfit changes into a golden yellow robe and white overalls.
Goenitz: Excellent.
Praetor: Use your powers well, like you have used the power from Orochi. You can disguise yourself, and do many of the things a Vanguard can. The only thing you can't do is turn against us. Other than that, the ball is yours to play with.
Goenitz: You can count on me for that. You've known my ancestors' deeply-rooted loyalty. I will show you how strong that loyalty is.
Praetor: I knew I didn't make a mistake trusting you. Well, I don't need to bring you back to Midgard myself, you can do it! *laughs*
Goenitz: Later then, Praetor. *nods in acknowledgement*
Goenitz dissapears.
Praetor walks back to the hall of the Parthenon.
Praetor: (That's one Cavalry deployed. I need more. I hope Ruff isn't having a hard time with this.)
Just then, a blue-haired Vanguard approached Praetor.
???: Praetor, I'm sorry, obligations kept me from coming at once. Where is the new Cavalry?
Praetor: Deployed already. Too bad, Ruff picked an excellent person.
???: Who is he?
Praetor: Leopold Goenitz.
The man's eyes widens in disbelief.
???: He is a son of the Orochi!
Praetor: Exactly why I agreed. We don't have to give him much power, and he can be trusted.
???: Yes, but isn't his lineage responsible for having Orochi terrorize midgard some ages ago?
Praetor: I'd say it was the other way around. His clan with Orochi strived to cleanse humankind of sins, together with 7 others, but it went to the point that they were killing humans, because they were being oppressed, so an alliance of 3 different clans worked together to stop Orochi and his children from sowing terror. The 3 clans succeeded. But they have to seal off Orochi every 100 years. Many of Orochi's children awaken to their power when the seal that binds Orochi gets ruptured. I agree with Orochi when it comes to humankind sinning, but it's not practical when you have to wipe them out and start anew. Goenitz doesn't think like that, however.
???: Wouldn't he get tempted to use his Orochi power for it?
Praetor: I have plans for that, but Goenitz is unlike any of Orochi's children that I've seen. He actually knows his limits and powers.
Others before him wasn't like that.
???: Remember, if 8 of his kind unite, they're sure to awaken Orochi.
Praetor: That's not my problem anymore. They're Midgardians. We're Asgardians. We have our own problems to worry about. And the 3 clans who guard against Orochi are sure to stand in their way. And besides, there's monsters worse than Orochi that can bring the same thing.
???: But what if...?
Praetor: Goenitz decides to destroy humankind? I seriously don't think he can do that, and even if he has it in his personality, he just doesn't have enough power for that. I don't think their mother Gaia would allow such wholesale manslaughter without a very good reason either. At worst, we can change him in the book of life, but as a last resort. Gaia won't like her children being touched by others. Especially Asgardians.
Yukino: Oh. But the seal was completely broken sometime ago... many of them are awakening to their power.
Praetor: Like I sad, the 3 clans. They won't let that happen. Yukino, there are many things to do before Orochi awakens, and not one step of that has been made. Don't worry about it so much.
Yukino: I suppose. You see, Goenitz and I have been partners when I was still there. He's strictly principled. I must admit he taught me many things about being righteous. When I found out he's an Orochi, I kind of got frightened of him.
Praetor: You worry so much. Just because he's like that doesn't mean he'll think you're a sinner. That's paranioa!
Yukino: I guess it's his descendant's fault that people don't trust him. I like him though. It's just that he may become the monsters his ancestors once were.
Praetor: Hm, I think it's time for you to get back to your work, I think you have something else to do.
Yukino: Oh yeah. I better do.
Yukino heads back to the farther halls.
Praetor: (It would be interesting to find out about this... have I made the right desicion by trusting someone who has a history of bringing terror to act in our behalf? I'm about to find out.)
